An image distribution apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a gazing area specified by a user in a first image, and a transmission unit configured to transmit, from a second image having resolution higher than resolution of the first image and divided into a plurality of tile images, a first tile image where the gazing area belongs and a second tile image adjacent to the first tile image.

The invention relates to a method of inserting an insertion object into a sequence of images. The insertion object may be an image, a video, or a three-dimensional model, which could possibly be animated. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to the insertion of advertisement images into video, such as videos of sporting events. A method comprises capturing a sequence of images, the sequence of images comprising in order a first image, a second image, and a third image; estimating a first homographic transform from the first image to the third image; deriving a second homographic transform from the first image to the second image based on the first homographic transform; transforming the insertion object using the first homographic transformation to form a first warped insertion image, and inserting the first warped insertion image into the third image of the sequence of images; and transforming the insertion object using the second homographic transformation to form a second warped insertion image, and inserting the second warped insertion image into the second image of the sequence of images.

A method includes performing a conversion between a video that includes at least a video tile and a bitstream of the video according to a rule. The rule specifies that a height of a slice in the video tile in units of coding tree units is derived based on a value of a first syntax element in the bitstream indicating a number of explicitly provided slice heights for slices in the video tile that includes the slice.

A computer-implemented method for selecting efficient encoders for streaming media may include (i) predicting that an expected download demand for a higher-demand segment of a media file is higher than an expected download demand for a lower-demand segment, (ii) encoding each segment of the media file with an encoder that correlates to the expected download demand of the segment by (a) encoding the higher-demand segment with a more computationally intensive encoder that produces a more efficiently compressed segment compared to a less computationally intensive encoder that produces a less efficiently compressed segment and (b) encoding the lower-demand segment with the less computationally intensive encoder, and (iii) enabling streaming of the media file by providing the more efficiently compressed encoding of the higher-demand segment and the less efficiently compressed encoding of the lower-demand segment. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

A media asset may include date-related information. When viewed out of context it may be unclear what date is referenced by the date-related information. The media asset may be parsed to identify the date-related information within the media asset. The media asset may be analyzed to determine the context for the date related information. An absolute date may be determined based on this context and the date-related information and provided to the user with the media asset.

Provided is a method for transmitting metadata for omnidirectional content including a plurality of viewpoints. The method comprises identifying the metadata for the omnidirectional content including the plurality of viewpoints; and transmitting the identified metadata, wherein the metadata includes information about an identifier (ID) of a viewpoint group including at least one viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints, and wherein the at least one viewpoint in the viewpoint group shares a common reference coordinate system.

A streaming-based VR multi-split system and method are provided. The system includes a control system, a manipulation terminal and at least one experience terminal. The control system includes a streaming media server, a streaming coding and decoding interaction module and a VR platform. The streaming decoding and interaction processing module is configured to receive a video stream sent by the streaming coding and decoding interaction module, collect interaction data at one side of the manipulation terminal in real time, and transmit the interaction data to the streaming coding and decoding interaction module. The streaming coding and decoding interaction module sends a video picture code of the VR platform to the manipulation terminal, and pushes the video stream corresponding to the interaction data to the streaming media server. A presentation picture corresponding to an operation of the experience terminal is acquired by the streaming media server.

Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for defining ad space in a video. For example, a computer can receive an identification of a video and an advertisement space definition that includes a time stamp for the advertisement space in the video and an advertisement length. The computer can receive a request to view the video. The computer can determine an advertisement to play in the advertisement space such that the advertisement is not longer than the advertisement length included in the video's advertisement space definition. The computer can provide access to the video, and when the video reaches the time stamp, the advertisement is played in the advertisement space.

In accordance with embodiments, a method of transmitting a video includes inter-view redundancy removing pictures for multiple viewing positions; packing inter-view redundancy removed pictures; and/or encoding the packed pictures and/or signaling information including center view generation information, pre-generation information, view synthesis recommendation information and/or reference view information. In accordance with embodiments, a method of receiving a video includes decoding a bitstream of the video based on viewing position and/or viewport information, unpacking pictures in the decoded bitstream; view regenerating the unpacked pictures; and/or view synthesizing the view regenerated pictures.

A computer-implemented is disclosed. The method includes: receiving media data of a live media stream; detecting a trigger associated with the media data of the live media stream; in response to detecting the trigger, generating at least one of audio or video overlay content associated with the trigger; and transmitting, to viewer devices, the at least one of audio or video overlay content with the live media stream.