Abstract: Methods and apparatus that enable a subscriber of an adaptive bitrate streaming service provider to begin viewing a live program already in progress, and further have the ability to pause, rewind or start the program over from the beginning of the program regardless of its actual length or the manifest window defined by an encoder. Selective retrieval of a live media stream is provided by storing, at a server, a plurality of media fragments beginning at an initial time along with a server manifest for the media stream. In response to a client request for a start time later than the initial time, the server generates a program-specific manifest based on the server manifest.

Abstract: A server structure (101) includes one or more multicast servers (106). An analytics engine (207) determines one or more channel maps (217) identifying a group of channels that will be delivered by the multicast servers across a network (104). The analytics engine determines the one or more channel maps as a function of both historical data corresponding to one or more client groups (204,205,206) operating in one or more zones (201,202,203), and optionally from near real time data such as electronic program guide metadata provided by an electronic program guide metadata manager (213). A flap detector (210) can determine one or more flapping thresholds (405,406,407) identifying channels in the group of channels delivered by the multicast servers, as well as whether channels having flapping frequencies greater than the flapping threshold should remain in the group of channels delivered by the multicast servers.

Abstract: A server structure (101) includes one or more multicast servers (106). An analytics engine (207) determines one or more channel maps (217) identifying a group of channels that will be delivered by the multicast servers across a network (104). The analytics engine determines the one or more channel maps as a function of both historical data corresponding to one or more client groups (204,205,206) operating in one or more zones (201,202,203), and optionally from near real time data such as electronic program guide metadata provided by an electronic program guide metadata manager (213). A flap detector (210) can determine one or more flapping thresholds (405,406,407) identifying channels in the group of channels delivered by the multicast servers, as well as whether channels having flapping frequencies greater than the flapping threshold should remain in the group of channels delivered by the multicast servers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a full reverse translating proxy for streaming media content, which can employ session tracking or transmuxing, or both. The described system can be integrated seamlessly into an existing adaptive streaming environment. The system can transmux each request from a client into a delivery format supported by an origin content server, and vice versa, irrespective of the specific delivery format used by either the client or server. Conversely, the system can further transmux the requested content into the delivery format used by the client. A stateful session model can link each request from a specific end user for a specific piece of content to a particular identified client streaming session.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a gateway for delivering scalable media files from a web server to a client in a manner that allows dynamic thinning. The gateway includes a control module for receiving a request for a scalable media file, forwarding the request to a web server, receiving the scalable media file from the web server using a first protocol, transmitting a redirect message to the client, and receiving a streaming request from the client in response; a packet processor for packetizing the scalable media file to produce raw scalable media packets; an encapsulation module for encapsulating the raw scalable media packets using a second protocol to produce encapsulated scalable media packets; and an output module for streaming the encapsulated scalable media packets to the client in response to the streaming request. The gateway may also include a module for thinning the raw scalable media packets prior to encapsulation.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to systems and methods for delivering a scalable media stream from a media server to a media client, wherein thinning is performed at more than one location in the network between the media server and the media client. The system includes at least a session management node located close to the media server, and a client management node located close to the media client. The session management node receives the scalable media stream from the media sever and performs steady state thinning on the scalable media stream to produce a session media stream. The client management node receives a client input media stream, which is at least a portion of the scalable media stream, and performs dynamic thinning on the client input media stream to produce a client output media stream that is streamed to the media client.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that enable a subscriber of an adaptive bitrate streaming service provider to begin viewing a live program already in progress, and further have the ability to pause, rewind or start the program over from the beginning of the program regardless of its actual length or the manifest window defined by an encoder. Selective retrieval of a live media stream is provided by storing, at a server, a plurality of media fragments beginning at an initial time along with a server manifest for the media stream. In response to a client request for a start time later than the initial time, the server generates a program-specific manifest based on the server manifest.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and retrieving scalable media files using a chunking model. A plurality of network abstraction layer (NAL) units representing a scalable media presentation are grouped into a plurality of video chunks wherein each chunk represents only the NAL units of one layer and a specific time period. The plurality of video chunks are then stored in one or more scalable media files along with indexing information which provides information for retrieving the NAL units from each video chunk. In this manner, a client can request only the video chunks (and thus NAL units) that it needs or wants to achieve a specific bandwidth.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and retrieving scalable media files using a chunking model. A plurality of network abstraction layer (NAL) units representing a scalable media presentation are grouped into a plurality of video chunks wherein each chunk represents only the NAL units of one layer and a specific time period. The plurality of video chunks are then stored in one or more scalable media files along with indexing information which provides information for retrieving the NAL units from each video chunk. In this manner, a client can request only the video chunks (and thus NAL units) that it needs or wants to achieve a specific bandwidth.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and retrieving scalable media files using a chunking model. A plurality of network abstraction layer (NAL) units representing a scalable media presentation are grouped into a plurality of video chunks wherein each chunk represents only the NAL units of one layer and a specific time period. The plurality of video chunks are then stored in one or more scalable media files along with indexing information which provides information for retrieving the NAL units from each video chunk. In this manner, a client can request only the video chunks (and thus NAL units) that it needs or wants to achieve a specific bandwidth.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a full reverse translating proxy for streaming media content, which can employ session tracking or transmuxing, or both. The described system can be integrated seamlessly into an existing adaptive streaming environment. The system can transmux each request from a client into a delivery format supported by an origin content server, and vice versa, irrespective of the specific delivery format used by either the client or server. Conversely, the system can further transmux the requested content into the delivery format used by the client. A stateful session model can link each request from a specific end user for a specific piece of content to a particular identified client streaming session.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering scalable media content from a server to a client are provided. A server index is provided to a media server for indexing the layers of scalable content in the form of media data groups. The client transmits at least one media request comprising a scalable media presentation identifier, a requested quality identifier and a requested layer identifier. Based on the at least one request, the server identifies the requested media data groups and transmits the requested media data groups to the client. The client receives the requested media data groups, which may be a subset of all available media data groups, and reorders the media data into decoding order for subsequent decoding and playback.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering scalable media content from a server to a client are provided. A server index is provided to a media server for indexing the layers of scalable content in the form of media data groups. The client transmits at least one media request comprising a scalable media presentation identifier, a requested quality identifier and a requested layer identifier. Based on the at least one request, the server identifies the requested media data groups and transmits the requested media data groups to the client. The client receives the requested media data groups, which may be a subset of all available media data groups, and reorders the media data into decoding order for subsequent decoding and playback.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering scalable media content from a server to a client are provided. A server index is provided to a media server for indexing the layers of scalable content in the form of media data groups. The client transmits at least one media request comprising a scalable media presentation identifier, a requested quality identifier and a requested layer identifier. Based on the at least one request, the server identifies the requested media data groups and transmits the requested media data groups to the client. The client receives the requested media data groups, which may be a subset of all available media data groups, and reorders the media data into decoding order for subsequent decoding and playback.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering scalable media content from a server to a client are provided. A server index is provided to a media server for indexing the layers of scalable content in the form of media data groups. The client transmits at least one media request comprising a scalable media presentation identifier, a requested quality identifier and a requested layer identifier. Based on the at least one request, the server identifies the requested media data groups and transmits the requested media data groups to the client. The client receives the requested media data groups, which may be a subset of all available media data groups, and reorders the media data into decoding order for subsequent decoding and playback.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and retrieving scalable media files using a chunking model. A plurality of network abstraction layer (NAL) units representing a scalable media presentation are grouped into a plurality of video chunks wherein each chunk represents only the NAL units of one layer and a specific time period. The plurality of video chunks are then stored in one or more scalable media files along with indexing information which provides information for retrieving the NAL units from each video chunk. In this manner, a client can request only the video chunks (and thus NAL units) that it needs or wants to achieve a specific bandwidth.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a gateway for delivering scalable media files from a web server to a client in a manner that allows dynamic thinning. The gateway includes a control module for receiving a request for a scalable media file, forwarding the request to a web server, receiving the scalable media file from the web server using a first protocol, transmitting a redirect message to the client, and receiving a streaming request from the client in response; a packet processor for packetizing the scalable media file to produce raw scalable media packets; an encapsulation module for encapsulating the raw scalable media packets using a second protocol to produce encapsulated scalable media packets; and an output module for streaming the encapsulated scalable media packets to the client in response to the streaming request. The gateway may also include a module for thinning the raw scalable media packets prior to encapsulation.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to systems and methods for delivering a scalable media stream from a media server to a media client, wherein thinning is performed at more than one location in the network between the media server and the media client. The system includes at least a session management node located close to the media server, and a client management node located close to the media client. The session management node receives the scalable media stream from the media sever and performs steady state thinning on the scalable media stream to produce a session media stream. The client management node receives a client input media stream, which is at least a portion of the scalable media stream, and performs dynamic thinning on the client input media stream to produce a client output media stream that is streamed to the media client.