Live streaming media content using on-demand manifests

A system comprising:

• one or more processors and memory configured to:
• generate first manifest data for a live stream of media content, the first manifest data indicating fragments of the live stream of the media content available for playback within a first manifest time period representing a static time duration of playback of the fragments, the first manifest data having an initial fragment with a time code representing zero, the initial fragment of the first manifest data corresponding to a live stream fragment with a non-zero time code in a playback timeline of the live stream;
• provide the first manifest data to a first viewer device;
• receive a first request from the first viewer device for a fragment represented in the first manifest data, the first request indicating a first fragment time corresponding to the fragment indicated in the first request and within the first manifest time period;
• determine that the first viewer device is playing back the live stream using the first manifest data;
• determine a static time offset to the first fragment time based on determining that the first viewer device is playing back the live stream using the first manifest data;
• determine a first live stream fragment time within the playback timeline of the live stream based on the first fragment time within the first manifest time period based in part on adding the static time offset to the first fragment time;
• provide a first live stream fragment to the first viewer device, the first live stream fragment corresponding to the first live stream fragment time;
• receive a subsequent request from the first viewer device for a subsequent fragment represented in the first manifest data, the subsequent request indicating a subsequent fragment time corresponding to the subsequent fragment indicated in the subsequent request and within the first manifest time period, wherein the first fragment time and the subsequent fragment time correspond to different times within the first manifest time period;
• determine a subsequent live stream fragment time within the playback timeline of the live stream based on the subsequent fragment time within the first manifest time period based in part on adding the static time offset to the subsequent fragment time;
• and
• provide a subsequent live stream fragment to the first viewer device, the subsequent live stream fragment corresponding to the subsequent live stream fragment time.

A computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer instructions stored therein, the computer program instructions being configured such that, when executed by one or more computing devices, the computer program instructions cause the one or more computing devices to:

• generate first manifest data for a live stream of media content, the first manifest data indicating fragments of the live stream of the media content available for playback within a first manifest time period representing a static time duration of playback of the fragments, the first manifest data having an initial fragment with a time code representing zero, the initial fragment of the first manifest data corresponding to a live stream fragment with a non-zero time code in a playback timeline of the live stream;
• provide the first manifest data to a first viewer device;
• receive a first request from the first viewer device for a fragment represented in the first manifest data, the first request indicating a first fragment time corresponding to the fragment indicated in the first request and within the first manifest time period;
• determine that the first viewer device is playing back the live stream using the first manifest data;
• determine a static time offset to the first fragment time based on determining that the first viewer device is playing back the live stream using the first manifest data;
• determine a first live stream fragment time within the playback timeline of the live stream based on the first fragment time within the first manifest time period based in part on adding the static time offset to the first fragment time;
• provide a first live stream fragment to the first viewer device, the first live stream fragment corresponding to the first live stream fragment time;
• receive a subsequent request from the first viewer device for a subsequent fragment represented in the first manifest data, the subsequent request indicating a subsequent fragment time corresponding to the subsequent fragment indicated in the subsequent request and within the first manifest time period, wherein the first fragment time and the subsequent fragment time correspond to different times within the first manifest time period;
• determine a subsequent live stream fragment time within the playback timeline of the live stream based on the subsequent fragment time within the first manifest time period based in part on adding the static time offset to the subsequent fragment time;
• and
• provide a subsequent live stream fragment to the first viewer device, the subsequent live stream fragment corresponding to the subsequent live stream fragment time.