System and method for optimized delivery of live ABR media

1. A method for providing live adaptive bitrate (ABR) video to a client device using a multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy, comprising:

responsive to the client device tuning to a channel or requesting a change in profile for the channel, the multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy requesting from a distribution server a burst of video fragments for the channel using a selected profile, the burst of video fragments to be delivered via unicast;

the multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy receiving the burst of video fragments and an aggregate manifest from the distribution server at a first rate that is a configurable percentage of a bitrate for receiving real-time multicast, wherein the multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy sets a period of the aggregate manifest to a value according to when it is anticipated to have a new fragment re-assembled from the burst of video fragments and repeats generation of new profile manifests with fragments listed in each profile manifest until all fragments listed in the aggregate manifest are available, wherein the aggregate manifest includes information for two or more profiles available via multicast;

the multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy providing video for the channel from the burst of video fragments to the client device via unicast using the selected profile;

responsive to the burst of video fragments being completed, the multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy requesting to join a multicast for the channel, the multicast using the selected profile; and

the multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy providing video for the channel from the multicast video fragments to the client device via unicast using the selected profile.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy checking for discontinuities in a sequence of RTP packets and requesting any missing RTP packets from the distribution server.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising after completion of the burst of video fragments, receiving additional unicast video fragments from the distribution server buffer at a second rate that is lower than the rate for multicast.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising responsive to the multicast join being effectuated, instructing the distribution server to stop sending video fragments via unicast burst.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein responsive to the client device requesting a change in profile, starting the burst of video fragments at a starting point indicated in the request for the profile change.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the client device is operating at a premises in a managed network, and wherein the multicast-to-ABR proxy is at the premises.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a first manifest to the client device via unicast using the selected profile, wherein providing the first manifest includes setting the first manifest to have a first validity period; and

providing a second manifest, that is based on the aggregate manifest, to the client device via unicast using the selected profile, wherein providing the second manifest includes setting the second manifest to have a second validity period, wherein the second validity period is larger than the first validity period.

8. A multicast-to-unicast adaptive bitrate (ABR) proxy (M2AP) for providing live ABR video to a client device, comprising:

an ABR manager that is configured, responsive to a client device tuning to a channel or requesting a change in profile for the channel, to request from a distribution server a first burst of video fragments for the channel using a first profile, the first burst of video fragments to be delivered via unicast;

a multicast receiver that is configured:

to receive the first burst of video fragments and an aggregate manifest from the distribution server, the first burst of video fragments received at a first rate that is a configurable percentage of a bitrate for receiving real-time multicast, wherein the multicast-to-unicast-ABR proxy sets a period of the aggregate manifest to a value according to when it is anticipated to have a new fragment re-assembled from the burst of video fragments and repeat generation of new profile manifest with fragments listed in each profile manifest until all fragments listed in the aggregate manifest are available, wherein the aggregate manifest includes information for two or more profiles available via multicast;

responsive to the first burst of video fragments being completed, to request to join a first multicast for the channel, the first multicast using the first profile; and

an output interface that is configured, responsive to receiving the first burst of video fragments, to provide video for the channel from the burst of video fragments to the client device via unicast using the first profile and further configured, responsive to receiving the multicast video fragments, to provide video for the channel from the multicast video fragments to the client device via unicast using the first profile.

9. The M2AP as recited in claim 8 further comprising RTP packet validation that is configured to check for discontinuities in a sequence of RTP packets and to request any missing RTP packets from the distribution server.

10. The M2AP as recited in claim 9 wherein the ABR manager is configured, after completion of the first burst of video fragments, to receive additional unicast video fragments at a second rate that is lower than the rate for real-time multicast.

11. The M2AP as recited in claim 10 wherein the ABR manager is configured, responsive to the first multicast join being effectuated, to instruct the distribution server to stop sending video fragments via unicast burst.

12. The M2AP as recited in claim 11 wherein the ABR manager is configured, responsive to the client device requesting a change in profile, to indicate a starting point for the first burst of video fragments in the request for the first burst of video fragments.

13. The M2AP as recited in claim 8 , wherein the client device is operating at a premises in a managed network, and wherein the M2AP is at the premises.

14. The M2AP as recited in claim 8 wherein the ABR manager is further configured:

to provide a first manifest to the client device via unicast using the selected profile, wherein providing the first manifest includes setting the first manifest to have a first validity period; and

to provide a second manifest, that is based on the aggregate manifest, to the client device via unicast using the selected profile, wherein providing the second manifest includes setting the second manifest to have a second validity period, wherein the second validity period is larger than the first validity period.