Techniques are disclosed for distributing data in a content delivery network configured to provide edge services using a plurality of service providers. Data indicative of data usage and cost data for the plurality of service providers is accessed. Based on the accessed data, an effective unit cost, multiplex efficiency, and channel utilization are determined for a selected user. A Bayesian optimization algorithm is applied to at least a portion of the accessed data. The content delivery network is configured to redistribute data traffic for the selected user based on a result of the applied Bayesian optimization algorithm.

Techniques are described for low-latency streaming of media content using a lossless protocol. For example, a media stream, comprising encoded video data, can be streamed to a plurality of streaming clients via the lossless protocol. The plurality of streaming clients can be monitored to determine whether any of them have fallen behind in streaming the media stream. When a streaming client falls behind, a portion of video data to be streamed to the streaming client can be selectively dropped based on scalability information and/or long term reference (LTR) frame information. The low-latency streaming can be performed without using per-client quality feedback from the plurality of streaming clients. When streaming using a semi-lossy protocol, a plurality of delivery modes can be used, where each delivery mode is for a different type of encoded video data and provides a different level of reliability.

Systems and methods are described herein for streaming during unavailability of a content server. Upon determining that there are conditions indicating buffering issues during delivery of a media asset, a server determines a first group of devices suitable for receiving the media asset from the server and sharing the media asset on a peer-to-peer network. Then, the server determines a second group of devices suitable for receiving the media asset on a peer-to-peer network from a first group device. The server then determines groupings within which to share and receive the media asset. Next, the server transmits instructions to the devices in the first group to maintain in buffer and share certain portions of the media asset with the second group devices within their grouping. Finally, the server updates information detailing the media asset portions the devices are maintaining in buffer and sharing.

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.

A method includes, at a first time: receiving a request for video content from a first user; generating a fingerprint for the first user; associating the first user with a first user population—assigned to a first CDN and receiving the video content from the first CDN during the first time period—based on the fingerprint; and accessing a first metric for distribution of video content from the first CDN to users of the first user population. The method also includes, at a second time: selecting a second user within the first user population; identifying a second CDN distinct from the first CDN; reassigning the second user to the second CDN; and accessing a second metric for distribution of the video content from the second CDN to the second user; and, in response to the second metric exceeding the first metric, reassigning the first user to the second CDN.

A set-top box with self-monitoring and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, a housing secures a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein, which are communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. The memory is accessible to the processor, and the memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to detect when the television is not being utilized. Responsive thereto, the instructions cause the processor to scan channels received from the television input and generate a composite TV screen image data that may be resolved to a single TV screen image made from an assemblage of TV screen image captures corresponding to the scanned channels.

An apparatus for determining a set of transmit parameters capable of improving and/or optimizing data throughput to a destination device. The apparatus includes an input circuit that receives a signal containing a plurality of data blocks for use by a plurality of devices. At least one of the data blocks is associated with the apparatus and encoded using a first set of transmit parameters. A transmit parameter processor determines a signal to noise ratio value for the received signal and a block error rate value for the at least one data block and at least one other data block encoded using a different set of transmit parameters. A processor generates a request for encoding subsequent data blocks destined to the apparatus using a second set of transmit parameters. A method and system are also disclosed.

A computing device may receive a stream of content (e.g., a live stream of content). The computing device may determine a plurality of representations for the stream of content. The computing device may determine a primary encoder associated with each of the plurality of representations. Determining the primary encoder may be based on the plurality of representations. The computing device may determine viewer data associated with the stream of content. The computing device may determine whether to encode a backup representation for at least one of the plurality of representations. Determining whether to encode the backup representation may be based on the viewer data associated with the stream of content. The computing device may cause at least one backup encoder to encode the backup representation for the at least one of the plurality of representations.

Methods and systems are described for downloading media assets efficiently and quickly before loss of network connectivity. The method may allow a user to download portions of a media asset in different versions to download a maximum portion of the media asset before loss of network connectivity. Certain versions of media assets may be downloaded more quickly than other versions of media assets. The method may also allow a user to view partially downloaded media assets without network connectivity. The method may also replace portions of media assets downloaded in a first version with portions of the media assets in a second version once network connectivity is restored.

Power aware adaptation for a power aware video streaming system may be based on the complexity information conveyed in different ways. A complexity level of a data stream, such as a video data stream, may be selected as a function of a remaining battery power of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and on a state set of a plurality of state sets that may be stored and/or managed by the WTRU. These state sets may correspond to, for example, different content sources and/or different complexity estimation algorithms and may be used to select the complexity level of the data stream. The data stream may then be received at the selected complexity level. The complexity level and/or a bitrate of the data stream may be adapted to accommodate, for example, the remaining battery power and/or other circumstances. The adaptation may be customized according to the objectives of use cases.