Systems and methods for streaming and playing back video having a variety of resolutions, frame rates, and/or sample aspect ratios, where the video streams are encoded at one of a number of maximum bit rate levels, in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a processor, and storage containing data relating combinations of resolution and frame rates to maximum bitrates, where a plurality of resolution and frame rates that are related to the same maximum bitrate form a maximum bitrate level. In addition, an encoding application configures the processor to encode a video stream as a plurality of video streams having different resolutions and frame rates, where the target maximum bitrate used during the encoding is selected based upon the maximum bitrate levels of the resolution and frame rate combinations indicated within the data relating combinations of resolution and frame rates to maximum bitrates.

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing encoding or decoding of adaptive bitrate streams. In various embodiments, one or more first computing systems may divide a live media content stream into one or more segments, each segment might include a starting segment boundary and an ending segment boundary. The one or more first computing systems might encode the one or more segments into one or more primary adaptive bitrate streams. The one or more first computing systems might also divide the one or more segments of the live media content stream into one or more subsegments. Each subsegment might be less than a length of a corresponding segment of the one or more segments. The one or more first computing systems might the encode and/or a second computing system might decode the one or more subsegments into or from one or more secondary adaptive bitrate streams.

A remote storage digital video recorder (RSDVR) retains multiple copies of media programs so long as the copies are expected to be useful to at least one user. Rather than assigning copies to specific users at the time the program is recorded, copies can be assigned as the users request access to the particular media programs. Copies of unassigned programs can be deleted according to a schedule to reduce disk storage and processing demands on the system. A pool of program copies that are not initially assigned to particular users can be maintained until the user makes a specific request to view the program. This “late assignment” of program copies can substantially reduce the amount of data stored by the RSDVR system without substantially impacting the viewer experience.

Methods and systems are disclosed for providing video content in response to requests in a content delivery system with more speed and efficiency. In some aspects, network monitoring devices may gather content specific and network performance metrics, from user devices and content delivery components, to provide input to a computing device for deciding whether to store or delete different versions of the same or different items of content. The decision may be based on a policy which may include a weighted score based on a combination of usage and network efficiency scores. In other aspects, methods and systems are provided to initially provide to a user device a stored version of a content item, and then switch, as needed, to a different version of the content item using on-demand transcoding.

The present invention concerns a method for generating media files from video sequences, the method comprising by a server: obtaining from the video sequences, video data composed of a plurality of samples; generating a video track based on the obtained video data, each video track comprises samples of a video sequence, and the video track is associated with descriptive metadata, the descriptive metadata comprises: a spatial information related to one or more samples of the associated video track; and a composition information for organizing generated video tracks to get a full picture when displayed by a client; and generating media files including the generated video tracks.

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include receiving, as an input, segmented video scenes, where each video scene includes a specified length of video content. The method may further include scanning the video scenes to identify objects within the video scene and also determining a relative importance value for the identified objects. The relative importance value may include an indication of which objects are to be included in a cropped version of the video scene. The method may also include generating a video crop that is to be applied to the video scene such that the resulting cropped version of the video scene includes those identified objects that are to be included based on the relative importance value. The method may also include applying the generated video crop to the video scene to produce the cropped version of the video scene. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Systems, methods and apparatus for processing video can include a processor. The processor can be configured to perform object detection to detect visual indications of potential objects of interest in a video scene, to receive a selection of an object of interest from the potential objects of interest, and to provide enhanced video content within the video scene for the object of interest indicated by the selection.

A computing device may receive a stream of content (e.g., a live stream of content). The computing device may determine a plurality of representations for the stream of content. The computing device may determine a primary encoder associated with each of the plurality of representations. Determining the primary encoder may be based on the plurality of representations. The computing device may determine viewer data associated with the stream of content. The computing device may determine whether to encode a backup representation for at least one of the plurality of representations. Determining whether to encode the backup representation may be based on the viewer data associated with the stream of content. The computing device may cause at least one backup encoder to encode the backup representation for the at least one of the plurality of representations.

Intelligently downloading content to user devices is described herein. According to an embodiment, a user request for content is received. In response to the request, a low quality version of the content is downloaded and played to the user. Then, a higher quality version of the content is downloaded (this may occur during or after the download or playback of the low quality version of the content). Playback of the low quality version is discontinued. Then, playback of the higher quality version begins at the point where playback of the low quality version was discontinued. In some embodiments, the low quality version and the higher quality version of the requested content (among all the versions of the requested content) are identified via crowdsourcing.

In general, in an aspect, versions of representations of segments of a media item are received and temporarily stored on a media playing device. The segments have a sequence. The temporarily stored versions are used in sequence to present at least part of the media item to a user. One or more other versions of representations of segments of the media item are also received and persistently stored on the media playing device. The one or more persistently stored other versions are used to enhance the presentation of at least part of the media item to the user.