A system for providing 360 video is presented. It includes a video encoder for encoding video data with metadata which includes a manifest. The manifest specifies how to position each video in relation to others during playback. A communication apparatus transmits video data feeds from the video encoder, each video data feed being streamed over one or more uniform resource locators (URLs). The video data feeds are decoded according to the metadata to produce spherical video, the manifest carrying information on how to position video produced from the plurality of video data feeds.

A device for encoding and sending media data includes a scheduler unit that schedules transmission of media data, a media encoder, and a transmitter that transmits according to a schedule formed by the scheduler unit. The scheduler unit sends a first set of data to the media encoder representing a number of media segments of the media data to be broadcast and a time at which the media data must be available for delivery at the transmitter of the media broadcast device. The media encoder sends a second set of data representing a first number of estimated encoding bytes for the media data to the media encoder. The scheduler unit sends, to the transmitter, the number of media segments including respective portions of the encoded media data at or before the time at which the media data must be available for delivery at the transmitter.

A device for encoding and sending media data includes a scheduler unit that schedules transmission of media data, a media encoder, and a transmitter that transmits according to a schedule formed by the scheduler unit. The scheduler unit sends a first set of data to the media encoder representing a number of media segments of the media data to be broadcast and a time at which the media data must be available for delivery at the transmitter of the media broadcast device. The media encoder sends a second set of data representing a first number of estimated encoding bytes for the media data to the media encoder. The scheduler unit sends, to the transmitter, the number of media segments including respective portions of the encoded media data at or before the time at which the media data must be available for delivery at the transmitter.

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for providing co-deliver of primary and secondary content, including, video and video chat content. A first electronic device includes a transceiver that receives the secondary content from a second electronic device. The first electronic device also includes components capable of outputting aspects of the primary and secondary content in a synchronized fashion. Further, the first electronic device includes circuitry coupled to the transceiver and components, and the circuitry executes instructions in order to perform functions. One such function is to synchronize local primary content to be output by the components, with delivered primary content to be provided by the second electronic device. Another such function is to signal the components to output aspects of the local primary or the secondary content.

Switched digital television programming for video-on-demand and other interactive television services are combined utilizing class-based, multi-dimensional decision logic to simultaneously optimize video quality and audio uniformity while minimizing latency during user interactions with the system over an unmanaged network. For example, a method of adapting content-stream bandwidth includes generating a content stream for transmission over an unmanaged network with varying capacity; sending the content stream, via the unmanaged network, toward a client device; monitoring the capacity of the unmanaged network; determining whether an aggregate bandwidth of an upcoming portion of the content stream fits the capacity, wherein the upcoming portion of the content stream corresponds to a respective frame time and includes video content and user-interface data; and, in response to a determination that the aggregate bandwidth does not fit the capacity, reducing a size of the upcoming portion of the content stream.

Switched digital television programming for video-on-demand and other interactive television services are combined utilizing class-based, multi-dimensional decision logic to simultaneously optimize video quality and audio uniformity while minimizing latency during user interactions with the system over an unmanaged network. For example, a method of adapting content-stream bandwidth includes generating a content stream for transmission over an unmanaged network with varying capacity; sending the content stream, via the unmanaged network, toward a client device; monitoring the capacity of the unmanaged network; determining whether an aggregate bandwidth of an upcoming portion of the content stream fits the capacity, wherein the upcoming portion of the content stream corresponds to a respective frame time and includes video content and user-interface data; and, in response to a determination that the aggregate bandwidth does not fit the capacity, reducing a size of the upcoming portion of the content stream.

Systems, devices, methods, and computer readable media are provided for distributing data with multi-tiered encoding. For example, a system for transmission of data streams to endpoints is provided that includes: encoders, each encoder configured to encode a data stream according to at least one encoding parameter; virtual transmitters organized into groups based on at least one transmission characteristic; each group of virtual transmitters configured to receive encoded data from an associated one of the encoders; each virtual transmitter of the plurality of virtual transmitters configured to transmit the encoded data to an associated one of the plurality of endpoints; and at least one controller configured to monitor transmission characteristics of the plurality of virtual transmitters and to adjust membership of the virtual transmitters in the plurality of groups based on the monitored transmission characteristics. The system may be further configured for synchronization, uni/bi-directional communication, etc.

Systems, devices, methods, and computer readable media are provided for distributing data with multi-tiered encoding. For example, a system for transmission of data streams to endpoints is provided that includes: encoders, each encoder configured to encode a data stream according to at least one encoding parameter; virtual transmitters organized into groups based on at least one transmission characteristic; each group of virtual transmitters configured to receive encoded data from an associated one of the encoders; each virtual transmitter of the plurality of virtual transmitters configured to transmit the encoded data to an associated one of the plurality of endpoints; and at least one controller configured to monitor transmission characteristics of the plurality of virtual transmitters and to adjust membership of the virtual transmitters in the plurality of groups based on the monitored transmission characteristics. The system may be further configured for synchronization, uni/bi-directional communication, etc.

The implementation provides for controlled dynamic content replacement within media content. The media content is encoded in its original form with markers marking segments for time or condition triggered replacement. Each marker is provided a type. A request link is generated for requesting the media content. The link encodes control data for the different marker types. In response to a media content request, the server scans encoded chunks of the media content for markers. From the request link, the server obtains the control data for an identified marker type and determines whether to replace the content based on triggering of the control data. This allows advertising content to remain as part of the media content until reaching a certain number of impressions or a certain time. Thereafter, the content is dynamically replaced with temporally relevant content or other content from an ongoing campaign during real-time media content playback.

The implementation provides for controlled dynamic content replacement within media content. The media content is encoded in its original form with markers marking segments for time or condition triggered replacement. Each marker is provided a type. A request link is generated for requesting the media content. The link encodes control data for the different marker types. In response to a media content request, the server scans encoded chunks of the media content for markers. From the request link, the server obtains the control data for an identified marker type and determines whether to replace the content based on triggering of the control data. This allows advertising content to remain as part of the media content until reaching a certain number of impressions or a certain time. Thereafter, the content is dynamically replaced with temporally relevant content or other content from an ongoing campaign during real-time media content playback.