System and method for live streaming of content

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed towards systems and methods for generating and streaming live content. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recording and encoding content on a single system prior to transmitting the encoded content to a content delivery network (CDN) via a network for consumption by remote end users. Further embodiments of the present invention are configured to allow for the provision of multiple encoded content streams, wherein the content streams are provided to users based on subscription type, with certain subscription types receiving varying content types e.g., advertisements, premium content) based on the subscription type.

1 . A content live streaming platform for recording and encoding content and configured to transmit encoded content to a remote content delivery network for provision to a plurality of end users, said content live streaming platform comprising:
 a content capture device;   a client side computer system for receiving recorded content from said content capture device,   wherein the content capture device is communicatively connected to said client side computer system, said client side computer system comprising computer readable instructions configured to:   receive said content;   connect to a content delivery network (CDN);   determine available bandwidth between said client side computer system and said content delivery network;   determine a plurality of different bit rates to use for transmitting said content to said content delivery network based on said bandwidth;   encode said content in said plurality of different bit rates, and transmit said content to the CDN for distribution to said end users.   
     
     
         2 . The content live streaming platform of  claim 1 , wherein said encoded content includes advertising content and other content, wherein insertion of said advertising content in said other content occurs at natural break events in said other content. 
     
     
         3 . The content live streaming platform of  claim 1 , wherein the client side computer system is configured to:
 identify a natural break event in said event content; and   insert said advertising content at said natural break event in said event content.   
     
     
         4 . The content live streaming platform of  claim 1 :
 the encoded content includes one or more markers that identify a location in the encoded content where the content distribution network can insert advertising content.   
     
     
         5 . The content live streaming platform of  claim 1 , wherein the client side computer system is further configured to:
 distinguish end users based on a subscription type,   wherein said encoded content comprises a plurality of content stream types; and   provide users access to a content stream type selected from said plurality of content stream types based on said subscription type.   
     
     
         6 . The content live streaming platform of  claim 1 , wherein said client side computer system encodes said content in a plurality of bit rates as said content is received in real time or near real time and transmits said content in said plurality of bit rates to said CDN. 
     
     
         7 . The content live streaming platform of  claim 1 , wherein said encoded content is transmitted to said CDN in said plurality of bit rates. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing recording and encoding of event content and transmission of encoded content from a content live streaming platform to a remote content delivery network for provision to a plurality of end users, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving, at a client side computer system, event content from a content capture device;   connecting to said content delivery network from said client side computer system;   determining available bandwidth between said client side computer system and said content delivery network;   determining a plurality of different bit rates to use for transmitting said content to said content delivery network based on said bandwidth;   encode said content in said plurality of different bit rates, and transmit said content to the CDN for distribution to said end users.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said encoded content includes advertising content and other content, wherein insertion of said advertising content in said other content occurs at natural break events in said other content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 identifying a natural break event in said content; and   inserting said advertising content at said natural break event in said content.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 :
 wherein the encoded content includes one or more start triggers that identify a location in the encoded content where the content distribution network may insert advertising content and one or more stop triggers that identify a location in the encoded content where the content distribution network will stop inserting advertising content and resume distribution of the encoded content.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps:
 distinguishing users based on subscription type,
 wherein said encoded content comprises a plurality of content stream types; and 
   providing users access to a content stream type selected from said plurality of content stream types based on said subscription type.