KR102526605B1 - Method of provding advertisement - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of providing an advertisement to a user terminal by a server includes providing a content playlist for providing a streaming service to the user terminal. including (duration) information; receiving a replacement advertisement start signal; In response to receiving the alternative advertisement start signal, generating a first updated content playlist by updating the content playlist by inserting a substitute advertisement start time into the content playlist by designating and inserting it based on a specific time period; providing a first updated content playlist to a user terminal; receiving a replacement advertisement end signal; generating a second updated content playlist by designating and inserting an end point of an alternative advertisement based on the specific time period into a first updated content playlist in response to receiving a substitute advertisement end signal; and providing the second updated content playlist to the user terminal.

Description

Advertising provision method {METHOD OF PROVDING ADVERTISEMENT}

The present disclosure relates to a method of providing an advertisement, and relates to a method of providing an advertisement to a user who is watching a video as an alternative video while watching a video.

When a user watches a video such as a movie, drama, or TV program through a streaming service, an advertisement is inserted in the middle of the video. In general, since a video in a streaming service is played by continuously providing a plurality of chunk files of a certain length, the advertisement video is reproduced and provided after the video chunk is played immediately before the advertisement. In this method, in order to insert an advertisement at an accurate time while a user is watching a video, it is necessary to variably adjust the playing time of a video chunk immediately before playing an advertisement. In order to vary the playback time of the video chunk immediately before the advertisement playback, there is a problem in that a broadcasting platform needs to develop a chunk module that edits the length of the video chunk immediately before the advertisement playback. This is inefficient in terms of development time and cost, and creates a problem that requires continuous equipment expansion when expanding services.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2017-0097547

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal playing a video can accurately convert a video into an advertisement by calculating an advertisement conversion time.

A method of providing an advertisement to a user terminal by a server includes providing a content playlist for providing a streaming service to a user terminal, wherein the content playlist includes name information and location information of each of a plurality of files for providing the streaming service; including play time (duration) information; receiving a replacement advertisement start signal; In response to receiving the alternative advertisement start signal, generating a first updated content playlist by updating the content playlist by designating and inserting an alternative advertisement start time into the content playlist based on a specific time period; providing the first updated content playlist to the user terminal; receiving a replacement advertisement end signal; generating a second updated content playlist by designating and inserting an end point of an alternative advertisement based on the specific time period into the first updated content playlist in response to receiving the alternative advertisement end signal; and providing the second updated content playlist to the user terminal.

In one embodiment, the step of receiving the alternative advertisement start signal and the receiving of the alternative advertisement end signal are performed simultaneously.

In one embodiment, prior to the step of providing the content playlist for providing the streaming service to the user terminal, the server receiving a content request message from the user terminal; and dividing the content indicated by the content request message into a plurality of files that can be reproduced in the user terminal and have the same duration, and includes name information, location information, and duration information of each of the plurality of files as metadata. and generating the content playlist by doing so.

In one embodiment, the replacement advertisement start time and the replacement advertisement end time are inserted into the header of the content play list.

In one embodiment, the user terminal receiving the first updated content playlist to the user terminal, based on information included in the first updated content playlist, the first updated content playlist Calculate playback start time and playback end time of each of the plurality of files included in , detect a file having a playback period including the alternative advertisement start time, and include the alternative advertisement start time at the alternative advertisement start time Playback of a file having a playback section is paused and an alternative advertisement is started.

In one embodiment, the specific time zone is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

In one embodiment, the content play list is provided in a standard compatible with the HTTP LIVE STREAMING standard.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for providing an advertisement to a user terminal by a server includes providing a content playlist for providing a streaming service to the user terminal, wherein the content playlist includes a plurality of lists for providing the streaming service. The user terminal receiving a content play list for providing the streaming service, including name information and location information of each file, duration information, an alternative advertisement start time and an alternative advertisement end time, the plurality of files Each playback start time and playback end time are calculated, a file having a playback period including the replacement advertisement start time is detected, and a file having a playback period including the replacement advertisement start time at the replacement advertisement start time. Provides an advertisement that pauses playback and starts a replacement advertisement, ends the replacement advertisement at the end of the replacement advertisement and resumes the paused file, wherein the replacement advertisement start time and the replacement advertisement end time are specified It is specified based on time zone.

The standard time of an advertisement to be inserted during video playback, advertisement start time, and advertisement end time are added to the chunk list file of the video streaming protocol and transmitted to the terminal. The terminal calculates the playback start time and playback end time of each video streaming file based on the reference time in the chunk list file, and uses the advertisement playback time and advertisement end time to end the video streaming file before/after the advertisement video and Calculate the playback time. The terminal receives an advertisement video from a content delivery network (CDN), plays and ends the advertisement video using the end time and play time of the video streaming file before/after the advertisement video. Accordingly, there is no need to provide a separate chunk length conversion module in the broadcasting platform.

1 is a block diagram showing a content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a user terminal according to an exemplary embodiment.
3 is an example of providing a content playlist for providing advertisements according to the prior art using M3U8.
4 to 6 are examples illustrating that a content playlist for providing advertisements is provided using M3U8 according to an embodiment.
7 is a flowchart of a method of providing advertisements according to an exemplary embodiment.
8 is a flowchart of a method of providing a content playlist according to an exemplary embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In describing the present disclosure, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the following embodiments may be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the spirit of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

It should be understood that the techniques described in this disclosure are not intended to be limited to specific embodiments, and include various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of the embodiments of this disclosure.

In connection with the description of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used for like elements.

In the present disclosure, expressions such as “has,” “can have,” “includes,” or “can include” indicate the presence of a corresponding feature (eg, numerical value, function, operation, or component such as a part). , which does not preclude the existence of additional features. In this disclosure, expressions such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and/and B,” or “one or more of A or/and B” may include all possible combinations of the items listed together. . For example, “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” or “at least one of A or B” (1) includes at least one A, (2) includes at least one B, Or (3) may refer to all cases including at least one A and at least one B.

Expressions such as "first," "second," "first," or "second," used in the present disclosure may modify various elements regardless of order and/or importance, and may refer to one element as It is used only to distinguish it from other components and does not limit the corresponding components.

A component (e.g., a first component) is "(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to" another component (e.g., a second component); When referred to as "connected to", it should be understood that the certain component may be directly connected to the other component or connected through another component (eg, a third component). On the other hand, when an element (eg, a first element) is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another element (eg, a second element), the element and the above It may be understood that other components (eg, a third component) do not exist between the other components.

The expression “configured to (or configured to)” as used in this disclosure means, depending on the situation, for example, “suitable for,” “having the capacity to.” ," "designed to," "adapted to," "made to," or "capable of." The term "configured (or set) to" may not necessarily mean only "specifically designed to" hardware. Instead, in some contexts, the phrase "device configured to" may mean that the device is "capable of" in conjunction with other devices or components. For example, the phrase "a processor configured (or configured) to perform A, B, and C" may include a dedicated processor (eg, embedded processor) to perform the operation, or by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device. , may mean a general-purpose processor (eg, CPU or application processor) capable of performing corresponding operations.

1 is a block diagram showing a content providing system 10 and a user terminal 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the content providing system 10 according to an embodiment includes a broadcast management server 30 and an advertisement providing server 40 . Here, the broadcast management server 30 and the advertisement providing server 40 may be connected to the user terminal 20 through the network 50 .

The network 50 includes not only the Internet network but also mobile communication networks such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G, and the like, and Wi-Fi and Wibro. It is defined as a broad concept that includes a wireless communication network. The network 50 is a concept encompassing both existing networks and networks that can be developed in the future. For example, the network includes a wired and wireless local area network that provides communication between various information devices within a limited area, a mobile communication network that provides communication between mobile bodies and between mobile bodies and the outside of the mobile body, and a satellite that provides communication between earth stations and earth stations. It may be a satellite communication network or any one of wired and wireless communication networks, or a combination of two or more. Meanwhile, the transmission method standards of the network are not limited to existing transmission method standards, and may include all transmission method standards to be developed in the future.

The broadcast management server 30 provides video content to the user terminal 20 through the network 50 . In one embodiment, the broadcasting management server 30 may set an advertisement application rule including at least one of a storage location, a start time, and the number of executions of an advertisement video corresponding to content information and store the advertisement video execution information. . That is, the broadcast management server 30 sets location information (eg, URL: Uniform Resource Locator) where a specific advertising video is stored in correspondence to channel information and programming information allocated to video contents, and when video contents are played A starting point indicating at what point in time the corresponding advertisement video will be executed is set from the playback time of the corresponding video content, and the number of times at which the corresponding advertisement video can be executed can be set and stored as an advertisement application rule. Here, the execution information of the advertising video may be implemented only with the storage location of the advertising video.

In one embodiment, the broadcast management server 30 may be a concept including a content delivery network (CDN) that provides a streaming service to a user terminal.

The advertisement providing server 40 may receive a request for advertisement information from the user terminal 20 and transmit the requested advertisement information to the user terminal 20 . The advertisement providing server 40 may receive a request for advertisement information from the user terminal 20 recognizing the advertisement time from the Q-tone information before a preset time of the advertisement time, and the advertisement providing server 40 receives a request when receiving the advertisement request. Advertising information corresponding to may be transmitted to the user terminal 20 .

Advertisement information transmitted from the advertisement providing server 40 to the user terminal 20 may include at least one of advertisement content and reproduction information of the corresponding advertisement content. The advertisement providing server 40 may be a regional advertisement providing server that provides different advertisements for each region to the user terminal 20 or an advertisement management server that comprehensively manages advertisements for all regions. In one embodiment, the advertisement providing server 40 may be a content delivery network (Contents Delivery Network, CDN). In one embodiment, the advertisement providing server 40 may be under the management of a different entity or the same entity as the broadcast management server 30 .

In one embodiment, the broadcast management server 30 or the advertisement providing server 40 may convert and code audio and video into a plurality of encodings using various codecs, bit rates, frame rates, and resolutions for content information. A “server” will generally be understood to include a computer that includes memory, input/output circuitry, and command processing logic. Many aspects of the disclosed technology may be implemented as software running on one or more computers.

In one embodiment, the content providing system 10 may provide video content using media streaming technology. In one embodiment, HTTP live streaming (HLS) and moving picture expert group (MPEG)-dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) among media streaming technologies are based on HTTP. HLS and MPEG-DASH divide original content sources to create a plurality of video segments (or chunks) and provide each segment including video information of a corresponding point in time according to a user's request. For example, the same content may be prepared in the form of segments by dividing them into different bit rates in advance, and then streamed at an appropriate bit rate according to each user's network and request.

In one embodiment, a chunk may include a file in a transport stream (TS) format. The user terminal 20 may provide live streaming content to the user using an M3U message or an M3U8 message that is a list of TS files. The M3U message refers to a message for an MP3 URL, and the M3U8 message refers to a message obtained by encoding an M3U message in UTF-8. The playlist is composed of serial numbers for each chunk file, address information (for example, URL information), play time information, and the like. It is possible to sequentially request chunk files, receive them, and use live streaming content. At this time, in order to use the live streaming content according to the HTTP-based streaming protocol, the user terminal 20 first requests a playlist for the live streaming content, receives it from the broadcast management server 30 or the advertisement providing server 40, and must have The user terminal 20 having a playlist sequentially requests and receives the first through Nth chunk files from the broadcasting management server 30 or the advertisement providing server 40 according to the playlist to receive live streaming content. will be available

In one embodiment, user terminal 20 includes a computerized device (also including the above components) capable of receiving content from a network connection and decoding and rendering content on a display or similar output device. . For example, all kinds of TV devices using Internet lines, such as IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), Smart TV and Connected TV, set-top box (STB), and smart phone can include The user terminal 20 may be a communication device such as a multimedia streaming adapter, a multimedia dongle, and an OTT (Over the Top) device, and the type of the user terminal 20 is not limited thereto.

2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a user terminal 20 according to an exemplary embodiment. User terminal 20 includes one or more processors 21, memory 22, local storage 24, and input/output (I/O) interface circuitry 26 coupled together by one or more data buses 128. include I/O interface circuitry 26 couples the device to one or more external networks, additional storage devices or systems, and other input/output devices commonly known in the art. In one embodiment, the operation of user terminal 20 may execute computer program instructions (software) stored in memory 22 and computer program instructions (software) retrieved and executed by processor(s) 21. .

The user terminal 20 may be configured to reproduce advertisements in a single playback method (One-Player method) or a separate playback method (Two-Player method). The single playback method (One-Player method) is a method of reproducing both real-time broadcasting content and target advertising content in one player of the user terminal 20 . This is a method in which the user terminal 20 replaces and reproduces target advertisement contents, not advertisement contents included in real-time broadcasting, at a specific advertisement time point, and then reproduces the original real-time broadcast contents after completion of reproduction of the target advertisement contents. The divisional playback method (Two-Player method) is a method of playing content by separating a player (not shown) that reproduces real-time broadcasting content and a player that reproduces target advertising content. While the player playing the real-time broadcasting content is playing the real-time broadcasting content, another player operates at a specific advertisement point in time, and another player overwrites the screen of the player playing the real-time broadcasting content with the target advertisement content and plays it, and after the target advertisement content is played. is a method in which a player playing real-time broadcasting content occupies the screen again.

3 is an example of providing a content playlist for providing advertisements according to the prior art using M3U8. The user terminal 20 receives the M3U8 shown in FIG. 3 and sequentially reproduces chunks accordingly to provide content to the user. The file name, playback duration, and the like shown in FIG. 3 are exemplary.

Referring to FIG. 3, EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME (2020-02-021, 14:05:29.546+09:00) is the creation time of the first chunk, the 08011_-_181.ts file. Also, #EXTINF is the playing length of the corresponding chunk. The reason why 9 hours are added here (+9:00) is because Korean time is 9 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Since EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME is 14:05:29.546 and #EXTINF of 08011_-_181.ts is 4, UTC standard video time of 08011_-_181.ts is 14:05:29.546~14:05:33.546 (For convenience, the date and time difference of 9 hours are omitted). Since 08011_-_182.ts is the next chunk of 08011_-_181.ts and the playback time is 4 seconds, the UTC standard video time is 14:05:33.546 to 14:05:37.546. In this way, from 14:05:29.546 + 09:00, play 08011_-_181.ts to 08011_-_188.ts for 4 seconds each, play 08011_-_189.ts for 2 seconds, then play EXT-X-CUE-OUT to EXT Advertisement (08011_-_190.ts) is played for DURATION (4 seconds) until -X-CUE-IN. The default chunk size is eg 4 seconds. That is, the video content can be collectively split into a plurality of 4-second chunks to provide a service. However, for CUE-OUT conversion, that is, to play 2 seconds of 08011_-_189.ts and provide advertisements, one chunk (here 08011_-_189.ts) must be selected and converted to 2 seconds, which is a separate conversion. It is inefficient because it is required to have a module.

4 to 6 are examples illustrating that a content playlist for providing advertisements is provided using M3U8 according to an embodiment. The user terminal 20 receives M3U8 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and sequentially reproduces chunks according to M3U8 to provide content to the user. The content playlist may include a chunk list of content requested by the user. In addition, the content play list may further include an advertisement play start time and/or an advertisement play end time.

The user terminal 20 receives a periodically updated M3U8 content playlist from the broadcasting management server 30, and broadcasts TS files according to the metadata described in the newly added M3U8 content playlist according to the update to the broadcasting management server 30. , the advertisement providing server 40, or another external content delivery network (not shown) is requested, received, and reproduced. The user terminal 20 does not request and receive all of the TS files included in the M3U8 content playlist, but a plurality (for example, one to several) in advance according to the capacity of the playback buffer (not shown) of the user terminal 20. ) may be provided from the broadcast management server 30, the advertisement providing server 40, or another external content delivery network (not shown) prior to reproduction.

Referring to FIG. 4, EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME (2020-02-21, 14:05:29.546 + 09:00) is the creation time of the first chunk, 08011_-_181.ts. Also, #EXTINF is the playing length of the corresponding chunk. Accordingly, the user terminal 20 reproduces 08011_-_181.ts to 08011_-_191.ts by 4 seconds starting at 2:05:29.546 on February 21, 2020, Korean time. For example, since EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME is 14:05:29.546 and #EXTINF of 08011_-_181.ts is 4, the video time in UTC of 08011_-_181.ts is 14:05:29.546~14: 05:33.546 (for convenience, the date and time difference of 9 hours are omitted). Since 08011_-_182.ts is the next chunk of 08011_-_181.ts and the playback time is 4 seconds, the UTC standard video time is 14:05:33.546 to 14:05:37.546. In this way, the user terminal 20 can calculate the playback start time and playback end time of each chunk.

FIG. 5 is an example of a content playlist updated 8 seconds after the content playlist of FIG. 4 . After 8 seconds, EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME 2020-02-21, 14:05:37.546 + 09:00, which is the playback start time of 08011_-_183.ts. A tag for inserting an alternative advertisement is inserted into the content play list of FIG. 5 . That is, line 5 of FIG. 5 represents a tag for inserting an alternative advertisement. A tag for inserting an alternative advertisement is inserted into the header. For example, for an alternative advertisement, the EXT-X-ADVERTISMENT-START-TIME is February 21, 2020 14:06:07.646+9:00. Here, the update after 8 seconds is exemplary, and the update cycle may be 4 seconds, and the user terminal 20, the broadcast management server 30, the advertisement providing server 40, or an external content delivery network (not shown), etc. can be determined by

Since EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME is 14:05:37.546 and #EXTINF of 08011_-_183.ts is 4, the playback time based on UTC of 08011_-_183.ts is 14:05:37.546~14:05:41.546 (For convenience, the date and time difference of 9 hours are omitted). Since 08011_-_184.ts is the next chunk of 08011_-_183.ts and the playback time is 4 seconds, the UTC standard video time is 14:05:41.546~14:05:45.546. In this way, the user terminal 20 can calculate the playback start time and playback end time of each chunk.

By calculating the playback start time and end time of each chunk, it is possible to know which chunk's playback period includes the start time of the replacement advertisement. For example, it can be seen that 14:06:07.646, which is the start time of the alternative advertisement, is between 08011_-_190.ts where the start time is 14:06:05.546 and the end time is 14:06:09.546. Accordingly, the user terminal 20 plays 08011_-_190.ts for 2.1 seconds from 14:06:05.546 to 14:06:07.646, pauses, and plays a replacement advertisement at 14:06:07.646. In one embodiment, the user terminal 20 receives advertisement video stream data from the advertisement providing server 40 before 14:06:07.646 and prepares an alternative advertisement video. For example, advertisement video stream data may be received before 14:06:07.646 and decoding may be completed.

FIG. 6 is an example of a content playlist updated 8 seconds after the content playlist of FIG. 5 . After 8 seconds, EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME 2020-02-21, 14:05:45.546 + 09:00, which is the playback start time of 08011_-_185.ts. A tag for inserting an alternative advertisement is inserted into the content play list of FIG. 6 . That is, lines 5 and 6 of FIG. 6 represent tags for inserting alternative advertisements. A tag for inserting an alternative advertisement is inserted into the header. For example, the EXT-X-ADVERTISMENT-START-TIME for replacement advertisement is February 21, 2020 14:06:07.646+9:00. Since EXT-X-ADVERTISMENT-END-TIME is 14:06:32.646+9:00 on February 21, 2020, an alternative advertisement is played for 25 seconds. EXT-X-ADVERTISMENT-START-TIME and EXT-X-ADVERTISMENT-END-TIME are exemplary for description and can be changed by an advertisement inserter (advertisement operator, broadcast operator).

Since EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME is 14:05:45.546 and #EXTINF of 08011_-_185.ts is 4, the video time based on UTC of 08011_-_185.ts is 14:05:45.546~14:05:49.546 (For convenience, the date and time difference of 9 hours are omitted). Since 08011_-_186.ts is the next chunk of 08011_-_185.ts and the playback time is 4 seconds, the UTC standard video time is 14:05:49.546 to 14:05:53.546. In this way, the user terminal 20 can calculate the playback start time and playback end time of each chunk.

Calculating the playback start time and end time of each chunk, the alternative ad start time 14:06:07.646 is between 08011_-_190.ts with a start time of 14:06:05.546 and an end time of 14:06:09.546. it can be seen that there is Accordingly, the user terminal 20 plays 08011_-_190.ts for 2.1 seconds from 14:06:05.546 to 14:06:07.646, pauses, and plays a replacement advertisement at 14:06:07.646. In one embodiment, the user terminal 20 receives advertisement video stream data from the advertisement providing server 40 before 14:06:07.646 and prepares an alternative advertisement video. For example, advertisement video stream data may be received before 14:06:07.646 and decoding may be completed. Since the replacement advertisement end time is 14:06:32.646, the replacement advertisement video ends at this time and 08011_-_190.ts is played again.

The examples of FIGS. 4 to 6 have been described based on M3U8, but in one embodiment, the alternative advertisement start time and alternative advertisement end time are inserted into the DASH protocol in a similar way and transmitted to the user terminal 20, and the user terminal 20 ) identifies chunks before/after the alternative advertisement based on a certain time standard (eg, UTC), pauses the chunk before/after the replacement advertisement, plays the replacement advertisement, and ends to provide the replacement advertisement. The present disclosure is directed to other protocols (eg, Microsoft's Smooth Streaming, Adobe's HTTP Dynamic Streaming, Apple's HLS), or CMAF (Common Media Application Format) that use a method of fragmenting media files and transmitting them through the HTTP protocol. ) can also be applied. In addition, it is applicable to all protocols capable of writing a time standard in a chunk list file, and it can be applied to protocols developed after the present disclosure.

7 is a flowchart of a method of providing advertisements according to an exemplary embodiment. The order of each step shown in FIG. 7 may be changed.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the user terminal 20 transmits a content request message to the broadcasting management server (S502). The user terminal 20 may receive a content viewing request from the user and transmit a content request message to the broadcast management server in response to the content viewing request.

The broadcast management server 30 creates a content play list (S504). In one embodiment, the broadcast management server 30 fragments video data to generate a plurality of video fragment files (streaming files, chunks), and also generates metadata about the generated streaming files (eg, file name, file address). (URL), playback time). The broadcasting management server 30 creates a content playlist based on meta data. The content play list may include any one of M3U8 and MPD formats. For example, a content play list as shown in FIG. 5 may be created. In one embodiment, a plurality of image fragment files may be created to have the same playback time.

The broadcast management server 30 transmits the content play list to the user terminal 20 (S506).

The user terminal 20 requests and receives a streaming file (chunk) from the address listed in the content playlist, and provides the content to the user (S508). In one embodiment, the user terminal 20 may request and receive a streaming file from the broadcast management server 30, the advertisement providing server 40, and/or other content delivery networks (not shown) to provide content. .

The broadcast management server 30 receives an alternative advertisement start signal (S510). In one embodiment, the alternative advertisement start signal may be input from an operator of the broadcast management server 30 . An operator of the broadcasting management server 30 may monitor content provided in real time and generate an alternative advertisement start signal so that an alternative advertisement starts at a desired time. The replacement advertisement start signal may include information about when the replacement advertisement is played. For example, the operator of the broadcasting management server 30 that provides professional baseball relay in real time replaces broadcasting company advertisements between professional baseball innings to provide advertisement images, so that alternative advertisements start at the end of professional baseball innings. You can input a start signal.

The broadcast management server 30 updates the content play list (S512). In one embodiment, the broadcasting management server 30 may insert an alternative advertisement start time into a content playlist based on a specific time zone. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , an alternative advertisement start time based on UTC may be inserted into a content playlist. In one embodiment, the content playlist may be periodically updated.

The broadcasting management server 30 transmits the updated content playlist to the user terminal 20 (S514).

The user terminal 20 requests and receives a streaming file from the address listed in the updated content play list and provides the content (S516). In one embodiment, the user terminal 20 may request and receive a streaming file from the broadcast management server 30, the advertisement providing server 40, and/or other content delivery networks (not shown) to provide content. . In addition, in one embodiment, while providing content, the user terminal 20, for example, as described in relation to FIGS. 5 and 5, the replacement advertisement start time inserted into the updated content playlist, and the length of the streaming file. , Based on at least one reproduction start time of the streaming file, it is possible to calculate which streaming file is started while the replacement advertisement is being played.

The broadcast management server 30 receives an alternative advertisement end signal (S518). In one embodiment, the alternative advertisement start signal may be input from an operator of the broadcast management server 30 . An operator of the broadcasting management server 30 may monitor content provided in real time and generate an alternative advertisement end signal so that an alternative advertisement ends at a desired time. The replacement advertisement end signal may include information about when the replacement advertisement ends. For example, the operator of the broadcasting management server 30 that provides professional baseball relay in real time replaces broadcasting company advertisements between professional baseball innings to provide advertisement images, so that replacement advertisements end at the start of professional baseball innings. End signal can be input. In one embodiment, the alternative advertisement end signal and the alternative advertisement start signal may be input separately or may be input substantially simultaneously. For example, the operator of the broadcast management server 30 may input an alternative advertisement end signal and an alternative advertisement start signal together. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the alternative advertisement end signal and the alternative advertisement start signal may be input to the content play list together.

The broadcast management server 30 updates the content play list (S520). In one embodiment, the broadcasting management server 30 may insert an alternative advertisement end time into a content playlist based on a specific time zone. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , an alternative advertisement end time based on UTC may be inserted into a content playlist.

The broadcasting management server 30 transmits the updated content playlist to the user terminal 20 (S522).

The user terminal 20 requests and receives a streaming file from the address listed in the updated content play list and provides the content (S524). In one embodiment, the user terminal 20 may request and receive a streaming file from the broadcast management server 30, the advertisement providing server 40, and/or other content delivery networks (not shown) to provide content. .

The user terminal 20 requests advertisement video data from the advertisement providing server 40 (S526). Information for requesting advertisement video data (eg, time, location, etc.) is included in the updated content playlist.

The advertisement providing server 40 transmits advertisement video data to the user terminal 20 in response to the request for advertisement video data from the user terminal 20 (S528).

The user terminal 20 starts an alternative advertisement at the start time of an alternative advertisement included in the content play list (S530). When the user terminal 20 is playing a streaming file, playback of the streaming file being played may be paused and an alternative advertisement may be started. In one embodiment, the user terminal 20 may reproduce advertisements in a segmented playback method (Two-Player method). In one embodiment, the user terminal 20 may receive advertising video data in advance and perform decoding in advance while receiving and providing a streaming file. That is, steps S526 and S528 may be performed before step S524 or step 516.

The user terminal 20 ends the replacement advertisement when the replacement advertisement included in the content play list ends (S532).

The user terminal 20 ends the replacement advertisement and provides the original content (S534). In one embodiment, the replacement advertisement is terminated and playback of the suspended streaming file is resumed. The user terminal 20 periodically receives a content playlist and provides content according to the content playlist.

8 is a flowchart of a method of providing a content playlist according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the broadcast management server 30 receives a content request message from a user terminal (S802).

The broadcasting management server 30 creates a content playlist in response to the content request message (S804). In one embodiment, the broadcast management server 30 fragments video data to generate a plurality of video fragment files (streaming file, chunk, TS file), and also generates metadata about the generated streaming file (eg, file name , file address (URL), playback time). The broadcasting management server 30 creates a content playlist based on meta data. The content play list may include any one of M3U8 and MPD formats. In one embodiment, a plurality of image fragment files may be created to have the same playback time. The content playback list may include addresses, playback times, and playback durations of a plurality of streaming files.

The broadcast management server 30 transmits the content play list to the user terminal 20 (S806).

The broadcasting management server 30 receives an alternative advertisement start signal indicating an alternative advertisement start time (S808). The alternative advertisement start signal may be input by the operator of the broadcast management server 30 . For example, the operator of the broadcast management server 30 may input an alternative advertisement start signal in real time while content is being reproduced in the user terminal 20 in order to reproduce an alternative advertisement at a desired time.

The broadcasting management server 30 updates the content playlist by inserting an alternative advertisement start time into the content playlist in response to reception of the substitute advertisement start signal (S810). The alternative advertisement start time may be designated and inserted based on a specific time zone, for example, UTC. The updated content play list may include addresses of a plurality of streaming files, play time, play duration, and replacement advertisement start time.

The broadcasting management server 30 transmits the updated content playlist to the user terminal 20 (S812).

The broadcasting management server 30 receives the alternative advertisement end signal indicating the end time of the alternative advertisement (S814). The alternative advertisement termination signal may be input by the operator of the broadcast management server 30 . For example, the operator of the broadcast management server 30 may input an alternative advertisement termination signal in real time while content is being reproduced in the user terminal 20 in order to terminate the replacement advertisement at a desired time.

The broadcasting management server 30 updates the content playlist by inserting an alternative advertisement end time into the content playlist in response to reception of the substitute advertisement end signal (S816). The alternative advertisement end time can be designated and inserted based on a specific time zone, for example, UTC. The updated content playlist includes the address of a plurality of streaming files, playback time, playback duration, alternative advertisement start time, and alternative advertisement end time. may include time.

The broadcasting management server 30 transmits the updated content playlist to the user terminal 20 (S818).

In one embodiment, the alternative advertisement end signal and the alternative advertisement start signal may be input separately or may be input substantially simultaneously. For example, the operator of the server 30 may input an alternative advertisement end signal and an alternative advertisement start signal together. In this case, the content play list of FIG. 4 may be updated as shown in FIG. 6 in the content play list.

The user terminal 20 plays a replacement advertisement at a designated replacement advertisement start time and ends the replacement advertisement at an alternative advertisement end time while providing a streaming service using information included in the updated content play list.

The devices and methods described above may be implemented as hardware components, software components, and/or a combination of hardware components and software components. For example, devices and components described in the embodiments may include, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable array (FPA), It may be implemented using one or more general purpose or special purpose computers, such as a programmable logic unit (PLU), microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing device may run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the operating system. A processing device may also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to execution of software. For convenience of understanding, there are cases in which one processing device is used, but those skilled in the art will understand that the processing device includes a plurality of processing elements and/or a plurality of types of processing elements. It can be seen that it can include. For example, a processing device may include a plurality of processors or a processor and a controller. Other processing configurations are also possible, such as parallel processors.

Software may include a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing, which configures a processing device to operate as desired or processes independently or collectively. You can command the device. Software and/or data may be any tangible machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage medium or device, intended to be interpreted by or to provide instructions or data to a processing device. , or may be permanently or temporarily embodied in a transmitted signal wave. Software may be distributed on networked computer systems and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored on one or more computer readable media.

The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer readable medium. Computer readable media may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. Program commands recorded on the medium may be specially designed and configured for the embodiment or may be known and usable to those skilled in computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and magnetic media such as floptical disks. - includes hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as magneto-optical media, and ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, as well as machine language codes such as those produced by a compiler. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described with limited drawings, those skilled in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques may be performed in an order different from the method described, and/or components of the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. may be combined or combined in a different form than the method described, or other components may be used. Or even if it is replaced or substituted by equivalents, appropriate results can be achieved.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents of the claims are within the scope of the following claims.

In order to switch to an alternative advertisement while providing an existing video, start and end times of playback of an alternative advertisement are explicitly included in the chunk list based on a specific time zone (eg, UTC). The user terminal calculates the advertisement switching time based on the chunk list to accurately convert the replacement advertisement. Accordingly, the inefficiency of having to variably cut video chunks for transmission of existing alternative advertisements is solved.

10: content providing system 20: user terminal
30: broadcast management server 40: advertisement providing server
21: processor 22: memory
24: storage 26: I/O interface circuit

Claims (8)

A method in which a server provides an advertisement to a user terminal,
Providing a content playlist for providing a streaming service to the user terminal, wherein the content playlist includes name information, location information, and duration information of each of a plurality of files for providing the streaming service. ;
receiving a replacement advertisement start signal;
In response to receiving the alternative advertisement start signal, generating a first updated content playlist by updating the content playlist by designating and inserting an alternative advertisement start time into the content playlist based on a specific time period;
providing the first updated content playlist to the user terminal;
receiving a replacement advertisement end signal;
generating a second updated content playlist by designating and inserting an end point of an alternative advertisement based on the specific time period into the first updated content playlist in response to receiving the alternative advertisement end signal; and
Providing the second updated content playlist to the user terminal;
Prior to the step of providing the content playlist for providing the streaming service to the user terminal,
receiving, by the server, a content request message from the user terminal; and
The content indicated by the content request message is divided into a plurality of files that can be reproduced in the user terminal and have the same duration, and name information, location information, and reproduction time information of each of the plurality of files are used as metadata. Further comprising the step of generating the content playlist by doing
The user terminal, having received the plurality of files and the first updated content playlist, based on the information included in the first updated content playlist, the plurality of files included in the first updated content playlist. Calculate playback start time and playback end time of each file, detect a file having a playback period including the replacement advertisement start time, and file having a playback period including the replacement advertisement start time at the replacement advertisement start time configured to pause the playback of and start an alternative advertisement in a separate playback manner;
How to serve advertisements. According to claim 1,
Wherein the receiving of the alternative advertisement start signal and the receiving of the alternative advertisement end signal are performed simultaneously. delete According to claim 1,
The alternative advertisement start time and the alternative advertisement end time are inserted into a header of the content playlist. delete According to claim 1,
The method of providing an advertisement, wherein the specific time zone is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). According to claim 1,
The content playlist is provided in a standard compatible with the HTTP LIVE STREAMING standard. A method in which a server provides an advertisement to a user terminal,
Providing a content playlist for providing a streaming service to the user terminal;
The content play list includes name information and location information of each of a plurality of files for providing the streaming service, duration information, an alternative advertisement start time and an alternative advertisement end time,
The user terminal, having received the plurality of files and the content playlist for providing the streaming service, calculates a reproduction start time and a reproduction end time of each of the plurality of files, and sets a reproduction period including the replacement advertisement start time. Detects a file having a playback period including the start time of the replacement advertisement at the start time of the replacement advertisement, pauses playback of the file having a playback section including the start time of the replacement advertisement, starts the replacement advertisement in a segmented playback method, and starts the replacement advertisement at the end time of the replacement advertisement and provide advertisements, which cause the paused file to be resumed,
The alternative advertisement start time and the alternative advertisement end time are designated based on a specific time zone.

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