Abstract: A method and a device for downloading an audiovisual content from a data network. A description file describing the sub-dividing of the audiovisual content into a set of segments includes at least two pieces of information representative of respectively two segment download paths, each piece of information representative of a download path being associated with a network interface, and at least two network interfaces being distinct. The downloading device obtains at least one piece of information on distribution of requests for downloading segments by network interface, and for at least one segment of the audiovisual content to be downloaded, it selects a network interface from among the network interfaces associated with the download paths included in the description file, as a function of the information on distribution of requests obtained. A segment download request is then sent via the selected network interface.

Abstract: A method for composing an intermediate representation of a video sequence from at least two representations of the video sequence of different quality, spatially partitioned into a plurality of tiles, each tile being associated with compressed data in the representation. The tiles can be decoded independently of each other and, at a given time, the different representations are identically partitioned. When the sequence is being played on a playback device, the method includes: obtaining a context data item representing the activity of viewers located near the playback device; selecting, on the basis of the context data item obtained and at least one maximum rate criterion for the intermediate representation resulting from the composition, a set of tiles forming a partition of the sequence from the at least two representations; and composing an intermediate representation of the video sequence from the compressed data associated with the selected set of tiles.

Abstract: A method and a device for downloading an audiovisual content from a data network. A description file describing the sub-dividing of the audiovisual content into a set of segments includes at least two pieces of information representative of respectively two segment download paths, each piece of information representative of a download path being associated with a network interface, and at least two network interfaces being distinct. The downloading device obtains at least one piece of information on distribution of requests for downloading segments by network interface, and for at least one segment of the audiovisual content to be downloaded, it selects a network interface from among the network interfaces associated with the download paths included in the description file, as a function of the information on distribution of requests obtained. A segment download request is then sent via the selected network interface.

Abstract: A method for composing an intermediate representation of a video sequence from at least two representations of the video sequence of different quality, spatially partitioned into a plurality of tiles, each tile being associated with compressed data in the representation. The tiles can be decoded independently of each other and, at a given time, the different representations are identically partitioned. When the sequence is being played on a playback device, the method includes: obtaining a context data item representing the activity of viewers located near the playback device; selecting, on the basis of the context data item obtained and at least one maximum rate criterion for the intermediate representation resulting from the composition, a set of tiles forming a partition of the sequence from the at least two representations; and composing an intermediate representation of the video sequence from the compressed data associated with the selected set of tiles.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method for downloading content to a first terminal from a server. The first terminal may intercept a request to download content previously sent by the first terminal to the server, discover a second terminal connected to the terminal via a local network, and receive from the second terminal a message offering to share a wide-area telecommunications network, the message containing an identifier of a port associated with the second terminal. The first terminal may determine at least one data segment of the content to be downloaded depending on the offer of sharing, establish communication and transmit, via the local network, to the port of the second terminal, a request to download the determined segment, receive from the second terminal the segment, which has previously been obtained by the second terminal following connection of the second terminal to the server via the wide area network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of adapting a scalable data stream organized in blocks of data units, each comprising at least one basic data unit and at least one enhancement data unit, making it possible to define a plurality of quality and bit rate levels (N1 to N3) depending on the number and the type of data units used, each data unit being initially classified in an initial level selected from said plurality of levels. According to the invention, the method implements a regulation mechanism (8) such that, if a data unit is reclassified in a reclassification level of lower priority than the initial level of said data unit, all the data units that depend on the decoding of said reclassified data unit are also reclassified in reclassification levels where all the data units essential to their decoding are accessible.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of adapting a scalable data stream organized in blocks of data units, each comprising at least one basic data unit and at least one enhancement data unit, making it possible to define a plurality of quality and bit rate levels (N1 to N3) depending on the number and the type of data units used, each data unit being initially classified in an initial level selected from said plurality of levels. According to the invention, the method implements a regulation mechanism (8) such that, if a data unit is reclassified in a reclassification level of lower priority than the initial level of said data unit, all the data units that depend on the decoding of said reclassified data unit are also reclassified in reclassification levels where all the data units essential to their decoding are accessible.