Users can now set up to 32 OTT channels simultaneously to record all metadata elements of additional OTT formats.

The TAG recording feature can be set to help users analyse and report detected error events. The platform automatically records the last few minutes of each pre-defined stream in a cyclic mode using a ‘First In, First Out’ method. When an event is detected that meets a threshold set by the user, the recording is automatically saved to external storage. The recording can later be used to analyse the event and troubleshoot the cause.

Users now have the ability to set a recording of an OTT channel manually, as an alternative to having it triggered automatically by an alarm that detected errors in the content above an acceptable threshold. This allows for situations where alarms are not initiated because the problem did not exceed the set threshold, yet the channel still needs recording for investigation, testing and analysis of a particular instance.

This is especially important in OTT with its multiple flavours and different sets of metadata for each format. Now users have the added option to record instances of OTT channels manually as needed to troubleshoot problems and document even seemingly innocuous errors.

“OTT monitoring and error event recording has quickly become a priority issue with our customers and so we’ve enhanced the platform’s capabilities and capacity to help provide information easily for an effective post-mortem analysis,” explained Pinky Maron, VP Professional Services “We’ve made it possible for operators to manually record and detect errors that fly under the radar, and because there are now so many different formats with multiple profiles, we’ve added robust support for recording supplemental data to ease the analysis process. OTT applications come with their own set of challenges, but we’ve listened to our customers, and provided tools that aid the successful delivery of their content.”

TAG has also enriched the functionality of the monitoring and visualization platform to address the increase in metadata that comes with the growth in OTT. Each OTT format has unique characteristics and metadata headers associated with the transmission. Users need to have all this information available for the post-mortem analysis, so TAG has incorporated recording capability to include all elements and headers of HLS, MPEG-DASH, MSS, and CMAF OTT streams for improved analysis capabilities or recorded errors. Additionally, the recording of encrypted content before and after the decryption is now available.

“As OTT formats multiply, so does the additional data which is unique to each profile. We’ve gone from support of only MPEG transport streams to recording headers and metadata for all the new flavours which is all part of our Zer0 Friction philosophy: provide solutions and services that eliminate obstacles for our customers and make it easier to work with TAG,” added Maron.