Abstract: A system and method for managing adjacent channels in an adaptive streaming environment. One or more adjacent channels may be defined for a client device relative to a current streaming channel, wherein the client device is configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for the defined adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, buffer conditions, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content for rendering.

Abstract: A system and method for managing adjacent channels in an adaptive streaming environment. One or more adjacent channels may be defined for a client device relative to a current streaming channel, wherein the client device is configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for the defined adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, buffer conditions, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content for rendering.

Abstract: A system and method for effectuating fast channel changes in an adaptive streaming environment. When a new stream of media content is started, a client device is adapted for sending a request for transmission of media content encoded at a select bit rate. Upon receipt of the encoded media content, the client device is operative to decode and render the media content immediately regardless of a buffer state associated with the client device's video buffer. The client device is further operative to send a request for streaming media content encoded at higher bit rates upon expiration of a specific period of time.

Abstract: A system and method that utilize a learning system to maintain a set of geographical locations indicating an area where network data coverage is poor. When it is determined that a client device is moving towards such an area, the client is forced or instructed to switch to a lower delivery bitrate for video segments in order to force the client's Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) playback buffer to fill itself with enough low-quality video segments to enable the client to cross the area without video playback interruption. Thus, the client mobile device may be preemptively forced to choose the lowest bitrate specified in a manifest file for the delivered video segments as the bitrate for downloading video segments when approaching the poor coverage area. Hence, the client device can maintain a minimum level of Quality of Service (QoS) when moving through network areas with poor data coverage.

Abstract: A streaming policy management system and method wherein bandwidth may be allocated based on external device information received from a streaming client device connected to one or more external audio/video (A/V) devices. When a streaming network back office receives a request from the streaming client device for delivery of a particular content, wherein the request includes external device information of one or more external A/V devices connected to the streaming client device, a bandwidth is determined for streaming the particular content to the streaming client device and a request may be made to a content delivery network to create a distribution pipe having the bandwidth to accommodate the delivery of the particular content. A manifest file is provided to the streaming client device that includes one or more pointers that point to content segments of the particular content.

Abstract: An ingestion controller, system, and method for managing ingestion of electronic content in a Content Distribution Network (CDN). The content is received from one or more content sources (CSs) through an inbound content pipe having a maximum bandwidth capacity. A database stores bandwidth weightings assigned to each CS by a network Policy Management System (PMS). The bandwidth weighting assigned to each CS corresponds to a fraction of the maximum bandwidth capacity of the inbound content pipe. An input buffer receives the content from the CSs in one or more input buffer queues associated with the CSs. A content retrieval mechanism retrieves the content from the input queues at an upload rate for each CS based at least on each CS's assigned bandwidth weighting, thereby causing a flow control mechanism to control the upload bitrate of each CS in proportion to the bandwidth weightings.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a method performed by a pipe control node for managing network resources that are used to transport network traffic. The method includes allocating network resources to a virtual pipe for transporting a plurality of multimedia streams through the network. Utilization of the network resources by the plurality of multimedia streams transported through the virtual pipe is monitored relative to the network resources allocated to the virtual pipe. The network resources that are used by the plurality of multimedia streams transported through the virtual pipe are managed in response to the monitored utilization. Some other embodiments are directed to a corresponding pipe control node that manages network resources which are used to transport network traffic.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and delivering extended media content. An extended content system receives requests to record or play identified broadcast content. The extended content system automatically obtains or preserves extended media content related to the identified broadcast content. In some instances, the system informs a subscriber that extended media content is available. If requested by the subscriber, the extended content system obtains the identified broadcast content and extended media content and provides the same to the subscriber in either a Set-Top-Box format or an Over-The-Top format.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable medium providing licensing rights for media content that follows a subscriber so that the subscriber may experience the media content on various content distribution platforms. In particular embodiments, the systems, methods, and computer-readable medium transfer licensing rights for a user for particular media content that is associated with a first device on a first distribution platform so that the rights are associated with a second device on a second distribution platform. As a result, in various embodiments, the user is able to experience the particular media content with the use of the second device on the second distribution platform.

Abstract: A system (e.g., video delivery system, a video-on-demand system, a back office system) and a method are described herein for delivering a selected digital content (e.g., movie, musical composition, application, file) via a network connection to an end-user device (e.g., set-top-box, mobile phone/smart phone, computer, laptop computer, tablet, internet-connected television, gateway device, digital video recorder). In addition, an end-user-device and a method are described herein for receiving the digital content over the connection from the video delivery system.

Abstract: A system and method where a second screen app on a user device “listens” to audio clues from a video playback unit that is currently playing an audio-visual content. The audio clues include background audio and human speech content. The background audio is converted into Locality Sensitive Hashtag (LSH) values. The human speech content is converted into an array of text data. The LSH values are used by a server to find a ballpark estimate of where in the audio-visual content the captured background audio is from. This ballpark estimate identifies a specific video segment. The server then matches dialog text array with pre-stored subtitle information (for the identified video segment) to provide a more accurate estimate of the current play-through location within that video segment. A timer-based correction provides additional accuracy. The combination of LSH-based and subtitle-based searches provides fast and accurate estimates of an audio-visual program's play-through location.

Abstract: An adaptive streaming server and a method are described herein for determining if a congestion level within a network exceeds a predetermined threshold and when this occurs then one or more lower bit rate segments of a content stream will be transmitted to a client.

Abstract: A network personal video recorder (NPVR) system, method and associated subscriber device. In one method operating at an NPVR element, a request for recording a program asset may be received from a first subscriber. Responsive thereto, the NPVR element verifies whether the requested program asset is available in an external content system associated with the NPVR element. The requested program asset is recorded in a content database if there is no equivalent copy of the program asset available in the associated external content system or in the NPVR system for another subscriber.

Abstract: A network personal video recorder (NPVR) system, method and associated subscriber device. In one method operating on an NPVR element, a request for playing back a program asset is received from a first subscriber. If the program asset is determined to be in an associated content system, the method includes performing retrieving the program asset's location information from the associated content system, retrieving external media content from at least one of a local media campaign management system and a national media campaign management system wherein the external media content was included in a broadcast transmission of the program asset, building a playlist including the program asset and inserting the external media content into the playlist at appropriate insertion points, and transmitting the playlist including the program asset and the inserted external media content to the first subscriber.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and delivering extended media content. An extended content system receives requests to record or play identified broadcast content. The extended content system automatically obtains or preserves extended media content related to the identified broadcast content. In some instances, the system informs a subscriber that extended media content is available. If requested by the subscriber, the extended content system obtains the identified broadcast content and extended media content and provides the same to the subscriber in either a Set-Top-Box format or an Over-The-Top format.

Abstract: A method for communicating content files based on destination priority includes processing a content file to determine a plurality of destination sites to which the content file is to be transmitted, assigning priority levels to the plurality of destination sites, allocating a plurality of bandwidth portions on a communication link to the plurality of destination sites, respectively, based on the priority levels assigned to the plurality of destination sites, and transmitting the content file to the plurality of destination sites using the plurality of bandwidth portions allocated to the plurality of destination on the communication link, respectively.

Abstract: A system, method, and device for adjusting display luminance based upon luminance control information associated with content being presented on a display associated with a computing device. A luminance module in the computing device determines luminance control information for the content. The luminance control information is used to control a luminance of a display. The luminance control information corresponds to brightness values of the content. A display driver adjusts a luminance of the display during presentation of the content based upon control signals received from the luminance module. The luminance module uses the luminance control information to generate the control signals.

Abstract: A method, Over-The-Top (OTT) content provider server, Content Delivery Network (CDN) Redirector server, and CDN delivery server for managing bandwidth while delivering electronic content utilizing OTT adaptive streaming to a plurality of client devices at a customer premises. The OTT content provider server receives client device priorities from a customer and stores in a customer profile, a device weighting for each of the plurality of client devices. The OTT content provider server also stores an indication of an available bandwidth of a premises connection at the customer premises. When each client device requests OTT content, a delivery server in a CDN allocates a bitrate for the requesting client device based on the available bandwidth for the premises connection and the device weighting of the requesting client device, and delivers the requested OTT content to the requesting client device at the allocated bitrate.

Abstract: An adaptive streaming server, a method, and a system are described herein that create a content stream to be delivered to one or more clients by segmenting the content into data structures which are stored in random access memory (volatile storage) rather than segmenting the content into segment files which are stored on a disk or database (non-volatile storage).

Abstract: A system and a method are described herein for enabling a user with a location-aware mobile device to have at least partial control of a closest set top box associated with a closest television. The closest set top box does not need to be associated with the user's home television but instead can be any set top box that is associated with a television located for instance at a stranger's house, an airport, a bar, or wherever.