The FINANCIAL — Motorola (NYSE:MOT) Motorola on May 18 announced the Motorola SmartStream Terminal Data Collector (STDC), a solution for remote collection and presentation of set-top diagnostic information.
Already deployed with major cable operators in North and South America, the STDC solution reports detailed diagnostic data, saving service providers on operating expenses and increasing customer satisfaction. The STDC joins with the Motorola NBBS Device Management Platform to deliver comprehensive device management capabilities across the broadband-connected home through the entire device life-cycle including: installation, configuration, bulk modifications and trouble resolution.
The STDC solution includes a server at the cable headend and client software on consumer set-tops. The STDC gathers critical information about the settop population as a whole, or the status of an individual settop. The diagnostic information is grouped into intuitive data sets enabling CSRs and technical support personnel to quickly and easily debug a variety of device issues remotely. The current data sets available in the STDC make it a powerful and affordable diagnostic solution, enabling quality of service for delivery of broadcast video and interactive applications such as video-on-demand (VOD) and switched digital video (SDV).
“We are bringing an unprecedented level of visibility into the working performance of cable set-tops,” said Mark DePietro, VP Video Access Solutions for Motorola Home and Networks Mobility. “The remote capabilities of the STDC solution mean operators can not only deliver better quality of support to their subscribers, they can also reduce costs by saving on truck rolls. This optimized approach provides service assurance and enables cable operators to increase subscriber satisfaction and retention in an increasingly competitive market.”
The solution currently provides six key data sets for scheduled and on-demand reporting, with an emphasis on enabling operators to quickly, even proactively, identify service degradation due to network or set-top performance. Additional data sets are already in development.
The initial STDC data sets include:
Core Diagnostic – General set-top state and status
In-band Diagnostic – Tuner and signal quality information
Decryptor Tier Report – Set-top authorization information
Download Object Diagnostic – Set-top software data
Aloha Diagnostic – Network traffic information
Service Information Diagnostic – MPEG (PAT/PMT/PID) information
The STDC system is scalable to multiple set-tops in a home as well as multiple output locations for report viewing. Adding on the ability to bundle the technology with the Motorola NBBS platform, the STDC solution is both flexible and customizable for cable operators seeking a full device diagnostic system.
Motorola’s NBBS is a scaleable, carrier-grade software platform that enables operators to remotely access, configure, monitor and troubleshoot the full portfolio of consumer devices, home networks and services. NBBS not only lowers operational expenses and operators’ costs by reducing truck rolls but also increases revenues by accelerating new service introduction.
STDC and Motorola’s NBBS are part of Motorola’s overall Service Assurance program – enhancing Quality of Service at the edge of the network.
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