Media Streaming Prefetching for Reliable Server-Side Ad Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media streaming technologies face challenges with server-side ad insertion due to short timeout periods, leading to significant ad delivery losses during peak hours.

Innovation Solution

A method that includes providing a manifest with segment identifiers, enabling prefetching of ad content during media breaks by transmitting prefetch requests to an ad server for metadata, and inserting ad set information into the manifest.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a short timeout period (maximum of 3 seconds) is used in server side ad insertion, then the system responds quickly to ad requests, but significant ad delivery losses occur during peak hours

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidad delivery reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by prefetching ad content and metadata before the actual ad delivery is needed. The prefetching function requests ad metadata from the ad server in advance, allowing the ad selection process to be completed before the timeout period expires, thus resolving the contradiction between quick response and reliable delivery during peak hours

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If ad selection is performed before the manifest is provided to the player, then the ad insertion process is completed in time, but ad selection flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvead insertion timingVSAvoidad selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary ad metadata retrieval and selection before the manifest is provided to the player. The prefetching function obtains ad metadata and determines ad content in advance, allowing the ad selection to be completed before the timeout expires while maintaining flexibility through the metadata-driven selection process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The prefetching function acts as an intermediary between the ad server and the manifest server. It retrieves ad metadata from the ad server, processes the ad selection, and provides the results to the manifest server, enabling flexible ad selection while meeting timing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250267320A1Media streaming systems and methods with a prefetching function

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 PENTHERA PARTNERS INC

AI summary

A method that includes providing to a player a manifest that comprises a segment identifier for identifying a segment of first media content or template information for generating the segment identifier. The method also includes receiving a segment request comprising the segment identifier and, in response to receiving the segment request: i) providing to the player a response message responsive to the segment request; and ii) performing a first process for enabling the player to obtain second media content to be played by the player during a break in the first media content. The first process for enabling the player to obtain the second media content comprises transmitting to a PF a prefetch request for triggering the PF to send to an ad server a metadata request. The ad server responds to the request by providing to the PF metadata for the second media content.