A video information periodic broadcasting method includes segmenting video information with an equal duration to obtain video segments S.sub.i of each time series, where i is the segment serial number of the video segments. The video segments S.sub.i are connected in series in an order of ascending the segment serial numbers. Segmenting each video segment S.sub.i with an equal duration to obtain video sub-segments S.sub.i,j of each time series, where the number of the video sub-segments S.sub.i,j of each time series is equal to the segment serial number of the video segments corresponding to the same time series, j is the sub-segment serial numbers of all the video sub-segments of the video segment. The video sub-segments S.sub.i,j are connected in series in an order of ascending the sub-segment serial numbers to form the video segment S.sub.i. Transmitting the video sub-segments through multiple periodic broadcasting channels with an equal bandwidth.

Methods and systems are disclosed for providing video content in response to requests in a content delivery system with more speed and efficiency. In some aspects, network monitoring devices may gather content specific and network performance metrics, from user devices and content delivery components, to provide input to a computing device for deciding whether to store or delete different versions of the same or different items of content. The decision may be based on a policy which may include a weighted score based on a combination of usage and network efficiency scores. In other aspects, methods and systems are provided to initially provide to a user device a stored version of a content item, and then switch, as needed, to a different version of the content item using on-demand transcoding.

In general, in an aspect, versions of representations of segments of a media item are received and temporarily stored on a media playing device. The segments have a sequence. The temporarily stored versions are used in sequence to present at least part of the media item to a user. One or more other versions of representations of segments of the media item are also received and persistently stored on the media playing device. The one or more persistently stored other versions are used to enhance the presentation of at least part of the media item to the user.

Apparatus and methods for content fragmentation, distribution, protection, and re-constitution within a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods enable distribution of content fragments to edge nodes (which may include user or subscriber CPE), thereby enabling edge networks or membership groups to be established wherein content can be shared solely at the edge. In one variant, high data bandwidth, symmetric uplink/downlink, low latency PHY links (e.g., 5G NR-compliant wireless interfaces) between the edge nodes participating in the edge networks or membership groups are used such that particular quality of service/experience performance requirements can be met. Distribution of the fragments also advantageously enhances redundancy and security.

Methods and apparatus are described for making broadcast content available as an on-demand asset soon after all of the video fragments of the broadcast content have been made available. As the video fragments of the broadcast content are made available, they are requested and archived. When all of the fragments for the duration of the broadcast content are available (e.g., a live event ends), a VOD-style manifest is generated and the archived fragments are made available for downloading or streaming using the VOD-style manifest.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for improved content recording and playback are described herein. A user device may concurrently record and output a content item. For example, the user device may be associated with a recording session. A session index may identify the recording session and indicate the user device is concurrently recording and outputting the content item. The session index may be used to ensure that a manifest for the content item is continuously updated.

A system is provided for optimizing the distribution of media production resources. The system includes a grain store having a persistent file system that stores essence grains upon receipt into individual files according to a folder layout. The system also includes a grain store manager that dynamically names the individual files upon receipt of the essence grains to configure the folder layout to form a natural index that maps bytes of the essence grains to a numerical index of the essence grains, respectively, generates a descriptor for flows of files in the folder layout, generates a unique identity for a plurality of sources in the grain store, and receives a media access request from a client device application based on a media production workflow. The grain store then dynamically accesses the essence grains by identifying the unique identity of the respective group of flows and the descriptor for the format.

A system and method for managing multicast streams. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: a distributed caching system including at least one cache at an edge of a live content provider network, the live content provider to generate a live video stream to be cached and/or buffered within the distributed caching system; an agent to request multicast services from a packet-based network, the packet based network to establish a multicast channel at a location, the location including a plurality of wireless access points; and manifest processing logic associated with the agent to generate an updated manifest from an original manifest associated with the live video stream, the updated manifest to include an indication of the multicast channel, wherein a plurality of video player apps executed on user devices at the location are to interpret the indication of the multicast channel in the manifest to connect to the multicast channel, the plurality of video player apps to simultaneously receive and render the live video stream, or a transformed version thereof, over the multicast channel.

A system and method of operating a content distribution system includes generating a first request for first content by a first user device. Based on the first request for the first content, the first content is pre-positioned by communicating the first content to a downstream storage device closer to a second user device without communicating the first content to the first user device using the downstream storage device; and storing the first content in the downstream storage device as pre-positioned content. The method further includes communicating the first content to the second user device from the downstream storage device.

A media service processing method, applied to an electronic device, includes providing, by an application running on the electronic device, a media service for a user, sending, to a server, request signaling requesting to send data of the media service to an intermediate storage unit, storing, in the intermediate storage unit, the data, moving the data from the intermediate storage unit to a target storage unit, wherein storage space of the intermediate storage unit is greater than storage space of the target storage unit, obtaining the data from the target storage unit, and playing the data.