Abstract: Content is received within a network by a content receiver based upon fetch requests by the content receiver to a content source, where the fetch requests for content are based upon a first adaptation logic scheme to fill a buffer of the content receiver at a selected rate and to download segments of content at selected encoding rates. A network priority is detected at the content receiver that includes an observed download rate at the content receiver that is greater than a fair share rate for other content receivers in the network. Fetch requests for content are revised in response to detection of the network priority, where the revised fetch requests are based upon a priority adaptation scheme that results in at least one of filling the buffer at a faster rate and downloading segments of content at higher encoding rates compared with the first adaptation logic scheme.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an intermediate node in a communication network receives a client interest with an indication of a client-requested reverse private path. The reverse private path is a label switched path toward a corresponding client with encrypted client information. In response to receiving the client interest, the intermediate node allocates a label for the reverse private path. The allocated label is mapped to a node from which the client interest is received. The intermediate node then forwards the client interest with the allocated label toward a server. In another embodiment, the server receives a client interest including a client-requested reverse private path from a particular intermediate node and determines a server interest. The allocated label for the client interest is inserted into the server interest which is forwarded toward the client via the particular intermediate node using the allocated label for the reverse private path.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for optimizing quality in adaptive streaming, where information is obtained relating to encoding bitrates and content quality scores for content segments of a content stream. The content segments of the content stream are provided by a content server and downloaded by a computing device. For each content segment, an encoding bitrate is determined for downloading the content segment from the content server, where determining the encoding bitrate for a current content segment is based upon an estimated current network bandwidth, constraints of a buffer into which downloaded content segments are stored, and also upon quality scores associated with content segments within a selected horizon extending from the current content segment to a future content segment in the content stream at an endpoint of the horizon. Each content segment with the determined bitrate for the content segment is downloaded from the content server.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that receives a manifest for plural encoded representations of a single content stream, each representation fragmented into plural chunks, each representation comprising a different quality level, the manifest listing a plurality of representations, each representation comprising the plural chunks at one of a plurality of quality levels, and requests one of the plural chunks based on selection of one of the plurality of quality levels explicitly indicated in the manifest.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating a request for media at a publisher and transmitting the request to a media pipeline, the media transmitted from the media pipeline to a distribution pipeline. The media pipeline includes a chain of streaming media processing components, the chain dynamically configured by the publisher. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed.

Abstract: Content is received within a network by a content receiver based upon fetch requests by the content receiver to a content source, where the fetch requests for content are based upon a first adaptation logic scheme to fill a buffer of the content receiver at a selected rate and to download segments of content at selected encoding rates. A network priority is detected at the content receiver that includes an observed download rate at the content receiver that is greater than a fair share rate for other content receivers in the network. Fetch requests for content are revised in response to detection of the network priority, where the revised fetch requests are based upon a priority adaptation scheme that results in at least one of filling the buffer at a faster rate and downloading segments of content at higher encoding rates compared with the first adaptation logic scheme.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes generating a transmission control protocol (TCP) flow; marking a plurality of packets of the TCP flow with one of two differentiated services code points (DSCPs) according to a proportion that is selected to control a throughput associated with the TCP flow; and communicating at least a portion of the plurality of packets to a network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data at a cache node in a network of cache nodes, the cache node located on a data path between a source of the data and a network device requesting the data, and determining if the received data is to be cached at the cache node, wherein determining comprises calculating a cost incurred to retrieve the data. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed.

Abstract: A router, switch, or other network node generates reports that contain packet level statistics and other information for a monitored media stream. The media stream reports reduce the amount of bandwidth typically required for sending monitored media stream information back to a central analysis device. However the computation of other media stream analytics, such as long term statistical averaging or quality metric computation, is performed by the central analysis device to remove some of the processing burden from the individual network nodes.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes generating a bandwidth estimation for an adaptive bitrate (ABR) client; evaluating a current state of a buffer of the ABR client; and determining an encoding rate to be used for the ABR client based, at least, on the bandwidth estimation and the current state of the buffer. A fetch interval for the ABR client increases as the buffer becomes more full, while not reaching a level at which the ABR client is consuming data at a same rate at which it is downloading the data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that receives at a cache server device a request from a client device for a first representation of a content chunk; determines whether the first representation is available at the cache server device; responsive to determining that the first representation is available at the cache server device, provides the first representation to the client device; responsive to determining that the first representation is unavailable at the cache server device, determines whether a congestion-like condition is present in an upstream network; and responsive to determining that the congestion-like condition is present in the upstream network, provides a second representation of the content chunk.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving media data at an adaptive streaming client; updating an estimated available bandwidth associated with a media stream associated with the media data; filtering the estimated available bandwidth; mapping the filtered estimated available bandwidth to a media bitrate for the media stream; and updating a target segment delay that is to control time intervals between consecutive segment downloads of the media stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a buffering server transfers a dynamic burst transfer of data encoded using an inter-coded compression technique. The dynamic burst transfer is timed so that an initial transfer rate is reduced to a remaining transfer rate at the same time or before a decoding endpoint joins a corresponding data stream. The decoding endpoint merges the video stream and the dynamic burst transfer to decode and quickly reconstruct a displayable video frame.

Abstract: In one method embodiment, providing a multiplex of compressed versions of a first video stream and a first audio stream, each corresponding to an audiovisual (A/V) program, the first video stream and the first audio stream each corresponding to a first playout rate and un-synchronized with each other for an initial playout portion; and providing a compressed version of a second audio stream, the second audio stream corresponding to a pitch-preserving, second playout rate different than the first playout rate, the second audio stream synchronized to the initial playout portion of the first video stream when the first video stream is played out at the second playout rate, the first audio stream replaceable by the second audio stream for the initial playout portion.

Abstract: A method is provided in one embodiment and includes establishing a video session involving an endpoint and a server; evaluating network criteria associated with characteristics that can affect a bit rate for the video session; and communicating bit rate hint data, which is based on the network criteria, to the endpoint for consideration in a bit rate request. The bit rate request involves streaming data in the video session. The method also includes receiving the bit rate request from the endpoint.

Abstract: In one method embodiment, providing a multiplex of compressed versions of a first video stream and a first audio stream, each corresponding to an audiovisual (A/V) program, the first video stream and the first audio stream each corresponding to a first playout rate and un-synchronized with each other for an initial playout portion; and providing a compressed version of a second audio stream, the second audio stream corresponding to a pitch-preserving, second playout rate different than the first playout rate, the second audio stream synchronized to the initial playout portion of the first video stream when the first video stream is played out at the second playout rate, the first audio stream replaceable by the second audio stream for the initial playout portion.

Abstract: The Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) and its related standards define a retransmission packet format and a way to give feedback via Negative ACKnowledge (NACK) packets for data that has been lost. In one embodiment, a unicast RTP repair session is associated with a main Source Specific Multicast (SSM) multicast session. Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) NACK packets are then used for feedback to a SSM feedback target address. This dynamically instantiates unicast RTP repair for multicast sessions. The repair scheme can be used for repairing multicast channels or joining new multicast channels. In another embodiment, a media transmission device shares an IP address with one or more other media transmission devices. The shared IP address can also be used to route multiple identical multicast media streams to different media stream receivers.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving video data at an adaptive bitrate (ABR) client that includes a buffer; determining whether a buffer level for the buffer is below a target buffer level; applying a random delay for a fetch interval associated with requesting the video data; and requesting a next segment of the video data after the random delay. The random delay can provide for a plurality of fetch times to become decorrelated from each other.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes generating a bandwidth estimation for an adaptive bitrate (ABR) client; evaluating a current state of a buffer of the ABR client; and determining an encoding rate to be used for the ABR client based, at least, on the bandwidth estimation and the current state of the buffer. A fetch interval for the ABR client increases as the buffer becomes more full, while not reaching a level at which the ABR client is consuming data at a same rate at which it is downloading the data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a current encoding rate requested by a client device for content received from a content source, setting at a network device a rate limit to limit the rate at which the content is received at the client device based on the current encoding rate, and adjusting the rate limit based on changes in the current encoding rate. The rate limit is set to allow the client device to change the current encoding rate to a next higher available encoding rate.