Client-Side Streaming Proxy for Metadata Injection and Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing playback applications for streaming media lack control over the streaming process due to limited support from native APIs, which inhibit metadata access, analysis, and manipulation, while server-side solutions are complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A programmable network proxy is implemented in the client web engine to intercept and process streaming requests and responses, allowing metadata injection and extraction to enhance playback capabilities without requiring custom applications or costly server-side solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If natively supported playback APIs are used, then playback compatibility is maintained, but control over the streaming process and access to metadata is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a programmable network proxy as an intermediary component between the client web application and the media server. This proxy intercepts streaming requests and responses, enabling metadata extraction and injection while maintaining compatibility with native playback APIs. The proxy acts as a mediator that provides enhanced control capabilities without requiring complete replacement of existing playback infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If server-side solutions are implemented to enhance streaming control, then playback capabilities are improved, but implementation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing complex server-side solutions to enhance streaming control, the patent inverts the approach by moving the control functionality to the client-side through a programmable network proxy. This inversion shifts the complexity from server infrastructure to a client-side component that operates within the existing web application environment, thereby reducing server-side implementation complexity and cost while maintaining enhanced control capabilities.
3Loss of information
If metadata extraction and injection are performed, then analysis and manipulation of streaming media is enabled, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The programmable network proxy performs metadata extraction from incoming streaming responses before forwarding them to the playback application. By extracting metadata in advance during the request-response cycle, the system enables subsequent analysis and manipulation operations without adding significant processing delays during actual playback. This preliminary action ensures metadata is readily available when needed while minimizing real-time processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method is provided for streaming media from a media server to a client web application running in a client web engine. The method involves, by the client web application, initiating a programmable network proxy in the client web engine. The method further comprises, by the programmable network proxy, intercepting a request from the client web application to retrieve the streaming media from the media server and/or intercepting a response comprising the streaming media from the media server. The method further includes, by the programmable network proxy, performing at least one of: i) injecting metadata into the intercepted request; ii) extracting metadata from the intercepted request; iii) injecting metadata into the intercepted response; and iv) extracting metadata from the intercepted response; and respectively forwarding the intercepted request to the media server and/or forwarding the intercepted response to the client web application.