Dynamic index file creation for media streaming

• US 8,327,013 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brightcove Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unicorn Media, Inc. (Brightcove Incorporated)
• Inventors: McGowan, Albert John, Carls, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Chirag R
• Application Number:
  US13/429,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20120185608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 709231-233, 705/14.4, 705/14.41, 705/14.49
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/41 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing index files for streaming media over a network are disclosed. These systems and methods provide for receiving requests for a media file and responding to these requests by generating corresponding index files used in streaming the media file. The index file can then be provided to the requesting entity. These systems and methods, which can be utilized together with a dynamic chunk generator, enable the insertion of advertisements at any point during playback of the media file.

Claims

1. A server for generating index files for use in communicating, with a network, a media file having a plurality of segments, the server comprising:

a memory;

an interface for communicating with the network;

a processor communicatively coupled with the interface and the memory, the processor configured to execute computer code for;

receiving, with the interface, a request for a first index file;

determining, in response to the request for the first index file, a first segment of media for streaming, the first segment of media comprising one of a plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file, wherein;

the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the first segment of media for streaming; and

the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the first segment of media for streaming;

generating the requested first index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the first segment of media for streaming;

providing, with the interface, the requested first index file;

receiving, with the interface, a request for a second index file for use in streaming the media file;

determining, in response to the request for the second index file, a second segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media comprising one of the plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file, wherein;

the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the second segment of media for streaming;

the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the second segment of media for streaming;

generating the requested second index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the second segment of media for streaming; and

providing, with the interface, the requested second index file;

wherein receiving the requests for the first and second index files and providing the requested first and second index files occur during playback of the media file by a device communicatively linked to the network.

2. The server recited in claim 1 wherein:

the memory is configured to store information regarding the media file; and

the determination of the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both, is based, at least in part, on the stored information regarding the media file.

3. The server recited in claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to execute computer code for creating data associated with the playback of the media file.

4. The server recited in claim 3, wherein the data is based on one or more of:

when the request for the first index file, the request for the second index file, or both, are received;

when the requested first index file, the requested second index file, or both are provided;

a length of time to play back the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both;

the starting and/or ending point of the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both;

whether the request for the second index file has been received within a certain amount of time since receipt of the request for the first index file; and

whether the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both, includes media other than the media file.

5. The server recited in claim 3 wherein the processor is configured to execute computer code for transmitting the reporting data over the network.

6. The server recited in claim 1 wherein the media other than the media file includes all or a portion of an advertisement of a certain length.

7. The server recited in claim 6 wherein the determination of the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both, is based, at least in part, on one or more of:

information regarding an end user;

preferences and/or selection of an end user;

information based on behavior of an end user as determined by machine-based logic;

information regarding content of the media file;

a time of day;

information regarding availability of media other than the media file; and

information regarding a source of the media file.

8. A method for generating index files for streaming a media file via a network, the method comprising:

receiving, with the network, a request for a first index file;

determining a first segment of media for streaming, the first segment of media comprising one of a plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file, wherein;

the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the first segment of media for streaming;

the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the first segment of media for streaming;

generating the requested first index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the first segment of media for streaming;

providing, with the network, the requested first index file;

receiving, with the network, a request for a second index file for use in streaming the media file;

determining a second segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media comprising one of the plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file wherein;

the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the second segment of media for streaming;

the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the second segment of media for streaming;

generating the requested second index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the second segment of media for streaming; and

providing, with the network, the requested second index file;

wherein receiving the requests for the first and second index files and providing the requested first and second index files occur during playback of the media file by a device communicatively linked to the network.

9. The method recited in claim 8 wherein generating the requested first index file, the requested second index file, or both, includes generating an indicator, wherein the indicator indicates that the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both, are to be created dynamically.

10. The method recited in claim 8 further comprising creating reporting data.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the reporting data is based on one or more of:

when the request for the first index file, the request for the second index file, or both, are received;

when the requested first index file, the requested second index file, or both are provided;

a length of time to play back the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both;

the starting and/or ending point of the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both;

whether the request for the second index file has been received within a certain amount of time since receipt of the request for the first index file; and

whether the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both, includes media other than the media file.

12. The method recited in claim 10 further comprising transmitting the reporting data over the network.

13. The method recited in claim 10 wherein the determining of the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both, is based, at least in part, on the reporting data.

14. The method recited in claim 8 wherein the determining of the first segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media for streaming, or both, is based, at least in part, on one or more of:

information regarding an end user;

preferences and/or selection of an end user;

information based on behavior of an end user as determined by machine-based logic;

information regarding content of the media file;

a time of day;

information regarding availability of media other than the media file; and

information regarding a source of the media file.

15. A method for providing index files and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) to indicate chunks of a media file for streaming, the method comprising:

receiving, from a media streaming application, a request for an index file;

determining a chunk of media for streaming, the chunk of media comprising one of a plurality a plurality of separately-addressable chunks of the media file wherein;

the determining includes determining whether to include media other than the media file in the chunk of media for streaming;

the determining further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the chunk of media for streaming;

generating the requested index file based, at least in part, on the determining of the chunk of media for streaming;

providing the requested index file to the media streaming application;

receiving a request, generated by the media streaming application, for the chunk of media for streaming, wherein receiving the request for the chunk of media for streaming is based, at least in part, on the index file;

determining a URI for the chunk of media, wherein the URI is based, at least in part, on the request for the chunk of media for streaming; and

providing the URI to the media streaming application;

wherein the requested index file and the URI occur during playback of the media file by the media streaming application.

16. The method recited in claim 15 wherein the URI includes an indicator indicating the chunk of media for streaming is to be generated dynamically.

17. The method recited in claim 15 further comprising generating data associated with the media streaming application.

18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the data is based on one or more of:

when the request for the index file is received;

when the requested index file is provided;

a length of time to play back the chunk of media for streaming;

the starting and/or ending point of the chunk of media;

the requested chunk of media for streaming; and

whether the chunk of media for streaming includes media other than the media file.

19. The method recited in claim 17 further comprising transmitting the data over a network.

20. The method recited in claim 15 wherein the determination of the chunk of media for streaming is based, at least in part, on one or more of:

information regarding an end user;

preferences and/or selection of an end user;

information based on behavior of an end user as determined by machine-based logic;

information regarding content of the media file;

a time of day;

information regarding availability of media other than the media file; and

information regarding a source of the media file.