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.

Systems and techniques are provided for switching between different modes of a media content item. A media content item may include a movie that has different modes, such as a cinematic mode and an interactive mode. For example, a movie may be presented in a cinematic mode that does not allow certain user interactions with the movie. The movie may be switched to an interactive mode during any point of the movie, allowing a viewer to interact with various aspects of the movie. The movie may be displayed using different formats and resolutions depending on which mode the movie is being presented.

A hand-held turbine cleaning tool includes front and rear housings coupled to each other, an outlet at one end of the tool, and a top of the tool at an opposed end. The outlet is directed in a first direction away from the top. An inlet is disposed between the outlet and the top and is also directed in the first direction. A diverter valve at the inlet is moveable between on and off positions. The on position directs water flowing into the inlet from the inlet, up to the top in a second direction opposite the first direction, and then down to the outlet in the first direction. A turbine at the top has a turbine shaft that extends outside the tool. An abrasive member is connected to the turbine shaft and is configured to rotate when water flows from the inlet to the outlet.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for detecting malfunctions of computing devices causing outputs of video content. Partially or fully static content frames may be detected, and, indications may be generated based on the static content frames. The indications may be analyzed to identify computing devices with degraded performance. Diagnostic tests may be run by the identified computing devices and/or other actions performed based on a determination of static content frames.

A method comprises receiving video streams from a plurality of mobile devices associated with respective distinct users of a crowd-stream video application, evaluating the received video streams relative to an event of interest, selecting particular ones of the video streams for use in generation of crowd-stream video output based at least in part on results of the evaluating, generating the crowd-stream video output utilizing at least portions of the selected video streams, and providing the crowd-stream video output to one or more servers of a content delivery network for delivery to one or more viewer devices. The video streams illustratively comprise live video streams of the event of interest captured by respective ones of the mobile devices. In some embodiments, evaluating the received video streams relative to an event of interest comprises evaluating the received video streams in terms of at least vantage point relative to the event of interest.

Embodiments provide for methods, computer program products, and systems to improve media playback comprising receiving a variant stream, identifying respective maximum segment durations for a plurality of different types of client devices that will play media content contained in the variant stream, generating, using the variant stream, a respective playlist for each of the plurality of different types of client devices, wherein the respective playlists each contain different maximum segment durations, and delivering the respective playlists to at least one of the plurality of different types of client devices via a distribution network.

Systems and methods are disclosed for handing off media content. A media player client receives a request to transfer a media stream, which is playing on a first media device, to a second media device. In response to determining that the second media device comprises a larger screen than the first media device, the media player content determines, based on the genre and resolution of the media stream data, whether the media stream data can be transferred, from the first media device to the second media device.

Content may be received at an edge location in one format, but delivered to a terminal on an access network in another format. The received content may be transcoded at the edge location. The transcoded content may be stored, or immediately delivered. The transcoded content may be fragmented prior to storage. Multiple copies of the transcoded content may be maintained in multiple formats. These formats may be aligned with one another such that delivery of the content can include delivering portions of the content in one format and other portions of the content in another format.

Systems and methods configured to detect and manage video transcoder latencies are described. A manifest is received and is used to request video segments included in a manifest playlist. A transcoder having an input and output is used to transcode video segments. A delta time for a first SCTE-35 marker between the transcoder input and the transcoder output is determined, where the delta time corresponds to a transcoder latency. A determination is made as to whether a corrective action needs to be taken with respect to the latency, and such corrective action is taken as needed. The corrective action may include a transcoder reset. The manifest may be a text file and may be in the form of an HLS or DASH manifest. Additionally, streaming latencies may be reduced by switching content distribution systems, increasing the number of edge systems distributing content to clients, and/or by increasing video cache memory.

A system and method for remunerating a display of a cognate substitute image sequence is disclosed. Images sequences in received video content are examined for sequences that are cognate to known image sequences. When detected, such sequences are replaced with cognate substitute image sequences to create a modified video image stream that is displayed on a display screen. A reasonable remuneration for displaying the cognate substitute image is automatically calculated. This monetary charge reflects the nature of the image sequence, the time it was displayed for, the time at which was displayed and the number of electronic devices within viewing range of the display at the time of display. This remuneration is accumulated, and equivalent digital assets automatically transferred between client and provider accounts at an appropriate time.