Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting media from a source to a plurality of receivers in a first source-specific multicast (SSM) channel and transmitting from the source to said plurality of receivers, a channel change message in an in-band transport control protocol message identifying a second SSM channel, wherein the receivers are configured to join said second SSM channel in response to said channel change message.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating reception of multiple representations of a video signal. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a mechanism for receiving plural representations of the video signal corresponding to plural decimated versions of the video signal, associating pictures of the received plural representations of the video signal, and outputting pictures corresponding to information from associated pictures in accordance with a relative temporal order.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating reception of multiple representations of a video signal. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a mechanism for receiving plural representations of the video signal corresponding to plural decimated versions of the video signal, associating pictures of the received plural representations of the video signal, and outputting pictures corresponding to information from associated pictures in accordance with a relative temporal order.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving plural representations of a video signal, the video signal comprising plural sequenced pictures corresponding to at least a portion of a video program, wherein two or more of the plural representations of the video signal (PROTVS) includes a respective sequence of latticed pictures and one or more of the other PROTVS includes a respective sequence of non-latticed pictures; and providing in plural successive non-overlapping segments distribution interval (SDIs) compressed versions of the PROTVS in a single video stream, wherein each SDI consists of plural non-overlapping, consecutive segments, each of the plural non-overlapping consecutive segments originating from a respective one of the collective PROTVS.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating reception of multiple representations of a video signal. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a mechanism for receiving plural representations of the video signal corresponding to plural decimated versions of the video signal, associating pictures of the received plural representations of the video signal, and outputting pictures corresponding to information from associated pictures in accordance with a relative temporal order.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving plural representations of a video signal, the video signal comprising plural sequenced pictures corresponding to at least a portion of a video program, wherein two or more of the plural representations of the video signal (PROTVS) includes a respective sequence of latticed pictures and one or more of the other PROTVS includes a respective sequence of non-latticed pictures; and providing in plural successive non-overlapping segments distribution interval (SDIs) compressed versions of the PROTVS in a single video stream, wherein each SDI consists of plural non-overlapping, consecutive segments, each of the plural non-overlapping consecutive segments originating from a respective one of the collective PROTVS.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating robust data transport. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first mechanism for selecting plural lattices of an input video signal, processing plural decimated video signals, and time shifting corresponding portions of plural video streams in accordance with a second relative temporal order. A second mechanism changes an initial relative temporal order to the second relative temporal order.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating reception of multiple representations of a video signal. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a mechanism for receiving plural representations of the video signal corresponding to plural decimated versions of the video signal, associating pictures of the received plural representations of the video signal, and outputting pictures corresponding to information from associated pictures in accordance with a relative temporal order.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting media from a source to a plurality of receivers in a first source-specific multicast (SSM) channel and transmitting from the source to said plurality of receivers, a channel change message in an in-band transport control protocol message identifying a second SSM channel, wherein the receivers are configured to join said second SSM channel in response to said channel change message.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that provides plural representations of a single video signal that comprises a successive sequence of pictures, one or more of the plural representations including a respective sequence of latticed pictures, each latticed picture in the one or more plural representations originating from a corresponding respective picture of the video signal, the order of successive latticed pictures in the one or more of the plural representations of the video signal corresponding to the order of successive pictures in the video signal; processes the plural representations based on a predetermined encoding strategy, the predetermined encoding strategy targeting an appropriate respective amount of bits to each of a plurality of the processed latticed pictures, each of the plurality of the processed latticed pictures having a respective picture importance; and provides the plurality of processed latticed pictures in plural successive, non-overlapping, ordered segments in a single video stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device joins a first multicast tree to receive post-ad-inserted video content. The network device also joins a second multicast tree to receive the pre-ad-inserted video content. The content from the first multicast tree is forwarded by the network device to the receiver(s). The network device determines if it does not receive the content on the first multicast tree due to any failure, in which case, it delivers the content from the second multicast tree to the receiver(s). This enables the receiver to receive the original (pre-ad-inserted) content during the failure in first multicast tree. When the failure is resolved, the network device can go back to sending the content from the first multicast tree to the receiver(s).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are certain embodiments of lattice video coding (LVC) systems and methods (collectively referred to herein also as LVC systems) that provide for adaptive streaming and/or burst error immunity in a video distribution network, such as the Internet or other communication networks. In general, as and explained further below, such LVC systems decompose or partition pictures of one or more segments (e.g., groups of pictures or GOPs) of a video stream into N lattice representations (also referred to herein as latticed representations, latticed or latticed video representations, or the like), where each lattice representation comprises a subset of the pixels of the pre-partitioned picture, and where the collective lattice representations of a given picture comprises the same number of pixels as the pre-partitioned picture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that partitions a first sequence of pictures into plural representations, encodes each of the plural representations independently of each other with a common time base, provides a first portion of the plural encoded representations based on a first network condition, the first portion having a first bit-rate, and provides a second portion of the plural encoded representations having a second bit-rate different than the first bit-rate, wherein a switch from providing the first portion to providing the second portion is responsive to a second network condition different than the first network condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving a single video stream, wherein the video stream includes plural processed representations of a single video signal, wherein each of the plural processed representations of the video signal (PPROTVS) includes a respective sequence of compressed latticed pictures, wherein each compressed latticed picture of each of the PPROTVS represents a corresponding respective picture of the video signal, wherein each respective picture of the video signal is represented by at most one compressed latticed picture from each of the PPROTVS, wherein corresponding segments of the PPROTVS are ordered and time shifted relative to each other to facilitate error concealment, the time-shift imposed by interspersing of non-corresponding segments between each of the corresponding segments; and providing error concealment on the received video stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that partitions a first sequence of pictures into plural representations, encodes each of the plural representations independently of each other with a common time base, provides a first portion of the plural encoded representations based on a first network condition, the first portion having a first bit-rate, and provides a second portion of the plural encoded representations having a second bit-rate different than the first bit-rate, wherein a switch from providing the first portion to providing the second portion is responsive to a second network condition different than the first network condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving a single video stream, wherein the video stream includes plural processed representations of a video signal, wherein each of the plural processed representations of the video signal (PPROTVS) includes a respective sequence of processed latticed pictures, wherein each processed latticed picture of each of the PPROTVS represents a corresponding respective picture of the video signal, wherein each respective picture of the video signal is represented by at most one processed latticed picture in each of the PPROTVS, wherein plural consecutive non-overlapping segments of one of the PPROTVS are received in a single video stream, each separated by one or more consecutive, non-overlapping segments of the other PPROTVS received in the single video stream; and outputting the plural segments in decompressed format in output picture order.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving plural representations of a single video signal, wherein each includes a respective sequence of latticed pictures, wherein each latticed picture in each of the plural representations originates from a corresponding respective picture of the video signal; processing the plural representations; separating the processed plural representations into plural segments, each segment consisting of a respective sequence of processed latticed pictures from one of the processed plural representations; arranging the plural segments in successive segments distributions intervals (SDIs) according to a first temporal order and a second temporal order, the successive SDIs to be provided in a video stream; and promoting one or more of the processed latticed pictures among one or more of the plural segments, the promotion corresponding to an increase in picture importance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are certain embodiments of lattice video coding (LVC) systems and methods (collectively referred to herein also as LVC systems) that provide for adaptive streaming and/or burst error immunity in a video distribution network, such as the Internet or other communication networks. In general, as and explained further below, such LVC systems decompose or partition pictures of one or more segments (e.g., groups of pictures or GOPs) of a video stream into N lattice representations (also referred to herein as latticed representations, latticed or latticed video representations, or the like), where each lattice representation comprises a subset of the pixels of the pre-partitioned picture, and where the collective lattice representations of a given picture comprises the same number of pixels as the pre-partitioned picture.

Abstract: A photocatalysis process light emitting toothbrush comprising a handle with a grip at a proximal end and a replaceable brush head at a distal end thereof. The replaceable brush head has at least one group of bristles permanently affixed to the replaceable brush head and at least one violet light emitter is provided on an upper surface of the replaceable brush head for emitting violet light in a direction generally parallel to the bristles permanently affixed to the replaceable brush head. At least one violet light source is provided for radiating violet light, in a wavelength band between 400 nm to 420 nm, and a power source is provided for energizing the at least one violet light source. The violet light is at least one of modulated emission with an average optical output power level of less than 5 watts.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device designated as a secondary designated router or forwarder, an indication that a receiver wants to join a multicast group, transmitting a multicast join message in response to the received indication, and receiving multicast data from a source at the network device. If a primary designated router or forwarder is operating to forward the multicast data from the source to the receiver, the received multicast data is dropped. If a failure occurs at the primary designated router or forwarder, the received multicast data is forwarded to the receiver. An apparatus for fast multicast convergence at a secondary designated router or forwarder is also disclosed.