Abstract: A computer system generates a first decompressed media stream based on a first compressed media stream and provides the first decompressed media stream to a presentation device. While providing the first decompressed media to the presentation device: the computer system receives a content-transition indication indicating that a second decompressed media stream is to be provided to the presentation device instead of the first decompressed media stream. The computer system stores first buffered data corresponding to the first decompressed media stream and receives a second compressed media stream corresponding to the second decompressed media stream.

Abstract: A method of setting up a redistribution scheme for redistributing digital data packages within a digital data storage system comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein the data packages are associated with respective keys and are distributed among the nodes according to a first distribution configuration within the digital data storage system. The method includes: determining a second distribution configuration, in accordance with which it is intended to redistribute the data packages; applying a migration function to the respective keys of each of the data packages, which function yields a migration value associated with each of the data packages; and assigning a migration time to each of the data packages based on its associated migration value, at which times it is intended to migrate the respective data packages to conformity with the second distribution configuration. A corresponding digital data storage system is described.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream and in response, displays the first video stream on the display in a first video tile and plays first audio content that corresponds to the first video stream. While displaying the first video stream, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device slides the first video tile off of the display and slides a second video tile that corresponds to second video tile onto the display. The device also starts to play second audio content for the second video stream and increases an amplitude of the second audio content relative to an amplitude of the first audio content in accordance with an amount of the second video tile that is displayed on the display.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream on the display. In response to receiving the first request, the electronic device displays the first video stream on the display. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the electronic device receives a second request to display a second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the second request, the electronic device displays at least a portion of the first video stream on the display concurrently with at least a portion of the second video stream, where the second video stream was received, at least in part, from a content source in response to a request from the electronic device to the content source for delivery of the second video stream from the content source.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream and, in response, displays the first video stream. After receiving the first request, the device preloads a second video stream that corresponds to live content, including caching a cached portion of the second video stream. While displaying the first video stream, the device receives a second request to display the second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device determines whether the second request meets recency criteria. When the second request meets recency criteria, the device starts to play the second video stream using the cached portion. When the second request does not meet the recency criteria, the device requests, from a content source for the second video stream, data corresponding to a portion of the second video stream other than the cached portion.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream on the display. In response to receiving the first request, the device displays the first video stream on the display. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the first video stream on the display concurrently with at least a portion of the second video stream and the device displays at least a portion of a third video stream on the display concurrently with at least the portion of the second video stream and the portion of the first video stream.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream and in response, displays the first video stream. The device allocates, in accordance with a bandwidth allocation, available bandwidth for receiving data at the device between receiving the first video stream and preloading one or more other, non-displayed, video streams. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the device preloads at least a portion of one or more non-displayed video streams based on the bandwidth allocation. After the preloading, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the second video stream on the display using a preloaded portion of the second video stream that was preloaded in accordance with the bandwidth allocation.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream that corresponds to a first channel in a predetermined sequence of channels. In response to the first request, the device displays the first video stream. While displaying the first video stream, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream that corresponds to a second channel in the predetermined sequence of channels and is separated from the first channel by one or more intervening channels. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the first video stream concurrently with at recently received content of one or more of the intervening channels and displays recently received content of one or more of the intervening channels concurrently with least a portion of the second video stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mixing music are disclosed. Audio mix information is received from a plurality of users. Mix rules are determined from the audio mix information from the plurality of users, wherein the mix rules include a first mix rule associated with a first audio item. The first mix rule relates to an overlap of the first audio item with another audio item. The first mix rule is made available to one or more clients. In some implementations, making the first mix rule available to the one or more clients includes transmitting, to the first client, information enabling the first client to playback a transition between the first audio item and the second audio item in accordance with the first mix rule.

Abstract: A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for controlling a local utility are disclosed. A first request originating from an application and including a first token is received at a local utility. The application received a web page, including a plurality of links and the first token, from a first server. The plurality of links are received by the application from a second server. The first token is authenticated. Authentication includes sending the first token to a third server. In response to authenticating the first token, a second token is generated at the local utility. The second token is sent to the application for inclusion in subsequent requests from the application.

Abstract: A method for providing access to media content is performed at a device with a processor and memory storing instructions for execution by the processor. The method includes receiving, from a client device, a request for access to a media item. The method further includes obtaining user information associated with a user identifier corresponding to the request. Obtaining the user information includes, if the user identifier corresponds to a first type of user identifier, retrieving the user information from a database; and if the user identifier corresponds to a second type of user identifier different from the first type of user identifier, extracting the user information from the user identifier. The method further includes performing a media access operation based on the request and the user information associated with the user identifier.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing access to content are disclosed. The method is performed at least in part at a client computer system having a processor and memory. The method includes executing a host application associated with a first party. In some implementations, the host application is a media player. The method further includes initiating a secure communication channel between the host application and a server associated with the first party. The method further includes executing a supplemental application associated with a second party. The method further includes accessing, with the supplemental application, content licensed to the first party, wherein the licensed content is accessible to the supplemental application via the secure communication channel subject to terms of a licensing agreement. In some implementations, the content is media content, such as music, movies, and the like.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a display, one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for detecting a first input; and determining whether a change to the first input is detected within a first time period after detecting the first input. In accordance with a determination that a change to the first input is detected within the first time period after detecting the first input, first media content is added to a playlist. In accordance with a determination that a change to the first input is not detected within the first time period after detecting the first input, the first media content is caused to be presented.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a display, one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for detecting a first input; and determining whether a change to the first input is detected within a first time period after detecting the first input. In accordance with a determination that a change to the first input is detected within the first time period after detecting the first input, first media content is added to a playlist. In accordance with a determination that a change to the first input is not detected within the first time period after detecting the first input, the first media content is caused to be presented.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a display, one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for detecting a first input; and determining whether a change to the first input is detected within a first time period after detecting the first input. In accordance with a determination that a change to the first input is detected within the first time period after detecting the first input, first media content is added to a playlist. In accordance with a determination that a change to the first input is not detected within the first time period after detecting the first input, the first media content is caused to be presented.

Abstract: The invention relates to peer-to-peer streaming of media in a network for distribution of data. A handover function is configured to hand over the distribution of sub-streams to a client back and forth between two peers or between a peer and the central server, if at least one predefined condition is fulfilled.