A system and method are provided of minimizing network bandwidth used from an external network by client peers in a local network. The method can include the operation of organizing a plurality of clients each having media streamlets and a client parent in a structure within the local network. Mapping information propagates through the structure. The mapping information represents local streamlet locations as stored by the plurality of clients. Another operation is retrieving a local streamlet from a client identified in the mapping information as having the local streamlet for the requesting client.

Systems and methods for performing trick play functionality using trick play streams during adaptive bitrate streaming in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes requesting a video container index from a video container file containing a video stream from a plurality of alternative streams of video; requesting at least one portion of the video stream using at least one entry from the video container index; decoding the at least one portion of the video stream; receiving at least one user instruction to perform a visual search of the media; requesting a trick play container index from a trick play container file containing a trick play stream; requesting at least one frame of video from the at least one trick play stream; and decoding and displaying the at least one frame of video from the trick play stream.

Systems and methods for performing trick play functionality using trick play streams during adaptive bitrate streaming in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes requesting a video container index from a video container file containing a video stream from a plurality of alternative streams of video; requesting at least one portion of the video stream using at least one entry from the video container index; decoding the at least one portion of the video stream; receiving at least one user instruction to perform a visual search of the media; requesting a trick play container index from a trick play container file containing a trick play stream; requesting at least one frame of video from the at least one trick play stream; and decoding and displaying the at least one frame of video from the trick play stream.

A system and method for controlling surveillance cameras is enclosed. In the system, a surveillance camera system includes surveillance cameras configured as VoIP server endpoints. The surveillance cameras receive messages from client devices such as mobile user devices and computer workstations functioning as VoIP client endpoints. The client devices establish a voice communications channel with the surveillance cameras for receiving and controlling one or more streams of image data sent by the surveillance camera over the voice communications channel to the client device. In a preferred embodiment, the voice communications channel includes a control session based on Session Information Protocol (SIP) and a data channel that is based on Real time transfer protocol (RTP). The data channel preferably operates in half duplex mode, which limits the potential for collisions on the data channel when the surveillance cameras are transmitting their image data to the client devices.

A system and method for controlling surveillance cameras is enclosed. In the system, a surveillance camera system includes surveillance cameras configured as VoIP server endpoints. The surveillance cameras receive messages from client devices such as mobile user devices and computer workstations functioning as VoIP client endpoints. The client devices establish a voice communications channel with the surveillance cameras for receiving and controlling one or more streams of image data sent by the surveillance camera over the voice communications channel to the client device. In a preferred embodiment, the voice communications channel includes a control session based on Session Information Protocol (SIP) and a data channel that is based on Real time transfer protocol (RTP). The data channel preferably operates in half duplex mode, which limits the potential for collisions on the data channel when the surveillance cameras are transmitting their image data to the client devices.

Described is a method of managing a network for delivering content in a hybrid unicast/multicast network, where content is requested by clients over unicast, but all or some of the content is delivered in part over multicast. A client requests content (in the form of segments) and receive the responses (segments) over unicast via a first proxy. The first proxy measures the time between requests and associated requested segment sizes. These measurements are used to effectively determine a unicast request rate given by the segment size divided by the time between requests. Subsequent requested segments can then be delivered over multicast over a portion of the route to the client using a multicast rate that is set as a function of (for example, 110% of) the unicast request rate. In general, the multicast path will be from a second proxy to the first proxy.

In some embodiments, an electronic device operates in a streaming mode to automatically stream content from the electronic device to a playback destination. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents selectable options to control playback of content on a streaming destination while the electronic device streams content to the streaming destination. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents visual indications that the electronic device is operating in a streaming mode to stream content to a playback destination. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents a user interface for controlling electronic devices that automatically reconfigures to support different user inputs and issues different commands based on the type of electronic device being controlled. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents a user interface for controlling electronic devices that automatically provides context-specific selectable options based on the content being displayed on the electronic device being controlled.

The invention provides a method of media content delivery, where the time taken to deliver each chunk of content is measured, from which the stability or consistency of delivery times are calculated. The amount of data buffered at the user's device awaiting decoding and play-back can then be adjusted (such as by playing out the content slower or quicker), in order to achieve a good compromise between continuous play-out and low end-to-end delay, taking into consideration the current network characteristics.

The invention provides a method of media content delivery, where the time taken to deliver each chunk of content is measured, from which the stability or consistency of delivery times are calculated. The amount of data buffered at the user's device awaiting decoding and play-back can then be adjusted (such as by playing out the content slower or quicker), in order to achieve a good compromise between continuous play-out and low end-to-end delay, taking into consideration the current network characteristics.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling delivery of content are provided. In some embodiments, a system for controlling delivery of content is provided. The system includes processing circuitry configured to: transmit, to a server, a plurality of requests for blocks of the content; while at least some of the plurality of requests are still outstanding: detect a change of a service characteristic of a connection between the system and the server; determine a preferred number of outstanding requests; and cancel at least some of the requests from the plurality that are still outstanding based on the preferred number and a count of the requests from the plurality that are still outstanding.