Streaming Ad Manifest Timing for Just-in-Time Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing streaming media platforms inefficiently use resources by pre-loading all advertising content for a media content item, leading to waste when users do not watch the entire content.
Innovation Solution
Implement mechanisms to insert placeholder segments in a media content item and retrieve advertising content just-in-time based on playback position, using a manifest file to manage retrieval times and store content in a memory location for seamless transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If advertising content is pre-loaded for the entire duration of media content item playback, then advertising content is ready for immediate playback, but resources are wasted when users do not watch the entire media content item
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by inserting retrieval indications into the manifest file at predetermined positions before playback, and pre-generates placeholder segments. However, the actual advertising content retrieval is deferred until the user reaches the corresponding playback position, combining preliminary preparation with just-in-time execution to avoid wasting resources on users who don't watch the entire content.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifest file is segmented with retrieval indications at specific positions, and the media content is divided into segments with corresponding placeholder segments. This segmentation allows the system to retrieve and insert advertising content at specific playback positions rather than loading all advertising content at once, reducing resource wastage while maintaining readiness when needed.
2Productivity
If advertising content is retrieved just-in-time based on playback position, then resource efficiency is improved, but complexity of content insertion process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifest file serves as an intermediary that contains retrieval indications pointing to advertising content. The system uses this intermediary structure to coordinate between the media playback position and advertising content retrieval, simplifying the overall process by using the existing manifest file as the coordination mechanism rather than implementing complex real-time tracking and retrieval systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates placeholder segments that copy the structure and timing of where advertising content will be inserted. These placeholder segments allow the media player to maintain proper timing and synchronization while the actual advertising content is retrieved and inserted at the appropriate positions, reducing the complexity of real-time content insertion.
3Ease of operation
If placeholder segments are generated and inserted into media content item, then seamless transition to advertising content is enabled, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
Placeholder segments are generated and inserted into the media content item in advance during the manifest file processing stage. This preliminary action ensures that the media player has a complete structure with all placeholders ready, enabling seamless transitions during playback without requiring complex real-time processing or content generation during actual playback.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and media for streaming a media content item containing advertising content are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: identifying, in a manifest file at a server used to stream media content items, an indication that an advertising content item is to be played back at a first playback position for a first duration when streaming a media content item; determining a retrieval time to retrieve the advertising content item from an advertising source for an advertisement break; inserting, into the manifest file at the server used to stream media content items, a retrieval indication that the advertising content item is to be retrieved from the advertising source at a second playback time; retrieving the advertising content item from the advertising source when streaming of the media content item has reached the second playback position; determining a remaining amount of time corresponding to an unfilled portion of the advertisement break based on a duration of the advertising content item; based on the remaining amount of time corresponding to the unfilled portion of the advertising break, retrieving at least one additional advertisement content item for insertion in the unfilled portion of the advertising break, where the at least one additional advertisement content item is selected from a plurality of processed advertising content items received from a plurality of network sources, where each of the plurality of network sources has uploaded and assigned at least a first advertising content item having a first duration and at least a second advertising content item having a second duration, and where the first duration associated with the first advertising content item is determined to be within a first range and the second duration associated with the second advertising content item is determined to be within a second range; and collapsing the remaining portion of the advertising break to the end of the at least one additional advertising content item that was retrieved.