Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to communication systems and methods for converting between lossy communication protocol packets and lossless communication protocol packets. In one aspect, the communication system includes a server, a set top box, and an intermediate node. In some embodiments, the intermediate node is configured to receive a lossy communication protocol packet from the server, convert the lossy communication protocol packet to a lossless communication protocol packet, and transmit the converted lossless communication protocol packet to the set top box.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to communication systems and methods for converting between lossy communication protocol packets and lossless communication protocol packets. In one aspect, the communication system includes a server, a set top box, and an intermediate node. In some embodiments, the intermediate node is configured to receive a lossy communication protocol packet from the server, convert the lossy communication protocol packet to a lossless communication protocol packet, and transmit the converted lossless communication protocol packet to the set top box.

Abstract: A network device providing audio-video packet delivery over a local area network may include a memory and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to receive data packets from a server, the data packets being addressed to an electronic device downstream from the network device. The at least one processor may be further configured to determine whether the data packets satisfy an offload condition. The at least one processor may be further configured to, when the data packets satisfy the offload condition: transmit, to the server, acknowledgement packets corresponding to the received data packets, store the data packets in a buffer, transmit the data packets to the electronic device, and retransmit the data packets to the electronic device responsive to request therefor, the retransmitted data packets being retrieved from the buffer.

Abstract: A network device providing audio-video packet delivery over a local area network may include a memory and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to receive data packets from a server, the data packets being addressed to an electronic device downstream from the network device. The at least one processor may be further configured to determine whether the data packets satisfy an offload condition. The at least one processor may be further configured to, when the data packets satisfy the offload condition: transmit, to the server, acknowledgement packets corresponding to the received data packets, store the data packets in a buffer, transmit the data packets to the electronic device, and retransmit the data packets to the electronic device responsive to request therefor, the retransmitted data packets being retrieved from the buffer.

Abstract: A device for decoupling audio-video (AV) traffic processing from non-AV traffic processing may include a first processor and a second processor. The first processor may be configured to establish a network connection with a client device, determine whether the network connection is associated with AV traffic, transfer the network connection to a second processor when the network connection is associated with AV traffic, and process non-AV traffic associated with the network connection when the network connection is not associated with AV traffic. The second processor may be configured to receive the network connection from the first processor and process the AV traffic associated with the network connection.

Abstract: A system for presentation timing based audio video (AV) stream processing may include a switch device, a first processor, and a second processor. The switch device may be configured to route AV traffic to the first processor for processing and non-AV traffic to the second processor for processing. The first processor may receive transport stream packets that include an audio stream and/or a video stream. The first processor may receive a request to modify presentation timing of the audio stream and/or video stream. The first processor may modify the transport stream packets and/or presentation timing parameters of the transport stream packets based at least in part on the received request. The first processor may provide the transport stream packets to an electronic device. In some implementations, the second processor may be unable to access the content of the transport stream packets in the clear, e.g. due to security considerations.

Abstract: A system for adaptive audio video (AV) stream processing may include at least one processor and a switch device. The switch device may be configured to route AV traffic to the processor, and to receive AV traffic from the processor and provide the AV traffic to a client device via one or more channels. The processor may monitor a transcoder buffer depth and depths of buffers associated with channels over which the AV traffic is being transmitted. The processor may adaptively modify one or more attributes associated with the AV traffic based at least on the monitored buffer depths. For example, the processor may adaptively adjust a bit rate associated with transcoding the AV traffic based at least on the transcoder buffer depth. The processor may utilize the depths of the buffers associated with the channels to adaptively adjust the amount of AV traffic provided for transmission over the channels.

Abstract: A method of handling retransmission and memory consumption tracking of data packets includes storing data packets from different data channels in respective transmitter ring buffers allocated to the data channels when the data packets are not marked for retransmission, and facilitating retransmission of data packets from a specified ring buffer corresponding to a retransmission sequence number. The method also may include storing received data packets out of sequence in respective receiver ring buffers, marking a descriptor indicating a tail location of the stored data packets, and reclaiming memory space in the ring buffer based on the marked descriptor. The method may include storing a payload address associated with received data packets, marking a descriptor associated with the payload address to indicate the stored data packets have been consumed for processing, and reclaiming memory space when a register contains an indication of the stored payload address based on the marked descriptor.

Abstract: A STB resource sharing (RS) group of a home network comprises a plurality of STBs. In the STB RS group, a STB communicates with one or more other STBs to mutually share available device resources comprising hardware and software resources, and/or capabilities. The STB functions as an elected master (EM) or a STB RS client in the STB RS group. As an EM, the STB receives advertisements from other STBs to determine available resources. The determined available resources are announced to other STBs in the STB RS group. The STB manages the use of the determined available resources according to resource sharing requests received from other STBs. As a STB RS client, the STB advertises inherent resources to an EM of the STB RS group. The STB receives announcements from the EM for available resources in the STB RS group. The STB shares its available resources, accordingly.

Abstract: A system for adaptive audio video (AV) stream processing may include at least one processor and a switch device. The switch device may be configured to route AV traffic to the processor, and to receive AV traffic from the processor and provide the AV traffic to a client device via one or more channels. The processor may monitor a transcoder buffer depth and depths of buffers associated with channels over which the AV traffic is being transmitted. The processor may adaptively modify one or more attributes associated with the AV traffic based at least on the monitored buffer depths. For example, the processor may adaptively adjust a bit rate associated with transcoding the AV traffic based at least on the transcoder buffer depth. The processor may utilize the depths of the buffers associated with the channels to adaptively adjust the amount of AV traffic provided for transmission over the channels.

Abstract: A system for adaptive audio video (AV) stream processing may include at least one processor and a switch device. The switch device may be configured to route AV traffic to the processor, and to receive AV traffic from the processor and provide the AV traffic to a client device via one or more channels. The processor may monitor a transcoder buffer depth and depths of buffers associated with channels over which the AV traffic is being transmitted. The processor may adaptively modify one or more attributes associated with the AV traffic based at least on the monitored buffer depths. For example, the processor may adaptively adjust a bit rate associated with transcoding the AV traffic based at least on the transcoder buffer depth. The processor may utilize the depths of the buffers associated with the channels to adaptively adjust the amount of AV traffic provided for transmission over the channels.

Abstract: A system for adaptive audio video (AV) stream processing may include at least one processor and a switch device. The switch device may be configured to route AV traffic to the processor, and to receive AV traffic from the processor and provide the AV traffic to a client device via one or more channels. The processor may monitor a transcoder buffer depth and depths of buffers associated with channels over which the AV traffic is being transmitted. The processor may adaptively modify one or more attributes associated with the AV traffic based at least on the monitored buffer depths. For example, the processor may adaptively adjust a bit rate associated with transcoding the AV traffic based at least on the transcoder buffer depth. The processor may utilize the depths of the buffers associated with the channels to adaptively adjust the amount of AV traffic provided for transmission over the channels.

Abstract: A system for presentation timing based audio video (AV) stream processing may include a switch device, a first processor, and a second processor. The switch device may be configured to route AV traffic to the first processor for processing and non-AV traffic to the second processor for processing. The first processor may receive transport stream packets that include an audio stream and/or a video stream. The first processor may receive a request to modify presentation timing of the audio stream and/or video stream. The first processor may modify the transport stream packets and/or presentation timing parameters of the transport stream packets based at least in part on the received request. The first processor may provide the transport stream packets to an electronic device. In some implementations, the second processor may be unable to access the content of the transport stream packets in the clear, e.g. due to security considerations.

Abstract: A system for pipelined encryption and packetization of audio video (AV) data may consecutively encrypt a number of AV data units based on a security mechanism, associate the encrypted AV data units with a security header, where the security header is generated before the AV data units are encrypted, and the security header includes information related to the security mechanism, generate network packets for transporting the encrypted AV data units and the associated security header based at least in part on an order in which the AV data units are encrypted, where one or more of the network packets is generated contemporaneous with encrypting one or more of the AV data units, and provide the network packets for transport to a client device as the packets are generated, where the AV data units are encrypted and the network packets are generated without accessing memory external to the system.

Abstract: A device for decoupling audio-video (AV) traffic processing from non-AV traffic processing may include a first processor and a second processor. The first processor may be configured to establish a network connection with a client device, determine whether the network connection is associated with AV traffic, transfer the network connection to a second processor when the network connection is associated with AV traffic, and process non-AV traffic associated with the network connection when the network connection is not associated with AV traffic. The second processor may be configured to receive the network connection from the first processor and process the AV traffic associated with the network connection.

Abstract: A method of handling retransmission and memory consumption tracking of data packets includes storing data packets from different data channels in respective transmitter ring buffers allocated to the data channels when the data packets are not marked for retransmission, and facilitating retransmission of data packets from a specified ring buffer corresponding to a retransmission sequence number. The method also may include storing received data packets out of sequence in respective receiver ring buffers, marking a descriptor indicating a tail location of the stored data packets, and reclaiming memory space in the ring buffer based on the marked descriptor. The method may include storing a payload address associated with received data packets, marking a descriptor associated with the payload address to indicate the stored data packets have been consumed for processing, and reclaiming memory space when a register contains an indication of the stored payload address based on the marked descriptor.

Abstract: An encoder arrangement is provided for streaming media. A variable rate encoder is configured and arranged to receive an input data stream and output an encoded data stream. A buffer is arranged to receive the encoded data stream and output a buffered data stream. A control means monitors depth of the buffer and controls the encoding rate of the variable rate encoder so that encoding is carried out at a rate appropriate to an available link rate, thereby providing smooth transition of data stream quality as link conditions change.

Abstract: A STB resource sharing (RS) group of a home network comprises a plurality of STBs. In the STB RS group, a STB communicates with one or more other STBs to mutually share available device resources comprising hardware and software resources, and/or capabilities. The STB functions as an elected master (EM) or a STB RS client in the STB RS group. As an EM, the STB receives advertisements from other STBs to determine available resources. The determined available resources are announced to other STBs in the STB RS group. The STB manages the use of the determined available resources according to resource sharing requests received from other STBs. As a STB RS client, the STB advertises inherent resources to an EM of the STB RS group. The STB receives announcements from the EM for available resources in the STB RS group. The STB shares its available resources, accordingly.

Abstract: A STB resource sharing (RS) group of a home network comprises a plurality of STBs. In the STB RS group, a STB communicates with one or more other STBs to mutually share available device resources comprising hardware and software resources, and/or capabilities. The STB functions as an elected master (EM) or a STB RS client in the STB RS group. As an EM, the STB receives advertisements from other STBs to determine available resources. The determined available resources are announced to other STBs in the STB RS group. The STB manages the use of the determined available resources according to resource sharing requests received from other STBs. As a STB RS client, the STB advertises inherent resources to an EM of the STB RS group. The STB receives announcements from the EM for available resources in the STB RS group. The STB shares its available resources, accordingly.

Abstract: A home network (HN) server is configured to terminate IP-based multicast packets received from, for example, an external IPTV service distribution network and record in storage of the HN server. The HN server transmits the terminated multicast packets to a plurality of HN clients based on corresponding link quality between each of the HN clients and the HN server. A transmission mode and local IP protocols are determined based on corresponding link quality for each of the HN clients. The recorded multicast packets are reformatted based on the determined local IP protocols and transmitted in the determined transmission mode to corresponding HN clients. The HN server acquires expected recorded multicast packets when not available in its storage from peer HN servers and reformats the acquired expected recorded multicast packets based on the determined local IP protocols for transmission. Packet transmission are suspended or resumed according to a client service pause.