Interactive Content Overlay in Live Video Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing live video streaming technologies are limited to delivering non-interactive content, such as sporting events, without incorporating user input or interactive elements, missing opportunities for enhanced user engagement and revenue streams.
Innovation Solution
The integration of interactive content, like video games and extended reality assets, into live video streams using established protocols like HLS, employing event markers and executable data objects within the stream to enable interactive experiences during breaks or overlays, without requiring significant changes to existing data delivery architectures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If live video streaming delivers non-interactive content only, then system simplicity is maintained, but user engagement and revenue opportunities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the video stream into distinct segments using event markers that define start and end points for interactive content. This allows interactive experiences to be inserted at specific breakpoints without requiring complete system redesign, thereby increasing user engagement while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular content insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The live video streaming system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: traditional non-interactive video delivery and interactive content delivery. By incorporating event markers and executable data objects into the existing HLS protocol framework, the system gains multi-functionality without requiring separate dedicated systems, thus improving adaptability while controlling complexity growth.
2Adaptability or versatility
If interactive content is integrated into live video streams, then user experience is enhanced, but infrastructure changes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts between non-interactive and interactive content delivery modes based on event markers in the video stream. The player device can transition from passive video playback to active interactive experiences and back again, allowing flexible content delivery that enhances user experience while using existing infrastructure rather than requiring permanent architectural changes.
Solution Approach 2:
Event markers serve as intermediaries between the video stream and interactive content execution. These markers embed instructions within the existing HLS protocol that trigger interactive content delivery without requiring fundamental changes to the underlying infrastructure, thus facilitating easier implementation while enabling interactive capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If new protocols are developed for interactive content delivery, then functionality is optimized, but compatibility with existing systems is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The HLS protocol is extended to serve both traditional video delivery and interactive content delivery functions. By using event markers and executable data objects within the existing HLS framework, the system maintains compatibility with conventional HLS players and infrastructure while adding interactive capabilities, thus preserving protocol reliability and widespread compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copies of existing HLS protocol structures (event markers, data objects) to carry interactive content instructions alongside traditional video data. This approach leverages the established, reliable HLS protocol framework rather than creating entirely new protocols, ensuring compatibility and reliability while enabling interactive functionality through embedded data structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An illustrative interactive content provider system transmits a live video stream to an interactive content player device, and, during the transmitting of the live video stream, provides an executable data object to the interactive content player device. The executable data object includes an interactive content instance configured to be presented within a 3D virtual playing area that bounds at least one virtual object of the interactive content instance. The interactive content provider system directs the interactive content player device to execute the executable data object by overlaying the 3D virtual playing area of the interactive content instance onto a presentation of the live video stream. Corresponding methods and systems are disclosed for both the interactive content provider system and the interactive content player device.