CA2617822C - Mpeg-2 network testing and automated information extraction thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for extracting information from MPEG-2 digital video testing applications and creation of a database therefrom. The method includes retrieving report information from a digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group; extracting performance information from each group, and associating the performance information from each group with an associated PID; and storing in a computer readable memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set. Each of the data sets may collectively form a database and be displayed on a spreadsheet for review by a technician.

Description

EXTRACTION THEREOF

FIELD
[0001] Example embodiments described herein relate to digital video networks, and in particular to MPEG-2 network testing and automated information extraction thereof.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The broadcasting of audio and video information has gradually transitioned from a primarily analog system to those having digital video streams. When a digital video stream is compressed and sent over a network for eventual decoding by a television set-top box or decoder, the digital video stream may for example be compressed by as much as 180 times. Once the digital video stream arrives at a viewer's home, the set-top box then re-generates the quasi-original content and presents the program to the viewer.

[0003] Because digital video compression is "lossy", the more a digital video stream is compressed, the lower the resulting quality will be. This may cause a digital video stream to be vulnerable to errors. As the digital video stream travels from one network element in a digital video network to the next, the digital video stream may constantly change as programs, additional digital streams and tables are added, updated or removed. During such a transmission process, any number of errors can appear in the digital video stream, causing service degradation or disruption. A single bit error can severely degrade picture quality or completely interrupt a service. Unlike an occasional noise or fuzz in an analog picture, errors in digital images are much more obvious and apparent to the viewer.

[0004] In order to monitor errors within a video stream, digital video testing tools have been made available. Such digital video testing tools may be useful for providing preconfigured visual tools such as graphs and charts based on the monitoring and analysis of the digital video stream. However, in some instances, a technician may desire to review the raw data of performance indicators generated from the digital video testing tools, in order to perform his own analysis of the video stream. To perform such tasks, the technician would manually gather and look for errors in reports generated from the digital video testing tools, which may be cumbersome and time consuming, and may for example take a number of hours for completion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Example embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, through which like reference numerals are used to indicate similar features.

[0006] Figure 1 shows an example of a digital video network to which example embodiments can be applied;

[0007] Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a digital video testing device in accordance with an example embodiment, to be used for monitoring of the digital video network shown in Figure 1;

[0008] Figure 3 shows an example graphical user interface screen of a digital video testing application shown on a display of the digital video testing device of Figure 2;

[0009] Figure 4 shows a detail of a report window from the graphical user interface screen of Figure 3;

[0010] Figure 5 shows a spreadsheet extracted from report information of the digital video testing application of Figure 3 in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0011] Figure 6 shows a data structure stored in memory and corresponding to the spreadsheet of Figure 5;

[0012] Figure 7 shows ahother example embodiment of a data structure stored in memory and extracted from report information of the digital video testing application of Figure 3; and

[0013] Figure 8 shows a flow diagram of a method in accordance with an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present application provides methods and systems for extracting information from a digital video testing application and storing such information with corresponding Packet Identifiers (PIDs) as a data set. In the complex field of digital video networks and associated protocols, tools which provide for any semblance of organization of information may assist in error analysis of digital video streams.

[0015] According to one example embodiment is a method for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being executable on a computer readable medium and configured for processing of digital video streams. The method includes retrieving report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group; extracting performance information from each group, and associating the performance information from each group with an associated PID; and storing in a computer readable memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

[0016] According to another example embodiment is a computer readable memory having recorded thereon instructions for execution by a computer device for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being configured for processing of digital video streams, the instructions including instructions to: retrieve report information from the digital video testing application, the-report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group, extract performance information from each group, and associate the performance information from each group with an associated PID, and store in the memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

[0017] According to another example embodiment is a computer device for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being executable on a computer-readable medium and configured for processing of digital video streams, the computer device comprising: a memory; a controller for accessing the memory and the digital video testing application, the controller configured to: retrieve report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group, extract performance information from each group, and associate the performance information from each group with an associated PID, and store in the memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

[0018] According to another example embodiment is a computer program product, comprising: a memory having computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a computer device, for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being executable on a computer-readable medium and configured for processing of digital video streams, said code comprising: code means for retrieving report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group; code means for extracting performance information from each group, and associating the performance information from each group with an associated PID; and code means for storing in the memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

[0019] According to another example embodiment is a computer device for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being configured for processing of digital video streams, the computer device comprising: means for retrieving report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group; means for extracting performance information from each group, and means for associating the performance information from each group with an associated PID; and means for storing in a memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

[0020] According to another example embodiment is a computer-readable memory comprising a data set, the data set extracted from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being configured for processing of digital video streams. The data set comprises performance information extracted from different groups of performance information from report information from the digital video testing application, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group; and PID
information associated with the performance information.

[0021] For clarity, references to "digital video" (DV) include those signals which have both digital video and audio. References to "digital video stream"
and "digital video transport stream" may be used interchangeably, depending on the point of view of the specific network element. Reference to "program"
and "channel" may also be used interchangeably, for example a "digital television program" may also be a "digital television channel".

[0022] Reference is now made to Figure 1, which shows an example of a digital video network 10 to which example embodiments can be applied.
The digital video network 10 shows a topology of "DV Actives", which are those network elements that make actual changes to the content of a digital video stream, and where potential test sites would be located. The transmitter system 10 includes at least one multiplexer (Mux) 12. The Mux 12 is used to combine multiple digital video streams 14 into a single digital video transport stream 16. The digital video transport stream 16 includes a distribution network 18 and will be subsequently decoded by a real-time decoder/set-top box (STB) 20, for decoding of a specified program onto a television set 22.

[0023] As shown, the elementary streams 14 of the digital video network 10 may receive content from various sources, including via satellite digital video broadcasting (DVB-S) 24, Terrestrial digital video broadcasting (DVB-T) 26, long-haul transmission networks 28, and video-on-demand (VOD) 30.

[0024] Examples of the coded signal from the DVB-S 24 include L-Band, I/F
QPSK, 8PSK turbo-code, and CATV signals (such as 64/256 QAM). Examples of the coded signal from the DVB-T 26 include COFDM and 8VSB. As shown, an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) 32, 34 may be used to receive a coded signal from either the DVB-S 24 or the DVB-T 26. The IRD 32, 34 receives the coded signal and decodes the coded signal. After decoding, the IRD 32, 34 sends a signal over an asynchronous serial interface ("ASI") to a real time encoder (RTE) 36, 38. The RTE 36, 38 is used to encode the received signals into digital video transport streams. As shown, the RTE 36, 38 sends digital video transport streams over another ASI to the Mux 12 for combining of the elementary streams 14.

[0025] With respect to long-haul transmission networks 28, the signal from the long-haul transmission networks 28 may be sent to a digital program insertion (DPI) 40. DPI may for example be used (among other things) to insert. additional content such as advertisements/commercials into the digital video stream. The digital video stream may be sent over an Ethernet, for example Ethernet capable of supporting Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) communication, as shown.

[0026] The VOD 30 or any other on-demand equipment is used to provide narrowcast services. The programs sent by the VOD 30 are generally meant for either unicast or multicast services. The signal from the VOD may for example be sent to an IP router 42, for example over GigE, as shown.

[0027] Within the digital video network 10 there are often more than a dozen vendors of network devices. Each "DV active" may be a potential site to be tested by a digital video testing device in order to monitor and analyze potential errors of the digital video stream.

[0028] In example embodiments, the specific protocol for implementing a digital video stream on the digital video network 10 is based on MPEG-2.
MPEG-2 generally defines the protocols for compression, transmission, and movement of compressed digital content across a network. Specifically, MPEG-2 defines a set of standards for building of a single or multiplex of a digital video transport stream. Other standards relating to the digital video network 10 include Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and DVB.

[0029] The basic unit of data in a MPEG-2 digital video transport stream is a "packet", which includes at least a packet identifier (PID) and a payload. A
PID is a unique identifier for each program, and accordingly each program has a unique PID. For example, a transport stream used in digital television might contain three PIDs corresponding to three television programs.
Suppose each program in the digital video stream consists of one video stream, one or two audio streams, and any necessary metadata. A set-top box 20 wishing to decode a particular program decodes the payloads of each PID associated with the program. The set-top box 20 can discard the payload of the remaining PIDs if necessary, depending on the particular application.

[0030] Another aspect of MPEG-2 is a program clock reference (PCR), which is a mechanism by which the MPEG-2 digital video transport stream synchronizes a clock in the receiving network element to that of the transmitting/encoding network element. Once this synchronization has occurred, further timing data may be communicated (required for subsequent decoding of the transport stream).

[0031] Reference is now made to Figure 2, which shows a block diagram of a digital video testing device 50. Referring briefly to Figure 3, the digital video testing device 50 may be used to operate a digital video testing application.
The digital video testing application may be used to create report information. Referring briefly to Figure 4, the digital video testing device is enabled to extract information from the report information and organize the information in the form of a spreadsheet.

[0032] Referring again to Figure 2, the digital video testing device 50 may be used for monitoring of potential "DV active" sites within the digital video network 10 shown in Figure 1. The choice of which "DV active" site to monitor depends on the particular application, or on the nature of the errors arising in the digital video network 10. As shown, the digital video testing device 50 has a controller 52 for controlling operation of the digital video testing device 50, a keyboard or auxiliary input 54, a display screen or display 56, and a communications subsystem 58 accessible by the controller 52 for communication to the digital video network 10. The digital video testing device 50 also includes a readable medium or memory 60, which is readable and accessible by the controller 52 and can include transient memory such as random access memory (RAM) and one or more persistent storage elements such as, but not limited to, flash memory or a hard drive.
The controller 50 can also include one or more microprocessors that may access the persistent and/or transient memory 60. Memory 60 stores information and software enabling the microprocessor(s) of the controller 52 to implement the control device 50 functionality as further described below.
The communications subsystem 58 may be used to interface with the digital video network 10, by sending and receiving information with the digital video network 10. Preferably, the digital video testing device 50 acts as a flow-through of a digital video stream for the digital video network 10 without affecting the integrity of the digital video stream.

[0033] Under instructions from various software applications resident in memory 60 of the digital video testing device 50, the controller 50 is configured to implement various functional components or modules, for interacting with the device subsystems. In example embodiments, the software resident on the digital video testing device 50 includes applications for implementing functions relating to digital video streams and related information such as to monitor 64, analyze 66, record 68, create 70, play 72 and extract 74. In some example embodiments, some or part of the functionality of the functional modules 62 can be implemented through firmware or hardware components instead of, or in combination with, computer software instructions executed by the microprocessor of the controller 52. In some example embodiments, additional or fewer modules may be implemented by the controller 50, and some or all of the functions performed by some modules could be combined into other modules or split into separate modules.

[0034] The monitor module 64 monitors the digital video stream for errors.
The monitor module 64 generally performs preventive maintenance mechanisms for continuous monitoring of the digital video streams and identifies and isolates any errors or faults. The analyze module 66 causes the device 50 to analyze a digital video stream, in real-time or offline. The record module 68 causes the device 50 to unconditionally record a digital video stream for the purpose of later analysis, or as proof of errors, or for use as a reference stream. The create module 70 allows a user to create their own digital video streams. The Play module 72 causes the device 50 to play or playback of a recorded digital video stream. The extract module 74 may in some example embodiments be used to extract performance information, as described in greater detail below.

[0035] In some example embodiments, a DTS-330 available from JDS
Uniphase Corporation may be used to perform some of the functions of the digital video testing device 50. The DTS-330 is a stand-alone digital video testing computer-based terminal and corresponding software applications which may be used on different "DV active" test sites of the digital video network 10. The DTS-330 can also identify whether inappropriate jitter is present in the PCR timestamps, provide measurements of the actual PCR
timestamps, the drift of a 27 MHz PCR clock, the current offset of the PCR
clock as well as the drift rate of the PCR clock. Although the DTS-330 may be useful for providing predetermined summary information such as graphs and charts, there are instances where a technician wishes to review the raw data of performance indicators generated from the DTS-330. In some example embodiments, the DTS-330 may be modified by installing appropriate applications for performing additional functions, in order to be used as the digital video testing device 50. In other example embodiments, the DTS-330 is used as a stand-alone computer terminal to perform its typical functions, while other functions of the video testing device 50 are performed by a separate computing device (having its own controller, memory, etc.).
100361 An example digital video testing application implemented on the digital video testing device 50 will now be explained, with reference to Figure 3, which shows an example graphical user interface screen shown on the display screen 56 (Figure 2) of the digital video testing device 50. In the example shown, the digital video testing application is provided by the DTS-330 software application. The graphical user interface screen displays a main environment or main menu 80, which may be operated by a user to manipulate and review report information generated by the digital video testing device 50.
[0037] The main menu 80 includes a transport stream window 82 and a report window 84. The transport stream window 82 has user-selectable options 86, each option 86 representing a group 88 of performance information. The selection of one of the options 86 results in the corresponding group 88 of performance information to be displayed in the report window 84. As shown, the user-selectable options 86 include Summary 86a, PID Information 86b, PID Watch 86c, Channels 86d, Timing 86e, and Monitor 86f. As shown, the corresponding groups 88 include Transport Stream Summary 88a, PID Information 88b, PID Watch 88c, Channels (Actual) 88d, Timing 88e and Monitor 88f, respectively.
[0038] The digital video testing device 50 is connected to a suitable "DV
active" test site (or multiple sites) in the digital video network 10.
Referring to Figure 3, the DTS-330 software application is suitably configured depending on the particular application, as is known in the art, to perform such functions as as: enabling reporting; setting the "Minimum time between reports triggered by events" to a time of "00:01:00"; enabling PID watch for all of the available PIDs; enabling alarm functions on priority criteria; and enabling "overall jitter" under the PCR accuracy selection. In operation, the parameters are reset before starting the analysis. The DTS-330 application performs monitoring or analysis or both for a preconfigured test period and collects the data. Report information is generated accordingly, as is known in the art.
[0039] Referring still to Figure 3, a user selects one of the user-selectable options 86 to display performance information from the corresponding group 88 in the report window 84. The performance information for each group includes at least one PID representing a program and associated performance information. Reference is now made to Figure 4, which shows a detail of the report window 84, displaying the Timing 88e group (for example, when the timing option 86e is selected). An excerpt of the Timing 88e group shown is displayed and entitled "PCR Detailed Information". As shown, for the PID number "17", certain corresponding performance information 92 to that PID is also displayed in the report window 84: PCR/s, Jitter Avg, Jitter Max, Accuracy Avg, Accuracy Avg (Max), Offset Min, Offset Max, Drift Rate Min, Drift Rate Max. Similar information is shown with respect to PID number "19".
[0040] Referring to Figure 3, other performance information is included in the other groups 88, and include the same PIDs as the Timing 88e group. The performance information for PID Watch 88c includes "P1 Errors", "P2 Errors", "Bandwidth Min", "Bandwidth Max" and "MPEG". The performance information for Channels (Actual) 88d includes "PTS Delta".
[0041] It would be cumbersome for a technician to review the performance information in the report window 84 in the format described above. Example embodiments are described herein which provide for extracting of the performance information from the DTS-330 application into a readily usable format.
[0042] Reference is now made to Figure 5, which shows a spreadsheet 100 of performance information extracted from the report window 84 (Figure 3) in accordance with an example embodiment. In the example shown, the spreadsheet 100 is generated by a macro having suitable instructions for execution by Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet application. Other suitable programming languages may be used such as java, C++, etc. The macro may for example be implemented by the extract module 74 (Figure 2).

[0043] Reference is now made to Figure 6, which shows a data structure 150 stored in memory 60 and corresponding generally to the spreadsheet 100 (Figure 5). The data structure shown is in the form of a table having a number of data elements, for example data elements 156, 158 as shown.
Groups of data elements (such as 156, 158) may collectively form a data set, shown as 152, 154. The data sets 152, 154 may collectively form a database.
[0044] Referring to Figure 3, in some example embodiments, the performance information contained in the report window 84 is copied and pasted (either manually by a user or automatically by the extract module 74 (Figure 2)) into a text file (not shown). The text file should thus contain the same performance information (and in the same format) as shown in the report window 84, relating to each group 88. The text file may then be analyzed by the macro, as further described below. In other example embodiments, the macro extracts text directly from the report window 84.
[0045] Referring still to Figure 3, the macro first determines whether the text file contains each group 88 in an appropriate order for analysis. An example order of each group 88 in the text file could be Transport Stream Summary 88a, PID Information 88b, Channels (Actual) 88d, Timing 88e and Monitor 88f and PID Watch 88c. If the text file is not in this predetermined order, an error message is returned.
[0046] Referring now to Figure 4, the macro first parses the entire text file for the text "----- PCR Detailed Information: -----" (as shown in the corresponding report window 84) in the Timing 88e group. The macro searches for the next occurrence of the text "PID", in this example would be PID "17". The macro extracts the PID by temporarily or permanently storing the PID "17" in memory 60. The macro also searches in the text file for predetermined associated performance information 92 related and associated with the PID "17". The macro stores in the memory 60 the performance information 92, and associates the performance information 92 with the associated PID "17". The PID "17" and associated performance information 92 are stored as a data set 152 (Figure 6). For example, the performance information 92 for "PCR/s" value is stored in data element 156 (Figure 6) in the data set 152 (Figure 6), as shown.
[0047] Referring still to Figure 4, the macro continues to the next PID in the timing 88e group, in this example being PID "19". The macro repeats the process above and stores PID "19" and the associated performance information as another data set 154 (Figure 6). These steps are repeated until each PID and associated performance information for the timing 88e group are stored as a data set 154 (Figure 6).
[0048] Referring to Figures 3 and 6, after completing the above steps for the Timing 88e group, the macro processes another group 88, for example Channel (actual) details 88d group. As described above, the Channel (actual) details 88d group includes the same PIDs as the Timing 88d group.
The Channel (actual) details 88d group has its own associated performance information, in this example the performance information "PTS Delta". The macro also identifies the associated PID value. The macro then stores the "PTS Delta" value into the appropriate data set having the same associated PID value. For example, the "PTS Delta" value associated with PID "17" is stored into the same data set 152 described above in association with the same PID "17". In the example shown, the performance information for the "PTS Delta" value is stored in data element 156 in the data set 152, as shown.
[0049] Referring still to Figures 3 and 6, the macro completes similar steps for the remaining groups Transport Stream Summary 88a, PID Information 88b, PID Watch 88c and Monitor 88f. Thus, each PID and the associated performance information from each group 88 is stored as a data set 152, 154, etc. It can be appreciated that the data sets 152, 154, etc. collectively form a database.
[0050] Referring still to Figure 6, in some example embodiments the macro flags any performance information which exceeds a predetermined range. As shown in data element 159, the value "101" exceeds the predetermined desired range of "< 24", and is appropriately marked by an indicator or highlighted (as shown).

[0051] In some example embodiments, the data structure 150 is not configured in a strict table or spreadsheet format, but may be streamlined by further cross-referencing some of the data elements therein, to reduce redundancy, etc.
[0052] Referring now to Figure 5, the macro may populate the spreadsheet 100 from the data structure 150 (Figure 6). As shown, rows 102, 104 generally correspond to data sets 152, 154 (Figure 6). Also shown in spreadsheet are a number of unpopulated fields 106, which may be manually populated by the user or automatically populated from predetermined monikers stored and accessed from memory 60. Also shown are unpopulated "Service" fields 110, which may be manually or automatically populated based on the program name associated with the respective PID.
For example, a television station name may be associated with a particular PID. Other configurations of the spreadsheet 100 are also possible and should not be limited to a strict table.
100531 In some example embodiments, the macro determines the particular site location from information obtained from the report window 84. The macro performs its functions taking into account this information and therefore any variations which may arise in reporting such information by the DTS-330.
[0054] Reference is now made to Figure 7, which shows another example embodiment of a data structure 160 stored in memory 60 and extracted from report information of the digital video testing application of Figure 3, for example by using a macro having suitable instructions. Generally, the data structure 160 stores (for subsequently display) the performance information in a manner which takes into account both the video and audio components of a program.
[0055] As shown, the video component for MPEG1 is represented by video data set 162 and corresponds to PID 17. The audio components for MPEG1 are represented by audio data sets 164, 166 and correspo.nd to PID 18, 19.
The subtotal for MPEG1 is represented by a subtotal data set 168. For the performance information P1 Err, P2 Errs, Bandwidth min, and Bandwidth max, the subtotal data set 168 is equal to the sum of the corresponding performance information for both the video data set 162 and audio data sets 164, 166. For the remaining performance information, the subtotal data set 168 is equal to the values of the video data set 162. As is a generally convention accepted in the art, the subtotal data set 168 references the PID
17, as shown, which is the video PID.
[0056] Referring still to Figure 7, certain values may be flagged or highlighted if they exceed a predetermined desired range (as shown), in a manner similar to that as described with respect to data structure 150 (Figure 6).
[0057] Reference is now made to Figure 8, which shows a flow diagram of a method 200 in accordance with an example embodiment. At step 210, the method is providing a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being executable on a computer readable medium and configured for processing of digital video streams. At step 220, the method is retrieving report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group. At step 230, the method is extracting performance information from each group. At step 240, the method is associating the performance information from each group with an associated PID. At step 250, the method is storing in a computer readable memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set. In some example embodiments, the method 200 may be implemented in different orders than as described, and more or less steps may be used to implement the method 200 depending on the particular application.
[0058] While the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing specification, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, being limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (33)

What is claimed is:

1. A method for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being configured for processing of digital video streams, the method comprising:
retrieving report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group;
extracting performance information from each group, and associating the performance information from each group with an associated PID; and storing in a memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the data sets collectively forms a database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the data sets are collectively formatted as a spreadsheet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance information is based on predetermined information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance information is performance information values.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the data set onto a display screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital video stream includes MPEG-2 data, and digital video testing application is a MPEG-2 digital video testing application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital video stream processes digital video streams from a digital video network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital video testing application is implemented by a DTS-330.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method is performed by a computer device separate from the DTS-330.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing an indicator for indicating that performance information exceeds a predetermined value.

12. A computer readable memory having recorded thereon instructions for execution by a computer device for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being configured for processing of digital video streams, the instructions including instructions to:
retrieve report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group;
extract performance information from each group, and associate the performance information from each group with an associated PID; and store in the memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

13. The computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein each of the data sets collectively forms a database.

14. The computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein each of the data sets are collectively formatted as a spreadsheet.

15. The computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein the performance information is based on predetermined information.

16. The computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein the performance information is performance information values.

17. The computer readable memory of claim 12, further comprising displaying the data set onto a display screen.

18. The computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein the digital video stream includes MPEG-2 data, and digital video testing application is a MPEG-2 digital video testing application.

19. The computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein the digital video stream processes digital video streams from a digital video network.

20. The computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein the digital video testing application is implemented by a DTS-330.

21. The computer readable memory of claim 20, wherein the computer readable memory is separate from the DTS-330.

22. The computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executed by a macro.

23. The computer readable memory of claim 22, wherein the macro is performed within a spreadsheet application.

24. A computer device for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being executable on a computer-readable medium and configured for processing of digital video streams, the computer device comprising:

a memory;
a controller for accessing the memory and the digital video testing application, the controller configured to:
retrieve report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group, extract performance information from each group, and associate the performance information from each group with an associated PID, and store in the memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

25. The computer device of claim 24, wherein the digital video testing application is a DTS-330 software application.

26. A system comprising the computer device of claim 24 and a computer-readable medium having installed thereon a digital video testing application.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a digital video network containing digital video streams for processing by the digital video testing application.

28. A computer readable memory having recorded thereon statements and instructions for execution by a computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 11.

29. A computer-readable medium storing statements and instructions for use, in the execution in a computer, of a method for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being executable on the computer-readable medium and configured for processing of digital video streams, the method comprising the steps of:
retrieving report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group;
extracting performance information from each group, and associating the performance information from each group with an associated PID; and storing in the memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

30. A computer device for extracting information from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being configured for processing of digital video streams, the computer device comprising:
means for retrieving report information from the digital video testing application, the report information being organized into different groups of performance information, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group;
means for extracting performance information from each group, and means for associating the performance information from each group with an associated PID; and means for storing in a memory each PID and the associated performance information from each group as a data set.

31. A computer-readable memory comprising a data set, the data set extracted from a digital video testing application, the digital video testing application being configured for processing of digital video streams, the data set comprising:
performance information extracted from different groups of performance information from report information from the digital video testing application, each group containing Packet Identifiers (PIDs) common to each group; and PID information associated with the performance information.

32. The data set of claim 31, further comprising an indicator for indicating that performance information exceeds a predetermined value.

33. A
computer-readable memory comprising a database, the database including the data set of claim 31.