Alternative approaches to the insertion of local commercials and messages into networks feeds are provided. Embodiments include digital commercial insertion for cable operators and others that not only offer more flexibility and features, but may also be significantly cheaper to implement. The actual “insert” of the local commercial or message into the digital program is performed by a standard set top box, with several methods of providing the local commercial to the set top box at the proper insertion time. Another embodiment allows a cable operator to significantly save on equipment in the form of splicers and ad inserters, by allowing easy and dynamic mapping of local commercials to insertion zones.

Various embodiments are described herein for systems and methods that can be used to operate a media transmission network. In at least one embodiment, the media transmission network comprises a plurality of media processing devices configured to receive and process media streams based on control data. The media transmission network also comprises a controller coupled to the plurality of media processing devices and configured to generate a control signal for some or all of the media processing devices in the network. The controller is configured to determine the timing at which to transmit the control signal to a respective media processing device in order for the instructions in the control signal to be executed at the same time as the media data is received. The controller determines the transmission timing of each control signal by determining the latencies and delays of the network and the devices, such as, for example, network latency, processing delay, and/or control delay.

The media production element combines media content from a plurality of streaming electronic devices when they are registered to be within the same streaming event. The media production element can produce a combined live video stream or a combined media production using selections and combinations of the streamed content provided by the multiple electronic devices. An electronic device participating in the uplink data streaming of the event can transmit data segments to the media production element in real-time, and it can also store data segments locally. A network assistance device or media production element can request a non-real time stored data segment from the electronic device.

.[.A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming..]. .Iadd.A method is described for providing a subscriber specific solution or recommend a subscriber specific action in at least one of a visual and an audible form at a receiver station. A remote data source stores digital data and receives a transmission originated from the receiver station. The subscriber specific solution or subscriber specific action is based on a subscriber specific analysis, and is dependent on transmitting the digital data from the remote data source to the receiver station. .Iaddend.

.[.A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming..]. .Iadd.A method is described for providing a subscriber specific solution or recommend a subscriber specific action in at least one of a visual and an audible form at a receiver station. A remote data source stores digital data and receives a transmission originated from the receiver station. The subscriber specific solution or subscriber specific action is based on a subscriber specific analysis, and is dependent on transmitting the digital data from the remote data source to the receiver station. .Iaddend.

The present invention provides a live video transmission method and system and an apparatus. According to the method, an M2U device receives a UDP request sent by a client, where the UDP request includes a live channel identifier and is used to request video data of a live channel corresponding to the live channel identifier, and the live channel identifier includes a multicast address or a URL. Then, the M2U device obtains the video data corresponding to the live channel identifier, and obtains a source IP address and a source port of the UDP request, where the source IP address and the source port of the UDP request are used as a destination IP address and a destination port of a UDP unicast packet to be subsequently sent to the client.

The present invention provides a live video transmission method and system and an apparatus. According to the method, an M2U device receives a UDP request sent by a client, where the UDP request includes a live channel identifier and is used to request video data of a live channel corresponding to the live channel identifier, and the live channel identifier includes a multicast address or a URL. Then, the M2U device obtains the video data corresponding to the live channel identifier, and obtains a source IP address and a source port of the UDP request, where the source IP address and the source port of the UDP request are used as a destination IP address and a destination port of a UDP unicast packet to be subsequently sent to the client.

A receiving method of receiving a first data unit in which data making up an encoded stream is stored and the first data unit stores a plurality of second data units. The receiving method includes: receiving the first data unit, first time information indicating a presentation time of the first data unit, second time information indicating, together with the first time information, a presentation time or a decoding time of each of the plurality of second data units, and identification information; calculating the presentation time or the decoding time of each of the plurality of second data units using the first time information and the second time information; and correcting the presentation time or the decoding time of each of the plurality of second data units based on the identification information.

A receiving method of receiving a first data unit in which data making up an encoded stream is stored and the first data unit stores a plurality of second data units. The receiving method includes: receiving the first data unit, first time information indicating a presentation time of the first data unit, second time information indicating, together with the first time information, a presentation time or a decoding time of each of the plurality of second data units, and identification information; calculating the presentation time or the decoding time of each of the plurality of second data units using the first time information and the second time information; and correcting the presentation time or the decoding time of each of the plurality of second data units based on the identification information.

A transcoder for transcoding a basic representation of a videostream into one or more arbitrary representations comprises: a receiver adapted for receiving the basic representation and at least one frame information set comprising one or more frame information packets; a decoder adapted for decoding the basic representation; a re-encoder adapted for selecting at least one frame information set and for selecting one or more frame information packets from this at least one frame information set for forming a arbitrary representation, the re-encoder is adapted for extracting coding information from the frame information packets, and for re-encoding the decoded basic representation using the coding information thereby obtaining the one or more arbitrary representations.