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Manual Player Control

This guide walks you through the complete process of inserting ads into linear TV channels and FAST streams using the Flower SDK. Ad integration follows these steps:

  1. Declare the Ad UI: Place FlowerAdView on the screen to display the ad.
  2. Implement Ad Event Reception: Implement FlowerAdsManagerListener to handle logic at ad playback and completion points.
  3. Pass the Player: Implement MediaPlayerHook to pass player information so the SDK can recognize content playback status.
  4. Configure Additional Parameters (extraParams): Set up additional information required for ad targeting.
  5. Change Linear Channel URL (changeChannelUrl): Change the stream URL by passing information such as ad tag URL and channel ID.
  6. Update Parameters During Playback: Update targeting information through changeChannelExtraParams() during stream playback.

Step-by-Step Details

1. Declare the Ad UI

Please refer to the Ad Insertion menu > Declare the Ad UI section for ad UI declaration.

2. Receiving Ad Events – FlowerAdsManagerListener

When inserting ads into linear channels, ads that replace the main stream are played through ad markers (e.g., SCTE-35). UI control and other logic may be needed at ad playback start/end points. For this purpose, the Flower SDK provides a listener object for receiving ad events, which can be implemented as follows.

const adsManagerListener = {
onPrepare(adDurationMs) {
// TODO GUIDE: need nothing for linear tv
},

onPlay() {
// OPTIONAL GUIDE: enable additional actions for ad playback
hidePlayerControls();
},

onCompleted() {
// OPTIONAL GUIDE: disable additional actions after ad complete
showPlayerControls();
},

onError(error) {
// TODO GUIDE: restart to play Linear TV on ad error
releasePlayer();
playLinearTv();
},

onAdSkipped(reason) {
console.log(`onAdSkipped: ${reason}`);
}
};
flowerAdView.adsManager.addListener(adsManagerListener);

3. Passing the Player – MediaPlayerHook

For linear channels, you must pass the player that plays the main content to the SDK.

Supported Players

  • HLS.js
  • Video.js
  • Bitmovin Player

These players pass the current player to the SDK by implementing the MediaPlayerHook interface.

When Using Unsupported Players

If you are using an unsupported player, please contact Helpdesk.

4. Additional Parameters for Ad Requests – extraParams

When requesting ads using the Flower SDK, passing additional parameters helps the SDK provide the most suitable ads. For web apps, since the SDK cannot determine the ad serving context on its own, these parameters must be passed to the SDK when requesting ads.

Parameter List

Key
(* indicates required for web apps)
ValueExample
serviceId*App package name"tv.anypoint.service"
os*OS of the device running the app"Web"
adId*Ad identifier of the device running the appWeb: User identifier or session ID

5. Linear Channel Ad API Call – changeChannelUrl(...)

FlowerAdsManager.changeChannelUrl()

Function used to change the stream URL for live broadcasts. The following describes the parameters:

ParameterTypeDescription
videoUrlstringOriginal playback URL
adTagUrlstringAd tag URL issued by the ad server
channelIdstringUnique channel ID
Must be registered in the Flower backend system
extraParamsmapAdditional pre-agreed information for targeting (null if none)
mediaPlayerHookMediaPlayerHookInterface implementation object that returns the video player
adTagHeadersmap(Optional) HTTP header information to add when requesting ads
channelStreamHeadersmap(Optional) HTTP header information to add when requesting the original stream
prerollAdTagUrlstring(Optional) Ad tag URL issued by the ad server for pre-roll

FlowerAdsManager.changeChannelExtraParams()

Function used to change extraParams, the additional targeting information, during live broadcasts. The following describes the parameter:

ParameterTypeDescription
extraParamsmapAdditional pre-agreed information for targeting

FlowerAdsManager.stop()

API used to stop live broadcasts. No parameters.

Linear Channel Ad Request Example

HLS.js

function playLinearTv() {
const player = new Hls();
const videoElement = document.querySelector('video');
player.attachMedia(videoElement);

// TODO GUIDE: Create MediaPlayerHook
const mediaPlayerHook = {
getPlayer() {
return player;
}
};

// TODO GUIDE: change original LinearTV stream url by adView.adsManager.changeChannelUrl
// arg0: videoUrl, original LinearTV stream url
// arg1: adTagUrl, url from flower system
// You must file a request to Anypoint Media to receive a adTagUrl.
// arg2: channelId, unique channel id in your service
// arg3: extraParams, values you can provide for targeting
// arg4: mediaPlayerHook, interface that provides currently playing segment information for ad tracking
// arg5: adTagHeaders, (Optional) values included in headers for ad request
// arg6: channelStreamHeaders, (Optional) values included in headers for channel stream request
// arg7: prerollAdTagUrl, (Optional) ad tag URL for pre-roll ads
const changedChannelUrl = flowerAdView.adsManager.changeChannelUrl(
'https://XXX',
'https://ad_request',
'100',
{ 'custom-param': 'custom-param-value' },
mediaPlayerHook,
{ 'custom-ad-header': 'custom-ad-header-value' },
{ 'custom-stream-header': 'custom-stream-header-value' },
'https://ad_request?target=preroll'
);

player.loadSource(changedChannelUrl);
player.on(Hls.Events.MANIFEST_PARSED, function() {
videoElement.play();
});
}

// TODO GUIDE: change extraParams during stream playback
function onStreamProgramChanged(targetingInfo) {
flowerAdView.adsManager.changeChannelExtraParams({ myTargetingKey: targetingInfo });
}

Using MediaPlayerAdapter

If you are using a player that is not officially supported by the SDK, you can implement the MediaPlayerAdapter interface to directly control the player.

Instead of using changeChannelUrl() with MediaPlayerHook, you use the enterChannel() API with a MediaPlayerAdapter implementation.

FlowerAdsManager.enterChannel(...)

ParameterTypeDescription
adTagUrlstringAd tag URL issued by the ad server
channelIdstringUnique channel ID
Must be registered in the Flower backend system
extraParamsmapAdditional pre-agreed information for targeting (null if none)
mediaPlayerHookMediaPlayerHookInterface implementation object that returns the video player
adTagHeadersmap(Optional) HTTP header information to add when requesting ads
mediaPlayerAdapterMediaPlayerAdapterMediaPlayerAdapter interface implementation object

MediaPlayerAdapter Interface

The MediaPlayerAdapter interface requires the following methods:

MethodReturn TypeDescription
getCurrentMedia()MediaReturns the currently playing media (urlOrId, duration, position)
getVolume()numberReturns the audio volume level (0.0–1.0)
isPlaying()booleanReturns whether the player is currently playing
getHeight()numberReturns the video height in pixels (0 if unknown)
pause()voidPauses the playback
stop()voidStops the playback and releases resources
resume()voidResumes the playback
enqueuePlayItem(playItem)voidQueues a new play item
removePlayItem(playItem)voidRemoves a queued play item
playNextItem()voidSeeks to the next media item in the queue
seekToPosition(...)voidSeeks to the specified position
getCurrentAbsoluteTime(isPrintDetails)number | nullReturns the current absolute playback time in ms
getPlayerType()string | nullReturns the player type identifier (for Google PAL SDK)
getPlayerVersion()string | nullReturns the player version string (for Google PAL SDK)

Example

class MyPlayerAdapter {
constructor(player) {
this.player = player;
}

getCurrentMedia() {
return new Media(
this.player.currentSource || '',
Math.round(this.player.duration * 1000),
Math.round(this.player.currentTime * 1000)
);
}

getVolume() {
return this.player.volume;
}

isPlaying() {
return !this.player.paused;
}

getHeight() {
return this.player.videoHeight || 0;
}

pause() {
this.player.pause();
}

stop() {
this.player.pause();
this.player.currentTime = 0;
}

resume() {
this.player.play();
}

enqueuePlayItem(playItem) {
this.player.enqueue(playItem.url);
}

removePlayItem(playItem) {
this.player.removeFromQueue(playItem.url);
}

playNextItem() {
this.player.skipToNext();
}

seekToPosition(absoluteStartTimeMs, relativeStartTimeMs, offsetMs, windowDurationMs, periodIndex) {
if (offsetMs != null) {
this.player.currentTime = offsetMs / 1000;
}
}

getCurrentAbsoluteTime(isPrintDetails) {
return this.player.currentTime * 1000;
}

getPlayerType() {
return 'CustomPlayer';
}

getPlayerVersion() {
return '1.0.0';
}
}

// Usage
const adapter = new MyPlayerAdapter(myCustomPlayer);
const mediaPlayerHook = {
getPlayer() {
return myCustomPlayer;
}
};

flowerAdView.adsManager.enterChannel(
'https://ad_request',
'100',
{ 'custom-param': 'custom-param-value' },
mediaPlayerHook,
{ 'custom-ad-header': 'custom-ad-header-value' },
adapter
);