System alerts¶
Most of the system related alerts are detected at the Probes and forwarded to the CS. The CS generates Event log and Event viewer entries.
System alerts table¶
Alert |
Description |
ENCODER STOPPED |
The Encoder module processing a media stream has stopped. |
SERVICE STOPPED |
The Encoder service (operating system routine) has stopped. |
Dial error |
Digit dialing errors have been detected with a custom script written using the Interactive Services (optional) module. |
Script error |
One of two faults has occurred:
|
STORAGE ERROR |
A hard disk file error event. |
GPI fault |
This fault can be triggered by any media fault to provide electrical alert to external hardware. This option is usually not used in the RPM. |
POWER |
A toggle “STB Power” event. |
Probe Down Alert |
The Probe is not working. |
LICENSE |
A License expiration event. |
Media Faults with Examples table¶
The Observer uses three specific terms to establish the parameters of its media fault alerts:
Certainty: the level threshold default..
Duration: the duration threshold for a fault. .
Recovery: the period of time that must pass after a fault ceases before the system is considered to no longer be in a fault.
Alert Types |
Description of Operation and Examples |
Level, Detection Ranges and Defaults |
AUDIOLOW (Low audio) |
Low audio fault is detected when the incoming audio stays below the low level threshold and the duration of the fault exceeds the duration threshold. Disable audio alert detection on channels with frequent silence. All these values are defined in the Probe Manager on the Probe. If you wish to change any Certainty, Duration, or Recovery levels, please contact Volicon Support. (RPM only) AUDIOLOW Alert Example: Audio alert is configured on a channel. Certainty threshold = -40 dB; Duration set to default of 30 sec. Audio input signal detected = -69 dB (below Certainty ) for 41 sec; thus exceeding the Duration threshold. A media fault therefore is detected, generating an audio alert and automatically creating a fault clip, which is stored under the Clips — Fault Clips section on the Observer Media Player. When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
Certainty: -40 dB Level threshold - increase for noisy lines, e.g., -35 dB Duration: 30 sec Recovery duration default: 10 sec |
AUDIOHIGH (High audio) |
Audio high fault is detected when the incoming audio stays above the high level threshold for sufficient duration to exceed the audio duration threshold. AUDIOHIGH Alert Example: Audio alert is configured on a channel. Certainty threshold = - 1 dB; Duration set to default of 30 sec. Audio input signal detected = 2 dB (above Certainty) for 6 minutes (exceeding the cycle time for the lineup plus the Duration threshold). A media fault therefore is detected, generating an audio alert and automatically creating a fault clip, which is stored under the Clips — Fault Clips section on the Observer Media Player. When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
Certainty: -1 dB Duration: 30 sec Recovery duration default: 10 sec |
AUDIO-OK |
Audio level returns to normal when the incoming signal returns between the audio Low level and High level thresholds. The recovery needs to exceed the recovery duration of the particular service, i.e., duration configured for the Audio Low or Audio High. On the faulting channel: Level persisting between at around -20 dB for more than 10 sec (exceeding the cycle time for the lineup plus duration threshold). An AUDIOHIGH alarm is cleared, AUDIO-OK fault clip track is added to the AUDIOHIGH Fault clip which is stored under the Clips — Fault Clips section on the Observer Media Player. When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
Certainty: above low level Certainty (-40dB) but below high level Certainty(-1dB) Duration: 30 sec Recovery: 10 sec |
VIDEOLOST |
When video framing loss, commonly known as “sync”, is detected by the hardware and persists over the Video Duration threshold, then a VIDEOLOST Alert is generated. Only the Duration threshold is configurable; the level threshold is not configurable. Example: Video lost signal = TRUE over duration of 31 sec exceeding cycle time and duration threshold. When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
Certainty: detected and not detected (value is 0). Duration threshold default: 30 sec Recovery duration default: 10 sec |
VIDEOBLACK (Black screen) |
When the percentage of black pixels (BS) in video frames of incoming video signal exceeds the certainty threshold and persists over the duration threshold. Alert example: Stream A1 variables are set to the default values: Stream A1 video containing video frames with black pixel percentage to exceed the certainty threshold and persist for 31 seconds. A Videoblack alert is declared and a fault clip is cut. When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
Black screen (BS) certainty threshold default: 95%. Volicon has learned over the years to never change this value. 95% is the optimal value to reduce false positives. BS detection range: When BS exceed the certainty threshold, up to 100% (e.g. 96% to 100%) Duration threshold default: 30 sec Recovery duration default: 10 sec |
VIDEOSTATIC (Static screen) |
Detected when video frame pixels at the same frame location are compared for color and luminosity between pairs of consecutive video frames and the percentage of pixels that match exceeds the static screen (SS) certainty threshold while also exceeding the duration threshold. Alert example: Stream A1 variables are set to the default values. When the pixel color, luminance and locations matching between pairs of consecutive video frames exceed 95% of all video frame pixels for longer than 3 minutes where the cycle time is 2 minutes, a Videostatic alert is declared and a fault clip is cut. When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
SS certainty threshold default: 95% Duration threshold default: 30 sec Recovery duration default: 10 sec SS detection range: When SS exceed the certainty threshold, up to 100% (e.g. 96% to 100%) |
VIDEO-OK |
When video returns to normal framing and pixel characteristics: Recovery for video alerts: Video Loss returns to False, Black Screen, Static Screen and Video motion return below their certainty thresholds When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
Video OK detection range: Video Loss returns to False, Black Screen, Static Screen and Video motion return below their thresholds |
CCLOST |
Closed Captions or teletext data is absent for some period of time. When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
Range state: Not detected Duration threshold default: 600 sec Recovery duration default: 10 sec |
CC-OK |
“Teletext” or “Closed captions” are OK When notification is enabled, SNMP trap and email messages are sent if configured by the admin. |
Equation: CC loss signal is False |
See also the SNMP Notification section, @11.