A plurality of videos associated with a plurality of video resolutions may be received. A minimum bitrate may be identified for each of the video resolutions based on a first bitrate point associated with the videos where a quality of the videos at a first video resolution that is upscaled to a second video resolution is better than a quality of the videos at the second video resolution at bitrates below the first bitrate point. Furthermore, a maximum bitrate may be identified for each of the video resolutions based on a second bitrate point where the rate of change of the quality of the videos is below a threshold value. The identified minimum bitrates and the maximum bitrates may be assigned to the video resolutions.

A method provides for delivering video content from a server to a plurality of media devices is disclosed that distributes accurately excess bandwidth. The method includes: determining, by the server, the bandwidth to allocate to each of the plurality of media devices using a hypertext transfer protocol-based live streaming client model or a need parameter vector and/or measured bandwidth limitations associated with each of the plurality of media devices and providing the allocated bandwidth to each of the plurality of media devices, wherein the video content is transmitted in a plurality of segments from the server, and wherein each segment is transmitted at a bitrate that may vary from segment to segment.

A method provides for delivering video content from a server to a plurality of media devices is disclosed that distributes accurately excess bandwidth. The method includes: determining, by the server, the bandwidth to allocate to each of the plurality of media devices using a hypertext transfer protocol-based live streaming client model or a need parameter vector and/or measured bandwidth limitations associated with each of the plurality of media devices and providing the allocated bandwidth to each of the plurality of media devices, wherein the video content is transmitted in a plurality of segments from the server, and wherein each segment is transmitted at a bitrate that may vary from segment to segment.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method includes displaying a representation of a first automatically-generated playlist, the representation of the first automatically-generated playlist including representations of a first set of media items selected for inclusion in the first automatically-generated playlist based on first playlist generation criteria for the first automatically-generated playlist. While displaying the first automatically-generated playlist, detecting user interaction with the representations of the first set of media items, and then detecting that a first update criterion for the first automatically-generated playlist has been met. In response, the method includes updating the first set of media items based on the first playlist generation criteria and the user interaction with the representations of the first set of media items—by adding or removing one or more removed media items from the first set of media items, and/or maintaining media items in the first set of media items.

A method for dynamic routing is provided. Status information of a multichannel video and data distribution service (MVDDS) channel from customer premises equipment (CPE) is received. The status information is evaluated to determine if data destined for the CPE over the MVDDS channel should be routed over a secondary channel. Data destined for the CPE is route over the secondary channel when the data is determined to be routed over the secondary channel.

A method for dynamic routing is provided. Status information of a multichannel video and data distribution service (MVDDS) channel from customer premises equipment (CPE) is received. The status information is evaluated to determine if data destined for the CPE over the MVDDS channel should be routed over a secondary channel. Data destined for the CPE is route over the secondary channel when the data is determined to be routed over the secondary channel.

The present invention relates to a data processor and data processing method that facilitate properly processing a stream. An input stream is formed by a plurality of packets. Each of the packets of the input stream is distributed to one of a plurality of channels and null packets (NP) are distributed to the other channels. This divides the input stream into divided streams on a plurality of channels including the packets of the input stream at a predetermined density. The present invention can be used, for example, for a channel bonding (CB) technique in which an input stream is divided into a plurality of channels and transmitted.

The present invention relates to a data processor and data processing method that facilitate properly processing a stream. An input stream is formed by a plurality of packets. Each of the packets of the input stream is distributed to one of a plurality of channels and null packets (NP) are distributed to the other channels. This divides the input stream into divided streams on a plurality of channels including the packets of the input stream at a predetermined density. The present invention can be used, for example, for a channel bonding (CB) technique in which an input stream is divided into a plurality of channels and transmitted.

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 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.