A method is provided for improved transcoding of an encoded bit stream to be delivered in accordance with adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming at a highest available selected bit rate using metadata. The method includes receiving a first encoded ABR stream for a given content item that is encoded at a highest available bit rate. Also received is metadata associated with encoding the given content item at a selected bit rate lower than the highest available bit rate. A second encoded ABR stream is generated for the given content item at the selected bit rate from the first encoded ABR stream and the metadata associated with encoding the given content item at the selected bit rate.

An encoding system includes a plurality of encoders each of which encodes a signal having continuity supplied from a corresponding one of a plurality of information sources and generates a packet containing a portion of the encoded signal. Each encoder is classified as a first encoder which encodes the signal, or a second encoder which transfers the packet from at least one of the first encoders, to a communication network and which, when the first encoder has failed, replaces the failed first encoder. When a failure occurs in either one of the first and second encoders for any of the signals, the other one of the encoders detects the occurrence of the failure, reallocates the encoders other than the failed encoder so as to act as the first encoder or second encoder for respective ones of the information sources, and notifies each encoder of the result of the reallocation.

Systems and methods are provided herein relating to adaptive video streaming. Time-to-offset mapping associated with a set of video blocks can be broken up into chunks. A client can download a first set of seek index chunks and use the first set of seek index chunks to select a stream. Seek index chunks within remaining sets of seek index chunks can be ranked for relevance based on client capabilities. A subset of remaining sets of seeks index chunks can be downloaded based on the rankings and client capabilities during streaming. Chunked time-to-offset mapping can facilitate faster startup when playing streamed video.

A method and a device for forming a common transport datastream from several mobile-digital television signal datastreams and a common stationary-digital television signal datastream. A constant number of data units of respectively-constant size in every successive time interval with constant cycle duration for the transmission of every individual datastream is determined. A data structure is specified for the common datastream with successive sequences in each case of a constant number of data units with respectively-identical positions for data units of the stationary-digital television signal and respectively-identical positions for data units of the mobile-digital television signal. Data units of each of the datastreams of the mobile-digital television signal are transmitted in each case in associated, identical positions of at least one successive sequence, and define the individual positions of the data structure of the common datastream with data units of the respectively associated datastreams.

Switched digital television programming for video-on-demand and other interactive television services are combined utilizing a class-based, multi-dimensional decision logic to simultaneously optimize video quality and audio uniformity while minimizing latency during user interactions with the system over managed networks such as cable and satellite television networks. A group of user sessions are assigned to a single modulator. The user sessions include data in a plurality of classes, each class having a respective priority. In response to a determination that an aggregate bandwidth of the group of user sessions for a first frame time exceeds a specified budget, bandwidth is allocated for the group of user sessions during the first frame time in accordance with the class priorities. The group of user sessions is multiplexed onto a channel corresponding to the modulator in accordance with the allocated bandwidth and transmitted over a managed network.

A method of statistical multiplexing digital video is provided enabling use of an encoder pool. The method includes loading a mapping curve into memory at a statistical multiplexor controller (SMC) for each of a plurality of encoders in a heterogeneous encoder pool, each mapping curve being specific to a type and/or configuration of encoder and associating target bitrates with need parameter values, receiving a need parameter value at the SMC from each encoder in the heterogeneous encoder pool, determining a target bitrate associated with each need parameter value received at the SMC, by looking up target bitrates for each need parameter on mapping curves specific to each encoder in the heterogeneous encoder pool, and sending the target bitrate from the SMC to each encoder in the heterogeneous encoder pool in a bitrate assignment.

A system and method for management of bandwidth shared by a plurality of video content encoders is provided. A management service coordinates an unequal allocation of available bandwidth among a set of encoding nodes. A management service can receive measured bandwidth attributes from a plurality of encoding nodes to determine a total available bandwidth. The management service can then allocate the available bandwidth based by applying allocation criteria that related to attributes of the encoding process. The management service can then transmit the allocated bandwidth to the encoding nodes.

A method and apparatus to create and transmit transport multiplexes comprising one or more levels of service over a network. In one embodiment, the level of service comprises high definition (HD) content or programs, and the transmitted multiplexes are distributed over a plurality of downstream RF carriers in a cable network simultaneously. A head-end architecture for performing the multiplexing and distribution of multiple HD programs over the multiple carriers (i.e., in a “wideband” configuration) is disclosed. CPE having one or more wideband tuners is also disclosed, the CPE being adapted to receive the multiplexed HD content from the various RF carriers, and demultiplex it in order to permit decoding and subsequent viewing by the user. The use of multiple HD source programs with the multiplex advantageously provides for enhanced statistical multiplexing by providing a larger “pool” of constituent inputs and available carriers.

In one embodiment, a method provides a manifest for a media program to a client. The manifest includes a set of bitrate representation links that correspond to a set of bitrates. A pointer is maintained to at least a portion of a current segment that is currently being presented in the media program. A request is received using a bitrate representation link in the set of bitrate representation links. The method then selects at least the portion of the current segment using the pointer for the bitrate that corresponds to the bitrate representation and sends the at least the portion of the current segment to the client.

An exemplary method includes a media content delivery system transmitting a transport stream containing an advertisement channel and a program channel, the program channel carrying a media program stream at a first bit rate, detecting an upcoming advertisement break within the media program stream, inserting, in response to the detecting of the upcoming advertisement break, an advertisement content stream having a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate into the program channel to temporally coincide with the advertisement break to free bandwidth in the transport stream during the advertisement break, and inserting an additional advertisement content stream in the advertisement channel, the additional advertisement content stream temporally coinciding with the advertisement break and utilizing at least a portion of the freed bandwidth in the transport stream. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.