Abstract: The invention provides for a download agent executing on a computing device to dynamically select between media files with different media quality for delivery of media content provided by a media content provider. The download agent may select between different media files with similar content but different quality based on a playback rate of the media file, the resolution of the media file, or the encoding scheme of the media file. The download agent may seamlessly transition from one media file to another media file at key frames to avoid any motion artifacts and to avoid requiring a user to restart the media file.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system to improve data transfer across a communications network by employing an acknowledgment independent equalized data packet transfer mechanism on a peer-to-peer basis. The present disclosure teaches how many computers can send data to many other computers, with particularity on a peer-to-peer basis when desired, without requiring acknowledgements of safe receipt by the receiving computer. By aggregating several computers to send data in a collection to a requesting computer, transfer rates may be increased. Further, by not requiring acknowledgment of receipt from the receiving computer, and by treating all data packets with equal utility, the present disclosure teaches a mechanism that reduces file transfer administration bandwidth, increases file transfer scalability on demand, and increases overall network transfer efficiency.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: The invention provides for a download agent executing on a computing device to dynamically select between media files with different media quality for delivery of media content provided by a media content provider. The download agent may select between different media files with similar content but different quality based on a playback rate of the media file, the resolution of the media file, or the encoding scheme of the media file. The download agent may seamlessly transition from one media file to another media file at key frames to avoid any motion artifacts and to avoid requiring a user to restart the media file.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: The invention provides for a download agent executing on a computing device to dynamically select between media files with different media quality for delivery of media content provided by a media content provider. The download agent may select between different media files with similar content but different quality based on a playback rate of the media file, the resolution of the media file, or the encoding scheme of the media file. The download agent may seamlessly transition from one media file to another media file at key frames to avoid any motion artifacts and to avoid requiring a user to restart the media file.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system to improve data transfer across a communications network by employing an acknowledgment independent equalized data packet transfer mechanism on a peer-to-peer basis. The present disclosure teaches how many computers can send data to many other computers, with particularity on a peer-to-peer basis when desired, without requiring acknowledgements of safe receipt by the receiving computer. By aggregating several computers to send data in a collection to a requesting computer, transfer rates may be increased. Further, by not requiring acknowledgment of receipt from the receiving computer, and by treating all data packets with equal utility, the present disclosure teaches a mechanism that reduces file transfer administration bandwidth, increases file transfer scalability on demand, and increases overall network transfer efficiency.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system to improve data transfer across a communications network by employing an acknowledgment independent equalized data packet transfer mechanism on a peer-to-peer basis. The present disclosure teaches how many computers can send data to many other computers, with particularity on a peer-to-peer basis when desired, without requiring acknowledgements of safe receipt by the receiving computer. By aggregating several computers to send data in a collection to a requesting computer, transfer rates may be increased. Further, by not requiring acknowledgment of receipt from the receiving computer, and by treating all data packets with equal utility, the present disclosure teaches a mechanism that reduces file transfer administration bandwidth, increases file transfer scalability on demand, and increases overall network transfer efficiency.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: A parallel download system is described to download data from a plurality of source servers in parallel. The system may include a source scheduler, a prioritization scheduler, and an I/O dispatcher. The source scheduler generates a download schedule to control which source servers will be downloaded from at a current point in time. The prioritization scheduler tracks the latency and throughput of all channels to the source servers and dynamically adjusts the download schedule to control download performance. The I/O dispatcher produces an output stream to present the downloaded data to one or more external applications or a user.

Abstract: A parallel download system is described to download data from a plurality of source servers in parallel. The system may include a source scheduler, a prioritization scheduler, and an I/O dispatcher. The source scheduler generates a download schedule to control which source servers will be downloaded from at a current point in time. The prioritization scheduler tracks the latency and throughput of all channels to the source servers and dynamically adjusts the download schedule to control download performance. The I/O dispatcher produces an output stream to present the downloaded data to one or more external applications or a user.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of dynamically selecting versions of media content based on data transfer policies of a media content provider that provides the media content. As described herein, a media content provider may establish a variety of data transfer policies for a variety of purposes. When requests are received, versions of media assets indicated by the requests are selected such that an overall bandwidth utilization of the media content provider is likely to be substantially equal to a desired bandwidth utilization established by one or more of the enterprise data transfer policies.

Abstract: A parallel download system is described to download data from a plurality of source servers in parallel. The system may include a source scheduler, a prioritization scheduler, and an I/O dispatcher. The source scheduler generates a download schedule to control which source servers will be downloaded from at a current point in time. The prioritization scheduler tracks the latency and throughput of all channels to the source servers and dynamically adjusts the download schedule to control download performance. The I/O dispatcher produces an output stream to present the downloaded data to one or more external applications or a user.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of determining a backset for client devices attempting to download data of a live transmission. A backset is an amount of temporal delay that the client devices are delayed by when viewing the live transmission. As described herein, a media content provider may determine a recommended backset for each client devices based characteristics of the client device. Each client device may then be backset by the determined value, or may calculate its own backset based on the recommended backset. Establishing a backset for each client device may avoid rebuffering of live transmission data.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system to improve data transfer across a communications network by employing an acknowledgment independent equalized data packet transfer mechanism on a peer-to-peer basis. The present disclosure teaches how many computers can send data to many other computers, with particularity on a peer-to-peer basis when desired, without requiring acknowledgements of safe receipt by the receiving computer. By aggregating several computers to send data in a collection to a requesting computer, transfer rates may be increased. Further, by not requiring acknowledgment of receipt from the receiving computer, and by treating all data packets with equal utility, the present disclosure teaches a mechanism that reduces file transfer administration bandwidth, increases file transfer scalability on demand, and increases overall network transfer efficiency.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques of distributing media player plug-in software. As described herein, default media player software may cause a client device to begin receiving and presenting media data in a media object. During the presentation of the media data, the client device may identify an occurrence of a viewing event in the presentation of the media data. When this occurs, the client device automatically prompts the user of the client device to decide whether to install a media player plug-in module that enables the client device to overcome the viewing event. If the user decides to install the media player plug-in module, the client device automatically downloads and installs the media player plug-in module. Subsequently, the media player plug-in module causes the client device to receive the additional media data.