Abstract: Techniques for video encoding based on viewer feedback are described herein. Feedback data collected from viewers of video content may be used to determine a provider score value and a provide duration value. The provider score value may indicate a quantity of viewers for content from the provider. The provider duration value may indicate a transmission duration for content from the respective provider. An upgrade threshold may be determined, which is a value associated with assignment of additional channels for encoding of video content. When video content from the provider is available for transmission, the provider score for the provider may be compared to the upgrade threshold value to determine whether the additional channels will be assigned for encoding of the video content. In some examples, multiple upgrade thresholds may be employed, for example corresponding to multiple time ranges identified based on the provider duration value.

Abstract: Techniques for low latency streaming, for example in a broadcasting environment, are described herein. In some examples, a playlist may include both currently encoded segments, which are segments that are fully encoded at or before playlist generation, and also future encoded segments, which are segments that have not yet been fully encoded at playlist generation. In some cases, the inclusion of future encoded segments in a playlist may result in a player requesting a segment that has not yet been fully encoded at the time that the request is received by the server. In some examples, even though the segment is not yet fully encoded, the server may nevertheless save and process the request, for example by transmitting encoded portions of the requested segment as those portions are made available by the encoder.

Abstract: Techniques for dynamically identifying an optical path to utilize in an optical network in response to a bandwidth request are disclosed herein. In embodiments, router port information, IP address information, and optical transponder information may be obtained by a network controller system from a router controller. An optical network path and a particular wavelength may be obtained from a CDC node controller. The network controller system may instruct an optical transponder controller to configure an optical transponder in the optical network path to utilize the particular wavelength based on obtaining the optical network path. The network controller system may instruct the router controller to configure router ports for one or more routers to utilize the IP address information and the router port information based at least in part on the instructing of the optical transponder controller to configure the optical transponder.

Abstract: Techniques for estimation of bandwidth for transfer of video content in chunked transfer mode are described herein. A number of chunk samples may be collected during video content transmission. For each chunk sample, its respective delivery speed may be compared to its respective encoding bitrate. If the delivery speed is greater than or equal to the encoding bitrate, then the chunk sample may be included in a primary set of chunk samples. The primary set of chunk samples may be clustered into a lower speed cluster and a higher speed cluster. A representative speed, such as an average or weighted average speed, of the delivery speeds of the chunk samples in the lower speed cluster may be determined, and the bandwidth may be estimated based on the representative speed.

Abstract: Techniques for selective audio capturing are described herein. In some cases, a user, such as a content provider, may select one or more computing processes from which to capture audio data. The audio data may be captured for transmission to at least one other computing device. Code may be injected into at least the one or more computing processes. In some cases, upon execution of the code, storage locations of the audio data are obtained. Thus, the audio data may be captured from the storage locations, and the captured audio data may be transmitted to one or more other computing devices. Additionally, based, at least in part, on a user selection, other audio data from other computing processes executing on the computing device may not be transmitted to the one or more other computing devices.

Abstract: First streaming video content may be received from a provider. The provider may issue a request to replace part of the first streaming video content with replacement content, such as advertisements. Second streaming video content may be selected as a replacement for a first video player, while third streaming video content may be selected as a replacement for a second video player. Instructions may be sent to the first and the second video player to play a first portion of the first streaming video content, followed by their respective selected replacement content, followed by a third portion of the first streaming video content, with the respective selected replacement content replacing a second portion of the first streaming video content. Replacement of the second portion of the first streaming video content may sometimes introduce latency, which may be reduced using various techniques.

Abstract: First streaming video content may be received from a provider. The provider may issue a request to replace part of the first streaming video content with replacement content, such as advertisements. Second streaming video content may be selected as a replacement for a first video player, while third streaming video content may be selected as a replacement for a second video player. Instructions may be sent to the first and the second video player to play a first portion of the first streaming video content, followed by their respective selected replacement content, followed by a third portion of the first streaming video content, with the respective selected replacement content replacing a second portion of the first streaming video content. Replacement of the second portion of the first streaming video content may sometimes introduce latency, which may be reduced using various techniques.

Abstract: Techniques for low latency streaming, for example in a broadcasting environment, are described herein. In some examples, one or more individual renditions may be encoded into multiple rendition versions associated with different respective latencies. Also, in some examples, one or more individual renditions may be encoded into multiple rendition versions having different respective amounts of forward error correction (FEC), for example by an edge node of a video streaming service. Also, in some examples, video may be broadcast using a protocol that does not require retransmission of lost packets, such as Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC), which is commonly used for point-to-point transmissions. Also, in some examples, one or more servers may receive quality of service feedback information from each player to which video content is transmitted. The one or more servers may use this feedback information to select and switch between appropriate renditions and rendition versions for each player.

Abstract: First streaming video content may be received from a provider. The provider may issue a request to replace part of the first streaming video content with replacement content, such as advertisements. Second streaming video content may be selected as a replacement for a first video player, while third streaming video content may be selected as a replacement for a second video player. Instructions may be sent to the first and the second video player to play a first portion of the first streaming video content, followed by their respective selected replacement content, followed by a third portion of the first streaming video content, with the respective selected replacement content replacing a second portion of the first streaming video content. Replacement of the second portion of the first streaming video content may sometimes introduce latency, which may be reduced using various techniques.

Abstract: Techniques for output frame correction for unstable video streams are described herein. A video item may be transmitted via an input video stream from a first entity to a second entity over one or more electronic communications networks. The incoming frames from the input video stream may then be used, by the second entity, to generate an output video stream for presentation to one or more viewers. The transmission of the input video stream may temporarily become unstable and may be interrupted such that one or more frames of the input video stream are delayed and/or lost. When a transmission interruption is detected, the output video stream may be adjusted by inserting one or more correction frames into the output video stream. The inserted correction frames may include one or more repetitions of one or more prior frames in the output video stream and/or one or more interpolated frames.

Abstract: Techniques for in-application demonstration using video and data streams are described herein. A video stream comprising video data that includes an instructional video may be received and played. A data stream associated with the video stream may be received at least partially concurrently with, or during, receiving of the video stream. It may then be determined when the playing of the video stream proceeds to a first data location, and the playing of the video stream may be stopped. A first portion of data within the data stream that is associated with the first data location within the video stream may then be identified. The first portion of data may include an indication of at least one operation performable within an executing application. Instructions may then be provided, based at least in part on the first portion of data, for performing the at least one operation within the executing application.

Abstract: The techniques described herein may, for example, allow a quantity of buffered video frames to be reduced, for example for use in adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming and other streaming transmissions. The quantity of buffered video frames may be reduced by dropping certain selected buffered frames from a resulting video output that is displayed to the viewer. This may reduce end-to-end latency without requiring a change in frame rate or fast forwarding of the video output, which may sometimes not be available or permitted by a resulting video player. These buffer reduction techniques may sometimes be employed upon a determination that transmission conditions have stabilized and that holding large quantities of buffered video may be unnecessary. In some examples, the disclosed techniques may be particularly advantageous for live streaming scenarios, in which end-to-end latency may be particularly problematic for the viewer.

Abstract: Providing extended content to a player of a game depending upon whether the player broadcasts the gameplay to viewers is disclosed. A content item server communicates game output to a plurality of user devices operated by participants in an online game. A game participant selects to stream output from the online game to one or more viewers via a broadcast streaming server. The content item server receives an indication from the broadcast streaming server that the game participant is broadcasting output from the online game to one or more viewers. Based at least upon the indication that a game player is broadcasting game output, the content item server determines to provide additional or extended game content to the game participant who is broadcasting the gameplay.

Abstract: The techniques described herein may, for example, allow a quantity of buffered video frames to be reduced, for example for use in adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming and other streaming transmissions. The quantity of buffered video frames may be reduced by dropping certain selected buffered frames from a resulting video output that is displayed to the viewer. This may reduce end-to-end latency without requiring a change in frame rate or fast forwarding of the video output, which may sometimes not be available or permitted by a resulting video player. These buffer reduction techniques may sometimes be employed upon a determination that transmission conditions have stabilized and that holding large quantities of buffered video may be unnecessary. In some examples, the disclosed techniques may be particularly advantageous for live streaming scenarios, in which end-to-end latency may be particularly problematic for the viewer.

Abstract: Techniques for output frame correction for unstable video streams are described herein. A video item may be transmitted via an input video stream from a first entity to a second entity over one or more electronic communications networks. The incoming frames from the input video stream may then be used, by the second entity, to generate an output video stream for presentation to one or more viewers. The transmission of the input video stream may temporarily become unstable and may be interrupted such that one or more frames of the input video stream are delayed and/or lost. When a transmission interruption is detected, the output video stream may be adjusted by inserting one or more correction frames into the output video stream. The inserted correction frames may include one or more repetitions of one or more prior frames in the output video stream and/or one or more interpolated frames.