Timeline 1 - View to end of content

VOD, pre-roll ads, pausing, buffering, viewing content to the end

The following diagrams illustrate the playhead timeline and the corresonding timeline of a user’s actions. The details for each action and its accompanying requests are presented below.

Action details

Action 1 - Start session

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Auto-play or Play button pressed, video starts loading.	0	0	`/api/v1/sessions`

Implementation Detail

This call signals the user’s intention to play a video.

It returns a Session ID ( {sid}) to the client that is used to identify all subsequent tracking calls within the session. The player state is not yet “playing”, but is instead “starting”.

Mandatory session parameters must be included in the params map in the request body.

On the backend, this call generates an Adobe Analytics initiate call.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0, ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:sessionStart, params: {
        "media.playerName": "sample-html5-api-player",
        "analytics.trackingServer": "[ _YOUR_TS_ ]",
        "analytics.reportSuite": "[ _YOUR_RSID_ ]",
        "analytics.visitorId": "[ _YOUR_VISITOR_ID_ ]",
        "media.contentType": "VOD",
        "media.length": 60.3333333333333,
        "media.id": "VA API Sample Player",
        "visitor.marketingCloudOrgId": "[YOUR_MCID]",
        "media.name": "ClickMe",
        "media.channel": "sample-channel",
        "media.sdkVersion": "va-api-0.0.0",
        "analytics.enableSSL": false
    }
}

Action 2 - Ping timer start

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App starts ping event timer	0	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Details

Start your app’s ping timer. First ping event should then fire 1 second in if there are pre-roll ads, 10 seconds in otherwise.

Action 3 - Ad break start

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track pre-roll ad break start	0	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ads can only be tracked within an ad break.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adBreakStart, params: {
        "media.ad.podFriendlyName": "ad_pod1",
        "media.ad.podIndex": 0,
        "media.ad.podSecond": 0
    }
}

Action 4 - Ad start

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track pre-roll Ad #1 start	0	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Start tracking the first pre-roll ad, which is 15 seconds long. Including custom metadata with this adStart .

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: &lt;timestamp&gt;
    },
    eventType:adStart,
    params: {
        "media.ad.podFriendlyName": "ad_pod1",
        "media.ad.name": "Ad 1",
        "media.ad.id": "001",
        "media.ad.length": 15,
        "media.ad.podPosition": 1,
        "media.ad.playerName": "Sample Player",
        "media.ad.advertiser": "Ad Guys",
        "media.ad.campaignId": "1",
        "media.ad.creativeId": "42",
        "media.ad.siteId": "XYZ",
        "media.ad.creativeURL": "https://xyz_creative.com",
        "media.ad.placementId": "sample_placement"
    },
    customMetadata: {
        "myCustomData1": "CustomData1",
        "myCustomData2": "CustomData2"
    }
}

Action 5 - Ad pings

Action 5.1 - Ad ping 1

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	1	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 1 second while inside an ad.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:ping
}

Action 5.2 - Ad ping 2

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	2	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 1 second while inside an ad.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:ping
}

Action 5.3 - Ad ping 3

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	3	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 1 second while inside an ad.

NOTE

Subsequent ads in the timeline will skip showing the series of one-second pings
in the interest of brevity…

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:ping
}

Action 6 - Ad complete

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track pre-roll Ad #1 complete	15	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Track the end of the first pre-roll ad.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adComplete
}

Action 7 - Ad start

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track pre-roll Ad #2 start	15	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Track the start of the second pre-roll ad, which is 7 seconds long.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adStart, params: {
        "media.ad.podFriendlyName": "ad_pod1",
        "media.ad.name": "Ad 2",
        "media.ad.id": "002",
        "media.ad.length": 7,
        "media.ad.podPosition": 1,
        "media.ad.playerName": "Sample Player",
        "media.ad.advertiser": "Ad Guys",
        "media.ad.campaignId": "2",
        "media.ad.creativeId": "44",
        "media.ad.siteId": "XYZ",
        "media.ad.creativeURL": "https://xyz_creative.com",
        "media.ad.placementId": "sample_placement2"
    },
}

Action 8 - Ad pings

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	20	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 1 second.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:ping
}

Action 9 - Ad complete

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track pre-roll Ad #2 complete	22	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Track the end of the second pre-roll ad.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adComplete
}

Action 10 - Ad break complete

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track pre-roll ad break complete	22	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

The ad break is over. Throughout the ad break, the play state has remained “playing”.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adBreakComplete
}

Action 11 - Play content

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track play event	22	0	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

After the adBreakComplete event, put the player is in the “playing” state using the play event.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 0,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:play
}

Action 12 - Ping

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	30	8	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 10 seconds.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 8,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:ping
}

Action 13 - Buffer start

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Buffer start event occurred	33	11	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Track the player’s move to the “buffering” state.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 11,
        ts: <timestamp>
    }, eventType:bufferStart
}

Action 14 - Buffer end

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Buffering ended, the app tracks resumption of content	36	11	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Buffering ends after 3 seconds, so put the player back to the “playing” state. You must send another track play event coming out of buffering. The play call after a bufferStart infers a “bufferEnd” call to the back end, so there is no need for a bufferEnd event.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 11,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:play
}

Action 15 - Ping

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	40	15	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 10 seconds.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 15,
        ts: <timestamp>
    }, eventType:ping
}

Action 16 - Ad break start

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track mid-roll ad break start	46	21	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Mid-roll ad of 8 seconds duration: send adBreakStart .

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 21,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adBreakStart,
    params: {
        "media.ad.podFriendlyName": "ad_pod2",
        "media.ad.podIndex": 1,
        "media.ad.podSecond": 21
    }
}

Action 17 - Ad start

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track mid-roll Ad #3 start	46	21	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Track the mid-roll ad.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 21,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adStart, params: {
        "media.ad.podFriendlyName": "ad_pod2",
        "media.ad.name": "Ad 3",
        "media.ad.id": "003",
        "media.ad.length": 8,
        "media.ad.podPosition": 2,
        "media.ad.playerName": "Sample Player",
        "media.ad.advertiser": "Ad Guys",
        "media.ad.campaignId": "7",
        "media.ad.creativeId": "40",
        "media.ad.siteId": "XYZ",
        "media.ad.creativeURL": "https://xyz_creative.com",
        "media.ad.placementId": "sample_placement2"
    },
}

Action 18 - Ad ping

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	50	21	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 10 seconds.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 21,
        ts: <timestamp>
    }, eventType:ping
}

Action 19 - Ad complete

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track mid-roll Ad #1 complete	54	21	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

The mid-roll ad is complete.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 21,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adComplete
}

Action 20 - Ad break complete

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
Track mid-roll ad break complete	54	21	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

The ad break is complete.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 21,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:adBreakComplete
}

Action 21 - Ping

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	60	27	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 10 seconds.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 27,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:ping
}

Action 22 - Pause

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
User pressed Pause	64	31	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

The user’s action moves the play state to “paused”.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 31,
        ts: <timestamp>
    },
    eventType:pauseStart
}

Action 23 - Ping

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	70	31	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 10 seconds. Player is still in the “buffering” state; the user is stuck at 20 seconds of content. Fuming…

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 31,
        ts: <timestamp>
    }, eventType:ping
}

Action 24 - Play

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
User pressed Play to resume main content	74	31	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Move the play state to “playing”. The play call after a pauseStart infers a “resume” call to the back end, so there is no need for a resume event.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 31,
        ts: <timestamp>
    }, eventType:play
}

Action 25 - Ping

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
App sends ping event	80	37	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Ping the backend every 10 seconds.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 37,
        ts: <timestamp>
    }, eventType:ping
}

Action 26 - Session complete

Action	Action Timeline (Seconds)	Playhead position (Seconds)	Client Request
The user finishes watching the content to the end.	88	45	`/api/v1/sessions/{sid}/events`

Implementation Detail

Send sessionComplete to the backend to indicate that the user finished watching the entire content.

Sample request body

{
    playerTime: {
        playhead: 45,
        ts: <timestamp>
    }, eventType:sessionComplete
}

NOTE

No Seek Events? - There is no explicit support in the Media Collection API for seekStart or seekComplete events. This is because certain players generate a very large number of such events when the end-user is scrubbing, and several hundred users could easily bottleneck the network bandwidth of a backend service. Adobe works around explicit support for seek events by computing heartbeat duration based on device timestamp, rather than playhead position.

Resources on adobe.com

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Timeline 1 - View to end of content

VOD, pre-roll ads, pausing, buffering, viewing content to the end

Action details

Action 1 - Start session

Action 2 - Ping timer start

Action 3 - Ad break start

Action 4 - Ad start

Action 5 - Ad pings

Action 5.1 - Ad ping 1

Action 5.2 - Ad ping 2

Action 5.3 - Ad ping 3

Action 6 - Ad complete

Action 7 - Ad start

Action 8 - Ad pings

Action 9 - Ad complete

Action 10 - Ad break complete

Action 11 - Play content

Action 12 - Ping

Action 13 - Buffer start

Action 14 - Buffer end

Action 15 - Ping

Action 16 - Ad break start

Action 17 - Ad start

Action 18 - Ad ping

Action 19 - Ad complete

Action 20 - Ad break complete

Action 21 - Ping

Action 22 - Pause

Action 23 - Ping

Action 24 - Play

Action 25 - Ping

Action 26 - Session complete

Resources on adobe.com

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