Methods and systems for intelligent use of off-peak bandwidth are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving a request for content from a user device. The content server can transmit the content to the user device. Upon receiving a teardown command to suspend transmission of the content, after transmitting a first portion of the content to the user device, the content server can determine that playback of the content is likely to be resumed at a peak time. The content server can then pre-position a second portion of the content proximate to the user device prior to the peak time.

The vehicle control system/method for adapting a control function based on a user profile may comprise: a gesture recognition module; a user profile module; a function control module; a processor; a non-transitory storage element coupled to the processor; encoded instructions stored in the non-transitory storage element, wherein the encoded instructions when implemented by the processor, configure the system to: identify a user; retrieve a user profile for the identified user; receive at a gesture recognition module, an input indicating a gesture from the user; identify a control function request corresponding to the gesture input; send a verification of the control function request; and receive at a function control module characteristics parsed from the user profile that effect the control function request by the user profile module to adapt a control function command for an adapted control function output by the function control module.

The vehicle control system/method for adapting a control function based on a user profile may comprise: a gesture recognition module; a user profile module; a function control module; a processor; a non-transitory storage element coupled to the processor; encoded instructions stored in the non-transitory storage element, wherein the encoded instructions when implemented by the processor, configure the system to: identify a user; retrieve a user profile for the identified user; receive at a gesture recognition module, an input indicating a gesture from the user; identify a control function request corresponding to the gesture input; send a verification of the control function request; and receive at a function control module characteristics parsed from the user profile that effect the control function request by the user profile module to adapt a control function command for an adapted control function output by the function control module.

A system comprising a plurality of peer caches associated with a corresponding plurality of content owners; shared ledger logic having a channel for each content owner of a plurality of content owners, the shared ledger logic to maintain a shared ledger data structure and to perform the operations of: in response to receipt of a first content title, responsively recording a first ledger entry for the first content title which is visible to a first content owner which owns the first content title; receiving an encryption key from the content owner, wherein the first content title comprises an encrypted content title encrypted with the key; storing the encrypted content title on one or more network storage devices; and when the encrypted content title reaches an edge cache, using the key to decrypt the encrypted content title and updating the first ledger entry to identify the edge cache.

A content playing method includes obtaining a first media playlist for video on demand (VOD)-type first content via a server in accordance with a request from a player; changing the obtained first media playlist from VOD-type to live-type; providing the changed first media playlist to the player; obtaining a second media playlist for second content via the server, before the completion of the playing of the first content using the changed first media playlist in the player; and generating a third media playlist by connecting the changed first media playlist and the second media playlist.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining image content over a communication network, determining a predicted viewpoint of a user associated with the image content, and adjusting the image content to equirectangular image content according to the predicted viewpoint. Further aspects can include downscaling the equirectangular image content according to a display capability of a mobile device resulting in a downscaled equirectangular image content, cropping the downscaled equirectangular image content resulting in a cropped equirectangular image content, and providing, over the communication network, the cropped equirectangular image content to the mobile device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for ensuring delivery of geographically relevant content to IP-enabled user devices associated with a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network (or designated content source) determines a geographic context or location of the user device, and uses this information to manage the packaging and delivery of content thereto so as to obey blackout restrictions and/or provide content which is relevant to the geographic context/location. In one variant, the user device comprises a mobile device such as a tablet computer or smartphone, and the content is delivered thereto over either a managed or unmanaged network infrastructure.

Apparatus and methods for ensuring delivery of geographically relevant content to IP-enabled user devices associated with a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network (or designated content source) determines a geographic context or location of the user device, and uses this information to manage the packaging and delivery of content thereto so as to obey blackout restrictions and/or provide content which is relevant to the geographic context/location. In one variant, the user device comprises a mobile device such as a tablet computer or smartphone, and the content is delivered thereto over either a managed or unmanaged network infrastructure.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for broadcasting/multicasting of media content over a communication network using shared bandwidth available from peer-to-peer networking. The system may include one or more servers for delivering media content over the network for one or more media content programs. The media content comprises data packets. The one or more servers may provide IP multicasting information and tracking information for the data packets to all receiving devices requesting the media content. Any receiving devices that request the media content and that one of: (a) fail to subscribe to the IP multicasting channel; or (b) fail to receive all of the data packets for the media content over the IP multicasting channel, may use the tracking information to identify other of the receiving devices that have received the data packets and to request the data packets from at least one of the identified receiving devices.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for broadcasting/multicasting of media content over a communication network using shared bandwidth available from peer-to-peer networking. The system may include one or more servers for delivering media content over the network for one or more media content programs. The media content comprises data packets. The one or more servers may provide IP multicasting information and tracking information for the data packets to all receiving devices requesting the media content. Any receiving devices that request the media content and that one of: (a) fail to subscribe to the IP multicasting channel; or (b) fail to receive all of the data packets for the media content over the IP multicasting channel, may use the tracking information to identify other of the receiving devices that have received the data packets and to request the data packets from at least one of the identified receiving devices.