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 disclosure is directed to systems and methods for local rendering of 3D models which are then accessed by remote computers. The advantage of the system is that extensive hardware needed for rendering complex 3D models is centralized and can be accessed by smaller remote computers without and special hardware or software installation. The system also provides enhanced security as model data can be restricted to a limited number of servers instead of stored on individual computers.

The present invention relates to a method for playing on a player of a client device a content streamed in a network, including: (a) receiving from the player a request for a current segment at a first quality level; (b) determining, using a closed loop controller minimizing a difference between a first quality level and a setpoint second quality level, an optimal response delay for providing the requested current segment; and (c) providing the requested current segment from a first buffer at the expiration of said estimated optimal response delay.

A data stream accessor seeks to simulate an uninterrupted bitstream for a decoder during network interruptions. The accessor performs a set of operations including receiving an available amount of image data and storing a current execution context of the call site, passing execution flow to the decoder, and performing a subset of operations. The subset includes receiving an indication of a desired amount of image data from the decoder. If a total amount of image data at the accessor is greater than or equal to the desired amount, the desired amount is transmitted to the decoder for decoding. Otherwise, and unless an error issues, a current execution context of the decoder is stored, execution flow is passed from the decoder to the call site, and the restorable execution context is loaded as the current execution context of the call site. The subset is repeated unless the image is completely decoded.

A telecommunication and multimedia management apparatus and method that supports voice and other media communications and that enables users to: (i) participate in multiple conversation modes, including live phone calls, conference calls, instant voice messaging or tactical communications; (ii) review the messages of conversations in either a live mode or a time-shifted mode and to seamlessly transition back and forth between the two modes; (iii) participate in multiple conversations either concurrently or simultaneously; (iv) archive the messages of conversations for later review or processing; and (v) persistently store media either created or received on the communication devices of users. The latter feature enables users to generate or review media when either disconnected from the network or network conditions are poor and to optimize the delivery of media over the network based on network conditions and the intention of the users participating in conversations.

A method for streaming a 360 degree video over a communications network, wherein the video is streamed in a plurality of chunks, includes selecting a prediction window during which to predict a field of view within the video, the field of view is expected to be visible by a viewer at a time of playback of a next chunk of the video, wherein a duration of the prediction window is based on at least one condition within the communications network, selecting a machine learning algorithm to predict the field of view based on a head movement of the viewer, wherein the machine learning algorithm is selected based on the duration of the prediction window, predicting the field of view based on the head movement of the viewer and the machine learning algorithm, identifying a tile of the next chunk that corresponds to the field of view, and downloading the tile.

An apparatus comprising means for: providing a user interface for enabling a user to select audio content, comprising an arrangement of multiple user-selectable visual elements at positions in the user interface that are indicative of different orientations from a user and have an appearance dependent upon audio content for the respective orientations; and responding to selection of a user-selectable visual element at a position in the user interface indicative of an orientation from the user to select, for processing, audio content for the orientation.

Presented herein are techniques for cropping video streams to create an optimized layout in which participants of a meeting are a similar size. A user device receives a plurality of video streams, each video stream including at least one face of a participant participating in a video communication session. Faces in one or more of the plurality of video streams are cropped so that faces in the plurality of video streams are approximately equal in size, to produce a plurality of processed video streams. The plurality of processed video streams are sorted according to video stream widths to produce sorted video streams and the plurality of sorted video streams are distributed for display across a smallest number of rows possible on a display of the user device.

A method and apparatus of a device that receives streaming content is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives a media playlist for the content, wherein the media playlist references a plurality of media stream and each of the plurality of media stream are encoded at a different bit rate. The device further determines an initial media stream selected from the plurality of media stream. In addition, the device examines a window of media segments of the initial media stream and determines a local bit rate curve from the window of media segments. The device further selects another one of the plurality of media streams using at least the local bit rate curve.

An information processing system includes an information processing device, a stream user terminal and viewing user terminal. The information processing device comprises processing circuitry configured to stream a video, including a character object of a stream user, to the viewing user terminal by transmitting information on the video to the viewing user terminal; aggregate resulting information including information on an action by a viewing user to the video during streaming of the video; determine a specific motion to be applied to the character object based on the resulting information; and transmit specific information on the specific motion to the stream user terminal. After the streaming of the video is ended, a resulting screen is displayed on the stream user terminal, the resulting screen including a character image with the specific motion applied to the character object, and the character image is generated based on the specific information.