Enhanced trick-play modes for video content that is being streamed to a client from a server are described. In an embodiment, the enhanced trick-play modes are provided with relatively low latency and high quality using trick-play optimization techniques for a streaming environment, avoiding the need to stream the entire contents of the portions through which the viewer is fast forwarding. By employing sophisticated selection criteria of which parts of the content to download at what time, the quality of the playback experience is improved versus that which would conventionally be possible when using a simple sequential frame data download. The streaming client maintains a cache of nearby significant frames, such as nearby key frames, in forward and/or reverse directions of the current playback position, without having to download the entire portions of the video stream in which the significant frames reside. The trick-play modes utilize these frames.
A first request for a first content stream is received by a media device. In response to receiving the first request, the media device causes video playing of the first content stream. A second request for a second content stream is received by the media device. In response to receiving the second request, the media device causes output of an audio stream from the second content stream in place of an audio stream of the first content stream while the first content stream is being displayed.
H04N 21/435 - Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data or reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
H04N 21/218 - Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays
H04N 21/439 - Processing of audio elementary streams
H04N 21/8545 - Content authoring for generating interactive applications
Tag data is created from in-band data in a media content item by a remote location while the media content item is being broadcasted by a content provider and received by the remote location. The tag data identifies locations in the media content item which enables media devices to accurately jump to particular locations in the media content item based on the tag data.
H04N 21/2362 - Generation or processing of SI [Service Information]
H04N 21/236 - Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator ] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
H04N 21/434 - Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams or extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
H04N 21/8352 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving content or source identification data, e.g. UMID [Unique Material Identifier]
patents
