Technologies for selectively streaming video based on mapping buffer data to download rates. The technologies can include sampling download rates of a video player prior to or during downloading of a first video segment to the video player. The technologies can include determining a range of download rates of the video player based at least on the sampled download rates. The technologies can include determining an amount of accumulated video data in a buffer of the video player immediately prior to or during the downloading of the first video segment. Also, the technologies can include mapping the determined amount of accumulated video data to a download rate within the determined range of download rates using a mapping function, and determining a second video segment quality for a second video segment based at least on the mapped download rate.

A method and device for communicating video for synchronization between a portable wearable camera and a wireless hub device are described. The portable wearable camera may capture first video data. Also, the portable wearable camera may transmit the first video data to the wireless hub device via a video data channel, and may capture second video data. When the video data channel between the wearable camera and the wireless hub device is unable to support full resolution video playback, the portable wearable camera may store the second video data. Further, the portable wearable camera may receive a request via a control channel, from the wireless hub device, for the second video data, and may capture third video data. Further, the portable wearable camera may transmit, to the wireless hub device, the third video data via the video data channel and the second video data via the control channel.

Future data connection quality may be predicted based on past data connection quality, and future requests for data may be predicted based on past requests. These predictions may be used to help decide whether, when, and/or how to deliver the data in a proactive manner. For example, according to some aspects described herein, a future data connection quality may be predicted based at least on historical data connection quality. It may be determined whether to pre-deliver at least a first portion of an item of content based at least on the predicted future data connection quality. If so, then the at least the portion of the item of content may be pre-delivered to the device and/or to another destination.

Techniques described herein improve viewer experience by leveraging the ability of a viewer's device to access an over-the-top (OTT) content via the device's multi-channel connections to an OTT content server. In an example embodiment, the device receives the OTT content via a first channel and performs cross-party diagnostic testing through a second channel. In this embodiment, a diagnostic app in the device compares measured signals in the first channel with a first set of threshold values and further compares acquired telemetry data in the second channel with a second set of threshold values. Based on the comparison results, the device determines the possible root cause of the interruption. Further, the device performs an in-depth diagnostic testing on a determined possible root cause (e.g., OTT content server) and sends an in-depth diagnostic report to a viewer.

A method provides for delivering video content from a server to a plurality of media devices is disclosed that distributes accurately excess bandwidth. The method includes: determining, by the server, the bandwidth to allocate to each of the plurality of media devices using a hypertext transfer protocol-based live streaming client model or a need parameter vector and/or measured bandwidth limitations associated with each of the plurality of media devices and providing the allocated bandwidth to each of the plurality of media devices, wherein the video content is transmitted in a plurality of segments from the server, and wherein each segment is transmitted at a bitrate that may vary from segment to segment.

Systems, methods and computer-readable storage media for storing or caching targeted content on a receiver device using existing bandwidth within a media network are described. For example, unused bandwidth within a transport stream may be detected and targeted content may be inserted into the transport stream within the unused bandwidth. The targeted content may include targeted advertisements for a household addressable media network. The transport stream may be transmitted to the receiver device which may access and store the targeted content responsive to various targeted content signals. For instance, the transport stream may include targeted content signals configured to trigger the receive device to access and store the targeted content. The transport stream may include a commercial feed transport stream.

A streaming device may request and download multi-layer video segments based on a number of factors including the artistic interest associated with the video segments and/or the status of a buffer area managed by the streaming device. The multi-layer segments may be coded using scalable coding techniques or a combination of scalable coding and simulcast coding techniques by which each of the video segments may be coded into one or more representations of different qualities and/or bitrates. When requesting the multi-layer segments, the streaming device may ensure that the fullness of the buffer area falls between a buffer underflow threshold and a backfilling threshold under various network conditions. The streaming device may estimate the available network bandwidth in order to facilitate the scheduling decisions. The streaming device may consider the artistic interest associated with the video segments during scheduling and may give priority to those segments with higher artistic interest.

A method for distributing video content from a server to a plurality of media devices is provided allowing adaptive bit rate encoding to better utilize bandwidth. The method includes: determining, by the server, the bandwidth to allocate to each of the plurality of media devices using a hypertext transfer protocol-based live streaming client model or a need parameter vector, refining this determination by utilizing client feedback regarding client buffer level and playback state, client hardware capabilities, and client internally measured download rate, and providing the allocated bandwidth to each of the plurality of media devices; wherein the video content is transmitted in a plurality of segments from the server, and wherein each segment is transmitted at a bitrate that may vary from segment to segment.

A method, system, and computer-readable medium for synchronizing video are described. The system captures video data with a camera, the video data including a first video data segment and a second video data segment. When a network between the camera and a hub is insufficient to allow downstream real-time streaming of the video data, the system stores the first video data segment on a first storage. When the network is sufficient to allow downstream real-time streaming of the video data, the system transfers the second video data segment from the camera to the hub, reads the first video data segment from the first storage, and transfers the first video data segment to the hub. The system stores the video data segments onto a second storage such that a non-real-time playback from the second storage shows the first video data segment and the second video data segment in sequence.

The disclosed virtual theater system includes capture devices for capturing video and audio of a live event and converting the video and audio into a data stream. The system also includes a production center for receiving the data stream and compressing the data stream to generate a compressed data stream, for determining the number of one or more viewing devices subscribed or reserved to view the live event, and for determining data bandwidth consumption characteristics of the one or more viewing devices. Also included is a server for receiving the compressed data stream, the number of one or more viewing devices, and the data bandwidth consumption characteristics from the production center over a network. The server also duplicates and divides the compressed data stream out to the one or more viewing devices depending on the number of viewing devices subscribed or reserved (cyberseats reserved) to view the live event.