Abstract: Methods and systems to improve the efficiency of a content delivery system. A local distribution node is introduced to the network, between the content provider and the end user device (i.e., the leaf node). The local distribution node is responsible for servicing a localized subset of the leaf nodes that would otherwise be serviced by a conventional server of the content delivery system. Requests for content are received at the local distribution node from leaf nodes, and content is received at the local distribution node for transmission to the leaf node(s). Content may be cached at the local distribution node to allow faster service of subsequent requests for this content. Caching may also be used to make the channel surfing process more efficient. If demand is high, a leaf node may be promoted to serve as an additional local distribution node. Leaf nodes may also share content among themselves.

Abstract: Methods and systems to improve the efficiency of a content delivery system. A local distribution node is introduced to the network, between the content provider and the end user device (i.e., the leaf node). The local distribution node is responsible for servicing a localized subset of the leaf nodes that would otherwise be serviced by a conventional server of the content delivery system. Requests for content are received at the local distribution node from leaf nodes, and content is received at the local distribution node for transmission to the leaf node(s). Content may be cached at the local distribution node to allow faster service of subsequent requests for this content. Caching may also be used to make the channel surfing process more efficient. If demand is high, a leaf node may be promoted to serve as an additional local distribution node. Leaf nodes may also share content among themselves.

Abstract: Systems and methods for playing adaptive bitrate streaming content by multicast in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of receiving and playing back adaptive bitrate streaming content using a playback device includes receiving an adaptive streaming session description including information about a piece of adaptive streaming content and information for accessing a multicast session of the piece of adaptive streaming content using a playback device, receiving portions of a first alternative stream of the piece of adaptive streaming content sent to a first multicast group that includes the playback device using the playback device, computing a bandwidth measurement using the playback device, and switching to a second alternative stream of the piece of adaptive streaming content based upon the computed bandwidth measurement using the playback device.

Abstract: Methods and systems to indicate events of interest to a user. IN an embodiment, an event processor queries each of a plurality of event data sources, then receives event data from one or more event data source. The event processor then identifies an event to be indicated to a user device based on the event data. The identified event to the user through a user device. The event processor may receive, via the user device, feedback regarding the identified event. This feedback may be used to train future event identification. The event processor may be implemented at a computing device that is remote from the user, such as a server. Alternatively, the event processor may be implemented internal to the user device.

Abstract: Methods and systems to improve the efficiency of a content delivery system. A local distribution node is introduced to the network, between the content provider and the end user device (i.e., the leaf node). The local distribution node is responsible for servicing a localized subset of the leaf nodes that would otherwise be serviced by a conventional server of the content delivery system. Requests for content are received at the local distribution node from leaf nodes, and content is received at the local distribution node for transmission to the leaf node(s). Content may be cached at the local distribution node to allow faster service of subsequent requests for this content. Caching may also be used to make the channel surfing process more efficient. If demand is high, a leaf node may be promoted to serve as an additional local distribution node. Leaf nodes may also share content among themselves.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing adaptive bitrate streaming content by multicast in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a process of distributing adaptive bitrate streaming content includes generating an adaptive streaming session description including information about a piece of adaptive streaming content and information for accessing a multicast session of the piece of adaptive streaming content using a content server, sending portions of alternative streams of the piece of adaptive streaming content to a multicast group of playback devices using the content server, and sending bandwidth measurement data with which a playback device can calculate available bandwidth to a playback device using the content server.

Abstract: Methods and systems to improve the efficiency of a content delivery system. A local distribution node is introduced to the network, between the content provider and the end user device (i.e., the leaf node). The local distribution node is responsible for servicing a localized subset of the leaf nodes that would otherwise be serviced by a conventional server of the content delivery system. Requests for content are received at the local distribution node from leaf nodes, and content is received at the local distribution node for transmission to the leaf node(s). Content may be cached at the local distribution node to allow faster service of subsequent requests for this content. Caching may also be used to make the channel surfing process more efficient. If demand is high, a leaf node may be promoted to serve as an additional local distribution node. Leaf nodes may also share content among themselves.

Abstract: A receiver driven approach for playback of remote content is described. One embodiment includes obtaining information concerning the content of the media file from the remote server, identifying a starting location within the media sequence, identifying byte ranges of the media file corresponding to media required to play the media sequence from the starting location, requesting the byte ranges required to play the media sequence from the starting location, buffering received bytes of information pending commencement of playback, playing back the buffered bytes of information, receiving a user instruction, identifying byte ranges of the media file corresponding to media required to play the media sequence in accordance with the user instruction, flushing previous byte range requests, and requesting the byte ranges required to play the media in accordance with the user instruction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive streaming with augmented video stream transitions using a media server in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a media server includes multimedia content including a set of alternative streams of video data and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive a request to stream multimedia content, stream a first stream of video data, where the first stream of video data is one of the set of alternative streams of video data contained in the multimedia content, receive a request for a second stream of video data, where the second stream of video data is one of the set of alternative streams of video data contained in the multimedia content, transmit an image in response to the request for the second stream of video data, and stream the second stream of video data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for generating random numbers are provided. In some embodiments, methods for generating random numbers are provided, the methods comprising: receiving a plurality of request messages including a plurality of random sample values; extracting the plurality of random sample values from the plurality of request messages; combining the plurality of random sample values to generate an entropy pool; and generating, using a hardware processor, a random number based on the entropy pool.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for generating random numbers are provided. In some embodiments, methods for generating random numbers are provided, the methods comprising: receiving a request message including a random sample value and a request for content; extracting the random sample value from the request message; adding the random sample value to an entropy pool; retrieving the content based on the request message; transmitting a response message including the content; and generating a random sample number based on the entropy pool.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming of media including subtitles utilizing HTTP in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes selecting a portion of the source media using the source encoder, transcoding the selected portion of the source media into a plurality of alternative portions of encoded video, where each alternative portion is encoded using a different set of encoding parameters and commences with an intra frame at the start of a closed group of pictures (GOP), writing each of the alternative portions of encoded video to a separate container file using the source encoder, writing a subtitle stream segment from each subtitle track corresponding to the selected portion of the source media to a separate container file using the source encoder, and associating a font file with at least one of the container files containing subtitle stream segments.

Abstract: Methods and systems to provide supplemental content to a user who is viewing video or other content. The user's device (through which he will access the video) then provides an identifier of that video to a server or other computing facility. Here, the video identifier is used to identify supplemental content that corresponds to the user's video. The supplemental content is then provided to the user device for the user's consumption. The supplemental content may be structured in such a way that pieces of the supplemental content are accessible at particular points in the video. The piece(s) of the supplemental content available at a particular point in the video will be related to one or more objects that are present at this point. This allows a user to access one or more pieces of supplemental content in a context-specific manner, at a point in the video where the piece(s) of supplemental content are relevant.

Abstract: Methods and systems to provide supplemental content to a user who is viewing video or other content. The user's device (through which he will access the video) then provides an identifier of that video to a server or other computing facility. Here, the video identifier is used to identify supplemental content that corresponds to the user's video. The supplemental content is then provided to the user device for the user's consumption. The supplemental content may be structured in such a way that pieces of the supplemental content are accessible at particular points in the video. The piece(s) of the supplemental content available at a particular point in the video will be related to one or more objects that are present at this point. This allows a user to access one or more pieces of supplemental content in a context-specific manner, at a point in the video where the piece(s) of supplemental content are relevant.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding alternative streams for use in adaptive bitrate streaming based upon the delay of each stream in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment of the invention includes memory, and a processor configured by a source encoding application to: receive multimedia content, where the multimedia content includes source video data having a primary resolution and a primary sample aspect ratio; and encode the source video data as a set of alternative video streams, where: the alternative video streams have different maximum bitrates; and the alternative video streams are encoded to have an upper bound seek delay that is equal to or less than the upper bound seek delay of streams in the set of alternative video streams that are encoded at a higher maximum bitrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming in which playback devices select streams based upon stream delay and channel rate in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment is configured to select a first video stream from a set of alternative streams, where at least a plurality of the alternative streams are encoded to have an upper bound seek delay that is equal to or less than the upper bound seek delay of streams in the set of alternative streams that are encoded at a higher maximum bitrate, request chunks of the first video stream and store the requested chunks in the buffer, playback the buffered chunks, measure the channel data rate, and select a second video stream from the set of alternative streams, where the second video stream has a maximum bitrate that is less than the measured channel data rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing a robustness framework to restrict access to digital content distributed via a network in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, restricting access to digital content includes loading device robustness information, where the device robustness information includes a device robustness level defined using a set of robustness rules, loading at least one digital rights management (DRM) certificate, where the at least one DRM certificate is utilized to authenticate the device to a DRM server, requesting playback of the content from a content store, where the content store is configured to store the content in at least one content distribution server, receiving the content from the at least one content distribution server upon a verification that the device robustness satisfies a threshold robustness by a computing system, and accessing the received content utilizing the at least one DRM certificate.

Abstract: Methods and systems to allow for the streaming of media from a file server to a client, where the streaming occurs concurrently with the execution of an information security protocol. The security protocol allows the client to securely receive one or more keys that allow the client to access the media. This permits a user to access the media sooner than would otherwise be possible, while allowing timely performance of security related processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing enhanced digital media playback through application enhancement tracks are described. Application enhancement tracks are derived from the main content that they are associated with and are encoded to aid the performance of one or more functions related to the content, such as visual-search using a video application enhancement track, or trick-play track. In several embodiments, a method of decoding a media file for play back includes obtaining a media file containing compressed content and an accompanying application enhancement track which is a subset of the compressed content, playing back the compressed content, and decoding frames of the application enhancement track at a rate proportional to a visual-search speed and from a location determined by the portion of the compressed content most recently played back.

Abstract: A receiver driven approach for playback of remote content is described. One embodiment includes obtaining information concerning the content of the media file from the remote server, identifying a starting location within the media sequence, identifying byte ranges of the media file corresponding to media required to play the media sequence from the starting location, requesting the byte ranges required to play the media sequence from the starting location, buffering received bytes of information pending commencement of playback, playing back the buffered bytes of information, receiving a user instruction, identifying byte ranges of the media file corresponding to media required to play the media sequence in accordance with the user instruction, flushing previous byte range requests, and requesting the byte ranges required to play the media in accordance with the user instruction.