Abstract: The invention provides for a download agent executing on a computing device to dynamically select between media files with different media quality for delivery of media content provided by a media content provider. The download agent may select between different media files with similar content but different quality based on a playback rate of the media file, the resolution of the media file, or the encoding scheme of the media file. The download agent may seamlessly transition from one media file to another media file at key frames to avoid any motion artifacts and to avoid requiring a user to restart the media file.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: Techniques are described for downloading user-selected segments of media objects. As described herein, a user may demand that a client device present a segment of a media object when the client device has not yet downloaded the data that represents the partial segment of the media object. The client device may then output two separate requests to a server that hosts the media object. The first request specifies a resource identifier of the media object and a first data range. Data in the first range specifies a format of data of the media object. The second request specifies the resource identifier of the media object and a second data range. Data in the second range represents the requested partial segment of the media object. When the client device receives the data, the client device uses the data in the first range to present the data in the second range.

Abstract: The invention provides for a download agent executing on a computing device to dynamically select between media files with different media quality for delivery of media content provided by a media content provider. The download agent may select between different media files with similar content but different quality based on a playback rate of the media file, the resolution of the media file, or the encoding scheme of the media file. The download agent may seamlessly transition from one media file to another media file at key frames to avoid any motion artifacts and to avoid requiring a user to restart the media file.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: The invention provides for a download agent executing on a computing device to dynamically select between media files with different media quality for delivery of media content provided by a media content provider. The download agent may select between different media files with similar content but different quality based on a playback rate of the media file, the resolution of the media file, or the encoding scheme of the media file. The download agent may seamlessly transition from one media file to another media file at key frames to avoid any motion artifacts and to avoid requiring a user to restart the media file.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques of distributing media player plug-in software. As described herein, default media player software may cause a client device to begin receiving and presenting media data in a media object. During the presentation of the media data, the client device may identify an occurrence of a viewing event in the presentation of the media data. When this occurs, the client device automatically prompts the user of the client device to decide whether to install a media player plug-in module that enables the client device to overcome the viewing event. If the user decides to install the media player plug-in module, the client device automatically downloads and installs the media player plug-in module. Subsequently, the media player plug-in module causes the client device to receive the additional media data.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: The invention provides for a download agent executing on a computing device to dynamically select between media files with different media quality for delivery of media content provided by a media content provider. The download agent may select between different media files with similar content but different quality based on a playback rate of the media file, the resolution of the media file, or the encoding scheme of the media file. The download agent may seamlessly transition from one media file to another media file at key frames to avoid any motion artifacts and to avoid requiring a user to restart the media file.

Abstract: Techniques are described for downloading user-selected segments of media objects. As described herein, a user may demand that a client device present a segment of a media object when the client device has not yet downloaded the data that represents the partial segment of the media object. The client device may then output two separate requests to a server that hosts the media object. The first request specifies a resource identifier of the media object and a first data range. Data in the first range specifies a format of data of the media object. The second request specifies the resource identifier of the media object and a second data range. Data in the second range represents the requested partial segment of the media object. When the client device receives the data, the client device uses the data in the first range to present the data in the second range.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques of distributing media player plug-in software. As described herein, default media player software may cause a client device to begin receiving and presenting media data in a media object. During the presentation of the media data, the client device may identify an occurrence of a viewing event in the presentation of the media data. When this occurs, the client device automatically prompts the user of the client device to decide whether to install a media player plug-in module that enables the client device to overcome the viewing event. If the user decides to install the media player plug-in module, the client device automatically downloads and installs the media player plug-in module. Subsequently, the media player plug-in module causes the client device to receive the additional media data.