Service Insertion Agent for Video Buffering Delays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for reducing channel change delays in video broadcast environments, such as instant channel change (ICC), are costly and do not scale well due to the need for high-capacity servers continuously buffering all content, and do not effectively improve the user experience during digital content transmission.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes the delay inherent in video buffering during channel switching to provide advanced services by using a client device with a service insertion agent to initiate advanced service assets, placing media display data in a foreground field and player data in a background field, allowing for the delivery of services like advertisements, games, or program recommendations during the buffering period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If instant channel change (ICC) is implemented using high-capacity servers to continuously buffer all content, then channel change delay is reduced, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the buffering function from centralized high-capacity servers and relocates it to the client device's local buffer. This eliminates the need for expensive ICC servers while maintaining the ability to reduce channel change delay, as the client device itself performs the buffering operation using its existing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The client device serves itself by utilizing its own local buffer to store video frames during channel changes. Instead of relying on external ICC servers to provide cached content, the device independently manages its buffering process, reducing system complexity and eliminating the need for additional high-capacity servers.
2Speed
If ICC servers continuously buffer all content at high capacity, then channel change speed improves, but scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each client device independently performs buffering operations using its own local buffer, eliminating the need for scalable ICC server infrastructure. This self-service approach allows the system to scale naturally as more clients are added, since no additional centralized buffering capacity is required.
3Reliability
If the player buffers video frames before output, then video playback stability improves, but channel change time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary buffering action during channel changes by storing video frames in the local buffer before playback is requested. This preliminary action ensures that when the user requests a channel change, the buffered content is already ready for immediate playback, thus reducing channel change time while maintaining playback stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of buffering delay into a benefit by proactively buffering content during channel changes. The delay that would normally be perceived as a negative is transformed into a preparatory phase that enables faster channel switching and stable playback, as the buffer is already populated with necessary video frames.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, device and method for service insertion during a video display. A client device detects a video request input, and in response, selects and initiates an advanced service asset while the player buffers the requested video data. The output of the player is displayed in a background field while the media display data of the advanced service asset is displayed in a foreground field. The player display data may be brought to the foreground after a preset time or when the player is ready to display the requested video.