Near Real-time Voice-band Analyzer
Overview |
Main Features |
Working Principle
Algorithms |
Typical Configurations |
Buyer's Guide
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Overview
The Near Real-time Voice-band Analyzer (VBA) is an analysis tool for monitoring voice band traffic over VoIP, TDM, 2-Wire and wireless networks. It can host
an arbitrary number of analysis algorithms. Built-in algorithms include ITU-T P.56 Active Voice Level analysis, Line Echo (Hybrid) analysis, and licensed modules
include 2-Wire Echo Analysis, Traffic Classifier and Fax analysis. Other analysis modules such as ITU-T P.561, P.562, and P.563 can be
hosted as plug-ins.
The VBA application operates on previously captured files, making it a near-real time (as opposed to a strictly real-time) tool. It supports A-Law,
µ-Law, 16-bit PCM (Intel), 16-bit PCM (Motorola) and MS Wave file formats. VBA records its output into two files, the first containing overall channel
measurements, and the second containing event records. It produces summary measurements of the captured signals, including active speech levels, noise
level, percent time active, DC offset and the like. The optional VBA Fax decoder/demodulator module (require additional license) can be used to analyze both
2-wire and 4-wire voiceband captures for Fax traffic and output fax signaling frames in a log file and fax image in TIFF format. This package has been designed
to work with other GL Communications Inc. tools such as PacketScan™, Call Capture and Analysis, and many other recording tools.
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VBA works in conjunction with GL's TDM, Packet, and Wireless non-intrusive capture products:
- VBA with GL's TDM T1 E1 Call Capture and Analysis, or
- VBA with GL's VoIP PacketScan™ / MLPPP Analyzer
- VBA with GL's GSM, CDMA, and 3G Call Capture Products
- VBA with GL's 2-Wire Voice/Data Capture Products
Screenshot of Voice-band Analyzer Main Window
Main Features
- Near real-time (NRT) non-intrusive analysis platform.
- Supports 1, 2, 3, and 4-port signal data analysis
- Supports Fax Decode / Demodulation on 2-wire or 4-wire captures
- FaxDD module outputs fax signaling frames in a log file and Fax image in TIF format.
- Manual, batch, and automatic processing modes.
- Accepts A-Law, µ-Law, 16-bit PCM (Intel), 16-bit PCM (Motorola) and MS Wave input data formats
- Hosts built-in P.56 Active Voice Level analysis, Hybrid Echo analysis, and other licensed analysis algorithms such as 2-Wire Echo Analysis, Traffic Classifier
and Fax analysis
- Allows to implement Psophometric and C-Message signal conditioning before the Active Speech Level analysis; reports C-Message filtered files in dBrnC
- Allows the grouping of files together into data sets and automatically routes file data to appropriate inputs using user-specified file naming conventions.
GL Call Capture and Analysis (CCA) rules are built-in.
- User-selectable analysis output fields
- Native analysis output mode directly compatible with Microsoft® Excel and other readily available analysis tools.
- Database interfaces available on request.
- Source signal file management options
- Directly compatible with many GL data capture products, including Call Capture and Analysis (T1/E1 lines), 2-Wire Voice/Data Capture and
PacketScan™ (VoIP) / MLPPP Analyzer. .
- Compatible with products of other vendors provided only that their file-naming conventions could be used to group files into sets and associate files with
algorithm inputs.
Working Principle
GL's VoIP & TDM probes gather information intrusively and feed it to VBA for analysis. The VBA then instantly detects the
voice file captures and stores the results if necessary. The real-time and historic data collected by the probes can be output
to a remote database by configuring the options.
The output can be stored either in *.xls / *.txt files or in the database. VBA Analysis Probes run on multiple computers
and send VBA summary information and binary frame data via TCP connection to a Database Loader to load data
into a database.
The Database Loader inserts the received data into database tables via ODBC. It can selectively suspend or resume
loading data from connected probes. It also periodically updates the data link status in the DbLoaderStatus table to reflect
the data link status of the connected probes.
GL's web server will provide real-time and historic views of the data through various "browser based" clients.
The VBA operates in three fundamental modes:
- Manual:
The user specifies manually the files to be analyzed. Simultaneously two sets of files can be analyzed with appropriate
data format selected.
- Batch:
Using batch mode, users can analyze an entire set of assembled data files in a folder or in subfolders at once.
File naming conventions are used to group files and identify the appropriate input for each file. The results are recorded
and stored in a destination folder in *.CSV format, where they may be viewed with spreadsheet applications such as
Microsoft® Excel.
- Automatic:
This is similar to Batch processing, except the process continues indefinitely until the user manually stops the
execution. The specified folders are continuously scanned for the arrival of new files. The results are recorded and stored
in a destination folder in *.CSV format, where they may be viewed with spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft®
Excel.
Screenshot of recorded result file in Microsoft® Excel
Bult-in and Optional VBA Algorithms
The active speech level is measured in accordance with P.56 Method B. Line Echo modules displays Echo Return Loss - ERL (dB), Echo
Delay (ms), and Echo Dispersion (ms). Traffic Classifier displays the amount of Fax/Voice/Digits/Tones/Silent types of traffic present in the network.
Fax decoder/demodulator used to analyze voice band traffic files for Fax traffic and output Fax signaling frames in a log file.
Screenshot of active speech level and Fax analysis
Screenshot of line and traffic classifier
Algorithms
VBA GUI supports various modes of operation while analyzing voice band for speech level, line echo.
P.56 Active Speech Level
In the Active Speech Level algorithm, parameters such as Sample Rate, Smoothing Constant, Hangover-time, and Threshold Margin all have fixed values.
The ASL modelers allows you to apply Signal Conditioning (either a Psophometric or a C-Message channel profile) to the signal before the Active Speech Level
analysis is performed. C-Message is normally used in North American systems, where T1/ µ-Law is the norm.
The Active Speech Level is reported either in units of dBm (P.56 standard) or as dB relative to a full-scale sine wave (PCM standard). All the parameters have
fixed values. In addition to active speech level, the application displays Activity factor, RMS factor, Noise Level, Possibly Clipped Samples, Maximum Positive
Sample Value, Maximum Negative Sample Value and DC level.
Line Echo Model Configuration
Line Echo has two classes of variable parameters: Echo Path Model and Double-Talk Detection parameters. Echo Path Model parameter allows setting values
for ‘Tail Length’ and ‘Bulk Delay’ (Tail Offset), while, double talk detection (DTD) allows raising or lowering the ON Sensitivity and OFF Sensitivity. The Tail Length
is the expected duration of the significant portion of the echo. If the significant portion of the echo is expected to be not less than some known time delay, you
can specify this delay as a "Bulk Delay", also known commonly as ‘Tail Offset’.
The application displays the echo parameters such as Echo Return Loss (ERL) (dB), Echo Delay (ms) and Echo Dispersion (ms).
Traffic Classifier Configuration (optional module)
Traffic Classifier algorithm allows VBA to choose to display the amount of Fax/Voice/Digits/Tones/Silent types of traffic present in the network and generate
corresponding reports. Traffic Classifier allows Idle Code settings for signaling bits and options to detect DTMF, MF, MFR2-fwd, MFR2-bkwd digits, and Tones
(Dial/Ring/Busy).
The Traffic Classifier module can display the amount of Fax/Voice/Digits/Tones/Silent types of traffic present in the network and generate corresponding
reports
Fax Decode/Demodulate
Fax decoder/demodulator used to analyze voiceband traffic files for Fax traffic. It can analyze both 2-wire and 4-wire captures.
FaxDD allows you to output a Log File, which contains information on Fax signaling frames, in addition to reporting the Fax image in a TIFF (“Tagged Image
File Format”) format.
The Fax Demodulate/Decode module allows you to choose the output fields such as Fax status, Standard, Data Rate, Resolution, Encoding, Page Size,
Error Lines, Total Lines, Total Bytes, and Total Pages. The total lines decoded is a good indication as to the success of the decode process. A typical page should
indicate over 1000 lines.
File Naming Convention in Batch and Auto Setup
The file name convention allows users to identify source data files and to group them into data sets in Batch or Auto Mode operations. The naming conventions
used are CCA – Standard, CCA-MFCR2, and CCA-ISDN, which is the GL Communications Inc. Call Capture and Analysis application.
The illustrations for the types of file naming conventions are as below:
For Example:
- CCA-Standard naming convention is is May06_E10101_0123.ab, where
<Mon><DAY><LIT:_><INP><PORT:2><CHAN:2><LIT:_><INT:4><LIT:.><TXT:1-3>.
- CCA MFCR2 naming convention is May06_E10101.012, where it stands for
<Mon><DAY><LIT:_><INP><PORT:2><CHAN:2><LIT:.><INT:3>
- CCA ISDN naming convention is
0123456789_01234567890123456_May06_E10101_0123.abc, where it stands for <INT:1-25><LIT:_><INT:1-25>
<LIT:_><Mon><DAY><LIT:_><INP><PORT:2><CHAN:2><LIT:_><INT:1-10><LIT:_><INT:4>
<LIT:.><TXT:1-3>
User-friendly naming Convention
File naming conventions allows users to configure their own naming convention according to the requirement and to
create a corresponding pattern.
For Example:
<DAY:1,2><LIT:.><HR><LIT:.><MIN><LIT:.><SEC><LIT:_><INP><
LIT:.><TXT:1-3>
<LIT:S><INT:1-2><INP><LIT:.wav>
Typical Configurations
VBA with VoIP Probe (minimum configuration)
VBA with TDM Probe (minimum configuration)
VBA with GSM Probe (minimum configuration)
VBA with FXO RJ11 Hardware Tap and Audio Capture Software (minimum configuration)
Buyer's Guide:
Please Note: The XX in the Item No. refers to the hardware platform, listed at the bottom of the Buyer's Guide, which
the software will be running on. Therefore, XX can either be ETA or EEA (Octal/Quad Boards), PTA or PEA (tProbe Units),
UTA or UEA (USB Units), HUT or HUE (Universal Cards), and HDT or HDE (HD cards) depending upon the hardware.
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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