Host Storage Ad Insertion via Location URLs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inserting specific advertisement streams from a storage medium into a live stream without channel switching are hindered by the lack of standard location information for advertisement streams, preventing the designation and insertion of desired video/audio components.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using location information in the form of a uniform resource locator (URL) with a protocol interpretable by the host, combined with the OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) digital program insertion (DPI) function to search and play specific advertisement streams stored in a storage medium during advertisement breaks, allowing for the selection and insertion of desired video/audio components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If advertisement streams are transmitted in real-time from headend device, then the system can insert advertisements during live streams, but the system cannot select and play specific advertisement streams from storage medium without channel switching
Solution Approach 1:
Advertisement streams are pre-stored in the storage medium of the host before the live stream playback. By preparing the advertisement content in advance and storing it with location information, the system can directly play specific advertisements during AD breaks without needing to switch channels or process real-time stream selection, thus simplifying the insertion process while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Location information acts as an intermediary between the storage medium and the playback unit. This intermediary contains URL protocols that enable the playback unit to directly access and play specific advertisement streams from the storage medium without channel switching, resolving the contradiction between selectability and system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If channel switch function is used to insert advertisement streams, then the system can replace live stream with advertisement stream, but the system cannot directly play specific advertisement components from storage medium
Solution Approach 1:
The advertisement stream is segmented into separate video and audio components, each with its own location information in the URL. This segmentation allows the system to directly access and play specific components (video only, audio only, or both) from the storage medium without needing to switch channels, making the operation simpler while preserving complete access to advertisement stream location information.
Solution Approach 2:
Location information serves as an intermediary that preserves complete access to advertisement stream details. The URL protocol in the location information directly points to the advertisement content in the storage medium, eliminating the need for channel switching while maintaining full accessibility to the advertisement stream components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard location information for advertisement streams is not provided, then the storage medium cannot be used for direct advertisement playback, but the system lacks the capability to designate desired video/audio components
Solution Approach 1:
The location information structure is designed to be universal and multi-functional. It contains URL protocols that can interpret various storage paths and directly access different types of content (video, audio, or combined advertisement streams). This universal structure enables the system to designate and play desired video/audio components from the storage medium without requiring separate mechanisms, thus achieving both adaptability and ease of implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
Location information acts as a universal intermediary that bridges the storage medium and the playback unit. The URL protocol within the location information provides a standardized method to access and designate specific video/audio components directly from the storage medium, eliminating the need for channel switching while enabling component-level control and simplifying the implementation of advertisement insertion.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method and apparatus for inserting second contents stored in a storage medium of a host while first contents input from an external provider are played includes: searching, by a searching unit, for the second contents using location information which indicates a location of the second contents stored in the storage medium; detecting, by a signal information detecting unit, signaling information from the first contents, the signaling information indicating a section in the first contents in which insertion of the second contents is allowed; and playing, by a playing unit, the searched, second contents in the allowed section of the first contents which are being played, based on the signaling information.