Generic Substitution Parameters in DASH

An apparatus for preparing media content in a Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (DASH), comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform the following:
• generate a parameter that comprises one or more attributes;
• and
• encode the parameter within a media presentation description (MPD),
• wherein the one or more attributes specifies the parameter's name, a value for the parameter, and a format for the value,
• wherein the parameter supports setting the value after generating the MPD, and
• wherein the MPD describes media content information in DASH.

A method for adaptive streaming of a media content in a Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (DASH), the method comprising:

• receiving a media presentation description (MPD) that provides presentation information for the media content;
• determining one or more generic parameters within the MPD;
• and
• substituting one or more values for the generic parameters obtained from the MPD,
• wherein the generic parameters reference at least one of the following:
• one or more attributes within the MPD, one or more remote elements not available during MPD generation, and one or more streaming client applications.