Abstract: The present invention relates to a client entity being capable of communicating over a communication network. The client entity comprises a receiver (101) for receiving scheduled data and for receiving a quality indicator indicating a quality of the scheduled data, a quality monitor (103) for monitoring the quality of the scheduled data upon the basis of the quality indicator, a processor (105) for providing a data replacement request if the quality of the scheduled data fails to meet a quality requirement, and a transmitter (107) for transmitting the data replacement request towards the communication network to request replacement data representing another version of the scheduled data.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for streaming a media file to an end user using a hypertext transfer protocol HTTP, wherein a proxy monitors HTTP messages for detecting a streaming of the media file using HTTP. When a HTTP message is received, the proxy determines bearer parameters required for streaming the media file and determines whether a bearer meeting an appropriate service quality is necessary. If necessary, the proxy triggers a provision of the bearer meeting with said appropriate service quality.

Abstract: A technique for determining usage of encrypted media content is described. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of obtaining a short-term key for decrypting the media content, obtaining a long-term key for decrypting the short-term key, decrypting the short-term key based on the long-term key, decrypting the media content based on the decrypted short-term key, and logging a parameter relating to the short-term key as a basis for determining media content usage. The short-term key may be a Traffic Encryption Key, TEK, and the long-term key may be a Service Encryption Key, SEK.

Abstract: A technique that permits an earlier start of the decoding and play out of media frames received via a point-to-multipoint transmission is described. The media frames comprise frames of a first type that cannot be decoded without knowledge of supplemental information and frames of a second type that include the supplemental information. According to a method aspect of this technique, frames of the first type are received and immediately buffered without waiting for reception of a frame of the second type. In a next step, a request message requesting supplemental information required for a decoding of the buffered frames of the first type is sent. Upon receipt of the requested supplemental information, the buffered frames are decoded based on the received supplemental information.

Abstract: The invention relates to techniques for processing media data at a receiver device in a packet-switched network. It is proposed to detect data packet losses in the media data, and to determine data frames, like P-frames or I-frames, within a group of successive frames, like the GOP structure, affected by a packet loss. The number of the affected data frames is compared with a threshold value and if said number is equal or higher then the threshold value, then it is proposed to drop the affected data frames and to provide for playing-out data frames in form of a slide show.

Abstract: Methods and devices for providing a media description of a media stream to a client are described. The client is subscribed to a media description delivery service. The media description delivery service comprises a media description delivery rule. A request for a media description delivery is sent to a media server. From the media server a media description is received. It is verified that the received media description complies with the media description delivery rule and if the verification is in the affirmative, a delivery of the media description is initiated to the client.

Abstract: A technique for distributing in a multicasting network media content via two or more media layers is described. The media layers are hierarchically arranged in accordance with a scalable coding protocol such as the Scalable Video Coding (SVC) protocol. In a method implementation of this technique, in a first step a first number of media recipients for a first media layer that is transmitted via a first bearer of the multicasting network is determined. Then, a second bearer of the multicasting network for at least one second media layer is selected taking into account the first number and a hierarchical relationship between the first media layer and the second media layer.

Abstract: A technique for making media content in the form of encoded data items decodable by a decoder operating in accordance with a scalable coding protocol that defines two or more media layers is provided. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of generating one or more dummy data items that define a first media layer of the scalable coding protocol, and marking the encoded data items as belonging, to a second media layer of the scalable coding protocol.

Abstract: The invention provides the possibility of fast channel switching by subdividing N media streams, each media stream representing a channel, into a stream bundle containing for each channel a more important part of the media stream comprising the parts of the media stream considered more important in view of a quality of experience representing an expected quality perception of a user, and into N less important parts

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and to a system for thinning a stream of packet-switched video data in which a stream of packet-switched video data is detected and the size of the packets in the video stream is determined, wherein packets of the video stream data are dropped depending on the size of the packets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for supporting a fast channel switching in broadcast systems or similar systems for the distribution of media data, for example mobile TV data, in a point-to-multipoint (‘PTM’) fashion. A method embodiment of the technique for supporting a fast channel switching in a system (100) comprising multiple PTM primary channels is performed in a transmitter (102) and comprises the steps of transmitting pictures (P) on each of the multiple PTM primary channels; and transmitting channel switching information (‘CSI’) items on a secondary channel for supporting a fast channel switching, wherein each CSI item allows a determination of an intra-coded picture of one of a pair of primary channels at a receiver side based on a picture of the other of the pair of primary channels.

Abstract: For improving feed-based automatic distribution of content to a mobile terminal via a mobile network, a network component (150) comprises a network-side agent (160). The network-side agent (160) manages the feed-based automatic transmission of content to the mobile terminal and is configured to periodically generate a feed request to a feed server, to receive a requested feed from the feed server in response to the feed request, and to transmit the received feed to the mobile terminal. The network component (150) may also comprise a cache memory (164) for storing copies of feeds and contents and a proxy for processing feed requests and content requests received from the mobile terminal (110).

Abstract: The invention relates to techniques for controlling a delivery of streaming content in a point-to-multipoint (‘PTM’) enabled network (100). A method aspect of such a technique comprises the steps of sending one or more adjustment instructions for achieving a buffer overlap in content buffers (132-136) of a plurality of terminal devices (102-106) each receiving content via a point-to-point (‘PTP’) distribution (116-120), and initiating, following the sending of the adjustment instructions, a PTM distribution (142) for at least some of the plurality of terminal devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to prioritising of data elements of a data stream for transmission to a receiving device including determining a decodability of data elements, wherein the decodability indicates the extent to which the current data element is decodable at the receiving device. Then, a priority is assigned to the data elements based on the determined decodabilities. A transmission of the data elements to a receiving device is then scheduled based on the priorities.

Abstract: A method is described for registering a node of an underlying network at an overlay network, characterized in that the node of the underlying network registers at a registration node which initiates a propagation of registration information towards the overlay network.

Abstract: A technique that permits an earlier start of the decoding and play out of media frames received via a point-to-multipoint transmission is described. The media frames comprise frames of a first type that cannot be decoded without knowledge of supplemental information and frames of a second type that include the supplemental information. According to a method aspect of this technique, frames of the first type are received and immediately buffered without waiting for reception of a frame of the second type. In a next step, a request message requesting supplemental information required for a decoding of the buffered frames of the first type is sent. Upon receipt of the requested supplemental information, the buffered frames are decoded based on the received supplemental information.

Abstract: The invention relates to transmitting data elements of a data stream based on a priority and target buffer fill levels at a receiving device. A transmitter controller transmits data elements of a data element class with a highest priority first, for reaching an associated buffer fill level and then turns to data elements of successively lower priorities, until the available bandwidth is exhausted.

Abstract: A technique for registering a device (10) with a rights issuer system (12) in a digital rights management (DRM) context is described. The device (10) is provided with DRM registration information that is required to use protected content. The DRM registration information is generated from rights issuer information on the one hand and device information on the other hand. The DRM registration technique described herein does not require an interactive registration protocol between a rights issuer server (12) and the device (10). Rather, the DRM registration information may be generated and transferred to the device (10) even if the device (10) is offline, inactive or switched-off.

Abstract: The invention relates to transmitting data elements of a data stream based on a priority and target buffer fill levels at a receiving device. A transmitter controller transmits data elements of a data element class with a highest priority first, for reaching an associated buffer fill level and then turns to data elements of successively lower priorities, until the available bandwidth is exhausted.

Abstract: The invention relates to prioritising of data elements of a data stream for transmission to a receiving device including determining a decodability of data elements, wherein the decodability indicates the extent to which the current data element is decodable at the receiving device. Then, a priority is assigned to the data elements based on the determined decodabilities. A transmission of the data elements to a receiving device is then scheduled based on the priorities.