The disclosed computer-implemented method includes accessing information related to a playback session in which at least a portion of requested multimedia content is streamed over a network to a client electronic device. The method further includes accessing network topology information for the network to identify which route through the network was used to provide the requested multimedia content during the playback session, including indicating which end node was used to provide the multimedia content. Still further, the method includes accessing network steering factors that indicate why the requested multimedia content was steered through the identified network route, determining, based on the network steering factors, which end node would have been more suited to providing the requested multimedia content for the playback session, and then transferring the requested multimedia content to the determined end node for provisioning during subsequent playback sessions. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, accessing, by a system comprising a processor, a content display configuration corresponding to a plurality of feed selections from a plurality of media content feeds, a plurality of display selections from a plurality of available displays, and a plurality of pairing selections assigning each feed selection of the plurality of feed selections to at least one display selection of the plurality of display selections, and transmitting a plurality of displayable content streams according to the content display configuration. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Methods and systems are disclosed for a mobile device to decode video based on available power and/or energy. For example, the mobile device may receive a media description file (MDF) from for a video stream from a video server. The MDF may include complexity information associated with a plurality of video segments. The complexity information may be related to the amount of processing power to be utilized for decoding the segment at the mobile device. The mobile device may determine at least one power metric for the mobile device. The mobile device may determine a first complexity level to be requested for a first video segment based on the complexity information from the MDF and the power metric. The mobile device may dynamically alter the decoding process to save energy based on the detected power/energy level.

Methods and apparatuses for real-time or near real-time streaming of content using transfer protocols such as an HTTP compliant protocol. In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a stream of data, representing the contiguous time based content of a program (e.g. a live video broadcast), into a plurality of distinct media files, and generating a playlist file having a plurality of tags and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) indicating an order of presentation of the plurality of distinct media files. The plurality of media files and the playlist file can be made available for transmission to a client device which can retrieve the media files using the playlist file.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method of preparing and presenting a customized media channel, including receiving user preferences of a first user; receiving data plan information applicable to a first device utilized by the first user; receiving consumption information of the first user; scheduling media content on a first channel customized for the first user, by arranging the media content based on the user preferences of the first user and the consumption information of the first user; and providing the first channel to the first device at a first bit rate that varies according to the data plan information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A block-request streaming system provides for improvements in the user experience and bandwidth efficiency of such systems, typically using an ingestion system that generates data in a form to be served by a conventional file server (HTTP, FTP, or the like), wherein the ingestion system intakes content and prepares it as files or data elements to be served by the file server. A client device can be adapted to take advantage of the ingestion process. The client device might be configured to optimize use of resources, given the information available to it from the ingestion system. This may include configurations to determine the sequence, timing and construction of block requests based on monitoring buffer size and rate of change of buffer size, use of variable sized requests, mapping of block requests to underlying transport connections, flexible pipelining of requests, and/or use of whole file requests based on statistical considerations.

A method and apparatus for an adaptive Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) streaming service using metadata of media content are provided. The media content may include a sequence of one or more periods. Each of the periods may include one or more representations. The metadata may include information used to describe a relationship between the representations, and include information for terminals having different display bit depth.

Described herein are methods and systems associated with viewing condition adaption of multimedia content. A method for receiving multimedia content with a device from a network may include determining a viewing parameter, transmitting a request for the multimedia content to the network, whereby the request may be based on the viewing parameter, and receiving the multimedia content from the network, whereby the multimedia content may be processed at a rate according to the viewing parameter. The viewing parameter may include at least one of: a user viewing parameter, a device viewing parameter, or a content viewing parameter. The method may further include receiving a multimedia presentation description (MPD) file from the network. The MPD file may include information relating to the rate of the multimedia content and information relating to the rate may include a descriptor relating to the viewing parameter, whereby the descriptor may be required or optional.

A method for unscrambling a multiplicity of television channels, comprises: receiving a first request for a first channel; receiving a first code for the first channel; extracting and demuxing the first channel from a plurality of channels, using the first code; receiving a second request for a second channel; receiving a second code for the second channel; and extracting and demuxing the second channel from the plurality of channels, using the second code, where the extractions of the first channel and the second channel are performed simultaneously. The method further comprises: providing a first video stream corresponding to the first channel, the first video stream being transcoded, transrated, and multiplexed with a first advertisement; and providing a second video stream corresponding to the second channel, the second video stream being transcoded, transrated, and multiplexed with a second advertisement.

Embodiments of mechanisms for dynamic media content type streaming management for mobile devices are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the mobile device may receive selection input pertaining to generating output from a media file containing at least two of audio data, video data, and closed-captioning data, the selection input selecting at least one of audio, video, and closed-captioning to be output during play of the media content. In some embodiments, the mobile device may generate an audio output as a signal in response to the selection input including audio. In some embodiments, the mobile device may generate a video output as a signal in response to the selection input including video. In some embodiments, the mobile device may generate a closed-captioning output as a signal in response to selection input including closed-captioning.