Method for media stream processing and apparatus for implementing the same

A method for encoding video data comprising a sequence of images, the method comprising:

• encoding a first image of the sequence of images to generate an encoded first image;
• based on that the first image was encoded using one or more previously encoded images of the sequence, encoding the first image as an I-type encoded image;
• generating a media data chunk that comprises the encoded first image;
• and
• generating a bootstrapping file that comprises a sequence of one or more images, wherein based on that the first image was encoded using one or more previously encoded images of the sequence, the bootstrapping file starts with the I-type encoded image, and otherwise starts with the encoded first image.

An apparatus, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform a method for processing a media content stream comprising, at a media distribution unit of a video distribution network, the media distribution unit comprising a processor and a memory for storing media data, wherein the memory is configured to store one or more media data chunks of the media content stream received by the media distribution unit, and wherein the memory is further configured to store one or more bootstrapping files respectively corresponding to the one or more media data chunks, each of the one or more bootstrapping files comprising a respective sequence of one or more images starting with an I-type encoded image:

• upon receiving a request for a media data segment of the media content stream, determining a media data chunk of the one or more media data chunks that corresponds to the segment and is available for distribution;
• determining a bootstrapping file of the one or more bootstrapping files that corresponds to the media data chunk, wherein the I-type image of the bootstrapping file corresponds to an image of a media data chunk that precedes the media data chunk in the media data segment;
• generating a response media data chunk by combining the media data chunk and the bootstrapping file;
• and serving the request based on the response media data chunk.