Abstract: A computer-implemented system is provided that includes instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations for transporting data over content delivery networks, the operations comprising: segmenting a data stream into a plurality of segments, where a segment may include at least one packet; generating a manifest file containing information associated with one or more segments in the plurality of segments, receiving a request for the manifest file, transmitting the manifest file to a receiver through a content delivery network, receiving a request for a segment in the manifest file, and transmitting the requested segment to the receiver through the content delivery network.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing piracy of media content are described. In some embodiments, a collusion resistant method is performed at a device, where the device receives a first request for a base copy of a media content item. In response, the device determines a first transformation based on a statistical performance criterion and a viewing performance criterion. The device further generates a first copy of the media content item by replicating and applying a first transformation to the base copy, where the first copy of the media content item satisfies the viewing performance criterion, and the first copy of the media content item is statistically different from the base copy or other copies in accordance with the statistical performance criterion. The device then causes transmission of the first copy of the media content item in combination with a first watermark for the base copy of the media content item.

Abstract: Techniques for media content tamper protection and detection are described. In some embodiments, the protection method is performed at an encoder. The encoder obtains a first sequence of signatures within a group of pictures and a second sequence of signatures for audio frames corresponding to the group of pictures. The encoder then combines the first sequence of signatures and the second sequence of signatures to generate a combined signature, and the combined signature is then embedded in a transport stream for transmission to a client device. In some embodiments, the detection method is performed at a client device, where the client device, in response to detecting a first message in the transport stream, starts calculation of signatures for a group of pictures and corresponding audio frames. The client device then uses the calculated signatures to validate an expected signature for the group of pictures and the corresponding audio frames.

Abstract: Techniques for media content tamper protection and detection are described. In some embodiments, the protection method is performed at an encoder. The encoder obtains a first sequence of signatures within a group of pictures and a second sequence of signatures for audio frames corresponding to the group of pictures. The encoder then combines the first sequence of signatures and the second sequence of signatures to generate a combined signature, and the combined signature is then embedded in a transport stream for transmission to a client device. In some embodiments, the detection method is performed at a client device, where the client device, in response to detecting a first message in the transport stream, starts calculation of signatures for a group of pictures and corresponding audio frames. The client device then uses the calculated signatures to validate an expected signature for the group of pictures and the corresponding audio frames.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing piracy of media content are described. In some embodiments, a collusion resistant method is performed at a device, where the device receives a first request for a base copy of a media content item. In response, the device determines a first transformation based on a statistical performance criterion and a viewing performance criterion. The device further generates a first copy of the media content item by replicating and applying a first transformation to the base copy, where the first copy of the media content item satisfies the viewing performance criterion, and the first copy of the media content item is statistically different from the base copy or other copies in accordance with the statistical performance criterion. The device then causes transmission of the first copy of the media content item in combination with a first watermark for the base copy of the media content item.

Abstract: A method includes storing a first plurality of media objects correspondingly associated with a plurality of metadata objects, each media object including a respective plurality of sequential media segments. The method includes receiving a recording request that is associated with a first one of the first plurality of media objects, and, responsive thereto, updating a metadata object corresponding to the first one of the first plurality of media objects to indicate the recording request. The method includes identifying a portion of the first plurality of media objects, not including the first one of the plurality of metadata objects, that satisfies a deletion criterion. The method includes removing the portion of the first plurality of media objects while maintaining the first one of the first plurality of media objects. The method includes storing a second plurality of media objects and the first one of the first plurality of media objects.

Abstract: Constant quality video encoding with encoding parameter fine-tuning may be provided. First, an aggregation window comprising a plurality of video frames from a transport stream may be determined. Next, a plurality of video quality values may be determined where the plurality of video quality values indicate a video quality for corresponding respective ones of the plurality of video frames in the aggregation window. Then a determined conformance rate value for the aggregation window may be determined. The determined conformance rate value may indicate a number of the plurality of video quality values that have one of the following characteristics: equal to the target video quality value and greater than the target video quality value. The determined conformance rate value may then be used to adjust at least one of the encoding parameters used in the constant quality encoding of the source.

Abstract: Synchronized source selection for adaptive bitrate (ABR) encoders may be provided. First, a first adaptive transport stream (ATS) that is aligned with a second ATS produced by a second device may be provided from a first source by a first device. The first device may be fed from the first source. Next, an indication that the second device switched from being fed from the first source to being fed from a second source may be received. In response to receiving the indication, the first device may be switched from being fed from the first source to being fed from the second source. The first ATS that is aligned with the second ATS produced by the second device may then be produced from the second source by the first device.

Abstract: Latency reduction by sending audio and metadata ahead of time may be provided. First, an encoder may receive a source. Next, the encoder may create a transport stream from the source. The transport stream may comprise a plurality of first data units and a plurality of second data units. The plurality of second data units may respectively correspond to the plurality of first data units. The plurality of first data units are preceded in time in the transport stream by their respective corresponding ones of the plurality of second data units. A packager may then receive the transport stream and package data chunks from the transport stream.

Abstract: Constant quality video encoding with encoding parameter fine-tuning may be provided. First, an aggregation window comprising a plurality of video frames from a transport stream may be determined. Next, a plurality of video quality values may be determined where the plurality of video quality values indicate a video quality for corresponding respective ones of the plurality of video frames in the aggregation window. Then a determined conformance rate value for the aggregation window may be determined. The determined conformance rate value may indicate a number of the plurality of video quality values that have one of the following characteristics: equal to the target video quality value and greater than the target video quality value. The determined conformance rate value may then be used to adjust at least one of the encoding parameters used in the constant quality encoding of the source.

Abstract: Latency reduction by sending audio and metadata ahead of time may be provided. First, an encoder may receive a source. Next, the encoder may create a transport stream from the source. The transport stream may comprise a plurality of first data units and a plurality of second data units. The plurality of second data units may respectively correspond to the plurality of first data units. The plurality of first data units are preceded in time in the transport stream by their respective corresponding ones of the plurality of second data units. A packager may then receive the transport stream and package data chunks from the transport stream.

Abstract: Synchronized source selection for adaptive bitrate (ABR) encoders may be provided. First, a first adaptive transport stream (ATS) that is aligned with a second ATS produced by a second device may be provided from a first source by a first device. The first device may be fed from the first source. Next, an indication that the second device switched from being fed from the first source to being fed from a second source may be received. In response to receiving the indication, the first device may be switched from being fed from the first source to being fed from the second source. The first ATS that is aligned with the second ATS produced by the second device may then be produced from the second source by the first device.

Abstract: Transport of legacy transport streams over ABR networks may be provided. First, an operation mode comprising a transparent mode may be selected for a packager. Next, the packager may receive a transport stream and create data chunks from the transport stream using the transparent mode. Creating the data chunks from the transport stream using the transparent mode may comprise copying data packets from the transport stream into the data chunks and setting boundaries between the data chunks. The boundaries may be signaled by Encoder Boundary Points (EBP) from at least one packet identifier (PID) in the transport stream. Then the packager may send the data chunks.

Abstract: A method can include receiving, at a given node, a continuous stream of input media from a media source. A value can be computed as a function of each of a plurality of data blocks of the continuous stream of input media received by the given node. The method can also include receiving, at the given node, values computed for a plurality of data blocks of the continuous stream received by another node. A set of the received values from the other node can be correlated with a set of the computed values for the given node to determine an offset between the blocks of the continuous stream of input media that are received by the given node and the blocks of the continuous stream of input media that are received by the other node.

Abstract: An apparatus can include an interface to receive and send inter-node communications messages with respect to at least one other node. A synchronization control can implement a synchronization protocol for controlling synchronization of content chunks generated for at least one content stream based on synchronization data. The synchronization control can determine the synchronization data for the content stream (i) based on synchronization information provided in an information message received from the other node if the other node has a greater priority or (ii) based on self-established synchronization information if the other node has a lower priority.

Abstract: In one method embodiments, providing a transport stream to a client device, the transport stream comprising a head stream and a tail stream, the head stream and the tail stream each comprising a compressed video sequence; providing information in a transport stream packet associated with the head stream, the information configured to cause the client device to selectively control an output of at least one of a plurality of pictures of the head stream yet to be output from a decoded picture buffer (DPB) at an out-point from the head stream to the trail stream.

Abstract: In one system embodiment, a master re-multiplexer may be configured to receive an indexed transport stream, re-multiplex the indexed transport stream by performing a set of re-multiplexing operations, generate a helper transport stream, the helper transport stream comprising a description of the set of operations, wherein the set of operations comprises both program clock reference (PCR) re-stamping and inserting packets, and providing the helper transport stream over a communications network to plural remote re-multiplexers capable of identically re-multiplexing the indexed transport stream based on the helper transport stream.

Abstract: Receiving a video stream in a transport stream comprising a plurality of compressed pictures, wherein information in the video stream includes plural data fields comprising: a first data field corresponding to a location in the video stream of a potential splice point, wherein the first data field identifies a location in the video stream after the location of the received information; a second data field corresponding to decompressed pictures yet to be output (DPYTBO) by a video decoder at the identified potential splice point (IPSP) when the video decoder decompresses the video stream, wherein the second data field is a number corresponding to the DPYTBO by the video decoder at the IPSP; and a third data field corresponding to pictures with contiguous output times (WCOT), wherein the third field corresponds to a set of pictures WCOT of the DPYTBO by the video decoder at the IPSP.

Abstract: In one system embodiment, a master re-multiplexer may be configured to receive an indexed transport stream, re-multiplex the indexed transport stream by performing a set of re-multiplexing operations, generate a helper transport stream, the helper transport stream comprising a description of the set of operations, wherein the set of operations comprises both program clock reference (PCR) re-stamping and inserting packets, and providing the helper transport stream over a communications network to plural remote re-multiplexers capable of identically re-multiplexing the indexed transport stream based on the helper transport stream.

Abstract: In one system embodiment, a master re-multiplexer may be configured to receive an indexed transport stream, re-multiplex the indexed transport stream by performing a set of re-multiplexing operations, generate a helper transport stream, the helper transport stream comprising a description of the set of operations, wherein the set of operations comprises both program clock reference (PCR) re-stamping and inserting packets, and providing the helper transport stream over a communications network to plural remote re-multiplexers capable of identically re-multiplexing the indexed transport stream based on the helper transport stream.