Systems and methods are described for performing adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming. A user device may request a segment of a first version of a plurality of versions of a content asset from a content provider, and may receive the segment. An estimated time to receive a second segment of a second version of the content may be determined based on metrics associated with receipt of the segment of the first version and in a manner that takes into account latency with the network, such that a determination whether to switch to a higher or lower bitrate version of a content asset during ABR streaming may be more accurately made.

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

A hardware encoder includes a chassis including at least one vent cut into a first surface of the chassis. The hardware encoder further includes an input interface disposed within the chassis and configured to receive a media signal. The hardware encoder further includes encoding circuitry disposed within the chassis and configured to encode the media signal to generate a media stream. The hardware encoder further includes a network interface disposed within the chassis and configured to send the media stream to a publishing destination. The hardware encoder further includes a bezel attached to the first surface of the chassis and enabling a view of a display screen. A portion of the bezel extrudes in a direction away from the first surface to enable airflow into the at least one vent.

A hardware encoder includes a chassis including at least one vent cut into a first surface of the chassis. The hardware encoder further includes an input interface disposed within the chassis and configured to receive a media signal. The hardware encoder further includes encoding circuitry disposed within the chassis and configured to encode the media signal to generate a media stream. The hardware encoder further includes a network interface disposed within the chassis and configured to send the media stream to a publishing destination. The hardware encoder further includes a bezel attached to the first surface of the chassis and enabling a view of a display screen. A portion of the bezel extrudes in a direction away from the first surface to enable airflow into the at least one vent.

Managing Internet Protocol (IP) flows to produce multi-connection communication is contemplated, such as but not necessarily limited to managing a single IP flow simultaneously through disparate physical layers (PHYs). A unification sublayer may be configured as a logical interface between a network layer and a data link layer and/or the disparate PHYs to facilitating partitioning of IP packets included in the IP flow.

Managing Internet Protocol (IP) flows to produce multi-connection communication is contemplated, such as but not necessarily limited to managing a single IP flow simultaneously through disparate physical layers (PHYs). A unification sublayer may be configured as a logical interface between a network layer and a data link layer and/or the disparate PHYs to facilitating partitioning of IP packets included in the IP flow.

A method for delivering media to a playback device including outputting first test media to be viewed by a first user. The method further includes receiving a first user input related to a first perception of the first test media by the first user and indicating a first personalized quality of experience of the first user with respect to the first test media. The method further includes generating a first personalized sensitivity profile including one or more viewing characteristics of the first user based on the first user input, and determining, based at least in part on the first personalized sensitivity profile, a first media parameter. The first media parameter is determined in order to increase an efficiency of media delivery to the first playback device over a network while preserving the first personalized quality of experience of the first user.

An access network device receives characteristic information of a first live media stream included in a switching request from a terminal device. The access network device or a user plane network element determines, based on the characteristic information, the first live media stream corresponding to the characteristic information of the first live media stream. Therefore, the access network device or the user plane network element switches a media stream sent to the terminal device, to be specific, switches the live media stream sent to the terminal device from a second live media stream to the first live media. Both the second live media stream and the first live media stream correspond to the access network device or the user plane network element. According to the method, media stream switching can be completed on the access network device side or the user plane network element side.

Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for cloud gaming. In some examples, an apparatus for cloud gaming includes processing circuitry. For example, the processing circuitry receives a video sequence and metadata associated with the video sequence. The video sequence includes a sequence of picture frames generated in response to gaming control information, and the metadata is indicative of the gaming control information. The processing circuitry can configure encoding parameters based on the metadata that is indicative of the gaming control information. Then, the processing circuitry can encode the video sequence into a coded video bitstream, based on the encoding parameters.