Media processing devices for adaptive delivery of on-demand media, and methods thereof

• US 8,838,954 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2011
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tian, Jun, Yu, Hong Heather, Li, Hongbing
• Primary Examiner(s): Homayounmehr, Farid
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCKNOR, OLANREWAJU J
• Application Number:
  US13/016,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20110191577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 348383-495
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/00 Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of streaming media includes partitioning a media stream to be transmitted into a first stream of media segments at a media server. The first stream of the media segments has a first sequence. An index table is generated to identify the first sequence of the first stream of the media segments. The index table is encrypted using a key. A second stream of the media segments is generated. The second stream has a second sequence, which is random relative to the first sequence. The encrypted index table and a transcoded media stream having the second stream of the media segments are transmitted.

Claims

1. A method of streaming media, the method comprising:

at a media server, partitioning a media stream into a first stream of media segments;

transcoding individual media segments in the first stream of media segments to obtain a first stream of transcoded media segments, the first stream of transcoded media segments having a first sequence;

generating an index table identifying the first sequence;

encrypting the index table using a key;

randomizing the first stream of transcoded media segments by placing transcoded media segments of the first stream of transcoded media segments in a random order to obtain a second stream of transcoded media segments, the second stream of transcoded media segments having a second sequence, the second sequence being random relative to the first sequence; and

transmitting the encrypted index table and the second stream of transcoded media segments.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein all media segments in the first stream of media segments have a common duration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first stream of media segments comprise audio segments and video segments, and wherein the audio segments have a different duration from the video segments.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

introducing extra media segments into the second stream of transcoded media segments prior to transmitting the second stream of transcoded media segments.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the extra media segments comprise an advertisement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second stream of transcoded media segments is compliant with a media compression standard.

7. A media server comprising:

a partitioner configured to partition a media stream to be transmitted into a first stream of media segments;

a transcoder comprising a processor coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium, the transcoder configured to transcode individual media segments in the first stream of media segments to obtain a first stream of transcoded media segments, the first stream of transcoded media segments having a first sequence;

an index table generator configured to generate an index table identifying the first sequence;

an index table encryptor configured to encrypt the index table using a key;

a randomizer configured to randomize the first stream of transcoded media segments by placing transcoded media segments of the first stream of transcoded media segments in a random order, thereby obtaining a second stream of transcoded media segments having a second sequence, the second sequence being random relative to the first sequence; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the encrypted index table and the second stream of transcoded media segments.

8. The media server of claim 7, wherein the partitioner is further configured to partition the media stream into audio segments and video segments.

9. The media server of claim 8, wherein the audio segments have a different duration than the video segments.

10. The media server of claim 7, further comprising:

a media adder configured to introduce extra media segments into the second stream of transcoded media segments.

11. The media server of claim 10, wherein the extra media segments comprise an advertisement.

12. The media server of claim 7, wherein the second stream of transcoded media segments is compliant with a media compression standard.

13. A media device comprising:

a receiver comprising a processor coupled to a non-transitory computer readable medium, the receiver configured to receive a first stream of transcoded media segments, wherein the first stream of transcoded media segments are compliant with a media compression standard, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive an encrypted index table;

an index table generator configured to generate an index table by decrypting the encrypted index table, the index table having sequence information; and

a derandomizer configured to reorder the first stream of transcoded media segments in accordance with the sequence information by placing media segments in the first stream of media segments in a random order to obtain a second stream of transcoded media segments, the second stream of transcoded media segments having an ordering of media segments that is random with respect to that of the first stream of media segments.

14. The media device of claim 13, further comprising:

a decoder configured to decode the second stream of transcoded media segments to generate media stream segments; and

a de-partitioner configured to generate a media stream by combining the media stream segments.

15. The media device of claim 13, further comprising a media processor configured to perform media operations on the first stream of transcoded media segments without decryption.

16. The media device of claim 13, further comprising a media remover configured to remove extra media segments added between transcoded media segments in the first stream of transcoded media segments.

17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming, the programming including instructions to:

partition a media stream into a first stream of media segments;

transcode individual media segments in the first stream of media segments to obtain a first stream of transcoded media segments, the first stream of transcoded media segments having a first sequence;

generate an index table identifying the first sequence;

encrypt the index table using a key to obtain an encrypted index table;

randomize the first stream of transcoded media segments to obtain a second stream of transcoded media segments, the second stream of transcoded media segments having a second sequence that is random relative to the first sequence; and

transmit the encrypted index table and the second stream of transcoded media segments.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein all media segments in the first stream of media segments have a common duration.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the first stream of media segments comprise audio segments and video segments.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the audio segments have a different duration than the video segments.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the programming further includes instructions to:

introduce extra media segments into the second stream of the transcoded media segments prior to transmitting the second stream of transcoded media segments.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the extra media segments comprise an advertisement.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the second stream of transcoded media segments is compliant with a media compression standard.