Example network-based adaptive streaming media parameter adjustment methods and apparatuses are disclosed. One example method includes receiving, by an access network device, media QoS information from a session management network element, where the media QoS information includes at least two bit rate indicators and QoS requirement information corresponding to each of the bit rate indicators. The access network device determines, based on a current network condition and the media QoS information, a target bit rate indicator from the at least two bit rate indicators. The target bit rate indicator is sent to a terminal or a video server, where the current network condition meets a network requirement for transmitting streaming media data at a bit rate indicated by the target bit rate indicator.

A method includes determining a first transmission rate for transmitting an entirety of a segment of a video stream to a client device. The segment includes a set of frames. In some implementations, the method includes, after transmitting a first subset of the set of frames at the first transmission rate, detecting that a network connectivity of the client device has reduced below a connectivity threshold associated with the first transmission rate. In some implementations, the method includes transmitting an entirety of the segment at a second transmission rate that is less than the first transmission rate. In some implementations, the method includes triggering the client device to present a second subset of the set of frames that corresponds to a temporal position in the video stream after the first subset of the set of frames while foregoing re-presentation of the first subset of the set of frames.

Systems and methods for providing an output manifest are disclosed. According to at least one embodiment, a method of providing an output manifest representing a video channel includes: receiving, from a channel requester, a request for the output manifest; receiving input manifests including first and second input manifests; and creating the output manifest in response to receiving the request. Creating the output manifest includes: selecting at least one segment of the first input manifest, the at least one first input manifest segment bordered by a first marker; selecting at least one segment of the second input manifest, the at least one second input manifest segment bordered by a second marker common to the first marker; and creating the output manifest to include the at least one first input manifest segment followed by the at least one second input manifest segment. The output manifest is provided to the channel requester.

Systems, devices and methods are provided to arbitrate network bandwidth that is shared between multiple video players executing concurrently on one or more client platforms that each have at least one video data stream supplied over a data network. An amount of bandwidth available from the data network is determined. An arbitration module calculates whether the selected video players can sustain a video playback quality above a pre-defined threshold using the determined amount of bandwidth available, and a modify playback message is sent to at least one video player when the video playback quality is not sustainable. Various implementations could prioritize bandwidth based upon the content presented so that high-bandwidth scenes (e.g., action sequences) receive more bandwidth than more static scenes.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for use in playing back content. Some of these methods access a content package comprising media content to be locally played back; detect, as defined by the content package, whether a remote secondary device is available with which a connection can be established; determine whether an authorization to establish the connection has been confirmed; establish, when the authorization is confirmed, a communication connection; determine, as instructed by the content package and when the communication with the secondary device is established, whether one or more commands are received from the secondary device; and implement, as instructed by the content package and when it is determined that the one or more commands are received from the secondary device, the one or more commands in controlling playback experience of the media content.

A satellite reception assembly may include a housing configured to support receipt and handling of a plurality of satellite signals. The housing may include circuitry incorporating integrated stacking architecture for supporting and/or providing channel and/or band stacking whereby particular channels or bands, from multiple satellite signals that are received via the satellite reception assembly, may be combined onto a single output signal that may be communicated from the satellite reception assembly to a gateway device for concurrent distribution thereby to a plurality of client devices serviced by the gateway device.

A satellite reception assembly may include a housing configured to support receipt and handling of a plurality of satellite signals. The housing may include circuitry incorporating integrated stacking architecture for supporting and/or providing channel and/or band stacking whereby particular channels or bands, from multiple satellite signals that are received via the satellite reception assembly, may be combined onto a single output signal that may be communicated from the satellite reception assembly to a gateway device for concurrent distribution thereby to a plurality of client devices serviced by the gateway device.

Systems and methods are disclosed for determining portions of media assets for cooperative reception by multiple devices. The disclosed techniques herein include identifying cooperating devices that are able to communicate with a selected device for relaying portions of a media asset. For example, a group of people each travelling together in a vehicle may wish to view a media asset by cooperatively using their network resources of their smartphones to relay portions of the media asset for viewing. Network service data for each of the plurality of cooperating devices is then received. Based on the network service data, a determination is made for each cooperating device regarding reception of a respective portion of the media asset to each cooperating device. Instructions to receive and relay the respective portions of the media asset are transmitted to each cooperating device.

Systems and methods for providing an output manifest are disclosed. According to at least one embodiment, a method of providing an output manifest representing a video channel includes: receiving, from a channel requester, a request for the output manifest; receiving input manifests including first and second input manifests; and creating the output manifest in response to receiving the request. Creating the output manifest includes: selecting at least one segment of the first input manifest, the at least one first input manifest segment bordered by a first marker; selecting at least one segment of the second input manifest, the at least one second input manifest segment bordered by a second marker common to the first marker; and creating the output manifest to include the at least one first input manifest segment followed by the at least one second input manifest segment. The output manifest is provided to the channel requester.

Described herein are techniques for seamlessly transitioning streaming content between user devices. In some embodiments, such techniques may be performed by a content transition platform. The techniques may comprise receiving a transition request including a set of identifiers for a plurality of user devices that includes at least a first user device from which the transition request originated. The techniques may further comprise identifying one or more active communication sessions associated with the plurality of user devices, each of which comprise a series of communications between one of the plurality of user devices and a content provider. The techniques may further comprise determining, based on the one or more active communication sessions, a second user device of the plurality of user devices, and transitioning an active communication session of the one or more active communication sessions between the first user device and the second user device.