Systems and methods for multimedia swarm processes in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for creating a multimedia project at a swarm interface device. The method includes steps for providing a first set of multimedia content to a swarm includes several swarm members, where the several swarm members includes several swarm sources. The method further includes steps for receiving a second set of multimedia content from the several swarm sources and editing multimedia content to create a multimedia project includes at least one piece of multimedia content from the first set of multimedia content and at least one piece of multimedia content from the second set of multimedia content.
Systems and methods for adaptive switching between multiple content delivery networks during adaptive bitrate streaming. In one embodiment, an adaptive content delivery network switching device includes a processor, a network interface, and a memory connected to the processor, where the memory contains a content delivery network switching application and, the content delivery network switching application directs the processor to receive content from a first content delivery network, determine a minimum performance threshold based on playback variables from the received content, receive new content from a second content delivery network if the minimum performance threshold is not satisfied.
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
H04L 12/24 - Arrangements for maintenance or administration
H04N 21/25 - Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication or learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/262 - Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission or generating play-lists
H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
Systems and methods for encoding a plurality of alternative streams of video content using multiple encoders in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. An encoding system includes multiple encoders. Each of the encoders receives a source stream of video content that is divided into portions. Each of the encoders generates portions of the plurality of alternative streams from the portions of the source stream. The portions of the alternative streams generated by a particular encoder are stored in a container for the particular encoder. Each encoder also generates index information for the portion of the alternative stream generated by the encoder that is stored in a manifest for the encoder.
H04N 19/119 - Adaptive subdivision aspects e.g. subdivision of a picture into rectangular or non-rectangular coding blocks
H04N 19/177 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using adaptive coding characterised by the coding unit, i.e. the structural portion or semantic portion of the video signal being the object or the subject of the adaptive coding the unit being a group of pictures [GOP]
H04N 19/436 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals - characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation using parallelised computational arrangements
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
H04N 21/845 - Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments
4.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUDIO CONTENT DURING TRICK-PLAY PLAYBACK
Systems and methods for providing playback of audio content during a trick-play mode in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. Media content can include audio content and video content. The audio content is divided into segments and the video content includes frames. Synchronization information associates a presentation time of each of the segments of the audio content with a presentation time of one or more frames associated with the images of the video content. When a trick-play mode is requested, the next frame from the video content to present is determined. The synchronization information is used to determine the segments of the audio content associated with the next frame. The determined segments audio content are presented as the frames are displayed in trick-play mode.
Systems and methods for providing variable trick-play mode playback of media content in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. A playback device stores images of the media content associated with presentation times and marker information for the media content that indicates the presentation time of moments of interest. When a trick-play mode is invoked, the playback device determines a presentation time of a next marker in the playback. The playback device determines whether the current presentation time of the playback is within a specified range of the presentation time of the next marker and adjusts the speed of the trick-play playback based on the determination. The next frame to present is determined based on the adjusted speed of the trick-play playback and displayed.
H04N 5/783 - Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
H04N 21/2343 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04N 21/2387 - Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
6.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR QUICK START-UP OF PLAYBACK
Systems and methods for quick start-up of playback in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. Media content may be encoded in a plurality of alternative streams and a quick start-up stream. The quick start-up stream may include media content that is encoded at a lower quality that the alternative streams and may be encrypted with a different, less secure encryption process than that of the alternative streams. During a start-up of playback, the playback device streams the media content from a quick start-up stream until a metric, such as a decryption key for the alternative streams is met. The device then streams the media content from the alternative streams in response to the metric being met.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
7.
SESSION BASED WATERMARKING OF MEDIA CONTENT USING ENCRYPTED CONTENT STREAMS
Methods for session based watermarking of media content using encrypted content streams are provided. At least two content streams of the same media content are watermarked with different watermark information and encrypted using different encryption percentages. During a playback session, a unique sequence is generated and provided to a client device for use by the client device in selecting consecutive content segments from the different content streams to produce the original media content with a watermark that uniquely identifies a user of the client device. When selecting the different content segments, the client device compares the encryption percentage of certain selected content segments with the expected encryption percentage for those content segments to determine whether the content streams have been tampered with.
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
H04N 21/83 - Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
H04N 21/835 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates
8.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING AVAILABLE BANDWIDTH AND PERFORMING INITIAL STREAM SELECTION WHEN COMMENCING STREAMING
Systems and methods for determining available bandwidth and performing initial stream selection when commencing adaptive bitrate streaming using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes performing a bandwidth probe to obtain an estimate of the available bandwidth between a playback device and a remote server, where the bandwidth probe comprises the playback device requesting blocks of data of increasing size from the remote server until the time taken to download a requested block exceeds a predetermined threshold, selecting an initial stream from said plurality of streams of encoded media that are encoded at different maximum bitrates rates using the playback device based upon the maximum bitrates of the plurality of streams and the estimated available bandwidth, and commencing streaming of encoded media by requesting portions of the encoded media from the initial streams using the playback device.
Systems and methods for binding of cryptographic content using unique device characteristics with server heuristics in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a processor and memory includes collecting a combination of device characteristics that uniquely identify the device using information stored on the device and accessible to the device using the device processor, generating device match data based upon the collected combination of device characteristics using the device processor, generating a device protection key using the device match data, encrypting the cryptographic data using the device protection key, and storing the encrypted cryptographic data in device memory using the device processor.
Multiphase adaptive bitrate streaming systems and methods III accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a processor configured, via a client application, to request portions of files from a remote server. In addition, the client application further configures the processor to commence streaming by requesting portions of the encoded media from one of the plurality of alternative streams, and measure streaming conditions.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
11.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING OF MEDIA INCLUDING SUBTITLES
Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming of media including subtitles utilizing Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes requesting and buffering portions of video from at least one of the alternative streams using a playback device, requesting information indicative of a font utilized by a font-rendering engine to render text from a selected subtitle stream, downloading at least one font file when the font is not present on the playback device, requesting and buffering at least a portion of the selected subtitle stream, decoding the buffered portions of video using a decoder on the playback device, rendering the portions of the subtitle stream corresponding to the buffered portion of video using a font-rendering engine configured by the at least one downloaded font file, and performing synchronized playback of the decoded video and rendered subtitles using the playback device.
Systems and methods are disclosed that dynamically load a software platform for a playback device. One embodiment includes a playback device, including a processor, and memory containing a platform installer, where the platform installer configures the processor to dynamically load a software platform from a remote server into device memory that provides a runtime environment for applications using a software platform configuration.
Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming in which playback devices select streams based upon the delay of each stream and the channel rate in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes memory including a client application and a buffer, and a processor, where the client application configures the processor to: select a first video stream from a set of alternative video streams, where at least a plurality of the alternative video streams are encoded to have an upper bound seek delay that is equal to or less than the upper bound seek delay of streams in the set of alternative video streams that are encoded at a higher maximum bitrate; request chunks of the first video stream via a network connection and store the requested chunks in the buffer. Systems and methods may include playback of the buffered chunks.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
14.
ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING OF MEDIA STORED IN MATROSKA CONTAINER FILES USING HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL
Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming of media stored in Matroska container files utilizing Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor requests portions of files from a remote server and retrieves top level index data that identifies EBML container files and describes a maximum bitrate of the alternative streams contained within the EBML container files. The top level index data is parsed to obtain information identifying the EBML container files, requests a portion of at least one of the EBML container files that contains the at least one element that specifies the encoding parameters of the stream contained within the EBML container file, and requests portions of a first EBML container file that includes elements that contain portions of encoded video, where the selection is based upon the measured streaming conditions and the description of the bitrate of the alternative stream contained within the top level data.
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
15.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SMOOTH VISUAL SEARCH OF MEDIA ENCODED FOR ADAPTIVE BITRATE STREAMING USING TRICK PLAY STREAMS
Systems and methods for performing smooth visual search of media encoded for adaptive bitrate streaming using trick play streams are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes requesting and buffering portions of video from at least one of the alternative streams using a playback device, decoding the buffered portions of video using a decoder on the playback device, receiving at least one user instruction directing the playback device to perform a visual search of the media, requesting and buffering potions of video from the trick play stream using the playback device, and decoding the buffered portions of the trick play stream using a decoder on the playback device.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
16.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING CONTENT USING AN INTERNET CONTENT GUIDE
Providing an Internet Content Guide, ICG, for playback devices that may be used to access content via the Internet using a remote database containing navigation hierarchy definitions for specific devices. Content metadata is collected by a remote server from the plurality of sources. A metacenter is constructed based upon feeds describing content accessible via the remote servers and retrieved from the feeds to update a content metadata database. Playback devices communicate with the metacenter and access content via the Internet. The content metadata database defines navigation hierarchies for different playback devices. Navigation hierarchy includes category information and content information. Playback devices are configured to obtain a navigation hierarchy appropriate to the playback device; the playback device only includes category and content information authorized to access and capable of playing back. The devices are configured to generate an Internet content guide using the navigation hierarchy.
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
G06F 13/00 - Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
17.
REAL TIME FLASH BASED USER INTERFACE FOR MEDIA PLAYBACK DEVICE
Common clients for consumer electronics devices that include natively implemented virtual machines are described. One embodiment of the invention includes audio and video decoders, a natively implemented host process, a natively implemented virtual machine, a common client including natively implemented processes configured to coordinate playback of audio and video using the playback device's audio and video decoders, a VM framework configured to execute within the virtual machine and to enable scripts executing within the virtual machine to initiate playback of audio and video using the natively implemented processes, and a user interface implemented as a script configured to be executed within the virtual machine.
H04N 7/16 - Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
G06F 15/16 - Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
18.
ELEMENTARY BITSTREAM CRYPTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Systems and methods for providing multimedia content from one process or component to another process or component over an unsecured connection are provided. One embodiment includes obtaining the cryptographic information, extracting the at least partially encrypted video data from the container file to create an elementary bitstream, enciphering the cryptographic information, inserting the cryptographic information in the elementary bitstream, providing the elementary bitstream to a video decoder, extracting the cryptographic information from the elementary bitstream at the video decoder, deciphering the cryptographic information, decrypting the elementary bitstream with the cryptographic information and decoding the elementary bitstream for rendering on a display device using the video decoder.
Systems and methods for determining whether a decoder can playback compressed video identified as being encoded with an operating profile and/or level unsupported by the decoder are shown Systems and methods are described for playing back video encoded as an elementary bitstream, where the elementary bitstream has a specified encoding profile and satisfies at least one playback condition A number of embodiments include a decoder that is incapable of playing back video encoded in accordance with the specified encoding profile The decoder is configured to locate the specified encoding profile within the elementary bitstream The decoder is also configured to determine whether the elementary bitstream satisfies the at least one playback condition in response to the location of the specified encoding profile within the elementary bitstream Furthermore, the decoder is configured to commence playback of the elementary bitstream based upon the determination that at least one playback condition is satisfied.
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