Distributed playback session customization file management

Abstract

A method, device and/or system for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on media players. The customization files are referenced by links distributed to the media players. Each customization file references a plurality of content objects that are stitched together to create the playback experience. A delivery network is used to distribute the customization files to the media players. Updates to the customization files can be done after distribution of their corresponding links. Usage information for the customization files are reported from the media players.

1 . A method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on a media player, comprising:
 producing a link to a customization file, wherein the link is resolvable across the Internet to the customization file, and the link is configured for embedding in a third-party web accessible location;   receiving information originating from a designer of the playback experience, wherein the information is received after the link is produced and distributed;   modifying the customization file according to the information, wherein the customization file defines a plurality of content files for stitching together at the media player to create the playback experience;   receiving usage information from a plurality of media players for a plurality of customization files, wherein the plurality of customization files includes the customization file;   determining a time to live of the customization file as a function of the usage information;   sending the customization file to a delivery network, wherein
 the sending the customization file results in loading of the customization file on a server of the delivery network; 
   indicating to the delivery network the determined time-to-live after which requests for the customization file should be fulfilled by requesting the customization file from an origin server;   periodically determining a customization file subset of the plurality of customization files, which have changed since the plurality of customization files have previously been send to the plurality of POPs; and   sending the customization file subset to the server.   
     
     
         2 . A method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on a media player, comprising:
 producing a link to a customization file, wherein the link is resolvable across the Internet to the customization file;   receiving information originating from a designer of the playback experience, wherein the information is received after the link is produced and distributed;   modifying the customization file according to the information, wherein the customization file defines a plurality of content files for stitching together at the media player to create the playback experience;   receiving usage information from a plurality of media players;   determining, based on the usage information, a time to live of the customization file; and   indicating to the delivery network the determined time-to-live after which requests for the customization file should be fulfilled by requesting the customization file from an origin server.   
     
     
         3 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the customization file specifies a look of a video player and/or an operation of the video player. 
     
     
         4 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the usage information characterizes usage of a second customization file, the second customization file being different than the customization file. 
     
     
         5 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the second customization files defines a second plurality of content files for stitching together and each of the plurality of content files and the second plurality of content files include a file in a same content grouping. 
     
     
         6 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the second customization files defines a second plurality of content files for stitching together and each of the plurality of content files and the second plurality of content files include a file in a same language. 
     
     
         7 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the usage information is received before the link to the customization file is produced. 
     
     
         8 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the second customization files and the customization file belong to a same content grouping. 
     
     
         9 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising sending the customization file to the delivery network, wherein the sending the customization file loads the customization file on a server of the delivery network. 
     
     
         10 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising sending the customization file to the delivery network, wherein the sending the customization file results in loading the customization file on a server of the delivery network. 
     
     
         11 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining that the customization file has changed since the customization file was previously loaded on the servers; and   sending the customization file to the server.   
     
     
         12 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the delivery network includes a plurality of geographically distributed points of presence (POPs). 
     
     
         13 . The method for syndicating customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising distributing the link for embedding in a third-party web site. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine-executable instructions configured to perform the machine-implementable method for syndicating customization files of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         15 . A machine adapted to perform the machine-implementable method for syndicating customization files of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         16 . A media syndication engine for processing customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on a media player, the media syndication engine comprising:
 a plurality of customization files each resolvable with a link from across the Internet, wherein:
 the plurality of customization files includes a customization file, and 
 the customization file defines a plurality of content files for stitching together at the media player to create the playback experience; 
   a distribution network interface, wherein:
 the customization file is sent to a delivery network with the distribution network interface, 
 the delivery network has a server capable of delivering the customization file upon the customization file being requested with the link by the media player, and 
 the sending the customization file loads the customization file on the server; 
   a usage profile for the customization file that records usage of the customization file collected from one or more media players, wherein a time to live determined based on usage is identified to the delivery network, the time to live indicating a time after which requests for the customization file are to be fulfilled by requesting the customization file from an origin server; and   a designer interface for receiving information originating from a designer of the playback experience, wherein:
 the information is received after the link is produced and distributed, and 
 the customization file is modified according to the information. 
   
     
     
         17 . The media syndication engine for processing customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the customization file specifies a look of a video player and/or an operation of the video player. 
     
     
         18 . The media syndication engine for processing customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the usage profiles characterizes usage of a second customization file, the second customization file being different than the customization file. 
     
     
         19 . The media syndication engine for processing customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the time to live determined based on usage is identified to the delivery network by the distribution network interface passing the-to-live for the customization file. 
     
     
         20 . The media syndication engine for processing customization files, which define playback experience for content rendered on the media player as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the time to live determined based on usage is identified to the delivery network by the media syndication engine varying a previously identified time to live for the customization file.