Using bitrate data to output an alert indicating a functional state of back-up media-broadcast system

1. A method for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up media-broadcast system, the method comprising:

a computing device determining first bitrate-data associated with a first compressed media-stream generated by a primary media-broadcast system, wherein the determined first bitrate-data associated with the first compressed media-stream indicates a first average bitrate-change over a first temporal-portion of the first compressed media-stream and wherein the first temporal-portion of the first compressed media-stream corresponds to a time period;

the computing device determining second bitrate-data associated with a second compressed media-stream generated by the back-up media-broadcast system;

the computing device making a determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack a threshold extent of similarity, wherein making the determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack the threshold extent of similarity comprises determining that the determined second bitrate-data associated with the second compressed media-stream does not indicate (i) a second average bitrate-change over a second temporal-portion of the second compressed media-stream, (ii) where the second temporal-portion of the second compressed media-stream corresponds to the time period, and (iii) where the second average bitrate-change is within a tolerance range of the first average bitrate-change; and

responsive to the determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack the threshold extent of similarity, the computing device outputting an alert.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting an alert comprises displaying a message.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting an alert comprises transmitting an instruction.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed cause a computing device to perform a set of acts for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up media-broadcast system, the set of acts comprising:

determining first bitrate-data associated with a first compressed media-stream generated by a primary media-broadcast system, wherein the determined first bitrate-data associated with the first compressed media-stream indicates a first average bitrate-change over a first temporal-portion of the first compressed media-stream and wherein the first temporal-portion of the first compressed media-stream corresponds to a time period;

determining second bitrate-data associated with a second compressed media-stream generated by the back-up media-broadcast system;

making a determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack a threshold extent of similarity, wherein making the determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack the threshold extent of similarity comprises determining that the determined second bitrate-data associated with the second compressed media-stream does not indicate (i) a second average bitrate-change over a second temporal-portion of the second compressed media-stream, (ii) where the second temporal-portion of the second compressed media-stream corresponds to the time period, and (iii) where the second average bitrate-change is within a tolerance range of the first average bitrate-change; and

responsive to the determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack the threshold extent of similarity, outputting an alert.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4 , wherein outputting an alert comprises displaying a message.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4 , wherein outputting an alert comprises transmitting an instruction.

7. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computing device to perform of a set of acts for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up media-broadcast system, the set of acts comprising:

determining first bitrate-data associated with a first compressed media-stream generated by a primary media-broadcast system, wherein the determined first bitrate-data associated with the first compressed media-stream indicates a first average bitrate-change over a first temporal-portion of the first compressed media-stream and wherein the first temporal-portion of the first compressed media-stream corresponds to a time period;

determining second bitrate-data associated with a second compressed media-stream generated by the back-up media-broadcast system;

making a determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack a threshold extent of similarity, wherein making the determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack the threshold extent of similarity comprises determining that the determined second bitrate-data associated with the second compressed media-stream does not indicate (i) a second average bitrate-change over a second temporal-portion of the second compressed media-stream, (ii) where the second temporal-portion of the second compressed media-stream corresponds to the time period, and (iii) where the second average bitrate-change is within a tolerance range of the first average bitrate-change; and

responsive to the determination that the determined first bitrate-data and the determined second bitrate-data lack the threshold extent of similarity, outputting an alert.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein outputting an alert comprises displaying a message.

9. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein outputting an alert comprises transmitting an instruction.