How to Use Video AI - Ad Detector Tool

Introduction

Ad Detector is a cutting-edge tool seamlessly integrated into the Merlin OTT Suite Panel. It serves as a comprehensive solution for monitoring and analyzing advertisements on linear channels. By creating unique fingerprints of ad content, monitoring linear channels, and enabling customizable scenarios, Ad Detector empowers advertisers to gain valuable insights into their campaigns and those of their competitors.

1. Accessing Video AI

1. Go to app.merlincdn.com and log in.

2. Navigate to the OTT Suite section on the left menu.

3. Click on Video AI to open the platform.

2. Setting Up Ad Detector

a. Creating Ad Fingerprints (Uploading Ad Files)

1. Navigate to Ads: Click on Ads in the left menu.

2. Create New Ad: Click the Create button. 

3. Select Advertiser: Choose the relevant advertiser from the list.

4. Upload Ad: Upload your ad file (supported formats: .mp4, .mov, .avi, .mkv, .webm; max size: 20MB).

5. Add Description: Optionally, provide a description for better classification.

The system will automatically generate unique fingerprints for each ad, enabling accurate tracking across monitored channels.

b. Adding Linear Channels

You can monitor the channels that matter most to you by selecting them from the Channels list on the left menu. To add new linear channels for monitoring, please contact the Merlin Support Team.

For the channels to be actively used, they need to be enabled. If they are not enabled, click on the three-dot icon on the right side of the channel and select Enable.

c. Introducing Advertisers

To keep your advertising efforts organized, you can introduce advertisers to the system. To add new advertisers, please contact the Merlin Support Team. You can add advertisers to your favorite list to navigate more easily during the Ad Creation and Scenario Creation steps. This feature enhances campaign management and competitor analysis.

You can also upload ads directly from the Advertiser's page by filling out the rest of the necessary information.

3. Managing Ads

1. Access Ads Page: This centralized hub allows you to manage all ads across advertisers.

2. Ad Categories:

   • System Ads: Detected by the system and available for all users.

   • User Ads: Uploaded directly by you and visible only to you.

3. Toggle System Ads: Use the switch to enable or disable the visibility of system ads in your scenarios.

• The upload limit is up to 20MB per ad file. A video of 10-20 seconds less than 20MB would be appropriate.

• The system will still be able to detect an uploaded ad on other monitored channels even if the logo or some small text details are different.

4. Creating Scenarios

Scenarios allow you to define automation rules that trigger actions based on ad detections across channels.

1. Navigate to Scenarios: Click on Scenarios in the left menu.

2. Create New Scenario:

   • Click the Create button.

   • Provide a Name and an optional Description.

   • Set the Start Date and End Date for the scenario's activity period.

   • Define the Period: This is the time frame during which all rules must be active simultaneously for the scenario to trigger an action. The period is limited to a maximum of 3 hours.

3. Add Rules:

   • After creating the scenario, navigate to the Rules section.

   • Click Add Rule.

   • Select an Advertiser and choose the relevant ads.

   • Select the Channels to monitor.

   • Define the logical relationship between rules using AND / OR gates.

Example:

If you create a scenario with three rules (A, B, and C) and set the period to 2 hours:

• When Rule A is activated (e.g., Ad X appears on Channel Y), it remains active for 2 hours.

• Within this 2-hour window, Rules B and C must also be activated for the scenario to trigger an action.

• If Rule B activates after 1.5 hours and Rule C after 2.5 hours, the scenario won't trigger because Rule A expired before all rules were active simultaneously.

Ensure all rules are active within the defined period for the scenario to execute its actions.

4. Activate Scenario: Don't forget to activate your scenario by selecting the Active box at the bottom. You can deactivate it whenever you want.

5. Managing Scenario Actions

After setting up scenarios, define the actions to be triggered when conditions are met.

1. Access Triggers:

   • Navigate to the Triggers section under your scenario.

   • Here, you can see if any triggers occurred according to your scenario. If all your rules are active within the given period, your ad server will receive a trigger (Target State: Online). You can track when your scenario was activated.

   • Also you can access the All Triggers List regardless of the Scenario in the Triggers Page from the left menu. You can filter / search by the Scenario or Date according to your needs.

2. Define Actions:

   • Equativ Integration: Connect your Equativ (Smart Ad Server) account to automate ad campaign management.

   • Notifications: Set up SMS or WhatsApp notifications to receive alerts when scenarios are activated. Note: SMS notifications are available for Turkish GSM numbers only.

   • Daion: Connect with Erstream's SSAI DAION to integrate by inserting name, key, and channel information.

6. Monitoring Detections

Stay informed about when and where your ads appear to make data-driven decisions for your advertising campaigns.

1. Access Detections:

   • Navigate to the Detections section in the Ad Detector interface.

   • Use filters to refine results by channel and time range.

   • Download reports for further analysis.

Conclusion

Erstream's Video AI provides a robust platform for managing ad detection and automation. By following these steps, users can efficiently control live stream monitoring, ad management, and scenario-based automation.

Thank you for using Erstream Video AI!