Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing video playback is disclosed. In one aspect, a server may be used to generate a manifest file for directing a video player to play requested video content in a video stream with alternative content.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing video playback for users during video streaming is disclosed. In one aspect, a server may be used to generate manifest files and updates to video players requesting video content. In addition, the manifest files and updates may be provided unique to each video player.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a virtual online live video channel are disclosed. In one implementation, a processing device may receive a request to play the virtual online linear video channel from a video player. The processing device may establish a connection between a manifest server and the video player. The processing device may further identify a schedule for the virtual online linear video channel, the schedule identifies a plurality of video sources. The processing device may then provide, using the connection, a manifest file to the video player, the manifest file corresponding to the schedule for the virtual online linear video channel and identifying a first location of a live video stream and a second location of a prerecorded video signal, the live video stream and the prerecorded video signal to be retrieved by the video player and presented to a user of the video player.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering a spatially enhanced live streaming experience for virtual reality or 360 degree live streaming of video is disclosed. A live streaming video signal is encoded into multiple streams at varying resolutions. A portion of the high resolution video stream, corresponding to a field of view within the entire 360 degree view, is merged with a low resolution video stream. The resulting video stream is referred to as a spatial adaptive video stream. Multiple spatial adaptive video streams are generated to provide a high resolution field of view across the entire 360 degrees. As the viewer looks in different directions, the video player plays back one of the spatial adaptive video streams according to the direction in which the viewer is looking.

Abstract: A method to provide secure delivery of a manifest file for use in playback of a video signal on a video player. The method includes establishing a connection with the video player, wherein the connection has a session identifier identifying the connection with the video player, receiving a request from the video player for the video signal, wherein the video signal is associated with the manifest file created for the video signal, customizing, using the session identifier identifying the connection with the video player, the manifest file created for the video player to provide a customized manifest file that is unique to the video player, the customized manifest file to be used in playback of the video signal on the video player, encrypting the customized manifest file using a manifest encryption key which is based on the session identifier identifying the connection with the video player, and transmitting the encrypted manifest file to the video player.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a virtual online live video channel are disclosed. In one implementation, a processing device may receive a request to play the virtual online linear video channel from a video player. The processing device may establish a connection between a manifest server and the video player. The processing device may further identify a schedule for the virtual online linear video channel, the schedule identifies a plurality of video sources. The processing device may then provide, using the connection, a manifest file to the video player, the manifest file corresponding to the schedule for the virtual online linear video channel and identifying a first location of a live video stream and a second location of a prerecorded video signal, the live video stream and the prerecorded video signal to be retrieved by the video player and presented to a user of the video player.

Abstract: A system and method for frame accurate editing of high resolution live video streams is disclosed. A method includes providing a low resolution video stream displayed in a first viewing portion of an edit user interface, wherein the low resolution video stream corresponds to a high resolution video stream of the live video content, receiving, via the viewing portion of the user interface, user input identifying a first start point and a first end point within the low resolution video stream, and transmitting the first start point and the first end point to a server to obtain a respective intermediate video segment of an intermediate resolution video stream corresponding to the high resolution video stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering a spatially enhanced live streaming experience for virtual reality or 360 degree live streaming of video is disclosed. A live streaming video signal is encoded into multiple streams at varying resolutions. A portion of the high resolution video stream, corresponding to a field of view within the entire 360 degree view, is merged with a low resolution video stream. The resulting video stream is referred to as a spatial adaptive video stream. Multiple spatial adaptive video streams are generated to provide a high resolution field of view across the entire 360 degrees. As the viewer looks in different directions, the video player plays back one of the spatial adaptive video streams according to the direction in which the viewer is looking.

Abstract: A system and method for frame accurate editing of high resolution live video streams is disclosed. A live capture module receives and stores the live stream in the original resolution it is being distributed and provides a low resolution copy of the live stream for editing. An edit module receives the low resolution stream and provides an interface for individual editors to edit the live stream video. The individual editor may search forward or backward through the low resolution video stream to identify a start and end point for each desired video segment. The edit module then retrieves and displays high resolution video corresponding to the selected start and end points from which the individual editor may then navigate identify a frame accurate mark point for each. A job manager coordinates each request for a video segment and delivers the requested video segment to the individual editors.

Abstract: A method to provide secure delivery of video manifest/playlist files by generating a single use, per-user encryption key to encrypt the video manifest/playlist file is disclosed. A video player generates a session ID when establishing connection with a manifest server. The manifest server is in communication with a key server and uses the session ID and content ID to generate the single use encryption key specifically for the session ID generated by the video player. The manifest server encrypts the manifest file prior to providing it to the video player. The content of the manifest file can then only be decrypted by the single use encryption key. The video player communicates with the key server to retrieve the single use key and to decrypt the manifest file.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering a spatially enhanced live streaming experience for virtual reality or 360 degree live streaming of video is disclosed. A live streaming video signal is encoded into multiple streams at varying resolutions. A portion of the high resolution video stream, corresponding to a field of view within the entire 360 degree view, is merged with a low resolution video stream. The resulting video stream is referred to as a spatial adaptive video stream. Multiple spatial adaptive video streams are generated to provide a high resolution field of view across the entire 360 degrees. As the viewer looks in different directions, the video player plays back one of the spatial adaptive video streams according to the direction in which the viewer is looking.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing video playback is disclosed. In one aspect, a server may be used to generate a manifest file for directing a video player to play requested video content in a video stream with alternative content.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using a server to generate per-user manifest files for providing unique viewing experiences and proxy modules local to video players receiving the manifest files for measuring video playback events with frame accuracy is disclosed. In one aspect, a server may be used to generate a manifest file for directing a video player to play requested video content in a video stream with advertising or other alternative content which may be desired. A proxy module local to the video player may parse the video stream to inject triggers at frame accurate locations which may be desired for measuring, such as at a precise frame in which the alternative content starts, stops, and/or reaches a midpoint with respect to the requested video content.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing video playback for users during video streaming is disclosed. In one aspect, a server may be used to generate manifest files and updates to video players requesting video content. As a result, instead of relying on each video player to enforce logic rules for distribution of the video content, the manifest files and updates may be used to enforce the logic rules on a wider variety of video player configurations. In addition, the manifest files and updates may be provided unique to each video player. Consequently, the manifest files and updates may further provide customized user experiences despite the same video content being requested.

Abstract: A computer implemented method embodied in a computer program stored in non-transient memory and executed by a computer processor for providing peer to peer content delivery of a live video stream includes delaying delivery of a live stream to a second client to serve that client from a first client that has previously received the live stream. The computer implemented method may further include switching between bad content sources (first clients) to good content sources based on heuristics.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for dynamically switching video segment locations (CDNS) during live content/ad manipulation in a completely transparent way to video players. The computer implemented method and apparatus is configured to use a per-user video manifest delivery to track CDN performance based on CDN switch logic from received manifest/playlist requests.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a virtual online live video channel are disclosed. In one implementation, a processing device may receive a request to play the virtual online linear video channel from a video player. The processing device may establish a connection between a manifest server and the video player. The processing device may further identify a schedule for the virtual online linear video channel, the schedule identifies a plurality of video sources. The processing device may then provide, using the connection, a manifest file to the video player, the manifest file corresponding to the schedule for the virtual online linear video channel and identifying a first location of a live video stream and a second location of a prerecorded video signal, the live video stream and the prerecorded video signal to be retrieved by the video player and presented to a user of the video player.

Abstract: A method for a live stream connector includes receiving an input media stream of data with input parameter and transmitting, to a receiving node, the input media stream as packetized data with a header indicating the input parameters. The receiving node is configured with a receiving buffer based on the input parameters of the header and is configured to emit the packetized data to a destination when an amount of delay since receipt of the packetized data satisfies the latency input of the input parameters. The method further includes receiving, from a feedback node, a control packet identifying a missing packet within the transmission. The method also includes identifying that a retransmission buffer includes the missing packet and determining whether a sender buffer includes the identified missing packet. When the sender buffer includes the identified missing packet, the method includes retransmitting the identified missing packet to the receiving node.

Abstract: A method for a live stream connector includes receiving an input media stream of data with input parameter and transmitting, to a receiving node, the input media stream as packetized data with a header indicating the input parameters. The receiving node is configured with a receiving buffer based on the input parameters of the header and is configured to emit the packetized data to a destination when an amount of delay since receipt of the packetized data satisfies the latency input of the input parameters. The method further includes receiving, from a feedback node, a control packet identifying a missing packet within the transmission. The method also includes identifying that a retransmission buffer includes the missing packet and determining whether a sender buffer includes the identified missing packet. When the sender buffer includes the identified missing packet, the method includes retransmitting the identified missing packet to the receiving node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a virtual online live video channel is disclosed. The virtual video channel is generated without requiring a dedicated content provider and encoder for the channel. A schedule server stores a schedule for the virtual online live video channel, and the schedule may include one or more of live streaming video content, stored video content, and advertising. A video player establishes communication with a manifest server and requests playback of the video channel. The manifest server generates a per-user manifest file corresponding to the schedule of the video channel and delivers the per-user manifest file to the video player. The video player may then retrieve the desired video content from the content delivery network to produce the virtual online video channel.