A software-defined media platform having one or more media processing units that may be dynamically instantiated, interconnected and configured according to changes in demand, resource availability, and other parameters affecting system performance relative to demand. In one example media processing method, a source media stream may be received via multicast or unicast. The source media stream may be processed into one or more levels of work product segments having different media characteristics by a plurality of transcoding processing units, as needed. One or more levels of work product segments, or the source media stream, may be packaged (e.g., including resegmenting) into final work product segments having select media characteristics, which may be uploaded to a cloud storage unit for delivery to end users.

A method and system for comparing video and audio information at first and second spaced-apart locations on a content distribution network. Network probes are located on the network and extract a respective first and second plurality of video frames and audio segments. Two fingerprints sequences are determined from each one of the frames and segments, then the sequences are matched and time-aligned. A beginning of a matched segment is determined and the individual fingerprints within each of the fingerprint sequences are compared from the beginning of the matched segment. Fingerprints that are determined to be different during the comparison process indicate a change in video or audio content between the two probes.

Systems and methods for real-time transmission of data streams are disclosed. A controller receives data representing selected stream parameters from a browser residing on a computing device. The controller transmits the received data to a video transmitting device. A transcoder receives a first data stream generated according to the selected stream parameters from the video transmitting device. The transcoder generates a second data stream from the first data stream, the second data stream formatted for browser display; and then transmits the second data stream to the browser. A user may remotely control the video transmitting device using the browser. A user may view data streams from multiple video transmitting devices using the browser.

An aspect of the present invention provides a server for controlling a camera video image to be distributed to an audience terminal for multi-camera video image distribution service for cyclic distribution of camera video images in a plurality of points of view to audience. The server includes a selector and a decider. The selector selects a plurality of candidates in each of selection opportunities that allow each audience member to select the camera video image to be distributed to the audience terminal. The decider decides the camera video image to be distributed to the audience terminal based on information indicating one of a plurality of options selected by each audience member. At least one of the plurality of candidates selected in at least one of the selection opportunities includes a common camera video image regardless of camera video images viewed by the audience when the plurality of candidates are selected.

Herein is disclosed a media content delivery device, comprising one or more content demand processors, configured to determine a first location, the first location being a location for media content receipt; determine a second location, the second being a location for media content delivery; one or more vehicle coordination processors, configured to select a vehicle for media content transportation; cause the vehicle to wirelessly receive the media content at the first location; and cause the vehicle to deliver the media content at the second location.

Systems and methods for real-time transmission of data streams are disclosed. A controller receives data representing selected stream parameters from a browser residing on a computing device. The controller transmits the received data to a video transmitting device. A transcoder receives a first data stream generated according to the selected stream parameters from the video transmitting device. The transcoder generates a second data stream from the first data stream, the second data stream formatted for browser display; and then transmits the second data stream to the browser. A user may remotely control the video transmitting device using the browser. A user may view data streams from multiple video transmitting devices using the browser.

Provided is an encoding/transmitting apparatus used to transmit moving-picture data from a transmitting side to a receiving side and to subject the moving-picture data to streaming in the receiving side. The apparatus has an external-output request determining unit that monitors a state of a network. If the network assumes an undesirable state, a multiplex output unit stops multiplexing data. When the network assumes a good state, the multiplex output unit starts multiplexing the data again. A video encoding unit and an audio encoding unit keep encoding data, whether the multiplex output unit is multiplexing data or not. When the area occupied by encoded data in an encoded-video-data storage unit and the area occupied by encoded data in an encoded-audio-data storage unit exceed a predetermined value, the video encoding unit and audio encoding unit stop encoding data, and wait until the area occupied by encoded data sufficiently decreases.

One or more factors associated with consuming digital content on at least one device associated with at least one user are assessed. One or more ameliorative actions for consuming the digital content are performed based on the assessment. Performing the one or more ameliorative actions comprises delivering a summarization of the digital content to the at least one device based on the assessment.

Methods and apparatus for providing delivery of content to client devices of a network via both multicast and unicast mechanisms. In one embodiment, a system for use in a managed content delivery network is described to bridge multicast to unicast, so that the total network bandwidth consumption is significantly lower than a corresponding unicast-only delivery solution, yet which still provides improved quality of service and user viewing experience as compared to a multicast-only delivery solution. In addition, various exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are readily adapted for real-time multicast to unicast streaming of audio and data to, among other things, minimize network bandwidth usage, while maintaining the guaranteed delivery of unicast streams with little or no modification to the existing client device logic.

A gateway connects a first communication network comprising at least one terminal intended to consume multimedia contents and a second communication network via which the gateway is intended to receive the multimedia contents in a stream form. The gateway detects (400) a use of a unicast connection intended for transmitting a multimedia content from an original server to a terminal of said network via the gateway; seeks (403) a connection redirection rule according to information exchanged by the original server and the terminal; establishes (406) a multicast connection in order to receive the multimedia content; receives (407) the multimedia content in the form of a stream according to the multicast connection; and transmits (409) to the terminal the multimedia content in the form of a stream according to the unicast connection.