Adaptive bit-rate methods for live broadcasting

A method comprising:

• communicating a first distribution layer of a live media stream to a client device, wherein the first distribution layer includes a first set of key frames and, for each of a plurality of key frames in the first set of key frames, a first set of delta frames succeeding the key frame until a next key frame in the first set of key frames;
• and
• communicating a second distribution layer of the live media stream to the client device, the second distribution layer including a second set of key frames and, for each key frame in the second set of key frames, a second set of delta frames succeeding the key frame, wherein the second set of key frames contains fewer key frames than the first set of key frames;
• wherein the second distribution layer enables the client device to maintain continuity of the live media stream by switching from rendering one of the first sets of delta frames of the first distribution layer to rendering the second distribution layer beginning at a selected key frame in the second set of key frames and continuing to the second set of delta frames that follows the selected key frame.

A device for streaming live media content, the device comprising:

• a memory that includes instructions for maintaining continuity of a live media stream, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
• communicate a first distribution layer of a live media stream to a client device, wherein the first distribution layer includes a first set of key frames and, for each of a plurality of key frames in the first set of key frames, a first set of delta frames succeeding the key frame until a next key frame in the first set of key frames;
• and
• communicate a second distribution layer of the live media stream to the client device, the second distribution layer including a second set of key frames and, for each key frame in the second set of key frames, a second set of delta frames succeeding the key frame, wherein the second set of key frames contains fewer key frames than the first set of key frames;
• wherein the second distribution layer enables the client device to maintain continuity of the live media stream by switching from rendering one of the first sets of delta frames of the first distribution layer to rendering the second distribution layer beginning at a selected key frame in the second set of key frames and continuing to the second set of delta frames that follows the selected key frame.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to:

• communicate a first distribution layer of a live media stream to a client device, wherein the first distribution layer includes a first set of key frames and, for each of a plurality of key frames in the first set of key frames, a first set of delta frames succeeding the key frame until a next key frame in the first set of key frames;
• and
• communicate a second distribution layer of the live media stream to the client device, the second distribution layer including a second set of key frames and, for each key frame in the second set of key frames, a second set of delta frames succeeding the key frame, wherein the second set of key frames contains fewer key frames than the first set of key frames;
• wherein the second distribution layer enables the client device to maintain continuity of the live media stream by switching from rendering one of the first sets of delta frames of the first distribution layer to rendering the second distribution layer beginning at a selected key frame in the second set of key frames and continuing to the second set of delta frames that follows the selected key frame.