Abstract: Techniques for selecting TV user interface (UI) transition characteristics are described. In accordance with various embodiments, a transition characteristics selection method is performed at a device (e.g., a cloud UI engine on a server) with one or more processors and a non-transitory memory. The UI engine receives a request for transitioning from a first screen to a second screen on a client device while in a real-time content presentation mode. In response to receiving the request and while in the real-time content presentation mode, the UI engine obtains one or more presentation conditions of the client device and selects one or more transition characteristics for transitioning from the first screen to the second screen based on costs associated with the one or more transition characteristics and the one or more presentation conditions.

Abstract: Techniques for preventing rendering content from content delivery network (CDN) to unauthorized users are described herein. In accordance with various embodiments, a CDN includes one or more processors and a non-transitory memory. The CDN receives a request from a client device for a media content item, where the request indicates an identifier of a client. The CDN further provisions an encrypted media content item corresponding to the media content item for the client, where at least a portion of the encrypted media content item is encrypted using at least one personalized key assigned to the client. The CDN also facilitates obtaining a manifest corresponding to the encrypted media content item, where the manifest specifies encryption metadata for retrieving the at least one personalized key by the client. The CDN additionally sends the encrypted media content item and the manifest to the client device.

Abstract: Techniques for a smartphone-based conditional access (CA) system are described. In some embodiments, a headend in the CA system obtains a security profile associated with a pair of receiving devices used by a user, e.g., a first device (e.g., a smartphone) and a second device (e.g., a set-top-box or a TV). The headend dynamically regulates user access to requested media content during each entitlement period by assigning and distributing separate keys to the first and second device based on the security profile. The headend also uses the distributed keys to protect the media content before broadcasting. On the receiving end, one receiving device receives the media content and determines whether it is decryptable by the device. If decryptable, the receiving device (e.g., the set-top-box/TV) decrypts the media content using the keys assigned by the headend. Otherwise, the receiving device forwards the media content to the pairing device for decryption.

Abstract: Techniques for packet-accurate targeted content substitution by a stitcher are described herein. In some embodiments, the stitcher at a client device receives a live transport stream (TS) and a splice message indicating a start time and an end time of a splice period. The stitcher locates in the live TS a video packet with a video packet identifier (PID) and an audio packet with an audio PID crossing the start time. The stitcher injects to the live TS targeted content TS packets within the splice period, where the injection includes re-stamping PIDs and presentation timestamps of the targeted content TS packets to match the live TS packets, and re-stamping the live TS packets with a predefined PID starting from the video packet and the audio packet, and ceasing the re-stamping when a respective audio packet in the live TS packets crossing the end time.

Abstract: A method for identifying a data segment includes receiving a first data segment associated with a first recording time; receiving a second data segment associated with a second recording time, comparing: the first recording time with the second recording time, a first time reference value with a second time reference value, and a first length enumeration for first data packets with a second length enumeration for second data packets; determining, based on the comparing, a match between the first data segment and the second data segment; and identifying the first data segment as the same as the second data segment based on the determining.

Abstract: Techniques for media content view reporting for reward granting are described herein. In accordance with various embodiments, server(s) prepare a media content item embedded with multiple parts of a key, where the key is associated with proof of viewing the media content item at a client device during a playback session. The server(s) cause the client device to decode the media content item to obtain the multiple parts during the playback session. The server(s) also receive an indication of the client device having accumulated a set of the multiple parts as proof of viewing. The client device receives the parts embedded media content item and decodes the media content item during the playback session. The client device also extracts and accumulates the multiple parts. The client device additionally sends an indication indicating having accumulated a set of the multiple parts as proof of viewing.

Abstract: Techniques for secure fast channel change in live content streaming are described. In some embodiments, during content preparation, a packager and/or an encoder encrypts media content items at both the service level (e.g., by encrypting a first portion of the plurality of segments with a service level access key unique to a service) and the channel level (e.g., by encrypting a second portion of the plurality of segments with a channel level access key unique to a channel associated with the service). On the receiving end, a client device (e.g., a media player) requests a service level access key prior to content acquisition. As such, a client can join any channel on a segment protected with the service level key without waiting for a license for that channel first, and the channel license can be acquired in parallel with the content acquisition during channel switching.

Abstract: A method of selectively decrypting encrypted data may include selecting a plurality of encrypted data bits between and including a first encrypted data bit and a last encrypted data bit; for each encrypted data bit from the plurality of encrypted data bits: determining a corresponding encrypted block and a block number that contains the encrypted data bit, determining a corresponding counter for the determined block number, determining a bit position of the encrypted data bit within the determined encrypted block, selecting a counter bit at the bit position within the counter, encrypting the counter, and executing an XOR operation between the encrypted data bit and the corresponding encrypted counter bit.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing presentation of stream portions are disclosed. The systems and methods may involve receiving a first list of stream portions; determining a first set of high-priority stream portions; retrieving at least one portion of the first set of high-priority stream portions; storing the retrieved portion of the first set of high-priority stream portions; receiving a second list of stream portions; determining a second set of high-priority stream portions; determining whether any stream portions in the stored portion of the first set of high-priority stream portions are not in the second set of high-priority stream portions; deleting from the memory any stream portions in the stored portion of the first set of high-priority stream portions that are not in the second set of high-priority stream portions; and determining whether any stream portions in the second set of high-priority stream portions are not stored in memory.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a first preauthored video frame of a plurality of preauthored video frames to a client device. The first preauthored video frame is associated with a preauthored media object. The method includes providing a request for a composited video frame to an interactive source device. The request includes a temporal characteristic associated with the first preauthored video frame. The method includes, in response to providing the request, obtaining, from the interactive source device, the composited video frame including customizable video content and preauthored video content. The preauthored video content is associated with a portion of the preauthored media object based on the temporal characteristic.

Abstract: A system for maximizing storage of encrypted content in a storage system includes one or more processors; and a storage medium storing instructions. When executed, the instructions may configure the one or more processors to: receive, from a first client device, a first data structure encrypted commutatively with a first key and a common key, the receiving system lacking access to the common key; receive the first key and a first segment identifier; receive, from a second client device, a second data structure encrypted commutatively with a second key and the common key; receive a second segment identifier; using the first key, partially decrypt the first data structure; storing the partially decrypted first data structure; and selectively storing a copy of the second data structure based on whether content of the first data structure corresponds to content of the second data structure.

Abstract: A system for multimedia content delivery includes one or more processors; and a storage medium storing instructions. When executed, the instructions may configure the one or more processors to perform operations including: delivering to a set of client devices a manifest including fake segment URLs; receiving, from a client device, a segment request including a client ID and a requested URL. The method may also include selecting content for the at least one of the client devices based on the client ID when determining the requested URL is unavailable; redirecting the segment request to a content address associated with the selected content; and providing the selected content to the at least one of the client devices.

Abstract: A method for identifying from among network-connected devices a particular device likely associated with a theft of distributed content includes obtaining content, the content having been distributed from a particular one of the network-connected devices, identifying in the obtained content anti-collusion codes, and determining the particular one of the network-connected devices is likely associated with the theft of distributed content when an aggregated probability calculated using the identified anti-collusion codes is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selection of advertisement segments are disclosed. A system may comprise at least one processor configured to receive a playback request from a playback unit; receive user information associated with a user; evaluate, using the user information, a user advertisement metric associated with a preference of the user for a particular type of advertisement; select an advertisement segment based on the user advertisement metric; and send the selected advertisement segment to the playback unit, where the user advertisement metric is based at least in part on whether the user skips advertisements associated with the particular type of advertisement in a forward or backward direction.

Abstract: Techniques for packaging media content in a low latency encryption ready format for streaming are described herein. In accordance with various embodiments, one or more packagers that include create an intermediate unit including at least one data portion from media content. The packager(s) further determine a size for reformatting the intermediate unit, where the size can include a padding amount for the at least one data portion. The packager(s) also package the intermediate unit to a reformatted partial segment according to the size without encrypting the at least one data portion, including injecting into the partial segment at least one encryption specific box and injecting padding into the at least one data portion according to the padding amount. The packager(s) then package the reformatted partial segment for streaming while maintaining the size, including generating a manifest for streaming the media content specifying the size of the reformatted partial segment.

Abstract: Techniques for targeting media content items for weakly connected devices are described. In some embodiments, a model building method in preparation for approximated personalization is performed at a server. The server uses data from fully connected devices to build a full model, which classifies profiles into clusters and tags targeted content with content rankings. The server also builds device models that approximate the full model. The server then sends the device models to user devices for targeted content selection. In some embodiments, a content selection method for approximated personalization is performed at a user device. The user device receives parameters of a device model trained by a server. The user device then executes the device model using local user data to assign a profile to a cluster and selects targeted content for the profile based on the cluster assignment and the rankings of the targeted content.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first transmission rate for transmitting an entirety of a segment of a video stream to a client device. The segment includes a set of frames. In some implementations, the method includes, after transmitting a first subset of the set of frames at the first transmission rate, detecting that a network connectivity of the client device has reduced below a connectivity threshold associated with the first transmission rate. In some implementations, the method includes transmitting an entirety of the segment at a second transmission rate that is less than the first transmission rate. In some implementations, the method includes triggering the client device to present a second subset of the set of frames that corresponds to a temporal position in the video stream after the first subset of the set of frames while foregoing re-presentation of the first subset of the set of frames.

Abstract: Various methods, systems, and electronic devices include delivery of sequential subtitle images to a client device. To that end, a method includes obtaining a plurality of sequential subtitle images including a first sequential subtitle image and a second sequential subtitle image. The method includes generating a diff image by comparing the first sequential subtitle image against the second sequential subtitle image. The diff image includes content that is absent from the first sequential subtitle image and present in the second sequential subtitle image. The method includes sending, to the client device, the diff image and display metadata associated with the diff image. The metadata may include a temporal indicator that indicates a display time or display duration of the diff image, and may include a position indicator that indicates a display position of the diff image.

Abstract: A method is performed at a network device including a plurality of network interfaces. The method includes obtaining a first source adaptive bitrate (ABR) asset and a second source ABR asset. The method includes encoding the first source ABR asset in order to generate a first plurality of video representations, and encoding the second source ABR asset in order to generate a second plurality of video representations. The method includes providing, to a first client device, a first one of the first plurality of video representations. The method includes, in response to detecting satisfaction of a source change condition with respect to the first client device, providing, to the first client device, a first one of the second plurality of video representations, and ceasing to provide the first one of the first plurality of video representations to the first client device.

Abstract: A multimedia content selection system includes at least one processor executing instructions for performing operations. The operations include receiving a playback request from a playback unit, including a content identifier, providing, to the playback unit, a manifest with at least a set of content segment identifiers based on the content identifier, each content segment identifier identifying a content segment associated with a content stream, receiving a content stream request comprising one of the content segment identifiers, and selecting a segment for playback from the content segment associated with the received content segment identifier, determined using a set of content selection rules.