Characteristics
Applications
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/Remultiplexer/Demultiplexer application to create multiprogram
Transport Streams with custom SI/PSI/PSIP information for DVB, ATSC,
ISDB, and MPEG compliant Transport Streams. A Single Segment mode
is included with both ISDB-T and ISDB-TB (Brazil) standards.
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. Bit rate and frame rate 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.
Multiplexer Details
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 stream may either be stored to
disk or streamed directly from a physical interface when installed
as part of an MTS400 Series instrument. The software’s built-in knowledge
of table syntax and descriptors ensures compliance and high-quality
output of the final multiplexed transport stream.
Demultiplex
Existing Streams
The multiplexer accepts any
recorded Transport Stream as an input source. The user can then demultiplex
this transport stream into its component PES. The user can then save
the resulting PES and ES streams onto disk. The demultiplexer is elementary
stream agnostic and can be used to extract H.264 and VC-1 Elementary
Streams from a Transport Stream.
Add and Modify Elementary
Streams and SI/PSIP
The multiplexer allows all
the standard ATSC, DVB, ISDB, ISDB-TB (Brazil), and MPEG PSIP/SI tables
and descriptors to be added or edited. Scripting allows new or proprietary
tables and descriptors to be added safely with built-in compliance
checks. The user is permitted to generate illegal conditions that
allow stress of decoder or transmission chain equipment to verify
its robustness.
Elementary streams within donor transport streams
may be multiplexed into a larger transport stream.
Program
Groups
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 remapped
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 the user can expand or optimize.
Generate Compliant
Timing at Specified Output Bit Rates
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.
“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, ISDB-TB, and MPEG standards
- Add
programs
- Add elementary streams
Supported
CODEC Types
- MPEG-1 Video
- MPEG-1 Audio
- MPEG-2 Video
- MPEG-2 Audio
- MPEG-2 AAC Audio
- MPEG-4 AAC Audio, including High Efficiency and 5.1 channels
- AC-3 Audio
- H.264 Video (both with and without optional
SEI timing messages)
- All the above are supported in Elementary
and PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) 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
Make Seamless Wizard
The Make Seamless wizard
is provided with the Multiplexer. 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
wizard provides the opportunity of creating a seamless version of
a Transport Stream file by adjusting:
- The stream SI to
comply with the DVB and ATSC standards
- The video ES components
at the endpoints such that Closed GOPS are created. This means that
all picture predictions may be resolved
- Audio ES components
such that there are no partial frames at the stream endpoints
Standalone Software System Requirements (MTS4SA)
- PC with Genuine Intel Pentium class 1.2 GHz processor
- Intel or 100% compatible motherboard chipset
- Windows 2000
or Windows XP Operating System
- Internet Explorer 5.0 or above
- 256 MB of RAM
- 50 MB of available hard disk space for
the application and documentation
- Additional space will be
required for generated transport streams
- SVGA (800 × 600)
resolution video adapter and monitor (XVGA (1024 × 768) or higher
resolution recommended)
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- Keyboard
and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
