Abstract: A media server uses selective just-in-time (“JIT”) transcoding of media such as video. For example, the media server determines a measure of complexity of a given segment of a given media sequence. The given segment has been encoded at a base bit rate. The media server evaluates a complexity condition for the given segment. As part of evaluating the complexity condition, the media server compares the measure of complexity to a complexity threshold. Based at least in part on whether the complexity condition is satisfied, the media server selects between use of preemptive transcoding and use of JIT transcoding for the given segment at a given target bit rate. In this way, the media server can selectively incur the cost of preemptive transcoding operations for the given segment if JIT transcoding would likely introduce unacceptable delay, and the media server can otherwise use JIT transcoding operations for the given segment.

Abstract: A method and system for uploading a media file container from a first device to a second device are described herein, including receiving an instruction to upload the media file container and in response, reading a metadata box of the media file container to locate a track box containing information about video data in a media data box, identifying sample frames of the video data throughout a duration of the video data in the media data box using information from the track box, packaging the identified sample frames, and uploading the packaged sample frames of the video data prior to completing upload of the media file container.

Abstract: Client-side transcoding of a video segment of a video into a particular version. The video streaming service determines that the video segment of the video is to be transcoded into the particular version. Rather than transcode the video segment itself, the service identifies to a client that is streaming the video that the video segment of the video is to be transcoded into the particular version. The client responds by transcoding the video segment into the particular version, and transmitting the transcoded video segment back to the video streaming service.

Abstract: Techniques and solutions are described for executing a video processing task. A video processing task is received that includes one or more operations to be performed on a digital video file and an identifier of the digital video file. The video processing task is divided into subtasks of operations to be performed on fragments of the video, such as fragments having a particular duration. The duration can correspond to a duration used for video streaming Compared with video processing that is performed as a single task, disclosed techniques can provide improved fault tolerance, as only failed tasks need to be reprocessed. Video processing subtasks can be distributed to a plurality of workers, which can further improve fault tolerance, and can increase the computing power available for video processing, including allowing for the use of heterogenous or unreliable workers.

Abstract: A method and system for uploading a media file container from a first device to a second device are described herein, including receiving an instruction to upload the media file container and in response, reading a metadata box of the media file container to locate a track box containing information about audio data, including a size and a location of the audio data, in a media data box of the media file container, identifying the audio data in the media data box using the information from the track box, packaging the identified audio data from the media data box into an audio byte stream separate from the media data box, and uploading the audio byte stream to the second device prior to completing upload of the media file container.

Abstract: A method and system for uploading a media file container from a first device to a second device are described herein, including receiving an instruction to upload the media file container and in response, identifying a first portion of the media file container and a last portion of the media file container, each of the first and last portions having a size in bytes and including at least one box of the media file container, and uploading the first portion of the media file container and the last portion of the media file container before the intervening portions of the media file container between the first and last portions.

Abstract: A method and system for uploading a media file container from a first device to a second device are described herein, including receiving an instruction to upload the media file container and in response, reading a metadata box of the media file container to locate a track box containing information about video data in a media data box, identifying sample frames of the video data throughout a duration of the video data in the media data box using information from the track box, packaging the identified sample frames, and uploading the packaged sample frames of the video data prior to completing upload of the media file container.