Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for merging media stream indexes of a media stream are described in this specification. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first media stream index at a first server system, including a first list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers corresponding to at least a portion of multiple sequentially arranged fragments. Fragment identifiers that are potentially missing from the first index can be identified. A second media stream index including a second list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers corresponding to at least a portion of the multiple sequentially arranged fragments can be requested from a second server system. The first and second list of the sequentially arranged fragment identifiers can be compared and the first list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers can be reconstructed based on the comparison.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for requesting potentially missing fragments in a media stream index are described in this specification. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a fragmented media stream index at a client system, where the media stream index includes a list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers. Fragments listed in the media stream index can be requested from a server system. Fragment identifiers that are potentially missing in the media stream index can be identified based, at least in part, on a determined naming convention indicating the sequential arrangement of the fragment identifiers. Fragments can be requested based on the potentially missing fragment identifiers and processed for display when received.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed by a server including obtaining a stream of live data comprising a plurality of segments; storing the plurality of segments to form a recorded stream; transmitting the plurality of segments as a near-live feed to one or more nodes in a network; transmitting the recorded stream to another node in the network; and transitioning from transmission to the another node of the recorded stream to the near-live feed, the transmission comprising: delaying transmission of the near-live feed to the another node until a new segment of the stream of live data is obtained.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for requesting potentially missing fragments in a media stream index are described in this specification. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a fragmented media stream index at a client system, where the media stream index includes a list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers. Fragments listed in the media stream index can be requested from a server system. Fragment identifiers that are potentially missing in the media stream index can be identified based, at least in part, on a determined naming convention indicating the sequential arrangement of the fragment identifiers. Fragments can be requested based on the potentially missing fragment identifiers and processed for display when received.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for requesting potentially missing fragments in a media stream index are described in this specification. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a fragmented media stream index at a client system, where the media stream index includes a list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers. Fragments listed in the media stream index can be requested from a server system. Fragment identifiers that are potentially missing in the media stream index can be identified based, at least in part, on a determined naming convention indicating the sequential arrangement of the fragment identifiers. Fragments can be requested based on the potentially missing fragment identifiers and processed for display when received.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments involve a mediation application executed on a processor determining one or more digital programming insertion breaks in a linear media stream. The linear media stream can include electronic content delivered over a network at a time determined by the content provider. The mediation application can determine that a plurality of clients identified by a common group identifier and in communication with the mediation application are receiving the linear media stream. The mediation application can mediate a plurality of requests for digital programming insertion content provided by a digital programming insertion content provider by identifying digital programming insertion content targeted to the common group identifier. The mediation application can provide the digital programming insertion content during the one or more digital programming insertion breaks to the plurality of clients.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments involve a mediation application executed on a processor determining one or more digital programming insertion breaks in a linear media stream. The linear media stream can include electronic content delivered over a network at a time determined by the content provider. The mediation application can determine that a plurality of clients identified by a common group identifier and in communication with the mediation application are receiving the linear media stream. The mediation application can mediate a plurality of requests for digital programming insertion content provided by a digital programming insertion content provider by identifying digital programming insertion content targeted to the common group identifier. The mediation application can provide the digital programming insertion content during the one or more digital programming insertion breaks to the plurality of clients.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment involves receiving a request to access data that corresponds to a placeholder link from a requesting client device. The embodiment further involves identifying a set of recipient attributes associated with the client device. Additionally, the embodiment involves determining a plurality of sponsor links based at least in part on the recipient attributes, wherein the recipient attributes provided targeted alternative content to the client device. Then, the embodiment involves directing the client device as indicated by the identified sponsor links.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for merging media stream indexes of a media stream are described in this specification. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first media stream index at a first server system, including a first list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers corresponding to at least a portion of multiple sequentially arranged fragments. Fragment identifiers that are potentially missing from the first index can be identified. A second media stream index including a second list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers corresponding to at least a portion of the multiple sequentially arranged fragments can be requested from a second server system. The first and second list of the sequentially arranged fragment identifiers can be compared and the first list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers can be reconstructed based on the comparison.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for requesting potentially missing fragments in a media stream index are described in this specification. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a fragmented media stream index at a client system, where the media stream index includes a list of sequentially arranged fragment identifiers. Fragments listed in the media stream index can be requested from a server system. Fragment identifiers that are potentially missing in the media stream index can be identified based, at least in part, on a determined naming convention indicating the sequential arrangement of the fragment identifiers. Fragments can be requested based on the potentially missing fragment identifiers and processed for display when received.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed by a server including obtaining a stream of live data comprising a plurality of segments; storing the plurality of segments to form a recorded stream; transmitting the plurality of segments as a near-live feed to one or more nodes in a network; transmitting the recorded stream to another node in the network; and transitioning from transmission to the another node of the recorded stream to the near-live feed, the transmission comprising: delaying transmission of the near-live feed to the another node until a new segment of the stream of live data is obtained.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, streams associated with a playlist are received from a server. The playlist includes an ordering of streams that are queued for client-side playback from the server according to the ordering. Information associated with the receipt and playback of at least one of the streams is accessed. The client-side application requests to alter the streams of the playlist in response to the accessed information. The request identifies a desired playlist alteration and includes information that controls the playlist alteration. The streams of the playlist are displayed according to a playlist alteration made in response to the request.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for fragmenting a media stream (e.g., for HTTP streaming) by generating fragments that can have variable relative durations. The disclosed technologies enable fragmenting the media stream by two or more media streaming server systems to obtain respective sets of fragments having a framing structure that is consistent across the two or more media streaming server systems. Consequently, a client computer system can place HTTP requests for fragments of the media stream, e.g. for switching mid-stream, to any of the two or more media streaming server systems that generated the respective sets of fragments.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products permit communication between servers in a server system utilizing a proxy stream communicating over a connection between the servers. A first request for content is received, at a server, and a connection is created with at least one upstream server. At the server a name associated with the content at the upstream server is identified. A second request for the content is transmitted to the at least one upstream server, where the second request identifies the name. The content is then received at the downstream server.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for fast switching of media streams, are described. The methods and systems described in this specification enable switching media streams as quickly as possible without playback interruption by not having to playback the content of the full buffer prior to the switch to the new stream. The fast switching disclosed in this specification is based on configuring a media player operated at a client computer to specify a switching time offset that corresponds to buffered content. In addition, the disclosed methods and systems enable a media streaming server computer, that is streaming a first media stream to the client computer, to select a key frame of a second media stream that is at or near a switching time offset specified by the client computer, and to immediately begin transmission of the second media stream.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method including receiving, at a server, a first request for content; determining whether the content is available locally at the server; when the content is available locally at the server, retrieving the content locally at the server; and transmitting the content to at least one downstream server; and when the content is not available locally at the server, transmitting, to the at least one downstream server, a notification that the content is not available locally and that a second request for the content is being transmitted; and transmitting the second request for the content to at least one upstream server.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, streams associated with a playlist are received from a server. The playlist includes an ordering of streams that are queued for client-side playback from the server according to the ordering. Information associated with the receipt and playback of at least one of the streams is accessed. The client-side application requests to alter the streams of the playlist in response to the accessed information. The request identifies a desired playlist alteration and includes information that controls the playlist alteration. The streams of the playlist are displayed according to a playlist alteration made in response to the request.