Advertisement proxy generating playback manifest

Abstract

An advertisement proxy obtains a playlist associated with a destination platform. The playlist includes information identifying media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform, an empty spot block, and metadata associated with the empty spot block. A playback manifest is generated based on the playlist, and includes the information identifying the media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform, and spot information identifying an additional media item selected for inclusion in the empty spot block based on the metadata, format information identifying a media format associated with the destination platform, and location information specifying locations from which the media items and the additional media item can be obtained. The playback manifest is transmitted from the advertisement proxy to a content distribution network, which obtains the media items and the additional media item based on the location information, formats the media items and the additional media item based on the format information, and transmits the media items and the additional media items to the destination platform in accordance with the playback manifest.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in a processing system implementing an advertisement proxy, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by the advertisement proxy, a playlist associated with a destination platform, wherein the playlist includes:
 information identifying media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform; 
 at least one empty spot block; and 
 metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block; 
   generating, by the advertisement proxy, a playback manifest based on the playlist, wherein the playback manifest includes:
 the information identifying media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform; 
 spot information identifying an additional media item selected for inclusion in the at least one empty spot block, wherein the additional media item is selected for inclusion based on the metadata; 
 format information identifying a media format associated with the destination platform; 
 location information specifying locations from which the media items and the additional media item can be obtained; 
   transmitting the playback manifest from the advertisement proxy to a content distribution network, wherein the content distribution network:
 obtains the media items and the additional media item based on the location information; 
 formats the media items and the additional media item based on the format information; and 
 transmits the media items and the additional media items to the destination platform in accordance with the playback manifest. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the playback manifest is a preliminary manifest; and   wherein the content distribution network modifies the preliminary manifest.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the content distribution network modifies the preliminary manifest by altering location information associated with one or more media items in response to determining that the one or more media items are available from a different location in closer physical proximity to the destination platform.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the playback manifest includes:
 transmitting a request for an external advertisement server to select the additional media item in accordance with the metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block; and   modifying the playlist based, at least in part on information received in response to the request.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block includes advertiser priority information associated with the empty spot block.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the playback manifest includes at least one tag configured to cause the destination platform to report presentation of at least a portion of a normalized media file of the normalized media files.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the destination platform is an automotive radio platform. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a processor configured to implement an advertisement proxy, the advertisement proxy configured to:
 obtain a playlist associated with a destination platform, wherein the playlist includes:
 information identifying media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform; 
 at least one empty spot block; and 
 metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block; 
 
 generate a playback manifest based on the playlist, wherein the playback manifest includes:
 the information identifying media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform; 
 spot information identifying an additional media item selected for inclusion in the at least one empty spot block, wherein the additional media item is selected for inclusion based on the metadata; 
 format information identifying a media format associated with the destination platform; 
 location information specifying locations from which the media items and the additional media item can be obtained; 
 
 transmit the playback manifest from the advertisement proxy to a content distribution network, wherein the content distribution network:
 obtains the media items and the additional media item based on the location information; 
 formats the media items and the additional media item based on the format information; and 
 transmits the media items and the additional media items to the destination platform in accordance with the playback manifest. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the playback manifest is a preliminary manifest; and   wherein the content distribution network modifies the preliminary manifest.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the content distribution network modifies the preliminary manifest by altering location information associated with one or more media items in response to determining that the one or more media items are available from a different location in closer physical proximity to the destination platform.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein generating the playback manifest includes:
 transmitting a request for an external advertisement server to select the additional media item in accordance with the metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block; and   modifying the playlist based, at least in part on information received in response to the request.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block includes category priority information associated with the empty spot block.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the playback manifest includes a plurality of tracking calls configured to fire at different points during playout of one or more media items at the destination platform.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the destination platform is an automotive radio platform. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be executed by a processor, the program of instructions comprising:
 at least one instruction to obtain, by an advertisement proxy, a playlist associated with a destination platform, wherein the playlist includes:
 information identifying media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform; 
 at least one empty spot block; and 
 metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block; 
   at least one instruction to generate, by the advertisement proxy, a playback manifest based on the playlist, wherein the playback manifest includes:
 the information identifying media items scheduled for delivery to the destination platform; 
 spot information identifying an additional media item selected for inclusion in the at least one empty spot block, wherein the additional media item is selected for inclusion based on the metadata; 
 format information identifying a media format associated with the destination platform; 
 location information specifying locations from which the media items and the additional media item can be obtained; 
   at least one instruction to transmit the playback manifest from the advertisement proxy to a content distribution network, wherein the content distribution network:
 obtains the media items and the additional media item based on the location information; 
 formats the media items and the additional media item based on the format information; and 
 transmits the media items and the additional media items to the destination platform in accordance with the playback manifest. 
   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the playback manifest is a preliminary manifest; and   wherein the content distribution network modifies the preliminary manifest.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the content distribution network modifies the preliminary manifest by altering location information associated with one or more media items in response to determining that the one or more media items are available from a different location in closer physical proximity to the destination platform.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one instruction to generate the playback manifest includes:
 at least one instruction to transmit a request for an external advertisement server to select the additional media item in accordance with the metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block; and   at least one instruction to modify the playlist based, at least in part on information received in response to the request.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the metadata associated with the at least one empty spot block includes a campaign identifier associated with the empty spot block.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the playback manifest includes at least one tracking call configured fire in response to playout of at least a portion of a media file at the destination platform; and   the content distribution network configured to initiate deliver of a subsequent media file in response to the at least one tracking call firing.