Described embodiments include a system that includes a network interface and a processor. The processor is configured to identify, via the network interface, a state of congestion in a communication channel between a base station belonging to a cellular network and a client device, to calculate, responsively to the state of congestion, a maximum sustainable encoding bit rate (MSEBR) for a video that is being downloaded by the client device, from a server, via the communication channel, the video being encoded at a plurality of different predefined bit rates, and to inhibit the client device, in response to calculating the MSEBR, from downloading a segment of the video that is encoded at any one of the predefined bit rates that exceeds the MSEBR. Other embodiments are also described.

This invention describes a cloud-based architecture that orchestrates the detection and dissemination of highly-dynamic, real-time, and fine-grained TV white space information to improve spectrum information used for White Space Devices (WSDs). Wasted spectrum opportunities were first identified, both temporal and spatial, due to the current approach of white spaces detection. This invention introduces a next generation of geo-location databases capable of tracking the state of the relatively static TV transmitters and the highly dynamic TV receivers. A quantitative evaluation of the potential gain in white space availability for large scale deployments of this novel architecture demonstrated significant improvement in the availability of white spaces.

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.

A transmission apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit content to an external apparatus through a cable; an information acquisition unit configured to acquire cable-length information that represents a cable length to the external apparatus; and a controller configured to control an operation of the transmission unit based on the cable-length information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

Systems and methods are described herein for a media guidance application that recommends media content to a user based on the media content likely to be available to the user at a given location and providing media guidance data for receiving the media content from a content provider at the location.

Systems and methods are described herein for a media guidance application that recommends a location to consume media content based on the quality of service at various locations.

A method of processing a video transport stream includes receiving a video transport stream and identifying at least one portion of the video transport stream that is not to undergo modification when processed by a rate shaping device. An indicator is inserted into the video transport stream. The indicator is used to signal the statistical multiplexer that the at least one portion of the video transport stream is not to be modified when the video transport stream is processed by the rate shaping device.

The present disclosure discloses an MBMS service reception and capability transmission method and device. In this method, the terminal device may send the information of the MBMS service of interest of the terminal device or the information of the MBMS service, which is being received, to the network device and the MBMS service reception capability information of the terminal device via a message. If an MBMS frequency point corresponding to the MBMS service of interest of the terminal device or the MBMS frequency point corresponding to the MBMS service, which is being received, is within a reception capability scope of the terminal device in a current configuration, the message reported by the terminal device to the network device includes: the MBMS frequency point.

Embodiments are disclosed for dynamically updating bandwidth allocations in an AVB communication system. In some embodiments, a device includes a communication interface communicatively connectable to at least one other device in a communication network and configured to transmit data via the communication network, a processor, and a storage device that stores instructions executable by the processor to detect an incoming data stream, and determine an amount of bandwidth to be used by the data stream. The instructions are further executable to update a bandwidth allocation for the data stream based on the determined amount of bandwidth.

A method for providing media content in a computer network includes storing the media content, where the media content includes a segment having a group of frames. The method also includes determining a transmission rate for traffic to a client device. The method further includes selecting a subset of frames to drop from the group of frames based on (i) the transmission rate and (ii) a frame difference distortion (FDIFF) metric of each frame in the subset of frames. The method also includes shaping the segment by dropping the selected subset of frames from the group of frames, where the shaped segment has a lower bitrate than the segment. In addition, the method includes transmitting the shaped segment to the client device.