Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a first viewpoint in response to detecting a user's head movement in viewing video content, determining a capacity of a network, determining a tile schedule for receiving tiles from a server over the network according to the first viewpoint and the capacity of the network, and providing the tile schedule to the server over the network. The server schedules transmitting of the tiles according to the tile schedule and provides the tiles to the client device according to the tile schedule. In addition, embodiments include decoding the tiles according to a decoding schedule, buffering the decoded tiles in a decoded frame buffer, detecting a change in viewpoint from the first viewpoint to a second viewpoint, selecting a portion of the decoded tiles according to the second viewpoint, and presenting the selected tiles. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining live video content from equipment of a media content provider, determining priority content within the live video content; segmenting the live video content into a plurality of tiles according to the priority content, and transcoding the live video content according to a type of client device. Further embodiments include determining an encoding schedule for the plurality of tiles according to the priority content, encoding the plurality of tiles according to the encoding schedule, and providing the plurality of tiles to the client device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media, and methods for providing a timeout for an adaptive bitrate streaming video chunk download are disclosed. For example, a processing system including at least one processor may determine a first bitrate for a first segment of a video program based upon an occupancy level of a video buffer of a device, request a first video chunk of the first segment encoded at the first bitrate, determine that the first video chunk is not received within a threshold of a duration of time after the requesting of the first video chunk, and request, responsive to the determining that the first video chunk is not received within the threshold of the duration of time, a second video chunk of the first segment encoded at a second bitrate that is lower than the first bitrate.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining live video content from equipment of a media content provider, determining priority content within the live video content; segmenting the live video content into a plurality of tiles according to the priority content, and transcoding the live video content according to a type of client device. Further embodiments include determining an encoding schedule for the plurality of tiles according to the priority content, encoding the plurality of tiles according to the encoding schedule, and providing the plurality of tiles to the client device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments facilitating mixed service use of bonded satellite transponders in communication systems are provided. An apparatus comprises a first multiplexer configured to receive first content from first channels of a first type of channel, a second multiplexer configured to receive second content from second channels of a second type of channel, and a transport stream processor (TSP). The TSP can be configured to output the received first content and the second content to modulators respectively associated with different channels for transmission of the first type of channel and the second type of channel, wherein the different channels are transmitted to a bonded satellite transponders, which transmits to a receiver. In some embodiments, the apparatus can comprise a multiplexer aggregator coupled between the TSP and the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer. The first content can be high bit-rate information and the second content can be lower bit-rate information.

Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media, and methods for providing a timeout for an adaptive bitrate streaming video chunk download are disclosed. For example, a processing system including at least one processor may determine a first bitrate for a first segment of a video program based upon an occupancy level of a video buffer of a device, request a first video chunk of the first segment encoded at the first bitrate, determine that the first video chunk is not received within a threshold of a duration of time after the requesting of the first video chunk, and request, responsive to the determining that the first video chunk is not received within the threshold of the duration of time, a second video chunk of the first segment encoded at a second bitrate that is lower than the first bitrate.

Abstract: A processing system may request, from an edge server, a first video chunk for a first segment and a second video chunk for a second segment of a video program stored in a cache of the edge server, where the first and second video chunks that are requested are encoded at a testing bitrate comprising a second lowest available bitrate in accordance with an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol. The processing system may further receive the first and second video chunks from the edge server via a network link, determine a bandwidth of the network link based upon the testing bitrate, the durations of the first and second video chunks, and an elapsed time to receive the first and second video chunks, and request a third video chunk for a third segment of the video program encoded at a highest available bitrate below the bandwidth of the network link.

Abstract: A processing system including at least one processor may request, from an edge server, a plurality of video chunks for a plurality of segments of a video program to fill a video buffer, where the plurality of video chunks is encoded at a startup bitrate comprising a second lowest available bitrate of a plurality of available bitrates in accordance with an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol. The processing system may further receive, from the edge server, the plurality of video chunks, write the plurality of video chunks to the video buffer, and play out the plurality of video chunks from the video buffer when an occupancy level of the video buffer exceeds a threshold. In addition, the processing system may select a next video chunk for a next segment of the video program after the plurality of segments in accordance with a mapping function.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising sending a first list of formats associated with media content to a client device via a network, and receiving from the client device a selection of a format from a second list of formats filtered from the first list using filtering criteria. The second list includes formats compatible with the client device. The filtering criteria can be based on performance metrics of the network and on capabilities of the client device. During presentation of the content at the client device in the selected format, transmission of the content item can be dynamically altered in response to a message that the presentation be continued in a different format. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, embodiments include obtaining video content, the video content comprises a plurality of frames, monitoring, by an image sensor, a facial feature of a user to determine a visual focus of the user in relation to the video content, and detecting from a group of frames of the plurality of frames at least a reduction in movements of objects in the group of frames. Further embodiments include determining, according to the monitoring and the detecting, a measure of attention of the user within a region of the group of frames, determining that the measure of attention of the user within the region of the group of frames satisfies a threshold, and embedding in at least a portion of subsequent frames of the plurality of frames a visual advertisement in the region via a communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a first viewpoint in response to detecting a user's head movement in viewing video content, determining a capacity of a network, determining a tile schedule for receiving tiles from a server over the network according to the first viewpoint and the capacity of the network, and providing the tile schedule to the server over the network. The server schedules transmitting of the tiles according to the tile schedule and provides the tiles to the client device according to the tile schedule. In addition, embodiments include decoding the tiles according to a decoding schedule, buffering the decoded tiles in a decoded frame buffer, detecting a change in viewpoint from the first viewpoint to a second viewpoint, selecting a portion of the decoded tiles according to the second viewpoint, and presenting the selected tiles. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining live video content from equipment of a media content provider, determining priority content within the live video content; segmenting the live video content into a plurality of tiles according to the priority content, and transcoding the live video content according to a type of client device. Further embodiments include determining an encoding schedule for the plurality of tiles according to the priority content, encoding the plurality of tiles according to the encoding schedule, and providing the plurality of tiles to the client device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising sending a first list of formats associated with media content to a client device via a network, and receiving from the client device a selection of a format from a second list of formats filtered from the first list using filtering criteria. The second list includes formats compatible with the client device. The filtering criteria can be based on performance metrics of the network and on capabilities of the client device. During presentation of the content at the client device in the selected format, transmission of the content item can be dynamically altered in response to a message that the presentation be continued in a different format. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a region of interest included in a plurality of candidate regions of interest associated with a presentation of a first content item on a user equipment, wherein the first content item includes a panoramic video, comparing first metadata associated with the region of interest to a plurality of metadata associated with a plurality of secondary content items, responsive to the comparing, identifying a second content item included in the plurality of secondary content items, wherein the identifying of the second content item is based on a distance between the first metadata and second metadata associated with the second content item being less than a threshold, and transmitting the second content item to the user equipment responsive to the identifying of the second content item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A processing system may request, from an edge server, a first video chunk for a first segment and a second video chunk for a second segment of a video program stored in a cache of the edge server, where the first and second video chunks that are requested are encoded at a testing bitrate comprising a second lowest available bitrate in accordance with an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol. The processing system may further receive the first and second video chunks from the edge server via a network link, determine a bandwidth of the network link based upon the testing bitrate, the durations of the first and second video chunks, and an elapsed time to receive the first and second video chunks, and request a third video chunk for a third segment of the video program encoded at a highest available bitrate below the bandwidth of the network link.

Abstract: A processing system may obtain a video chunk of a segment of a video program via a network link, the video chunk encoded at a first bitrate of a plurality of available bitrates for a plurality of segments of the video program in accordance with a mapping function of buffer occupancy levels to the plurality of available bitrates, determine a bandwidth of the network link based upon the first bitrate, a length of the segment, and an elapsed time to receive the video chunk via the network link, determine that the bandwidth of the network link is between two of the plurality of available bitrates, and increase, responsive to the determining that the bandwidth of the network link is between the two of the plurality of available bitrates, a buffer occupancy threshold of the mapping function for switching to a higher one of the two of the plurality of available bitrates.

Abstract: Devices, computer-readable media, and methods for providing a timeout for an adaptive bitrate streaming video chunk download are disclosed. For example, a processing system including at least one processor may determine a first bitrate for a first segment of a video program based upon an occupancy level of a video buffer of a device, request a first video chunk of the first segment encoded at the first bitrate, determine that the first video chunk is not received within a threshold of a duration of time after the requesting of the first video chunk, and request, responsive to the determining that the first video chunk is not received within the threshold of the duration of time, a second video chunk of the first segment encoded at a second bitrate that is lower than the first bitrate.

Abstract: A processing system including at least one processor may request, from an edge server, a plurality of video chunks for a plurality of segments of a video program to fill a video buffer, where the plurality of video chunks is encoded at a startup bitrate comprising a second lowest available bitrate of a plurality of available bitrates in accordance with an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol. The processing system may further receive, from the edge server, the plurality of video chunks, write the plurality of video chunks to the video buffer, and play out the plurality of video chunks from the video buffer when an occupancy level of the video buffer exceeds a threshold. In addition, the processing system may select a next video chunk for a next segment of the video program after the plurality of segments in accordance with a mapping function.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising sending a first list of formats associated with media content to a client device via a network, and receiving from the client device a selection of a format from a second list of formats filtered from the first list using filtering criteria. The second list includes formats compatible with the client device. The filtering criteria can be based on performance metrics of the network and on capabilities of the client device. During presentation of the content at the client device in the selected format, transmission of the content item can be dynamically altered in response to a message that the presentation be continued in a different format. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments facilitating mixed service use of bonded satellite transponders in communication systems are provided. An apparatus comprises a first multiplexer configured to receive first content from first channels of a first type of channel, a second multiplexer configured to receive second content from second channels of a second type of channel, and a transport stream processor (TSP). The TSP can be configured to output the received first content and the second content to modulators respectively associated with different channels for transmission of the first type of channel and the second type of channel, wherein the different channels are transmitted to a bonded satellite transponders, which transmits to a receiver. In some embodiments, the apparatus can comprise a multiplexer aggregator coupled between the TSP and the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer. The first content can be high bit-rate information and the second content can be lower bit-rate information.