Abstract: In some embodiments, a method applies a priority to a plurality of surfaces where the plurality of surfaces each include content. Content is displayed from a first portion of a first surface in the interface based on a priority that is applied to the first surface. A second portion of a second surface is obscured by the first surface. The method maintains operation of the second portion of the second surface and receives an interaction from the interface. The display of the interface is adjusted by displaying the second portion of the second surface in the interface in a state based on the maintaining of the operation.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method determines an intent for requesting an instance of media content. A number of entropy slots is determined based on the intent for requesting the media content. An entropy slot in the media content is where a segment from a first version of the media content or a second version of the media content can be delivered. The method creates the second version of the media content having a first number of segments based on the number of entropy slots. The first number of segments in the second version of the media content based on the number of entropy slots is less than a second number of segments in the first version of the media content. The second version of the media content is output. The first version and the second version are used to create different sequences of segments that are attributable to different requests.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method sends a playlist that includes links to segments of media content. At least a portion of the links include a variable, and a presentation of the media content that is attributable to a request for the media content is created by insertion of values for variables in the playlist. The values are associated with a first version of the media content or a second version of the media content. The method receives a request for a segment and the request contains information from a link included in the playlist. The information includes data based on a value provided for insertion into the link as a substitution for a variable included in the link. The value is associated with the first version of the media content or the second version of the media content. The segment that corresponds to the link is sent.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method selects a first template of pixels that is outside of a first block and a second template of pixels that is outside of the first block. Then, the method selects a first region of pixels that are inside the first block and a second region of pixels that are inside the first block. A first weight is calculated based on the first template of pixels and the first region of pixels and a second weight is calculated based on the second template of pixels and the second region of pixels. The first weight and the second weight are used in a motion prediction search for a second block.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a context for a user account and selects a plurality of collections for an interface. A collection includes one or more instances of content. The method analyzes a context for a user account to select a theme from a plurality of themes for a collection in the plurality of collections. The themes in the plurality of themes apply different display formats to the collection. The method sends an identifier for the theme and information for the collection to a client device being used by the user account to indicate to the interface the theme to use to display the collection with the plurality of collections.

Abstract: A method includes transcoding a first block from a spatial region. The first block is associated with a first block tree pattern defining a structure of splitting a block into smaller blocks. A bit string of bits for the first block tree pattern is included in an encoded bitstream. The method determines a location of the first block in the spatial region when the first block tree pattern of the first block can be reused for a second block tree pattern of a second block. The spatial region includes blocks and the location is based on the first block being in the spatial region. Information for the second block is included in the encoded bitstream that indicates the location of the first block in the spatial region. The location allows the bit string for the first block tree pattern to be retrieved for use to decode the second block.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method sends a set of requests for a video using a first protocol. The first protocol is selected from a plurality of protocols available for use in a playback session for the video. The method compares a first performance of the first protocol and a second performance of a second protocol and determines whether to switch from using the first protocol to the second protocol in the playback session based on the comparing.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a first sequence of inputs for processing via a sub-model of a plurality of sub-model. The plurality of sub-models are part of a main model. An input in the sequence of inputs is masked with a masked value to generate a second sequence of inputs. The method processes the second sequence of inputs using the sub-model to generate a sequence of features that correspond to the second sequence of inputs and processes the sequence of features to generate a first output. The first output is processed to generate a second output of the main model. The sub-model is trained based on a feature in the sequence of features that corresponds to the masked input and the second output.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a list of ranked entities for playback. The list of ranked entities being ranked in a first order based on information for a user account. At least a portion of the list of ranked entities is used to determine corresponding channels that are playing the at least the portion of the list of ranked entities. The method rearranges the channels of an electronic programming guide from a sequence to a second order based on the first order for the at least the portion of the list of ranked entities. The channels are displayed in the electronic programming guide based on the second order.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a request for a video and receives a ranking of content delivery networks for the request. Also, global constraints are received for the content delivery networks. The global constraints define an allocation for respective content delivery networks. The method selects a content delivery network using the global constraints and the ranking. A score for the content delivery network is altered from a first score to a second score in the ranking and used in the selecting of the content delivery network. The content delivery network that is selected for the request is outputted.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a first request for a first time window and a first viewport position for a client that is viewing a 360 degree video. A first message is sent to indicate a computing device will push content in a stream for a first one or more time windows other than the first time window. The method pushes content based on the first viewport position for the first time window to the client. A second request is received to change from the first viewport position to a second viewport position. The method sends a second message to indicate the computing device will push content in the stream for a second one or more time windows without canceling the stream. The method pushes content based on the second viewport position in the 360 degree video for the second one or more time windows to the client.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a request for an instance of media content in a current session. A state is retrieved for content delivery networks that is determined for a session in a set of sessions. The state includes a first set of values for a performance metric, and the first set of values is associated with the content delivery networks. The method determines a second set of values for the performance metric for the current session. The second set of values is associated with the content delivery networks. A content delivery network is selected for the request in the current session based on treating the current session as a session in the set of sessions. The session for the current session is after the session for the state in the set of sessions.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a sequence of subsidiary features that are associated with a sequence of main features. A subsidiary feature provides subsidiary information for a main feature. A sequence of first weights for the sequence of subsidiary features is generates where a first weight in the sequence of first weights is generated based on a respective subsidiary feature. The method processes the sequence of first weights to generate a sequence of second weights. The processing uses relationships in the sequence of first weights to generate values of the second weights. The method uses the sequence of second weights to process the sequence of main features to generate an output for the sequence of main features.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method maintains a list that is configured to store motion vectors from one or more blocks that have been previously processed in a frame. When a current block is in a first set of positions in the frame, the method resets the list by storing a motion vector with a horizontal component and a vertical component equal to zero in the list. The motion vector with the horizontal component and the vertical component equal to zero from the list is used to transcode the current block. When the current block is not in the first set of positions, the method uses a motion vector from the list to transcode the current block.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives information for a delivery of instances of supplemental content for a plurality of line items. A line item is associated with an instance of supplemental content that can be delivered and a pacing curve that describes a pace of delivery over time. The method updates a parameter for the line item to generate an updated parameter based on the delivery of the instances of supplemental content and a desired pacing behavior. The updated parameter is provided to a selection system that uses the updated parameter to select an instance for delivery. The delivery of instances of supplemental content for the line item is adjusted to meet the pacing curve based on a characteristic of the pacing behavior.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method uses a first list of ranked entities to determine a first ordering of entities in slots of an electronic programming guide. Information is outputted to display at least a portion of the first ordering of entities in slots of the electronic programming guide. The method determines when a refresh of the electronic programming guide should be performed. When it is determined that the refresh should be performed, if a second list of ranked entities is available: the method uses the second list of ranked entities to determine a second ordering of entities in slots of an electronic programming guide and outputs information to display at least a portion of the second ordering of entities in slots of the electronic programming guide to update the electronic programming guide for the refresh.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a characteristic for media content. A number of entropy slots is determined that is based on the characteristic for the media content. An entropy slot in the media content is where a segment from a first version of the media content or a second version of the media content can be delivered. The method creates the first version of the media content having a first number of segments and creates the second version of the media content having a second number of segments based on the number of entropy slots. The second number of segments that correspond to the number of entropy slots is less than the first number of segments. The first version of the media content and the second version of the media content is output to create different sequences of segments that are attributable to different requests.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a first request for a first time window and a first position. A first message is sent to indicate a computing device will push content to a client in a stream for a video for a first one or more time windows other than the first time window. The method pushes content for the first time window based on the first position. A second request is received to change from the first position to a second position. The method pushes content for a second time window to the client based on the first position. A second message is sent to indicate the computing device will push content to the client in the stream for a second one or more time windows other than the second time window. The method pushes content for a third time window to the client based on the second position.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives session features for a session associated with a request for a video from a client and predicts network conditions for the session using the session features. A subset of available profiles is selected based on the network conditions. The available profiles are associated with a different playback characteristic. The method provides a profile ladder that includes the subset of available profiles for the playback of the video to the client. The profile ladder restricts the client to using the subset of available profiles to request segments of the video during the session.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method performs a first calculation to select an anchor point based on a first reference block in a first reference frame and a second reference block in a second reference frame. The first reference frame is selected as the anchor point. A third reference block in the second reference frame is selected based on the first reference frame being selected as the anchor point. The method performs a second calculation to select the anchor point based on the first reference block in the first reference frame and the third reference block in the second reference frame and determines whether to use the first reference block and the third reference block as a prediction for a current block based on the second calculation.