Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients

Administrators can adapt the strictness of the tests for patients and what quality settings they will enter with.

Last Updated: May 2022

On this page:

  1. Approaches to configure guest entry
  2. Where to set up these configurations
  3. Connection check behaviour
  4. Video quality preset
  5. More support options

Approaches to configure guest entry

One of the biggest impactors on the quality of a call is the network conditions of each of the participants in the call, where factors such as the amount of bandwidth, latency, packet loss, and jitter all contribute to the quality of the connection. Also, sometimes you can see repeat issues with devices or bandwidth affecting the calls in your clinic.

To address these problems, Coviu offers two approaches to configure the entry of a guest participant into a video call:

  1. Connection check behaviour: Coviu can check the participant's network and device quality as they are entering their details before joining a video consultation.
  2. Video quality preset: Coviu enables you to preset a specific call quality that might work best with your target audience.

Where to set up these configurations

To change the settings, go to Configure > Call Quality in your account. You need to be an Administrator to make these changes.

Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients

You can see the available choices here - they are described below.


Connection check behaviour

When the Connection check behaviour is enabled, a connection check is undertaken as patients enter a video consultation. During the time of the patient entering their name and other details, Coviu automatically checks their internet connection, camera and audio settings to avoid the setup of calls that have a high likelihood of failing because of network or hardware issues on the patient end.

The more strict settings will block calls if they detect issues that will impact on the call connecting successfully. You can decide which behaviour you would like to set for your clinic, depending on your needs. You can set a connection check to perform in one of the following ways:

  1. Strict: this is the strictest setting and will block any call if an exception occurs or if the bandwidth is below 330 kbps. 
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 1
  2. Restricted: in this mode the call will be blocked if an exception occurs and a warning will appear if the bandwidth is below 330 kbps (the minimum required for video call). In addition, the call will be blocked if the bandwidth is below 180 kbps.
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 2
  3. Permissive: in this mode the connection will be checked and callers will be warned if any tests fail or the bandwidth is lower than required to perform a good quality video call. This warning will be helpful for your patients as they will be made aware that some issues may be experienced.
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 3
  4. Exception only: warns if there are any issues with the user's device or equipment. Exceptions are defined as any problems encountered in a Precall Test, such as no microphone or camera detected or low bandwidth issues. 
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 4
  5. Disabled: this disables the automatic connection check functionality and no warnings or blocks will occur. Callers can still conduct a Precall Test to check their set up.
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 5

Note: remember to click Save if you have made any changes.


Video quality preset

You can set the following video quality presets in your clinic:

  1. Adaptive: this setting will result in video call automatically adjusting video quality settings depending on the available network conditions. This should work well under most conditions and you will only need to change to another setting if you experience video quality issues.
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 6
  2. High: in high quality mode, video call will attempt to send video at 30 frames per second (fps) with a target resolution of 1280 x 720 on Safari and 960 x 720 on other browsers. This setting requires an estimated bandwidth capacity of 2 mbps per connection. Select this quality if you know you have plenty of bandwidth and your video call screens do not look as good as they should.
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 7
  3. Medium: in medium quality, video call will attempt to send video at 30 fps with a minimum resolution of 480 x 360 and a target and maximum resolution of 640 x 480. This setting requires an estimated bandwidth capacity of 1 mbps per connection.
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 8
  4. Low: low quality starts to sacrifice video quality in an attempt to make video call possible where bandwidth is compromised. This preset attempts to send video at 30 fps at a minimum resolution of 160 x 120, and with a target and maximum resolution of 320 x 240. This setting requires an estimated bandwidth capacity of 256 kbps per connection. You can select this option if you are experiencing issues with video quality during your call. 
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 9
  5. Bandwidth restricted: if bandwidth is very low, this setting will further sacrifice video quality and smoothness in an attempt to prioritise audio.

    In this setting (for non-Safari users), video will be attempted to be sent at 20 fps, with a target maximum resolution of 160 x 120, with no minimum resolution.

    If you are using Safari, due to an inability to support video resolutions below 320 x 240, video will be sent at 15 fps, with a target resolution of 320 x 240.
    Configure the Call Quality Test and Parameter Settings for Patients 10

Note: video quality settings can also be changed within a call through the Settings menu, if the conditions allow or require it.


More support options

You have completed another Coviu help article. You now know how Coviu Administrators can adapt the strictness of the tests for patients and what quality settings they will enter with.

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If you still require any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly Customer Success team using any of the contact methods available here.