Delivery of high quality video in an adaptive bit rate (ABR) download session is achieved using obtained using lower quality communication paths. The method involves detecting that an ABR download session of a video is in a steady-state condition. If so a further determination is made as to whether there is sufficient pre-fetch time available to download an (N+1)th video segment of the video using at alternative connection path through a virtual WAN having a lower quality than a first connection path through the virtual WAN. If sufficient pre-fetch time is available, the (N+1)th video segment is prefetched using at least the second connection path instead of the first connection path.

Apparatus and methods for managing content delivery in a packetized network. In one embodiment, the network provide content to a plurality of clients via a plurality of nodes and origin points, and resources are discreetly represented (e.g., with IP addresses, such as those afforded under the IPv6 protocol) to allows for direct advertisement of resources. Exemplary solutions described herein further advantageously leverage extant architectures and protocols (such as BGP), and make use of a common control plane, which can be utilized for example by different content delivery network (CDN) operators and different delivery components to advertise resources. Internally within a given CDN, increased granularity of resource addressing and advertisement may provide benefits including: (i) resource affinity; (ii) resource-level balancing; (iii) dynamic resource scoping; and (iv) “zero-touch” provisioning and resource relocation.

Apparatus and methods for managing content delivery in a packetized network. In one embodiment, the network provide content to a plurality of clients via a plurality of nodes and origin points, and resources are discreetly represented (e.g., with IP addresses, such as those afforded under the IPv6 protocol) to allows for direct advertisement of resources. Exemplary solutions described herein further advantageously leverage extant architectures and protocols (such as BGP), and make use of a common control plane, which can be utilized for example by different content delivery network (CDN) operators and different delivery components to advertise resources. Internally within a given CDN, increased granularity of resource addressing and advertisement may provide benefits including: (i) resource affinity; (ii) resource-level balancing; (iii) dynamic resource scoping; and (iv) “zero-touch” provisioning and resource relocation.

Technologies for casting digital media content include a source computing device communicatively coupled to a destination computing device. The source computing device is configured to transmit a set of identifiers of the source computing device to the destination computing device and receive a set of identifiers of the destination computing device from the destination computing device. Each set of identifiers includes a version (e.g., hardware or software) associated with the respective computing device and a unique identifier of the respective computing device. The source computing device is additionally configured to determine a subset of casting session parameters from a set of casting session parameters based on the one or more capabilities of the destination computing device which are usable by the destination computing device to establish a casting session and stream digital media content in accordance with the subset of casting session parameters. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Technologies for casting digital media content include a source computing device communicatively coupled to a destination computing device. The source computing device is configured to transmit a set of identifiers of the source computing device to the destination computing device and receive a set of identifiers of the destination computing device from the destination computing device. Each set of identifiers includes a version (e.g., hardware or software) associated with the respective computing device and a unique identifier of the respective computing device. The source computing device is additionally configured to determine a subset of casting session parameters from a set of casting session parameters based on the one or more capabilities of the destination computing device which are usable by the destination computing device to establish a casting session and stream digital media content in accordance with the subset of casting session parameters. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing non-intrusive advertising content to users. The method includes receiving user input reflecting user content preferences for receiving desired content related to specific topics in lieu of standard advertising slots while watching playable media content via a set-top box. The method may further include receiving a request for playable media content and then retrieving desired content based on user content preferences. Thereafter, the method may include choosing non-intrusive advertising content and generating datagrams that include the desired content and the non-intrusive advertising content. The datagrams may be concatenated with the playable media content to generate displayable content. The display content may then be provided for displaying.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing non-intrusive advertising content to users. The method includes receiving user input reflecting user content preferences for receiving desired content related to specific topics in lieu of standard advertising slots while watching playable media content via a set-top box. The method may further include receiving a request for playable media content and then retrieving desired content based on user content preferences. Thereafter, the method may include choosing non-intrusive advertising content and generating datagrams that include the desired content and the non-intrusive advertising content. The datagrams may be concatenated with the playable media content to generate displayable content. The display content may then be provided for displaying.

A system and method for managing virtual queues. A cloud-based queue service manages a plurality of queues hosted by one or more entities. The queue service is in constant communication with the entities providing queue management, queue analysis, and queue recommendations. The queue service is likewise in direct communication with queued persons. Sending periodic updates while also motivating and incentivizing punctuality and minimizing wait times based on predictive analysis. The predictive analysis uses “Big Data” and other available data resources, for which the predictions assist in the balancing of persons across multiple queues for the same event or multiple persons across a sequence of queues for sequential events.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing media presentations to users of a media presentation system. A media presentation generally includes a plurality of media segments provided by multiple users of the media presentation system. In one or more embodiments, a user of the media presentation system may share a media presentation with a co-user. The media presentation system can provide a number of features to assist a user in sharing, filtering, and accessing media presentations.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing media presentations to users of a media presentation system. A media presentation generally includes a plurality of media segments provided by multiple users of the media presentation system. In one or more embodiments, a user of the media presentation system may share a media presentation with a co-user. The media presentation system can provide a number of features to assist a user in sharing, filtering, and accessing media presentations.