DYNAMIC MANIFEST GENERATION FOR DELIVERY INSTANCES

• US 20170140443A1
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brightcove Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brightcove Incorporated
• Inventors: McGowan, Albert John, Gordon, Michael M.
• Application Number:
  US15/355,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20170140443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1089 by adding media; by removing media
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass networks security protocols H04L9/40; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2183 Cache memory caches in web servers or browsers G06F16/9574; intermediate storage and caching in data networks H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

Techniques are provided for dynamically creating index files for streaming media based on a determined chunking strategy. The chunking strategy can be determined using historical data of any of a variety of factors, such as Quality of Service (QoS) information. By using historical data in this manner, index files can be generated using chunking strategies that can improve these factors over time.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of providing media via a data communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of instructions relating to providing a requested media source via the data communications network;

subsequent to receiving the plurality of instructions, receiving, via the data communications network, a first request having a universal source locator (URL), wherein the URL includes information identifying the requested media source;

determining contextual data related to the first request;

determining a first set of one or more instructions, from the plurality of instructions, based on the contextual data related to the first request;

generating, with a processor, a first manifest in accordance with the first set of one or more instructions, the first manifest including information for streaming one or more segments of the requested media source via the data communications network;

sending, via the data communications network, the first manifest;

subsequent to receiving the plurality of instructions, receiving, via the data communications network, a second request having the same URL as the first request;

determining contextual data related to the second request, wherein the contextual data related to the second request is different than the contextual data related to the first request;

determining a second set of one or more instructions, from the plurality of instructions, based on the contextual data related to the second request;

generating, with the processor, a second manifest in accordance with the second set of one or more instructions, the second manifest having information for streaming the requested media source via the data communications network, wherein content of the second manifest is different from content of the first manifest; and

sending, via the data communications network, the second manifest.

3. The method of providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 2, wherein the contextual data related to the first request, the second request, or both, comprises data corresponding to one or more of:

a network type,

a device type,

an operating system or application type,

a media provider,

a web page,

a globally-unique identifier (GUID),

a location associated with a device,

information associated with a user of a device, or

information regarding the requested media source.

4. The method of providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 3, wherein the network type includes mobile wireless network or wired network.

5. The method of providing media via the data communications network as recited in claim 2, wherein the first set of one or more instructions;

the second set of one or more instructions, or both, include instructions, correspond to one or more of;

content of playback of the requested media source,

advertisements,

streaming parameters for playback of the requested media source, or

security of playback of the requested media source.

7. The method of providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions corresponding to advertisements include one or more of:

determining whether to include one or more advertisements,

identifying one or more advertisement servers to utilize during the playback of the requested media source,

determining where, during the playback of the requested media source, to insert one or more advertisements, or

allocating, among two or more advertisement servers, advertisement time during playback of the requested media source.

8. The method of providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions corresponding to streaming parameters for playback of the requested media source include one or more of:

determining one or more bit rates that may be used during playback of the requested media source,

determining a size or length of one or more chunks for playback of the requested media source, or

determining one or more resolutions that may be used during playback of the requested media source.

9. The method of providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions corresponding to security of playback of the requested media source include one or more of:

determining a type of digital rights management (DRM) to use during playback of the requested media source,

determining a type of watermark to use during playback of the requested media source, or

determining a type of encryption to use during playback of the requested media source.

10. The method of providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 5, further comprising including information, in the first manifest, indicative of an initial bit rate for streaming the requested media source, wherein the initial bit rate is based, at least in part, on the contextual data related to the first request.

6. The method of providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 6, wherein the instructions corresponding to content of playback of the requested media source include one or more of:

altering the playback of the requested media source based on a length of the requested media source,

altering the playback of the requested media source based on the content of the requested media source, or

not allowing a certain audio track associated with the requested media source to be played during playback of the requested media source.

11. A server for providing media via a data communications network, the server comprising:

a network interface for communicating with the data communications network;

a memory; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the memory and the network interface, the processor further configured to cause the server to;

receive a plurality of instructions relating to providing a requested media source via the data communications network;

subsequent to receiving the plurality of instructions, receive, via the network interface, a first request having a URL, wherein the URL includes information identifying the requested media source;

determine contextual data related to the first request;

determine a first set of one or more instructions, from the plurality of instructions, based on the contextual data related to the first request;

generate a first manifest in accordance with the first set of one or more instructions, the first manifest including information for streaming one or more segments of the requested media source via the data communications network;

send, via the network interface, the first manifest;

subsequent to receiving the plurality of instructions, receive, via the network interface, a second request having the same URL as the first request;

determine contextual data related to the second request, wherein the contextual data related to the second request is different than the contextual data related to the first request;

determine a second set of one or more instructions, from the plurality of instructions, based on the contextual data related to the second request;

generate a second manifest in accordance with the second set of one or more instructions, the second manifest having information for streaming the requested media source via the data communications network, wherein content of the second manifest is different from content of the first manifest; and

send, using the network interface, the second manifest.

12. The server for providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to cause the server to determine the contextual data related the first request, the second request, or both, corresponding to one or more of:

a network type,

a device type,

an operating system or application type,

a media provider,

a web page,

a GUID,

a location associated with a device,

information associated with a user of a device, or

information regarding the requested media source.

13. The server for providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 11, wherein one or both of the first set of one or more instructions or the second set of one or more instructions include instructions corresponding to one or more of:

content of playback of the requested media source,

advertisements,

streaming parameters for playback of the requested media source, or

security of playback of the requested media source.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions imbedded thereon for providing media via a data communications network, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to:

receive a plurality of instructions relating to providing a requested media source via the data communications network;

subsequent to receiving the plurality of instructions, receive, via the data communications network a first request having a URL, wherein the URL includes information identifying the requested media source;

determine contextual data related to the first request;

determine a first set of one or more instructions, from the plurality of instructions, based on the contextual data related to the first request;

generate a first manifest in accordance with the first set of one or more instructions, the first manifest having information for streaming the requested media source via the data communications network;

send, via the data communications network, the first manifest;

subsequent to receiving the plurality of instructions, receive, via the data communications network, a second request having the same URL as the first request;

determine contextual data related to the second request, wherein the contextual data related to the second request is different than the contextual data related to the first request;

determine a second set of one or more instructions, from the plurality of instructions, based on the contextual data related to the second request;

automatically generate a second manifest in accordance with the second set of one or more instructions, the second manifest having information for streaming the requested media source via the data communications network, wherein content of the second manifest is different from content of the first manifest; and

send, via the data communications network, the second manifest.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having the instructions imbedded thereon for providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 14, wherein the contextual data related to the first request, the second request, or both, comprises data corresponding to one or more of:

a network type,

a device type,

an operating system or application type,

a media provider,

a web page,

a globally-unique identifier (GUID),

a location associated with a device,

information associated with a user of a device, or

information regarding the requested media source.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having the instructions imbedded thereon for providing media via data communications network as recited in claim 15, wherein the network type includes mobile wireless network or wired network.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having the instructions imbedded thereon for providing the media with the data communications network as recited in claim 14, wherein the first set of one or more instructions, the second set of one or more instructions, or both, include instructions corresponding to one or more of:

content of playback of the requested media source,

advertisements,

streaming parameters for playback of the requested media source, or

security of playback of the requested media source.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having the instructions imbedded thereon for providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions corresponding to content of playback of the requested media source include one or more of:

altering the playback of the requested media source based on a length of the requested media source,

altering the playback of the requested media source based on the content of the requested media source, or

not allowing a certain audio track associated with the requested media source to be played during playback of the requested media source.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having the instructions imbedded thereon for providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions corresponding to advertisements include one or more of:

determining whether to include one or more advertisements,

identifying one or more advertisement servers to utilize during the playback of the requested media source,

determining where, during the playback of the requested media source, to insert one or more advertisements, or

allocating, among two or more advertisement servers, advertisement time during playback of the requested media source.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having the instructions imbedded thereon for providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions corresponding to streaming parameters for playback of the requested media source include one or more of:

determining one or more bit rates that may be used during playback of the requested media source,

determining a size or length of one or more chunks for playback of the requested media source, or

determining one or more resolutions that may be used during playback of the requested media source.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having the instructions imbedded thereon for providing media via a data communications network as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions corresponding to security of playback of the requested media source include one or more of:

determining a type of DRM to use during playback of the requested media source;

determining a type of watermark to use during playback of the requested media source, or

determining a type of encryption to use during playback of the requested media source.