Enhanced streaming source change

• US 10,187,681 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Asarikuniyil, Binny
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US15/366,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20180160159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1045 Proxies, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A technique for managing transitions between streaming media sources can include receiving a request from a client to change a streaming media source from an initial streaming media source to a next streaming media source. The initial streaming media source includes last segments being streamed to the client and the next streaming media source is selected by the client from a virtual master playlist. The technique further includes identifying the next streaming media source in a master playlist of a content delivery network, inserting a discontinuity between last segments of the initial streaming media source and first segments of the next streaming media source, and streaming the first segments of the next streaming media source to the client as a continuous stream from the last segments of the initial streaming media source with the discontinuity between the last segments and the first segments.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

retrieving a master playlist from a content delivery network using a media proxy;

generating a virtual master playlist at the media proxy by mapping the master playlist to the virtual master playlist, wherein the virtual master playlist includes all media associated with the master playlist, and wherein the virtual master playlist excludes media source information from the master playlist;

providing the virtual master playlist to a client, the client handles the virtual master playlist as the master playlist, wherein the media proxy is remote to the client;

receiving a request from the client to change a streaming media source from an initial streaming media source to a next streaming media source, the initial streaming media source including last segments being streamed to the client, the next streaming media source selected by the client from the virtual master playlist;

identifying the next streaming media source in the master playlist of the content delivery network, the virtual master playlist including a mapping of the master playlist;

inserting a discontinuity between last segments of the initial streaming media source and first segments of the next streaming media source; and

streaming the first segments of the next streaming media source tothe client as a continuous stream from the last segments of the initial streaming media source with the discontinuity between the last segments and the first segments, wherein the discontinuity provides an aesthetic transition between the last segments and the first segments.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising scheduling the initial streaming media source and the next streaming media source as a continuous stream.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising scheduling one or more subsequent streaming media sources as a continuous stream.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing clearing of at least a portion of a buffer associated with the client and containing one or more segments from the initial streaming media source.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising causing buffering of the first segments to at least the portion of the buffer associated with the client after the last segments.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the discontinuity is used for causing the clearing of at least the portion of the buffer associated with the client and containing one or more segments from the initial streaming media source.

6. A system, including:

a client including a processor and instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the instructions when executed perform a method including;

receiving a virtual master playlist from a media proxy, wherein the media proxy is an intermediary between the client and a content delivery network, wherein the virtual master playlist is generated at the media proxy by mapping a master playlist to the virtual master playlist, wherein the virtual master playlist includes all media associated with the master playlist, wherein the virtual master playlist excludes media source information from the master playlist, wherein the client handles the virtual master playlist as the master playlist, and wherein the media proxy is remote to the client;

requesting to change to a next adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) source from an initial ABR source, the initial ABR source including last segments being streamed to the client, the next ABR source selected by the client from the virtual master playlist;

clearing at least a portion of a buffer associated with the client, the buffer receiving the last segments; and

buffering first segments of the next ABR source as a continuous stream from the last segments of the initial ABR source with a discontinuity between the last segments and the first segments,

wherein the media proxy is defined by instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium run by a system remote to the client, and

wherein the content delivery network is operatively coupled with storage maintaining the last segments and the first segments.

7. The system of claim 6, the instructions further including playing video from the initial ABR source using the client.

8. The system of claim 7, the instructions further including playing video from the next ABR source using the client without a break in playback from the initial ABR source.

9. The system of claim 6, the client is one of a television, a content box, a media server, or a smart device.