Abstract: A computer system generates a first decompressed media stream based on a first compressed media stream. While providing the first decompressed media stream to a presentation device, the computer system receives a content-transition indication for providing a second decompressed media stream to the presentation device instead of the first decompressed media stream. The content-transition indication corresponds to a request to display the second decompressed media stream starting at a respective point within a predefined portion of the second decompressed media stream. The computer system receives a second compressed media stream corresponding to the second decompressed media stream.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display obtains a file header for a file corresponding to a plurality of clusters, where the file header includes a cluster index. The device receives a request to seek to a respective position within the file and, in response to receiving the request: identifies a cluster of the plurality of clusters that includes content that corresponds to the respective position based on the cluster index; obtains a cluster header associated with the cluster based on information retrieved from the cluster index, where the cluster header includes a content index; and after obtaining the cluster header, identifies respective content within the cluster corresponding to the respective position based on the content index. The device provides at least a portion of content corresponding to the file to a presentation device for presentation to a user, starting with the respective content.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display obtains a file header for a file that corresponds to a plurality of separately indexed clusters. The file is divided into segments one or more of which include multiple sequential clusters. The file header includes a segment index that enables identification of a segment that includes requested content. The device receives a request to seek to a respective position within the file. In response, the device identifies a first segment that includes content that corresponds to the respective position based on the segment index, obtains the first segment, and obtains a content index for a respective cluster within the first segment. After obtaining the first segment and the content index, the device identifies respective content within the respective cluster that corresponds to the respective position based on a content index and provides the respective content to a user.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display obtains information that enables distribution of content to a plurality of clients having different file format processing capabilities. The device provides, to a first client, first information that enables access to respective content in a first file format and provides, to a second client, second information that enables access to the respective content in a second file format different from the first file format. The first information identifies a first set of file portions that can be combined to generate the respective content in the first file format. The second information identifies a second set of file portions that can be combined to generate the respective content in the second file format. The second set of file portions includes one or more shared file portions that are included in the first set of file portions.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display obtains information that enables distribution of content between clients operating as peers in a peer-to-peer network. A first subset of the clients have first file format processing capabilities and a second subset of the clients have second file format processing capabilities. The peer-to-peer network enables access to a first set of file portions corresponding to the first file format and a second set of file portions corresponding to the second file format. The first set of file portions and the second set of file portions both include one or more shared file portions. The device provides, to one or more clients, information that enables the respective content to be shared over the peer-to-peer network that enables shared file portions be obtained either clients in the first subset of clients or clients in the second subset of clients.

Abstract: A computer system generates a first decompressed media stream based on a first compressed media stream. While providing the first decompressed media stream to the presentation device, the computer system receives a content-transition indication to switch to a second decompressed media stream. In response to receiving the content-transition indication, the computer system selects a first transition point in first content corresponding to the first compressed media stream and selects a second transition point in second content corresponding to the second compressed media stream. The second transition point is selected in accordance with a bandwidth available for receiving the second compressed media stream and the first transition point is selected based on the second transition point. The computer system requests the second compressed media stream starting at the second transition point and ceases to provide the first decompressed media stream at the first transition point in the first content.

Abstract: A computer system generates a first decompressed media stream based on a first compressed media stream and provides the first decompressed media stream to a presentation device. While providing the first decompressed media to the presentation device: the computer system receives a content-transition indication indicating that a second decompressed media stream is to be provided to the presentation device instead of the first decompressed media stream. The computer system stores first buffered data corresponding to the first decompressed media stream and receives a second compressed media stream corresponding to the second decompressed media stream.

Abstract: A computer system receives a first compressed media stream and stores corresponding data in a first compressed buffer. The computer system generates a first decompressed media stream based on the first compressed media stream. While providing the first decompressed media stream to a presentation device, the computer system receives a content-transition indication indicating that a second decompressed media stream is to be provided to the presentation device instead of the first decompressed media stream. While continuing to generate the first decompressed media stream using the first compressed buffer, the computer system receives a second compressed media stream corresponding to the second decompressed media stream and stores corresponding data in a second compressed buffer. After storing the data in the second compressed buffer, the computer system provides a second decompressed media stream, based on the second compressed media stream, to the presentation device instead the first decompressed media stream.

Abstract: A computer system generates a first decompressed media stream based on a first compressed media stream. While providing the first decompressed media stream to a presentation device, the computer system receives a content-transition indication for providing a second decompressed media stream to the presentation device instead of the first decompressed media stream. The content-transition indication corresponds to a request to display the second decompressed media stream starting at a respective point within a predefined portion of the second decompressed media stream. The computer system receives a second compressed media stream corresponding to the second decompressed media stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to peer-to-peer streaming of media in a network for distribution of data. A handover function is configured to hand over the distribution of sub-streams to a client back and forth between two peers or between a peer and the central server, if at least one predefined condition is fulfilled.

Abstract: The invention relates to peer-to-peer streaming of media in a network for distribution of data. A handover function is configured to hand over the distribution of sub-streams to a client back and forth between two peers or between a peer and the central server, if at least one predefined condition is fulfilled.