Video Ad Swapping in Streaming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video streaming systems lack user control over advertising content, which can reduce viewer engagement due to the inability to influence or change advertisements during ad breaks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for preconfigured video advertisement swapping in a video streaming system, where a computer server selects default and alternative advertisements based on user or advertiser preferences, and allows users to swap out default ads with alternative ads in real-time through user input, using a selection algorithm and client-server communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional streaming systems use a single provider delivering a stream of data to a set of end users, then the system structure is simple, but the required bandwidth and processing power increase significantly as the number of end users increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the advertising delivery system by introducing multiple advertising providers that can independently deliver ads to users. Instead of a single centralized ad server, the system divides ad delivery into separate advertising streams that can be selectively transmitted to client devices, reducing the bandwidth burden on any single provider while maintaining comprehensive ad coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary advertising selection component that mediates between content providers and advertising providers. This intermediary selectively determines which advertisements to transmit based on user preferences and content type, acting as a buffer that reduces direct bandwidth requirements between advertising providers and users while maintaining effective ad delivery.
2Reliability
If streaming media is delivered from a few dedicated servers having high bandwidth capabilities, then the video streaming quality is maintained, but the cost and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic ad selection where the advertising content is dynamically adjusted based on user preferences, viewing history, and content type. The system can adaptively determine which ads to deliver and when, allowing the use of standard bandwidth infrastructure while maintaining high streaming quality through intelligent, dynamic advertisement insertion and selection.
3Extent of automation
If advertisements are inserted at predetermined times in a video program, then the ad delivery is automated, but the user cannot influence or control the advertising content played during the ad breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining ad break locations and preparing multiple ad candidates before actual ad delivery. The system pre-selects advertisements based on user preferences and content type, then presents these pre-prepared options to users at appropriate moments, allowing users to influence ad selection while maintaining automated delivery infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where user interactions with advertisements (such as viewing duration, engagement level, and explicit selections) are fed back into the system to refine future ad delivery decisions. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically learn user preferences and adapt ad selection over time, combining automation with increasing user control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuration of advertisements in a streaming video segment works in cooperation with a client device. Using a selection algorithm, a server selects a first number of default video advertisements for a video streaming session, and a second number of alternative video ads greater than the first number. The server provides identifiers for the alternative video advertisements and transmits the identifiers to the client device prior to a corresponding ad break in the streaming video. During or before streaming of one of the default video advertisements to the client device, the server detects a signal from the client device requesting that one of the alternative video advertisements be swapped for the one of the default video advertisements, interrupts streaming of the default video, and initiates streaming of the one of the alternative video advertisements, in response to detecting the signal. Corresponding operations may be performed by the client device.