Methods and apparatuses for detecting timestamp discontinuities and video resolution discontinuities within a packet stream and marking locations of the detected discontinuities within the packet stream are described. Prior to transmission of the packet stream, an electronic device may perform timestamp discontinuity detection by acquiring a sequence of packets to be transmitted, identifying a first timestamp associated with an earliest packet within the sequence of packets, identifying a second timestamp associated with a latest packet within the sequence of packets, determining a timestamp time difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp, determining a maximum chunk time difference based on a data rate at which the sequence of packets were encoded and a data size of the encoded packets, and detecting that a timestamp discontinuity exists within the sequence of packets if the timestamp time difference is greater than the maximum chunk time difference.

Methods and system for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for data at a first time, wherein the data comprises a first time duration, determining a buffer size based upon the first time duration, and determining a playback window based upon the determined buffer size and the first time. The method can also comprise synchronizing presentation of content on a plurality of devices.

Methods and system for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for data at a first time, wherein the data comprises a first time duration, determining a buffer size based upon the first time duration, and determining a playback window based upon the determined buffer size and the first time. The method can also comprise synchronizing presentation of content on a plurality of devices.

A system and method for transmitting still images and a video feed from an unmanned aerial vehicle to a ground station is disclosed. The system includes an aircraft including a digital video camera to capture still images and video frames of an object. A video encoder is coupled to the camera to provide a video output including video packets. A file server is coupled to the camera to provide a still image output including image data packets. A multiplexer is coupled to the video output and the still image output. The multiplexer produces a data transmission including the video packets and the image data packets. A transmitter sends the data transmission to the ground station. The ground station receives the data transmission and demultiplexes the packets into separate video and image data packets. The ground control station may select the ratio the video stream images in relation to the still image to be transmitted from the aircraft.

Methods and apparatus are described for delivering streams of media content in ways that smooth out the peaks that might otherwise occur due to the bit rate variations that result from encoding of the media content. This is accomplished by controlling the timing of the transmission of packets of the encoded media content.

Techniques are disclosed for multiplexing a dynamic bit-rate video stream with an audio stream received by a client device in a manner that allows the resulting multiplexed stream to be played back without disruption, despite dynamic changes in the bit rate of the video stream that may occur. A content server may stream both a video stream and an audio stream to a client device for playback. The client device may multiplex the video and audio streams prior to them being presented to a playback engine for decoding and playback to a user.

The present disclosure relates to a data transmission method and apparatus, and belongs to the field of Internet technology. The method includes: determining whether a to-be-sent video data packet exists each time a preset data sending cycle is reached; if the to-be-sent video data packet does not exist, selecting at least one video data packet, a number of times the at least one video data packet has been sent satisfying a preset sending-times condition and total data volume of the at least one video data packet satisfying a preset expected data-volume condition, from sent video data packets based on a number of times each of the sent video data packets has been sent, and determining a filling data packet according to selected video data packet; and sending the filling data packet to a receiving terminal.

Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.

Methods and apparatus for selectively enforcing required insertion or viewing of secondary content, such as advertisements or promotions, in a content distribution network. In one embodiment, the network is a managed network (e.g., cable television, satellite, or the like), and the method includes identifying secondary content with a particular attribute or property (e.g., an advertisement that a user has watched before), and selectively enabling one or more “trick mode” functions relating to that secondary content. In one implementation, audio codes or watermarks are inserted into the secondary content and detected when the content is accessed or rendered; if the detected content matches a database or listing of previously played content for that user or premises, the trick mode functionality (e.g., FF or “skip”) is enabled, thereby allowing the user to bypass the content.

Disclosed is a method for transmitting a broadcast signal. The method comprises formatting input streams with multiple data transmission channels, and the formatting step comprises adding a header indicating a format of a payload of the BBF.