A method of delivering a video sequence in a network, the sequence including a plurality of temporal segments encoded at a plurality of qualities, the method including storing a dataset indicating the relative size of segments of the video stream; computing in dependence on that dataset a time schedule for delivery of the segments, the time schedule indicating a target delivery time for each segment sufficient to deliver all the segments in the sequence in time for decoding and being independent of the encoded quality of each segment; for each segment: setting one or more transmission parameters for the segment in dependence on the target delivery time for the segment and the relative size of the segment; and delivering the segment over the network using the one or more transmission parameters.

The following describes techniques to maintain continuity of a live media stream. A media stream includes a first distribution layer with a first set of key frames and a set of delta frames succeeding key frames in the first set of key frames. The media stream also includes a second distribution layer including a second set of key frames, where the second set of key frames contains fewer key frames than the first set of key frames. Using the first and second distribution layers, a client device may subscribe to the media stream with a minimized start-up time and optimized quality of experience among varying complexity of the media content and dynamic network conditions.

Systems and methods adapted for providing heterogeneous media services in communication systems, such as using transport layer security deferral and/or medium redirect, are disclosed. In operation according to embodiments, heterogeneous media services may be facilitated by obtaining, by a hybrid broadcast receiver of a receiver device, a computer parsable object comprising information regarding content segment availability and access, wherein the hybrid broadcast receiver is adapted to obtain content via both broadcast and broadband connections for a streaming client of the receiver device. The hybrid broadcast receiver of embodiments may further operate to evaluate the computer parsable object for one or more content segment entries indicating transport layer security is to be invoked with respect to a connection used for obtaining one or more content segments and to overwrite the one or more content segment entries preventing the transport layer security from being invoked by the streaming client.

There is included a method and apparatus comprising computer code configured to cause a processor or processors to perform publishing media presentation description data comprising main live program data, and signaling a client device about ad data and in-manifest data where the ad data instructs the client device of an initial end time at which to end a display of an ad by switching a display at the client device from the ad to the main live program data and where the in-manifest data instructs the client device to determine, during a streaming of the ad to the client device, an updated end time, prior to the end time, at which to end the streaming of the ad by switching the streaming at the client device from the ad to the main live program data.

An image coding method of hierarchically coding a plurality of pictures to generate a bitstream, includes: coding each of the plurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of a plurality of hierarchical layers, with reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is same as or lower than a hierarchical layer to which the picture belongs, and without reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is higher than the hierarchical layer to which the picture belongs; and generating the bitstream by coding the coded pictures and time information indicating decoding times of the coded pictures. The time information indicates that the decoding times are set at equal intervals for low-layer pictures which are the plurality of pictures other than highest-layer pictures belonging to a highest layer among the plurality of hierarchical layers.

An image coding method of hierarchically coding a plurality of pictures to generate a bitstream, includes: coding each of the plurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of a plurality of hierarchical layers, with reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is same as or lower than a hierarchical layer to which the picture belongs, and without reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is higher than the hierarchical layer to which the picture belongs; and generating the bitstream by coding the coded pictures and time information indicating decoding times of the coded pictures. The time information indicates that the decoding times are set at equal intervals for low-layer pictures which are the plurality of pictures other than highest-layer pictures belonging to a highest layer among the plurality of hierarchical layers.

An interactive video distribution system and video player are described. A client server arrangement may be used for providing a video player and video content to a client device. The video player may display navigation images enabling navigation to specific portions of the video content by activating a corresponding navigation image. The video player may also enable the sharing of a segment of the video with other video players, enabling the video players to play the streamed segment of the video without having to play the entire video, thereby reducing network bandwidth usage. The video player may be embeddable. The server may associate searchable tags with respective video segments.

Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods to identify and credit media using ratios of media characteristics are disclosed herein. Example apparatus to identify media include at least one memory, instructions, and at least one processor to execute the instructions to: determine a first ratio based on a first time interval and a second time interval of a monitored media signal; determine a second ratio based on the second time interval and a third time interval of the monitored media signal; generate a first ratio signature based on the first and second ratios; and initiate transmission of the first ratio signature to a recipient that is to compare the first signature with a second ratio signature to identify the media.

The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for interacting with portions of digital video within a social networking system. For example, systems and methods described herein enable a user to select a portion of a digital video and share or like just the portion of the digital video, rather than the entire digital video. The present disclosure is also directed toward systems and methods for identifying viral portions of a digital video within a social networking system. For example, systems and methods described herein analyze social networking activity related to portions of a particular digital video to identify one or more viral portions of the digital video. In response to identifying one or more viral portions, systems and methods provide an indication of, or otherwise share, the one or more viral portions during playback of the digital video.

The disclosed technology relates to methods, devices, systems and computer program products that facilitate access to metadata associated with a content. In one example, a method is described that includes receiving a multimedia content at a receiver device, extracting a watermark message from a first segment of the multimedia content, using at least a portion of the first watermark message to obtain additional information regarding the first segment of the multimedia content that includes the first watermark message, and associating and storing one or more values of the first watermark message and the additional information. The method further includes repeating the above operations to extract additional watermark messages from additional segments of the content and to form a table or array of items that can be accessed by specifying the one or more values of the first watermark message or one or more values of the additional watermark messages.