Content-modification system with issue detection and responsive action feature
In one aspect, a method is disclosed for use with a content-presentation device that is scheduled to perform a first content-modification operation that comprises modifying a modifiable content-segment received by the content-presentation device. The method includes determining that the content-presentation device is unable to perform the first content-modification operation as scheduled. The method also includes responsive to the determining, performing an action that facilitates the content-presentation device performing a second content-modification operation instead of performing the first content-modification operation, where performing the second content-modification operation involves modifying the modifiable content-segment in a different way as compared to the first content-modification operation.
1. A method for use with a content-presentation device that is scheduled to perform a content-replacement operation in which the content-presentation device outputs replacement content in place of a modifiable content-segment that is part of a linear sequence of content-segments received by the content-presentation device, the method comprising:
determining that the content-presentation device is unable to perform the content-replacement operation as scheduled based on mapping data that maps a device identifier of the content-presentation device to a corresponding content-transmission delay between a content-distribution system and the content-presentation device, wherein the determining comprises:
determining that the corresponding content-transmission delay between the content-distribution system and the content-presentation device is shorter than a predetermined threshold delay; and
responsive to making the determination that the content-transmission delay is shorter than the predetermined threshold delay, determining that the content-presentation device is unable to receive the replacement content by a time-point in the linear sequence of content-segments at which an identified upcoming modification opportunity starts; and
responsive to determining that the content-presentation device is unable to perform the content-replacement operation as scheduled based on the mapping data, performing a content-overlay operation, in which the content-presentation device overlays overlay content on the modifiable content-segment, instead of performing the content-replacement operation in which the content-presentation device outputs the replacement content in place of the modifiable content-segment.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises retrieving the overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein retrieving the overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation comprises:
transmitting, to a first computing system associated with delivery of replacement content to the content-presentation device, a request for a link pointing to the overlay content; and
in response to the request, receiving, from the first computing system, the link and using the link to retrieve the overlay content from a second computing system associated with delivery of replacement content to the content-presentation device.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the content-presentation device comprises a database that includes pre-downloaded default overlay content, and
wherein retrieving the overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation comprises retrieving, from the database, the pre-downloaded default overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation outputs the replacement content in place of the modifiable content-segment comprises causing the overlay content to be transmitted to the content-presentation device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises instructing the content-presentation device to use, as the overlay content, pre-downloaded overlay content that is locally cached at the content-presentation device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises the content-presentation device overlaying the overlay content on the modifiable content-segment such that the content-presentation device outputs the modifiable content-segment with the overlay content overlaid thereon.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising:
determining that a content-presentation device is unable to perform a content-replacement operation as scheduled based on mapping data that maps a device identifier of the content-presentation device to a corresponding content-transmission delay between a content-distribution system and the content-presentation device, wherein the content-replacement operation comprises outputting replacement content in place of a modifiable content-segment that is part of a linear sequence of content-segments received by the content-presentation device, wherein the determining comprises:
determining that the corresponding content-transmission delay between the content-distribution system and the content-presentation device is shorter than a predetermined threshold delay; and
responsive to making the determination that the content-transmission delay is shorter than the predetermined threshold delay, determining that the content-presentation device is unable to receive the replacement content by a time-point in the linear sequence of content-segments at which an identified upcoming modification opportunity starts; and
responsive to determining that the content-presentation device is unable to perform the content-replacement operation as scheduled based on the mapping data, performing a content-overlay operation, in which the content-presentation device overlays overlay content on the modifiable content-segment, instead of performing the content-replacement operation in which the content-presentation device outputs the replacement content in place of the modifiable content-segment.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises retrieving the overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein retrieving the overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation comprises:
transmitting, to a first computing system associated with delivery of replacement content to the content-presentation device, a request for a link pointing to the overlay content; and
in response to the request, receiving, from the first computing system, the link and using the link to retrieve the overlay content from a second computing system associated with delivery of replacement content to the content-presentation device.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the content-presentation device comprises a database that includes pre-downloaded default overlay content, and
wherein retrieving the overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation comprises retrieving, from the database, the pre-downloaded default overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises causing the overlay content to be transmitted to the content-presentation device.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises instructing the content-presentation device to use, as the overlay content, pre-downloaded overlay content that is locally cached at the content-presentation device.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises the content-presentation device overlaying the overlay content on the modifiable content-segment such that the content-presentation device outputs the modifiable content-segment with the overlay content overlaid thereon.
15. A computing system comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising:
determining that a content-presentation device is unable to perform a content-replacement operation as scheduled based on mapping data that maps a device identifier of the content-presentation device to a corresponding content-transmission delay between a content-distribution system and the content-presentation device, wherein the content-replacement operation comprises outputting replacement content in place of a modifiable content-segment that is part of a linear sequence of content-segments received by the content-presentation device, and the determining comprises:
determining that the corresponding content-transmission delay between the content-distribution system and the content-presentation device is shorter than a predetermined threshold delay; and
responsive to making the determination that the content-transmission delay is shorter than the predetermined threshold delay, determining that the content-presentation device is unable to receive the replacement content by a time-point in the linear sequence of content-segments at which an identified upcoming modification opportunity starts; and
responsive to determining that the content-presentation device is unable to perform the content-replacement operation as scheduled based on the mapping data, performing a content-overlay operation, in which the content-presentation device overlays overlay content on the modifiable content-segment, instead of performing the content-replacement operation in which the content-presentation device outputs the replacement content in place of the modifiable content-segment.
16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises retrieving the overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation.
17. The computing system of claim 16 , wherein retrieving the overlay content for use in connection with performing the content-overlay operation comprises:
transmitting, to a first computing system associated with delivery of replacement content to the content-presentation device, a request for a link pointing to the overlay content; and
in response to the request, receiving, from the first computing system, the link and using the link to retrieve the overlay content from a second computing system associated with delivery of replacement content to the content-presentation device.
18. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises causing the overlay content to be transmitted to the content-presentation device.
19. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises instructing the content-presentation device to use, as the overlay content, pre-downloaded overlay content that is locally cached at the content-presentation device.
20. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein performing the content-overlay operation comprises the content-presentation device overlaying the overlay content on the modifiable content-segment such that the content-presentation device outputs the modifiable content-segment with the overlay content overlaid thereon.