Codec techniques for fast switching

Abstract

A video streaming method for transitioning between multiple sequences of coded video data may include receiving and decoding transmission units from a first sequence of coded video data. In response to a request to transition to a second sequence of coded video data, the method may determine whether a time to transition to the second sequence of coded video data can be reduced by transitioning to the second sequence of coded video data via an intermediate sequence of coded video data. If the time can be reduced, the method may include receiving at least one transmission unit from an intermediate sequence of coded video data that corresponds to the request to transition, decoding the transmission unit from the intermediate sequence, and transitioning from the first sequence to the second sequence via the decoded transmission unit from the intermediate sequence.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A video streaming method, comprising:
 presenting a first stream in a first window;   presenting a first version of a second stream in a second window, the first version being a lower quality preview version of a second version of the second stream; and   responsive to a request to switch the presentation in the first window from the first stream to the second stream, presenting a second version of the second stream in the first window.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 presenting an intermediate version of the second stream in the first window during a transition period prior to presenting the second version of the second stream in the first window.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first version of the second stream is a lower resolution version of the second version of the second stream. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first version of the second stream is a lower frame rate version of the second version of the second stream. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the second stream is indexed in a manifest file, and further comprising:
 downloading segments of a the first version of the second stream from addresses listed in the manifest file;   downloading segments of the second version of the second stream from addresses listed in the manifest file.   
     
     
         44 . A video streaming client device, comprising:
 a storage device for storing segments of a first stream, segments of a first version of a second stream, segments of a second version of the second stream; and   a processor with instructions that cause:   presenting the first stream in a first window,   presenting the first version of the second stream in a second window, the first version being a lower quality preview version of the second version of the second stream, and   responsive to a request to switch the presentation in the first window from the first stream to the second stream, presenting a second version of the second stream in the first window.   
     
     
         45 . The client device of  claim 44 , wherein the instructions further cause:
 presenting an intermediate version of the second stream in the first window during a transition period prior to presenting the second version of the second stream in the first window.   
     
     
         46 . The client device of  claim 44 , wherein the first version of the second stream is a lower resolution version of the second version of the second stream. 
     
     
         47 . The client device of  claim 44 , wherein the first version of the second stream is a lower frame rate version of the second version of the second stream. 
     
     
         48 . The client device of  claim 44 , wherein the second stream is indexed in a manifest file, and the instructions further cause:
 downloading segments of a the first version of the second stream from addresses listed in the manifest file;   downloading segments of the second version of the second stream from addresses listed in the manifest file.   
     
     
         49 . A method, comprising:
 displaying a multi-video presentation in which:   a first video is displayed in a first display window of the presentation having a first predetermined size, and   a second video is displayed in a second display window of the presentation having a second predetermined size smaller than the first predetermined size,   responsive to user interaction with the second video, altering the multi-video presentation by placing the second video in a third display window formerly occupied by the first display window, and playing the second video in the third display window.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the first video is displayed with higher quality than the second video. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the display of the second video in the third display window occurs at higher quality than the display of the second video in the second display window. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the multi-video presentation has a plurality of display windows having the second predetermined size, each for a respective video. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the second video is a preview video. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the second video is indexed in a manifest file, and further comprising:
 downloading segments of a the second video from addresses listed in the manifest file;   
     
     
         55 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause:
 displaying a multi-video presentation in which:   a first video is displayed in a first display window of the presentation having a first predetermined size, and   a second video is displayed in a second display window of the presentation having a second predetermined size smaller than the first predetermined size,   responsive to user interaction with the second video, altering the multi-video presentation by placing the second video in a third display window formerly occupied by the first display window, and playing the second video in the third display window.   
     
     
         56 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein the first video is displayed with higher quality than the second video. 
     
     
         57 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein the display of the second video in the third display window occurs at higher quality than the display of the second video in the second display window. 
     
     
         58 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein the multi-video presentation has a plurality of display windows having the second predetermined size, each for a respective video. 
     
     
         59 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein the second video is a preview video. 
     
     
         60 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein the second video is indexed in a manifest file, and the instructions further cause:
 downloading segments of a the second video from addresses listed in the manifest file;