Bridge Technologies announced to have further improved its already advanced Microbitrate analysis feature, integrated into the VB330, VB220 and VB120 and NOMAD monitoring solutions. This proprietary feature – unique amongst IP-based broadcast monitoring probes on the market – provides unparalleled insight into network performance, and is essential for broadcasters committed to maintaining superior Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) in an increasingly competitive market.
Traditional network traffic measurement instruments often rely on average metrics over a second to assess network performance. In reality though, a network is subject to ‘microbursts’, a phenomenon in which data packets are transmitted in rapid, oversized bursts. Although these constitute only momentary fluctuations, they have the potential to overflow the buffers of the network stack, undermining broadcast quality. Thus, a per-second readout of network performance may indicate that – on average – everything is operating within parameters, when in reality the broadcast is subject to jitter and dropped packets. Indeed, a network showing an average rate of four gigabits per second may experience microsecond-level peaks reaching as high as 25 gigabits.
By addressing this issue at the microsecond level, Bridge Technologies‘ Microbitrate feature helps engineers to pinpoint the exact moments and causes of microbursts, facilitating immediate and effective troubleshooting. Whilst the core functionality of Bridge Technologies’ Microburst analysis has been integrated into the IP probes for over six years, it undergoes continuous evolution with each new version release, providing increasingly intuitive and in-depth visualisations of network traffic peaks and troughs. With the ability to customise time in increments at which measurement is undertaken, no other broadcast probe on the market offers this level of detail and user-friendly presentation.
“The ability to monitor and analyse microbursts is indispensable for providers dealing with IP transmissions,” said Simen Frostad, Chairman of Bridge Technologies. “With our version 6.3 release, we have further improved our MicroBursting analysis, empowering users to maintain the highest standards of distribution quality, and ensuring seamless delivery and optimal viewer experiences.”
The Microbitrate feature and the whole range of monitoring solutions will be showcased at IBC 2024 (booth 1.A71).
