A server center for hosting low-latency streaming interactive audio/video (A/V) includes a plurality of servers that run one or more applications and an inbound routing network that receives packet streams from users via a first network interface and routes the packets to one or more of the servers. The packet streams include user control input. One or more of the servers are operable to compute A/V data responsive to the user control input. A compression unit is coupled to receive the A/V data from the one or more of the servers and output compressed A/V data therefrom. An output routing network that routes the compressed A/V data to each of the users over a corresponding communication channel via a second interface, the compression unit is operable to modify a compression rate responsive to current characteristics of the corresponding communication channel for each user so as to optimize performance of the one or more applications.

This application pertains to gift-giving and video-dropping methods and systems. A gift drop or a video drop is facilitated using a mobile smart device and an interactive map. The system includes a gift or video drop database stored in a remote gift drop computer server. The system includes a gift or video drop logic section operable on a smart mobile device or a computer. The gift or video drop logic section includes an interactive gift or video drop map. The gift or video drop logic section presents the interactive gift or video drop map to a user, and facilitates the dropping of a symbolic gift item or a video onto the interactive map. The gift or video drop logic section determines whether the user is within certain predefined geographic boundaries, and either makes visible or gives a symbolic gift item to the user based on their location, or plays the video.

This application pertains to gift-giving and video-dropping methods and systems. A gift drop or a video drop is facilitated using a mobile smart device and an interactive map. The system includes a gift or video drop database stored in a remote gift drop computer server. The system includes a gift or video drop logic section operable on a smart mobile device or a computer. The gift or video drop logic section includes an interactive gift or video drop map. The gift or video drop logic section presents the interactive gift or video drop map to a user, and facilitates the dropping of a symbolic gift item or a video onto the interactive map. The gift or video drop logic section determines whether the user is within certain predefined geographic boundaries, and either makes visible or gives a symbolic gift item to the user based on their location, or plays the video.

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing split and parallelized encoding or transcoding of audio and video. In various embodiments, a computing system might split an audio-video file that is received from a content source into a single video file and a single audio file. The computing system might encode or transcode the single audio file. Concurrently, the computing system might split the single video file into a plurality of video segments. A plurality of parallel video encoders/transcoders might concurrently encode or transcode the plurality of video segments, each video encoder/transcoder encoding or transcoding one video segment of the plurality of video segments. Subsequently, the computing system might assemble the plurality of encoded or transcoded video segments with the encoded or transcoded audio file to produce an encoded or transcoded audio-video file, which may be output to a display device(s), an audio playback device(s), or the like.

Apparatus and methods for downloading selected multimedia content and applications. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods enable various options or functionalities for programming content over a home network. A web-based user interface on a consumer device controls a set-top box (STB) over a local home network is utilized. An initial process connects the consumer device to an application server for the necessary web software. After discovery of both the consumer device and the STB on the local home network, an initial page of the application is loaded and the application calls the web services on the STB via the home network to retrieve data and control the STB with a compatible web browser on the consumer device.

Novel techniques are described for lock-free sharing of a circular buffer. Embodiments can provide shared, lock-free, constant-bitrate access by multiple consumer systems to a live stream of audiovisual information being recorded to a circular buffer by a producer. For example, when a producer system writes a data stream to the circular buffer, the producer system records shared metadata. When a consumer system desires to begin reading from the shared buffer at a particular time, the shared metadata is used to compute a predicted write pointer location and corresponding dirty region around the write pointer at the desired read time. A read pointer of the consumer system can be set to avoid the dirty region, thereby permitting read access to a stable region of the circular buffer without relying on a buffer lock.

A video server includes a plurality of ports used for inputting and outputting material data items, a storage unit capable of storing group information about grouping of the plurality of ports, and a control unit that receives a command of designating a specific port of the plurality of ports for inputting and outputting one of a plurality of specific material data items and the other of the plurality of specific material data items as a first port, determines one or more other ports belonging to the same group of the first port as one or more second ports on the basis of the group information, and executes the command so as to synchronize the plurality of material data items each other using the first port and the one or more second ports.

A video server includes a plurality of ports used for inputting and outputting material data items, a storage unit capable of storing group information about grouping of the plurality of ports, and a control unit that receives a command of designating a specific port of the plurality of ports for inputting and outputting one of a plurality of specific material data items and the other of the plurality of specific material data items as a first port, determines one or more other ports belonging to the same group of the first port as one or more second ports on the basis of the group information, and executes the command so as to synchronize the plurality of material data items each other using the first port and the one or more second ports.

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing split and parallelized encoding or transcoding of audio and video. In various embodiments, a computing system might split an audio-video file that is received from a content source into a single video file and a single audio file. The computing system might encode or transcode the single audio file. Concurrently, the computing system might split the single video file into a plurality of video segments. A plurality of parallel video encoders/transcoders might concurrently encode or transcode the plurality of video segments, each video encoder/transcoder encoding or transcoding one video segment of the plurality of video segments. Subsequently, the computing system might assemble the plurality of encoded or transcoded video segments with the encoded or transcoded audio file to produce an encoded or transcoded audio-video file, which may be output to a display device(s), an audio playback device(s), or the like.

In-vehicle entertainment (IVE) systems can have a centralized architecture to improve heat dissipation characteristics and weight and/or size of the WE systems. A centralized system for providing in-vehicle entertainment to passengers on a commercial passenger vehicle includes a printed circuit board (PCB) in a housing locatable in a structure in the commercial passenger vehicle and a plurality of display panels and microcontrollers located in a rear portion of the structure. Each microcontroller is communicably connected to one display panel and the PCB. The PCB includes a processor configured to decode audio and/or video content and to operate a plurality of virtual machines that correspond to and perform operations such as playback functionality related to the plurality of display panels.