Systems and methods for dynamically multiplexing requested linear media channels and network data on forward link traffic streams of a communication link to a craft media delivery system are provided. Furthermore, systems and methods for receiving dynamically multiplexed requested linear media channels and network data on forward link traffic streams of a communication link by a craft media delivery system are also provided.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method, including identifying recommended video clips for a user of a communication device according to a video viewing profile and video subject matter information associated with a plurality of video clips, identifying an edge cloud server for facilitating network access by the communication device at a location, determining a reduced activity period for a data path between a video content server and the edge cloud server by comparing activity information for the data path and an activity threshold, directing the video content server to store the recommended video clips at the edge cloud server during the reduced activity period, and providing a listing of the recommended video clips to an application, where the communication device receives a video clip from the edge cloud server responsive to a selection of the video clip via the application. Other embodiments are disclosed.

In some embodiments, after receiving a first set of video segments of a video, a method starts a first computing instance and receives a video segment of the video using the first computing instance. A measurement is calculated based on receiving the video segment. The method uses the measurement to determine whether the first computing instance should continue to be used to receive video segments in the video or should be terminated to not receive video segments in the video.

In various embodiments, a media delivery application transmits encoded chunks of a media title to a playback application. In operation, the media delivery application receives, via a media channel, an encoded chunk request that has been transmitted over a TCP connection. The media delivery application also receives, via a side channel, a pacing specification that is associated with the encoded chunk request and has been transmitted over the TCP connection. As per the encoded chunk request, the media delivery application retrieves encoded chunk content. The media delivery application sets a parameter associated with the TCP connection equal to a parameter value based on the pacing specification. Subsequently, the media delivery application causes TCP segments corresponding to the encoded chunk content to be transmitted, via the media channel, over the TCP connection in accordance with the first parameter value.

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting non-time-scale modified information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is broadcast prior to or after a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.

In one example embodiment, a method of adaptive video streaming includes receiving, by a server, a request for a video segment from an end user device and determining, by the server, a plurality of variables, the plurality of variables including at least one of a download time of a previously requested video segment by the end user device, a fullness of a buffer at the end user device and a size of the buffer. The method further includes determining, by the server, a rate of the requested video segment based on one or more of the determined plurality of variables and sending, by the server, the requested video segment at the determined rate to the end user device.

An adaptive multi-view streaming processing method and apparatus for a multi-view stream is disclosed. Specifically, disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for adaptively processing or transmitting adaptive streaming by reflecting network states and changes in transmission environments in a multi-view streaming service environment where several or more multiple videos are simultaneously transmitted at an arbitrary moment. An adaptive streaming processing method for a multi-view stream may comprise selecting and downloading an i-th segment of a main view stream with a first quality level, inferring a size of an i-th segment of downloadable neighboring view streams based on a download time and transfer rate of the i-th segment of the main view stream, and selecting a second quality level corresponding to the inferred size of the i-th segment of the neighboring view streams and downloading the i-th segment of the neighboring view streams based on the selected second quality level.

A system and method for providing non-guaranteed channels in a switched digital video network using multicast adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming. In one implementation, upon receiving a request for a non-guaranteed channel is received from a subscriber station (e.g., a set-top box or STB), a bandwidth pipe modeling process is operative to model a bandwidth pipe corresponding to each edge QAM device configured to support non-guaranteed channels for selecting a particular edge QAM device that can best accommodate the requested non-guaranteed channel. Bitrates of MABR streams of existing channels of the selected edge QAM device may be adjusted in order to accommodate a particular MABR stream at chosen bitrate of the requested non-guaranteed channel. IGMP Join operations may be effectuated, as needed, to join MABR streams of the existing channels and the requested non-guaranteed channel to correct IGMP group(s). A channel change response message including one or more channel frequencies, if the change request is accommodated, may be transmitted to the requesting subscriber station.

A frame dropping method for a video frame and a video sending apparatus are used to perform frame dropping processing on video frames in order to reduce a quantity of dropped frames, enhance video playing smoothness, and improve user experience. A specific solution includes obtaining a video frame sequence of a to-be-sent video, establishing a reference relationship between video frames in the video frame sequence according to a preset criterion, and detecting a data occupation length of buffered video frames in a video sending buffer during a process of sending the video frame sequence, dropping a current to-be-buffered video frame when the data occupation length is greater than a preset threshold, and dropping all video frames in the video frame sequence that reference the current to-be-buffered video frame according to the reference relationship.

A client receives streaming data according to Moving Picture Experts Group-Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH) standard. The client includes a transmitter which transmits a Media Presentation Description (MPD) request or a segment request to a server, and a receiver which receives an MPD specified in the MPD request and a segment specified in the segment request. The MPD request contains information requesting transmission of an initialization segment by a push. The receiver receives the initialization segment transmitted by the push.