MediaTailor CDN integration and parameter routing - AWS Elemental MediaTailor

MediaTailor CDN integration and parameter routing

AWS Elemental MediaTailor manifest query parameters enable sophisticated CDN integration scenarios. You can use them for dynamic routing, authorization, and load balancing.

CDN routing use cases

Common CDN integration scenarios that benefit from manifest query parameters include the following:

  • Geographic routing: Route requests to region-specific MediaTailor endpoints based on viewer location

  • Token-based authorization: Pass authorization tokens through the CDN to MediaTailor for secure content access

  • Load balancing: Distribute traffic across multiple MediaTailor endpoints using CDN routing logic

  • A/B testing: Route different user segments to different MediaTailor configurations for testing

  • Device-specific optimization: Route requests based on device type or capabilities

Parameter preservation across CDN layers

MediaTailor ensures that manifest query parameters are preserved across multiple CDN layers and request types:

  1. Initial request: Parameters are extracted from the session initialization request

  2. Manifest generation: Parameters are applied to all relevant URLs in the manifest

  3. Segment requests: Parameters are included in all segment URLs for consistent CDN behavior

  4. Ad insertion: Parameters are preserved during ad insertion and segment replacement

Example CDN authorization flow

The following example demonstrates a complete CDN authorization flow using manifest query parameters:

  1. Client requests manifest with authorization token:

    GET https://cdn.example.com/mediatailor/v1/master/123456789/originId/index.m3u8?manifest.auth_token=jwt_token_here&manifest.user_id=12345

  2. CDN forwards request to MediaTailor with parameters:

    GET https://mediatailor.amazonaws.com/v1/master/123456789/originId/index.m3u8?manifest.auth_token=jwt_token_here&manifest.user_id=12345

  3. MediaTailor generates manifest with parameters applied to all URLs:

    #EXTM3U
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:BANDWIDTH=2665212
../../../manifest/123456789/originId/session/0.m3u8?auth_token=jwt_token_here&user_id=12345

  4. Subsequent segment requests include parameters for CDN authorization:

    GET https://cdn.example.com/mediatailor/segment/123456789/originId/session/0/1?auth_token=jwt_token_here&user_id=12345