Embedded Data

With Tektronix Video Quality Monitors

Monitoring embedded data is important for determining if there are any subscriber impacting or (regulatory) compliance issues related to incorrect CGMS settings, encryption, and/or missing closed captioning data. The following reports are available with data up to 60 days:

Copy Generation Management System (CGMS)

As defined in EIA/CEA-608-B, CGMS provides a mechanism for content creators to inform a consumer electronic device, such as a personal video recorder (PVR), advanced set top receiver, etc., as to whether the content may be stored or copied. There are three different modes for this data type.

1. No Restriction: Any video stream can be copied to any device. In the case of a VCR connected to the output of a PVR or TiVo device, any stored video files can be copied to a VCR tape.
2. No Copy: No video stream can be copied to any device. In the case of a VCR connected to the output of a PVR or TiVo device, no stored video files can be copied to a VCR tape.
3. 1 Copy: A video stream be copied to any device only once. In the case of a VCR connected to the output of a PVR or TiVo device, any stored video files can be copied only once to a VCR tape.

Closed Caption Data

1. 608: Refers to the specification EIA/CEA-608-B for encoding data into NTSC video on video line 21. This is the traditional location for closed captioning, XDS (e.g., program names, v-chip), and analog interactive television triggers.
2. 708: Refers to the specification CEA-708 "Digital Television DTV Closed Captioning", also known as ATSC/53 captioning. Most DTV/ (including HDTV) programming that includes closed captioning uses this standard. Many programs that are converted from NTSC to HDTV have both 608 and 708 data embedded simultaneously.
3. SCTE-20: Refers to the specification ANSI/SCTE-20 for carriage or embedding of Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) services into MPEG compliant bitstreams. This method is favored by North American cable operators to encode traditional VBI line-21 (EIA-608) closed captioning into digital cable MPEG bitstreams.

Other Data

1. Scrambled: Indicates the presence of scrambled (i.e., encrypted) MPEG transport packets as described in ISO/IEC 13818-1. There are multiple indicators within a transport stream that instruct down-stream equipment to scramble the stream; however, this indicator reflects whether the transport packets actually are scrambled or not.
2. Discontinuity: Indicates a break in the sequence of MPEG transport packets for a particular PID. Dropped packets or a hard splice will generally result in discontinuities being indicated. Dropped packets can sometimes result in poor video or audio quality.
3. Teletext: Refers to a television information retrieval service developed in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of text-based information, typically including national, international and sporting news, weather and TV schedules.
4. Subtitles: Refers to closed-captioning data that is transmitted in the teletext signal.