Implementations provide low-latency live-video streams using existing content delivery networks. An example method includes receiving a video broadcast as a series of frames and determining, for each frame, whether the frame is a break frame. Responsive to determining that the frame is a break frame, the method includes removing an in-progress tag from a current segment file in a playlist for the video broadcast. The playlist includes at least a previous segment file, the current segment file, and a next segment file, which also has a respective in-progress tag. The method also includes associating the frame with a next segment file in a playlist and transmitting the playlist to a cache server. Responsive to determining the frame in the series of frames is not a break frame, the method includes associating the frame with the current segment file. The frame is transmitted to the cache server as a chunk.

The present invention relates to a method for playing on a player of a client device (11) a content streamed in a network (1), said content consisting of a sequence of segments available in a plurality of quality levels, the player being configured so as to choose the quality level of the segments as a function of at least one parameter representative of a segment reception rate, according to an Adaptive BitRate, ABR, logic of the player; the client device (11) comprising a first buffer (M1) for storing segments in a format adapted for transferring within the network (1), the method being characterized in that it comprises performing by a processing unit (110) of the client device (11): (a) receiving from the player a request for a current segment at a first quality level; (b) estimating, for a second quality level, an optimal response delay such that providing the requested current segment at the expiration of said optimal response delay will cause the player to request according to its ABR logic a next segment at said second quality level, as a function of a model trained from a database of training examples each associating a vector of measured parameters representative of a segment reception rate with the corresponding quality level subsequently chosen by the player according to its ABR logic; (c) providing the requested current segment from the first buffer memory (M1) at the expiration of said estimated optimal response delay.

A system and method for effectuating fast channel change in an adaptive streaming environment. A plurality of adjacent channels may be predicted relative to a current streaming channel engaged by a client device. Upon prioritizing the adjacent channels, the client device may be configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for a subset of the prioritized adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, video player buffer status, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content at a select bitrate for rendering.

A system and method for effectuating fast channel change in an adaptive streaming environment. A plurality of adjacent channels may be predicted relative to a current streaming channel engaged by a client device. Upon prioritizing the adjacent channels, the client device may be configured to pre-fetch metadata and initialization information for a subset of the prioritized adjacent channels based on bandwidth conditions, video player buffer status, etc. When a channel is changed, the client device is operative to use the pre-fetched data to quickly obtain encoded media content at a select bitrate for rendering.

Systems and methods for accessing a media stream are presented. In response to a request for a media stream, an individual can be authorized to manipulate the media stream. Once an individual has gained authorization with respect to a media stream's manipulation rights, they are allowed to manipulate the stream. In some embodiments, a provider controls a secure environment to play the stream and enforce the rights.

Systems and methods for accessing a media stream are presented. In response to a request for a media stream, an individual can be authorized to manipulate the media stream. Once an individual has gained authorization with respect to a media stream's manipulation rights, they are allowed to manipulate the stream. In some embodiments, a provider controls a secure environment to play the stream and enforce the rights.

Methods are provided for determining, based on input parameters associated with a computing device and a network over which the computing device is connected to another computing device (such as a server), suitable transport parameters for requesting and receiving data, where the transport parameters are determined for efficient transmission with less susceptibility to interruptions and delays. The input parameters may be provided continuously in order to determine, on a real-time or near real-time basis, continuously updated transport parameters. Transport parameters may be rewarded and/or punished based on historical network data. Accordingly, embodiments enable the computing device and/or server to dynamically adjust transport parameters to provide a data rate that is chosen to accommodate changing network conditions.

Methods are provided for determining, based on input parameters associated with a computing device and a network over which the computing device is connected to another computing device (such as a server), suitable transport parameters for requesting and receiving data, where the transport parameters are determined for efficient transmission with less susceptibility to interruptions and delays. The input parameters may be provided continuously in order to determine, on a real-time or near real-time basis, continuously updated transport parameters. Transport parameters may be rewarded and/or punished based on historical network data. Accordingly, embodiments enable the computing device and/or server to dynamically adjust transport parameters to provide a data rate that is chosen to accommodate changing network conditions.

A data communication apparatus is provided that includes: a transmission-reception part configured to transmit and receive data between a client terminal and a server, an ABR determination part configured to determine whether or not a data transmission scheme from the server to the client terminal is based on an ABR (Adaptive Bit Rate) distribution scheme, and, a scheme determination part configured to determine the data transmission scheme upon transmitting a received data from the server to the client terminal according to a result by the ABR determination part, wherein the transmission-reception part is configured to transmit the received data from the server to the client by the data transmission scheme determined by the scheme determination part.

An adaptive bit rate system for use in transmitting data at adaptable bit rates. The bit rate may be adjusted according to historical behaviors and/or past operational settings, such as but not limited to adjusting a requested bit rate to a different bit rate depending the historical behavior.