Playlist events for combining multiple media timelines and content-insertion in dash streaming

A system comprising:

• memory configured to store computer program code;
• and
• at least one processor configured to receive, from a server, a moving pictures experts group (MPEG) dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (DASH) media presentation description (MPD) that indicates a main media timeline for playing media content;
• receive, from the server, an MPD playlist event of the MPD or of another MPD, the MPD playlist event carrying a playlist element and is directly signaled by a single Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) in an event stream element of the MPD or of the another MPD;
• access the computer program code;
• and operate as instructed by the computer program code, the computer program code comprising:
• manipulating code configured to cause the at least one processor to manipulate the main media timeline based on the playlist element of the MPD playlist event of the MPD or of the another MPD, and
• displaying code configured to cause, based on a result of the manipulating code, the at least one processor to play at least one alternative media content in place of at least a portion of the media content, wherein
• the playlist element carries a plurality of play items, each of the plurality of play items identifies a location of an alternative MPD, corresponding to alternative media content from among the at least one alternative media content, and at least one timing characteristic for playing the alternative media content.

A system comprising:

• memory configured to store computer program code;
• and
• at least one processor configured to access the computer program code and operate as instructed by the computer program code, the computer program code comprising:
• providing code configured to cause the at least one processor to provide, to a client, a moving pictures experts group (MPEG) dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (DASH) media presentation description (MPD) that indicates a main media timeline for playing media content;
• obtaining code configured to cause the at least one processor to obtain an MPD playlist event of the MPD or of another MPD, the MPD playlist event carrying a playlist element and obtained based on the MPD playlist event being directly signaled by a single Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) in an event stream element of the MPD or of the another MPD;
• and
• updating code configured to cause the at least one processor to update the MPD based on a play item, from among a plurality of play items of the MPD playlist event, or sending code configured to cause the at least one processor to send the MPD playlist event to the client for manipulating the main media timeline to play at least one alternative media content in place of at least a portion of the media content, wherein
• the playlist element carries the plurality of play items, each of the plurality of play items identifies a location of an alternative MPD, corresponding to alternative media content from among the at least one alternative media content, and at least one timing characteristic for playing the alternative media content.