Multi-Rail Splicer Advertisement Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing advertisement insertion systems in broadcasting and media delivery face challenges such as increased complexity and resource demands as they scale, leading to higher operational costs and potential disruptions in content delivery due to errors in signal handling.
Innovation Solution
A multi-rail splicer system that uses a server computing device to manage content insertion, receiving cue request messages from splicers, determining splice times, and multicasting content streams with ad beacons, while consolidating results into a single verification file to ensure precise and reliable advertisement placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a direct and singular connection between servers and splicers is used, then precise control of advertisement insertion is achieved, but system complexity and resource demands increase as systems scale
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the splicer infrastructure into multiple independent splicers organized in a multi-rail configuration. Each splicer maintains individual SCTE30/SCTE35 signal processing capabilities while sharing a common advertisement content source through IP multicast. This segmentation allows precise control per splicer while reducing overall system complexity through resource sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal advertisement content distribution mechanism using IP multicast that can serve multiple splicers simultaneously. A single advertisement content server can broadcast content to numerous splicers across multiple rails, eliminating the need for separate unicast connections to each splicer and reducing server resource demands while maintaining precise insertion control.
2Productivity
If multiple splicers are connected to a single server, then resource efficiency improves, but errors in signal handling may disrupt advertisement placement
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates error handling and verification mechanisms that prepare for potential signal handling errors in advance. SCTE35 cue messages include timing and synchronization data that allow splicers to anticipate and correct potential placement errors. The server monitors signal integrity and can implement corrective actions before errors disrupt advertisement placement, ensuring reliable content delivery across multiple splicers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback loops where splicers report their operational status and advertisement insertion results back to the server. This feedback mechanism allows the server to detect signal handling errors, verify successful content placement, and adjust transmission parameters to maintain reliable advertisement insertion across all connected splicers in the multi-rail system.
3Reliability
If redundancy is incorporated for reliability, then service continuity is improved, but operational costs and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple splicers into a unified multi-rail system that shares common resources including advertisement content servers, synchronization signals, and management infrastructure. This consolidation provides redundancy and service continuity across multiple rails while reducing operational costs by eliminating duplicate server resources and simplifying system management compared to fully redundant separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Various methods and processing systems are disclosed that provide a computing device in a multi-rail splicer system for inserting content. The method may include receiving a first cue request message from a first splicer associated with a first rail in the multi-rail splicer system, determining a first splice time value for the first splicer based on a time included in the received first cue request message, receiving a second cue request message from a second splicer associated with a second rail in the multi-rail splicer system, determining a second splice time value for the second splicer, sending commands to insert the content stream into their respective rails at their determined splice time values, multicasting a content stream to the first and second splicers, the content stream including audio, video, and an ad beacon in a data packet identifier (PID), and consolidating content insertion results into a single verification file.