Video Packaging Service Ad-Blocking Mitigation via Intermediary Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for managing encoded content distribution are inefficient due to reliance on information from media player applications, which can be unreliable and subject to manipulation, and lack the ability to effectively mitigate ad-blocking applications.

Innovation Solution

A video packaging and origination service that encodes content into segments, estimates consumption rates, and modifies transmission techniques to prevent ad-blocking, using on-demand code execution and dynamic modification of content manifests to ensure accurate user interaction tracking and content delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If information from media player applications is used to manage encoded content distribution, then the system is simple to operate, but the reliability of content delivery and user interaction tracking deteriorates due to manipulation and unreliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component that sits between the media player application and the content delivery system. This intermediary captures and validates user interaction data, preventing manipulation while maintaining system simplicity. The intermediary acts as a trusted mediator that verifies information before it reaches the content distribution management system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where user interaction data is continuously monitored, validated, and used to adjust content delivery decisions in real-time. This feedback loop ensures that unreliable or manipulated data from media player applications can be detected and corrected, improving overall system reliability without complicating operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If traditional content distribution methods are used, then the device complexity remains low, but the ability to mitigate ad-blocking applications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidad-blocking

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting ad-blocking applications before they can interfere with content delivery. The system pre-establishes validation rules and monitoring mechanisms that prevent ad-blocking from taking effect, rather than reacting to it after the fact. This approach maintains low device complexity while effectively countering ad-blocking threats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-characterizing user device attributes and pre-validating content requests before full content delivery occurs. This preliminary validation layer prevents ad-blocking applications from successfully intercepting or manipulating content streams, adding minimal complexity while providing robust protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If media player application reporting is relied upon, then the system is easy to implement, but measurement precision of user interaction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary validation layer is introduced between the media player application and the content delivery system. This intermediary precisely measures and validates user interactions, ensuring accurate data collection while maintaining ease of implementation. The intermediary acts as a trusted measurement point that prevents manipulation of interaction data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces reliance on media player application reporting mechanisms with a server-side validation and measurement system. This substitution transfers the measurement precision requirement from the client-side media player to the server-side system, maintaining ease of implementation while dramatically improving measurement accuracy and preventing manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11350143B2Characterizing attributes of user devices requesting encoded content streaming

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

A video packaging and origination service can process requests for content segments from requesting user devices. The video packaging and origination service can utilize analytic rules and other information to characterize performance of the user device, such as detection of the presence of ad blocking software applications.