Content server media stream management
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- maintaining information at a content server associating a user with a media stream and time information, the content server operable to provide a plurality of live media streams to the user, the plurality of live media streams maintained in a plurality of channel buffers, wherein the plurality of channel buffers are prefilled and refreshed using satellite and cable media streams;
receiving a request for the media stream from the user;
determining a user device and bandwidth availability associated with the request;
selecting a particular version of the media stream using information about the user device, including user device buffer size and user device buffer level, and bandwidth availability;
transmitting the particular version of the media stream to the user beginning with packets selected using the time information maintained at the content server.
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Abstract
Mechanisms are provided to manage media stream transmissions at a content server. A content server detects that a user on a device such as a mobile device has stopped playing a live media stream. The content server maintains information associating the user with the media stream and time information. When the content server detects that a user wishes to resume playing a media stream, the user can continue viewing the media stream from where stoppage occurred. In many instances, the content server stores many hours of live media stream data and allows a user to select a particular starting point.
19 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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maintaining information at a content server associating a user with a media stream and time information, the content server operable to provide a plurality of live media streams to the user, the plurality of live media streams maintained in a plurality of channel buffers, wherein the plurality of channel buffers are prefilled and refreshed using satellite and cable media streams; receiving a request for the media stream from the user; determining a user device and bandwidth availability associated with the request; selecting a particular version of the media stream using information about the user device, including user device buffer size and user device buffer level, and bandwidth availability; transmitting the particular version of the media stream to the user beginning with packets selected using the time information maintained at the content server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a processor operable to maintain information at a content server associating a user with a media stream and time information, the processor further operable to provide a plurality of live media streams to the user, the plurality of live media streams maintained in a plurality of channel buffers, wherein the plurality of channel buffers are prefilled and refreshed using satellite and cable media streams; an interface operable to receive a request for the media stream from the user and transmit the media stream to the user beginning with packets selected using the time information maintained at the content server, wherein a particular version of the media stream transmitted to the user is selected using user device information, including user device buffer size and user device buffer level, and bandwidth availability information associated with the request. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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maintaining information at a content server associating a user with a media stream and time information, the content server operable to provide a plurality of live media streams to the user, the plurality of live media streams maintained in a plurality of channel buffers, wherein the plurality of channel buffers are prefilled and refreshed using satellite and cable media streams; receiving a request for the media stream from the user; determining a user device, including user device buffer size and user device buffer level, and bandwidth availability associated with the request; selecting a particular version of the media stream using information about the user device and bandwidth availability; selecting an I-frame corresponding to the time information maintained at the content server, the I-frame included in the particular version of the media stream; transmitting the particular version of the media stream beginning at the I-frame corresponding to the time information.
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Specification