DYNAMIC VIRTUAL CHUNKING OF STREAMING MEDIA CONTENT

摘要

Techniques are disclosed for a client device to stream a user-selected media file from a content server. The client device may create a playlist of dynamic virtual chunks to represent a single media stream file on a streaming media server. The playlist itself may be generated from an index in the header of a given stream defining what chunks, or segments of multiplexed audiovisual content, are present within that stream. The playlist of dynamic virtual chunks provides the playback engine on the client device with a list of individual files that may be requested from the streaming server independently of one another, despite the stream being stored on the server as a single media stream file.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
retrieving from a content server a header for a multiplexed audiovisual (AV) stream that includes an index identifying a plurality of chunks of audiovisual data that comprise the multiplexed AV stream, wherein each chunk included in the plurality of chunks is encoded at a distinct bit rate; generating, based on the index, a playlist file that includes a list of URLs for retrieving the plurality of chunks, wherein each URL included in the list corresponds to a different chunk included in the plurality of chunks; and passing the playlist to a playback engine that is configured to download each chunk included in the plurality of chunks via the URL corresponding to the chunk.