A method of processing media data. The method includes determining, for a conversion between the media data and a media data file, whether a size and a position of a target picture-in-picture region in a main video are present in the media data file, wherein a supplementary video appears to be overlaid on the target picture-in-picture region when the main video is displayed; and performing the conversion between the media data and the media data file based on the size and the position determined. A corresponding video coding apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium are also disclosed.

Systems and methods are described herein for streaming during unavailability of a content server. Upon determining that there are conditions indicating buffering issues during delivery of a media asset, a server determines a first group of devices suitable for receiving the media asset from the server and sharing the media asset on a peer-to-peer network. Then, the server determines a second group of devices suitable for receiving the media asset on a peer-to-peer network from a first group device. The server then determines groupings within which to share and receive the media asset. Next, the server transmits instructions to the devices in the first group to maintain in buffer and share certain portions of the media asset with the second group devices within their grouping. Finally, the server updates information detailing the media asset portions the devices are maintaining in buffer and sharing.

Ancillary information associated with one or more images embedded in a digital broadcast data stream may be accessed by a digital broadcast receiving device. The device may include a receiver unit, a processor, and a memory. The processor may execute program instructions to access the ancillary information. Control data may be associated with one or more visual components of one or more video images. The control data and images may be combined into a digital broadcast data stream. The device may receive the images and control data. The images may be presented on a display device. The receiving device may use the control data to present or store a perceptible indication that ancillary information is associated with the visual components in conjunction with presenting the images. The device may use the control data to present or store the ancillary information in response to an input signal.

Ancillary information associated with one or more images embedded in a digital broadcast data stream may be accessed by a digital broadcast receiving device. The device may include a receiver unit, a processor, and a memory. The processor may execute program instructions to access the ancillary information. Control data may be associated with one or more visual components of one or more video images. The control data and images may be combined into a digital broadcast data stream. The device may receive the images and control data. The images may be presented on a display device. The receiving device may use the control data to present or store a perceptible indication that ancillary information is associated with the visual components in conjunction with presenting the images. The device may use the control data to present or store the ancillary information in response to an input signal.

A method for decoding a picture block is disclosed. The decoding method comprises: reconstructing reference picture from another reference picture of a decoder picture buffer of a first layer of a multi-layered stream and from data decoded from a second layer of said multi-layered stream and storing said reference picture in a decoder picture buffer of said second layer, wherein said reference picture is indicated as not to be displayed; decoding a flag indicating that a subsequently decoded picture of the second layer is not using any inter-layer prediction; and reconstructing a picture block of said subsequently decoded picture at least from said reference picture.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for indicating a program boundary in an adaptive bitrate media stream, where the system includes a memory and a processor that performs operations including generating multiple transcoded media output streams of different bit rates from an input linear media stream, fragmenting the multiple transcoded media output streams into chunks, detecting a program boundary in the input linear media stream, and supplying a program change indicator in a manifest file for implementing program change features in mobile communication devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Data are encoded into one or more optically encoded images. The optically encoded images are then inserted as image data into a video sequence—i.e., in video frames. Data are transmitted in-band within the video, via any conceivable video distribution channel or format. The video may be trans-coded as required—because the data are optically encoded, any video processing that even crudely preserves the frame images will preserve the optically encoded data. This scheme of in-band data transfer in video is very robust. A video receiving apparatus receives the video, inspects the image data from video frames in memory, detects optically encoded images in the image data, and decodes the optically encoded images to recover the data. The frames carrying optically encoded images are typically discarded and not rendered to a display. The data from a plurality of optically encoded images may be concatenated, and further processed.

Data are encoded into one or more optically encoded images. The optically encoded images are then inserted as image data into a video sequence—i.e., in video frames. Data are transmitted in-band within the video, via any conceivable video distribution channel or format. The video may be trans-coded as required—because the data are optically encoded, any video processing that even crudely preserves the frame images will preserve the optically encoded data. This scheme of in-band data transfer in video is very robust. A video receiving apparatus receives the video, inspects the image data from video frames in memory, detects optically encoded images in the image data, and decodes the optically encoded images to recover the data. The frames carrying optically encoded images are typically discarded and not rendered to a display. The data from a plurality of optically encoded images may be concatenated, and further processed.

Example video data transmission methods and apparatus are described. One example method includes receiving a plurality of data packets corresponding to a plurality of video frames by a network device from a server. The network device determines that a transmission phase of one or more data packets corresponding to each video frame in the plurality of video frames, and determines a corresponding priority based on the transmission phase of the one or more data packets corresponding to each video frame. The network device sends, based on the priority of the one or more data packets corresponding to each video frame, the one or more data packets corresponding to each video frame to a terminal device corresponding to each video frame.

Example video data transmission methods and apparatus are described. One example method includes receiving a plurality of data packets corresponding to a plurality of video frames by a network device from a server. The network device determines that a transmission phase of one or more data packets corresponding to each video frame in the plurality of video frames, and determines a corresponding priority based on the transmission phase of the one or more data packets corresponding to each video frame. The network device sends, based on the priority of the one or more data packets corresponding to each video frame, the one or more data packets corresponding to each video frame to a terminal device corresponding to each video frame.