Method and apparatus for performing real-time on-line video quality monitoring for digital cable and IPTV services

摘要

A method and apparatus for performing real-time on-line video quality monitoring for digital cable and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services, wherein a problem reporting button is advantageously provided on a (video service provider's) customer's set-top box and/or on a remote control unit therefor. Such a button may be advantageously used by the customer to report a video quality degradation problem to service providers. Illustratively, a single push of this button initiates the reporting process to report the existence of a problem regarding video quality which the customer is experiencing. The customer may indicate the severity of the problem with use of the button, and may also respond interactively to questions and or suggestions presented by the service provider on the video screen. Such an interactive troubleshooting procedure may be implemented as software on the set-top box.