Automated network-based test system for set top box devices

A system comprising:

• a plurality of video and audio analyzers, wherein each video and audio analyzer of at least a subset of the plurality of video and audio analyzers is configured to send input signals to a corresponding set top box (STB) of a plurality of STBs under test for testing a corresponding STB;
• a main test controller that is remote from the plurality of video and audio analyzers, the main test controller communicating with the plurality of video and audio analyzers via Ethernet;
• a headend controller connected to at least one of the plurality of video and audio analyzers, the headend controller configured to communicate with at least one STB under test;
• and
• a router connected across a network to the headend controller, the router also connected across a remote link and across a gateway to the main test controller.

A method of automatically testing plurality of devices, comprising the steps of:

• outputting video and audio signals from at least a subset of a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs) under test;
• receiving, at at least a subset of a plurality of video and audio analyzers, the video and audio signals output from the at least a subset of the plurality of STBs under test;
• converting to digitized reading values, at the at least a subset of the plurality of video and audio analyzers, the video and audio signals received from the at least a subset of the plurality of STBs;
• transmitting, to a main controller, the digitized reading values from the at least a subset of the plurality of video and audio analyzers;
• and
• analyzing, at the main controller, the digitized reading values received from the at least a subset of the video and audio analyzers, analysis of the digitized reading values comprising calculations of aspects of the video and audio signals.