Http streaming apparatus and system with pseudo manifest file and just-in-time encoding

Abstract

An alternative design is presented and analyzed for providing a just in time video such that even though multiple variants are advertised to a client, the bit streams need not be present. Instead, the videos are generated just in time when a client requests them. At a given time instant, only that video stream is generated which corresponds to the bit rate requested by the client and streams with other bit rates advertised in the manifest file are not generated. This saves storage cost and/or lowers the numbers of transcoders needed to generate full manifest file all the time. Two different architectures are presented and analyzed. Analysis of impacts of the encoding/transcoding speed on the behavior of such a system is presented and used in designing an optimal solution based on desired price and performance points.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of delivering a media file, the media file encoded according to a playback rate of the media file, the method comprising:
 publishing a pseudo-manifest of two or more available data bit rates for delivering the media file;   receiving a request from a client device for delivery of the media file at a requested one of the two or more available data bit rates;   in response to the request for delivery of said one of said two or more available data bit rates, encoding successive chunks of the media file, the chunks encoded at a first processing rate greater than the playback rate.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising determining the first processing rate for at least a first chunk of the successive chunks based at least in part on said request. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising determining the first processing rate based at least in part on a transmission time of the successive chunks to the client device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first processing rate is at least four times the playback rate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first processing rate of the first chunk of the successive chunks is at least eight times a real-time transcoding rate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first processing rate is at least eight times the playback rate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising receiving a second request for delivery of one of said two or more available data bit rates; and in response to the second request, encoding a second chunk of said data file at a second processing rate greater the playback rate and different than the first processing rate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein second processing rate is at least four times the playback rate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein second processing rate is at least eight times the playback rate.