On-the-fly Ad Insertion via MPEG-2 Transport Stream Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Progressive downloading of media files requires transcoding for advertisement insertion, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive, limiting dynamic customization and increasing storage needs due to the need for preprocessed permutations of media files.

Innovation Solution

The method involves converting media and advertisement files into MPEG-2 transport streams, allowing for dynamic insertion of advertisements without transcoding, enabling real-time manipulation and reducing processing and storage requirements by performing operations on-the-fly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If transcoding is used for advertisement insertion, then advertisement customization is possible, but processing time and computational resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertisement customizationVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary format (MPEG-2 transport stream) that serves as a bridge between the original media file and the final output. By converting to this intermediate format, performing ad insertion through byte-stream manipulation rather than full transcoding, and then converting back, the system achieves advertisement customization without the time-consuming full transcoding process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical transcoding process with a more efficient byte-level manipulation approach. Instead of re-encoding the entire media file through complex transcoding operations, the system directly manipulates the byte stream of the MPEG-2 transport stream to insert advertisements, dramatically reducing processing time while maintaining customization capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple preprocessed permutations of media files are created for different advertisements, then dynamic advertisement insertion is enabled, but storage space requirements increase vastly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic advertisement insertionVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic advertisement insertion by maintaining a single media file in MPEG-2 transport stream format and performing ad insertion operations on-the-fly when requests are made. Instead of precreating multiple static permutations, the system dynamically generates the appropriate advertisement version at request time through byte-stream manipulation, eliminating the need for vast storage space while enabling full dynamic customization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If full transcoding is performed for advertisement insertion, then advertisement insertion is achieved, but processing power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertisement insertion capabilityVSAvoidprocessing power

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential components needed for advertisement insertion from the full transcoding process. By converting the media file to MPEG-2 transport stream format and then performing direct byte-stream manipulation to insert advertisements, the system extracts and utilizes only the necessary operations, eliminating the computationally intensive full transcoding steps while maintaining advertisement insertion capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters from full transcoding (which involves re-encoding audio and video streams) to byte-level manipulation of the transport stream. This parameter change from high-level format conversion to low-level data manipulation significantly reduces processing power consumption while achieving the same functional outcome of advertisement insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9240922B2Transcodeless on-the-fly ad insertion

Publication Date: 2016.01.19 BRIGHTCOVE INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for enabling dynamic advertisement insertion into media files without transcoding are disclosed. The techniques disclosed involve retrieving files of the media and advertisement(s) and converting the files to an MPEG-2 transport stream (MPEG-2 TS) format. The MPEG-2 TS streams are then joined to insert the advertisement at a desired point in the media file. The resulting MPEG-2 TS stream is then converted back to a media file, which can be provided for downloading, or optionally reindexed. Because it does not require transcoding, this process can be performed on-the-fly to provide dynamic insertion of advertisements into media files. Other media file manipulation, including the insertion of non-advertisement media, is contemplated.