This invention concerns the transmitting and receiving of digital media packets, such as audio and video channels and lighting instructions. In particular, the invention concerns the transmitting and receiving of redundant media packet streams. Samples are extracted from a first and second media packet stream. The extracted samples are written to a buffer based on the output time of each sample. Extracted samples having the same output in time are written to the same location in the buffer. Both media packet streams are simply processed all the way to the bugger without any particular knowledge that one of the packet streams is actually redundant. This simplifies the management of the redundant packet streams, such as eliminating the need for a “fail-over” switch and the concept of an “active stream”, the location is the storage space allocated to store one sample. The extracted sample written to the location may be written over another extracted sample from a different packet stream previously written to the location. These extracted samples written to the same location may be identical.

A control device of media playback system receives a user command to initiate playback of video content and associated audio content and transmits a BLUETOOTH message based on the command to a video playback device. The video playback device receives the BLUETOOTH message, obtains the media content via a local area network (LAN), and determines an indication of when to begin playback of the media content. The video playback device transmits the indication to an audio playback device via the LAN and outputs the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device. While outputting the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device, the video playback device transmits timing information via the LAN to the audio playback device to maintain lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device.

A method includes: obtaining a video data file and an audio data file of streaming media content to be played from a server, when the streaming media content is played using DASH; obtaining a video bitrate from the video data file, and obtaining an audio bitrate from the audio data file; and determining a capacity of a video buffer area and a capacity of an audio buffer area according to the video bitrate and the audio bitrate.

The present application is directed to a multimedia apparatus and a cast method. The method includes: during a cast process between a display apparatus and multiple devices, determining a target device from among the multiple devices; storing audio data which is sent from the target device in an audio buffer, and discarding audio data sent from other devices; storing video data which is sent from the multiple devices in video buffers corresponding to the devices; and playing the audio data in the audio buffer, and displaying video data in at least one video buffer.

An audio processor circuit includes a storage circuit, a digital-to-analog converter circuit, and an amplifier circuit. The storage circuit is configured to store digital audio data from an electrical device. The digital-to-analog converter circuit is configured to convert the digital audio data from the storage circuit into an analog audio signal. The amplifier circuit is configured to provide an output audio signal to an audio playing circuit according to the analog audio signal. If a total data volume of the digital audio data stored in the storage circuit is not a multiple of a throughput or the total data volume of the digital audio data stored in the storage circuit is equal to or greater than an upper limit value, the amplifier circuit is turned off such that the amplifier circuit stops providing the output audio signal to the audio playing circuit.

Techniques are described by which set-top boxes receive closed-captioning data streams as input to a Sign Language Interpretation (SLI) library. Depending on the demographics, different SLIs are provided. Additionally, input audio stems, e.g., for video programs without closed captioning, are sent to a speech-to-text processor before the SLI library. The text stream is then converted into sign language view mode in a PIP window for single view mode or to a multiview window for dual view mode. The current accessibility setup menu holds the ‘SLI’ option on/off button. SLI library contains videos for vocabulary which are sequenced in the SLI mode view window based on input text from closed captioning stream. If there is a word without a matching video in the SLI library, then the word itself is displayed in the SLI window. Such words are reported to a server for possible future package release with the additions.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a size of a buffer based on a probability that a rewind request will be received during a currently playing segment of media. When the system determines that receiving a rewind request is likely, the system will increase the size of a buffer such that the rewind request can be accommodated using data from the buffer. When the system determines that receiving a rewind request is unlikely, the system will decrease the size of the buffer to free resources for other system components.

A system and method provide an enhanced listening experience for a user and a radio receiver or other device that receives broadcast or streamed content having a plurality of program channels. The method and system buffer designated channels at the receiver and, when switching among channels, play back the buffered designated channels during reception from a selected point therein depending on the channel or other criteria. When switching to a different channel during reception, a user is able to hear content in a buffered program channel with music from the start of a song, for example, whereas content in a channel with news, talk radio, or live sports is played back from live reception, even though the content segments are transmitted a different start times relative to thier selected times for playback following a channel change. User controls allow navigation among buffered designated channels during reception.

Techniques have been developed to facilitate the livestreaming of group audiovisual performances. Audiovisual performances including vocal music are captured and coordinated with performances of other users in ways that can create compelling user and listener experiences. For example, in some cases or embodiments, duets with a host performer may be supported in a sing-with-the-artist style audiovisual livestream in which aspiring vocalists request or queue particular songs for a live radio show entertainment format. The developed techniques provide a communications latency-tolerant mechanism for synchronizing vocal performances captured at geographically-separated devices (e.g., at globally-distributed, but network-connected mobile phones or tablets or at audiovisual capture devices geographically separated from a live studio).

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a size of a buffer based on a probability that a rewind request will be received during a currently playing segment of media. When the system determines that receiving a rewind request is likely, the system will increase the size of a buffer such that the rewind request can be accommodated using data from the buffer. When the system determines that receiving a rewind request is unlikely, the system will decrease the size of the buffer to free resources for other system components.