IMA SDK HTML5: VpaidMode.INSECURE results in "402 vast media file loading reached a timeout of 8 seconds".

[Roji Torri]

SDK:  IMA SDK HTML to load VAST/VPAID tags to run preroll ads on our video player. 

Ad Tag URL:  https://rtr.innovid.com/r1.5dc9e4a7213661.39406872;cb=[timestamp].

Devices: problem occurs on iPhone Chrome  (tested on iPhone X, XS, 11)

Description: When using VpaidMode.ENABLED, the the ad executes as expected.  When using VpaidMode.INSECURE, it results in an error "402 vast media file loading reached a timeout of 8 seconds". 

Demo pages to reproduce the issue:

https://devpublictesting.s3.amazonaws.com/google-ima-sdk/vpaid-mode-enabled.html ---  adsLoader.getSettings().setVpaidMode(google.ima.ImaSdkSettings.VpaidMode.ENABLED)

https://devpublictesting.s3.amazonaws.com/google-ima-sdk/vpaid-mode-insecure.html --  adsLoader.getSettings().setVpaidMode(google.ima.ImaSdkSettings.VpaidMode.INSECURE)

We need to use the INSECURE setting because RTB partners like Rubicon verifies the referring URL, and this setting sends the correct referring domain, whereas the ENABLED setting returns the SDK's URL.

Hope you can help.

Thanks,

Roji

[Roji Torri]

Also wanted to add that the issue can be reproduced in Google's IMA SDK tester:

1. Open Chrome on iPhone (tested on iPhone XR)

2. Paste https://developers.google.com/interactive-media-ads/docs/sdks/html5/vastinspector?tag=https%253A%252F%252Frtr.innovid.com%252Fr1.5dc9e4a7213661.39406872%253Bcb%253D%255Btimestamp%255D

3. In Advanced Controls, under VPAID mode, choose INSECURE

4. Click Test Ad

TinyURL for convenience: https://tinyurl.com/ins-vpaid

Thanks in advance for any help.

[IMA SDK]

Hi Roji,

Thank you for reaching out to us. We were not able to reproduce the behavior that you're seeing with the SDK throwing the 402 error when the VPAID mode is set to insecure. We've tested the sample apps you shared, tested your ad tag against our VSI, the ads were displayed successfully by the SDK (see screenshots attached). It's important to note that in both screenshots, the VPAID mode is set to insecure.

Regards,
Arnaud Casame
IMA SDK Team

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[Roji Torri]

Thank you for the response, Arnaud. 

This issue does not occur on Desktop and it cannot be reproduce it using the mobile emulator on Chrome's Developer tools running on desktop either.  It only occurs iPhone Chrome, on an actual device. A large portion of our traffic is using iOS. Really appreciate the help.

Thanks,

Roji

[IMA SDK]

Hi Roji,

I was able to reproduce the behavior that you’re seeing with the 402 VAST ErrorCode being thrown on Chrome/iPhone (see screenshot attached). Our team is going to review the issue. I will get back to you with more information as soon as possible.

Regards,
Arnaud Casame
IMA SDK Team

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[Minh Tran]

I tested and see the ad has loaded properly within choosing 2 options: ENABLE and INSECURE.

That mean I can't reproduce the case as the description:

Description: When using VpaidMode.ENABLED, the ad executes as expected.  When using VpaidMode.INSECURE, it results in an error "402 vast media file loading reached a timeout of 8 seconds". 

Vào 05:13:18 UTC+7 Thứ Bảy, ngày 01 tháng 2 năm 2020, Roji Torri đã viết:

[IMA SDK]

Hi Minh,

 

Thanks for sharing your concern. However, upon testing on my end as well using Chrome via iPhone 8 Plus device with iOS version 13.3, the issue still reproducible, please see attached screenshot.

With this, I'm going to share this information with the rest of the team, and someone from us will get back to you once we have an update.

 

Regards,

Sherwin Diesta

[Minh Tran]

Maybe the reason is caused by the different creative (contain mp4 with size larger than for android or other plaform) which will be served ?

Vào 15:46:27 UTC+7 Thứ Tư, ngày 05 tháng 2 năm 2020, imasdkforumadvisor đã viết:

[IMA SDK]

Hi Minh,

 

Thanks for getting back to me on this, one of my teammates confirmed that the ad tag attempts to modify the size of the video element, then renders new elements which display in the space where the video was playing.

 

@Roji,

 

Could you please confirm with your ad provider if this the case? Also, if the ad provider can check if there are creatives that are not responding to the ad start event, causing the timeout?

[Minh Tran]

I mean that the issue is depended on the size of media file.

Vào 11:07:17 UTC+7 Thứ Ba, ngày 11 tháng 2 năm 2020, Minh Tran đã viết:

[IMA SDK]

Hi Minh,

 

Thanks for sharing this information. Our team is actively working on this. Rest assured, I'll get back to this thread as soon as I have an update.

[Minh Tran]

Ok, Could you please confirm with me that the issue doesn't relate to VpaidMode.INSECURE.

The fact that my IMA SDK team will update into VpaidMode.INSECURE in all platform. It is should be good if we ensure there are no issue by changing to VpaidMode.INSECURE only.

Thanks and Regards,

Minh

Vào 17:11:53 UTC+7 Thứ Ba, ngày 11 tháng 2 năm 2020, imasdkforumadvisor đã viết:

[IMA SDK]

Hi Minh,

 

Thanks for your message. At the moment, I do not have an update regarding this. Hence, I cannot give you a confirmation if the issue is related to the VpaidMode.INSECURE or not. Also, this issue could occur only on this particular ad tag. Thus, we need a confirmation from the original reporter of this issue to take a look and check their ad tag and the ad creatives associated with it.

 

Let me follow up this with the team to get an update. I'll get back to this thread once I receive a feedback.

[Yann D]

Hi,

Is there any update on this issue? 

It occurs for every VPAID tag tested.

https://search.spotxchange.com/vast/2.0/79391?VPAID=JS

Thanks,

Regards

[IMA SDK]

Hi Yann,

We've investigated the issue you reported and found out that it is with the ad you're using. As per the Resolve VAST and IMA SDK Errors documentation, the ErrorCode 402 is a fatal error can be caused by a problem fetching or playing the MediaFile, and could be any of the following:

• The loadVideoTimeout is set too low in the IMA SDK. The default is 8 seconds.
• Low bandwidth or poor website implementation with competing requests that delay loading of the MediaFile.
• A video auto-plays in a mobile environment, whereas it should be click-to-play (there are some exceptions).
• Showing video ads in an auto-play environment (for example, a playlist), while the window is not in focus (either another tab is     selected, or window is minimized).*

The recommended Actions are:

• Increase the timeout limit of your player via the SDK. Learn more.
• Ensure that any CDN-hosted creatives are returned within the specified media timeout.

If the issue persist, we would recommend you to reach out to your Ad provider so they can help you solve it.

Regards,
Arnaud Casame
IMA SDK Team
 

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[Praxis]

Hi,

You can reproduce this issue with any VPAID tag even with the official Ima VPAID test tag. We also increased loadVideoTimeout, set to 60000. The event "adStarted" is never fired.

It occurs only on iPhone Chrome (tested on iPhone 8, X, 11 pro) and when using VpaidMode.INSECURE. With VpaidMode.ENABLED, the ad plays as expected.
And as the OP said, it cannot be reproduced using a mobile emulator on Chrome's Developer tools running on desktop. It only occurs on iPhone Chrome, on an actual device.

VPAID tags tested:
https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/124319096/external/single_ad_samples&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&cust_params=deployment%3Ddevsite%26sample_ct%3Dlinearvpaid2js&correlator=

https://rtr.innovid.com/r1.5554946ab01d97.36996823;cb=

https://ads.stickyadstv.com/www/delivery/swfIndex.php?reqType=AdsSetup&protocolVersion=2.0&zoneId=2003&loc=

Thanks

[IMA SDK]

Hi there,

Thank you for your response and for sharing this information.

I was able to reproduce the issue using our sample VPAID ad tag and Video Suite Inspector via iPhone 8 Plus device (iOS 13.4.1). That being said, I’m going to share this with the team and will let you know once we receive an update.

Regards,
Sherwin Diesta
IMA SDK Team

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