Streaming Media Chunk Repackaging for Dynamic Content Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current streaming media systems require re-encoding and re-segmentation to insert content at specific time points, limiting flexibility and increasing computational load, and preventing dynamic insertion of content without prior knowledge of insertion times.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that repackages streaming media chunks into replacement chunks with adjustable boundaries, allowing content insertion at any desired time point without re-encoding or re-segmenting the entire program, using a stream repackager to update the program manifest and insert content seamlessly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If content is inserted into streaming media at arbitrary time points, then flexibility and adaptability of content insertion is improved, but the media stream structure becomes more complex and requires repackaging operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent insertion flexibilityVSAvoidstream structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The media stream is divided into discrete chunks that can be independently manipulated. The repackaging process segments the original media chunks and inserts content chunks between them, creating a modular structure that enables flexible content insertion at arbitrary time points while maintaining manageable complexity through organized chunk boundaries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Content chunks are nested within the media stream structure by inserting them between media chunks. The manifest file嵌套ly contains references to both media chunks and content chunks in a hierarchical manner, allowing multiple layers of content insertion while preserving the overall stream structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional re-encoding and re-segmentation methods are used to insert content, then content insertion capability is achieved, but computational load and processing time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent insertion capabilityVSAvoidcomputational load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the content insertion function from the complex re-encoding process. Instead of re-encoding the entire media stream, only the necessary chunks are repackaged and re-segmented around the insertion points, significantly reducing computational load while maintaining content insertion capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The media stream is pre-segmented into chunks during encoding, and the manifest file is prepared in advance with chunk references. This preliminary structuring enables efficient content insertion through simple repackaging operations rather than requiring full re-encoding when content needs to be inserted

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If content insertion requires prior knowledge of insertion time points, then stream structure can be planned in advance, but dynamic and real-time content insertion is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent insertion efficiencyVSAvoidreal-time insertion capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The chunk-based structure with flexible manifest updates enables dynamic content insertion at arbitrary time points without requiring advance planning. The system can adapt to real-time insertion requirements by repackaging chunks on-demand and updating manifest references dynamically, supporting both planned and spontaneous content insertion scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If player switching method is used to insert content, then content can be inserted at specified time points, but user control flexibility is reduced and playback variability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent insertion capabilityVSAvoiduser control flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the main media stream and content stream into a single unified chunked stream structure. Both media chunks and content chunks are interleaved in one continuous stream with a single manifest file, eliminating the need for player switching while maintaining user control flexibility and ensuring consistent playback behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9380092B2Method and system for inserting content into streaming media at arbitrary time points

Publication Date: 2016.06.28 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

The present invention teaches a method and system of inserting content into streaming media programs without requiring re-encoding and/or re-segmenting of the program, thus allowing the insertion point within the media program to be selected as desired. The system and method operate on the relevant chunks of the streaming program to repackage those chunks, even in real time, to provide a chunk boundary at the desired insertion point in the streamed program to permit seamless playback of the main program and inserted content.