Packed i-frames

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling playback control functions of a media player are disclosed. For example, a user of a client device receiving streaming playback of a video stream may perform rewind and fast forward control functions. The client device may implement these playback control functions by retrieving an enhanced playback segment. Using the enhanced playback segment, the media player may display selected frames at a predetermined interval while maintaining a visual cadence that is pleasing to a viewer. In the described embodiments, a client device may render a video stream, receive a command to control a fast forward or rewind playback mode for the video stream, and retrieve, from a distribution server or associated edge cache, one or more enhanced playback segments adapted to implement the user command.

1 . A method of rendering a media asset at a media player, comprising:
 during a normal playback mode, retrieving from a media source a plurality of transmission segments that contain coded video data of the media asset, the coded video data representing frames of asset content at a first temporal spacing;   during an enhanced playback mode, retrieving from the media source at least one transmission segment that contains coded video data of the media asset, the coded video data representing frames of asset content at a second temporal spacing larger than the first, wherein all frames of the transmission segment are coded by intra-coding;   decoding the coded video data of the retrieved segments; and   rendering the decoded video data on a display of the media player.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission segment downloaded during the enhanced playback mode is identified based on a portion of the media asset that was being rendered in normal playback mode when the enhanced playback mode was engaged. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 toggling between the normal playback mode and the enhanced playback mode in response to operator commands,   wherein, on each toggling between playback modes, a next transmission segment to be retrieved is identified based on a portion of the media asset that was being rendered when the toggling occurred.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second temporal spacing is at least double the first temporal spacing. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein all frames of the transmission segment are selected from the plurality of transmission segments. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission segment is generated by re-encoding the plurality of transmission segments using only intra-coding at a reduced frame rate. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a media streaming application having playback control functions, the media streaming application executable by at least one processing system, the media streaming application comprising instructions for:
 during a normal playback mode, retrieving from a media source a plurality of transmission segments that contain coded video data of the media asset, the coded video data representing frames of asset content at a first temporal spacing;   during an enhanced playback mode, retrieving from the media source at least one transmission segment that contains coded video data of the media asset, the coded video data representing frames of asset content at a second temporal spacing larger than the first, wherein all frames of the transmission segment are coded by intra-coding;   decoding the coded video data of the retrieved segments; and   rendering the decoded video data on a display of the media player.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the enhanced playback mode is initiated in response to a user command to enter a fast forward playback mode. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the enhanced playback mode is initiated in response to a user command to enter a rewind playback mode. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the first transmission segment downloaded during the enhanced playback mode is identified based on a portion of the media asset that was being rendered in normal playback mode when the enhanced playback mode was engaged. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising
 toggling between the normal playback mode and the enhanced playback mode in response to operator commands,   wherein, on each toggling between playback modes, a next transmission segment to be retrieved is identified based on a portion of the media asset that was being rendered when the toggling occurred.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein all frames of the transmission segment are selected from the plurality of transmission segments. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission segment is generated by re-encoding the plurality of transmission segments using only intra-coding at a reduced frame rate. 
     
     
         21 . A electronic device comprising:
 a processing system;   memory storing one or more programs for execution by the processing system, the one or more programs including instructions for:   during a normal playback mode, retrieving from a media source a plurality of transmission segments that contain coded video data of the media asset, the coded video data representing frames of asset content at a first temporal spacing;   during an enhanced playback mode, retrieving from the media source at least one transmission segment that contains coded video data of the media asset, the coded video data representing frames of asset content at a second temporal spacing larger than the first, wherein all frames of the transmission segment are coded by intra-coding;   decoding the coded video data of the retrieved segments; and   rendering the decoded video data on a display of the media player.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the first transmission segment downloaded during the enhanced playback mode is identified based on a portion of the media asset that was being rendered in normal playback mode when the enhanced playback mode was engaged. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , further comprising
 toggling between the normal playback mode and the enhanced playback mode in response to operator commands,   wherein, on each toggling between playback modes, a next transmission segment to be retrieved is identified based on a portion of the media asset that was being rendered when the toggling occurred.   
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the second temporal spacing is at least four times the first temporal spacing. 
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the second temporal spacing is at least eight times the first temporal spacing. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein all frames of the transmission segment are selected from the plurality of transmission segments. 
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the transmission segment is generated by re-encoding the plurality of transmission segments using only intra-coding at a reduced frame rate. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled)