Devices and methods for providing navigation images associated with adaptive bit rate video content

A system, comprising an adaptive bitrate (ABR) player, the ABR player comprising:

• a processor for receiving a streaming ARB video;
• and
• a memory connected to the processor, the memory storing code to cause the processor to perform the following steps:
• receive a top level manifest file for a media asset;
• select a media segment file having a predetermined bitrate from the top level manifest file;
• receive a first collection of thumbnail images corresponding to the media segment file, the first collection of thumbnail images corresponding to images that coarsely represent chapters throughout the duration of the media segment file;
• and
• receive a second collection of thumbnail images corresponding to the media segment file, the second collection of thumbnail images corresponding to images that more finely represent chapters throughout the duration of the media segment file,
• wherein the first collection and second collection of thumbnail images are received at different times;
• wherein the first collection of thumbnail images are used to display for a user to identify video segments for playback when video receive speed is limited and the second collection of thumbnail images is not available;
• and
• wherein the second collection of thumbnail images are used to display for a user to identify video segments for playback when video receive speed is available to create the second collection of thumbnail images;
• receive a third collection of thumbnail images corresponding to the media segment file, the third collection of thumbnail images corresponding to images that more finely represent chapters throughout the duration of the media segment file;
• wherein the first and second collections of thumbnail images are provided for display to the user when bandwidth is not sufficient to allow the third collection of thumbnail images to be created;
• and
• use the third collection of thumbnail images to display for a user to identify video segments for playback when video receive speed is sufficient to allow all of the first, second and third collections of thumbnail images.