Nbcuniversal Media, LLC

Other

Qiang Fu

Xu Zhang

A computer-implemented method may include receiving a streaming algorithm for testing and receiving historical network conditions of a player system. Simulating content streaming based on the historical network conditions and the streaming algorithm may include identifying a version of a fragment of content to be used in the simulated content streaming, simulating a download finish event of the fragment, and simulating a buffer level adjustment based on the simulated complete download of the fragment of the content. In response to performing the simulated content streaming, the computer-implemented method may report information associated with the simulated content streaming, thus enables measuring performance impact of player code change before deploying the updated player to production environment with neither conventional video nor audio playback.

Systems and methods for video player simulation

Traditional streaming sequentially downloads content fragments one by one from one CDN. The disclosed streaming method concurrently downloads content fragments from multiple CDNs. It first creates a sequence of bundles of fragments, and then downloads a subsequent bundle by spreading requests to download the fragments within the bundle to multiple CDNs simultaneously with each CDN acting as a channel to download a different fragment. Depending on business needs, various request dispatching strategies can be deployed. When there is a volume based pricing contract with a CDN, a dispatch strategy is to send more requests to the CDN in order to reach contract volume therefore reduce unit cost. Another strategy is to send the request for the earliest fragment to the fastest CDN in order to reduce latency and possibility of buffer underrun. Fault tolerance can be provided by re-routing a request failed at a CDN to another CDN.

Spread channel multi-CDN streaming

System and method to construct vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aerial vehicles capable of being folded into compact size, and capable of be combined with one or more such vehicles to form bigger composite aerial vehicles. Airframe of the vehicle comprises a plurality of wings on lateral or periphery of thrust generators, wherein arrangements of wings make it possible to optionally fold wings without moving thrust generators. Folding transforms such vehicles into ground vehicles which can share roads and house parking lots with conventional ground vehicles. Therefore such vehicles can be used as V/STOL flying cars. Means are provided for attaching to and detaching from one or more similarly equipped vehicles in flight or before takeoff, so that multiple vehicles can form a large composite vehicle. Compactness, combinability and V/STOL capability enable versatile applications.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Qiang Fu