Systems and methods for media packaging
The invention relates to a method for packaging media and data for transmission over a broadband communications network link for display at a terminal destination. Features of the method included creating desired media segments for transmission to the terminal destination and for creating targeting information, for example in whole or in part in the form of metadata, for transmission to the terminal destination. Other features include packaging the created media segments and the created targeting information in a single package and unpacking the single package for display of the targeted media at the terminal destination. In another aspect, the invention can provide a method for unpacking media and data for display at a terminal destination implementing, at the terminal destination, receiving a single package containing media segments and instructions regarding handling of the media segments, quickly unpacking the media segments and the instructions from the single package and, based on the unpacked instructions, assembling one or more of the media segments for display at the terminal destination.
1. A method comprising:
identifying a plurality of media segments of a content item for transmission to a display device;
generating targeting information for transmission to the display device, wherein the targeting information defines a version of the content item formed from two or more of the plurality of media segments and a target audience;
packaging information identifying the plurality of media segments and the targeting information in a package, wherein the package includes different versions of the content item; and
transmitting the package and instructions to unpack the package, the instructions being configured to:
(a) instruct the display device to determine which version of the content item to assemble based on the target audience,
(b) assemble two or more of the plurality of media segments to generate the version of the content item based on the target audience, and
(c) present for display the assembled content item at the display device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein unique portions of the package are only included in the package once.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the targeting information defines a plurality of versions of the content item, each corresponding to a different target audience.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unpacking occurs on-demand.
5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
optimizing a size of the package during the packaging.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media segments includes segments of advertisements.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packaging comprises:
generating a plurality of video files in a first format;
generating a plurality of audio files in a second format;
converting the video files to a third format compatible for use at the display device;
converting the audio files to a fourth format compatible for use at the display device; and
multiplexing the converted files into a packaging file for transmission to an intermediate cache server.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the unpacking comprises:
de-packaging, at said intermediate cache server, the transmitted packaging file to generate video media and audio media assets;
concatenating the audio and video assets at the intermediate cache server; and
outputting from said intermediate cache server the concatenated files to a unique signal path to the display device.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the third format and the fourth format is a format directly usable by the display device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unpacking occurs at the display device.
11. A method comprising:
identifying, at a source, a plurality of media segments of a content item for transmission to an intermediate cache server from which a unique transmission path exists to a display device;
generating targeting information for transmission to the intermediate cache server, the targeting information defining a version of the content item formed from two or more of the plurality of media segments and a target audience;
packaging information identifying the plurality of media segments and the targeting information in a package, wherein the package includes different versions of the content item;
transmitting the package from the source to the intermediate cache server over a broadband network link; and
transmitting instructions to de-package the package at the intermediate cache server on-demand, the instructions being configured to instruct the display device to determine which version of the content item to assemble based on the target audience, assemble two or more of the plurality of media segments to generate the version of the content item, and present for display the assembled content item at the display device.
12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
preprocessing the media segments prior to the transmitting for enabling on-demand de-packaging of the package at the intermediate cache server.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the preprocessing comprises converting the media segments at the source to a format compatible with a format required at the display device.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the packaging comprises generating a package file having at least an index table, media assets, and an assembly table.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the index table comprises at least pointers to identified media segments, lengths of identified media segments in the package file, and types of identified media segments.
16. The method of claim 14 , further wherein the assembly table comprises at least instructions regarding a concatenation of media segments for display in different demographic episodes.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the demographic episodes are time periods.
18. A system comprising:
circuitry configured to:
identify a plurality of media segments of a content item for transmission to a display device;
generate targeting information for transmission to the display device, wherein the targeting information defines a version of the content item formed from two or more of the plurality of media segments and a target audience;
package information identifying the plurality of media segments and the targeting information in a package, wherein the package includes different versions of the content item; and
transmit the package and instructions to unpack the package, the instructions being configured to:
(a) instruct the display device to determine which version of the content item to assemble based on the target audience,
(b) assemble two or more of the plurality of media segments to generate the version of the content item based on the target audience, and
(c) present for display the assembled content item at the display device.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein unique portions of the package are only included in the package once.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the targeting information defines a plurality of versions of the content item, each corresponding to a different target audience.
21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the unpacking occurs on-demand.
22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
optimize a size of the package during the packaging.
23. The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of media segments includes segments of advertisements.
24. The system of claim 18 , wherein the circuitry configured to package is configured to:
generate a plurality of video files in a first format;
generate a plurality of audio files in a second format;
convert the video files to a third format compatible for use at the display device;
convert the audio files to a fourth format compatible for use at the display device; and
multiplex the converted files into a packaging file for transmission to an intermediate cache server.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the instructions to unpack comprise instructions to:
de-package, at said intermediate cache server, the transmitted packaging file to generate video media and audio media assets;
concatenate the audio and video assets at the intermediate cache server; and
output from said intermediate cache server the concatenated files to a unique signal path to the display device.
26. The system of claim 24 , wherein each of the third format and the fourth format is a format directly usable by the display device.
27. The system of claim 18 , wherein the unpacking occurs at the display device.
28. A system comprising:
circuitry configured to:
identify, at a source, a plurality of media segments of a content item for transmission to an intermediate cache server from which a unique transmission path exists to a display device;
generate targeting information for transmission to the intermediate cache server, the targeting information defining a version of the content item formed from two or more of the plurality of media segments and a target audience;
package information identifying the plurality of media segments and the targeting information in a package, wherein the package includes different versions of the content item;
transmit the package from the source to the intermediate cache server over a broadband network link; and
transmit instructions to de-package the package at the intermediate cache server on-demand, the instructions being configured to instruct the display device to determine which version of the content item to assemble based on the target audience, assemble two or more of the plurality of media segments to generate the version of the content item, and present for display the assembled content item at the display device.
29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
preprocess the media segments prior to the transmitting for enabling on-demand de-packaging of the package at the intermediate cache server.
30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the preprocessing comprises converting the media segments at the source to a format compatible with a format required at the display device.
31. The system of claim 28 , wherein the packaging comprises generating a package file having at least an index table, media assets, and an assembly table.
32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the index table comprises at least pointers to identified media segments, lengths of identified media segments in the package file, and types of identified media segments.
33. The system of claim 31 , further wherein the assembly table comprises at least instructions regarding a concatenation of media segments for display in different demographic episodes.
34. The system of claim 33 , wherein the demographic episodes are time periods.