Secondary Content Delivery Without Local Transcoder Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content delivery systems, such as those used for television programs, often require costly dedicated transcoder equipment and can introduce errors, and there is a need for a more efficient and cost-effective method to combine and manage multiple content streams at the user device level.
Innovation Solution
User devices receive a primary content stream with embedded schedule information for secondary content, allowing them to monitor and update manifest files for secondary content, such as advertisements, based on user preferences and geographic zones, using beacon streams and network addresses to fetch and present the content just-in-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated transcoder equipment is used at local offices to combine content from different sources, then content streams can be properly assembled, but equipment cost increases and errors may be introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The user device performs self-service by autonomously monitoring beacon streams for manifest file addresses, retrieving manifest files, obtaining secondary content from specified sources, and assembling the complete content stream locally without requiring external transcoder equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The functionality previously performed by dedicated transcoder equipment at local offices is extracted and relocated to the user device, eliminating the need for expensive intermediary equipment while maintaining content assembly capabilities
2Reliability
If manifest files are updated frequently to reflect schedule changes, then content delivery remains current, but network traffic and device processing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The user device periodically monitors beacon streams at regular intervals to detect manifest file address updates, enabling efficient periodic synchronization without continuous monitoring, thus balancing content freshness with network efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the beacon stream mechanism, where the server signals manifest file updates by transmitting new addresses, and the user device responds by retrieving updated manifests only when changes are detected, optimizing network traffic
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for secondary content delivery via a network. A data stream carrying, for example, a primary content may also carry a network address of a schedule that indicates one or more times at which secondary content should be presented in coordination with the primary content. A user device may receive this data stream, and use it to obtain the secondary content and to present it with the primary content. The user device may also determine whether the schedule has changed by comparing a received network address with a previously-received network address.