SAMcorder is acting as central input/output processor, managing all input/output operations and provides comprehensive in-depth analysis features for ATSC and ATSC-MH.
SAMcorder is interacting in real-time with almost all atscSAM components
( SAMager Agent,
SAMalyzer,
SAMesg,
SAMflute and
SAMitor).
It interacts with all these components simultaneously, de-multiplexes the transport stream in real-time and provides all these components the data needed for their operation, regardless of which input interface gets used.
It also acts as central data exchange, i.e. it receives analysis results from these components (e.g. ESG data from SAMesg) and provides it to other components for further processing.
SAMcorder's output capabilities are outstanding. It manages dozens of outputs simultaneously (e.g. of de-multiplexed ATSC and MDTV data portions), thereby supporting individual configuration of every particular output.
SAMcorder is also performing real-time error analysis and measurement in ATSC M/H and ATSC multiplexes.
It covers following protocol layers and features:
All SAMcorder measurements interact with SAMager Agent, who performs SNMP based monitoring of the entire multiplex and makes the measurement results also available via SNMP to the operator.
SAMcorder receives and de-multiplexes both legacy ATSC and ATSC M/H (MDTV) multiplexes via RF, ASI and IP interfaces and is also capable to playback recorded ATSC/MDTV Transport Streams.
Furthermore it provides comprehensive analysis features for real-time error measurement of ATSC and MDTV multiplexes, thereby visualizing all results and identified errors in a comfortable GUI
Key Attributes:
- live input of ATSC and ATSC M/H multiplexes via RF, ASI, IP interfaces or recorded Transport Stream files, so suited for any environment and purpose (development, head-end, transmitter, field monitoring
- can use even legacy ATSC receivers (compliant to ATSC A/53 standard) for receiving ATSC-M/H broadcasts
- live output to various IP streamers, ASI/SPI output devices, 8-VSB modulator devices and files (recording)
- supporting various types of IP based output streamers:
- complete multiplex
- particular ATSC programs out of the multiplex
- particular ATSC M/H services (video/audio/FLUTE/ESG/key streams/...) out of the multiplex
- number of simultan IP streams is unlimited
- data duplication - same data can be streamed to different destinations simultaneously
- support of IP multicast (input and output)
- comprehensive RF channel scan feature
- takes transport stream snapshots on mouse click
- very detailed and versatile configuration possibilities in order to fit perfectly into any environment
- easy navigation within the programs and services of the multiplex
- provides comfortable graphical user interface
- individual configuration of error and warning thresholds for each particular real-time analyzed parameter
- real-time analysis and comparisation of all parameters against configurable thresholds and categorizing them into OK, Warning and Error condition
- analysis of the complete ATSC + MDTV multiplex on MPEG-2 layer
- analysis according ETSI TR 101290 Prio1/2/3 incl. error indication according configured thresholds
- repetition measurement of all ATSC and MDTV specific PSIP tables incl. error indication according configured thresholds
- analysis of all ATSC PID and Program bitrates incl. error indication according configured thresholds
- analysis of all MDTV specific IP/Port bitrates incl. error indication according configured thresholds
- analysis of the RTP sequence counter continuity
- de-multiplexing of all programs within the channel/multiplex for both all ATSC and MDTV programs simultaneously
- streaming of the de-multiplexed programs via IP to other destinations for both all ATSC and MDTV programs simultaneously
- all analyzed parameters gets detailed logged into a log file continuously for later reference (one complete snapshot of all measured parameters gets logged once a second)
- error-triggered snapshot creation with pre-trigger recording for later detail problem analysis
- comprehensive EPG analysis features
- comprehensive analysis features for Closed Captions (CC) for both 608 and 708 CC's
- capable of unattended operation at 24/7
SAMcorder main application window
SAMcorder streaming |
SAMcorder Navigation and Analysis
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SAMcorder supports a wide range of RF receivers which provide proper BDA drivers
(Microsoft Broadcast Driver Architecture). BDA provides simple RF measurement but
is strongly dependent on the BDA drivers provided by the particular supplier.
Via BDA it is possible to monitor following parameters:
- Signal Present - Checks whether an RF input signal is recognized
- Signal Lock - Checks whether the input signal could be locked
- Signal Strength - Signal Strength in dB (mostly not supported)
- Signal Quality - Checks the quality of the input signal (0..1005)
- MPEG-2 analysis of ATSC and ATSC M/H multiplexes
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Differentiation between Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3 errors
- Priority 1
- TS Syncronization Loss
- TS Synchronization Byte Error
- PAT Error
- PMT Error
- Continuity Count Error
- PID Error
- Priority 2
- Frame Error Ratio (FER)
- Transport Error
- PCR Repetition Error
- PCR Discontinuity Error
- PCR Accuracy Error
- PTS Error
- CRC Error
- CAT Error
- Priority 3
- SI Table Repetition Error for MGT, TVCT, SIT, RRT, EETT, EIT, CETT, DCCT, DCCSCT
- Undefined PID Error
- comfortable treeview of all measurement parameters
- colored pinheads to signalize errors and warnings at one glance
- min. and max. value measurement
- comfortable treeview of all services contained in the MPEG2 transport stream including all relevant service parameters
- versatile logging feature - logging for all measurement values can be separately switched on/off and are classified as informational, warning or error depending on configurable thresholds
- M/H signaling analysis
- TPC continuity counter
- TPC slot assignment
- FIC plausibility check
- FIC check announced/transmitted services
- FIC check announced/transmitted SLT/GAT
- detailed analysis of all ATSC M/H SI tables for each single ensemble,
i.e. all SMT's, GAT's, SLT's, CIT's, RRT's within the multiplex
- M/H error correction statistics
- M/H slot synchronization errors
- BERaV - Bit Error Ratio after Viterbi
- Reed Solomon - corrected/uncorrected bytes
- M/H PID errors
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IP / UDP / RTP / SDP Layer |
- All IP addresses and port numbers within an ATSC M/H multiplex get analyzed simultaneously
- port classification into Video, Audio, RTCP, FLUTE and Conditional Access port
- source and destination IP addresses
- source and destination port numbers
- IP packet and data counter
- average IP datarate over a configurable time period
- RTP sequence counter verification
- SDP cross-checks with the actual IP/port configuration of each video/audio service
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Bitrate Measurement for PIDs, Programs and IP/Ports |
- Bitrate Measurement for particular PIDs
- Bitrate Measurement for particular ATSC Programs
- Bitrate Measurement for particular IP/Ports for particular ATSC M/H services
- all bitrate measurements can be performed for all PIDs, Programs and IP/Port combinations within the multiplex in real-time and simultaneously, also mixed
- for each particular bitrate measurement (i.e. for each particular PID, Program or IP/Port) an individual upper and lower warning and error bitrate threshold can be configured
- bitrates get automatically averaged over a configurable time
- all analyzed bitrates get classified into OK, Warning or Error condition in real-time, and visualized within comfortable treeviews
- in-depth analysis of embedded EPG data
- display of connected events
- display of connected rating region information
- highlighting of current/next event
- analysis of update times
- check whether announced and embedded CC's are consistent
- check parental rating information
- check whether embedded EPG data are valid for the current period
- display of currently covered, un-interrupted program preview period
- error indication (green, yellow or red bullets)
- most parameters can also be monitored automatically via SNMP along with SAMager Agent
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Closed Captioning (CC) Analysis Features |
- in-depth analysis of embedded Closed Captioning data
- support ATSC and ATSC-M/H CC data analysis and monitoring
- support of both CEA-608 and CEA-708 CCs
- support CEA-608 XDS
- continuous check that CCs are still inside
- analysis of update times
- display of received CC data with exact time stamp
- error indication (green, yellow or red bullets)
- most parameters can also be monitored automatically via SNMP along with SAMager Agent
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Conditional Access - Data Analysis and Descrambling |
- analysis and monitoring on scrambled ATSC-M/H content
- monitoring the IPsec bitrate content
- ESP SPI update interval
- ESP sequence counter continuity
- live descrambling of all scrambled TV channels within a multiplex
- service encryption keys can be configured manually
- via atscSAM component SAMbuddy, SAMcorder obtains the required service encryption keys directly from the Conditional Access System
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