HLS Timed Metadata Stream for Media Availability Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming technologies, such as HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), do not effectively signal media availability changes to users without relying on the master playlist, leading to a negative user experience when alternate media formats become available or unavailable during live content playback.
Innovation Solution
A dedicated timed metadata stream is created and populated with items that signal the availability of media types, allowing clients to receive updates on active media subsets within the stream, independent of the master playlist, ensuring users are informed of available options and can select preferred formats without refreshing the playlist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If clients rely on master playlist updates to detect media availability changes, then system complexity is reduced, but information timeliness deteriorates causing negative user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information delivery mechanism by separating media availability notifications from the master playlist. Instead of relying solely on periodic playlist refreshes, the system creates dedicated timed metadata streams that deliver availability information independently and continuously to clients, ensuring timely updates without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces timed metadata streams as an intermediary mechanism between the streaming server and clients. These metadata streams act as dedicated communication channels that carry media availability information separately from the content delivery, allowing clients to receive real-time notifications without requiring frequent master playlist updates
2Loss of information
If clients frequently refresh the master playlist to detect media changes, then information timeliness is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information delivery by separating availability notifications from full playlist transfers. Clients receive targeted timed metadata streams that contain only media availability change notifications, eliminating the need to repeatedly download entire master playlists and significantly reducing network bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where timed metadata streams provide real-time notifications to clients about media availability changes. This allows clients to be informed of changes immediately without needing to actively poll or refresh the master playlist, reducing unnecessary network traffic while maintaining information timeliness
3Loss of information
If a dedicated timed metadata stream is created to signal media availability, then information timeliness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements timed metadata streams using existing HTTP Live Streaming infrastructure and standardized metadata formats. The same delivery mechanism serves multiple purposes: content delivery, availability notification, and client guidance, allowing clients to process availability information using existing playlist parsing logic without requiring complex new implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends existing HLS playlist parameters and metadata structures to carry availability information. By modifying existing standardized formats rather than creating entirely new protocols, the system maintains compatibility with current players and reduces the complexity burden on client devices while still providing timely media availability notifications
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method, system, and apparatus is described, the method, system, and apparatus including the creation of a dedicated Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Live Streaming (HLS) adaptive bitrate (ABR) timed metadata stream which is located at a designated location, the populating the dedicated HLS ABR timed metadata stream with timed metadata items which signal availability of a particular subset of a superset of all media types which are anticipated as being available in streaming media playlists and making the timed metadata items available to an application on a client device. Related methods, systems and apparatus is also described.