US-20260129086-A1 - SEGMENT LADDER TRANSITIONING IN ADAPTIVE STREAMING

US20260129086A1US 20260129086 A1US20260129086 A1US 20260129086A1US-20260129086-A1

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for delivering and playing streaming content. A plurality of adaptations sets may be generated for a content asset. The plurality of adaptation sets may have segments encoded according to different segment durations. A media device may transition between adaptation sets to perform a content transition operation.

Inventors

Alexander Giladi

Assignees

COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251230

Claims (20)

1 . A method comprising: receiving, based on information indicating a plurality of versions of a content asset that are associated with a plurality of different segment durations, a request for a version of the plurality of versions of the content asset, wherein the request is based on a location of a content transition between a start point and an endpoint of a content segment of at least one version of the plurality of versions; and causing, based on the request, output of one or more content segments associated with the requested version of the plurality of versions of the content asset.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information is generated based on one or more values indicating availability of switching between the plurality of versions of the content asset.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each version of the plurality of versions is associated with a corresponding adaptation set indicated by the information.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the content transition is executed based on switching to the requested version at a segment boundary of the requested version, performing the content transition, and switching back to the requested version after the content transition.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the requested version of the plurality of versions is requested based on the requested version having a segment boundary closer to the content transition than the start point and the endpoint of the segment of the at least one version of the plurality of versions.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more content segments associated with the requested version comprises a single frame.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the content transition comprises one or more of: causing output of an advertisement, performing a trick play mode, joining a content stream, changing a channel, or switching between playback modes.
8 . A device comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to: receive, based on information indicating a plurality of versions of a content asset that are associated with a plurality of different segment durations, a request for a version of the plurality of versions of the content asset, wherein the request is based on a location of a content transition between a start point and an endpoint of a content segment of at least one version of the plurality of versions; and cause, based on the request, output of one or more content segments associated with the requested version of the plurality of versions of the content asset.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the information is generated based on one or more values indicating availability of switching between the plurality of versions of the content asset.
10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein each version of the plurality of versions is associated with a corresponding adaptation set indicated by the information.
11 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the content transition is executed based on switching to the requested version at a segment boundary of the requested version, performing the content transition, and switching back to the requested version after the content transition.
12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the requested version of the plurality of versions is requested based on the requested version having a segment boundary closer to the content transition than the start point and the endpoint of the segment of the at least one version of the plurality of versions.
13 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more content segments associated with the requested version comprises a single frame.
14 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the content transition comprises one or more of: causing output of an advertisement, performing a trick play mode, joining a content stream, changing a channel, or switching between playback modes.
15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause: receiving, based on information indicating a plurality of versions of a content asset that are associated with a plurality of different segment durations, a request for a version of the plurality of versions of the content asset, wherein the request is based on a location of a content transition between a start point and an endpoint of a content segment of at least one version of the plurality of versions; and causing, based on the request, output of one or more content segments associated with the requested version of the plurality of versions of the content asset.
16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the information is generated based on one or more values indicating availability of switching between the plurality of versions of the content asset.
17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein each version of the plurality of versions is associated with a corresponding adaptation set indicated by the information.
18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the content transition is executed based on switching to the requested version at a segment boundary of the requested version, performing the content transition, and switching back to the requested version after the content transition.
19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the requested version of the plurality of versions is requested based on the requested version having a segment boundary closer to the content transition than the start point and the endpoint of the segment of the at least one version of the plurality of versions.
20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the content transition comprises one or more of: causing output of an advertisement, performing a trick play mode, joining a content stream, changing a channel, or switching between playback modes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/756,910, filed Jun. 27, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/456,142, filed Aug. 25, 2023, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,058,192, issued Aug. 6, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/936,182, filed Sep. 28, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,778,013, issued Oct. 3, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/228,562, filed Apr. 12, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,489,899, issued Nov. 1, 2022, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for any and all purposes. BACKGROUND Content delivery systems typically group media segments into representations that include content encoded at a given bitrate or quality. Segments from different representations may be time-aligned to enable switching across representations at any segment boundary. In certain scenarios, this approach results in latency performance problems. Streaming can only start, for example, at a segment boundary and a complete segment must be generated and transmitted to start streaming at the segment boundary, resulting in unnecessary delays in delivery of content. SUMMARY Disclosed herein are techniques for delivering and playing content, such as content streams. Different versions of the content may be generated corresponding to different adaptation sets. A “main” adaptation set may be created for content, as well as one or more “ladder” adaptation sets with segments of shorter duration than the segments of the main adaptation set. If a content transition operation (e.g., a trick mode operation, advertisement, channel change) is detected at a point other than a beginning or an endpoint of a main segment (e.g., a midpoint), a media device can access one of the ladder adaptation sets. The ladder adaptation sets may have fewer frames in a segment, including as few as a single frame per segment. This allows more granular access to frames by the media device to perform the content transition operation with less delay. If the transition operation is completed, the media device may gradually transition to other ladder adaptation sets and/or the main adaptation set to return to normal operation. Transitioning between one or more of the ladder adaptation sets and the main adaptation set can reduce start-up time associated with transitions. This may reduce latency of a streaming session while also maintaining an optimal compression efficiency by transitioning back to larger segment based adaptation sets if lower latency is not needed. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to limitations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure. Additional advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows or may be learned by practice. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the methods and systems. FIG. 1 shows an example of a hierarchical data model. FIG. 2 shows an example of a media player. FIG. 3 shows an example system for adaptive streaming of content. FIG. 4 shows an example of a transition between content versions. FIG. 5 shows an example of a transition between content versions. FIG. 6 shows an example method for playing streaming content. FIG. 7 shows an example method for delivering streaming content. FIG. 8 shows an example method for streaming content. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Disclosed herein are methods and systems for video encoding, storage and transmission, including achieving smoother and quicker transitions in performing content transition operations (e.g., channel changes, switching between regular content and ads, trick play). A content item, such as a show, movie, and/or the like may be encoded using a plurality of adaptation sets. The plurality of adaptation sets may comprise a main adaptation set (e.g., or primary adaptation set) and one or more ladder adaptation sets (e.g., or secondary adaptation set). The one or more ladder adaptation sets may be encoded with segments that are shorter in duration than the main adaptation set. If a content transition operation is detected, a media device may find the adaptation set that has a s