Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program products are provided for capturing omnidirectional video with one or more cameras, streaming the video over a network, and rendering the video on a Head Mounted Display (HMD) and more specifically to a method, apparatus, and computer program product for improving the visual quality of viewport-based omnidirectional video streaming. One example method includes selecting a primary viewport, encoding a first representation that covers the primary viewport, and encoding a second representation that provides a gradual picture quality change from a background viewport to the primary viewport.

Abstract: This specification describes a method comprising: in response to detecting a user switching from viewing multidirectional video content to viewing limited viewport video content corresponding to the multidirectional video content or from viewing limited viewport video content corresponding to multidirectional video content to viewing the multidirectional video content: determining transition content for transitioning between a current viewport associated with the content being viewed and a landing viewport associated with the content to be viewed, the transition content being determined based on the current viewport and the landing viewport, wherein the length of the transition content depends on an angular distance between the current viewport and the landing viewport; and outputting the transition content for display.

Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products for facilitating the selection of a sourcing peer in peer-to-peer (P2P) streaming environment are disclosed. These methods allow peers to select candidate source peers in an informed manner with low overhead and minimized complexity. These and other features are accomplished by signaling detailed information regarding the buffer contents to one or more requesting peers. This information includes the presence or absence of requested content segments and a listing of gaps in the requested content segments, which allow the requesting peers to select an appropriate sourcing peer. The selection of a sourcing peer is also effected by considering network connectivity and/or network congestion status between the sourcing and the requesting peers.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product creates a viewpoint position structure for media content. The viewpoint position structure specifies a position of a viewpoint defined in a reference coordinate system and an offset of the reference coordinate system with respect to a geographical reference. The method, apparatus and computer program product cause storage of the viewpoint position structure. An indication may be created as to whether the media content is augmented reality media content. The augmented reality media content may comprise a background that is at least partially transparent. The offset may be determined, within the reference coordinate system, relative to a geomagnetic reference direction, based upon one or more of a viewpoint yaw angle, a viewpoint pitch angle, or a viewpoint roll angle.

Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products for facilitating the selection of a sourcing peer in peer-to-peer (P2P) streaming environment are disclosed. These methods allow peers to select candidate source peers in an informed manner with low overhead and minimized complexity. These and other features are accomplished by signalling detailed information regarding the buffer contents to one or more requesting peers. This information includes the presence or absence of requested content segments and a listing of gaps in the requested content segments, which allow the requesting peers to select an appropriate sourcing peer. The selection of a sourcing peer is also effected by considering network connectivity and/or network congestion status between the sourcing and the requesting peers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solution wherein a bitstream defining a presentation is generated, the presentation comprising an omnidirectional visual media content and a first visual media component and a second visual media component; indicating in the bitstream a first presentation timeline associated with the first visual media component; indicating in the bitstream a second presentation timeline associated with the second visual media component; indicating in the bitstream a switching mode to a second presentation timeline associated with the second visual media component; and indicating in the bitstream, that the switching mode is with respect to the first presentation timeline or to the second presentation timeline.

Abstract: This specification describes a method comprising: in response to detecting a user switching from viewing multidirectional video content to viewing limited viewport video content corresponding to the multidirectional video content or from viewing limited viewport video content corresponding to multidirectional video content to viewing the multidirectional video content: determining transition content for transitioning between a current viewport associated with the content being viewed and a landing viewport associated with the content to be viewed, the transition content being determined based on the current viewport and the landing viewport, wherein the length of the transition content depends on an angular distance between the current viewport and the landing viewport; and outputting the transition content for display.

Abstract: A method generating control data for displaying a video sequence on a low resolution display may comprise providing at least a first video sequence, the first video sequence comprising a plurality of image frames, determining whether a first image frame of the first video sequence comprises a sub-image of a primary object, selecting a first position of a primary image portion of an image frame such that the first position substantially matches with the position of the sub-image of the primary object, if the first image frame has been determined to comprise said sub-image of said primary object and providing control data, which indicates said first position.

Abstract: There is provided methods, apparatuses and computer program products for obtaining access to contents. In a method a content for at least one segment of a media presentation is defined. A meta information element for the media presentation is provided. Further, meta data relating to the content of the at least one segment is included to the meta information element. The meta data comprises information on how to access the content of the segment. A reference to the meta data of the content is included in the segment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program products are provided for capturing omnidirectional video with one or more cameras, streaming the video over a network, and rendering the video on a Head Mounted Display (HMD) and more specifically to a method, apparatus, and computer program product for improving the visual quality of viewport-based omnidirectional video streaming. One example method includes selecting a primary viewport, encoding a first representation that covers the primary viewport, and encoding a second representation that provides a gradual picture quality change from a background viewport to the primary viewport.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for extendable field of view rendering. A method is provided for receiving media data including a plurality of video frames. The method also includes determining, with a processor, video frames corresponding to camera motion and determining speed and duration of the camera motion. The method also includes determining at least one frame extension based on the video frames corresponding to camera motion, determining a frame extension offset based on the camera motion, and generating an extended field of view metadata based on the frame extensions and frame extension offsets.

Abstract: A method comprises (a) detecting a packet loss in a partial data packet stream in a peer-to-peer network; (b) signaling an indication of lost packets to one or more sending peers serving the partial data packet stream corresponding to the packet loss; (c) after expiration of a threshold period of time without receiving lost packets, signaling one or more candidate peers a request for retransmission of the lost packets, the candidate peers being peers not serving the partial data packet stream; and (d) receiving the lost packets through one of the candidate peers.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for bandwidth-efficient streaming of immersive content. In the context of a method, an example embodiment includes causing generation of immersive content by an immersive content capture device, retrieving, from a memory, buffer information regarding a current view buffer (CVB), one or more pre-fetch buffers (PFBs), and a free viewpoint buffer (FVB), and causing transmission, by a streaming server, of portions of the immersive content to an immersive content viewing system based on the retrieved buffer information regarding the CVB, the one or more PFBs, and the FVB. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for source data adaptation and rendering. The method comprises receiving source data; processing the source data to determine rendering parameters; wherein the processing comprises obtaining processing-free temporal segments either by applying wide angles at periodic intervals to the source data or rendering a predetermined region of the source data; determining content characteristics of a visual frame; and utilizing content characteristics for controlling the obtained processing-free temporal segments; signaling the rendering parameters for playback; and adapting the rendering parameters to render the processing-free temporal segments from the source content.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a dereverberation module for generating a dereverberated audio signal based on an original audio signal containing reverberation, and an audio-analysis module for generating audio analysis data based on audio analysis of the original audio signal and audio analysis of the dereverberated audio signal.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for bandwidth-efficient streaming of immersive content. In the context of a method, an example embodiment includes causing generation of immersive content by an immersive content capture device, retrieving, from a memory, buffer information regarding a current view buffer (CVB), one or more pre-fetch buffers (PFBs), and a free viewpoint buffer (FVB), and causing transmission, by a streaming server, of portions of the immersive content to an immersive content viewing system based on the retrieved buffer information regarding the CVB, the one or more PFBs, and the FVB. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for enhanced customization for smart video rendering of high resolution immersive content on devices with lower resolution displays. A method is provided that includes receiving first instance default region of interest data for a first instance of content; receiving first instance region of interest customization interaction data for the first instance of the content; receiving second instance default region of interest data for a second instance of the content; determining customization similarity detection for the second instance of the content based on the first instance default region of interest data, the first instance region of interest customization interaction data, and the second instance default region of interest data; generating predicted customized region of interest data for the second instance of the content; and providing an indication of the predicted customized region of interest data.

Abstract: An approach is provided for querying media based on media characteristics. A media platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of one or more images, one or more videos, or a combination thereof to determine one or more latent vectors associated with the one or more images, the one or more videos, or the combination thereof. The media platform further causes, at least in part, a comparison of the one or more latent vectors to one or more models. The media platform also causes, at least in part, an indexing of the one or more images, the one or more videos, or the combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more latent vectors, the one or more models, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for extracting spatio-temporal features with the aid of sensor information. An exemplary method comprises receiving video data and auxiliary sensor data and associating the two with timestamp information. The method may also include segmenting an input data stream into stable segments and extracting temporal features from the associated video data. The method may further include extracting temporal features either form the whole video or only from the video data where little or no stable segments are detected and performing camera view motion compensation by using information provided by the auxiliary sensors for modifying the feature-descriptors.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for extracting semantic information from user-generated media content to create a video remix which is semantically enriched. An exemplary method comprises extracting media content data and sensor data from a plurality of media content, wherein the sensor data comprises a plurality of data modalities. The method may also include classifying the extracted media content data and the sensor data. The method may further include detecting predefined objects or events utilizing the sensor data to create remix video.