Distributed on-demand media transcoding system and method

Abstract

A method for delivering media content over a network includes transcoding the media content to generate multiple copies of the media content, each of the multiple copies having a different destination type or a different source type or both, storing the multiple copies in a cache, receiving requests for the media content, and selecting and delivering a copy of one of the multiple copies in response to each of the requests. A further method for providing media content transcoding services includes fetching media content, selecting one of multiple transcoders for transcoding from multiple source types to multiple destination types, wherein the one transcoder is selected based at least on the destination type, sending the media content to the selected transcoder, transcoding the media content to the destination type, thereby generating transcoded media content, and transmitting the transcoded media content.

1 - 83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . A method for transmitting media content comprising the steps of:
 transmitting to a device information about media content, the information including a URL designating a respective one of a plurality of media content, each of the media content having a different bit rate;   receiving a request from the device for sending one of the plurality of media content, the request including a URL designating one of the plurality of media content; and   transmitting to the device the media content indicated by the URL.   
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the step of receiving the request comprises receiving the request via hypertext transfer protocol (http). 
     
     
         86 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to
 transmit to a device information about media content, the information including a URL designating a respective one of a plurality of media content, each of the media content having a different bit rate; 
 receive a request from the device for sending one of the plurality of media content, the request including a URL designating one of the plurality of media content; and 
 transmit to the device the media content indicated by the URL. 
   
     
     
         87 . The information processing apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the request is received via hypertext transfer protocol (http). 
     
     
         88 . A system for transmitting media content, comprising:
 a receiver operable to receive a request from a user terminal for sending one of a plurality of media content, each of the plurality of media content having a different bit rate, the request including a URL designating one of the plurality media content; and   a transmitter operable to transmit to the user terminal the media content indicated by the URL.   
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 88 , wherein the receiver is operable to receive the request via hypertext transfer protocol (http). 
     
     
         90 . Server apparatus, comprising:
 a web-server interface operable to receive a request from a user terminal for sending one of a plurality of media content, each of the plurality of media content having a different bit rate, the request including a URL designating one of the plurality of media content; and   a streaming server operable to transmit to the user terminal media content indicated by the URL.   
     
     
         91 . The server apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the web-server interface is operable to receive the request via hypertext transfer protocol (http).