Server-Based Interactive Content Injection in Media Streams

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Solution Overview

Problem

Media streaming technologies face challenges in delivering interactive content effectively due to advertisement blocking software that blocks interactive content domains, leading to a suboptimal user experience.

Innovation Solution

Implementing server-side injection of interactive content into media streams, where a media server embeds interactive content as executable code, such as HTML or XML, directly into the media stream, allowing it to be displayed concurrently with video content without relying on client-side retrieval from blocked domains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If client device retrieves interactive content from interactive content domain, then interactivity is enabled, but advertisement blocking software blocks the retrieval

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinteractivityVSAvoidcontent delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a media server as an intermediary between the content source and client device. The media server retrieves interactive content from the interactive content domain and injects it into the media stream, mediating the blocked communication path and enabling reliable content delivery despite advertisement blocking software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the interactive content with the media stream by injecting the interactive content into the media stream packets. This combining approach delivers both media and interactive content through a single channel, bypassing the need for separate retrieval that would be blocked by advertisement filtering software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If interactive content is injected into media stream, then content is protected from blocking, but server complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent deliveryVSAvoidserver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The media server performs multiple functions: it acts as a standard media stream source, an interactive content retrieval agent, and an injection mechanism. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single server component, the patent avoids the need for separate specialized systems, thereby managing complexity while ensuring reliable content delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If interactive content is displayed concurrently with video content, then user experience is enhanced, but client device processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidclient device processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The interactive content is prepared and injected into the media stream in advance by the media server, before reaching the client device. This preliminary preparation reduces the processing burden on the client device, as the content arrives ready-to-display rather than requiring complex real-time retrieval and integration operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10306293B2Systems and methods of server based interactive content injection

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 WOWZA MEDIA SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A method includes receiving, at a media server, a request for a media stream from a client device. The method further includes sending, from the media server, a combined media stream to the client device via a streaming session. The combined media stream includes the requested media stream and interactive content. The interactive content is configured to cause a media player of the client device to display the interactive content concurrently with the media stream.