Virtual assets for on-demand content generation
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes generating a key associated with a virtual asset associated with content to be provided to a client device, where the key indicates at least one parameter for accessing the content; generating the virtual asset; receiving a request for the content; identifying a format being requested for the content; using the virtual asset to identify common format content to be retrieved and to identify the key; using the key to retrieve the common format content; and transforming the common format content such that it can be delivered to the client device in the format that was requested.
1. A method, comprising:
generating a key associated with a virtual asset associated with content to be provided to a client device, wherein the key indicates at least one parameter for accessing the content;
generating the virtual asset, wherein the virtual asset identifies the key and includes a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) for a location at which common format content to be retrieved in connection with the content is stored and wherein the virtual asset comprises an abstract intermediate template including a virtual asset description for enabling performance of a late binding of actual data and protection parameters to manifests and media delivery containers associated with the content;
receiving a request for the content;
identifying a format being requested for the content;
retrieving the common format content from a location identified by the URL; and
transforming the retrieved common format content to be delivered to the client device in the identified format using the virtual asset as a style sheet to add real-time content protection.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the key is associated with encryption of the content.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual asset contains pre-created metadata and parameters that facilitate on-demand encapsulation and that optimize at least one on-demand encapsulation process.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual asset includes a description, which includes metadata for at least one policy for corresponding encapsulation.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the virtual asset further comprises:
communicating a notification that the content has been generated; and
moving the content to a storage system.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual asset includes a virtual asset description, which includes pre-created manifest files for a video on-demand (VOD) activity.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual asset includes a virtual asset description, which includes one or more pre-created lookup-tables to assist in determining common intermediate format data.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of virtual asset descriptions for plurality of virtual assets are created dynamically on a per-client device basis.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
invoking an on-demand encapsulation framework, wherein the on-demand encapsulation framework uses policies and settings to create a manifest file.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the on-demand encapsulation framework uses a source information block to determine a source media presentation description (MPD) that should be used for the transforming of the common format content.
11. A computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:
generating a key associated with a virtual asset associated with content to be provided to a client device, wherein the key indicates at least one parameter for accessing the content;
generating the virtual asset, wherein the virtual asset identifies the key and includes a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) for a location at which common format content to be retrieved in connection with the content is stored and wherein the virtual asset comprises an abstract intermediate template including a virtual asset description for enabling performance of a late binding of actual data and protection parameters to manifests and media delivery containers associated with the content;
receiving a request for the content;
identifying a format being requested for the content;
retrieving the common format content from a location identified by the URL; and
transforming the retrieved common format content to be delivered to the client device in the identified format using the virtual asset as a style sheet to add real-time content protection.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the key is associated with encryption of the content.
13. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual asset contains pre-created metadata and parameters that facilitate on-demand encapsulation and that optimize at least one on-demand encapsulation process.
14. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the virtual asset includes a virtual asset description, which includes metadata for at least one policy for corresponding encapsulation.
15. A network element, comprising:
a processor;
a memory;
an on-demand encapsulation engine; and
a virtual asset module, wherein the network element is configured for:
generating a key associated with a virtual asset associated with content to be provided to a client device, wherein the key indicates at least one parameter for accessing the content;
generating the virtual asset, wherein the virtual asset identifies the key and includes a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) for a location at which common format content to be retrieved in connection with the content is stored and wherein the virtual asset comprises an abstract intermediate template including a virtual asset description for enabling performance of a late binding of actual data and protection parameters to manifests and media delivery containers associated with the content;
receiving a request for the content;
identifying a format being requested for the content;
retrieving the common format content from a location identified by the URL; and
transforming the retrieved common format content to be delivered to the client device in the identified format using the virtual asset as a style sheet to add real-time content protection.
16. The network element of claim 15 , wherein the key is associated with encryption of the content.
17. The network element of claim 15 , wherein the virtual asset contains pre-created metadata and parameters that facilitate on-demand encapsulation and that optimize at least one on-demand encapsulation process.
18. The network element of claim 15 , wherein a plurality of virtual asset descriptions for plurality of virtual assets are created dynamically on a per-client device basis.
19. The network element of claim 15 , wherein the network element is further configured for:
invoking an on-demand encapsulation framework, wherein the on-demand encapsulation framework uses policies and settings to create a manifest file.
20. The network element of claim 19 , wherein the on-demand encapsulation framework uses a source information block to determine a source media presentation description (MPD) that should be used for the transforming of the common format content.