A system and method for providing non-guaranteed channels in a switched digital video network using multicast adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming. In one implementation, upon receiving a request for a non-guaranteed channel is received from a subscriber station (e.g., a set-top box or STB), a bandwidth pipe modeling process is operative to model a bandwidth pipe corresponding to each edge QAM device configured to support non-guaranteed channels for selecting a particular edge QAM device that can best accommodate the requested non-guaranteed channel. Bitrates of MABR streams of existing channels of the selected edge QAM device may be adjusted in order to accommodate a particular MABR stream at chosen bitrate of the requested non-guaranteed channel. IGMP Join operations may be effectuated, as needed, to join MABR streams of the existing channels and the requested non-guaranteed channel to correct IGMP group(s). A channel change response message including one or more channel frequencies, if the change request is accommodated, may be transmitted to the requesting subscriber station.

A system and method for bandwidth management by controlling the bit rate of a signal stream in real time according to available link bandwidth. Applications include multiple-channel video data streams over a limited-bandwidth link such as a Digital Subscriber Line. A video signal is transrated at the head end to multiple streams having different bit rates, by a multirating device which sends the multiple streams over a network, along with metadata containing information about the data structure and parameters of the streams. At the network access edge, a demultirating device uses the metadata to select the stream with the highest video quality whose bit rate does not exceed the available bandwidth of the end-user's access link. This scheme provides multiple unicast signals to different end-users in place of a single multicast signal, supports multiple high-definition channels over a limited bandwidth link, and is compatible with standard encryption methods.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a communication device has initiated a first communication session with a video content server over a communication network, and identifying that the communication device is downloading short-form video content during the first communication session over a portion of the communication network. Further embodiments include determining a size and duration of pre-loaded short-form video content during the first communication session, and determining the communication device has initiated a second communication session with the video content server over the communication network. Additional embodiments include providing instructions to a network device according to the size and duration of the pre-loaded short-form video content to adjust network resources associated with the portion of the communication network. The network device adjusts the network resources associated with the portion of the communication network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method, computer readable medium, and system are disclosed for monitoring a pipeline to detect anomalies such as unusual latency associated with a particular stage. Each stage of the pipeline is configured to update metadata associated with content being processed by inserting a time stamp into the metadata when processing of the content is completed by the stage. The server device can collect the metadata from the last stage of the pipeline and analyze the metadata in order to generate metrics for the pipeline, including a residual latency and/or a gain for each stage of the pipeline. In an embodiment, the content is a frame of video to be displayed on a client device after being rendered by a server device, such as through a streaming service (e.g., a video game streaming service). The server device can adjust the pipeline based on the metrics to improve performance.

A client device adaptively streams a 360-degree video. A first segment is displayed based on a first viewing direction at a first time, where the first viewing direction is associated with a first viewport. The client requests a first base buffer segment based on the first viewport. The first base buffer segment has a presentation time after the first segment. At a second time, the viewing direction changes to a second viewing direction associated with a second viewport. The client requests, prior to the presentation time, a first viewport buffer segment based on the second viewport, with the same presentation time. The client device displays a second segment at the presentation time, wherein the second segment is either the first viewport buffer segment or the first base buffer segment. The client provides reports on viewport switching latency and on the most-requested segments.

A novel method of operating a Distributed Cable Modem Termination System is provided. Each branch CMTS node in a distributed CMTS supports a complete CMTS system and with full-spectrum ports. One or more MAC domains are defined at each branch CMTS node. A MAC domain defined at a branch CMTS node includes only service flows of the CMs that are connected to the branch CMTS node. Identifiers of service flows coming from a branch CMTS node are always unique, i.e., two different service flows of the branch CMTS would always have different SIDs, even if they belong to different MAC domains. On the other hand, service flows belonging to different branch CMTS nodes are free to reuse the same identifiers.

Devices, systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for data communication to and from a vehicle. A device is provided that includes memory storing processor-executable instructions; and at least one processor in communication with the memory that executes the stored instructions to: receive, from at least one user on the vehicle, at least one request for data communication; identify a plurality of communication links available at a current location of the moving vehicle; form an adaptive bonded communication link using the plurality of communication links to aggregate throughput across the plurality of communication links for the requested data communication, wherein the adaptive bonded communication link is configured to adapt to data communication requirements for the requested data communication and to data communication characteristics of the plurality of communication links as the vehicle moves. Corresponding methods, computer system products, uses, and computer-readable media are also provided.

Preserving transmission properties of real-time scenes in an environment when an increasing number of users join a session may be provided. A plurality of metrics associated with transmission of scenes having a Coarse Grain (CG) layer and a Fine Grain (FG) layer may be determined. Then a current client, based on a first one of a plurality of metrics, may be revoked. One of the following may then be performed: blocking a new client based on a second one of a plurality of metrics; and allowing the new client based on the second one of a plurality of metrics.

A method of servicing requests for information at a server includes receiving a request for information from a client device, and determining a number of attempts of the request made by the client device. Both the client device and the server may count the number of attempts for each request. When the number of attempts is greater than a threshold, the method includes servicing the request and sending the information to the client device. When the number of attempts is not greater than the threshold, the method includes sending a service unavailable message to the client device. A retry-after delay may be calculated by the server according to a predicted time for the server to exit an overloaded state and included in the service unavailable message. The predicted time may take into account both requests currently being serviced and requests that have been scheduled to be serviced in the future.

Streaming content with an electronic device includes incrementally downloading content data at a first quality level from a content server over a network. Triggered by receipt of a notification indicative of predicted network congestion, the electronic device requests and downloads a next increment of the content data at a second quality level lower than the first quality level from the content server.