Abstract: A method for estimating bandwidth between a video server and a video client for playing back a video stream includes video packets. The method involves the following steps performed by the video client: receiving the video packets from the video server wherein the video packets are transmitted by the video server at predetermined time intervals; calculating a difference in a size of the video packets and a difference in a time of reception of the video packets; and estimating the bandwidth based on the calculated difference in size and the calculated difference in the time of reception. The present disclosure further relates to a media player configured to perform the disclosed method.

Abstract: A method for streamed playback of media in a media client from a remote media service includes: a) determining address information for locating the service and for a starting time; b) by the address information, requesting and receiving a first media package from the service; the package having decoder configuration information, one or more frames, associated timing information for playback frames, and a pointer to a subsequent part of the media stream; c) configuring a decoder of the client by the decoder information; d) starting playback of the stream in the client at the starting time by providing the frames to the configured decoder; e) by the pointer, requesting a remaining portion of the media having subsequent frames of the media stream and associated timing information; f) receiving the subsequent frames as a stream and continuing playback by providing the subsequent frames and associated timing information to the configured decoder.

Abstract: A server for streaming a video to a client involves making the video available from the server to the client upon request in at least a temporal independent version and a temporal dependent version. The server is configured for: i) receiving a request from the client to receive a stream of the video from an arbitrary starting point in time; and ii) retrieving at least the first frame from the temporal independent version; and iii) retrieving frames subsequent to the at least first frame from the temporal dependent version; and iv) sending the at least first frame to the client and send the frames subsequent to the at least first frame to the client.

Abstract: Media comprising media segments is played in a browser application. The segments comprise video and/or audio payload data encoded by a codec supported by this browser application. To play the media, several steps are performed by the browser application. First, a first subset of media segments of the media is obtained from a server. Then, a first media file is constructed comprising the video and/or audio payload data of the first subset of media segments. In a third step, a second subset of media segments of the media is obtained from the content distribution network whereas the second subset is consequent in time to the first subset. Then, the second media file is constructed comprising the video and/or audio payload data of the second subset of media segments. Finally, the first and second media files are played in the browser according to the codec.