Producing video data

A method of incorporating one or more additional video objects into source video data to produce output video data, the method comprising:

• retrieving source video data, the source video data comprising:
• frames of video material;
• and
• data defining a segment size used by a distributor, into which video data is divided when transmitted by the distributor;
• analyzing the source video data to identify selected frames of video material which include one or more insertion zones, wherein the insertion zones correspond to one or more regions within the selected frames of video material which are suitable for receiving an additional video object;
• identifying at least one boundary point of the source video data, based on the data defining the segment size into which video data is divided prior to distribution, and based on the selected frames;
• embedding the one or more additional video objects into the selected frames;
• creating output video data comprising:
• the selected frames into which the one or more additional video objects are embedded;
• and
• one or more additional frames of video material, which are located between the selected frames and the at least one boundary point, and wherein the selected frames have a predetermined proximity relationship with the at least one boundary point;
• generating metadata including information on the source video data to be replaced by the created output video data;
• transmitting the output video data and the metadata to the distributor
• encoding a first version of the output video data into a first bitrate;
• and
• encoding more than one additional versions of the output video data into more than one bitrate, different to the first bitrate;
• wherein the at least one boundary point of the source video data comprises an Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) frame;
• wherein the retrieved source video data is divided into segments based on the retrieved data regarding segment size provided by the distributor, the method comprising identifying the segments in which the identified selected frames correspond;
• and
• wherein the metadata includes a tracking pixel, which can be configured to transmit a signal in response to an embed segment being played.

A system for incorporating one or more additional video objects into source video data to produce output video data, comprising:

• a memory configured to store retrieved source video data, the source video data comprising:
• frames of video material;
• and
• data defining a segment size used by a distributor, into which video data is divided when transmitted by the distributor;
• a processor configured to:
• analyze the source video data to identify selected frames of video material which include one or more insertion zones, wherein the insertion zones correspond to one or more regions within the selected frames of video material which are suitable for receiving an additional video object;
• identify at least one boundary point of the source video data, based on the data defining the segment size into which video data is divided prior to distribution, and based on the selected frames;
• embed the one or more additional video objects into the selected frames;
• create output video data which includes the one or more additional video objects and which has a boundary which corresponds with the identified at least one boundary point;
• generate metadata including information on said at least one boundary point of the source video data to be replaced by the created output video data;
• transmit the output video data and the metadata to the distributor
• encode a first version of the output video data into a first bitrate;
• and
• encode more than one additional versions of the output video data into more than one bitrate, different to the first bitrate;
• wherein the at least one boundary point of the source video data comprises an Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) frame;
• wherein the retrieved source video data is divided into segments based on the retrieved data regarding segment size provided by the distributor, the method comprising identifying the segments in which the identified selected frames correspond;
• and
• wherein the metadata includes a tracking pixel, which can be configured to transmit a signal in response to an embed segment being played.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform a method of incorporating one or more one or more additional video objects into source video data to produce output video data, comprising:

• retrieving source video data, the source video data comprising:
• frames of video material;
• and data defining a segment size used by a distributor, into which video data is divided when transmitted by the distributor;
• analyzing the source video data to identify selected frames of video material which include one or more insertion zones, wherein the insertion zones correspond to one or more regions within the selected frames of video material which are suitable for receiving an additional video object;
• identifying at least one boundary point of the source video data, based on the data defining the segment size into which video data is divided prior to distribution, and based on the selected frames;
• embedding the one or more additional video objects into the selected frames;
• creating output video data which includes the one or more additional video objects and which has a boundary which corresponds with the identified at least one boundary point;
• generating metadata including information on said at least one boundary point of the source video data to be replaced by the created output video data;
• transmitting the output video data and the metadata to the distributor;
• encoding a first version of the output video data into a first bitrate;
• and
• encoding more than one additional versions of the output video data into more than one bitrate, different to the first bitrate;
• wherein the at least one boundary point of the source video data comprises an Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) frame;
• wherein the retrieved source video data is divided into segments based on the retrieved data regarding segment size provided by the distributor, the method comprising identifying the segments in which the identified selected frames correspond;
• and
• wherein the metadata includes a tracking pixel, which can be configured to transmit a signal in response to an embed segment being played.