Media Edge API implementation examples
This page provides two examples on how you can structure your API calls to successfully collect a media tracking session.
An API call is made for each action that you want to track. Once the media session ends, all API calls are recompiled into events that Adobe Experience Platform can ingest into a dataset. Expect to send many Media Edge API calls that end up as a smaller number of rows within a dataset. On average, approximately 6 API calls are used per event recorded in a dataset.
Some helpful tips to keep in mind regarding these examples:
- The playhead position (the current position indicated in the horizontal timeline of the video) does not advance during buffering, pausing, or an ad break, even though real time has elapsed. Both playhead position and the passing of real time are measured in seconds.
- The events sent are ordered based on the timestamp at which they were sent. If they are sent at the same second, as illustrated in the examples below, they are still sent with different ascending timestamps.
- For media tracking, you must fire ping events every 10 seconds, tracked in real-time, beginning after 10 seconds have elapsed from the session start. This must happen regardless of other API events that you have sent.
- The
timestamp
values in the payload examples below are generic for the year, month, and day, but show specific hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds. This is to show how the values correspond to the progressing events. The session starts with the followingtimestamp
value:YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:00.000Z
.
Prerequisites
Before following these examples, make sure that you have an API environment set up based on the steps outlined on the Getting started overview page, specifically:
- Create a schema (make sure to add the MediaAnalytics Interaction Details field group)
- Create a dataset
- Create a datastream
Example 1: Buffer state and a pause
This example contains the following elements:
- A
buffering
state. - The user pressing
pause
. - The user closing the app without finishing the content to the end.
The following actions and playhead diagrams show the differences in time during a buffer and a pause:
Playhead diagram:
Action diagram:
The following table shows a timeline of actions to be tracked for this example. Each row summarizes the action and the request endpoint. Each action is described in more detail with payloads below the table. The Client Request column shows the final path parameter and other parameters required to include in the call.
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The auto-play function occurs, or the play button is pressed, and the video starts loading | 0 | 0 | /sessionStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
2 | The ping event timer starts | 0 | 0 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
3 | Tracks the buffer start | 1 | 1 | /bufferStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
4 | Tracks the end of the buffer and a play event is sent | 4 | 1 | /play?configId=<datastreamID> |
5 | Sends a ping | 10 | 7 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
6 | User presses pause | 15 | 12 | /pauseStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
7 | Sends a ping | 20 | 12 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
8 | User presses play to resume the main content | 24 | 12 | /play?configId=<datastreamID> |
9 | User closes the app without watching the content to the end | 29 | 17 | /sessionEnd?configId=<datastreamID> |
Each timeline action shown in the previous table is described in detail below. Each description includes the payload that is sent as part of a Media Edge API request.
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The auto-play function occurs, or play button is pressed, and the video starts loading | 0 | 0 | /sessionStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
This call signals the intention of the user to play a video. The player state is not yet playing
, but is instead starting
. This call returns a Session ID which is referenced in the following examples with {SID}
. The {SID}
, is returned to the client and is used to identify all subsequent tracking calls within the session. This call also generates a reporting event that is pushed to AEP and/or Analytics, depending on datastream configuration. Mandatory parameters must be included.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.sessionStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:00.000Z","mediaCollection": {"playhead": 0,"sessionDetails": {"name": "VA API Sample Player","friendlyName": "ClickMe","length": 60,"contentType": "VOD","playerName": "sample-html5-api-player","channel": "sample-channel","appVersion": "va-api-0.0.0"}}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | The ping event timer starts | 0 | 0 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
The application starts the ping timer. A call is not sent for this event, but the first ping call should be fired 10 seconds later.
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Tracks the buffer start | 1 | 1 | /bufferStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
Player enters the buffering
state. Because content is not being played the playhead is not advancing.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.bufferStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:01.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 0}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Tracks the end of the buffer and a play event is sent | 4 | 1 | /play?configId=<datastreamID> |
Player buffering ends after 3 seconds so a play
call is sent to put the player into the playing
state. Sending a play
call after the bufferStart
call has been sent automatically ends the buffering
state.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.play","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:04.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 1}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Sends a ping | 10 | 7 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
A ping call is sent to the backend every 10 seconds.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.ping","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:10.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 7}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 | User presses pause | 15 | 12 | /pauseStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
The user pauses the video. This moves the play state to paused
.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.pauseStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:15.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 12}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Sends a ping | 20 | 12 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
A ping call is sent to the backend every 10 seconds. The player remains in a paused
state.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.ping","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:20.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 12}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 | User presses play to resume the main content | 24 | 12 | /play?configId=<datastreamID> |
The user presses play
. This moves the play state to playing
. There is no need for a separate resume
event.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.play","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:24.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 12}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client Request |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 | User closes the app without watching the content to the end | 29 | 17 | /sessionEnd?configId=<datastreamID> |
The user closes the app. sessionEnd
is sent to the Media Edge API to signal that the session should be closed immediately, with no further processing.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.sessionEnd","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:29Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 17}}
Example 2: Two chapters separated by an ad break
This section provides an example tracking a media session with the Media Edge API service. The example session shown for this use case contains the following elements:
- Two chapters:
Chapter 1
andChapter 2
. - An ad break inserted at the middle of the content that contains two ads:
Ad 1
andAd 2
.
The following action and playhead diagrams show the differences in time during an ad break.
Action diagram:
Playhead diagram:
The following diagram shows a timeline of actions for this example session. Each number (1-18) represents an action and its request endpoint. These numbers also correspond to event descriptions in both the Timeline summary table and the Detailed descriptions section below.
The Client request column in the table below shows the final path parameter and the other parameters required to include in the call.
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning in seconds) | Playhead Position (in seconds) | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The auto-play function occurs, or the Play button is pressed, and the video starts loading. | 0 | 0 | /sessionStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
2 | The ping event timer starts | 0 | 0 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
3 | Tracks the play event | 0 | 0 | /play?configId=<datastreamID> |
4 | Tracks the start of Chapter 1 | 1 | 1 | /chapterStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
5 | Sends a ping | 10 | 10 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
6 | Tracks the completion of Chapter 1 | 15 | 15 | /chapterComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
7 | Tracks the start of ad break | 15 | 15 | /adBreakStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
8 | Tracks the start of Ad 1 in ad break | 15 | 15 | /adStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
9 | Sends a ping twice during Ad 1 , each 10 seconds apart | 20, 30 | 15, 15 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
10 | Tracks completion of Ad 1 | 31 | 15 | /adComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
11 | Tracks the start of Ad 2 in ad break | 31 | 15 | /adStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
12 | Sends ping | 40 | 15 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
13 | Tracks completion of Ad 2 | 43 | 15 | /adComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
14 | Tracks completion of ad break | 43 | 15 | /adBreakComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
15 | Tracks the start of Chapter 2 | 43 | 15 | /chapterStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
16 | Sends ping | 50 | 22 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
17 | Tracks completion of Chapter 2 | 54 | 26 | /chapterComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
18 | Tracks completion of session when user finishes watching the content to the end | 55 | 26 | /sessionComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
Each timeline action shown in the previous table is described in detail below. Each description includes the payload that is sent as part of a Media Edge API request.
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The auto-play function occurs or Play button is pressed and the video starts loading | 0 | 0 | /sessionStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
This call signals the intent of the user to play a video and returns a Session ID {SID} to the client. The {SID} is used to identify all subsequent tracking calls within the session. This call also generates a reporting event that is pushed to either Adobe Experience Platform, or Adobe Analytics, or both, depending on your datastream configuration. This action represents the start of the process but not yet in the playing state. Required parameters must be included, as shown in endpoint reference.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.sessionStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DD`T02:00:00.000Z","mediaCollection": {"playhead": 0,"sessionDetails": {"name": "VA API Sample Player","friendlyName": "ClickMe","length": 54,"contentType": "VOD","playerName": "sample-html5-api-player","channel": "sample-channel","appVersion": "va-api-0.0.0"}}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | The ping event timer starts | 0 | 0 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
The application starts the ping timer. A call is not sent for this event, but the first ping call should be fired 10 seconds later.
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Tracks the play event | 0 | 0 | /play?configId=<datastreamID> |
Tracking enters the playing state using the play
event.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.play","timestamp": "YYYY-0MM-DDT02:00:00.001Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 0}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Tracks the start of Chapter 1 | 1 | 1 | /chapterStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
Tracks the start Chapter 1
.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.chapterStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:01.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 1,"chapterDetails": {"index": 1,"offset": 0,"friendlyName": "Chapter one","length": 15}}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Sends a ping | 10 | 10 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
A ping call is sent to the back-end every 10 seconds.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.ping","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:10.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 10}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 | Tracks the completion of Chapter 1 | 15 | 15 | /chapterComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
Chapter 1
ends directly before the ad break. On the backend, this call also generates a reporting event that is pushed to either Adobe Experience Platform, or Adobe Analytics, or both, depending on the datastream configuration.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.chapterComplete","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:15.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Tracks the start of ad break | 15 | 15 | /adBreakStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
Ad break starts. It will contain two ads.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.adBreakStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:15.001Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15,"advertisingPodDetails": {"index": 0,"offset": 15,"friendlyName": "Mid-roll break"}}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 | Tracks the start of Ad 1 in ad break | 15 | 15 | /adStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
Ad 1
begins to play. On the backend, this call also generates a reporting event that is pushed to either Adobe Experience Platform, or Adobe Analytics, or both, depending on the datastream configuration.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.adStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:15.002Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15,"advertisingDetails": {"name": "001","advertiser": "Ad Guys","campaignID": "1","creativeID": "42","creativeURL": "https://example.com","length": 16,"friendlyName": "Ad 1","placementID": "sample_placement","playerName": "Sample Player","podPosition": 1,"siteID": "XYZ"},"customMetadata": [{"name": "myCustomData1","value": "CustomData1"},{"name": "myCustomData2","value": "CustomData2"}]}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Sends a ping twice during Ad 1 , each 10 seconds apart | 20,30 | 15,15 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
A ping call is sent to the back-end every 10 seconds. In this particular case, two separate events are sent at the timestamps 20 and 30, respectively.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.ping","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:20.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15}}
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.ping","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:30.00Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Tracks completion of Ad 1 | 31 | 15 | /adComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
The completion of Ad 1
is tracked. On the backend, this call also generates a reporting event that is pushed to either Adobe Experience Platform, or Adobe Analytics, or both, depending on the datastream configuration.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.adComplete","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:31.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 | Tracks the start of Ad 2 in ad break | 31 | 15 | /adStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
Ad 2
begins to play. On the backend, this call also generates a reporting event that is pushed to either Adobe Experience Platform, or Adobe Analytics, or both, depending on the datastream configuration.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.adStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:31.001Z","mediaCollection": {"playhead": 0,"sessionID": "{SID}","advertisingDetails": {"name": "002","advertiser": "Ad Guys","campaignID": "2","creativeID": "44","creativeURL": "https://example.com","length": 12,"friendlyName": "Ad 2","placementID": "sample_placement2","playerName": "Sample Player","podPosition": 1,"siteID": "XYZ"}}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Sends ping | 40 | 15 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
A ping call is sent to the backend every 10 seconds. In this scenario, at timelines 20 and 30 seconds.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.ping","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:40.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
13 | Tracks completion of Ad 2 | 43 | 15 | /adComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
The completion of Ad 2
is tracked. On the backend, this call also generates a reporting event that is pushed to either Adobe Experience Platform, or Adobe Analytics, or both, depending on the datastream configuration.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.adComplete","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:43.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 | Tracks completion of ad break | 43 | 43 | /adBreakComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
The completion of the ad break is tracked.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.adBreakComplete","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:43.001Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Tracks the start of Chapter 2 | 43 | 15 | /chapterStart?configId=<datastreamID> |
The start of Chapter 2
is tracked directly after the completion of the ad break.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.chapterStart","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:43.002Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 15,"chapterDetails": {"index": 2,"offset": 43,"friendlyName": "Chapter two","length": 11}}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 | Sends ping | 50 | 22 | /ping?configId=<datastreamID> |
A ping call is sent to the backend every 10 seconds.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.ping","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:50.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 22}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
17 | Tracks completion of Chapter 2 | 54 | 26 | /chapterComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
The completion of Chapter 2
is tracked.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.chapterComplete","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:54.000Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 26}}
Number | Action | Elapsed Real-Time (from beginning) | Playhead Position | Client request |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Tracks completion of session when user finishes watching the content to the end | 54 | 26 | /sessionComplete?configId=<datastreamID> |
sessionComplete
is sent to the backend to indicate that the user finished watching the entire content. On the backend, this call also generates a reporting event that is pushed to either Adobe Experience Platform, or Adobe Analytics, or both, depending on the datastream configuration.
Copied to your clipboard{"eventType": "media.sessionComplete","timestamp": "YYYY-MM-DDT02:00:54.001Z","mediaCollection": {"sessionID": "{SID}","playhead": 26}}
See Media Edge API overview for a full list of endpoints that you can use to build a media tracking session.