A split streaming system and method are provided in which a stream of data (that can be video, audio or textual data) is split and sent over a plurality of stream reflectors to a stream recipient. Each stream reflector performs time gradient replacement to manage the split streaming.

A method of delivering unicast adaptive bitrate (UABR) streaming includes receiving, at a content delivery network (CDN) node, a request for a video asset to be streamed at a selected bitrate; loading a manifest for the requested video asset; parsing the manifest for the requested video asset and preloading a plurality of segments across all represented bitrates into a preload cache buffer; fetching requested bitrate segments into a segment combiner; and streaming a combined stream to the requesting entity.

A method of delivering unicast adaptive bitrate (UABR) streaming includes receiving, at a content delivery network (CDN) node, a request for a video asset to be streamed at a selected bitrate; loading a manifest for the requested video asset; parsing the manifest for the requested video asset and preloading a plurality of segments across all represented bitrates into a preload cache buffer; fetching requested bitrate segments into a segment combiner; and streaming a combined stream to the requesting entity.

Described herein are techniques for facilitating combined broadcast and unicast delivery of content. According to various embodiments, a media stream from a content provider may be received at a unicast server and at a broadcast server. The media stream may comprise a plurality of media stream fragments. A relative delay may be introduced into the media stream at the broadcast server such that media stream fragments transmitted from the broadcast server are delayed relative to media stream fragments transmitted from the unicast server. The media stream fragments may be transmitted to a user device. The user device may be operable to switch between receiving the media stream fragments from the unicast server and the broadcast server.

Described herein are techniques for facilitating combined broadcast and unicast delivery of content. According to various embodiments, a media stream from a content provider may be received at a unicast server and at a broadcast server. The media stream may comprise a plurality of media stream fragments. A relative delay may be introduced into the media stream at the broadcast server such that media stream fragments transmitted from the broadcast server are delayed relative to media stream fragments transmitted from the unicast server. The media stream fragments may be transmitted to a user device. The user device may be operable to switch between receiving the media stream fragments from the unicast server and the broadcast server.

A system and method for providing load balanced secure media content and data delivery (10) in a distributed computing environment is disclosed. Media content is segmented and encrypted into a set of individual encrypted segments on a centralized control center (15). Each individual encrypted segment has the same fixed size. The complete set of individual encrypted segments is staged to a plurality of intermediate control nodes (17, 19). Individual encrypted segments are mirrored from the staged complete set to a plurality of intermediate servers (21a-b, 23a-b). Requests are received from clients (11) for the media content at the centralized control center. Each individual encrypted segment in the set is received from one of an intermediate control node and an intermediate server optimally sited from the requesting client. The individual encrypted segments are reassembled into the media content for media playback.

A system and method for providing load balanced secure media content and data delivery (10) in a distributed computing environment is disclosed. Media content is segmented and encrypted into a set of individual encrypted segments on a centralized control center (15). Each individual encrypted segment has the same fixed size. The complete set of individual encrypted segments is staged to a plurality of intermediate control nodes (17, 19). Individual encrypted segments are mirrored from the staged complete set to a plurality of intermediate servers (21a-b, 23a-b). Requests are received from clients (11) for the media content at the centralized control center. Each individual encrypted segment in the set is received from one of an intermediate control node and an intermediate server optimally sited from the requesting client. The individual encrypted segments are reassembled into the media content for media playback.

A system and method for operating includes providing a content for communication through a content distribution system having a broadcast mode and a unicast mode, determining a first number of user devices for receiving a communication of the content, determining a likelihood of consumption of the content by the first number of user devices, determining an available spectrum for communicating the content, determining a spectral efficiency for the unicast mode and the broadcast mode of the communication for each of the first number of user devices, selecting the broadcast mode or the unicast mode or both based on the first number of user devices, the likelihood of consumption of the content, the available spectrum and the spectral efficiency and communicating the content to the first number of user devices using the broadcast mode, the unicast mode or both based on selecting.

An extensible resource manager (ERM) of a hybrid cloud-based media production system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a memory storing a resource management software code. The hardware processor executes the resource management software code to communicate with a network orchestrator of the hybrid cloud-based media production system to identify multicast production media flow(s) for processing in a cloud-based virtual production environment, to identify cloud-based resource(s) for processing cloud production media flow(s) corresponding to the multicast production media flow(s), in the cloud-based virtual production environment, and to determine whether a license exists for the identified cloud-based resource(s). The hardware processor also executes the resource management software code to obtain the license when the license does not exist, and to provision, after obtaining the license or in response to determining that the license exists, the cloud-based virtual production environment with the identified cloud-based resource(s).

In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a plurality of segments of media content, each of the plurality of segments including a plurality of media frames, generating segment metadata for each of the plurality of segments, the segment metadata including a segment identifier, transmitting a broadcast stream including the plurality of segments and the segment metadata for each of the plurality of segments, and making the plurality of segments available for retrieval via a unicast stream using the segment identifiers.