Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for computing quality scores for a media session delivered using an adaptive streaming protocol, where the quality score may be an estimate of a mean opinion score. The quality score reflects the impact of network delivery on a viewer's quality of experience (QoE). In particular, the quality score is generally based on the effects of stream switch events, as stream switches may be the result of impaired network delivery. Other network events, such as re-buffering events may also be incorporated in the score.

Abstract: An apparatus generally having an interface and a circuit is disclosed. The interface may be connectable to a network to monitor a media program streaming across the network to a media client. The circuit may be configured to (i) generate first information by modeling a buffer of the media client, the first information being representative of a plurality of events related to the buffer during a playback of the media program and (ii) generate a signal representative of a quality of experience of the media program in response to the first information.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling access to a multimedia stream in a media streaming session from a multimedia server to a requesting device via a network. The systems and methods facilitate receiving a primary request for the multimedia stream from the requesting device; determining whether to allow access to the primary request from the requesting device in accordance with at least one media session policy; and if access is permitted, then generating a secondary request corresponding to the primary request; providing the secondary request to the multimedia server; receiving a first multimedia stream from the multimedia server in response to the secondary request; determining whether to transmit the first multimedia stream or a second multimedia stream based on the at least one media session policy; and transmitting either the first multimedia stream or the second multimedia stream to the requesting device as indicated by the at least one media session policy.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, monitoring system is presented that includes a monitoring device that extracts packet data of a data distribution network. A video network analyzer processes the packet data of the data distribution network to identify a media session that includes streaming video; analyzes the streaming video to identify an attribute associated with the streaming video; generates media session data that indicates the attribute in the streaming video; and generates policy and charging server interface data for controlling distribution of the streaming video, based on the media session data. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transcoding from an input media stream to an output media stream, wherein the input media stream and the output media stream are in an indexed file format. The methods and systems are capable of generating an efficiently coded media file where the movie box is generated and sent before transcoding is complete, while maintaining acceptable and consistent quality throughout and minimizing the total size of the file.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems using no-reference techniques for computing quality scores for audio and video components of a media session, where the quality scores are estimates of perceived quality by the viewer for the individual components of the media session. A presentation quality score is computed for a media stream by parsing a container of the media stream to determine media stream characteristics, estimating an visual quality factor and based on the visual quality factor, determining the presentation quality score.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a video network analyzer processes the packet data to generate network and media session data relating to the distribution of video content via the data distribution network in at least one media session, wherein the network and media session data includes at least one session metric, location data, protocol identification data, video encoding parameter data, and audio encoding parameter data. An analytics database stores the network and media session data for generation of report data.

Abstract: A system includes a policy repository configured to store a plurality of media-centric policies. A media policy decision point is configured to execute operational instructions in accordance with a media centric policy language to select at least one of the plurality of policies corresponding to one of the plurality of media sessions based on, for example, feedback extracted monitoring the plurality of media sessions. The media-centric policy language, in various embodiments, expresses at least one of: operator preferences, operator goals, or operator constraints, facilitates management of individual ones of the plurality of media sessions and/or facilitates management of aggregate media traffic over the plurality of media sessions.

Abstract: A system includes a video services gateway that detects an ad request, sent via a network, from at least one of the plurality of client devices to a real-time ad exchange system and generates an indication of the ad request. A service provider advertising engine receives the indication of the ad request from the video services gateway, generates a bid to the real-time ad exchange system to fulfill an ad opportunity corresponding to the ad request, retrieves subscriber data associated with the at least one client device from a subscriber database, when the bid is successful, annotates the ad opportunity with the subscriber data and submits the annotated ad opportunity to the real-time ad exchange system for rebidding.

Abstract: A method of providing streaming media content to a subscriber mobile device includes providing a time-denominated media quota associated with the subscriber mobile device; in response to a request for the streaming media content from the subscriber mobile device, providing the streaming media content to the subscriber mobile device through a mobile data network; determining a media duration associated with the streaming media content; and applying the media duration associated with the streaming media content to the time-denominated media quota.

Abstract: A system includes a policy repository configured to store a plurality of plurality of media-centric policies. A media policy decision point receives media session data corresponding to one of the plurality of media sessions; determines a plurality of media-specific and non-media specific attributes, based on the media session data; and evaluates a plurality of media-centric policies to determine a proper subset of the plurality of media-centric policies that apply to the one of the plurality of media sessions. A media policy enforcement point enforces the proper subset of the plurality of media-centric policies to control the one of the plurality of media sessions.

Abstract: A method for enabling streaming to a media player without native streaming support is disclosed. Step (A) of the method may author a media file based on a content signal. The media file may have an indexed format compatible with the media player. The content signal may (i) be received from a remote server through a network, (ii) use a transfer protocol and format at least one of which is incompatible with the media player and (iii) convey both video data and audio data representative of a scene. Step (B) may generate a local signal carrying the media file. The local signal generally has a transfer protocol compatible with the media player. Step (C) may transfer the local signal to the media player while the content signal is being received. The media player generally recreates the video data as a visual depiction on a display based on the local signal.

Abstract: In a networked system connecting a subscriber to a content source via one or more networks, a computer-implemented method includes instantiating a session model for a media session between the subscriber and the content source, the session model to generate session metadata from application-layer interactions between the subscriber and the content source. The method further includes instantiating an interaction model in response to detecting an application-layer interaction in a transport flow of the subscriber, the application-layer interaction comprising media data for the media session. The method also includes generating, at the interaction model, interaction metadata representative of the application-layer interaction, and processing at least one of the interaction metadata and the media data at the session model to generate session metadata responsive to matching the interaction model to the session model.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for optimizing data transmission between two hosts via a network device. The network device initially allows a first connection to be established between the two host devices. This first connection is logically established directly between the host devices without modification by the network device. The network device analyzes data transmitted via the first connection and determines whether to allow the first connection to continue without intervention by the network device, or whether to split the connection into separate TCP connections with the network device as intermediary. The network device maintains connection state and emulates both host devices to allow the first connection to be split without disrupting the communication at either host device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of flow model circuits, a categorizer circuit, and a plurality of link model circuits. Each of the flow model circuits may be configured to generate a respective flow measurement signal in response to data packets received from a plurality of links on a network. The categorizer circuit may be configured to present a plurality of link measurement signals, each in response to one or more of the plurality of flow measurement signals. Each of the link model circuits may be configured to generate a respective congestion estimation signal in response to (i) a respective one of a plurality of model parameter signals, (ii) a respective one of the plurality of link measurement signals, and (iii) a respective one of a plurality of score signals. Each of the congestion estimation signals may represent a congestion level of a respective one of the links.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems using no-reference techniques for computing quality scores for audio and video components of a media session, where the quality scores are estimates of perceived quality by the viewer for the individual components of the media session. A presentation quality score is computed for a media stream by parsing a container of the media stream to determine media stream characteristics, estimating an visual quality factor and based on the visual quality factor, determining the presentation quality score.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transcoding from an input media stream to an output media stream, wherein the input media stream and the output media stream are in an indexed file format. The methods and systems are capable of generating an efficiently coded media file where the movie box is generated and sent before transcoding is complete, while maintaining acceptable and consistent quality throughout and minimizing the total size of the file.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering multimedia content in various telecommunications networks while optimizing quality of experience (QoE). The described methods and systems implement a fast processing path and a slow processing path. In the fast processing path, minimal packet processing is performed to reduce latency. In the slow processing path, increased packet processing is performed to identify media sessions and to perform further data processing. The slow processing path can be used in an online or offline mode, depending on a current flow state.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling access to a multimedia stream in a media streaming session from a multimedia server to a requesting device via a network. The systems and methods facilitate receiving a primary request for the multimedia stream from the requesting device; determining whether to allow access to the primary request from the requesting device in accordance with at least one media session policy; and if access is permitted, then generating a secondary request corresponding to the primary request; providing the secondary request to the multimedia server; receiving a first multimedia stream from the multimedia server in response to the secondary request; determining whether to transmit the first multimedia stream or a second multimedia stream based on the at least one media session policy; and transmitting either the first multimedia stream or the second multimedia stream to the requesting device as indicated by the at least one media session policy.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for computing quality scores for a media session delivered using an adaptive streaming protocol, where the quality score may be an estimate of a mean opinion score. The quality score reflects the impact of network delivery on a viewer's quality of experience (QoE). In particular, the quality score is generally based on the effects of stream switch events, as stream switches may be the result of impaired network delivery. Other network events, such as re-buffering events may also be incorporated in the score.