Manifest File Segmentation for Supplemental Content Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current supplemental content distribution techniques are inefficient and resource-intensive, particularly in encoding, decoding, and re-encoding processes, and struggle with synchronization and transparency issues, leading to suboptimal delivery of localized content overlays during main content playback.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method involves encoding supplemental content as videos and composing them at client devices, using a single manifest file to ensure synchronization with main content, and employing alpha channels or defined color values for transparency, allowing for efficient and synchronized overlay display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If supplemental content is distributed using traditional encoding and decoding processes, then content can be delivered to clients, but resource consumption increases and synchronization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the supplemental content into discrete segments that can be independently accessed and synchronized with main content segments. Each segment is associated with specific timing information, allowing efficient delivery without full re-encoding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifest file is generated in advance containing timing information and segment references for supplemental content. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for real-time encoding and decoding operations during content delivery, reducing resource consumption while maintaining synchronization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple encoding and decoding processes are used for supplemental content, then content can be adapted to different locations, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the supplemental content as separate segments with associated timing information from the main content stream. This extraction allows localized content to be delivered without requiring complex encoding and decoding operations at client devices, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifest file serves as an intermediary that contains timing information and segment references. This intermediary enables clients to synchronize supplemental content with main content without requiring complex local processing, simplifying device operations while maintaining localized content delivery capability.
3Reliability
If supplemental content is synchronized with main content, then viewing experience improves, but synchronization precision becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates timing information in the manifest file that provides feedback about when supplemental segments should be displayed relative to main content segments. This feedback mechanism enables precise synchronization without requiring complex real-time adjustment processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses timing parameters and duration information in the manifest file to control when supplemental content segments are displayed. By changing these temporal parameters based on main content segment timing, precise synchronization is achieved without complex processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for distributing supplemental content are disclosed. A first manifest file associated with a content item may be received via at least one server. Based at least on the first manifest file, a second manifest file may be generated. The second manifest file may comprise data for accessing a plurality of segments of the content item and data for accessing at least one supplemental content item. The second manifest file may be sent to a computing device. The computing device may be configured, based on the second manifest file, to output the at least one supplemental content item during output of at least one of the plurality of segments of the content item.