Targeted Asset Duration Compression for Broadcast Lag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for presenting targeted assets in broadcast networks often require significant processing time, leading to perceptible lags and incomplete asset presentation due to timing constraints, especially when channel hopping or using the forward-and-store approach.
Innovation Solution
The method involves modifying the duration of assets by shortening or lengthening the active content portion and adding neutral information, such as black video and silent audio, to accommodate processing time, while maintaining the overall asset length and informational content, and providing insertion points for seamless integration into programming streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If channel hopping or forward-and-store approach is used for presenting targeted assets, then targeted asset delivery is enabled, but processing time requirements cause perceptible lags and incomplete asset presentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning targetable assets in a queue before the actual presentation moment. The system continuously prepares assets for delivery, so when the user equipment needs to present a targeted asset, the asset is already ready or can be quickly retrieved from pre-positioned storage, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time processing and channel hopping operations during the critical presentation window.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the asset presentation system flexible and adaptable to varying processing conditions. The user equipment dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the availability of targetable assets and the current state of the queue, allowing it to optimize the presentation process in real-time without being constrained by fixed processing time requirements, thus reducing perceptible lags.
2Loss of time
If processing time is reduced to eliminate lags, then asset presentation completeness is improved, but the complexity of targeting algorithms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex targeting process into distinct phases: asset selection, asset preparation, and asset presentation. The targeting algorithm is segmented into pre-processing steps (building and maintaining the queue of targetable assets) and execution steps (retrieving and presenting the selected asset). This segmentation allows the complex algorithm to be managed systematically, with different levels of complexity applied at different stages, reducing the overall processing time requirement during the critical presentation moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a queue system that mediates between the complex targeting algorithm and the asset presentation process. The queue acts as a buffer that decouples the complexity of asset selection from the simplicity of asset delivery, allowing the system to handle complex targeting decisions in advance while maintaining simple, fast execution during the presentation window, thus reducing processing time without sacrificing algorithmic sophistication.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain functionality related to delivery of targeted assets via a communications network, such as a broadcast cable television network, is accommodated by the use of squeezed assets. In one implementation, one or more squeezed assets (164A, 164B and 164C) are delivered during an asset insertion opportunity (162) such as during a commercial break of a programming channel. Each of the squeezed assets (164A, 164B and 164C) includes a squeezed informational content (168A, 168B and 168C) and padding (166A-166F). The padding (166A-166F) accommodates processing times associated with selecting and/or displaying targeted assets. In this regard, the amount and apportioning of padding (166A-166F) may be determined in relation to the operating characteristics of the targeted asset system.