Abstract: A method includes determining, at a first computing device, whether data to be communicated to a second computing device includes media data or protocol data. The method also includes, in response to determining that the data includes media data, generating a message header and a message body based on the media data. The message header includes a header flags portion and a header fields portion, and the header flags portion includes at least one flag having a value that indicates a length of a corresponding field of a plurality of fields of the header fields portion. The method further includes encapsulating the message header and the message body into a message and inserting the message into a media stream to be transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device in accordance with a media communication protocol. The media stream is a bidirectional media stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods of token-based protection for links to media streams are disclosed. For example, a computing device may generate a first token based on a private key and an encryption algorithm. The first token may be inserted into a link to a media stream. When the link is selected at a client device, a media request including the first token may be sent to a server. The server may generate a second token based on the private key and the encryption algorithm. The server may grant or deny the media request based on a comparison of the first token and the second token.

Abstract: Control information may be provided to a server by a computing device before or while the computing device sends a media stream to the server. The control information is associated with processing of the media stream by the media server. When the computing device is not sending the media stream to the media server, the computing device may send the control information to the media server while establishing a connection with the media server. When the computing device is sending the media stream to the media server, the computing device may send the control information without interrupting communication of the media stream to the media server. For example, the control information may be embedded into the media stream or may be sent via a separate connection to the media server.

Abstract: Systems and methods of token-based protection for links to media streams are disclosed. For example, a computing device may generate a first token based on a private key and an encryption algorithm. The first token may be inserted into a link to a media stream. When the link is selected at a client device, a media request including the first token may be sent to a server. The server may generate a second token based on the private key and the encryption algorithm. The server may grant or deny the media request based on a comparison of the first token and the second token.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performing on the fly transcoding of video on demand content for adaptive streaming are disclosed. For example, a media server has access to a single rendition of a video on demand item. The media server receives a request from a computing device. The request is for a portion of one of a plurality of renditions of the video on demand item that are available for adaptive streaming, where each of the renditions has a distinct bitrate. In response to the request, the media server generates, on the fly, the requested portion of the requested rendition by transcoding a corresponding portion of the accessible rendition. The media server sends the generated portion to the computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of processing closed captions are disclosed. For example, a media server may receive a first video stream and first closed caption data associated with the first video stream. The media server may interpret at least one command included in the first closed caption data to generate interpreted closed caption data. The media server may transmit, to a destination device, a second video stream including second closed caption data that is generated based on the interpreted closed caption data.

Abstract: A particular method includes receiving, at a media server, a request for a first rendition of a stream. The method also includes generating a portion of the first rendition. Generating the portion of the first rendition includes determining whether one or more first overlay images are enabled and inserting the one or more first overlay images into one or more frames of the portion of the first rendition conditioned on the one or more first overlay images being enabled. The method further includes sending the portion of the first rendition to a computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performing on the fly transcoding of video on demand content for adaptive streaming are disclosed. For example, a media server has access to a single rendition of a video on demand item. The media server receives a request from a computing device. The request is for a portion of one of a plurality of renditions of the video on demand item that are available for adaptive streaming, where each of the renditions has a distinct bitrate. In response to the request, the media server generates, on the fly, the requested portion of the requested rendition by transcoding a corresponding portion of the accessible rendition. The media server sends the generated portion to the computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of automatically publishing a stream to multiple destinations are disclosed. A media server receives a stream and identifies a plurality of entries in a publishing map stored at the media server, where the each of the plurality of entries is associated with the stream. A first entry of the plurality of entries identifies a first publishing destination and a second entry of the plurality of entries identifies a second publishing destination that is different from the first publishing destination. The media server automatically publishes the stream to the first publishing destination and to the second publishing destination.

Abstract: A method includes receiving closed captioning data at a computing device. The closed captioning data is associated with a video on demand asset and is represented in a first format. The method also includes, during a single video on demand streaming session, converting the closed captioning data from the first format to a platform-independent format and converting the closed captioning data from the platform-independent format to a second format. The method further includes transmitting, during the single video on demand streaming session, the closed captioning data in the second format to a destination device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of processing closed captions are disclosed. For example, a media server may receive a first video stream and first closed caption data associated with the first video stream. The media server may interpret at least one command included in the first closed caption data to generate interpreted closed caption data. The media server may transmit, to a destination device, a second video stream including second closed caption data that is generated based on the interpreted closed caption data.

Abstract: Systems and methods of processing closed captions for live streams are disclosed. For example, a media server may receive closed captioning data associated with a live video stream, where the closed captioning data is represented in a first format. The media server may convert the closed captioning data from the first format to a platform-independent format and convert the closed captioning data from the platform-independent format to a second format. The media server may transmit the closed captioning data in the second format to a destination device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of inserting overlays into a stream are disclosed. A media server may receive a stream. The media server may selectively add one or more images (e.g., graphics and/or text) to the stream prior to scaling the stream to produce one or more scaled streams. The media server may also selectively add one or more images to the scaled streams. The scaled streams may be encoded for adaptive streaming to a computing device.

Abstract: A method includes receiving closed captioning data at a computing device. The closed captioning data is associated with a video on demand asset and is represented in a first format. The method also includes, during a single video on demand streaming session, converting the closed captioning data from the first format to a platform-independent format and converting the closed captioning data from the platform-independent format to a second format. The method further includes transmitting, during the single video on demand streaming session, the closed captioning data in the second format to a destination device.

Abstract: A method includes determining, at a first computing device, whether data to be communicated to a second computing device includes media data or protocol data. The method also includes, in response to determining that the data includes media data, generating a message header and a message body based on the media data. The message header includes a header flags portion and a header fields portion, and the header flags portion includes at least one flag having a value that indicates a length of a corresponding field of a plurality of fields of the header fields portion. The method further includes encapsulating the message header and the message body into a message and inserting the message into a media stream to be transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device in accordance with a media communication protocol. The media stream is a bidirectional media stream.

Abstract: A method includes receiving closed captioning data at a computing device. The closed captioning data is associated with a video on demand asset and is represented in a first format. The method also includes, during a single video on demand streaming session, converting the closed captioning data from the first format to a platform-independent format and converting the closed captioning data from the platform-independent format to a second format. The method further includes transmitting, during the single video on demand streaming session, the closed captioning data in the second format to a destination device.

Abstract: A method includes receiving closed captioning data at a computing device. The closed captioning data is associated with a video on demand asset and is represented in a first format. The method also includes converting the closed captioning data from the first format to a platform-independent format and converting the closed captioning data from the platform-independent format to a second format. The method further includes transmitting the closed captioning data in the second format to a destination device.

Abstract: A method includes determining, at a first computing device, whether data to be communicated to a second computing device includes media data or protocol data. The method also includes, in response to determining that the data includes media data, generating a message header and a message body based on the media data. The message header includes a header flags portion and a header fields portion, and the header flags portion includes at least one flag having a value that indicates a length of a corresponding field of a plurality of fields of the header fields portion. The method further includes encapsulating the message header and the message body into a message and inserting the message into a media stream to be transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device in accordance with a media communication protocol.

Abstract: A method includes receiving closed captioning data at a computing device. The closed captioning data is associated with a video on demand asset and is represented in a first format. The method also includes converting the closed captioning data from the first format to a platform-independent format and converting the closed captioning data from the platform-independent format to a second format. The method further includes transmitting the closed captioning data in the second format to a destination device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of token-based protection for links to media streams are disclosed. For example, a web server may generate a first token based on a private key and an encryption algorithm. The first token may be inserted into a link to a media stream, where the link is included in a web page and the media stream is hosted by a media server. When the link is selected at a client device, a media request including the first token may be sent to the media server. The media server may generate a second token based on the private key and the encryption algorithm. The media server may selectively grant or deny the media request based on whether the first token matches the second token.