Dynamic Server-Side Streaming Manifest Files for Rule-Based Content Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional streaming platforms using static manifest files lack flexibility, making it difficult to implement dynamic content, conditional logic, and business rules, which hinders features like dynamic advertisement insertion, load balancing, and user targeting, and requires significant development and maintenance for customized streaming applications across various devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of rule-based dynamic server-side streaming manifest files, where a rule resolution server evaluates business rules to generate dynamically tailored manifest files, allowing for flexible content delivery, advertisement insertion, and device targeting without the need for custom client-side applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If static manifest files are used for streaming, then implementation is simple using existing infrastructure, but flexibility to provide dynamic content and implement business rules is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static manifest files into dynamic manifest files that can be generated on-demand based on business rules. The system evaluates rules against user parameters (demographics, device type, location) to dynamically create customized manifest files for each user, enabling flexibility while maintaining simplicity through server-side automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rule resolution server as an intermediary between the content delivery system and users. This server evaluates business rules and generates dynamic manifest files, acting as a mediator that adds intelligence and flexibility to the otherwise simple static manifest file system without requiring changes to existing streaming infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If client side dynamic streaming player applications are provided to implement conditional logic, then dynamic content delivery is enabled, but significant development and maintenance costs are incurred across multiple platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by moving the conditional logic and rule evaluation from the client side to the server side. Instead of requiring smart players on each device to interpret business rules, the server generates pre-processed dynamic manifest files that contain the results of rule evaluation, eliminating the need for complex client-side applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating dynamic manifest files based on user parameters and business rules without requiring users to install or configure specialized applications. The server handles all rule evaluation and manifest generation automatically, making the service transparent and accessible through standard players.
3Manufacturing precision
If custom streaming applications are developed for each device platform, then platform-specific optimization is achieved, but user convenience is reduced due to installation and update requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal server-side solution that serves all device platforms through a common interface. The rule resolution server generates dynamic manifest files that can be consumed by any standard streaming player, eliminating the need for platform-specific applications while maintaining optimization through rule-based content selection tailored to each user's device characteristics.
4Device complexity
If static sequential manifest files are used, then protocol simplicity is maintained, but ability to implement features like dynamic advertisement insertion and user targeting is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-evaluating business rules and pre-generating dynamic manifest files before content delivery. The server evaluates user parameters against business rules in advance and creates customized manifest files that incorporate dynamic advertisement insertion, user targeting, and load balancing decisions, so that the actual content delivery can proceed through the simple HTTP streaming protocol without real-time complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system and method for rule-based dynamic server-side streaming manifest files. There is provided a method comprising receiving a request to provide a first video content for playback, evaluating a plurality of rules for the first video content, generating a dynamic manifest file referencing the first video content, and providing the dynamic manifest file in response to the request, thereby enabling an application to playback the first video content for output on a display by interpreting the dynamic manifest file. The rules may implement various features such as dynamic advertisement insertion, load balancing, client customization, user and device targeting, enhanced security mechanisms, global announcements, and others. As streaming protocols are widely supported by default on many client platforms, the dynamic manifest files can be utilized in a user friendly and transparent manner compared to client-side solutions requiring cumbersome client software installations.