Multiple-mode system and method for providing user selectable video content

1. A method of providing audiovisual content to a client device configured to be coupled to a display, the method comprising, at a server:

detecting a selection of a graphical element corresponding to a video content item;

in response to detecting the selection of the graphical element, determining a transmission mode as a function of:

1) one or more decoding capabilities of the client device;

2) a video encoding format of the video content item;

3) whether the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen or a partial screen format; and

4) whether the client device is capable of overlaying image data into a video stream;

preparing, for transmission according to the determined transmission mode, a series of frames that includes audiovisual data including the video content item; and

transmitting the prepared series of frames, from the server toward the client device, according to the determined transmission mode, for display on the display;

wherein, in accordance with a determination that the video content item is to be displayed in a partial screen format, the transmission mode is a first transmission mode in which the series of frames includes the video content item and a first GUI, and the preparing includes, prior to transmitting the prepared series of frames:

rendering the first GUI according to a previously set screen resolution; and

stitching the video content item into the rendered first GUI, wherein the series of frames includes the video content item as stitched into the rendered first GUI, and wherein a respective frame of the series of frames combines content for the video content item and the rendered first GUI.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in accordance with a determination that:

the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format, and

the client device is not capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item:

the transmission mode is a second transmission mode in which the preparing includes transcoding the video content item.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, in accordance with a determination that:

the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format,

the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and

no image data is to be overlaid on the video content item:

the transmission mode is a third transmission mode in which, the preparing includes repackaging the video content item.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein, in accordance with a determination that:

the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format,

the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and

the client device is capable of overlaying image data into the video content item:

the transmission mode is a fourth transmission mode in which:

the overlaying image data includes a second GUI that includes various user interface elements, and

the preparing includes rendering the second GUI according to a client overlay resolution.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein, in accordance with a determination that:

the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format,

the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and

the client device is not capable of overlaying image data into the video content item, the transmission mode is a fifth transmission mode in which the preparing includes:

rendering the second GUI according to a video resolution, video size, and video frame rate;

decoding all or a portion of the video content item;

blending the rendered second GUI into the decoded portion; and

re-encoding the blended portion according to the video encoding format of the video content item.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in accordance with a determination that the client device is capable of receiving streaming content in a native format, the transmitting step comprises passing through content that is in the native format.

7. A computer program product for providing audiovisual content to a client device configured to be coupled to a display, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium on which is stored non-transitory computer program code comprising program code for:

detecting a selection of a graphical element corresponding to a video content item;

in response to detecting the selection of the graphical element, determining a transmission mode as a function of:

1) one or more decoding capabilities of the client device;

2) a video encoding format of the video content item;

3) whether the video content item should is to be displayed in a full screen or a partial screen format; and

4) whether the client device is capable of overlaying image data into a video stream;

preparing, for transmission according to the determined transmission mode, a series of frames that includes audiovisual data including the video content item; and

transmitting the prepared series of frames, from the server toward the client device, according to the determined transmission mode, for display on the display;

wherein, in accordance with a determination that the video content item is to be displayed in a partial screen format, the transmission mode is a first transmission mode in which the series of frames includes the video content item and a first GUI, and the preparing includes, prior to transmitting the prepared series of frames:

rendering the first GUI according to a previously set screen resolution; and

stitching the video content item into the rendered first GUI, wherein the series of frames includes the video content item as stitched into the rendered first GUI, and wherein a respective frame of the series of frames combines content for the video content item and the rendered first GUI.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program code for preparing further includes program code for, in accordance with a determination that

the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format, and

the client device is not capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item:

transcoding the video content item according to a second transmission mode.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the program code for preparing further includes program code for, in accordance with a determination that:

the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format,

the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and

no image data should be overlaid on the video content item:

repackaging the video content item according to a third transmission mode.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the overlaying image data includes a second GUI, the second GUI includes video playback controls, and the program code for preparing includes program code for, in accordance with a determination that:

the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format,

the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and

the client device is capable of overlaying image data into the video content item:

rendering the second GUI according to a client overlay resolution according to a fourth transmission mode.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the program code for preparing further includes program code for, in accordance with a determination that:

the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format,

the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and

the client device is not capable of overlaying image data into the video content item:

according to a fifth transmission mode:

rendering the second GUI according to a video resolution, video size, and video frame rate;

decoding a portion of the video content item;

blending the rendered second GUI into the decoded portion;

re-encoding the blended portion according to the video encoding format of the video content item.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein, in accordance with a determination that the client device is capable of receiving streaming content in a native format, the transmitting step comprises passing through content that is in the native format.

13. A computer system for providing audiovisual content to a client device configured to be coupled to a display, the computer system comprising:

an application engine for providing a graphical user interface (GUI);

control logic for:

in response to detecting a selection of a graphical element corresponding to a video content item, determining a transmission mode as a function of:

1) one or more decoding capabilities of the client device;

2) a video encoding format of the video content item;

3) whether the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen or a partial screen format; and

4) whether the client device is capable of overlaying image data into a video stream; and

preparing, for transmission according to the determined transmission mode, a series of frames that includes audiovisual data including the video content item;

and

a transmitter for transmitting the prepared series of frames, from the computer system toward the client device, according to the determined transmission mode, for display on the display;

wherein, in accordance with a determination that the video content item is to be displayed in a partial screen format, the transmission mode is a first transmission mode in which the series of frames includes the video content item and a first GUI, and the preparing includes, prior to transmitting the prepared series of frames:

rendering the first GUI according to a previously set screen resolution; and

stitching the video content item into the rendered first GUI, wherein the series of frames includes the video content item as stitched into the rendered first GUI, and wherein a respective frame of the series of frames combines content for the video content item and the rendered first GUI.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising a transcoder configured to, according to a second transmission mode, transcode the video content item, in accordance with a determination that the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format and the client device is not capable of the video encoding format of the video content item.

15. The computer system of claim 14 , further comprising a packager configured to, according to a third transmission mode, repackage the video content item, in accordance with a determination that the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format, the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and no image data is to be overlaid on the video content item.

16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the overlaying image data includes a second GUI, the second GUI includes interface elements, and wherein the application engine is configured to, according to a fourth transmission mode, render the second GUI according to a client overlay resolution, in accordance with a determination that the selected video is to be displayed in a full screen format, the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and the client device is capable of overlaying image data into the video content item.

17. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein, in accordance with a determination that the video content item is to be displayed in a full screen format, the client device is capable of decoding the video encoding format of the video content item, and the client device is not capable of overlaying image data into the video content item, the transmission mode is a fifth transmission mode in which:

the application engine is configured to render the second GUI according to a video resolution, video size, and video frame rate;

the transcoder is configured to decode a portion of the video content item;

a blender is configured to blend the rendered second GUI into the decoded portion;

and

the transcoder is further configured to re-encode the blended portion according to the video encoding format.

18. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein, in accordance with a determination that the client device is capable of receiving streaming content in a native format, the transmitting comprises passing through content that is in the native format.

19. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein operation of a transcoder, a blender, a stitcher, and a packager is optional according to the determined transmission mode.