MPEG TEST SYSTEMS

MTS400 SERIES

Features & Benefits

• Industry’s fastest analysis engine enables reduced time to insight, rapid development, evaluation, deployment and diagnostics of next generation DTV and IPTV systems and services
• Range of interfaces and analysis capabilities provide the necessary connectivity to diagnose problems anywhere in the network environment, whether that be transmission links (RF or IP layer) or content processing (TS layer).
• Integrated cross layer fault analysis and logging provides one box solution for fault diagnosis, reducing time to insight when troubleshooting
• Playout functionality provides stimulus with parametric capabilities and IP multi session replication to characterise behaviour of network or device under test.
• CaptureVu™ technology captures and analyzes system events in real time and deferred time to debug the intermittent and complex problems that traditional analyzers miss
• Innovative program centric user interface brings expert power to the novice user
• Broadest and deepest range of analysis for legacy and next generation compressed standards including MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, VC-1, 3GPP
• H.264 Thumbnail decode, Buffer Analysis and Multiplexing provide the most powerful suite of tools for creation and analysis of Transport Streams containing H.264 content, supporting the needs of customers transitioning from MPEG-2 to H.264 technologies
• Customizable scripting supports the broadest range of ratified and evolving World-Wide DTV standards
• Specific configurations available for Equipment Manufacturers and Broadcasters/Network Operators

Intended Applications

MTS430 Solution for Equipment Manufacturers - Research & Development

• CaptureVu™ technology allows rapid isolation and debugging of equipment and system faults
• High performance line rate Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) IP connectivity and integrated cross layer analysis enable diagnosis of complex timing problems in video over IP and IPTV network equipment.
• Multiplexer/Re-Multiplexer allows flexible test stream creation and modification
• Rapid and in depth analysis of selected elements of transport streams to confirm functionality and compliance to standards
• Set Top Box buffer testing and verification
• Elementary stream analysis option for codec design and optimization

MTS430 Solution for Equipment Manufacturers - Manufacturing Test

• Equipment test is simplified and faster with CaptureVu™ and the High Speed Analysis Engine of the MTS400
• Multiplexer/Re-Multiplexer allows custom test stream creation for fast and flexible equipment stress testing
• Stream Playout and Recording Provides Repeatable Test Source with seamless looping and continuous time-stamping for test and alignment of STBs, IRDs, and Modulators
• Duplex operation allows end-to-end testing of system network elements

MTS400 Solution for Broadcasters and Network Operators

• RF and IP Connectivity and analysis provide single box solution for broadcast system troubleshooting
• Integrated cross layer fault analysis and logging for network fault diagnosis reduces time to insight when troubleshooting and removes the need for additional IP or RF specific diagnostic equipment
• CaptureVu™ technology allows isolation of intermittent network problems that other analyzers would not be capable of isolating
• Tests contribution feeds or encoder outputs, multiplexer inputs / outputs, headend modulators and IP encapsulators
• Tests PCR insertion, recovery, and re-generation equipment
• Encoder and other equipment fault diagnosis and evaluation
• Analysis of transport streams to confirm correct system operation and isolate faults during installation and commissioning

Introduction /Overview

The MTS400 Series is the world’s first Compressed Digital Video Debugger/Analyzer withCaptureVu™, a capability that captures and analyzes system events in real time to debug the intermittent and complex problems that traditional analyzers miss.

The MTS400 Series offers significant enhancements over traditional MPEG analyzers, and operates both in real-time (live streams) and deferred-time (stored streams) using a single integrated user application. The combination of real-time error capture, an innovative high-speed analysis engine, wide range of interfaces and built-in intelligence, allows ultra-fast pinpointing and debugging of intermittent faults in broadcast equipment. The MTS400 Series also introduces video over IP and RF analysis and recording with Cross Layer time-correlated IP, RF and TS alarming and error logging.

The MTS400 Series can be applied at any point in the broadcast chain, at any level, to diagnose and solve the most subtle, complex, and intermittent DTV and IPTV problems in the minimum time.

The MTS400 Test System instruments generate, record, and analyze Transport Streams carried over IP, RF or ASI at the highest ASI data rate possible (approximately 214 Mbps). A comprehensive suite of analysis tools include Transport Stream (TS) Compliance Analyzer, Buffer, PES, compressed video and audio elementary stream analyzers, together with TS Editor, Multiplexer, and Data Broadcast applications for stream creation, analysis, and error-injection. Available as stand alone software, as well as with the MTS400 Series hardware instruments, these applications provide the test tools required in development of next generation consumer equipment and software products for the broadcast industry.

Standards compliance is ensured through in-built customizable scripting supporting the broadest range of ratified and evolving DTV standards, including ATSC, DVB-C, DVB-H, DVB-S, DVB-T, ISDB-S, ISDB-T and MPEG. To keep analysis up to date, flexibility is the key. New standards and proprietary tables can easily be catered for by loading Tektronix supplied updates or creating your own custom scripts.

The MTS400 series instruments include a large integrated LCD display with support available for multiple physical layer interfaces, such as ASI, SPI, SMPTE310M, Gigabit Ethernet, COFDM (DVB-T), QAM, Q/8PSK, 8VSB (ATSC). All units come supplied with 144 GB of video stream disk storage as well as a DVD reader/writer.

Technical Features

• Transport Stream over ASI, SMPTE 310M, SPI/LVDS (DVB-Parallel) and GbE Analysis, Record, and Playout to the maximum possible ASI bit rate (214 Mbps)
• Duplex operation (one input, one output simultaneously) offers end-to-end system test (maximum aggregate bit rate is 214 Mbps for simultaneous input and output operation)*¹
• Powerful TS Compliance Analyzer with CaptureVu™ technology – integrated tool both in real time & deferred time
• CaptureVu™ technology captures and analyses system events in real time and deferred time
• Analysis engine that can analyze at up to 400 Mbps offers greatly reduced deferred analysis time (up to 90% reduction compared with traditional analyzers)
• Video over IP and IPTV real and deferred time analysis and capture with deterministic performance for fully loaded GbE links
• Precise timestamp information retained during IP session analysis provides deferred time IP timing diagnostic capability
• The worlds most comprehensive suite of deferred time analysis tools for compressed video can now be used with captures of complete IP sessions
• IP diagnostic capabilities on the Transport Stream Compliance Analyzer for cross layer diagnostics in systems where compressed content is carried over IP networks
• Supports IPTV standards: RFC2250 and RFC1889 - RTP connectivity and metrics with dropped packet count and rate, out of order packets count and rate
• Comprehensive IP and TS cross layer timing graphing and measurement (MDI, Packet Inter-arrival time (PIT) statistical graphing, IP Packet Inspector, PCR Accuracy, PCR Arrival Interval, PCR Overall Jitter, PCR Frequency Offset, PCR Drift Rate and PTS arrival)
• IGMP support - automatically issues an IGMP join command when connecting to multicast IP sessions and will issue IGMP leave when analysis is stopped
• Terrestrial, Cable and Satellite RF interfaces provide first line diagnostic and measurement information with integrated cross layer fault analysis and logging
• Cross Layer time-correlated RF, Layer, IP layer and TS layer integrated alarming and error logging
• World-Wide DTV standards (ATSC, DVB, and ISDB) Supported through powerful user definable scripting - offers flexibility to adapt product for customers own protocols
• MPE, SFN, H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and DVB-H table support
• ATSC Closed Caption checking gives a visual indication to the user of whether closed captioning is signaled and/or present in a stream and tests whether PMT and EIT signaling are consistent with the actual Closed Captioning present within the video signal
• SD and HD H.264 and MPEG2 video thumbnails with real time video and audio decode available for unscrambled services
• Bitrate measurements to TR 101 290 MGB2 Profile
• Elementary Stream Analysis support (including H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and 3GPP)
• Buffer Analysis for testing T-STD Buffer performance of AVC/H.264 and MPEG2 video CODEC streams
• Multiplexer application for creating and manipulating content into Transport Streams - the world’s first offline multiplexer with support for manipulating H.264 Advanced Video Codec content into Transport Streams
• Data broadcast Generation and Analysis packages for validating data broadcast products and services
• Unicode support displays service information in the user’s local language (including double byte character sets such as Chinese and Japanese)
• Error logs can be output in CSV or XML formats for compatibility with office applications
• Transport Stream Editor, Transport Stream Cutter, and Transport Stream Make Seamless applications supplied as standard

Transport Stream Compliance Analyzer

The MTS400 MPEG Transport Stream Compliance Analyzer (TSCA) enables monitoring and interpretation of the contents of real-time or previously recorded or synthesized transport streams using the latest ATSC, DVB, ISDB and MPEG standards.

The analyzer is specifically designed to enable quick location and identification of problems within a transport stream using a minimum number of mouse clicks. By quickly identifying the problem areas, the TSCA software helps you save time during the development and test of equipment, networks, and services.

Users can configure the TSCA software to display stream information in user-selected fonts. This feature enables you to view stream information in your local language or to use custom fonts.

The TSCA software can also be purchased to run stand-alone on computers with Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating systems. Separate packages are available for Deferred Time Analysis and Real-Time Video over IP Analysis. Both packages offer CaptureVu™ technology, and IP and TS measurement, logging and graphing capabilities.

Summary of Displays

• Program Centric summary screen with go/no-go error indication of user specified tests.
• SD and HD video thumbnails and real time video and audio decode –H.264 and MPEG-2 supported
• CaptureVu™technology/trigger views
• Hierarchical Tests display
• PCR, PTS and IP Packet Inter-arrival Time (PIT) graphing and measurement display
• SI/PSI/PSIP Display
• Real time and deferred time EPG display
• Packet view for TS Packets, TS Sections and IP Packets
• RF and IP interface displays
• Real and deferred time analysis share the same displays and user-interface

TSCA Features

• Easy program centric UI quickly isolates information of interest
• CaptureVu™ Technology captures and analyzes system events in real or deferred time
• In-depth analysis of stored transport streams including support for MPEG, ATSC, DVB, ISDB
• Data summaries and automated filters simplify the analysis of complex transport streams
• TR 101 290 Priority 1, 2, and 3 tests
• Cross Layer Timing provides user with at a glance view of timing across multiple layers, enabling rapid time to insight when used with RF or IP interfaces to diagnose at which layer a fault was introduced
• MDI and statistical display of IP Packet Inter-arrival time (histograms)
• IP Session Capture and real or deferred time inspection and analysis down to the IP packet level - Uses industry standard PCAP file format for use with Wireshark (Ethereal)
• Syntax analysis and display supported for ISDB-T, TMCC, and IIP data, including One Seg support
• Consistency checks performed between SI, TMCC, and IIP data
• ATSC Closed Caption support and consistency checking
• Proprietary PSI/SI syntax section rate error testing
• Informational logging of detected events
• Unicode support enables service information to be displayed in Japanese, Chinese or other languages

Deferred and Real-Time Modes

The TSCA can be run in deferred-time or real-time for analysis of compressed video streams carried over IP, RF or ASI/SMPTE310M/DVB Parallel interfaces. Deferred-time analysis mode is available on any recommended platform (including users own PCs). In deferred-time analysis mode, a stored stream can be analyzed and viewed at any time. Real-time analysis is available as standard with the MTS400 and MTS430 MPEG Test Systems. Using real-time analysis, live streams can be monitored on a continuous basis and can also be paused for more detailed deferred-time analysis. Real-time analysis can be resumed at any time. Real Time Video and audio decode enables the user of the analyzer to select a program from within a Transport Stream and display the decoded video for viewing or listen to the audio. Video thumbnails with video wall, summary and ES header information views enable users to choose whether to see many channels thumbnails simultaneously or view detailed descriptions of one at a time.

TSCA User Interface

The TSCA software uses a single main program summary window with different context sensitive views contained within tabbed frames. This provides the maximum amount of useful information while keeping the screen from appearing cluttered. From the main window, you can access the following views:

CaptureVu™ Triggering

CaptureVu™ Technology captures and analyzes system events in real time and deferred time to debug the intermittent and complex problems that traditional analyzers miss. CaptureVu technology lets the user set a breakpoint on a specific test or event, and, when the breakpoint occurs, a dialog will show the breakpoint condition and exact location of the packet within the Transport Stream. CaptureVu technology automatically pre-buffers the last 200 MB of the signal, pauses the analysis, and launches an in-depth deferred time analysis that lets the user drill down into the problem. The captured stream can also be permanently stored on the hard disk for subsequent re-analysis with the deferred-time TSCA application. This powerful debug mode enables fast debugging of troublesome intermittent problems. CaptureVu technology also supports triggering events based upon IP or RF layer measurements providing integrated cross layer fault analysis and logging in a single box solution for network fault diagnosis.

Triggered Recording

The TSCA supports triggered recording, allowing the user to set up a sophisticated trigger condition. When the trigger condition is met, the live input stream is captured to disk, without stopping or pausing real-time analysis.

Trigger Sources and Conditions

• DVB TR 101 290 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd priority tests, ATSC, ISDB or proprietary tests
• IP layer measurements, including PIT tests, RTP dropped packet count and rate, out of order packets count and rate
• RF layer measurements including MER, EVM, SNR, BER limit or drift rate, failure or warning levels
• Multiplex occupancy outside of user defined bit rate limits
• External TTL Trigger
• Date and time
• In triggered recording mode, the size of the pre-trigger buffer can be specified as a percentage of the overall file size range from 0 to 100%

Program View

The Program view provides a fast overview of the transport stream contents in terms of program content, bit rate use by each program and DVB TR 101 290, ATSC, or ISDB test results. Red, amber, and green LEDs highlight errors associated with each program or element. Video wall, summary, and details views enable the user to choose whether to see many channels thumbnails simultaneously or view detailed info of one at a time. Real Time Video and audio decode enables the user of the analyzer to select a program from within a Transport Stream and display the decoded video for viewing, or listen to the audio. In addition to displaying a video thumbnail, the video format parameters from within ES headers are also displayed and can be checked for consistency with Transport Stream layer signaling of video parameters. This cross check enables the operator to ensure that the format of the content in the stream matches the format that they have signaled. An inconsistency could cause the STB to be unable to decode video and the viewer to lose their pictures.

Errors that are detected at lower levels in the program stream hierarchy propagate up to the highest level. This allows you to monitor all of the programs in the stream at a high level and then quickly go to lower levels as necessary to locate a problem.

Tests View

The Tests view enables you to isolate errors to the specific tests that have been applied to the transport stream. The error log is automatically filtered by the selected test, and can also be filtered by PID. In addition to the standard first, second, and third priority tests included in TR 101 290 standard, tests are available for PCR timing, IP layer measurements, RF measurements and program/PID bit rate. A variability test enables you to test the changes in the bit rate of a specific PID. In addition to TR 101 290, there are many tests that are specific to ATSC, ISDB-T and ISDB-S streams.

SI/PSI & PSIP (Tables) View

The SI/PSI & PSIP table view displays the service information tables contained in the analyzed stream which comply with the selected digital video standard. This includes ATSC PSIP, DVB & ISDB service information and MPEG program specific information.

A summary view displays key values for each table in a meaningful way. The view includes hyperlinks enabling you to quickly access related information within other tables and views.

PID View

The Packet Identifier (PID) view displays information about all of the PIDs found in the transport stream. When you select a PID, the associated summary view provides a PID-orientated overview of the transport stream, displaying the relative data rates of all of the PIDs contained within the stream. The information can be displayed as either a bar chart or as a pie chart. Pop up menus enable fast limit selection.

When one or more tests fail, each failed test will be listed under the relevant PID. Specific PIDs can be selected to display a summary of all the associated tests. A specific test can be selected to display its Event Log and Parameters.

Packet View

The Packet View displays information about all of the packets found in the transport stream grouped according to content or for IP streams, Ethernet packets can be displayed for the session. These groups include PID value, SFN Mega-frame initialization packets (MIPs - DVB only), information packets (IIPs - ISDB-T only), RTP or UDP IP packet contents. When you select a specific PID, MIP, or IP session only packets carrying that particular PID, MIP or session are displayed. For Ethernet packets the RTP / UDP header information is displayed in both real and deferred time and can be used to display packet header information and payload.

Section View

The Section View uses customizable script files, which allow you to specify and view proprietary information.

Tables and their data source are displayed. This shows the data bytes (in both hexadecimal number format and ASCII character format) for the selected table, version, and section. Tables and sub-tables are easily analyzed and directly traceable to packet data.

Section Graphing

Section repetition interval – This graph displays the interval between two sections of a table on a particular PID.

Sub-table intersection gap – This graph displays the interval between sections in a particular sub-table.

Sub-table repetition interval – This graph displays the time between receiving one complete sub-table and receiving the next complete sub-table.

Timing Analysis

The MTS400 Series supports comprehensive PCR measurements to the TR 101 290 standard. When the selected elementary stream PID contains PCR information, PCR trend analysis views are available, displaying graphs of: PCR accuracy, PCR arrival interval, PCR overall jitter, PCR frequency offset, and PCR drift rate.

PCR graphs are available in real time and deferred time. Time stamping data ensure that these can be captured & viewed on stream recordings. This timestamp is compatible with recordings from other Tektronix equipment including the MTM400 Transport Stream monitor. Selectable MGF filters provide maximum flexibility and compatibility in these important PCR measurements. The MTS400 Series is also able to display PTS Arrival Interval graphing in real-time or deferred-time

IP Layer timing can be analysed using MDI and Ethernet Packet Inter-arrival time max, min, mean graphs or statistical display of Packet Inter-arrival time (histograms).

Cross Layer Timing

Provides the user with an at a glance view of timing at IP, TS and PES layers. This functionality addresses tough unsolved timing problems introduced by the use of video and audio over IP technologies. Enables rapid time to insight when diagnosing at which layer a fault was introduced.

Real Time and Deferred Time Electronic Program Guide (EPG) View

The EPG view allows at-a-glance checking across many EIT tables and can be set to any time zone from local time, UTC, or the transport stream time itself. The number of days of EPG events displayed are broadcaster dependent, but are not limited by the analyzer. When a transport stream EPG is selected, a panel shows the names of the services currently displayed in the event panel. The services displayed will depend on the node selected in the navigation view. ATSC, DVB, and ISDB EPGs are supported.

Event Panel

This panel shows the events for one or more services, depending on the node selected. Individual events are color-coded and shown as blocks; each block (and its associated tool-tip) displays event information extracted from the EIT. When a block is selected, the complete event information is shown in the event detail panel, including a link to the section carrying the information.

Events are color-coded as follows:

Color	Event Type
Red	Present event
Green	Following event
Blue	Schedule event
Yellow	(ISDB only) After event

MPE/IP View Data Broadcast

MPE data (internet IP sessions over MPEG TS) can be viewed as a separate entry for each MPE session either detected within the TS, or manually signaled since the view became active.

Information displayed for each session includes:

• PID
• MAC address
• Network layer source and destination IP addresses
• Transport layer protocol and port numbers
• Total data transmitted by the session so far since monitoring commenced
• Instantaneous bit rate using MGB1 profile

DVB SFN

For real-time, data contained in the most recently received MIP will be interpreted and displayed in a view depicting each field value. TPS MIP, STS time-stamps and other detailed information are available in navigator views.

Video over IP Analysis and Recording

A high performance Video over IP interface supporting GigE electrical and optical interfaces is available for the MTS400 series instruments. This interface has high resolution hardware timestamping enabling precise cross layer timing analysis. The GigE interface option enables configuration (or upgrade) of MTS400 series instruments for high performance applications by guaranteeing deterministic performance on fully loaded links. Precise timestamp information is retained during IP session analysis providing deferred time timing diagnostic capability. The comprehensive suite of deferred time analysis tools for compressed video can therefore be used with captures of complete IP sessions. The analyzer displays all current UDP or UDP/RTP session on a LAN segment and indicates those carrying TS traffic. UDP or UDP/RTP sessions carrying TS traffic may be selected for analysis or capture for subsequent analysis.

• MDI and statistical display of IP Packet Inter-arrival time (histograms)
• IP Session Capture and real or deferred time analysis down to the IP packet level
• Uses industry standard PCAP file format for use with Wireshark (Ethereal)
• H/W packet filtering enables use with up to full line rate traffic on GbE link
• Can be used simultaneously with ASI or RF interface

Two Ethernet ports are also fitted as standard to the MTS400 Series, one 10/100 and one 10/100/1000 Base-T. This allows connection to a corporate LAN while simultaneously using the second port for real time Video over IP Analysis*². The TSCA application ordered as a stand alone software product, MTS4SA, can also be used with a standard PC Ethernet port for real time Video over IP Analysis. For video over IP analysis using these PC Ethernet ports some timing measurements such as MDI and PCR’s are not available due to non-deterministic nature of PC Ethernet ports, although Mean PIT is included.

RF Interfaces

Terrestrial (DVB-T and ATSC), Cable (QAM Annex B) and Satellite (8/QPSK) interfaces are available as optional interfaces for the MTS400 Series instruments. RF layer diagnostics combined with full TS layer analysis and debug provide the user with rapid multilayer network fault diagnosis reducing time to insight when designing, deploying and troubleshooting broadcast infrastructure.

Any one of the RF interfaces can be installed and operated simultaneously with ASI or IP inputs enabling measurements to be made of inputs and outputs at contribution, multiplexing, modulation or IP encapsulation facilities.

• Superior RF performance
• Two level RF tests (warning & fail)
• Drift rate alarms
• Innovative MER rings in constellation view

Log Entry Format

• Each log entry consists of Time stamp from the system clock in real-time and PCRs in deferred time.
• Error Reference. This would normally be a PID or Program.
• Event description can be in local language.
• Errors per stream and per PID. Circular log of 10 k entries, with overwrite warning.
• Logs can be viewed in entirety or filtered pertaining to PID, Program test, or test and PID.
• Log files can be saved in CSV or XML format for subsequent analysis.
• TS Packet number (TS packet and Ethernet packet for deferred time IP analysis) with shortcut to TS or IP packet view

Playout (Transport Stream Generation) and Recording

Both Playout and Recording are supported as standard on both the MTS400 and MTS430 MPEG Test Systems. Both instruments also support simultaneous Playout and Recording (Duplex operation) over ASI, SMPTE310M and DVB Parallel interfaces. Playout of TS over IP interface is also supported with parametric capabilities and session replication.

TS Playout

Continuous playout of looped streams is possible at up to maximum ASI rate of 214 Mbps with automatic updating of time stamps. One-shot play, or selected file segment looping is possible. Playout rate can be automatic from file PCRs or manually set. Simultaneous playout and recording (duplex operation) for end to end system test is supported as standard with a maximum aggregate bit rate of 214 Mbps (ASI/SMPTE310M and DVB Parallel only).

IP Playout

New IP Playout functionality provides stimulus with parametric capabilities and multi session replication to characterise behaviour of network or device under test. This capability enables equipment manufacturers developing hardware or software solutions for video distribution over IP and IPTV to ensure quality and performance of products, resulting in reduced development costs and accelerated roll out of next generation IP broadcast services. Improved quality of new video over IP and IPTV products also enables equipment providers to differentiate offerings from their competitors.

• Support for Parametric playout
• Error Insertion Capability (Packet Drops, Checksum Errors, Sequence Errors and Jitter). This may be inserted in sequence or randomly.
• Burst mode (both timing and packet number based).
• Manual error generation capabilities.
• Advanced Mode with Protocol header customization capabilities for source and destination ports and addresses, allowing configuration of MAC address, transport checksum, network checksum and user editing of any packet header field parameters.
• Session replication to simultaneously encapsulate and play a TS over many IP sessions. Multiple IP/UDP/RTP header fields may be incremented within each session.
• Continuous looping with timing information and continuity updates to ensure seamless looping at the TS layer (see below).
• Single session playout up to 214Mbps and multi session playout up to 300Mbps (dependent upon TS bit rate).
• Fixed ES mode allows for manually specified playout bitrate, whilst maintaining the original duration of the stream.
• Support for VLAN groups including editing of header fields

Continuous Looping

The Player application offers a “Continuous Time-Stamp” option. This provides real-time modification of the timing information contained in the source stream during looped playback. This process removes timing discontinuities which would otherwise occur at the loop point. Make seamless application can be used to ensure continuous looping at the ES layer.

The following values are modified:

• Continuity Count
• PCR, PTS, DTS
• Time Offset Table (TOT - DVB only)
• Time and Date Table (TDT - DVB only)
• System Time Table (STT - ATSC only)
• Normal Play Time (NPT - MHP)
• Reed Solomon (ISDB-T only)

This feature is configurable from the stream player user interface and will operate in real time at the maximum playout rate.

Recording*³

Time-Stamped transport stream recording can be made with packet arrival time information stored for offline PCR timing analysis. The maximum record length is limited only by available disk space. It is not necessary to pre-allocate a file before recording.

Triggered Recording*⁴

It is possible to make either an immediate or triggered recording, with the user definable pre-trigger buffer being used to capture stream before, during, or after the trigger point. Complete Transport Streams are recorded, with recorded file parameters being displayed upon completion. These include file size, bit rate, number of packets, trigger conditions, trigger position, and time.

Multiplexer and SI Table Editor

When testing network elements or set-top boxes, a transport stream of the representative type needed is often not available. Even if there is a similar one, vital components within it may be missing or suffer from a lack of SI (system information) or other tables, or are multiplexed to the incorrect transport stream rate for the application.

Use the Multiplexer/Re-multiplexer/De-multiplexer application to create multi-program Transport Streams with custom SI/PSI/PSIP information for DVB, ATSC, ISDB, and MPEG compliant Transport Streams. A new ISDB-T Single Segment mode is added in version 3.1.

H.264 Elementary Streams may also be multiplexed into a Transport Stream. H.264 streams both with and without SEI timing messages are supported. The PTS and DTS generated for non-SEI streams are based upon the POC (Picture Order Count) information. PTS/DTS generation may be suppressed for SEI streams. Bitrate and framerate auto-detection features aid the import process. These may be overridden for non-SEI streams.

This enables the user to create their own test streams that they can use to validate and debug their designs more quickly, and also to create errored streams to perform parametric stress testing and ensure robustness and quality of their MPEG-2 or H.264 implementation.

Tektronix Multiplexer/Re-multiplexer/De-multiplexer Application Supports:

• MPEG-1 Video
• MPEG-1 Audio
• MPEG-2 Video
• MPEG-2 Audio
• MPEG-2 AAC Audio
• AC-3 Audio
• H.264 ES (both with and without optional SEI timing messages)
• MPEG-2 Video PES (packetized elementary streams)
• MPEG-2 Audio PES
• AC-3 Audio PES
• All the above are supported in Elementary and PES formats
• PIDs from other transport streams can be imported including any format including H.264 and VC-1
• Other data – the bit rate must be specified

The Solution

The multiplexer allows the user to collect together components from streams recorded off hard disk or CD/DVD-ROM, manipulate them in an unlimited manner, and then rebuild a fully compliant output stream. The software’s built-in knowledge of table syntax and descriptors ensures compliance and high quality output of the final multiplexed transport stream.

De-multiplex Existing Streams

The multiplexer accepts any recorded Transport Stream as an input source. The user can then de-multiplex this transport stream into its component PES. The user can then save the resulting PES and ES streams onto disk. The de-multiplexer is elementary stream agnostic and can be used to extract H.264 and VC-1 Elementary Streams from a Transport Stream.

Regroup Them with Stored Streams

These PES, or elementary video and audio streams, can be grouped together into logical groups – “Programs” of video, audio, and other associated data (such as Teletext/Closed Caption and MHP applications) with the original timing preserved. PIDs can be re-mapped as required.

Component Views and Available Bandwidth View

The Component Bit Durations View graphically displays the durations as well as start and stop times for each video or audio content PID. Duration and start and stop times can be changed by drag and drop or numerical entry. The available bandwidth view clearly shows the user how much content can be added into a transport stream so user can expand or optimize.

Map, Check and Rebuild Your Own Multiplex

Streams can then be rebuilt into a larger multiplex stream and new SI/PSIP tables can be customized and added safely with in-built compliance checks.

Generate Compliant Timing and Output Bit Rates as Required

The multiplexer is able to insert PCRs at the correct repetition rate and also allows the user to specify the PCR repetition rate, if desired.

Create, Add, or Modify SI/PSIP Flexibility

The multiplexer allows all the standard ATSC/DVB/ISDB and MPEG PSIP/SI tables and descriptors to be added or edited. Scripting allows new or custom tables to be added. The user is permitted to generate illegal conditions that allow stress of decoder or transmission chain equipment to verify its robustness.

“Expert” and “Standard” Modes

Standard mode will calculate related fields and table pointers. Expert mode is also provided to allow the user to set these to illegal conditions for stress and robustness test of network elements and STB decoders.

Wizards for Common Tasks

• Create new transport streams
• Specify ATSC, DVB, ISDB, and MPEG standards
• Add programs
• Add events

Buffer Analyzer

When developing professional and consumer equipment, particularly encoders and set top boxes, the characteristics of the test streams being either generated or used as stimulus need to be ascertained. Of critical importance amongst these characteristics is adherence to the buffer model. That is, when the stream is processed by a receiver, will any of the internal buffers be caused to either under or overflow. Consequences of these conditions will be freeze frames and receiver resets.

There are two types of buffer model; the one to use by the receiver is signaled within the Elementary Stream itself. The T-STD method is based upon the DTS values within the PES header and can be used for any contained CODEC type. Additionally, certain video CODECs such as MPEG-2 and H.264/AVC may contain buffer parameters within the ES itself. The Buffer Analyser verifies conformance of a stream to the T-STD model. Verification of the H.264/AVC HRD method is covered by the MTS4EA product.

The Tektronix Buffer Analyzer Application Supports:

• MPEG-2 Video
• H.264/AVC (MPEG-4 part 10)
• MPEG-2 Audio
• MPEG-2 AAC Audio
• AC-3 Audio
• PSI (ISO/IEC 13818 parts 1)

The Solution

The Buffer Analyzer accepts any recorded Transport Stream as an input source. The TS is then de-multiplexed into its component PES, grouped by Program. The user can select one or more PES to analyse for conformance to the T-STD model according to the buffer parameters for the CODEC type in question. General information such as profile and level together with any buffer errors are recorded in a log.

The user may manually set buffer sizes and other parameters prior to analysis, rather than use those specified by the standard or signaled within the stream.

Buffer Graphs

The occupancy level for each buffer within the model (3 for video, 2 for audio and 2 for PSI) is plotted on a graph for each PES being analysed. Graphs may be zoomed for ease of use. A Synchronisation feature allows for comparisons at a particular point in time between each of the graphs and individual log entries.

Trace View

Version 8.0 enhancements have integrated the previously separate Tracer utility into the Buffer Analyzer application. The Trace view provides details of the buffer movements for in-depth analysis of the results. Trace entries are included in the Synchronisation feature for ease of diagnosis.

Buffer Model Results (BMR Files)

The analysis results will be stored in a .bmr file to save having to re-analyse the same file. Results files may be opened directly in the Buffer Analyser, whereby logs, graphs and Trace contents (max 7000 entries) are re-populated. They are far smaller than the original TS files and thus useful to add as email attachments.

Packetized Elementary Stream (PES) Analyzer

• Analyzes PES headers
• Analyzes presentation and decode time stamps (PTS/DTS)
• Detects encoder drift against real-time errors

Carousel Analyzer

• Provides analysis and display of:
• Carousel Signaling
• Carousel Transport
• Data Carousels (MPEG, DVB and ARIB B24)
• Object Carousels (MHP, and MHEG-5)
• View Objects (including GIF, JPEG, PCX, PNG, .txt, and MPEG ‘I’ frame backdrops)
• Extract and Save Objects
• Drag and Zoom Graphing
• Repetition rates
• Carousel cycle times
• Entity cycle times
• PID & component Bitrates
• Bandwidth
• Application load timing statistics
• Comprehensive error reporting

Carousel Generator

• Wizard helps easy stream generation
• Built-in multiplexer for easy video and audio insertion
• Variable delivery weightings to optimize carousel load times
• Generates all required SI tables for terrestrial, satellite, and cable applications
• Integrates with the Tektronix carousel analyzer for load time optimization

Next Generation Video Elementary Stream Analyzer

Applications

• Semiconductor manufacturers
• Developers of set top boxes, encoders, and decoders
• Broadcasters, Mobile, and Fixed Network Operators

Features

• Next Generation (VC-1, H.264/AVC, MPEG-4 & 3GPP) and Legacy (MPEG-2, H.263 & H.263+) CODEC support
• Frame-by-Frame and Block-by-Block analysis to allow easy CODEC comparison
• Easy-to-Interpret Detailed Graphical Displays (requires user installed Microsoft Excel)
• Comprehensive semantic trace file output to determine Block-by-Block encoder decision making
• AV delay measurement
• Audio decode and analysis
• Synchronized audio and video analysis
• Real-time and non real-time decoding and analysis of compressed video streams (dependant on PC performance)
• Elementary Stream Editing
• Batch mode to allow automated testing
• YUV decoded video output for baseband video analysis
• Extraction of Elementary Stream from Transport Stream

More details on the MTS4EA are available in its datasheet 2AW-18069

Other Applications

Creating, Editing and Re-Sizing Transport Streams

Two direct stream manipulation packages are supplied as standard with all MTS400 Series products. These are TS Cutter allows re-sizing of Transport Streams, while TS Editor allows direct editing of Transport Streams using a hexadecimal view as well as a header interpretation guide.

Make Seamless

When looping a transport stream to simulate continuous playout, errors can be generated at the loop point caused by discontinuities in timing information. The Make Seamless module provides the opportunity of creating seamless Transport Streams.

Stream Creation and Manipulation

Use the Multiplexer/Re-multiplexer/De-multiplexer application to create multi-program Transport Streams with custom SI/PSI/PSIP information for DVB, ATSC, ISDB and MPEG compliant Transport Streams (see detail below).

* Duplex is not available for Transport Streams over IP

* Network traffic loading is specified to 100 Mbps maximum bit rate.

* Recording in this application is not available for Transport Streams over IP, see Transport Stream Compliance Analyzer for details of IP capture

* Recording in this application is not available for Transport Streams over IP, see Transport Stream Compliance Analyzer for details of IP capture

* For compliance with IEC61000-4-3 (Immunity) the Input Signal Amplitude must be ≥ -40 dBm

* Please note that the Turbo 8PSK option does not support non-turbo 8PSK (DVB-DSNG), or DVB-S2. For information, please contact Tektronix.

* Level 1 and Level 2 interleaving support compliant with all ITU J-83 Annex B, excluding I, J = 128, 7 and 128, 8 for 64QAM and in 256QAM excluding I,J = 8, 16 and 16, 8