Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for optimizing streaming bitrate during multiclient streaming sessions based, at least in part, on display profiles associated with client media receivers to which different video streams are concurrently provided. The method may be carried-out by a streaming media server in communication with first and second client media receivers over a network. In various embodiments, the method may include establishing at the streaming media server first and second bandwidth allotment thresholds based, at least in part, on display profiles assigned to display devices associated with the client media receivers. During an ensuing multiclient streaming session, the streaming media server further encodes segments of video streams at variable bitrates regulated in accordance with the established bandwidth allotment thresholds.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for optimizing streaming bitrate in response to variations in processor load. In various embodiments, a streaming media server includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer-readable code or instructions. When executed by the processor, the computer-readable code causes the server to encode segments of a video stream at a final variable bitrate (ABRFINAL). The encoded segments are transmitted from the server, over a network, and to a first client media receiver for presentation to an end user. The steps of encoding and transmitting are repeated during a streaming video session with the first client media receiver, while varying a value of ABRFINAL based, at least in part, upon a running average of a processor load placed on the processor (LOADAVG).

Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward providing a customized over-the-air channel mapping to each content receiver in a geographical area based on crowdsourced mappings of available channels from at least a subset of the content receivers in that geographical area. When a new content receiver is installed in the geographical area, the customized over-the-air channel mapping is provided to the new content receiver and used by the new content receiver as its internal list of available over-the-air channels without performing a scan of its own. At least a portion of the content receivers in the geographical area perform a round-robin-type scan to identify new or missing channels in the geographical area. The customized over-the-air channel mapping is then updated when a new channel or missing channel threshold is reached. And the updated customized over-the-air channel mapping is provided to each content receiver in the geographical area.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward providing a customized over-the-air channel mapping to each content receiver in a geographical area based on crowdsourced mappings of available channels from at least a subset of the content receivers in that geographical area. When a new content receiver is installed in the geographical area, the customized over-the-air channel mapping is provided to the new content receiver and used by the new content receiver as its internal list of available over-the-air channels without performing a scan of its own. At least a portion of the content receivers in the geographical area perform a round-robin-type scan to identify new or missing channels in the geographical area. The customized over-the-air channel mapping is then updated when a new channel or missing channel threshold is reached. And the updated customized over-the-air channel mapping is provided to each content receiver in the geographical area.

Abstract: Seek and other trick play functions can be improved in placeshifting and similarly live-encoded video streams. Thumbnail images are derived from I-frames (or similar key frames) of the source video stream rather than from the live-encoded stream. The thumbnail images are tagged to indicate a presentation time stamp (PTS) or similar identification of the source video frame that was used to create the thumbnail image. The tagged thumbnails are provided to the media player, which renders the images to indicate different portions of the video stream as the viewer scans or performs other functions. When the viewer selects to skip to a different part of the video stream, the PTS or similar identifier associated with the presented thumbnail image is sent to the placeshifting encoder to identify the appropriate starting point to resume live encoding.