Abstract: A multimedia content distribution system creates and distributes content files that contain content that may be viewed or displayed using commonly distributed viewer or player programs. A second portion of the content files may be viewed using specialized viewer or player programs.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for the secure distribution of media content to devices having minimal or no Internet connectivity. Computing devices referred to herein as “local servers” are strategically deployed at various locations, such as stores and other public locations. Packages of media contents are stored on the local servers, and may be updated using various online and/or offline data transfer techniques. Portable devices may directly connect to the local servers via various types of proximity-based connections, such as by wireless local area networks, by wired connections over Universal Serial Bus cables, or by sharing of removable media such as Secure Digital cards. The local servers may copy their media contents to authorized devices when such connections are established. The contents on a device may be automatically be updated the next time the device connects to one of the local servers, so as to include newly selected and/or available content.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for the secure distribution of media content to devices having minimal or no Internet connectivity. Computing devices referred to herein as “local servers” are strategically deployed at various locations, such as stores and other public locations. Packages of media contents are stored on the local servers, and may be updated using various online and/or offline data transfer techniques. Portable devices may directly connect to the local servers via various types of proximity-based connections, such as by wireless local area networks, by wired connections over Universal Serial Bus cables, or by sharing of removable media such as Secure Digital cards. The local servers may copy their media contents to authorized devices when such connections are established. The contents on a device may be automatically be updated the next time the device connects to one of the local servers, so as to include newly selected and/or available content.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for the secure distribution of media content to devices having minimal or no Internet connectivity. Computing devices referred to herein as “local servers” are strategically deployed at various locations, such as stores and other public locations. Packages of media contents are stored on the local servers, and may be updated using various online and/or offline data transfer techniques. Portable devices may directly connect to the local servers via various types of proximity-based connections, such as by wireless local area networks, by wired connections over Universal Serial Bus cables, or by sharing of removable media such as Secure Digital cards. The local servers may copy their media contents to authorized devices when such connections are established. The contents on a device may be automatically be updated the next time the device connects to one of the local servers, so as to include newly selected and/or available content.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining, based on input parameters associated with a computing device and a network over which the computing device is connected to another computing device (such as a server), suitable transport parameters for requesting and receiving data, where the transport parameters are determined for efficient transmission with less susceptibility to interruptions and delays. The input parameters may be provided continuously in order to determine, on a real-time or near real-time basis, continuously updated transport parameters. Transport parameters may be rewarded and/or punished based on historical network data. Accordingly, embodiments enable the computing device and/or server to dynamically adjust transport parameters to provide a data rate that is chosen to accommodate changing network conditions.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for the secure distribution of media content to devices having minimal or no Internet connectivity. Computing devices referred to herein as “local servers” are strategically deployed at various locations, such as stores and other public locations. Packages of media contents are stored on the local servers, and may be updated using various online and/or offline data transfer techniques. Portable devices may directly connect to the local servers via various types of proximity-based connections, such as by wireless local area networks, by wired connections over Universal Serial Bus cables, or by sharing of removable media such as Secure Digital cards. The local servers may copy their media contents to authorized devices when such connections are established. The contents on a device may be automatically be updated the next time the device connects to one of the local servers, so as to include newly selected and/or available content.

Abstract: A method of dynamically preparing a media clip for delivery from a server to a client is provided. Media attributes comprising media playback formats compatible with the client are provided to the server. A request is made by the client to provide a media content item at a specified starting time, and the server identifies a source where a media content file related to the selected media content item is located. The server obtains the media file from the source, and obtains a transcoded media segment file having a playback format compatible with the client media attributes. The transcoded media segment file may further be prepared in a transport format that is compatible with transport format media attributes of the client device, and a location of the prepared transcoded media segment file may be communicated to the client for the client to access the media segment.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for the secure distribution of media content to devices having minimal or no Internet connectivity. Computing devices referred to herein as “local servers” are strategically deployed at various locations, such as stores and other public locations. Packages of media contents are stored on the local servers, and may be updated using various online and/or offline data transfer techniques. Portable devices may directly connect to the local servers via various types of proximity-based connections, such as by wireless local area networks, by wired connections over Universal Serial Bus cables, or by sharing of removable media such as Secure Digital cards. The local servers may copy their media contents to authorized devices when such connections are established. The contents on a device may be automatically be updated the next time the device connects to one of the local servers, so as to include newly selected and/or available content.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of downloading one or more chunks of a selected media file from a server to a computing device is provided. A client application resides on the computing device and is configured to obtain a metadata file describing how the selected media file may be chunked, to determine, based on the metadata file, the portion of the selected media file to download, and to download the portion. The client application prepares a local media file corresponding to one or more chunks of the downloaded portion of the selected media file, and facilitates playback of the local media file on the computing device. The time interval of the chunk may be selected based on a suitable chunk time interval for the computing device.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of streaming media on a computing device is disclosed in which a streaming protocol adapter is provided on the computing device for streaming media to a local streaming client on the computing device with enhanced resiliency. The streaming adapter downloads one or more stream files that include the media file formatted for delivery according to a transfer protocol, and also include streaming template transactions for supporting communicating from the streaming adapter to the streaming client. The streaming client may be a standard real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) client, and the streaming adapter may be an RTSP adapter.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the establishment of a virtual private network between a network and a remote computer, the system having: a mobile device connectable to the remote computer and storing a user profile, virtual private network information, and password information; virtual private network software being located on one of the mobile device and the remote computer; an access point communicating with the network; and communication means for communications between the access point and one of the mobile device and the remote computer, wherein the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information is passed to the virtual private network software upon connection of the mobile device to the remote computer, the virtual private network software using the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information to establish a virtual private network through the communications means and the access point to the network.

Abstract: A method of dynamically preparing a media clip for delivery from a server to a client is provided. Media attributes comprising media playback formats compatible with the client are provided to the server. A request is made by the client to provide a media content item at a specified starting time, and the server identifies a source where a media content file related to the selected media content item is located. The server obtains the media file from the source, and obtains a transcoded media segment file having a playback format compatible with the client media attributes. The transcoded media segment file may further be prepared in a transport format that is compatible with transport format media attributes of the client device, and a location of the prepared transcoded media segment file may be communicated to the client for the client to access the media segment.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the establishment of a virtual private network between a network and a remote computer, the system having: a mobile device connectable to the remote computer and storing a user profile, virtual private network information, and password information; virtual private network software being located on one of the mobile device and the remote computer; an access point communicating with the network; and communication means for communications between the access point and one of the mobile device and the remote computer, wherein the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information is passed to the virtual private network software upon connection of the mobile device to the remote computer, the virtual private network software using the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information to establish a virtual private network through the communications means and the access point to the network.

Abstract: A method of dynamically preparing a media clip for delivery from a server to a client is provided. Media attributes comprising media playback formats compatible with the client are provided to the server. A request is made by the client to provide a media content item at a specified starting time, and the server identifies a source where a media content file related to the selected media content item is located. The server obtains the media file from the source, and obtains a transcoded media segment file having a playback format compatible with the client media attributes. The transcoded media segment file may further be prepared in a transport format that is compatible with transport format media attributes of the client device, and a location of the prepared transcoded media segment file may be communicated to the client for the client to access the media segment.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining, based on input parameters associated with a computing device and a network over which the computing device is connected to another computing device (such as a server), suitable transport parameters for requesting and receiving data, where the transport parameters are determined for efficient transmission with less susceptibility to interruptions and delays. The input parameters may be provided continuously in order to determine, on a real-time or near real-time basis, continuously updated transport parameters. Transport parameters may be rewarded and/or punished based on historical network data. Accordingly, embodiments enable the computing device and/or server to dynamically adjust transport parameters to provide a data rate that is chosen to accommodate changing network conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the establishment of a virtual private network between a network and a remote computer, the system having: a mobile device connectable to the remote computer and storing a user profile, virtual private network information, and password information; virtual private network software being located on one of the mobile device and the remote computer; an access point communicating with the network; and communication means for communications between the access point and one of the mobile device and the remote computer, wherein the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information is passed to the virtual private network software upon connection of the mobile device to the remote computer, the virtual private network software using the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information to establish a virtual private network through the communications means and the access point to the network.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of downloading one or more chunks of a selected media file from a server to a computing device is provided. A client application resides on the computing device and is configured to obtain a metadata file describing how the selected media file may be chunked, to determine, based on the metadata file, the portion of the selected media file to download, and to download the portion. The client application prepares a local media file corresponding to one or more chunks of the downloaded portion of the selected media file, and facilitates playback of the local media file on the computing device. The time interval of the chunk may be selected based on a suitable chunk time interval for the computing device.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of streaming media on a computing device is disclosed in which a streaming protocol adapter is provided on the computing device for streaming media to a local streaming client on the computing device with enhanced resiliency. The streaming adapter downloads one or more stream files that include the media file formatted for delivery according to a transfer protocol, and also include streaming template transactions for supporting communicating from the streaming adapter to the streaming client. The streaming client may be a standard real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) client, and the streaming adapter may be an RTSP adapter.

Abstract: A method of dynamically preparing a media clip for delivery from a server to a client is provided. Media attributes comprising media playback formats compatible with the client are provided to the server. A request is made by the client to provide a media content item at a specified starting time, and the server identifies a source where a media content file related to the selected media content item is located. The server obtains the media file from the source, and obtains a transcoded media segment file having a playback format compatible with the client media attributes. The transcoded media segment file may further be prepared in a transport format that is compatible with transport format media attributes of the client device, and a location of the prepared transcoded media segment file may be communicated to the client for the client to access the media segment.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the establishment of a virtual private network between a network and a remote computer, the system having: a mobile device connectable to the remote computer and storing a user profile, virtual private network information, and password information; virtual private network software being located on one of the mobile device and the remote computer; an access point communicating with the network; and communication means for communications between the access point and one of the mobile device and the remote computer, wherein the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information is passed to the virtual private network software upon connection of the mobile device to the remote computer, the virtual private network software using the user profile, virtual private network information, and password information to establish a virtual private network through the communications means and the access point to the network.