With transformation of content at each stage in its lifecycle, there is a need for a broad-based content verification system

Customized Test Specification Verification specifications are set up based on workflow needs, playout requirements, and more. Verification templates are generally built-in, but are customized and saved for future use. Verification specifications can also be auto-generated based on characteristics of reference good content.

Completeness of Checks Figure 2: Automated Content Verification at every content transformation point

Advantages of Automated Content Verification or QC Solutions

Leading Automated Content Verification or Content QC solutions offer several advantages that enable efficiencies in automated file-based workflows.

These systems check for the most obvious to the most complicated content quality issues. On one hand, checks are performed on the resolution and frame-rate of video. On the other hand, issues such as blockiness and flashiness in the video are also detected.

Traceability of Results Extensive reports detailing results of verification are available. Reports are easily shared across groups, locations, and systems for local use or for content hand-off. Reports also trace changes in content across various stages in the workflow.

Automatic Alerts

These systems are configured to prompt for immediate action on urgent issues; such as fatal errors in content. The prompts are available as an application-level hook or in the form of an email.

Scalability

These systems are designed to leverage the additional processing capabilities available in the multi-core platforms and offer better performance.

Figure 3: Advantages of Automated Content Verification Automated 24x7 Operations

These systems verify content 24x7 and ensure optimum and maximum utilization of hardware resources. In addition, most systems are designed with automatic failover mechanism to guarantee uninterrupted operation and safeguard against any hardware failures.

Automated Content Access and Routing With minimal effort, these systems are configured to automatically discover and verify content across a variety of storage locations on the network. Based on the results of the verification, content is categorized and moved to specified locations on the network.

Independent & Objective QC

The leading Content QC solutions can verify a content independently of whichever workflows or tools transform the content. They provide objective reports on the content quality that are again independent of any biases towards a specific workflow or tool.

Easy Integration Well-designed programming interfaces ensure that these systems are easily integrated with other systems in the workflow. This ensures that these systems operate in conjunction with other diverse operations in the workflow.

Easy Debugging

For easy debugging and inspection of content-level issues, these systems also provide debugging interfaces, such as content playback for audio- visual inspection of quality issues.

Conclusion

Automation in a file-based workflow may not be able to achieve the desired efficiencies and cost-effectiveness without automated content verification. Manual QC methods cannot efficiently verify content at each content transformation. Efficiency and cost-effectiveness of a workflow can be significantly augmented by integrating an automated content verification or QC solution that ensures content readiness in every workflow.

37

AUTOMATION FOCUS