Content Segment Metadata Embedding for Live Streaming Manifest Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Live streaming content requires frequent updates to manifests, leading to inefficient content delivery as devices must continually receive and parse updated manifests for each content segment, causing unnecessary workload for packagers and devices.
Innovation Solution
Inserting metadata, such as content identifiers and available bitrates, into content segments allows devices to determine the next sequential segment and request it directly, reducing the need for frequent manifest updates by providing the necessary information within the content segment packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent manifest updates are sent to provide content segment information, then content delivery completeness is improved, but network bandwidth consumption and device processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential manifest information (content identifier, segment number, bitrate, URL) and embeds it directly into the content segment packets themselves. This eliminates the need for separate manifest update transmissions, as the segments carry their own metadata for identification and retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the manifest metadata with the content segment data by inserting it into the segment packet structure. This combination allows the segment to be self-descriptive, carrying both the content payload and the necessary control information for playback and segmentation management.
2Reliability
If frequent manifest updates are sent to provide content segment information, then content delivery completeness is improved, but device processing workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential manifest information (content identifier, segment number, bitrate, URL) and embeds it directly into the content segment packets themselves. This eliminates the need for separate manifest update transmissions, as the segments carry their own metadata for identification and retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The content segments become self-descriptive by containing their own metadata. The playing device can process segments independently using the embedded information without requiring external manifest updates, reducing the processing burden and complexity.
3Productivity
If complete manifest information is provided upfront, then content retrieval efficiency is improved, but data transmission volume for live content increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the content delivery process by providing metadata on-demand within each segment packet rather than transmitting a complete manifest upfront. Each segment carries only the necessary information for that specific segment and the next segment, reducing overall data transmission volume while maintaining retrieval efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary embedding of essential metadata (content identifier, segment number, bitrate, URL) into each segment during the segmentation process. This preliminary action ensures that when segments are transmitted, they contain all necessary information for immediate processing without requiring additional manifest transmissions.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device (e.g., an encoder, a content packager, and/or content server) may receive content (e.g., a live or time-shifted content transmission, video-on-demand content transmission, video, audio, games, data, etc.). The computing device may separate the received content into a plurality of content segments. The computing device may insert metadata into each of the content segments. The metadata may include a segment identifier. The segment identifier may identify the next sequential content segment of the plurality of content segments.