Glitch-Free Dynamic Video Ad Insertion via Dual Pipeline

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ad-supported video playback systems experience latency and glitches due to the segmentation of principal content and the separate processing of secondary content, leading to pauses during playback and re-playback of video content.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a second video pipeline for dynamically inserting secondary content into a contiguous principal content file, allowing seamless playback and re-playback without reloading, by pre-processing secondary content during principal content playback and eliminating the need for pausing at markers where secondary content has been played.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the principal content is segmented into multiple sections for ad insertion, then dynamic advertising capability is improved, but playback latency and glitches increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic advertising capabilityVSAvoidplayback latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The principal content is divided into multiple sections with designated ad insertion points marked in the file header. These sections can be independently processed and reassembled, enabling dynamic ad insertion while maintaining continuous playback capability. The segmentation allows the system to insert ads at specific points without requiring the entire content to be reprocessed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Ad content is pre-processed and staged in advance before actual playback. The system prepares multiple ad variants and pre-renders them so that when playback reaches a designated ad insertion point, the appropriate ad is already ready for immediate insertion, eliminating processing delays during live playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the principal content is segmented into multiple sections, then ad insertion flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvead insertion flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The video content is divided into manageable sections with clear delimiters and metadata in the file header. Each section contains information about its boundaries and associated ad slots, allowing the playback system to process sections independently rather than managing complex interdependencies across the entire video file.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A playlist structure serves as an intermediary layer between the segmented video sections and the ad content. The playlist orchestrates the sequence of video sections and ads, managing the complexity of synchronization and timing without requiring complex processing within the video player itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If secondary content is processed separately from principal content, then ad customization is improved, but playback smoothness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvead customizationVSAvoidplayback smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous playback by pre-processing and buffering secondary content in parallel with principal content playback. As the video plays through one pipeline, ads are simultaneously prepared in another pipeline, ensuring that ad insertion points are met without interruption or visible glitches in the playback stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and processes copies of the video content and ad content through separate pipelines. The principal content is copied for playback while ad content is copied and pre-processed in parallel. This duplication allows independent optimization of each stream without compromising the other, maintaining smooth playback while enabling extensive ad customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8874469B2Glitch free dynamic video ad insertion

Publication Date: 2014.10.28 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Techniques for dynamically and seamlessly inserting secondary content via a second video pipeline into the playing of principal content over a first video pipeline are disclosed herein. One aspect of the techniques may involve the file containing the principal content be contiguous instead of being in a plurality of separate sections. The secondary content is able to be pre-processed on the second video pipeline while the principal content is played over the first video pipeline. This enables the secondary content to be available instantaneously upon the pausing of the principal content at various designated points therein. Playing of the principal content may likewise be instantaneous upon completion of the time period for the specified pausing thereof. Since the file containing the principal content is preferably contiguous, rewinding the principal content to a previous point does not require reloading.