Content-modification system with unscheduling feature
In one aspect, a method includes a content-presentation device determining first and second intervals during which presentation of received content is modifiable, and transmitting first and second requests for first and second supplemental content. A link to content in a playlist may be received, the playlist including first supplemental content followed immediately by second supplemental content. The link may be used to retrieve the first supplemental content, which may be presented in a first modification operation during the first interval. Before completing the first modification operation, the content-presentation device may use the link to start retrieving the second supplemental content for a second modification operation scheduled immediately following the first modification operation, and may determine that while less than a threshold portion of the first modification operation remains incomplete, retrieval of the second supplemental content is also incomplete. The content-presentation device may then unschedule the second content-modification operation.
1. A method comprising:
while receiving content for presentation, a content-presentation device determining an upcoming first temporal interval and an immediately following second temporal interval during both of which the presentation of the received content is modifiable;
transmitting, by the content-presentation device, a first request for first supplemental content;
transmitting, by the content-presentation device, a second request for second supplemental content;
receiving, by the content-presentation device, a link that points to a set of content items arranged in a playlist, wherein when the first request is transmitted, the playlist includes the requested first supplemental content, and at subsequent time after the first request is transmitted the playlist is modified to also include the requested second supplemental content positioned immediately after the first supplemental content;
using, by the content-presentation device, the received link to retrieve the first supplemental content;
using, by the content-presentation device, the retrieved first supplemental content in a first content-modification operation to modify presentation during the first temporal interval of the received content;
prior to completion of the first content-modification operation: (i) using, by the content-presentation device, the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content for upcoming use in a second content-modification operation scheduled immediately following the first content-modification operation in order to modify presentation during the second temporal interval of the received content, and (ii) making a determination, by the content-presentation device, that while less than a threshold portion of the first content-modification operation remains to be completed, the content-presentation device has not completed retrieving the second supplemental content; and
responsive to the determination, unscheduling, by the content-presentation device, the second content-modification operation, wherein unscheduling the second content-modification operation comprises: prior to the start of the second temporal interval, canceling modification of the received content with the second supplemental content that had been scheduled for the second temporal interval.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the second request for second supplemental content comprises transmitting the second request at a time that is one of prior to receiving the link, or after receiving the link.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the received link to retrieve the first supplemental content comprises transmitting, by the content-presentation device, a first content request to a content server in a network, the first content request including the link, and receiving the first supplemental content from the content server in a first download operation in response to the first content request,
and wherein using the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content comprises transmitting, by the content-presentation device, a second content request to the content server, the second content request including the link, and receiving the second supplemental content from the content server in a second download operation initiated by the content server in response to the second content request,
wherein the second content request is transmitted in one of (i) a single message that includes the first content request and the second content request, or (ii) a separate message including the second content request, following a first message that includes the first content request.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first download operation and the second download operation are two parts of a single download operation initiated by the content server in response to the single message that includes the first content request and the second content request.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein making the determination that while less than the threshold portion of the first content-modification operation remains to be completed, the content-presentation device has not completed retrieving the second supplemental content comprises determining at less than a threshold amount of time prior to the end of the first temporal interval that the second download operation has not completed.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the content-presentation device, a message indicating that the link points to the second supplemental content,
wherein using the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content comprises using the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content responsive to receiving the message.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the content-presentation device, a message indicating that the link points to the second supplemental content,
wherein making the determination that while less than the threshold portion of the first content-modification operation remains to be completed, the content-presentation device has not completed retrieving the second supplemental content comprises making the determination responsive to receiving the message.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second content-modification operation is a content replacement operation, and wherein unscheduling the second content-modification operation further comprises replacing the scheduled second content-modification operation with a third content-modification operation that is a content overlay operation.
9. A content-presentation device comprising:
a content-presentation element configured for presenting content received by the content-presentation device;
one or more processors; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the one or processors, cause the content-presentation device to carry out operations including:
while receiving content for presentation on the content-presentation element, determining an upcoming first temporal interval and an immediately following second temporal interval during both of which the presentation of the received content is modifiable;
transmitting a first request for first supplemental content;
transmitting a second request for second supplemental content;
receiving a link that points to a set of content items arranged in a playlist, wherein when the first request is transmitted, the playlist includes the requested first supplemental content, and at subsequent time after the first request is transmitted the playlist is modified to also include the requested second supplemental content positioned immediately after the first supplemental content;
using the received link to retrieve the first supplemental content;
using the retrieved first supplemental content in a first content-modification operation to modify presentation during the first temporal interval of the received content;
prior to completion of the first content-modification operation: (i) using the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content for upcoming use in a second content-modification operation scheduled immediately following the first content-modification operation in order to modify presentation during the second temporal interval of the received content, and (ii) making a determination that while less than a threshold portion of the first content-modification operation remains to be completed, retrieving the second supplemental content has not yet completed; and
responsive to the determination, unscheduling the second content-modification operation, wherein unscheduling the second content-modification operation comprises: prior to the start of the second temporal interval, canceling modification of the received content with the second supplemental content that had been scheduled for the second temporal interval.
10. The content-presentation device of claim 9 , wherein transmitting the second request for second supplemental content comprises transmitting the second request at a time that is one of prior to receiving the link, or after receiving the link.
11. The content-presentation device of claim 9 , wherein using the received link to retrieve the first supplemental content comprises transmitting a first content request to a content server in a network, the first content request including the link, and receiving the first supplemental content from the content server in a first download operation in response to the first content request,
and wherein using the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content comprises transmitting a second content request to the content server, the second content request including the link, and receiving the second supplemental content from the content server in a second download operation initiated by the content server in response to the second content request,
wherein the second content request is transmitted in one of (i) a single message that includes the first content request and the second content request, or (ii) a separate message including the second content request, following a first message that includes the first content request.
12. The content-presentation device of claim 11 , wherein the first download operation and the second download operation are two parts of a single download operation initiated by the content server in response to the single message that includes the first content request and the second content request.
13. The content-presentation device of claim 11 , wherein making the determination that while less than the threshold portion of the first content-modification operation remains to be completed, retrieving the second supplemental content has not yet completed comprises determining at less than a threshold amount of time prior to the end of the first temporal interval that the second download operation has not completed.
14. The content-presentation device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:
receiving a message indicating that the link points to the second supplemental content,
wherein using the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content comprises using the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content responsive to receiving the message.
15. The content-presentation device of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:
receiving a message indicating that the link points to the second supplemental content,
wherein making the determination that while less than the threshold portion of the first content-modification operation remains to be completed, retrieving the second supplemental content has not yet completed comprises making the determination responsive to receiving the message.
16. The content-presentation device of claim 9 , wherein the second content-modification operation is a content replacement operation, and wherein unscheduling the second content-modification operation comprises further replacing the scheduled second content-modification operation with a third content-modification operation that is a content overlay operation.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by one or more processors of a content-presentation device, cause the content-presentation device to carry out operations including:
while receiving content for presentation determining an upcoming first temporal interval and an immediately following second temporal interval during both of which the presentation of the received content is modifiable;
transmitting a first request for first supplemental content;
transmitting a second request for second supplemental content;
receiving a link that points to a set of content items arranged in a playlist, wherein when the first request is transmitted, the playlist includes the requested first supplemental content, and at subsequent time after the first request is transmitted the playlist is modified to also include the requested second supplemental content positioned immediately after the first supplemental content;
using the received link to retrieve the first supplemental content;
using the retrieved first supplemental content in a first content-modification operation to modify presentation during the first temporal interval of the received content;
prior to completion of the first content-modification operation: (i) using the received link to start retrieving the second supplemental content for upcoming use in a second content-modification operation scheduled immediately following the first content-modification operation in order to modify presentation during the second temporal interval of the received content, and (ii) making a determination that while less than a threshold portion of the first content-modification operation remains to be completed, retrieving the second supplemental content has not yet completed; and
responsive to the determination, unscheduling the second content-modification operation wherein unscheduling the second content-modification operation comprises: prior to the start of the second temporal interval, canceling modification of the received content with the second supplemental content that had been scheduled for the second temporal interval.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the second content-modification operation is a content replacement operation, and wherein unscheduling the second content-modification operation further comprises replacing the scheduled second content-modification operation with a third content-modification operation that is a content overlay operation.