Pre-Encoded VOD Manifests for Immediate Playback and Ad Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) in Video On-Demand (VOD) streaming introduce delays and increase costs due to maintaining client sessions for the entire duration, and fail to provide immediate playback of VOD content with minimal delay and seamless integration of non-programming content.
Innovation Solution
A system for publishing a disparate per-client live media output stream based on dynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content and customized programming content, using a DACIS to generate and manage pre-encoded media assets for immediate playback, allowing seamless transitions and reduced session duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If SSAI is used to insert non-programming content into VOD manifest, then non-programming content can be inserted dynamically, but delay in delivering VOD manifest to player increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates multiple versions of the VOD manifest with different non-programming content insertions before the player requests it. When a manifest request arrives, the system can immediately deliver a pre-prepared manifest without waiting to insert ads in real-time, thus reducing delay while still enabling dynamic content insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which pre-generated manifest version to deliver based on real-time conditions such as player state, user preferences, and content availability. This allows the system to maintain adaptability in content insertion while using pre-computed manifests to reduce delivery delay.
2Reliability
If SSAI treats VOD asset as live stream and inserts advertisements as encountered in timeline, then client session can be maintained, but costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the VOD asset into multiple time intervals and pre-generates manifest versions for different segments. Instead of maintaining a continuous client session for the entire duration, the system can deliver appropriate manifest segments independently, reducing session maintenance costs while ensuring reliability within each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial session maintenance only for the duration needed to deliver specific manifest segments rather than maintaining sessions for the complete VOD asset duration. This reduces energy loss while maintaining sufficient session continuity for reliable content delivery.
3Speed
If all advertisements are inserted at the very beginning of VOD manifest, then manifest can be delivered quickly, but viewer experience gets complicated and player-SSAI integration becomes significantly more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments advertisement insertion into multiple manifest versions distributed throughout the VOD timeline rather than concentrating all ads at the beginning. This allows faster delivery of initial manifests while distributing integration complexity across multiple simpler, standardized manifest segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies parameters such as ad insertion points, ad content, and manifest structure across different pre-generated manifest versions. This enables flexible delivery optimized for different viewer scenarios while maintaining standardized, manageable player-SSAI integration through consistent manifest formats.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for managing a pre-encoded media asset for immediate playback. The system generates, based on a receipt of an initial manifest request from a first client device, an initial pre-encoded media asset manifest that comprises an initial set of programming content segments. The generated initial pre-encoded media asset manifest, as a first disparate live media output stream manifest, is communicated to a media player of the first client device via a content delivery system for an immediate playback of a pre-encoded media asset. The system assigns a unique SID to the first client device to record a session of the first client device for a subsequent manifest request or a final manifest request associated with the initial manifest request. A final pre-encoded media asset manifest is generated upon a receipt of the subsequent manifest request from the first client device based on a defined criterion.