Manifest-Based Content App Selection for FAST Channel Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users accessing Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST) channels through isolated hosted applications are unaware of additional content options, leading to limited access and engagement.
Innovation Solution
A computing device determines content applications based on manifest files to provide additional content items, allowing users to select and access related content through graphic overlays and hosted applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users access FAST channels through isolated hosted applications, then content delivery is simplified and application isolation is maintained, but user awareness of additional content options decreases and content accessibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The main player application serves as an intermediary between the isolated hosted applications and the user. It receives manifest files containing content item and application identifier associations, determines which content applications can provide specific content items, and presents this information to users through graphic overlays without requiring users to directly interact with isolated hosted applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the content delivery function by separating the main player application from hosted content applications. The main player handles content selection and presentation, while hosted applications专注于 content delivery. This segmentation allows the main player to aggregate content information from multiple sources and present unified content options to users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hosted applications provide content items, then content availability increases, but system complexity increases and content selection becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The main player application performs multiple functions: it plays content from the current channel, receives and parses manifest files from multiple hosted applications, determines content application mappings, and presents content options to users. This multi-functionality consolidates complex operations into a single application, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high content availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automated manifest file processing. The main player automatically receives manifest files, parses content item and application identifier associations, determines which content applications can provide specific content items, and presents this information without requiring manual configuration or user intervention in the complex mapping processes.
3Reliability
If hosted applications are isolated from main applications, then application stability is improved and failure impact is reduced, but user navigation and content discovery become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The main player application acts as a mediator that bridges isolated hosted applications and user interaction. It maintains application isolation for stability while providing unified content discovery and navigation. The mediator aggregates content information from multiple isolated applications and presents it through a single user interface, preserving both isolation benefits and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the user interface and content selection functions into the main player application while keeping content delivery functions in isolated hosted applications. This combining of control functions in the main player simplifies user navigation and content discovery, while the isolated hosted applications maintain their stability and reliability for content delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatuses for selecting content applications are described. A manifest file associated with a channel may include content item identifiers associated with content items and content application identifiers associated with content applications that can play the content items. A computing device such as a set-top box may determine one or more content applications to play one or more content items based on the content item identifiers and the content application identifiers in the manifest file.