Abstract: A digital video data system automatically skips the playback of recorded video data to a position that corresponds to a transition between segments of the video data. Positions that are candidates for being segment transitions are identified by quantifying the rate of change of one or more parameters of the video data at multiple positions and determining positions for which the rate of change is locally maximal. Parameters such as luminance, I-frame frequency, and frame size tend to change most rapidly at segment transitions. Information relating to the change in the parameter values is stored with recorded video data so that it can be used to identify segment transitions during playback of the video data. During playback, and in response to user input, the system selects a position where the rate of change of parameter values is locally maximal and skips playback to that position.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology facilitating the presentation of digital video streams. An implementation, described herein, reduces the effective start-up delay in the presentation of the first frames of the video content that occurs when a system tunes into a video stream. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: Delayed HTTP response is described. In an embodiment, a server device receives a data connection request from a client device and opens a data connection to establish an HTTP communication link to the client device. A first message can be communicated to the client device via the HTTP communication link when the message becomes available. After the first message is returned, the HTTP communication link to the client device is maintained open for communication such that the server device can communicate additional messages to the client device when the additional messages become available at the server device. The messages need not exist or be created at the time of an initial client HTTP request.

Abstract: Failover and load balancing in a server cluster is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving a plurality of requests from a plurality of clients, wherein each said request is for accessing a service provided by a plurality of servers arranged in a server cluster. A partial service map is generated for each of the clients such that each of the partial service maps reference a subset of the plurality of servers.

Abstract: A digital video data system automatically skips the playback of recorded video data to a position that corresponds to a transition between segments of the video data. Positions that are candidates for being segment transitions are identified by quantifying the rate of change of one or more parameters of the video data at multiple positions and determining positions for which the rate of change is locally maximal. Parameters such as luminance, I-frame frequency, and frame size tend to change most rapidly at segment transitions. Information relating to the change in the parameter values is stored with recorded video data so that it can be used to identify segment transitions during playback of the video data. During playback, and in response to user input, the system selects a position where the rate of change of parameter values is locally maximal and skips playback to that position.

Abstract: Replaying a compressed digital video stream in fast-forward and reverse modes at varied playback rates. An index of interceded frames, those frames not dependant on other frames for generation, is stored. The index includes the size of intercoded frames and their storage location. When a specified playback rate is requested, the intercoded frames are retrieved using the index. The interceded frames then have one or more intracoded frames, frames that reference other frames for generation, placed between them to generate a frame sequence. The intracoded frames are “blank,” meaning they contain only information from their associated interceded frame. By inserting “blank” frames specified playback rates and bit rates are generated. The index of interceded frames may also be accessed to generate playback in reverse mode, which conserves memory resources of associated systems by generating the reverse playback stream in an iterative manner.

Abstract: Replaying a compressed digital video stream in fast-forward and reverse modes at varied playback rates. An index of intercoded frames, those frames not dependant on other frames for generation, is stored. The index includes the size of interceded frames and their storage location. When a specified playback rate is requested, the interceded frames are retrieved using the index. The intercoded frames then have one or more intracoded frames, frames that reference other frames for generation, placed between them to generate a frame sequence. The intracoded frames are “blank,” meaning they contain only information from their associated intercoded frame. By inserting “blank” frames specified playback rates and bit rates are generated. The index of interceded frames may also be accessed to generate playback in reverse mode, which conserves memory resources of associated systems by generating the reverse playback stream in an iterative manner.

Abstract: An implementation is described herein, which facilitates a fast channel change by receiving and decoding a unicast acquisition media stream that corresponds to a soon-to-be-requested target multicast media stream. It does this before requesting the target multicast media stream of the new channel. Once the transmission of the unicast stream is caught up with the multicast stream, this implementation splices from the unicast acquisition stream to the target multicast media stream. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: In an implementation, a method includes forming a request by a client for communication to a licensing server. The request is for storing encrypted content by the client. A persistent license is received at the client in response to the request. The persistent license includes a key that is encrypted. The key, when decrypted, provides access to the encrypted content. The key is configured to be decrypted by the licensing server. The client however, is not configured to decrypt the key from the persistent license. The persistent license and the encrypted content are stored by the client.

Abstract: Media data is distributed across multiple devices, and decentralized media data dissemination architecture is formed. Multiple respective senders are associated with multiple respective distributed portions of the media data. Multiple schedulers are associated with clients and are capable of scheduling the sending of media data thereto. Schedulers formulate send requests that stipulate particular media data portions and designate destination clients. These send requests are transmitted to the multiple senders in accordance with the associated respective distributed portions in conjunction with the stipulated particular media data portion of each send request. The senders are capable of sending the stipulated particular media data portions of the send requests to the designated destination clients without routing through the schedulers. In a described implementation, a sender and a scheduler are present on each device of the multiple devices.

Abstract: Media data is distributed across multiple devices, and multiple schedulers and senders are installed across the multiple devices. Schedulers formulate send requests that stipulate particular media data portions and designate destination clients. Each send request is associated with a send priority. The send requests are transmitted from the multiple schedulers to the multiple senders. The senders rank respective received send requests according to their associated send priorities. Based on the ranked respective send requests and responsive to a respective send bandwidth of each sender, the senders ascertain respective threshold priorities. Each respective threshold priority corresponds to the lowest send priority of all send requests that have been accepted for sending by a respective sender.

Abstract: An implementation, as described herein, facilitates fast start-up of a new media stream while avoiding temporal interruption (i.e., “hiccups”) of the presentation of that new media stream. At least one implementation, described herein, coordinates the delivery of multiple simultaneous media streams on a media-stream network. Its coordination accounts for traversal of bandwidth-restricted chokepoints; quickly stopping delivery of one or more media streams from the set of streams; quickly initiating delivery and presentation of one or more new media streams not previously in the set (i.e., a “channel change”); and producing clean playback of all of the streams in the set, despite their different timelines. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: In an exemplary server implementation, a server is configured to retain at least one independent frame for each video channel of multiple video channels that are being distributed using multicast communications and is adapted to respond to channel change requests from clients by transmitting the retained at least one independent frame of a requested video channel to a requesting client using a unicast communication. In an exemplary method implementation, a method for fast channel changing in a multicast video distribution architecture includes: detecting a channel change request that indicates a requested channel, the requested channel corresponding to a multicast group; and transmitting a retained intra frame for the requested channel as a unicast communication.

Abstract: Media data is distributed across multiple devices, and the media data is sent therefrom by multiple senders under control of multiple schedulers. For media data blocks in a look-ahead region, schedulers transmit look ahead requests to senders in order to reserve upcoming media data blocks. In a described implementation, a look ahead request identifies a media data block. The receiving sender increments a block usage counter corresponding to the identified media data block responsive to the look ahead request. As part of a look ahead operation, if the media data block is not already in RAM, the sender preloads the media data block into RAM. While the block usage counter indicates that the corresponding media data block is locked, the sender maintains the media data block in RAM. A look ahead cancel message transmitted from the scheduler to the sender prompts the sender to decrement the block usage counter.

Abstract: Media data is distributed across multiple devices and is locatable using a hashing function and a hash table. The media data is partially replicated based on popularity thereof. In a described implementation, a media data block is locatable by hashing a media data indicator to produce a media data hash value that maps to a bin of the hash table. The bin is associated with at least one device that stores and/or with a sender that is capable of sending to clients the media data blocks mapping thereto. Each bin may have primary and secondary roles. Devices holding primary roles store all of the media data blocks mapping to a bin. Devices holding secondary roles replicate the media data blocks mapping to the bin that are also within a top predetermined popularity percentage. Popularity is determined based on numbers of clients currently requesting a particular media data portion.

Abstract: An implementation, which is described herein, facilitates a presentation of multiple miniaturized video feeds to a multimedia receiver. It further facilitates a user-interface employing multiple miniaturized video feeds to a multimedia receiver. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: In an implementation of recording resources indicators, recording resources can each be allocated to a different program that is scheduled to be recorded. A program guide application generates a program guide in which programs are associated with a program broadcast schedule that includes a time when each of the programs are scheduled for broadcast. A resource scheduler generates a recording resources indication for display within the program guide to indicate that the recording resources are fully-allocated for a time duration during which one or more of the programs are scheduled to be recorded.

Abstract: A digital video recorder stores digital video streams having sequences of encoded frames that are predominantly non-keyframes. The digital video recorder synthesizes keyframes for the digital video stream by decoding the frames in sequence and occasionally capturing the state of the decoder as it decodes the frames. The decoder states are stored in a state index in association with the frames. During playback at normal or accelerated speeds, the digital video recorder is capable of random accelerated access of any frame in the digital video stream. A decoder state associated with the accessed frame is retrieved from the state index and used to begin decoding at or near the accessed frame. The decoder state initializes a playback decoder to the state that enables complete decoding and rendering of the accessed frame without having to decode multiple frames previous to the accessed frame, thereby minimizing time delays in playback.

Abstract: An entertainment system, having a capability to playback a stored digital video record that includes frames of video data received from a television broadcast system, approximates ranges of frames in a digital video record that are either commercials or non-commercials. The system also approximates frames that are either a beginning or an ending of a commercial or a non-commercial. The system then associates as a commercial two of the approximated frames that are a beginning or an ending of a commercial or a non-commercial and one or more of the approximated ranges there between until a predetermined percentage of the playback time of the digital video record is taken up by the associated commercials.

Abstract: A digital video data system automatically skips the playback of recorded video data to a position that corresponds to a transition between segments of the video data. Positions that are candidates for being segment transitions are identified by quantifying the rate of change of one or more parameters of the video data at multiple positions and determining positions for which the rate of change is locally maximal. Parameters such as luminance, I-frame frequency, and frame size tend to change most rapidly at segment transitions. Information relating to the change in the parameter values is stored with recorded video data so that it can be used to identify segment transitions during playback of the video data. During playback, and in response to user input, the system selects a position where the rate of change of parameter values is locally maximal and skips playback to that position.