Abstract: The present invention teaches new solutions based on an alternative approach to controlling client behavior in adaptive streaming applications, namely, server managed adaptive streaming. in this approach, the client makes requests for streaming content and provides extra information about its behaviors, and the server verifies the information to determine if the requests can be granted. This way, even if the client is not trusted, its behaviors can be properly and effectively controlled. Moreover, all of the solutions resulting from adopting this server managed adaptive streaming approach fit into the MPEG/3GPP standards of Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for updating a metadata file. The method include: sending a message to a server on a network side to request a metadata file corresponding to media presentation; receiving a metadata file returned by the server according to the message that requests the metadata file corresponding to the media presentation, where the metadata file includes information about duration of a part of described media presentation; determining update time of the metadata file according to the information about the duration of the part of described media presentation; and sending a request for updating the metadata file to the server according to the update time.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding a media stream includes a memory module, a processor module coupled to the memory module, wherein the memory module contains instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform the following: receive a media stream including a segment signaling information and a plurality of segments, wherein the plurality of segments includes encoded and unencoded segments, wherein the segment signaling information includes identification of at least two segment groups each including at least one segment, identify at least one segment group using the segment signaling information in the media stream, identify at least one segment decoding algorithm for the at least one segment group, identify at least one decoding key for the at least segment group, and decode each encoded segment within the at least segment group using the at least segment decoding algorithm and the at least one decoding key.

Abstract: A video frame decoding method and apparatus in order to implement efficient and fast video decoding. The method includes acquiring a target time point of a video, obtaining a frame number of a corresponding random access frame according to the target time point, obtaining a frame number of a frame that can be independently decoded, where the dependency set includes at least one dependency, and the dependency represents a correspondence between a frame number of a random access frame and a frame number of a frame that can be independently decoded, and obtaining, according to the frame number of the frame that can be independently decoded, video data of the frame that can be independently decoded, and decoding the random access frame.

Abstract: A communication method, a user device, a content server and a controller are provided. The communication method comprises sending a first access request for a segment of depended content to a content server, wherein the depended content comprises at least one segment, receiving an access receipt from the content server, wherein the access receipt contains information describing present access to the segment of the depended content by a user device, and storing the access receipt such that the control capability of the network on behavior of the user device is enhanced while reserving enough flexibility of the user device.

Abstract: The present invention teaches new solutions based on an alternative approach to controlling client behavior in adaptive streaming applications, namely, server managed adaptive streaming. in this approach, the client makes requests for streaming content and provides extra information about its behaviors, and the server verifies the information to determine if the requests can be granted. This way, even if the client is not trusted, its behaviors can be properly and effectively controlled. Moreover, all of the solutions resulting from adopting this server managed adaptive streaming approach fit into the MPEG/3GPP standards of Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH).

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding a media stream, wherein the apparatus comprises a memory module, a processor module coupled to the memory module, wherein the memory module contains instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform the following: receive a media stream comprising a segment signaling information and a plurality of segments, wherein the plurality of segments comprises encoded and unencoded segments, wherein the segment signaling information comprises identification of at least two segment groups each comprising at least one segment, identify at least one segment group using the segment signaling information in the media stream, identify at least one segment decoding algorithm for the at least one segment group, identify at least one decoding key for the at least segment group, and decode each encoded segment within the at least segment group using the at least segment decoding algorithm and the at least one decoding key.

Abstract: A method for adaptive streaming of a media content, wherein the method comprises receiving a media presentation description that provides presentation information for the media content, determining a plurality of representations from the media presentation description that comprise segments that are provided with bitrate and quality information, selecting a media segment that meets a desired quality level to download from one of the representations, updating a buffered media time for downloading the media segment, and determining when to switch to another representation by comparing the buffered media time to a switching threshold value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a media data processing method and apparatus. The media data processing method includes: obtaining each media segment in a coding representation; and performing content protection processing on at least a part of media segments in the coding representation. In the embodiments of the present invention, a media segment in a coding representation is used as a unit of content protection, and the content protection may be performed on at least a part of media segments in the coding representation, so that protection manners of media segments in the coding representation are differentiated, so as to improve reliability and flexibility of performing the content protection on an HTTP streaming media service.

Abstract: A Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transport Protocol (DASH) server component is disclosed. The DASH server component may comprise a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, and a transmitter coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to generate one or more keys containing content protection information for media content, associate the keys with one or more segments of media content, store the keys in a DASH metadata track in the memory, and generate a media presentation description (MPD) specifying an association between the keys and the segments of media content. The transmitter may be configured to transmit the keys to at least one client independently of transmitting the media content and transmit the MPD to the at least one client.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for updating a metadata file. The method include: sending a message to a server on a network side to request a metadata file corresponding to media presentation; receiving a metadata file returned by the server according to the message that requests the metadata file corresponding to the media presentation, where the metadata file includes information about duration of a part of described media presentation; determining update time of the metadata file according to the information about the duration of the part of described media presentation; and sending a request for updating the metadata file to the server according to the update time.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a memory, a processor coupled to the memory and configured to obtain a protection description for media content comprising a plurality of content items, wherein the protection description comprises data signaling at least two protection mechanisms for at least two content items in a media content, wherein each of the at least two content items is protected by one or more of the at least two protection mechanisms, and wherein the protection mechanisms for the at least two content items are different, determine the protection mechanisms for the at least two content items from the data, and process the at least two content items according to their associated protection mechanisms.

Abstract: A method for implementing a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)-based streaming service is disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: a server receives a request from a client, and returns, to the client according to a request for a media presentation description file, a response that carries the media presentation description file; the server sets up a time synchronization relationship with the client; and the server receives a uniform resource locator from the client, obtains a corresponding media fragment file, and returns the media fragment file to the client for playing on the client, where the uniform resource locator is a uniform resource locator of a media fragment that is determined by the client and is required to be played, and is used for the client to request the media fragment file from the server.

Abstract: An HTTP-based synchronization method includes obtaining a first response sent by a source server or a cache in response to an HTTP request for obtaining a file; determining a time when the first response is sent in local time at the source server, according to a value of a Date field and a value of an Age field in the first response; determining a time when the first response is sent in local time at a client, according to the client time of an event related to the first response; and determining a time offset between the source server time and the client time according to: the time when the first response is sent in local time at the source server and the time when the first response is sent in local time at the client, and setting up a synchronization relationship between the client time and the source server time.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided herein for efficient representation and use of initialization vectors (IVs) for encrypted segments using template mode representation in Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (DASH). An embodiment method includes sending in a media presentation description (MPD), from a network server to a client, a template for generating a universal resource locator (URL) to obtain an IV that is used for encrypting a segment, in absence of an IV value in the MPD, receiving from the client a URL configured according to the template, and upon receiving the URL, returning an IV corresponding to the URL to the client. Another embodiment method includes receiving in a MPD, at a client from a network server, a template for generating a URL to obtain an IV that is used for encrypting a segment, upon detecting an absence of an IV value or IV base value in the MPD, configuring a URL for the IV using the template, sending the URL for the IV, and receiving an IV.

Abstract: A method for adaptive streaming of a media content, wherein the method comprises receiving a media presentation description that provides presentation information for the media content, determining a plurality of representations from the media presentation description that comprise segments that are provided with bitrate and quality information, selecting a media segment that meets a desired quality level to download from one of the representations, updating a buffered media time for downloading the media segment, and determining when to switch to another representation by comparing the buffered media time to a switching threshold value.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided herein for efficient representation and use of initialization vectors (IVs) for encrypted segments using template mode representation in Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (DASH). An embodiment method includes sending in a media presentation description (MPD), from a network server to a client, a template for generating a universal resource locator (URL) to obtain an IV that is used for encrypting a segment, in absence of an IV value in the MPD, receiving from the client a URL configured according to the template, and upon receiving the URL, returning an IV corresponding to the URL to the client. Another embodiment method includes receiving in a MPD, at a client from a network server, a template for generating a URL to obtain an IV that is used for encrypting a segment, upon detecting an absence of an IV value or IV base value in the MPD, configuring a URL for the IV using the template, sending the URL for the IV, and receiving an IV.

Abstract: A client device comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a client identifier and a media presentation description (MPD) request to a content server, and a processor operably coupled to a memory and the transmitter, wherein the memory comprises computer executable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by the processor causes the processor to receive an MPD file following transmission of the client identifier and the MPD request, wherein the MPD file assigns a base segment to at least two variant segments, transmit a segment request to the content server following receipt of the MPD file, and receive the base segment and one of the at least two variant segments from the content server following transmission of the segment request, wherein the one of the at least two variant segments corresponds to the client identifier.

Abstract: A content source comprising a processor configured to generate a media presentation description (MPD) file, wherein the MPD file designates a dependent media content part to be assigned to at least one depended media content part, and wherein the MPD file indicates the dependent media content part is to be accessed by a client device when an access condition for the dependent media content part is satisfied, and a transmitter operably coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the MPD file to at least one of a content server, a control server, and the client device.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided herein for efficient representation and use of initialization vectors (IVs) for encrypted segments using template mode representation in Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (DASH). An embodiment method includes sending in a media presentation description (MPD), from a network server to a client, a template for generating a universal resource locator (URL) to obtain an IV that is used for encrypting a segment, in absence of an IV value in the MPD, receiving from the client a URL configured according to the template, and upon receiving the URL, returning an IV corresponding to the URL to the client. Another embodiment method includes receiving in a MPD, at a client from a network server, a template for generating a URL to obtain an IV that is used for encrypting a segment, upon detecting an absence of an IV value or IV base value in the MPD, configuring a URL for the IV using the template, sending the URL for the IV, and receiving an IV.