Content-modification system with delay buffer feature
In one aspect, a method includes an input buffer receiving content; accessing the content from the input buffer and extracting from the accessed content, in-band message data that indicates a start time associated with a content-modification opportunity for a content-presentation device; the input buffer transmitting the content to a delay buffer; the delay buffer receiving the content from the input buffer and, after a delay time-period, transmitting the content to an output buffer; the output buffer receiving the content from the delay buffer and outputting for presentation a portion of the content; and after outputting for presentation the portion of the content and proximate a time-point associated with the indicated start-time, starting to perform a content-modification operation in connection with the content-modification opportunity.
1. A method for use in connection with a content-presentation device, wherein the content-presentation device is selected from the group consisting of a television, a set-top box, and a television with an integrated set-top box, wherein the content-presentation device includes an input buffer, a delay buffer, and an output buffer, wherein the input buffer is connected to the delay buffer, and wherein the delay buffer is connected to the output buffer, the method comprising:
the input buffer receiving content;
accessing the content from the input buffer and extracting from the accessed content, in-band message data that indicates a start time associated with a content-modification opportunity for the content-presentation device;
the input buffer transmitting the content to the delay buffer;
the delay buffer receiving the content from the input buffer and, after a delay time-period, transmitting the content to the output buffer;
the output buffer receiving the content from the delay buffer and outputting for presentation a portion of the content; and
after outputting for presentation the portion of the content and proximate a time-point associated with the indicated start-time, starting to perform a content-modification operation in connection with the content-modification opportunity.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content-presentation device is a television set and the output buffer is a display buffer.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input buffer is directly connected to the delay buffer, and wherein the delay buffer is directly connected to the output buffer.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the in-band message data is embedded in the content in a form of a SCTE watermark.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the start time associated with the content-modification opportunity is a start-time of the content-modification opportunity.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the start time associated with the content-modification opportunity is a start-time of the content-modification opportunity minus an offset.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the delay time-period is between two and five seconds.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the content-modification operation in connection with the content-modification opportunity comprises performing a content-replacement operation that involves switching from presenting the portion of the content to presenting supplemental content instead.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the content is a replaceable advertisement segment and the supplemental content is a replacement advertisement segment.
10. 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 for use in connection with a content-presentation device, wherein the content-presentation device is selected from the group consisting of a television, a set-top box, and a television with an integrated set-top box, wherein the content-presentation device includes an input buffer, a delay buffer, and an output buffer, wherein the input buffer is connected to the delay buffer, and wherein the delay buffer is connected to the output buffer, the set comprising:
the input buffer receiving content;
accessing the content from the input buffer and extracting from the accessed content, in-band message data that indicates a start time associated with a content-modification opportunity for the content-presentation device;
the input buffer transmitting the content to the delay buffer;
the delay buffer receiving the content from the input buffer and, after a delay time-period, transmitting the content to the output buffer;
the output buffer receiving the content from the delay buffer and outputting for presentation a portion of the content; and
after outputting for presentation the portion of the content and proximate a time-point associated with the indicated start-time, starting to perform a content-modification operation in connection with the content-modification opportunity.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the content-presentation device is a television set and the output buffer is a display buffer.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the input buffer is directly connected to the delay buffer, and wherein the delay buffer is directly connected to the output buffer.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the in-band message data is embedded in the content in a form of a SCTE watermark.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the start time associated with the content-modification opportunity is a start-time of the content-modification opportunity.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the start time associated with the content-modification opportunity is a start-time of the content-modification opportunity minus an offset.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the delay time-period is between two and five seconds.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein performing the content-modification operation in connection with the content-modification opportunity comprises performing a content-replacement operation that involves switching from presenting the portion of the content to presenting supplemental content instead.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the portion of the content is a replaceable advertisement segment and the supplemental content is a replacement advertisement segment.
19. 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 for use in connection with a content-presentation device, wherein the content-presentation device is selected from the group consisting of a television, a set-top box, and a television with an integrated set-top box, wherein the content-presentation device includes an input buffer, a delay buffer, and an output buffer, wherein the input buffer is connected to the delay buffer, and wherein the delay buffer is connected to the output buffer, the set comprising:
the input buffer receiving content;
accessing the content from the input buffer and extracting from the accessed content, in-band message data that indicates a start time associated with a content-modification opportunity for the content-presentation device;
the input buffer transmitting the content to the delay buffer;
the delay buffer receiving the content from the input buffer and, after a delay time-period, transmitting the content to the output buffer;
the output buffer receiving the content from the delay buffer and outputting for presentation a portion of the content; and
after outputting for presentation the portion of the content and proximate a time-point associated with the indicated start-time, starting to perform a content-modification operation in connection with the content-modification opportunity.
20. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein the content-presentation device is a television set and the output buffer is a display buffer.