Managing Media Playback

A computer-implemented method for managing playback of a stream of streaming media, the method comprising:

• storing a media stream at a server for subsequent playback, the media stream comprising requested media content;
• storing in association with the media stream, an indication of a plurality of ad insertion slots, each ad insertion slot including a start time and stop time, the start time indicating a point in a timeline of the media stream for beginning playback of an ad pod and the stop time indicating a point in the timeline of the media stream for ending playback of the ad pod;
• receiving a request to stream the stored media stream;
• upon receiving the request to stream the stored media stream, transmitting the stored media stream to a media player of a client device;
• upon a playback position of the media stream encountering a start time of an ad insertion slot, determining an ad pod to play during the ad insertion slot, the ad pod comprising one or more individual ads, and a duration of the ad pod corresponding to a duration between the start time and an end time of the ad insertion slot;
• transmitting the determined ad pod to the client device for playback;
• and
• upon completion of the playback of the determined ad pod, resuming transmission of the media stream to the client device.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform steps including:

• transmitting by a client device, a request to stream the stored media stream from a server, the media stream comprising requested media content, and the media stream stored in association with an indication of a plurality of ad insertion slots, each ad insertion slot including a start time and stop time, the start time indicating a point in a timeline of the media stream for beginning playback of an ad pod and the stop time indicating a point in the timeline of the media stream for ending playback of the ad pod;
• in response to transmitting the request to stream the stored media stream, receiving from the server the stored media stream at a media player of the client device;
• upon a playback position of the media stream encountering a start time of an ad insertion slot, requesting an ad pod to play during the ad insertion slot, the ad pod comprising one or more individual ads, and a duration of the ad pod corresponding to a duration between the start time and an end time of the ad insertion slot;
• receiving the requested ad pod at the client device for playback;
• and
• upon completion of the playback of the determined ad pod, resuming reception of the media stream at the client device.