Obfuscated Playlist Integrity Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content providers face revenue loss due to third-party interference, such as removal or replacement of advertisements in streamed media, which complicates detection of content and advertisement boundaries.
Innovation Solution
Obfuscating file names in playlists to obscure content and advertisement distinctions, and implementing redundancy measures like checksums to verify playlist integrity, ensuring playback devices refuse altered content and notify providers of tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If advertisement segments are clearly distinguished from content segments in playlists, then third parties can easily detect and remove/replace advertisements, but content providers lose revenue from lost advertisement impressions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of obscuring distinguishing characteristics by making advertisement file names resemble content file names through obfuscation techniques. Instead of using clear, distinguishable naming conventions that would make advertisement detection easy, the system deliberately uses similar naming patterns for both content and advertisement files, making it difficult for third parties to differentiate and selectively remove advertisements while maintaining the ability for the content provider to identify and protect their advertisement inventory through other means.
2Ease of operation
If playlist files use simple, readable names, then it is easy to identify and manage files, but third parties can easily detect advertisement boundaries and alter the stream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different naming strategies for different portions of the playlist. While the overall playlist structure remains manageable, specific segments (advertisement files) use obfuscated naming conventions that differ from traditional clear naming. This localized application of obfuscation to critical advertisement segments while maintaining overall playlist structure allows the system to balance ease of management with protection against third-party interference.
3Productivity
If the content stream uses standard playlist formats with clear segment identification, then playback devices can easily process the stream, but advertisement removal and replacement becomes trivial for third parties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-obfuscating advertisement file names before they are included in the playlist, and by implementing integrity verification mechanisms in advance. The content provider embeds checksums or hash values in the playlist that allow playback devices to verify whether the playlist has been altered. This preliminary protection measures ensure that even though the stream uses standard formats for compatibility, the advertisement integrity is protected before transmission occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for protecting the integrity of a playlist, and/or for determining whether a playlist has been altered. The playlist may comprise references to segments of multiple content types. The references may be obfuscated, and/or confirmation data may be used to detect playlist alteration.