Preconditioning ad content for digital program insertion

摘要

Methods are provided for inserting advertisements or the like and/or to perform grooming functions for a video, audio and/or data stream. Video programming is received in a network stream. Alternate content, such as advertisements, is received in content stream. The content stream is preconditioned to provide an entrance point therein for splicing the network stream to the content stream. Preconditioning of the content stream can also be performed to provide an exit point for splicing back to the network stream when the alternate content (e.g., advertisements) has concluded.

主权项

1. A method for inserting content into video programming, comprising:
receiving said video programming in a first video stream comprising a first sequence of pictures; receiving said content in a second video stream comprising a second sequence of pictures; and preconditioning said second video stream to provide a preconditioned second video stream with an entrance point for splicing the first video stream to the preconditioned second video stream; wherein:
there is no need to precondition the first video stream to perform said splicing;said preconditioning of said second video stream occurs prior to said splicing and is independent of any information from the first video stream; andsaid preconditioning step comprises limiting a maximum size of at least a first picture of said content.