TWO-STAGE DIGITAL PROGRAM INSERTION SYSTEM
Apparatus and methods are provided for inserting advertisements and/or to perform grooming functions after a video, audio and/or data stream has been transrated and/or encrypted. In this manner, ad insertion and grooming can be performed close to the edge of a video distribution network. Transrating and encryption of a program into which content is to be later inserted can be accomplished before the program is transmitted. Thus, a single encrypted version of a program can be transmitted from a central point in the network to multiple recipients, while providing the benefits of subsequent targeted ad insertion or grooming downstream of the central point.
1 . A method for inserting content into a video stream, comprising:
receiving said video stream;
extracting a cueing message from the received video stream, said cueing message being indicative of a splice point within said video stream;
conditioning said video stream in response to said cueing message to indicate the location of said splice point in a manner adapted to survive the subsequent transrating of said video stream;
transrating the conditioned video stream;
conveying the transrated video stream to a splicer; and
conveying said content to said splicer for insertion into the transrated conditioned video stream at said splice point.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said conditioning step conditions said video stream in response to said cueing message to indicate the location of said splice point in a manner adapted to survive both the subsequent transrating and the subsequent encryption of said video stream.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said video stream is received at a pre-splicer, and said pre-splicer performs said extracting and conditioning steps.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein said pre-splicer receives and conveys said content to said splicer via one of an inband or out-of-band channel.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein said content is conveyed to said splicer without being transrated.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein said content is conveyed to said splicer without being encrypted.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the conditioned video stream is encrypted after said conditioning step and before the content is inserted therein.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the conditioned video stream is encrypted after said conditioning and transrating steps, and before the content is inserted therein.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein said content is conveyed to said splicer without being transrated.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein said content is conveyed to said splicer without being encrypted.
11 . Apparatus for inserting content into a video stream, comprising:
a pre-splicer adapted to:
(i) receive the video stream;
(ii) extract information indicative of a splice point from said video stream; and
(iii) condition said video stream to indicate the location of said splice point in a manner adapted to survive the subsequent transrating of the video stream;
a transrater coupled to receive and transrate the conditioned video stream from said pre-splicer;
a splicer coupled to receive the transrated video stream from said transrater and to receive content to be inserted into the transrated video stream from a content server;
wherein said splicer inserts the received content into the transrated video stream at said splice point.
12 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 further comprising an encrypter between said transrater and said splicer.
13 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said pre-splicer receives said content from said content server and conveys the received content to said splicer via one of an inband or out-of-band channel independent of said transrater.
14 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said splicer receives said content directly from said content server.
15 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said pre-splicer conditions said video stream to indicate the location of said splice point by providing splice identifier information in an unencrypted adaptation header carried in a transport packet of said video stream.
16 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said pre-splicer further provides insertion interval duration information in said unencrypted adaptation header.
17 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said pre-splicer further provides, in said unencrypted adaptation header, attributes of said content which must be satisfied for compatibility with the insertion interval defined by said insertion interval duration information.
18 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said attributes of said content include a maximum data rate of the content.
19 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said transrater examines said maximum data rate and carves out room for said content before the content is inserted at said splicer.
20 . Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said pre-splicer inserts said splice identifier information in adaptation headers at intervals which are prior to but do not immediately precede the splice points.