Developing perception-based quality assessment test and measurement tools, Optimum Holding Inc. (Optimum), unveiled its Q-Master Video quality analyzer. The Q-Master solution is designed for telecommunications development engineers within System OEMs and Service Providers that need a flexible and cost-effective solution to test, measure and analyze the video quality generated and received by their multimedia products. A tool for laboratory environments, the Q-Master system uses ITU standard perceptual analysis to generate a Mean Opinion Score (MOS) that represents the end-user’s perception of quality from the device under test. These devices include codecs, echo-cancellers, transcoders, gateways, set top boxes and other types of video networking equipment.

"The use of perceptual measurement algorithms enables System OEMs and Service Providers to test, measure and analyze the quality of the multimedia produced by their products from the end-users perspective," said Aart Konynenberg, Vice President of Optimum. "This unique measurement approach combined with Q-Master’s flexibility and Microsoft Windows-based user interface sets a new standard for quality test and measurement analyzers."

Q-Master has both digital video and analog video interfaces and uses an industry proven objective perceptual video quality algorithm. It is therefore unique in its capability to assess video quality as perceived by the viewer; no other instrument currently available has such capability. The system has two main components – an I/O interface unit and a Windows-based network drive mapping application. The interface unit is easily portable and can be configured for multiple technologies including 10/100/1000 Ethernet, S-Video, Composite Video and others. This approach means that the interface unit can be installed anywhere in the network and be controlled by any authorized client PC. There is also a software only solution available which is file based only.

Q-Master Video provides the following measurement parameters: an overall MOS score, Blocking, Blurring, Jerkiness, PSNR, and PSNR vs. time, lost frames and/or packets, and many others. Additional algorithms will soon be available for no-reference video, lip-sync, etc.. The Windows-based GUI provides many graphics and a video playback that enables quick and comprehensive quality assessment analysis.

Pricing and Availability

Q-Master Video is available today directly from Optimum for Video Quality Assessment starting at $34,990.00.