Splicer Switching Between User-Targeted and Generic Ads
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IPTV broadcasting, there is a challenge in ensuring that ads are inserted within three seconds of the insertion point without dead air time, as the response time of a typical ad server can be up to two seconds, leaving only one second to procure and splice another ad if a user-targeted ad is not available.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing multiple ad servers and a splicer to provide both user-targeted and generic ads, where the splicer can switch to generic ads from a multicast address if user-targeted ads are unavailable, ensuring timely ad insertion and meeting Service Level Agreement requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single ad server is used to provide user-targeted ads, then ad targeting precision is improved, but the risk of dead air time increases when the ad server response time exceeds one second
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ad servers into a single system where a first ad server provides user-targeted ads and a second ad server provides generic ads. These servers work together through a splicer that can switch between them, merging their capabilities to ensure both targeting precision and continuous ad availability without dead air time.
Solution Approach 2:
The splicer acts as an intermediary between the ad servers and the streaming media system. It receives ads from both the first ad server (user-targeted) and the second ad server (generic), and intelligently selects and inserts the appropriate ad based on availability and timing requirements, mediating the interaction to ensure SLA compliance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ad insertion waits for user-targeted ads from a single ad server, then ad personalization is improved, but the ad insertion timing reliability deteriorates when response time exceeds three seconds
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by having the second ad server ready to provide generic ads in advance. When the splicer needs an ad, it can immediately use a pre-available generic ad from the second ad server if the user-targeted ad from the first ad server is not available within the required time, ensuring timing reliability is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of ad type dynamically. It starts by attempting to insert user-targeted ads (high personalization) from the first ad server, but switches to generic ads (lower personalization but higher availability) from the second ad server when timing constraints are at risk, thus adapting the personalization parameter based on real-time conditions.
3Measurement precision
If the system procures user-targeted ads from an ad server with up to two seconds response time, then ad targeting accuracy is improved, but the remaining one second for splicing creates timing pressure that may violate SLA
Solution Approach 1:
The second ad server prepares generic ads in advance, so when the splicer needs an ad and the first ad server takes up to two seconds to respond, the splicer can immediately use the pre-available generic ad without additional procurement time, eliminating the one-second timing pressure and ensuring SLA compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses generic ads from the second ad server as a temporary substitute when user-targeted ads are not immediately available. These generic ads serve as a short-term solution that satisfies the SLA requirement, allowing the system to maintain timing reliability while still attempting to provide personalized ads when possible.
4Reliability
If multiple ad servers are used to ensure ad availability, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The splicer is designed as a multi-functional device that can handle both user-targeted ads from the first ad server and generic ads from the second ad server. It performs multiple functions: receiving ads from multiple sources, selecting appropriate ads based on availability and timing, splicing ads into streaming media, and ensuring SLA compliance. This universality manages the complexity of having multiple ad servers through a single versatile component.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and apparatus for splicing a generic ad into a streaming media broadcast are provided when a user ad is not available. A splicer operates to receive streaming media on a primary channel, receive the user ad from a user ad server on a first channel, receive the generic ad from a generic ad server via a multicast address on a second channel, splice the user ad on the first channel into a streamed programming, splice the generic ad on the second channel into the streamed programming, and transmit the streamed programming into which ads have been spliced to a resulting channel. The generic ad server operates to transmit the generic ad to the multicast address. The user ad server operates to transmit the user ad over the first channel. The resulting channel operates to output the streamed programming.