Patent Publication Number: US-10779043-B2

Title: Database access using entity and availability pairs in a video delivery system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application and, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, is entitled to and claims the benefit of earlier filed application U.S. application Ser. No. 15/839,113 filed Dec. 12, 2017, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A video delivery system may include different databases that store different aspects of information for a video delivery service, such as a first database storing user interests, a second database for users&#39; entitlements to view content, and a third database for users&#39; locations. The backend system of the video delivery system includes different services that can handle requests and query the different databases. The services are configured to specifically store data in respective databases by indexing user profiles. Indexing the user profiles provides efficiencies because the services receive data, such as a user&#39;s interest, and can then store the user&#39;s interest with the user profile in the first database. 
     Multiple engines of the video delivery system may need to access the data via the services for different reasons. Also, some engines require data from multiple separate databases to provide a feature for delivering video to users. For example, a feature may require data about a user from a first database, and then use that data to query the second and third databases. This requires that the engine send queries to multiple services to retrieve the data. Given that the video delivery service may include a large amount of users, if an engine sends queries for a majority of the users at one time, the backend network may experience a spike in traffic. This may slow down processing time for other engines that may need to access the data and also slow down the queries being executed for the current engine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a simplified system for implementing a search engine using an online database to respond to scheduled events according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a more detailed example of generating the online database according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a simplified flowchart of a method for generating the online database according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of documents according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  depicts an example of an index in the online database according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a simplified flowchart of a method for processing live programming events according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a simplified flowchart for maintaining the index in the online database according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a video streaming system in communication with multiple client devices via one or more communication networks according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a diagrammatic view of an apparatus for viewing video content and advertisements. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein are techniques for a video recording and notification system. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous examples and specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of particular embodiments. Particular embodiments as defined by the claims may include some or all of the features in these examples alone or in combination with other features described below, and may further include modifications and equivalents of the features and concepts described herein. 
     A video delivery system may experience times in which an engine may perform a large amount of queries at one time. For example, when the video delivery system provides a live television service, the video delivery system may have a cloud digital video recorder (DVR) feature and a push notification feature. The live television service may provide linear live programming where new media programs may start at set times, such as every half hour or hour. In some cases, there may be a large amount of media programs starting at the same time in the schedule. When the video delivery system determines that a media program is going to start, then the video delivery system may determine which users may be interested in the media program to either record the program or provide a notification to users. For example, a search engine determines which users meet the requirements for recording the media program or receiving a notification. In some embodiments, the search engine determines users that have the required interest in the upcoming media program, the entitlements to view the media program, and location information within an availability area for the program. As discussed in the Background, this may require multiple queries to different databases for each user, which causes a spike in activity in the backend network right before the media program is going to air. When multiple media programs start at the same time, then the spike in traffic increases even more. 
     To alleviate the spike in traffic in the backend network, the video delivery system generates a transformed database structure in an online database that may limit the spike in traffic on the backend network and also allow efficient querying the required data with less queries. A transformation engine may load required data from the various databases by querying, per user profile, the interests in entities from a first database, entitlements for viewing the entities from a second database, and location information from a third database. The transformation engine then transforms the format of how the data was stored in the first, second, and third databases. For example, the transformation engine combines the entitlements and location information into an availability pair. Then, the transformation engine stores entities for the interests and the availability pairs in an inverted format compared to how the data was stored in the first, second, and third databases. The inverted format indexes the entities for the interests and availability pairs with a list of profiles as entries for the index. The transformation engine stores the transformed data in an online database that can be queried when live programming events occur. 
     The use of the online database and transformed data allows the search engine that is processing the live programming events to efficiently perform the queries. The transformed format allows the queries to be performed faster than querying the first, second, or third databases. Further, the format allows the search engine to retrieve the required data with a fewer amount of queries as compared to when the data was stored in separate databases. Additionally, using the online database limits the spike in network traffic on the backend network because queries are now directed to the online database. The other backend databases now can process queries from other engines without experiencing the delay caused by the spike in searches. 
     Overview 
       FIG. 1  depicts a simplified system  100  for implementing a search engine  118  using an online storage  114  to respond to scheduled events according to some embodiments. System  100  includes a video delivery system  102  and clients  104 - 1  to  104 -N. Video delivery system  102  may provide a video delivery service that sends media programs (e.g., videos) to clients  104 . Clients  104 - 1  to  104 -N may view the media programs on an interface  122 - 1  to  122 -N, which may include a media player (not shown). Video delivery system  102  may allow users to request videos on-demand or subscribe to a live television service. The media programs that can be requested on-demand are included in a video library and clients  104  can request the media programs at any time. The live television service may broadcast media programs in a linear manner, such as via a televised schedule. In this example, the live television service offers media programs that can only be viewed on a set schedule. In some embodiments, the schedule includes media programs that start around the same time, such as at half-hour or hour intervals. For example, at the top of every hour, the live television service may begin offering new media programs on multiple channels. Clients  104 - 1  to  104 -N may view the media programs on an interface  122 - 1  to  122 -N, which may include a media player (not shown). 
     A live programming engine  106  may monitor the schedule, such an electronic program guide (EPG) that specifies which media programs are upcoming, and determine which media programs are going to be aired before the airtime, right when the media program airs, or after the media program airs. For example, live programming engine  106  may determine the videos that are going to be aired X seconds before the video is going to be aired. The X seconds may be within a minute of the start of the media program, or during when the previous media program is being aired. Also, live programming engine  106  may start recording the media programs right after they start to air. Live programming engine  106  makes this determination close to the airtime because the latest data on user interests, entitlements, and/or location should be used. 
     In one example, a cloud DVR system  110  may be programmed to record videos for a user prior to the media program airing, right when the media program airs, or after the media program airs. Accordingly, live programming engine  106  determines the media programs that are going to be aired close to the airtime so that cloud DVR system  110  can start recording of the media programs for users. Cloud DVR system  110  can then store the media programs in cloud DVRs  108  for different users. These media programs are stored to allow users to play the media programs at a later time that is different from the airtime. Once recorded, cloud DVR  108  may then provide a recorded programs list  124 - 1  to  124 -N to clients. For example, users can access a recorded programs list to determine which programs have been recorded. Cloud DVR system  110  may operate automatically, such as a user may not need to figure out the time when a video is going to be offered. Rather, cloud DVR system  110  may determine when programs are going to be offered at a time and record them automatically. 
     Video delivery system  102  also includes a notification system  120  that can send notifications for events that are going to occur, such as X hours, days, etc. before the event will occur. Some notifications include that certain videos may be expiring or that a video may be about to start. The notification that the video is about to play should be sent close to the time at which the video is going to be played to attract the user&#39;s interest. 
     Search engine  118  may be an online service that can handle the requests to determine users. Search engine  118  is an online engine because it interacts with the live television service being offered online to clients  104 . 
     Databases  116  may include separate databases that store information for users. Users may also include profiles 1-X that may have different attributes, such as interests, entitlements, and location information. For example, users may have profiles for different members of the user&#39;s family and can determine different interests, such as different videos that the specific profiles are interested in. The use of profiles may multiply the number of entries in databases  116 . When profiles are used in the discussion, it will be understood that a user may have one or more profiles. 
     Database  116  may include different offline databases. When a user is determined to be interested in a video, an interest database stores an indication of the interest (e.g., an interest indication) for the user profile in the interest database. The interest indication may be a flag, identifier, or other indicator that identifies the interest. In some embodiments, when a user adds a video to a category, such as to My Stuff category in user interface  132 , an interest indication for that video may be stored for that user in the interests database. An entitlements database may store information for entitlements for users. The entitlements may be a type of account or a level of subscription service for the users, such as subscription video on-demand (SVOD) only, SVOD plus live television service, SVOD plus a network channel, etc. The entitlements database lists entitlements for the users. In some embodiments, each user profile for a user includes the same entitlements. In other embodiments, the user profiles may each include entitlements. A location database may store location information for user profiles, such as a home location for the user for be associated with all user profiles, but a real-time location may be different for different user profiles. In some embodiments, the location information may be in the form of a distribution area, which indicates a location in which the user resides, such as a ZIP code. The location database lists the user profiles and then the location information associated with each user profile. 
     Various engines of the video delivery system  102  may use the information stored in these databases  116 . If search engine  118  performed the number of queries required for cloud DVR system  110  or notification system  120  at the scheduled times, the queries would cause a large amount of traffic that is accessing databases  116  at the same time. This may delay the processing of queries from other engines that may need to access databases  116 . Further, the format of the data stored in databases  116  is optimized for the specific data being stored. For example, the information may be indexed by user profile and the user profiles are used in queries to determine entries in the database. Given the format of databases  116 , such as for interests, entitlements or home location, using the users as the index provides efficient access for the offline services. For example, when a user adds an interest, adding the interest to the interests database may be efficient by finding that user profile and adding that interest to the user profile&#39;s entries. 
     The above format that indexes user profiles is efficient for adding data to the databases and for other services to find that data. However, given the spike in traffic due to the live programming events that occur due to the live television service, some embodiments use a transformation service  112  to transform the data found in databases  116  into a format that can be queried more efficiently by search engine  118  for the specific type of queries needed for cloud DVR system  110  and notification system  120 . Further, transformation service  112  stores the transformed data in an online storage  114 , which can be accessed by search engine  118 . For example, online storage  114  may include a local copy of the transformed data that is accessible to search engine  118 . Using online storage  114  removes the queries that need to be performed on databases  116  and avoids the spike in traffic at the scheduled times. Online storage  114  may only be accessed by search engine  118  in some embodiments. Also, the format of the data stored in online storage  114  is optimized for queries by search engine  118 . 
     Online Storage  114   
     The following will now describe the building of online storage  114  in more detail.  FIG. 2  depicts a more detailed example of generating online storage  114  according to some embodiments.  FIG. 2  includes offline databases  116 , such as an interests database  116 - 1 , an entitlements database  116 - 2 , and a location database  116 - 3 . Interests database  116 - 1  indexes the users&#39; profiles and associates interests with each user profile. For example, user profiles may list entities in which a user is interested as interest indications, such as media programs (e.g., shows, movies, sports teams, etc.). Entitlements database  116 - 2  indexes users&#39; profiles and associates entitlements with each user profile. For example, a user profile may list one or more entitlements for that profile, such as the type of subscription that profile is entitled to use. Location database  116 - 3  indexes users&#39; profiles and associates location information with each user profile. For example, the home location of users for each user profile is stored as an entry. 
     To access information in interests database  116 - 1 , entitlements database  116 - 2 , and location database  116 - 3 , a query references the user profiles in the index. For example, an offline interests service  132  may send a query with a user profile in it. The interests associated with that profile in interests database  116 - 1  may then be returned to offline interests manager  132 . Also, when it is determined that a user has an interest in a media program, offline interests server  132  looks up the user profile and adds the interest as an entry to the user&#39;s profile in interests database  116 - 1 . Similarly, an entitlements service  134  may send a query to entitlements database  116 - 2  with a user&#39;s profile in the query. Entitlements database  116 - 2  then returns the entitlements associated with that profile. Also, an location service  136  may send a query to location database  116 - 3  with the user&#39;s profile. Location database  116 - 3  then returns the location for the profile to location service  136 . Similarly, entitlements service  134  may store entitlements using a user&#39;s profile as an index in entitlements database  116 - 2  and location service  136  may store location information using a user&#39;s profile as an index in location database  116 - 3 . Accordingly, these offline services can query databases  116 - 1  to  116 - 3  using a user profile. 
     Storing the interests, entitlements, and location information in individual databases  116 - 1  to  116 - 3  by indexing the user profiles may be most efficient for the offline services because only individual user profiles are updated at a time, such as when one user profile expresses an interest in a media program, only an entry for that user profile needs to be updated in database  116 - 1 . Also, for the services to retrieve the interests, entitlements, and location, sending a query to these databases using the profiles may be most efficient when dealing with multiple offline services that may require this information. To generate online storage  114 , transformation service  112  can perform queries to interests database  116 - 1 , entitlements database  116 - 2 , and location database  116 - 3  via services  132 ,  134 , and  136 , respectively, using the user profiles in the query. Transformation service  112  then receives all of the user profiles with associated interests, entitlements, and location from the various databases. Transformation service  112  can then transform the data. In some embodiments, transformation service  112  transforms the data received into documents where each document is a user profile with associated interests, entitlements, and home location. 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of documents  402 - 1  to  402 - 3  according to some embodiments. Three user profiles are divided into three documents, but it will be understood that other user profiles may be provided. Documents may be stored in a database table or other storage format. Profiles #1, #2, and #3 may be for the same user account, or may be for different users. Also, profiles for different user accounts may have the same interests, entitlements, and location information. 
     Document  402 - 1  is associated with a profile #1 and has interests, entitlements, and location information listed. The interests for profile #1 include entities of series_A, series_B, and movie_C. Series_A and series_B may be television shows that each include multiple episodes. Movie_C may be a specific movie. The entitlements for profile #1 are entitlements #2 and #16. The entitlements are associated with which type of account profile #1 is associated with, such as the entitlement #2 may be the SVOD only service and entitlement #16 may be the SVOD service plus live television. The location information lists a distribution area DA1 and a distribution area DA2. Distribution areas may be different locations that are considered the home location for the profile. In some embodiments, distribution areas may be one or more zip codes or other geographic information. 
     Profile #2 and profile #3 have similar listings for interests, entitlements, and location. Profile #2 differs from profile #1 in that profile #2 does not have an interest in movie_C and only has the entitlement #16. Profile #3 differs from profile #1 in that series_B is not an interest and profile #3 has a different location of distribution area DA3. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , transformation service  112  can then build online storage  114 . For example, transformation service  112  builds an index in which the interests are indexed instead of the user profiles, which is an inverted indexed from how the data was stored in offline databases  116 . Transformation service  112  reviews the documents to determine entities (e.g., media programs) and add user profiles that include the entity in the interests as entries to the entity. For example, a media program may be associated with a list of user profiles that have expressed an interest in that media program. The list of user profiles may include user profiles for different users. 
     In some embodiments, transformation service  112  then calculates an availability pair using the entitlements and location information for the profiles. For example, different combinations of the entitlements and home location are combined as an availability pair. Transformation service  112  can then index the availability pairs. For example, each availability pair may include a list of profiles. Each profile associated with an availability pair has the respective entitlements and location information for that availability pair. Although availability pairs are described, transformation service may not calculate availability pairs. In this case, transformation service  112  stores entitlements in the index with a list of profiles and home location in the index with a list of profiles. The result of indexing the entitlements and home location individually may require the search engine to perform some calculation to determine which profiles have both the entitlement and location information that is required instead of returning only the user profiles that have both the entitlement and location information. 
     Transformation service  112  may then order the index, such as by entity and availability pair. The order may be via some system, such as alphabetical order, to allow for quicker access. Also, transformation service  112  may generate a skip list data structure. The skip list data structure allows a fast search in the order of the entities and availability pairs. For example, transformation service  112  may maintain a linked hierarchy of sub-sequences with each successive sub-sequence skipping over fewer elements than the previous one. Searching of the skip list can start in the sparsest sub-sequence until two consecutive elements have been found, one smaller and one larger than or equal to the elements searched for. These two elements link to elements of the next sparsest sub-sequence, and the searching can continue until the full sequence is searched. A skip list data structure allows some elements in the list to be skipped while still performing the complete search.  FIG. 3  depicts a simplified flowchart  300  of a method for generating online storage  114  according to some embodiments. At  302 , transformation service  112  retrieves interests for profiles from interests database  116 - 1 . At  304 , transformation service  112  retrieves entitlements for profiles from entitlements database  116 - 2 . At  306 , transformation service  112  retrieves location information from location database  116 - 3 . 
     At  308 , transformation service  112  generates documents that each include a user profile with respective interests, entitlements, and location information. At  310 , transformation service  112  indexes entities from the interests in the profiles. Each entity lists user profiles that have indicated an interest in respective entities. Then, at  312 , transformation service  112  combines the entitlements and location into an availability pair. For example, each possible combination of entitlements and location information may be combined into availability pairs. 
     At  314 , transformation service  112  indexes the availability pairs. Also, the profiles that have the associated availability pairs are then added as entries to the availability pairs. At  316 , transformation service  112  pre-orders the entities and availability pairs in a data structure in online storage  114 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts an example of an index in online storage  114  according to some embodiments. The index is shown at  502 - 1  to  502 - 9 . For example, entities of series_A, series_B, and movie_C are shown at  502 - 1  to  502 - 3 . Associated profiles for the entity are shown connected to the entities with arrows. For example, series_A is associated with profile #1, profile #2, and profile #3; series_B is associated with profile #1 and profile #2; and movie_C is associated with profile #1 and profile #3. 
     Then, availability pairs are indexed as shown at  502 - 4  to  502 - 9 . The indexes are for different availability pairs of 2_DA1, 2_DA2, 2_DA3, 16_DA1, 16_DA2, and 16_DA3. The availability pairs represent the different possible combinations from the entitlements (#2 and #16) and locations (DA1, DA2, and DA3) found in profiles #1 to #3. The various profiles that include the entitlements and location pair are connected to each availability pair. If a profile did not include one of the combinations, such as the availability pair 2_DA2 at  502 - 5 , then no profiles are associated with that availability pair. As can be seen, the different availability pairs are associated with different profiles. For example, availability pair 2_DA3 is associated with profile #1 and profile #3; availability pair 16_DA1 is associated with profiles #1 and profile #2; availability pair 16_DA2 is associated with profile #1 and profile #2; and availability pair 16_DA3 is associated with profile #1 and profile #3. 
     Real-Time Event Processing 
     Once the index in online storage  114  is built, then search engine  118  can process live programming events from live programming engine  106 .  FIG. 6  depicts a simplified flowchart  600  of a method for processing live programming events according to some embodiments. At  602 , search engine  118  receives a notification for a live programming event associated with a media program. For example, live programming engine  106  may detect the occurrence of a live programming event, such as via the EPG. The notification may be for a media program X, which may be a specific media program, such as a specific episode of a show or a movie. In other embodiments, the event may be generalized to a show or series, such as series Y even though an episode of the series is currently being shown. The notification may also include other information, such as a base availability rule, which is a rule that defines availability for given content. For example, the rule may define any combination of the entitlements, the location information (e.g., home location or roaming location), the device type allowed to watch the content, and also the time window in which the content can be watched. Search engine  118  can parse the notification to determine the entity, entitlements, and distribution area. For example, search engine  118  may determine that media program X belongs to series_A, can only be watched by a live television subscription user (e.g., entitlements=#16), and within a location of Santa Monica area (distribution area=DA2). In other embodiments, live programming engine  106  may provide the relevant information for the entity, entitlements, and distribution area from an electronic programming guide. This information may be included in the metadata for the media program. For example, the distribution area may be associated with the channel in which the media program is being played, and the entitlements may be associated with the service in which the media program is being played. The entity may be determined based upon which series is associated with the media program. 
     From the parsing, at  604 , search engine  118  determines an entity for the media program. The entity may be the media program that is going to start airing on the live television service. At  606 , search engine  118  then determines an availability pair for the media program. Search engine  118  may form the availability pair by combining the entitlements and location information for the media program. In this case, the entity may be “entity: series_A” and the availability pair may be “availability pair: 16_DA2”. 
     At  608 , search engine  118  searches the index in online storage  114  using the entity and the availability pair as terms in a query to determine associated profile lists. For example, a search for the entity series_A and a search for the availability pair 16_DA2 are performed in the index shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , at  502 - 1 , search engine  118  retrieves profiles #1, #2, and #3 because the entity in the query is series_A. Also, at  502 - 8 , search engine  118  retrieves profile #2 because this profile is associated with availability pair 16_DA2. 
     At  610 , search engine  118  may analyze the profile lists to merge the profiles for the queries. For example, search engine  118  may perform an Boolean logic AND operation on the list. This means that only profiles that are included on both lists are eligible. That is, search engine  118  determines the profiles that have an interest in the series and also are entitled to watch the series and are in a location available to watch the series. In this example, profile #2 is the only profile that is interested in the series and available to watch the series. 
     Once determining the applicable profiles, at  612 , search engine  118  generates an action for the media program. For example, search engine  118  may generate an action for cloud DVR system  110  or notification system  120 . In a first action, the action may direct cloud DVR system  110  to record the media program using cloud DVR  108 . The second action may direct notification system  120  to generate a notification and send the notification to the profile. Although actions associated with the cloud DVR and notification systems are described, other actions may also be performed. For example, the action may start playback of the media program or adjust a user interface of the media program to recommend the media program. 
     Maintaining Online Storage  114   
     Search engine  118  has no external dependency on any other system and can be scaled horizontally. That is, multiple instances of search engine  118  may be included in video delivery system  102 . The reliance on other services in the backend is eliminated and any delays that could be experienced using those external services are removed. Also, transformation service  112  and search engine  118  are different instances and do not affect the performance of each other. Search engine  118  is an online process that processes real-time events. Transformation service  112  may an offline process that is performed offline. This may require that online storage  114  be updated from the data in offline databases  116 . For example,  FIG. 7  depicts a simplified flowchart  700  for maintaining the index in online storage  114  according to some embodiments. At  702 , transformation service  112  determines if an update to the index is required. For example, transformation service  112  may receive a notification that a user&#39;s interest has changed. If no update needs to be performed, then the process continues to monitor if any updates are needed. However, if an update is required, at  704 , transformation service  112  determines a profile affected by the update. For example, transformation service  112  determines an entity or availability pair affected by the update. For example, either a profile may have an entity added to its interests or a profile may be affected and have its location changed or the entitlements changed. Then, at  706 , transformation service  112  may find the entity or availability pair in the index and update it with the profile, if needed. For example, if the entity or availability pair is not associated with the profile, transformation service  112  updates the entity or availability pair with the profile. The updating of the index can be performed in this way due to the entity or the availability pair being indexed. The entity or availability pairs are not being changed in the index and thus the index does not need to be altered. 
     At some point, the index may be entirely rebuilt. Some reasons for rebuilding the index may be to capture different combinations of the entity or availability pairs. For example, entities or availability pairs may be added to the programming. Transformation service  112  determines whether to rebuild the index. If a rebuild is needed, then transformation service  112  performs the rebuild of the index. For example, the process described in  FIG. 3  is performed again. 
     Accordingly, some embodiments provide more efficient searching for live programming events that occur. The live programming events may occur at serial intervals that cause a large increase in queries. By isolating the queries to online storage  114 , traffic in the backend does not receive spiky traffic from the live programming events. Also, the data is transformed into a format specially designed for live programming events, which provides more efficient storage of data. This allows fewer queries to be performed by search engine  118 . Additionally, the updating of the index is quicker. 
     System 
     Features and aspects as disclosed herein may be implemented in conjunction with a video streaming system  800  in communication with multiple client devices via one or more communication networks as shown in  FIG. 8 . Aspects of the video streaming system  800  are described merely to provide an example of an application for enabling distribution and delivery of content prepared according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that the present technology is not limited to streaming video applications, and may be adapted for other applications and delivery mechanisms. 
     In one embodiment, a media program provider may include a library of media programs. For example, the media programs may be aggregated and provided through a site (e.g., Website), application, or browser. A user can access the media program provider&#39;s site or application and request media programs. The user may be limited to requesting only media programs offered by the media program provider. 
     In system  800 , video data may be obtained from one or more sources for example, from a video source  810 , for use as input to a video content server  802 . The input video data may comprise raw or edited frame-based video data in any suitable digital format, for example, Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG)-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VC-1, H.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC), High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), or other format. In an alternative, a video may be provided in a non-digital format and converted to digital format using a scanner and/or transcoder. The input video data may comprise video clips or programs of various types, for example, television episodes, motion pictures, and other content produced as primary content of interest to consumers. The video data may also include audio or only audio may be used. 
     The video streaming system  800  may include one or more computer servers or modules  802 ,  804 , and/or  807  distributed over one or more computers. Each server  802 ,  804 ,  807  may include, or may be operatively coupled to, one or more data stores  809 , for example databases, indexes, files, or other data structures. A video content server  802  may access a data store (not shown) of various video segments. The video content server  802  may serve the video segments as directed by a user interface controller communicating with a client device. As used herein, a video segment refers to a definite portion of frame-based video data, such as may be used in a streaming video session to view a television episode, motion picture, recorded live performance, or other video content. 
     In some embodiments, a video advertising server  804  may access a data store of relatively short videos (e.g., 10 second, 30 second, or 60 second video advertisements) configured as advertising for a particular advertiser or message. The advertising may be provided for an advertiser in exchange for payment of some kind, or may comprise a promotional message for the system  800 , a public service message, or some other information. The video advertising server  804  may serve the video advertising segments as directed by a user interface controller (not shown). 
     The video streaming system  800  also may include search engine  118 . 
     The video streaming system  800  may further include an integration and streaming component  807  that integrates video content and video advertising into a streaming video segment. For example, streaming component  807  may be a content server or streaming media server. A controller (not shown) may determine the selection or configuration of advertising in the streaming video based on any suitable algorithm or process. The video streaming system  800  may include other modules or units not depicted in  FIG. 8 , for example administrative servers, commerce servers, network infrastructure, advertising selection engines, and so forth. 
     The video streaming system  800  may connect to a data communication network  812 . A data communication network  812  may comprise a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), for example, the Internet, a telephone network, a wireless cellular telecommunications network (WCS)  814 , or some combination of these or similar networks. 
     One or more client devices  820  may be in communication with the video streaming system  800 , via the data communication network  812  and/or other network  814 . Such client devices may include, for example, one or more laptop computers  820 - 1 , desktop computers  820 - 2 , “smart” mobile phones  820 - 3 , tablet devices  820 - 4 , network-enabled televisions  820 - 5 , or combinations thereof, via a router  818  for a LAN, via a base station  817  for a wireless telephony network  814 , or via some other connection. In operation, such client devices  820  may send and receive data or instructions to the system  800 , in response to user input received from user input devices or other input. In response, the system  800  may serve video segments and metadata from the data store  809  responsive to selection of media programs to the client devices  820 . Client devices  820  may output the video content from the streaming video segment in a media player using a display screen, projector, or other video output device, and receive user input for interacting with the video content. 
     Distribution of audio-video data may be implemented from streaming component  807  to remote client devices over computer networks, telecommunications networks, and combinations of such networks, using various methods, for example streaming. In streaming, a content server streams audio-video data continuously to a media player component operating at least partly on the client device, which may play the audio-video data concurrently with receiving the streaming data from the server. Although streaming is discussed, other methods of delivery may be used. The media player component may initiate play of the video data immediately after receiving an initial portion of the data from the content provider. Traditional streaming techniques use a single provider delivering a stream of data to a set of end users. High bandwidths and processing power may be required to deliver a single stream to a large audience, and the required bandwidth of the provider may increase as the number of end users increases. 
     Streaming media can be delivered on-demand or live. Streaming enables immediate playback at any point within the file. End-users may skip through the media file to start playback or change playback to any point in the media file. Hence, the end-user does not need to wait for the file to progressively download. Typically, streaming media is delivered from a few dedicated servers having high bandwidth capabilities via a specialized device that accepts requests for video files, and with information about the format, bandwidth and structure of those files, delivers just the amount of data necessary to play the video, at the rate needed to play it. Streaming media servers may also account for the transmission bandwidth and capabilities of the media player on the destination client. Streaming component  807  may communicate with client device  820  using control messages and data messages to adjust to changing network conditions as the video is played. These control messages can include commands for enabling control functions such as fast forward, fast reverse, pausing, or seeking to a particular part of the file at the client. 
     Since streaming component  807  transmits video data only as needed and at the rate that is needed, precise control over the number of streams served can be maintained. The viewer will not be able to view high data rate videos over a lower data rate transmission medium. However, streaming media servers (1) provide users random access to the video file, (2) allow monitoring of who is viewing what video programs and how long they are watched, (3) use transmission bandwidth more efficiently, since only the amount of data required to support the viewing experience is transmitted, and (4) the video file is not stored in the viewer&#39;s computer, but discarded by the media player, thus allowing more control over the content. 
     Streaming component  807  may use TCP-based protocols, such as HTTP and Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP). Streaming component  807  can also deliver live webcasts and can multicast, which allows more than one client to tune into a single stream, thus saving bandwidth. Streaming media players may not rely on buffering the whole video to provide random access to any point in the media program. Instead, this is accomplished through the use of control messages transmitted from the media player to the streaming media server. Another protocol used for streaming is hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) live streaming (HLS) or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH). The HLS or DASH protocol delivers video over HTTP via a playlist of small segments that are made available in a variety of bitrates typically from one or more content delivery networks (CDNs). This allows a media player to switch both bitrates and content sources on a segment-by-segment basis. The switching helps compensate for network bandwidth variances and also infrastructure failures that may occur during playback of the video. 
     The delivery of video content by streaming may be accomplished under a variety of models. In one model, the user pays for the viewing of video programs, for example, using a fee for access to the library of media programs or a portion of restricted media programs, or using a pay-per-view service. In another model widely adopted by broadcast television shortly after its inception, sponsors pay for the presentation of the media program in exchange for the right to present advertisements during or adjacent to the presentation of the program. In some models, advertisements are inserted at predetermined times in a video program, which times may be referred to as “ad slots” or “ad breaks.” With streaming video, the media player may be configured so that the client device cannot play the video without also playing predetermined advertisements during the designated ad slots. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a diagrammatic view of an apparatus  900  for viewing video content and advertisements is illustrated. In selected embodiments, the apparatus  900  may include a processor (CPU)  902  operatively coupled to a processor memory  904 , which holds binary-coded functional modules for execution by the processor  902 . Such functional modules may include an operating system  906  for handling system functions such as input/output and memory access, a browser  908  to display web pages, and media player  910  for playing video. The modules may further include user interface  122 . The memory  904  may hold additional modules not shown in  FIG. 9 , for example modules for performing other operations described elsewhere herein. 
     A bus  914  or other communication component may support communication of information within the apparatus  900 . The processor  902  may be a specialized or dedicated microprocessor configured to perform particular tasks in accordance with the features and aspects disclosed herein by executing machine-readable software code defining the particular tasks. Processor memory  904  (e.g., random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device) may be connected to the bus  914  or directly to the processor  902 , and store information and instructions to be executed by a processor  902 . The memory  904  may also store temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of such instructions. 
     A computer-readable medium (CRM) in a storage device  924  may be connected to the bus  914  and store static information and instructions for the processor  902 ; for example, the storage device (CRM)  924  may store the modules  906 ,  908 , and  910  when the apparatus  900  is powered off, from which the modules may be loaded into the processor memory  904  when the apparatus  900  is powered up. The storage device  924  may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium holding information, instructions, or some combination thereof, for example instructions that when executed by the processor  902 , cause the apparatus  900  to be configured to perform one or more operations of a method as described herein. 
     A communication interface  916  may also be connected to the bus  914 . The communication interface  916  may provide or support two-way data communication between the apparatus  900  and one or more external devices, e.g., the streaming system  800 , optionally via a router/modem  926  and a wired or wireless connection. In the alternative, or in addition, the apparatus  900  may include a transceiver  918  connected to an antenna  929 , through which the apparatus  900  may communicate wirelessly with a base station for a wireless communication system or with the router/modem  926 . In the alternative, the apparatus  900  may communicate with a video streaming system  800  via a local area network, virtual private network, or other network. In another alternative, the apparatus  900  may be incorporated as a module or component of the system  800  and communicate with other components via the bus  914  or by some other modality. 
     The apparatus  900  may be connected (e.g., via the bus  914  and graphics processing unit  920 ) to a display unit  928 . A display  928  may include any suitable configuration for displaying information to an operator of the apparatus  900 . For example, a display  928  may include or utilize a liquid crystal display (LCD), touchscreen LCD (e.g., capacitive display), light emitting diode (LED) display, projector, or other display device to present information to a user of the apparatus  900  in a visual display. 
     One or more input devices  930  (e.g., an alphanumeric keyboard, microphone, keypad, remote controller, game controller, camera or camera array) may be connected to the bus  914  via a user input port  922  to communicate information and commands to the apparatus  900 . In selected embodiments, an input device  930  may provide or support control over the positioning of a cursor. Such a cursor control device, also called a pointing device, may be configured as a mouse, a trackball, a track pad, touch screen, cursor direction keys or other device for receiving or tracking physical movement and translating the movement into electrical signals indicating cursor movement. The cursor control device may be incorporated into the display unit  928 , for example using a touch sensitive screen. A cursor control device may communicate direction information and command selections to the processor  902  and control cursor movement on the display  928 . A cursor control device may have two or more degrees of freedom, for example allowing the device to specify cursor positions in a plane or three-dimensional space. 
     Particular embodiments may be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, system, or machine. The computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method described by particular embodiments. The computer system may include one or more computing devices. The instructions, when executed by one or more computer processors, may be configured to perform that which is described in particular embodiments. 
     As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     The above description illustrates various embodiments along with examples of how aspects of particular embodiments may be implemented. The above examples and embodiments should not be deemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of particular embodiments as defined by the following claims. Based on the above disclosure and the following claims, other arrangements, embodiments, implementations and equivalents may be employed without departing from the scope hereof as defined by the claims.