Abstract:
An adaptive bit rate system uses adaptive streaming to deliver content to client devices capable of adaptive bit rate streaming. Techniques for averting or inhibiting ad skipping by an adaptive bit rate client device that receives media chunks from the adaptive bit rate system may include techniques for both live content and on demand content. Techniques include modifying a buffer size for access to trick plays and/or constructing a manifest file with limited content based on ad breaks.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for controlling media delivery in a multimedia transport network. The method includes transmitting composition information (CI) on media assets within a media package to be transmitted, to a user equipment (UE), packetizing the media assets of the media package to packets, transmitting some of the packets to the UE, receiving a feedback message including information on an available bitrate determined by the UE from the UE while the some of the packets are transmitted, selecting media data, which can be transmitted according to the available bitrate, from the media package by using asset delivery characteristics (ADCs) of the media assets within the media package, and packetizing the selected media data to packets and transmitting the packets to the UE.
Abstract:
A technique for operating a media distribution network is presented. In the media distribution network media data are transmitted via an access network in media bursts to a media client. Each media burst is followed by an idle period in which no media data are transmitted. A method aspect of this technique comprises receiving, from an access network node, a control message and adjusting, responsive to the control message, at least one of a media data volume of a media burst and a duration of an idle period following the media burst. The control message may be indicative of a load status of the access network, and the adjustment may be performed taking into account that load status.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for integral controller based pacing for HTTP pseudo-streaming. A method includes receiving a request portions of a multimedia clip residing in the content server from a media player residing in the user equipment and delivering the requested portions of the multimedia clip to the media player while maintaining a target bitrate in a presence of control noises in the network. Delivering the requested portions of the multimedia clip can include estimating a target transmission rate, determining a target elasticity buffer, and estimating a number of bytes to send in a current transmission epoch.
Abstract:
A system and method are described for encoding certain types of multimedia data transmitted over a communication channel. For example, one embodiment of a computer-implemented method comprises: logically subdividing each of a sequence of images into a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles having a defined position within each of the sequence of images, the defined position remaining the same between successive images; encoding one or more of the tiles in each image of the sequence of images using a first compression format and encoding the reminder of the tiles in each image using the second compression format, the second compression format dependent on tiles previously-encoded by the first and/or the second compression formats. Additionally, a forward error correction (FEC) code may be generated for tiles encoded using the first compression format.
Abstract:
A method of distributing a plurality of media content services (S1-S5) across a distribution network comprising dividing each of the plurality of media content services (S1-S5) into segments and transmitting the segments of each of the plurality of media content services as a sequence of bursts (305), wherein there is a window period (303) between successive bursts (305) during which media content is not transmitted. Each of the media content services (S1-S5) has a respective bit rate and the transmitting comprises transmitting each of the segments at a higher bit rate to create the window periods (303) between successive bursts (305). Starts of bursts (305) of the plurality of media content services (S1-S5) are staggered in time with respect to one another. At least one of the media content services (S1-S5) can comprise a plurality of media content service representations of different bit rate. The media content services and media content service representations can be transmitted as multicasts.
Abstract:
A video stream is provided to a set top box of a viewer to fulfill the viewer's request for a video on-demand service. The video stream is encoded at one of a plurality of encoding rates selected by a Service Quality Manager based on parameters defined for a service group, which in various embodiments may comprise the viewer, or the viewer along with other customers serviced by a single QAM. The parameters used for determining the encoding rate may involve currently allocated bandwidth, the viewer's service parameters, other customer's service parameters, and historical data regarding encoding rate selection data. The encoding rate used to encode a stream may be modified during streaming in response to other service requests. The encoding rate may be shifted based on anticipated service requests from other members in the service group.