Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080256341 | Data Processing Pipeline Selection - Strategies for automatically selecting the most appropriate processing pipeline (or runtime) for a particular data item are described. In one embodiment, a media playing application automatically selects the most appropriate media processing pipeline for a media data item from multiple available processing pipelines, or candidates. In this regard, the application makes this selection by utilizing heuristic techniques to identify which available pipeline provides the most enhanced playback experience to a user with respect to certain attributes such as supported playback features and security. These heuristic techniques can take one or more criteria into account and can be implemented in any suitable way. By way of example and not limitation, in one embodiment, a selection process is used wherein potential pipeline candidates are ordered and sequentially evaluated. | 10-16-2008 |
20080256539 | Fault Tolerant and Hang Resistant Media Processing Applications - Techniques for playing a media file in a multimedia application include launching a multimedia application as one process and automatically launching a pipeline of one or more media processing components as one or more isolated processes. In this manner, any untrustworthy components can be executed in an isolated process that is separate from the execution process of the multimedia application, thereby improving fault tolerance and hang resistance. | 10-16-2008 |
20090125634 | NETWORK MEDIA STREAMING WITH PARTIAL SYNCING - Partial content syncing in a network media receiver is disclosed. One embodiment comprises identifying available cache space on the media receiver, detecting a media data file to be downloaded from a media server, and pre-buffering a portion of the media data on the media receiver prior to selection of the media data file for playback. In this manner, substantially glitch-free playback of a media data file may be started with little delay and with relatively little local storage. | 05-14-2009 |
20090178087 | INTELLIGENT RETRANSMISSION OF DATA STREAM SEGMENTS - An intelligent retransmission of data stream segments is disclosed. One embodiment comprises detecting a missing media data segment at a media receiver, assigning a value to the missing media data segment based upon media playback consequences of not utilizing the missing media data segment, comparing the value with a threshold, and requesting retransmission of the missing media data segment from a media server if the value meets a predetermined condition relative to the threshold. In this manner, retransmission is requested when it is determined that retransmission will improve playback performance relative to non-retransmission. | 07-09-2009 |
20090178096 | INTELLIGENT OVER-TRANSMISSION OF MEDIA DATA SEGMENTS - An intelligent multi-sending of data stream segments is disclosed. One embodiment comprises monitoring one or more variable data transmission parameters, detecting one or more invariant media data segment parameters, assigning a value to the media data segment based upon the one or more invariant media data segment parameters and the one or more variable data transmission parameters, comparing the value to a threshold, and sending multiple copies of the media data segment over a network link to a media receiver if the value is above the threshold. | 07-09-2009 |
20090282475 | Media Streams from Containers Processed by Hosted Code - Described is a technology by which code, such as an untrusted web application hosted in a browser, provides content through an interface for playback by an application environment, such as an application environment running in a browser plug-in. Content may be in the form of elementary video, audio and/or script streams. The content is in a container that is unpackaged by the application code, whereby the content may be packaged in any format that the application understands, and/or or come from any source from which the application can download the container. An application environment component such as a platform-level media element receives information from an application that informs the application environment that the application is to provide media stream data for playback. The application environment requests media stream data (e.g., samples) from the application, receives them as processed by the application, and provides the requested media stream data for playback. | 11-12-2009 |
20090297123 | MEDIA STREAMING WITH ENHANCED SEEK OPERATION - The present disclosure relates to playback of video/audio streaming media data. The media stream is available from the network at multiple bit rates. When a seek operation is performed, a playback device requests a lower bit rate media stream in order to quickly fill a playback buffer so that playback can commence more readily. After a seek start-up period is complete, the playback device can return to downloading the media stream associated with higher bit rates in order to increase the quality of the playback. | 12-03-2009 |
20090300145 | MEDIA STREAMING WITH SEAMLESS AD INSERTION - The present disclosure relates to playback of video/audio streaming media data with seamless advertisement insertion. A content player monitors playback of the media stream and determines a location to insert an advertisement. The content player pauses downloads of the media stream and begins downloading the advertisement while the media stream continues to be rendered. The advertisement is, consequently, loaded prior to a start time and allows for an instantaneous rendering at an advertisement insertion point in the media stream. | 12-03-2009 |
20090300203 | STREAM SELECTION FOR ENHANCED MEDIA STREAMING - The present disclosure relates to playback of video/audio streaming media data to provide a glitch-free experience. The system adapts the media stream to the user connection in order to provide the glitch-free experience. Stream selection can be made using a heuristics module located on the playback device that analyzes various aspects of the playback to make intelligent decisions about which media stream to download from a network. | 12-03-2009 |
20090300204 | MEDIA STREAMING USING AN INDEX FILE - The present disclosure relates to playback of video/audio streaming media data to provide a substantially glitch-free experience. The system adapts the media stream to the user connection in order to choose the most desirable stream to avoid glitches. For example, in the case where there is interference (e.g., a microwave being used near a wireless device), the quality of the media stream is lowered. In one embodiment, an index file is used to make logical decisions about which media stream to choose in order to minimize glitches. The index file can take different forms, but, generally, includes characteristics about the available media streams. Example characteristics include the bit rates of the media streams and quality information about the media streams. | 12-03-2009 |
20100100637 | Dynamically Balancing User Experiences in a Multi-User Computing System - A media experience policy engine includes three components: an information manager, a policy evaluator, and an enforcement module. The information manager collects information regarding the current state of a media delivery system, such as, for example, usage of a CPU, memory, hard disk, (I/O) interface, and a network. This collected data is then verified by the policy evaluator to see if resource contention is, or is close to, occurring. If so, existing or potential conflicts are dealt with by the enforcement module, which applies corrections, such as, for example, limiting the access of later chronologic users, or degrading the user experience of all users, in accordance with a desired policy in order to vitiate the resource contention and maintain a user experience consistent with the desired policy. | 04-22-2010 |
20100114921 | Dynamic Fragmentation of Digital Media - Media fragmentation may be provided. First, a request for a manifest may be received from a client. Then, in response to the received request for the manifest, the manifest may be sent to the client. Next, a request may be received from the client for a file fragment. The request may indicate a start time and an end time corresponding to the file fragment. The request may be in a format defined by the manifest. Then a lookup table may be queried for a first byte location in a media file corresponding to the start time and a second byte location in the media file corresponding to the end time. Next, a portion of the media file between the first byte location and the second byte location may be extracted from the media file. The portion may comprise the file fragment. The file fragment may be sent to the client. | 05-06-2010 |
20100135636 | MEDIA STREAMING WITH SMOOTH FAST-FORWARD AND REWIND - Media streaming with smooth fast-forward and rewind is disclosed. One embodiment receives a media stream encoded at a first bit rate over a network connection, and in response to an input to fast-forward or rewind the media stream, the media stream may be retrieved at a second bit rate, and rendered at the second bit rate for fast-forward or rewind playback. By receiving the media stream at multiple bit rates, a media stream may be rendered at increased forward or reverse speeds without dropping frames in the media stream. | 06-03-2010 |
20110128290 | Strategies for Processing Media Information Using a Plug-In Processing Module in a Path-Agnostic Manner - A media processing framework includes multiple media processing paths. At least one of the media processing paths includes a media processing pipeline which is in-process with respect to an application which interacts with the media processing pipeline. At least one other of the media processing paths includes a media processing pipeline which is out-of-process with respect to the application. The application can specify a custom plug-in presenter module to be set in either the in-process media processing pipeline or the out-of-process media processing pipeline. The application need not be “aware” of the pipeline that is being used, whether the pipeline is in-process or out-of-process, or the security level that is applied to the media processing pipeline. Both the in-process and the out-of-process media processing pipelines can supply media information to a presentation processor, such as a compositing engine. | 06-02-2011 |
20130124748 | MEDIA STREAMING WITH ENHANCED SEEK OPERATION - The present disclosure relates to playback of video/audio streaming media data. The media stream is available from the network at multiple bit rates. When a seek operation is performed, a playback device requests a lower bit rate media stream in order to quickly fill a playback buffer so that playback can commence more readily. After a seek start-up period is complete, the playback device can return to downloading the media stream associated with higher bit rates in order to increase the quality of the playback. | 05-16-2013 |
20130178282 | Real-Time HD TV/Video IP Streaming to a Game Console - Program code enabling the streaming of HD content in real-time to a game console is stored on a storage medium remote from the game console. The game console executes software that facilitates transfer of the program code from the remote storage medium to the game console. The program code ensures that sufficient bandwidth exists on a network between the game console and a HD tuner, and enables the streaming of HD content in real-time to the game console. | 07-11-2013 |
20140337433 | Media Streams from Containers Processed by Hosted Code - Described is a technology by which code, such as an untrusted web application hosted in a browser, provides content through an interface for playback by an application environment, such as an application environment running in a browser plug-in. Content may be in the form of elementary video, audio and/or script streams. The content is in a container that is unpackaged by the application code, whereby the content may be packaged in any format that the application understands, and/or or come from any source from which the application can download the container. An application environment component such as a platform-level media element receives information from an application that informs the application environment that the application is to provide media stream data for playback. The application environment requests media stream data (e.g., samples) from the application, receives them as processed by the application, and provides the requested media stream data for playback. | 11-13-2014 |