Real time debugging in online video advertisement system
Techniques for monitoring an online video advertisement system include receiving a request for insertion of an online video advertisement, determining, selectively based on presence of a debug suffix, whether the request includes a debug request, performing a bidding auction to select a winning bid, and sending debug information, in response to the request, upon determination that the request includes the debug request. The debug data includes bid data received during the bidding auction. In one advantageous aspect, the use of hypertext transfer protocol headers to communicate debug information allows for activation and deactivation of the debugging operation transparently, e.g., without changing the underlying application layer workflow.
1. A computer-implemented method of monitoring an online video advertisement system, comprising:
receiving, with a processor, a request for insertion of an online video advertisement, wherein the request is formatted according to a hypertext transfer protocol format;
selectively determining, with a processor, based on a presence of a debug suffix present in a header of the request that is formatted according to the hypertext transfer protocol format, whether the request includes a debug request; and
upon a determination that the request includes the debug request:
stripping, with a processor, the debug suffix present in the header from the request for insertion of the online video advertisement;
performing, with a processor at an application layer, a bidding auction to select a winning bid based on (i) bid data received during the bidding auction and (ii) information from the request for insertion of the online video advertisement after stripping of the debug suffix;
generating, with a processor, debug information for the debug request, wherein the debug information is at least one of (i) generated based upon a first portion of the bid data associated with one or more winning bids responsive to the debug suffix having a first value, or (ii) generated based upon the first portion of the bid data and a second portion of the bid data associated with one or more non-winning bids responsive to the debug suffix having a second value; and
sending, with a processor, in response to the debug request, the debug information; and
upon a determination that the request does not include the debug request:
performing, with a processor, a second bidding auction to select a second winning bid; and
sending a response to the request comprising an abbreviated version of the debug information.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of determining whether the request includes the debug request comprises: verifying that the request for insertion was sent from a trusted internet protocol address.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein bid data included in the debug information comprises bid data only from the winning bid.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the debug information includes debug data received from a computer in the online video advertisement system.
5. An apparatus for monitoring an online video advertisement system, comprising:
a non-volatile memory system; and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the non-volatile memory system and configured to:
receive a request for insertion of an online video advertisement, wherein the request is formatted according to a hypertext transfer protocol format;
selectively determine, based on presence of a debug suffix present in a header of the request that is formatted according to the hypertext transfer protocol format, whether the request includes a debug request; and
upon a determination that the request includes the debug request:
strip the debug suffix present in the header from the request for insertion of the online video advertisement;
perform a bidding auction at an application layer to select a winning bid based on (i) bid data received during the bidding auction and (ii) information from the request for insertion of the online video advertisement after stripping the debug suffix;
generate debug information for the debug request, wherein the debug information is at least one of (i) generated based upon a first portion of the bid data responsive to the debug suffix having a first value, or (ii) generated based upon the first portion of the bid data and a second portion of the bid data responsive to the debug suffix having a second value; and
respond to the debug request with the debug information, wherein the debug information includes a third portion that is locally generated and a fourth portion that is relayed on behalf of a server in the online video advertisement system.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to:
upon a determination that the request does not include the debug request:
perform a second bidding auction to select a second winning bid; and
respond with a response comprising an abbreviated version of the debug information.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to verify that the request for insertion was sent from a trusted internet protocol address.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein bid data included in the debug information comprises bid data only from the winning bid.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the debug information is derived from bid data received during the bidding auction.
10. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a method comprising:
receiving a request for insertion of an online video advertisement, wherein the request is formatted according to a hypertext transfer protocol format;
selectively determining, based on presence of a debug suffix present in a header of the request that is formatted according to the hypertext transfer protocol format, whether the request includes a debug request; and
upon a determination that the request includes the debug request:
performing at an application layer a bidding auction to select a winning bid based on at least one of (i) bid data received during the bidding auction or (ii) information from the request for insertion of the online video advertisement;
generating debug information for the debug request, wherein the debug information is at least one of (i) generated based upon a first portion of the bid data responsive to the debug suffix having a first value, or (ii) generated based upon the first portion of the bid data and a second portion of the bid data responsive to the debug suffix having a second value; and
sending, in response to the debug request, the debug information, wherein the debug information includes a third portion that is locally generated and a fourth portion that is relayed on behalf of a server.