Efficient delineation and distribution of media segments
View Patent ↗Media such as live media streams can be efficiently delineated and distributed to a variety of devices using a number of different mechanisms. A particular media sequence can be identified by a device user to allow a content server or fragment server to generate a media segment that can be shared or distributed using mechanisms such as social networks. A device user may provide marker indicators, time frames, event triggers, etc., that indicate to a content server where a media segment can be delineated. A link to the media segment may be provided along with pre-roll and post-roll targeted or content-specific advertising to a variety of other users.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving a request for a media stream from a device, wherein the request is received at a server;
transmitting the media stream to the device;
receiving a media segment indicator and a plurality of event triggers from the device, the media segment indicator and the plurality of event triggers identifying a media segment included in the media stream, wherein the media segment is shorter than the media stream in length; and
generating a media segment file at the server by delineating the media segment from a portion of the media stream and subsequently obtaining the media segment from the media stream maintained in cache at the server, and saving the media segment in a self-contained file, wherein the media segment file is shared by a user of the device over a network, and wherein pre-roll advertising is selected for the media segment file.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein pre-roll advertising is selected using metadata corresponding to the media segment.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein metadata comprises closed caption information.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein post-roll advertising is selected for the media segment file.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein post-roll advertising is selected using metadata corresponding to the media segment.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein metadata comprises closed caption information.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the segment indicator comprises a tag or marker.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the segment indicator comprises a start time indicator.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the segment indicator comprises an end time indicator.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is a snapshot server.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is a fragment server.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media stream is selected using device characteristics and subscription level.
13. A system, comprising:
an interface operable to receive a request for a media stream from a device and transmit the media stream to the device, wherein the interface is further operable to receive a media segment indicator and a plurality of event triggers from the device, the media segment indicator and the plurality of event triggers identifying a media segment included in the media stream, wherein the media segment is shorter than the media stream in length; and
a hardware processor operable to generate a media segment file at a server by delineating the media segment from a portion of the media stream and subsequently obtaining the media segment from the media stream maintained in cache at the server, and saving the media segment in a self-contained file, wherein the media segment file is shared by a user of the device over a network, and wherein pre-roll advertising is selected for the media segment file.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein pre-roll advertising is selected using metadata corresponding to the media segment.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein metadata comprises closed caption information.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein post-roll advertising is selected for the media segment file.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein post-roll advertising is selected using metadata corresponding to the media segment.
18. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:
computer code for receiving a request for a media stream from a device, the request received at a server;
computer code for transmitting the media stream to the device;
computer code for receiving a media segment indicator and a plurality of event triggers from the device, the media segment indicator and the plurality of event triggers identifying a media segment included in the media stream, wherein the media segment is shorter than the media stream in length; and
computer code for generating a media segment file at the server by delineating the media segment from a portion of the media stream and subsequently obtaining he media segment from the media stream maintained in cache at the server, and saving the media segment in a self-contained file, wherein the media segment file is shared by a user of the over a network, and wherein pre-roll advertising is selected for the media segment file.