A communication method between a source device and a target device utilizes speculative connection setup between the source device and the target device, target-device-side packet ordering, and fine-grained ordering to remove packet dependencies.

Systems and methods for providing timing information from a R-MACHPHY device to a video core while the R-MACPHY device receives video data from the video core while operating in asynchronous mode. In some embodiments, the R-MACPHY device may alternately and selectively configure its mode of operation to alternate between synchronous mode and asynchronous mode, and provide the timing information to the video core when it switches to asynchronous mode.

Image capture devices and methods may be used to pre-buffer media storage. The pre-buffering method includes recording an image capture segment of a variable bitrate input stream in a circular buffer. The circular buffer includes a number of recordable segments. The method includes recording a next image capture segment in a next adjacent recordable segment of the circular buffer if the next adjacent recordable segment of the predetermined number of recordable segments is available. The method includes overwriting an oldest recordable segment if the next adjacent recordable segment of the predetermined number of recordable segments is not available.

A network based media distribution platform includes a server connected to the network, the server including at least one data repository, and a non-transitory medium with a set of machine readable instructions executable therefrom coupled to the server, the instructions causing the server to (a) receive media content from a creator using a media capture device or system to create and upload content, (b) buffer the content for distribution over the network to one or more creator channels accessible to consumers operating media playback devices or systems connected to consumer platform, (c) authenticate the media content to the content creator using at least token data, (d) register the media content and creator authentication data on a connected blockchain storing information in distributed ledger form, and (e) distribute the content to creator channel(s) accessible to the consumers operating the network-connected playback devices or systems connected to the consumer platforms.

A block-request streaming system provides for improvements in the user experience and bandwidth efficiency of such systems, typically using an ingestion system that generates data in a form to be served by a conventional file server (HTTP, FTP, or the like), wherein the ingestion system intakes content and prepares it as files or data elements to be served by the file server. A client device can be adapted to take advantage of the ingestion process. The client device might be configured to optimize use of resources, given the information available to it from the ingestion system. This may include configurations to determine the sequence, timing and construction of block requests based on monitoring buffer size and rate of change of buffer size, use of variable sized requests, mapping of block requests to underlying transport connections, flexible pipelining of requests, and/or use of whole file requests based on statistical considerations.

A content streaming system and methodology for facilitating the management of content streaming. A video packaging and origination service provides streaming content that is organized according to a set of encoded content chunks. A video playback application processes the set of encoded content chunks to dynamically form a content segment for live video streaming. The video playback application further processes the set of encoded content chunks to apply framerate heuristics associated with encoded content segments.

Mechanisms provide intermediate key frame animation during a media seek. A streaming server receives a seek request from a client device while the streaming server provides the client device with a media stream. The seek request is made when the media stream is playing at an initial location and the seek request includes a request to play the media stream from a seek location. In some embodiments, intermediate key frames before the seek location are identified. In other instances, intermediate key frames between the initial location and the seek location are identified. These intermediate key frames are provided to the client device for display before the media stream begins playing at the seek location.

A method is disclosed including setting, at a plurality of devices, a plurality of VSYNC signals to a plurality of VSYNC frequencies, wherein a corresponding device VSYNC signal of a corresponding device is set to a corresponding device VSYNC frequency. The method including sending a plurality of signals between the plurality of devices, which are analyzed and used to adjust the relative timing between corresponding device VSYNC signals of at least two devices.

Techniques are described for streaming (e.g., low-latency streaming) of media content by performing sender-based adaptive bit rate control operations. The operations can include streaming a media stream to a streaming client. While streaming the media stream, an outgoing queue of buffered streaming content to be sent to the streaming client can be monitored. When a step down condition is satisfied, based at least in part on the monitoring, a switch can be made to a lower bit rate media stream for streaming to the streaming client. When a step up condition is satisfied, based at least in part on the monitoring, a switch can be made to a higher bit rate media stream for streaming to the streaming client. The operations are performed without receiving any quality feedback from the streaming client and without measuring bandwidth of the network channel.

Described embodiments include a system that includes a network interface and a processor. The processor is configured to identify, via the network interface, a state of congestion in a communication channel between a base station belonging to a cellular network and a client device, to calculate, responsively to the state of congestion, a maximum sustainable encoding bit rate (MSEBR) for a video that is being downloaded by the client device, from a server, via the communication channel, the video being encoded at a plurality of different predefined bit rates, and to inhibit the client device, in response to calculating the MSEBR, from downloading a segment of the video that is encoded at any one of the predefined bit rates that exceeds the MSEBR. Other embodiments are also described.