Streaming Media End Time Determination via Bandwidth Phase Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to accurately determine the end time of streaming media presentations, especially when watermarks and signatures are unavailable, due to the buffering process which complicates the interpretation of bandwidth usage patterns.
Innovation Solution
Monitoring bandwidth usage patterns to identify distinct phases such as buffer filling, normal streaming, and buffer emptying, and using these phases to estimate the end time of streaming media by analyzing changes in bandwidth demand and correlating them with audio monitoring data to confirm the end of a media presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If watermark or signature based media identification techniques are used, then media identification accuracy is improved, but the method becomes inapplicable when watermarks and signatures are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces bandwidth usage data as an intermediary measurement to identify media presentations when traditional watermarks and signatures are unavailable. By monitoring network bandwidth consumption patterns, the system can detect and measure media exposure through a proxy metric (bandwidth usage) that serves as a mediator between the media content and the measurement system, enabling identification without direct access to embedded identifiers.
2Productivity
If bandwidth usage monitoring is used to determine media end time, then measurement capability is improved for streaming media, but accuracy deteriorates due to buffering processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting and measuring the buffer filling phase before the actual media playback begins. By identifying the buffer filling period through bandwidth monitoring and subtracting its duration from the total measured time, the system preemptively accounts for the buffering delay, ensuring that the final end time measurement reflects only the actual media presentation duration rather than including the preliminary buffering period.
3Reliability
If audio monitoring is combined with bandwidth usage analysis, then end time determination reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two distinct measurement approaches - audio monitoring and bandwidth usage analysis - into a unified measurement system. By combining these complementary techniques, the system cross-validates measurements: audio monitoring detects actual playback timing while bandwidth monitoring captures data transfer patterns. The convergence of both measurement streams provides more reliable end time determination, as each method compensates for the limitations of the other, creating a more robust measurement system despite increased complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes analyzing bandwidth usage during a first phase of streaming of media and during a second phase of the streaming of the media. The first phase corresponds to the streaming of the media before a buffer is filled with a threshold amount of data associated with the media. The second phase corresponds to the streaming of the media after the buffer is filled with the threshold amount of the data and while the media continues to be buffered. The method includes calculating a size of the buffer based on a difference in the bandwidth usage during the first phase relative to the second phase. The method further includes determining an end time of the media based on the size of the buffer. The end time of the media occurs after a time when the data associated with the media completes downloading to the buffer.