Systems, devices, and methods for streaming or otherwise delivering media content over a network are provided. One exemplary method of streaming media content over a network using a RS-DVR system involves receiving, at the RS-DVR system, a request for a portion of the media content from a media player on a client device via the network, receiving, at the RS-DVR system, the portion of the media content from an origin server on the network, buffering the portion of the media content at the RS-DVR system, and transmitting the portion of the media content to the media player on the client device. The portion of media content may be transmitted using a modified transport layer protocol, and in some embodiments, marked as non-cacheable.

When a device is playing out a first media stream, the device determines a target time for beginning playout of a second media stream in place of the first media stream. The device then starts a stream-transition process that is expected to take anywhere from a minimum expected transition duration to a maximum expected transition duration, and the device starts the transition process in advance of the determined target time by the maximum expected transition duration, to help ensure timely starting of playout of the second media stream. Further, for an uncertainty period that extends from the minimum expected transition duration after the starting to the maximum expected transition duration after the starting, the device generates and plays a sequence of transition frames to help mask transition from the first media stream to the second media stream.

A method and system for operating different broadcast system components with different portions of a database includes a method of configuring a broadcast system comprising generating an allocation chart for a broadcast system, communicating a first portion of the allocation chart to a first broadcast system component, operating the first broadcast system component with the first portion of the allocation chart, communicating a second portion of the allocation chart to a second broadcast system component, said first portion different than the second portion, and operating the second broadcast system component with the second portion of the allocation chart. In a further aspect of the disclosure, a broadcast system includes a first broadcast system component, a second broadcast system component and a broadcast operation channel management system generating an allocation chart for the broadcast system. The broadcast operation management channel communicates a first portion of the allocation chart to a first broadcast system component. The first broadcast system component operates with the first portion of the allocation chart. The broadcast operation channel management system communicates a second portion of the allocation chart to the second broadcast system component. The first portion is different than the second portion. The second broadcast system component operates with the second portion of the allocation chart.

The invention relates to a distribution method for a multimedia stream multiplexed via a network, the multiplexed multimedia stream comprising multimedia and signalling components, the components being divided into elementary packets of the multiplexed multimedia stream transmitted on at least one transport channel of the network. This method comprises a step of selection of elementary packets of the multiplexed multimedia stream incorporated in transport packets, wherein each of the elementary packets of the signalling components are incorporated in transport packets transmitted on a first of the at least one transport channel, and wherein others transport packets comprising at least one elementary packet and a part only of the multimedia components, are transmitted on a transport channel. This method further comprises a step of transmission of transport packets on each of the transport channels, comprising a step of definition of a first sequence number for each of the transport packets of each of the transport channels and a second sequence number for each of the elementary packets, the first sequence number being incremented for each of the transport packets, independently on each of the transport channels, the second sequence number being incremented for each of the elementary packets.

A generation unit generates a plurality of pieces of segment data, and appends an index to each of the plurality of pieces of segment data in a predetermined order. Each piece of the segment data corresponds to each predetermined time period of video data. A reception unit receives, from an external apparatus, an acquisition request which is for the external apparatus to acquire segment data and designate an index of the segment data. In a case where an index of segment data which is generated after a lapse of a predetermined time period or longer from a time when the acquisition request is received by the reception unit is designated by the acquisition request, the generation unit appends the index designated by the acquisition request to the segment data regardless of the predetermined order.

An apparatus and a method for controlling content distribution control method for controlling distribution to a plurality of distribution destinations of content that is reproducible at different reproduction positions, The apparatus groups the plurality of distribution destinations based on a reproduction position of the content and information indicating a predetermined time period from the reproduction position that is obtained from each of the plurality of distribution destinations, and determines a distribution method for distributing content to a group that is formed by the grouping, based on a usage status of a network that is used to distribute the content to the plurality of distribution destinations.

In one form, the present teachings provide a method and apparatus for broadcasting an event. The method includes receiving data related to an event via an uplink. Another aspect of the method includes determining whether the data is broadcast on a recurring basis. The method also includes determining whether a transponder channel associated with multiplexed program channels has any unused data or bandwidth to broadcast a portion of the data along with the multiplexed program channels. Additionally, the method includes broadcasting the portion of the data in a data stream.

A player receives encoded content of a first resolution level from a content retransmitter and monitors bandwidth of the communication connection utilized to receive the content. When the bandwidth changes with respect to various threshold values corresponding to various resolution levels, the player signals the content retransmitter to increase or decrease the encoding resolution for future portions. The player also locates related substitute content. When the player signals the content retransmitter to decrease the resolution below a minimum, the player plays the substitute content instead of the received content. Subsequently when the bandwidth is again such that player signals the content retransmitter to increase the resolution to the minimum or above, the player plays the received content instead of the substitute content. In various implementations, the player may obtain substitute content prior to or at the time the player determines to play substitute content.

A server resource provides notification to subscribers in a respective network environment that the content is available for retrieval at a particular bit rate (e.g., a promotional bit rate) or particular level of quality (e.g., promotional level of quality) amongst multiple levels of quality for a limited duration of time. For example, an especially high level of quality (or bit rate) of the content may be available only for the limited duration of time. After making the especially high level of quality of content available for retrieval during a promotional period, the content may be subsequently available for retrieval only at lower levels of quality. Accordingly, one or more configurations as discussed herein include changing the ability to access content encoded at different levels of quality over time.

A system and method for communicating content to a user device includes a head end that communicates a plurality of upcoming content metadata that includes a content title to the user device. The user device displays the upcoming content metadata and selects at least one upcoming content metadata from the plurality of upcoming content metadata to form selected data. The user device communicates the selected data to the head end. The head end adjusts head end communication parameters for the content associated with the selected data based on the selected data and communicates the content to a user device based on the head end communication parameters.