Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Microsoft Corporation

Gurpratap Virdi

Jeffrey Alan Davis

Wenbo Zhang

Eldar Azerovich Musayev

Todd Bowra

Ashley Speicher

Serge Smirnov

Vu Xuan Nguyen

Gareth Alan Howell

Andres Vega-Garcia

Alexandre Vicktorovich Grigorovitch

Kirt A Debique

Donald D Karlov

Michael John Hillberg

Sohail Baig Mohammed

Nicholas Jie Fang

Sam J George

Gilles Khouzam

Federico Schliemann

Michael R Harsh

Nishad Mulye

Akshay Johar

Lawrence Wayne Olson

John Gossman

Thobias M Jones

Glenn Frederick Evans

Anders Edgar Klemets

Greg D Schechter

Patrick Nelson

Stephen Estrop

Vishal Sood

Jonathan Marshall Cain

Sumedh N Barde

Stephen C Rowe

John A Bocharov

Kishore Arvind Kotteri

Florin Folta

Jay Senior

Geqiang Zhang

Weibing Zhan

Miguel M Valdez

Greg D Schechler

Serge Smimov

Tim Cowley

Valerian Menn

Vu Nguyen

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.

Media streams from containers processed by hosted code

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.

Dynamic fragmentation of digital media

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.

Real-time HD TV/video IP streaming to a game console

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.

Media streaming with enhanced seek operation

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.

Media streaming with smooth fast-forward and rewind

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.

Intelligent retransmission of data stream segments

Strategies are described for transmitting control information from a host module to a client module. The host module transmits the control information in-band along with a stream of media content information packets. The control information can be used to govern the operation of the client module. In one case, the control information alerts the client module to a discontinuity in streams, which may be the result of the user changing channels via the host or client module, etc., issuing a seek instruction, and so forth. Transmitting the control information in in-band fashion is advantageous because it reduces the need for complex linking between the control information and the associated content information.

Strategies for transmitting in-band control information

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.

Strategies for processing media information using a plug-in processing module in a path-agnostic manner

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.

Stream selection for enhanced media streaming

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.

Media streaming using an index file

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Gurpratap Virdi