Abstract: There is described a method for determining a play duration estimate of an adaptive bit rate (ABR) media presentation. The method comprises receiving at a network entity a media playlist manifest file of the media presentation, wherein the manifest file is transmitted from a content server to a client and comprises a plurality of entries, each entry linking to a respective different one of a plurality of media segments of the media presentation. The method further comprises determining a data size of the manifest file; and determining a play duration estimate of the media presentation based on the determined data size of the manifest file, a first value that represents a data size of each of the plurality of entries in the manifest file and a second value that represents a play duration of each media segment of the plurality of media segments of the media presentation.

Abstract: There is described a method for determining a play duration estimate of an adaptive bit rate (ABR) media presentation. The method comprises receiving at a network entity a media playlist manifest file of the media presentation, wherein the manifest file is transmitted from a content server to a client and comprises a plurality of entries, each entry linking to a respective different one of a plurality of media segments of the media presentation. The method further comprises determining a data size of the manifest file; and determining a play duration estimate of the media presentation based on the determined data size of the manifest file, a first value that represents a data size of each of the plurality of entries in the manifest file and a second value that represents a play duration of each media segment of the plurality of media segments of the media presentation.

Abstract: There is described a method for classifying a dataflow being downloaded to a client over a data network from at least a first server as being a live Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) stream. The method is implemented by an intermediate network entity between the client and the at least a first server in the data network. The method comprises monitoring a sequence of requests sent from the client and a corresponding sequence of responses sent to the client that pass through intermediate network entity in respect of the dataflow. The monitoring comprises measuring a data size of each response in the sequence of responses and determining, based on the monitoring, that the sequence of responses comprises a pattern of responses that is consistent with that expected of a live ABR stream. The dataflow is the classified in response to said determining, as being a live Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) stream.

Abstract: There is described a method for classifying a dataflow being downloaded to a client over a data network from at least a first server as being a live Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) stream. The method is implemented by an intermediate network entity between the client and the at least a first server in the data network. The method comprises monitoring a sequence of requests sent from the client and a corresponding sequence of responses sent to the client that pass through intermediate network entity in respect of the dataflow. The monitoring comprises measuring a data size of each response in the sequence of responses and determining, based on the monitoring, that the sequence of responses comprises a pattern of responses that is consistent with that expected of a live ABR stream. The dataflow is the classified in response to said determining, as being a live Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) stream.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer medium are provided for obtaining a required frame size for a first compressed data frame to be generated by compressing at least a first data frame of a media file, the first compressed data frame for use by a user equipment in a communications network. The method comprises, responsive to receiving a request for the media file from the user equipment, retrieving at least metadata of the media file. The required frame size for the first compressed data frame is determined based on a size of the at least a first data frame as indicated by the metadata, a compression parameter indicative of a requested compression factor for the at least a first data frame and a biasing factor that acts to reduce the effect of the requested compression factor.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer medium are provided for encoding data of a media file for playback by a user equipment in a communications network. A request for a range of encoded data is received from the user equipment, the encoded data to be generated by encoding data from an original media file. The request for a range of encoded data is converted into a request for a range of original data from the original media file. The range of original data is retrieved and the range of original data is encoded to generate encoded data. The requested range of encoded data, from the generated encoded data, is provided to the user equipment.

Abstract: A method for dynamically configuring a video stream, including: identifying player control metadata attributes for an input video stream, wherein the input video stream is received from an origin server; storing the identified metadata attributes to a memory device; and dynamically inserting the metadata attributes into an output video stream in real-time.

Abstract: There is described a system of operating a network entity to distribute a media stream in a communications network. A plurality of different versions of the media stream are available from a content source, each version having a respective quality level different to that of the other versions and each version of the media stream comprises a plurality of consecutive portions. A first request is received from a user device for a portion of a first one of the versions of the media stream stored at a content source and a caching procedure is performed in response to receiving the first request.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer medium are provided for encoding data of a media file for playback by a user equipment in a communications network. A request for a range of encoded data is received from the user equipment, the encoded data to be generated by encoding data from an original media file. The request for a range of encoded data is converted into a request for a range of original data from the original media file. The range of original data is retrieved and the range of original data is encoded to generate encoded data. The requested range of encoded data, from the generated encoded data, is provided to the user equipment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer medium are provided for obtaining a required frame size for a first compressed data frame to be generated by compressing at least a first data frame of a media file, the first compressed data frame for use by a user equipment in a communications network. The method comprises, responsive to receiving a request for the media file from the user equipment, retrieving at least metadata of the media file. The required frame size for the first compressed data frame is determined based on a size of the at least a first data frame as indicated by the metadata, a compression parameter indicative of a requested compression factor for the at least a first data frame and a biasing factor that acts to reduce the effect of the requested compression factor.

Abstract: Methods and transcoding proxies for transcoding media streams are described. In one embodiment, a method for transcoding a media stream that is delivered to an end-user device over a communications network involves selecting a transcoding technique for the media stream, transcoding a portion of the media stream using the selected transcoding technique, streaming the transcoded portion of the media stream to the end-user device, while the transcoded portion of the media stream is being streamed to the end-user device, detecting a change in a condition of the communications network, selecting a different transcoding technique in response to the change in the condition of the communications network, transcoding a subsequent portion of the media stream using the different transcoding technique, and streaming the transcoded subsequent portion of the media stream to the end-user device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a video stream, including: retrieving an original parameter set for an original bit stream in a video container received from an origin server; and writing stream-specific metadata to a header for the video container, wherein the stream-specific metadata includes the original parameter set for the original bit stream and an optimized parameter set for an optimized bit stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for proxy media caching are disclosed. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes receiving at a proxy a response to a request for media content, generating a fingerprint from a sample of media content contained in the response, searching a cache using the fingerprint, and if a cache hit occurs, causing cached media content, which is associated with the cache hit, to be sent to the client device.

Abstract: A method for dynamically configuring a video stream, including: identifying player control metadata attributes for an input video stream, wherein the input video stream is received from an origin server; storing the identified metadata attributes to a memory device; and dynamically inserting the metadata attributes into an output video stream in real-time.

Abstract: Methods and transcoding proxies for transcoding media streams are described. In one embodiment, a method for transcoding a media stream that is delivered to an end-user device over a communications network involves selecting a transcoding technique for the media stream, transcoding a portion of the media stream using the selected transcoding technique, streaming the transcoded portion of the media stream to the end-user device, while the transcoded portion of the media stream is being streamed to the end-user device, detecting a change in a condition of the communications network, selecting a different transcoding technique in response to the change in the condition of the communications network, transcoding a subsequent portion of the media stream using the different transcoding technique, and streaming the transcoded subsequent portion of the media stream to the end-user device. Other embodiments are also described.