Interactive Web Session Management in Streaming Video
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Solution Overview
Problem
High bandwidth access networks need to support multiple simultaneous application sessions for subscribers, but there is no integrated way for users to access additional information from advertisers during streaming video content, limiting interactive engagement with commercials.
Innovation Solution
Enabling service providers to offer interactive web sessions via hyperlinks in streaming video content, allowing users to click on commercial content and engage with advertisers' websites, with the option to hold or background the video stream for independent interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If streaming video content with commercials is delivered to subscribers, then advertisers can reach consumers, but there is no integrated way for users to access additional information from advertisers during the video stream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a session controller as an intermediary component that manages the interaction between the video streaming system and web browsing functionality. The session controller receives session setup messages, determines appropriate web servers, and coordinates the establishment of web sessions without requiring complex direct integration between video and web systems. This mediator approach enables interactive engagement while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The video endpoint device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can display streaming video content, display web pages in a display frame, and manage session control. This multi-functionality allows the same device to handle both video streaming and web browsing without requiring separate dedicated devices, thereby enabling interactive engagement capability while avoiding the complexity of coordinating multiple separate systems.
2Productivity
If users can access web content during video streaming, then user engagement with advertisers improves, but the video stream may be interrupted or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic session management where the session controller can determine whether to establish a new video session or use an existing one based on current conditions. The system can dynamically switch between maintaining video stream continuity and enabling web interaction based on user actions and system state, allowing both video stream reliability and user engagement efficiency to be optimized under different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The web session is nested within the video session framework rather than operating as a completely separate process. The display frame for web content is integrated within the video endpoint device that is already handling the video stream. This nesting allows the web interaction to occur within the existing video session context, reducing the risk of stream interruption while maintaining engagement efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If a web session is established in an independent display frame, then users can interact with advertisers without stopping video playback, but the display device must support multiple simultaneous sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The display output is segmented into different display frames: one for video content and another for web content. This segmentation allows both video and web interactions to occur simultaneously in separate, manageable regions. The session controller manages each session independently within its designated frame, reducing the complexity of coordinating a single unified display while maintaining ease of operation for users.
4Ease of operation
If the video session is placed on hold during web interaction, then users can focus on advertiser content, but the video session state must be managed and restored
Solution Approach 1:
The session controller performs preliminary actions by determining the appropriate video session state (new or existing) before establishing a web session. It proactively manages the video session state transitions needed to support web interaction, including placing sessions on hold or backgrounding them. This preliminary and proactive state management simplifies the overall process by having the controller handle state transitions in advance rather than reacting to complex state changes during interaction.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for enabling service providers to offer businesses to advertise using commercials over streaming video contents to interact with interested consumers on a real time basis are disclosed. Specifically, users who request a video session from the network may be exposed to commercial content while viewing the video content via a television monitor. The present method enables advertisers to display hyperlinks of their web sites to allow users to click on these hyperlinks using a pointer device to activate a web session. The web session would allow users to order products and services or obtain more information from the advertiser.