French firm Witbe has expanded its Quality of Service (QoS) solutions by offering software agents for deployment within end-user terminals, i.e. the set-top box (STB).

The agents are deployed on all service subscriber boxes, and show technical QoS indicators (network and system), measured from inside the customer terminals, thus allowing individual subscriber Quality of Experience (QoE) data to be extrapolated, and with all measured data then gathered into the Witbe central server.

The combination of active robots (which are programmed to watch TV, use the Internet and make phone calls) and the new STB agents is intended to give triple-play operators a real-time view of their service health (measured by the robots), and also the exact details of network or STB issues affecting individual subscriber TV, VOD, PVR or voice services.

Witbe's 'Next Generation TV Audience Measurement' solution has been shortlisted for the award 'Most Innovative Service' in this year's IPTV World Series Awards, to be announced at a gala evening ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London, on the opening night of the IPTV World Forum (Wednesday 25th March, 2009).