Video Ad Insertion via Segmented Instance Processes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Television distribution systems face challenges in inserting local video advertisements efficiently due to the high processing power requirements, which can lead to data loss or interruption, and are often financially constrained by the costs of high-performance hardware, especially in smaller viewer markets.
Innovation Solution
A multiple-process video advertising insertion system that uses a host process to initiate multiple instance processes on processors, each assigned a subset of video program channels, to analyze and insert advertisements based on a schedule, distributing processing tasks and reducing the burden on individual processors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-performance processing hardware is used to insert local advertising, then advertising insertion capability is improved, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video program channels into multiple subsets and assigns each subset to a separate instance process. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple channels concurrently using standard hardware, achieving high advertising insertion capability without requiring expensive high-performance processing hardware. Each instance process independently processes its assigned channels, enabling parallel operation that scales with the number of channels rather than requiring proportional increases in single-processor performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If significant processing power is used to insert advertising, then advertising insertion accuracy is improved, but data loss and service interruption occur
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting channels into subsets and processing them in separate instance processes, the system maintains advertising insertion accuracy for each channel while preventing processing bottlenecks. Each instance process handles a manageable number of channels independently, ensuring that video data buffers do not overflow or underflow, thus maintaining service continuity without sacrificing insertion precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous processing of video streams by having instance processes run concurrently without interruption. Each instance process continuously analyzes transport streams, determines advertisement insertion points, and inserts advertisements without stopping, thereby maintaining both accuracy and service continuity.
3Device complexity
If a single process handles all video program channels, then system complexity is reduced, but processing bottlenecks cause data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handling of video program channels by creating multiple instance processes, each responsible for a specific subset of channels. This segmentation prevents processing bottlenecks and data loss while maintaining relatively simple system complexity through the use of identical instance process templates that can be replicated as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple instance processes are merged into a coordinated system where each instance handles a portion of the total channels. The host process coordinates these instances, and they collectively process all channels without creating bottlenecks. This merging approach distributes the processing load while maintaining system coherence.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for video advertising insertion is presented. In one example, the system includes a transport stream interface to receive multiple video program channels in at least one first video transport stream. The system also includes at least one hardware processor that executes a host process to initiate a plurality of instance processes to execute concurrently, wherein each of the instance processes is assigned a distinct subset of the channels. Each of the instance processes analyzes the at least one first video transport stream to determine advertisement insertion points of the distinct subset of the channels, and inserts at least some of the plurality of video advertisements into the distinct subset of the channels based on the advertisement insertion points and an advertising schedule. The transport stream interface is also to transmit the channels with the inserted video advertisements in at least one second video transport stream.