Methods and systems configured to manage video transcoder latencies

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• accessing a first manifest and/or first set of metadata corresponding to video content, the first manifest comprising a playlist of one or more video segments;
• requesting the video segments from one or more content provider systems, wherein the request of streaming video segments from one or more content provider systems is performed at least partly in response to receiving the first manifest and/or first set of metadata;
• receiving video segment streams corresponding to the requested video segments;
• detecting a first marker prior to performing a transcoding operation on at least a first video segment, wherein the first marker configurable to indicate an ancillary content insertion opportunity, and leaving the first marker, configurable to indicate an ancillary content insertion opportunity, unmodified by the transcoding;
• recording a first timestamp associated with the first marker prior to performing a transcoding operation on at least the first video segment;
• transcoding video content comprising the first video segment using the transcoder having an input and an output;
• detecting the first marker output by the transcoder;
• recording a second timestamp associated with the first marker output by the transcoder;
• determining a delta between the first timestamp associated with the first marker and the second timestamp associated with the first marker, the delta corresponding to a transcoder latency;
• based at least on the determined delta between the first timestamp associated with the first marker and the second timestamp associated with the first marker, the delta corresponding to a transcoder latency, determining whether a first corrective action configured to reduce transcoder latency is to be taken;
• and
• at least partly in response to determining that the first corrective action configured to reduce transcoder latency is to be taken, causing the first corrective action to be taken.

Non-transitory computer-readable media including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to at least perform operations comprising:

• request streaming video segments from one or more content provider systems, wherein the request of streaming video segments from one or more content provider systems is performed at least partly in response to receiving a first manifest;
• receive streaming video segment streams corresponding to the requested video segments;
• detect a first marker prior to performing a transcoding operation on at least a first video segment, wherein the first marker is configurable to indicate an ancillary content insertion opportunity, and leave the first marker, configurable to indicate an ancillary content insertion opportunity, unmodified by the transcoding;
• record a first timestamp associated with the first marker prior to performing a transcoding operation on at least the first video segment;
• transcode video content comprising the first video segment using a transcoder having an input and an output;
• detect the first marker output by the transcoder;
• record a second timestamp associated with the first marker output by the transcoder;
• determine a delta between the first timestamp associated with the first marker and the second timestamp associated with the first marker, the delta corresponding to a transcoder latency;
• based at least on the determined delta between the first timestamp associated with the first marker and the second timestamp associated with the first marker, the delta corresponding to a transcoder latency, determine whether a first action is to be taken;
• and
• at least partly in response to determining that the first action is to be taken, cause the first action to be taken.