Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic quality adjustment of digital media based on changing streaming constraints is provided. A digital media server sends a digital media stream according to a set of streaming constraints to a requesting client. Audio and visual information may be sent to a requesting client together in a single stream, or separately in multiple streams. A client sends a request over a control network to the digital media server indicating information of a particular type is no longer desired. In response to receiving the signal, the video server ceases transmission of that particular type of information to the signaling client, thus relaxing streaming constraints.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic quality adjustment of digital media based on changing streaming constraints is provided. A digital media server sends a digital media stream according to a set of streaming constraints to a requesting client. Audio and visual information may be sent to a requesting client together in a single stream, or separately in multiple streams. A client sends a request over a control network to the digital media server indicating information of a particular type is no longer desired. In response to receiving the signal, the video server ceases transmission of that particular type of information to the signaling client, thus relaxing streaming constraints.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic quality adjustment of digital media based on changing streaming constraints is provided. A digital media server sends a digital media stream according to a set of streaming constraints to a requesting client. Audio and visual information may be sent to a requesting client together in a single stream, or separately in multiple streams. A client sends a request over a control network to the digital media server indicating information of a particular type is no longer desired. In response to receiving the signal, the video server ceases transmission of that particular type of information to the signaling client, thus relaxing streaming constraints.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic quality adjustment based on changing streaming constraints is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, a video stream is sent to a client according to a set of streaming constraints. At least a subset of the video information in the video stream is sent from a first source. Next, a signal is received indicating a relaxation of streaming constraints corresponding to the video stream. In one embodiment, the signal is a freeze frame signal. In another embodiment, the signal is a slow motion signal. In response to the signal, a set of improved quality video information from a second source is accessed and sent to the client. According to one embodiment, the set of improved quality video information comprises a still image. According to another embodiment, the set of improved quality video information comprises a set of preprocessed video information ready to be streamed.

Abstract: A streaming media server is provided for dynamically resolving a request for digital content based upon the identity of the requester. The digital content may be specifically tailored to the demographics of the viewer, and need not be physically stored in sequence. Information about a viewer of digital video is stored within a user profile. The collection of all user profiles is maintained by a profile manager. When a viewer requests a digital data stream from the media server, a content resolver, coupled to the media server, determines how to service the request based upon the appropriate user profile. In certain embodiments, the content resolver may be configured to send targeted advertisements towards the requester of the digital data stream. In other embodiments, the content resolver may be configured to send personalized information pertaining to the requesting user. In other embodiments, the content resolver may personalize the requested content according to the user profile.

Abstract: A method and system for storing a continuous feed of video is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, the continuous feed is encoded in a digital video format to produce a digital data stream. A series of content files is created by repeatedly performing the steps of (1) storing the digital data stream in a current file, and (2) establishing a new file as the current file when the current file satisfies a predetermined condition. If the series of content files satisfy a particular deletion criteria, then a particular content file that satisfies a particular deletion criteria is deleted. A determination is made as to whether any reader is currently playing information from the particular content file. If it is determined that a reader is playing information from the particular content file then the step of deleting the particular content file is delayed. In certain aspects, tag information that indicates information about frames contained in the digital data stream is generated.

Abstract: A method and system for storing a continuous feed of video is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, the continuous feed is encoded in a digital video format to produce a digital data stream. A series of content files is created by repeatedly performing the steps of (1) storing the digital data stream in a current file, and (2) establishing a new file as the current file when the current file satisfies a predetermined condition. If the series of content files contains more than a predetermined amount of the continuous feed, the oldest content file in the series of content files is deleted. Tag information that indicates information about frames contained in the digital data stream is generated. The tag information includes timestamps that indicate timing of frames relative to a beginning of the digital data stream. An initial time value that indicates an absolute time that corresponds to the beginning of the digital data stream.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering a live feed to a client is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, content data is generated by an encoder. Tag data that indicates locations of video frame data within the content data is generated while the content data is being generated. According to one embodiment, the tag data is generated by the encoder. According to an alternative embodiment, the tag data is generated by parsing the content data. The content data is at a location from which the content data is delivered to the client. The tag data is stored at a location from which the tag data may be used to provide the client non-sequential access to the content data. Before the encoder finishes generating the content data, a request is received for non-sequential access to the content data by the client, second content data is constructed based on the content data, the tag data and the request for non-sequential access, and the second content data is sent to the client.

Abstract: A method and system for providing non-sequential access to visual information that is being digitally encoded in a digital data stream is provided. The digital data stream includes a sequence of video frame data. Each video frame data in the sequence of video frame data corresponds to a video frame of the visual information. The digital data stream is generated with an encoder. The encoder generates tag data that indicates locations of the video frame data within the digital data stream. The digital data stream is stored at a location from which the digital data stream is delivered to a client. Tag data is stored at a location from which the tag data may be used to provide the client non-sequential access to the digital data stream. A selected set of video frames within the digital data stream is selected based on the tag data in response to a request for non-sequential access by the client.