Abstract: Systems and methods for an online forum for video distribution are provided. A video file having a first format is received from a first client. The received video file is converted from the first format to a second format and is stored on a server, where the converted video file is accessible to a second client.

Abstract: Distributed service management platforms and methods are provided herein. In one system includes a back office that provides a media delivery service and a service acceleration system having a plurality of geographically distributed edge nodes for a plurality of clients, and a load manager that monitors latency experienced by each of the plurality of clients when requesting media services and selectively chooses a node for each of the plurality of clients based upon the latency experienced by each of the plurality of clients. Latency is due to lack of CPU availability in one or more of the plurality of the nodes as well as network traffic.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering media over a network are provided. Multiple media assets are stored on a server, as well as a representation for at least one media asset. The representation of a media asset is delivered to a client. A client user request based on selection of a representation is received, and the represented media asset is delivered from the server in response to the client user request.

Abstract: Improved approaches for delivering media programs to viewers (e.g., subscribers) are disclosed. The media programs are typically broadcast in accordance with a schedule. The media program can be delivered to viewers through multicast or unicast. According to one aspect, the media programs are buffered (e.g., cached) in a data packet format such that producing unicasts for particular viewers requires less computation and resources such that more concurrent unicasts are able to be effectively supported.

Abstract: Improved techniques to record one or more scheduled programs for later viewing are disclosed. Without compromising the quality of a broadcast program being currently delivered in a required bandwidth of a network, a buffer mechanism is provided to accommodate using of the remaining available bandwidth of the network to deliver the requested one or more scheduled programs. In one embodiment, the buffer mechanism is controlled or configured to convert transmission rates of the scheduled programs to be recorded in accordance with the remaining available bandwidth. Thus the required bandwidth needed to ensure the quality of the scheduled program being currently delivered for viewing is not affected. The buffered contents are transmitted to the client machines via a broadband local loop using uni-cast, multi-cast or a combination of both. An optional backup copy of the locally recorded scheduled programs is stored in a centrally located storage server farm.

Abstract: A media system that centrally manages and stores media contents and also controls the delivery of media content to subscribers is disclosed. According to one aspect, an administrator can control program scheduling, rates, service packages and system configuration for a media delivery system. Additionally, the administrator may also control billing, transaction monitoring, and customer relations. According to another aspect, the media delivery system provides subscribers with centrally managed storage for paused or recorded media. Still another aspect is that the media delivery system can restrict various administrators to different modules of the media delivery system.

Abstract: Improved approaches for delivering media programs to viewers (e.g., subscribers) are disclosed. The media programs are typically broadcast in accordance with a schedule. The media program can be delivered to viewers through multicast or unicast. According to one aspect, the media programs are buffered (e.g., cached) in a data packet format such that producing unicasts for particular viewers requires less computation and resources such that more concurrent unicasts are able to be effectively supported.

Abstract: A digital filter for noise reduction selects between local variances obtained from adjacent pixels in the same frame and adjacent pixels in the same field. In one embodiment, the digital filter includes a filter modified from an adaptive Wiener filter which preserves edges and smoothes smooth areas of the image. A high compression ratio can be achieved in very smooth regions of the image without introducing artifacts.