A distribution system for transmitting media content programs to premises equipment via a satellite transmission path addresses signal degradation caused by atmospheric conditions and other factors. Upon detection of a degradation of the satellite signal, the system may begin transmitting the content using an alternative signal path, such as a terrestrial IP network. The satellite transmission path is brought back on line after the satellite link is restored. Alternatively, the system may begin recording the signal in the media distribution system for transmission via the satellite link after the link is restored.

An exemplary system for cloud-based media content transcoding includes a local media content server that records a media content program, divides the media content program into a plurality of program segments, generates a program segment playlist including pointers to the plurality of program segments, receives a request for a media content playback device to download the media content program, and transmits the program segment playlist to the media content playback device. The program segment playlist directs the media content playback device to request and download transcoded versions of the program segments from a cloud-based transcoding system located remotely from the local media content server. The cloud-based transcoding system accesses the program segments from the local media content server, and generates and transmits the transcoded versions of the program segments to the media content playback device.

The media stream delivery system encodes and fragments media streams into numerous media stream fragments maintained on fragment servers. Devices obtain fragments to reconstruct media streams including live real-time media streams for playback on the devices. A device may perform caching of media stream fragments so that particular fragments need not be accessed again from a fragment server. A fragment server or even a content provider can analyze and monitor characteristics of media streams, viewing behavior, content popularity, etc., to identify fragments for caching at the playback devices. Caching indicators along with time period indicators may be included in the media stream fragments.

A method is provided for managing over-the-top delivery of content through a plurality of content delivery networks (CDN). The method provided works transparently with standard HTTP servers supporting an initial request for content from a client to a first preferred CDN. If the first CDN does not have the content, the method includes provisions for the first CDN to acquire the content from a second CDN, or for the client to request the content from a second CDN directly. A system is also specified for implementing a client and server infrastructure in accordance with the provisions of the method.

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for updating content stored in a cache residing at an internet service provider (ISP) location that includes receiving popularity data associated with a first plurality of content assets, where the popularity data indicate the popularity of each content asset in the first plurality of content assets across a user base that spans multiple geographic regions, generating a manifest that includes a second plurality of content assets based on the popularity data and a geographic location associated with the cache, where each content asset included in the manifest is determined to be popular among users proximate to the geographic location or users with preferences similar to users proximate to the geographic location, and transmitting the manifest to the cache, where the cache is configured to update one or more content assets stored in the cache based on the manifest.

The various embodiments described herein include methods and systems for providing audiovisual media items. In one aspect, a method performed at a client device includes: (1) receiving one or more natural language inputs from a user; (2) identifying audio files by extracting one or more commands from the natural language inputs; (3) receiving one or more second natural language inputs from the user; (4) identifying visual media files by extracting one or more commands from the second natural language inputs; (5) obtaining a request to generate the media item, the media item corresponding to the visual media files and the audio files; and (6) in response to obtaining the request, sending, to a server system, a creation request to create the media item, the creation request including information identifying the audio files and the visual media files.

A content popularity determination system and method operative with interconnected set-top boxes (STBs) configured to facilitate media streaming in a network environment. In one embodiment, download patterns may be monitored relative to accessing a particular content via one or more STBs (STBs) associated with a subscriber. Also monitored is if the same particular content is shared by other STBs for downloading to other subscribers. Popularity-related metrics with respect to the particular content may be determined based on accessing of the particular content by the subscriber and sharing of the particular content by other STBs for downloading to the other subscribers.

An interconnected architecture for set-top boxes (STBs) configured to facilitate media streaming in a network environment. In one embodiment, a data center associated with the network environment includes a control plane manager operative to receive and process media requests from a plurality of subscriber devices, each subscriber device comprising at least a media renderer and a user interface operative with a virtual STB hosted at the data center. One or more vSTBs associated with a plurality of subscribers may be hosted at the data center, which may be logically organized into a number of mesh architectures. The control plane manager is further operative to determine if a request from a subscriber device for a particular content is for content that already exists at one or more vSTBs hosted in the data center, and if so, select an optimal vSTB that already supports a stream of the requested particular content for effectuating a media session with the subscriber device.

A method for selecting a substantially optimized scheduler from a plurality of schedulers for executing dispersed storage error functions on a distributed storage network begins with a computing device receiving a dispersed storage error functions along with an indication of measured throughput and measured latency from a requesting device. The method resumes when a scheduler is selected from the plurality of schedulers based on desired latency and throughput, while considering the characteristics of the dispersed error function being executed. The method continues with the computing device receiving a different dispersed error function and selecting a different scheduler.

A system is proposed for delivering video content to display devices using a cloud computing model. A plurality of independent physical computer systems cooperate to implement a virtual computer system (“cloud”) which receives media content from sources of media content, and delivers the media content selectively to video display devices. For each of a plurality of users of the virtual computer system, there is a corresponding process (“cloudclone”) running on the virtual computer system which coordinates the delivery of the content to one or more of the video display devices which are associated with the corresponding user. The cloudclone includes respective components for managing the transfer of media content to each of the video display devices associated with the user. This makes possible a straightforward way of migrating video sessions between the devices associated with the user, by changing the corresponding cloudclone. The cloud can also access pre-determined social relationships between the users, and use the actions of a first of the users, to control content delivered to the other user(s) with which the first user has a social relationship.