A method for processing a media stream is proposed, which includes, at a media distribution unit including a processor: obtaining, based on media stream data received from a media encoder, at least one media data chunk of the media stream, wherein the at least one media data chunk is a separately addressable data unit by a request for media data received by the media distribution unit; generating, based on received media stream data, metadata related to the media data chunk; storing the media data chunk in a memory of the media distribution unit, wherein the memory is used to store media data chunks as separately addressable data units for a memory read from the memory; and updating a list of media data chunks stored in the memory, based on the metadata related to the media data chunk.

A method for processing a media stream is proposed, which includes, at a media distribution unit including a processor and first and second memories for storing media data. The first memory stores media data chunks of the media stream which are separately addressable media data objects for memory read in the first memory. The second memory store media data fragments of the media stream which are separately addressable media data objects for memory read in the second memory, the fragments respectively including one or mode media data chunks: receiving a request related to media data, determining, based on the received request, a descriptor of data to be generated to serve the request, based on the descriptor, retrieving first data from the first memory, and second data from the second memory, and generating data to be generated to serve the request based on the first data and the second data.

Devices and methods are disclosed that transcode a media file to generate a transcoded file that is based on a codec preference of a client device. The transcoded file can then be used to replace the media file or added as an additional stream to the media file. The transcoded file is transmitted to the client device. The client device can request the media file with a list of prioritized codecs so that the transcoded file is transcoded using a codec from the list based on the priority of the codec.

Systems and methods for managing the storage and delivery of recorded content in a network digital video recorder (DVR) system are disclosed. A plurality of requests to record a program may be received, wherein the program may comprise a plurality of segments. A segment from the plurality of segments may be determined to be copied to a first storage. A copy of the segment may be received from a second storage and a plurality of copies of the segment may be created in the first storage from the copy of the segment received from the second storage. The quantity of the plurality of copies of the segment may be equal to the quantity of the plurality of requests to record the program.

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.

Devices and methods are disclosed that transcode a media file to generate a transcoded file that is based on a codec preference of a client device. The transcoded file can then be used to replace the media file or added as an additional stream to the media file. The transcoded file is transmitted to the client device. The client device can request the media file with a list of prioritized codecs so that the transcoded file is transcoded using a codec from the list based on the priority of the codec.

A server in a content delivery network (CDN) receives a request for a web page of a domain handled by an origin server. The server retrieves the web page and the web page references a video. The server retrieves a file that indicates a list of locations of the domain in which segments of the video are located. The server fetches at least an initial portion of the segments. The server receives a request for the video. The server transmits to the requester at least the initial portion of the segments. The server receives a subsequent request of a different portion of the segments. The server transmits a response to the requester that instructs the requester to transmit the request for the different portion of segments to a second server in the CDN.

A digital content recording network controller device determines a first content of a set of content to be more likely to be requested by a user of a content access device than a second content of the set of content based on monitored behavior of the user. The device stores the first content in a first storage device of a tiered group of storage devices and stores the second content in a second storage device of the tiered group of storage devices wherein the content access device is located closer to the first storage device than the second storage device. This balances storage load with accessibility, resulting in a faster responding system that does not require as much storage.

A method for execution by a storage unit of a dispersed storage network includes receiving a proxied data access request regarding an encoded data slice from another storage unit of the DSN, where the encoded data slice is stored in the storage unit according to a distributed agreement protocol. The method continues with determining whether the other storage unit is an authentic storage unit of the DSN. When the other storage unit is the authentic storage unit, the method continues with processing the proxied data access request to produce a data access response. The method continues with sending the data access response to the other storage unit.

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.