GENERATING AND USING MANIFEST FILES INCLUDING CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK AUTHENTICATION DATA

• US 20170272485A1
• Filed: 06/06/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DLVR, INC.
• Original Assignee: DLVR, INC.
• Inventors: Gordon, Michael, Morel, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,084,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• 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 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

Techniques for serving a manifest file of an adaptive streaming video include receiving a request for the manifest file from a user device. The video is encoded at different reference bitrates and each encoded reference bitrate is divided into segments to generate video segment files. The manifest file includes an ordered list of universal resource locators (URLs) that reference a set of video segment files encoded at a particular reference bitrate. A source manifest file that indicates the set of video segment files is identified based on the request. An issued manifest file that includes a first URL and a second URL is generated based on the source manifest file. The first URL references a first domain and the second URL references a second domain that is different from the first domain. The issued manifest file is transmitted to the user device as a response to the request.

Claims

1. A system for providing a manifest file for an adaptive streaming video, the system comprising:

a processing unit including one or more processors; and

memory coupled with and readable by the processing unit and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, cause the system to;

receive, from a requesting device, a request for a manifest file to be created for an adaptive streaming video, the request identifying a user device;

select one or more content delivery networks (CDNs) to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video;

for each particular content delivery network (CDN) selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video;

retrieve a pre-shared key value associated with the particular CDN and the user device;

determine a universal resource locator (URL) authentication scheme associated with the particular CDN, the URL authentication scheme defining a set of parameters required for requests to the particular CDN;

determine a set of data values corresponding to the set of parameters required for requests to the particular CDN, wherein the data values are determined based on the request for the manifest file; and

generate an encrypted hash value based on the set of data values, using the pre-shared key value associated with the particular CDN and the user device;

generate the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video, the generated manifest file including a plurality of universal resource locators (URLs), each referencing one of the CDNs selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video, and the generated manifest file further including the encrypted hash value generated for each particular CDN of the one or more CDNs selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video; and

transmit the generated manifest file to the requesting device, in response to the request for the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection of the one or more CDNs to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video is performed after receiving the request for the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video, and wherein the selection is based on performance metrics associated with a plurality of CDNs capable of providing adaptive streaming video.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection of the one or more CDNs to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video comprises selecting a first CDN to provide a first portion of the adaptive streaming video to the user device, and selecting a second CDN to provide a second portion of the adaptive streaming video to the user device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein for the first CDN, a first encrypted hash value is generated using a first pre-shared key value associated with the first CDN and the user device, and wherein for the second CDN, a second encrypted hash value is generated using a different second pre-shared key value associated with the second CDN and the user device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first CDN is associated with a first URL authentication scheme defining a first set of URL authentication parameters, and wherein the second CDN is associated with a second URL authentication scheme defining a different second set of URL authentication parameters.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the generated manifest file includes one or more URLs referencing the first CDN, wherein each URL referencing the first CDN is interspersed within one or more URLs referencing the second CDN.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the one or more URLs referencing the first CDN in the generated manifest file includes a query string containing a first encrypted hash value associated with the first CDN, and wherein each of the one or more URLs referencing the second CDN in the generated manifest file includes a query string containing a second encrypted hash value associated with the second CDN.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the requesting device and the user device correspond to the same device, and wherein the memory storing therein further instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, cause the system to:

receive, from the user device and before receiving the request for the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video, one or more pre-shared key values associated with the user device, wherein each said pre-shared key value is also associated with one of the content delivery networks; and

store the one or more pre-shared key values received from the user device in a secure storage device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the set of data values corresponding to the set of parameters required for requests to a first particular CDN comprises:

identifying a first encrypted query string within the request from the requesting device for the manifest file to be created;

extracting a plurality of parameters from the request from the requesting device for the manifest file to be created, by decrypting the first encrypted query string using a pre-shared key value associated with the user device; and

identifying one or more of the plurality of parameters extracted from the request as a parameter required for requests to the first particular CDN.

10. A method of providing a manifest file for an adaptive streaming video, the method comprising:

receiving, by a manifest generator and from a user device, a request for a manifest file to be created for an adaptive streaming video, the request identifying a user device;

selecting, by the manifest generator, one or more content delivery networks (CDNs) to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video to the user device;

for each particular content delivery network (CDN) selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video to the user device;

retrieving, by the manifest generator, a pre-shared key value associated with the particular CDN and the user device;

determining, by the manifest generator, a universal resource locator (URL) authentication scheme associated with the particular CDN, the URL authentication scheme defining a set of parameters required for requests to the particular CDN;

determining, by the manifest generator, a set of data values corresponding to the set of parameters required for requests to the particular CDN, wherein the data values are determined based on the request for the manifest file; and

generating, by the manifest generator, an encrypted hash value based on the set of data values, using the pre-shared key value associated with the particular CDN and the user device;

generating, by the manifest generator, the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video, the generated manifest file including a plurality of universal resource locators (URLs), each referencing one of the CDNs selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video, and the generated manifest file further including the encrypted hash value generated for each particular CDN of the one or more CDNs selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video; and

transmitting, by the manifest generator, the generated manifest file to the user device, in response to the request for the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selection of the one or more CDNs to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video is performed after receiving the request for the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video, and wherein the selection is based on performance metrics associated with a plurality of CDNs capable of providing adaptive streaming video.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the selection of the one or more CDNs to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video comprises:

selecting, by the manifest generator, a first CDN to provide a first portion of the adaptive streaming video to the user device; and

selecting, by the manifest generator, a second CDN to provide a second portion of the adaptive streaming video to the user device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating, a first encrypted hash value for the first CDN, using a first pre-shared key value associated with the first CDN and the user device; and

generating, a second encrypted hash value for the second CDN, using a different second pre-shared key value associated with the different CDN and the user device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first CDN is associated with a first URL authentication scheme defining a first set of URL authentication parameters, and wherein the second CDN is associated with a second URL authentication scheme defining a different second set of URL authentication parameters.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the generated manifest file includes one or more URLs referencing the first CDN, wherein each URL referencing the first CDN is interspersed within one or more URLs referencing the second CDN.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the one or more URLs referencing the first CDN in the generated manifest file includes a query string containing a first encrypted hash value associated with the first CDN, and wherein each of the one or more URLs referencing the second CDN in the generated manifest file includes a query string containing a second encrypted hash value associated with the second CDN.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the set of data values corresponding to the set of parameters required for requests to a first particular CDN comprises:

identifying a first encrypted query string within the request from the user device for the manifest file to be created;

extracting a plurality of parameters from the request from the user device for the manifest file to be created, by decrypting the first encrypted query string using a pre-shared key value associated with the user device; and

identifying one or more of the plurality of parameters extracted from the request as a parameter required for requests to the first particular CDN.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising a set of instructions stored therein which, when executed by a processing unit, causes the processing unit to:

receive, from a user device, a request for a manifest file to be created for an adaptive streaming video;

select one or more content delivery networks (CDNs) to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video;

for each particular content delivery network (CDN) selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video;

retrieve a pre-shared key value associated with the particular CDN and the user device;

determine a universal resource locator (URL) authentication scheme associated with the particular CDN, the URL authentication scheme defining a set of parameters required for requests to the particular CDN;

determine a set of data values corresponding to the set of parameters required for requests to the particular CDN, wherein the data values are determined based on the request for the manifest file; and

generate an encrypted hash value based on the set of data values, using the pre-shared key value associated with the particular CDN and the user device;

generate the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video, the generated manifest file including a plurality of universal resource locators (URLs), each referencing one of the CDNs selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video, and the generated manifest file further including the encrypted hash value generated for each particular CDN of the one or more CDNs selected to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video; and

transmit the generated manifest file to the user device, in response to the request for the manifest file to be created for the adaptive streaming video.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 18, wherein the selection of the one or more CDNs to provide at least a portion of the adaptive streaming video comprises:

selecting, by the manifest generator, a first CDN to provide a first portion of the adaptive streaming video to the user device; and

selecting, by the manifest generator, a second CDN to provide a second portion of the adaptive streaming video to the user device, wherein the generated manifest file includes one or more URLs referencing the first CDN, wherein each URL referencing the first CDN is interspersed within one or more URLs referencing the second CDN.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 18, wherein determining the set of data values corresponding to the set of parameters required for requests to a first particular CDN comprises:

identifying a first encrypted query string within the request from the user device for the manifest file to be created;

extracting a plurality of parameters from the request from the user device for the manifest file to be created, by decrypting the first encrypted query string using a pre-shared key value associated with the user device; and

identifying one or more of the plurality of parameters extracted from the request as a parameter required for requests to the first particular CDN.