Method and system for content delivery

An apparatus for providing video content, comprising a processor configured to control the apparatus to at least:

• receive a request for access to a reference file from a data network-connected device including a native player, the reference file having a video content container file configured to be compatible with and executable by the native player, the reference file also including a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data linking to a content data file at a designated content source, the content data file including at least header data and content data, and the linking data linking only to at least a portion of the content data within the content data file;
• determine whether the content data file is in a format compatible with the native player;
• generate the reference file in response to the request and, if the format of the content data file is incompatible with the native player, generate the reference file to have a translated video structure compatible with the native player, and wherein the linking data is linked to codec-encoded data of the content data file and is compatible with the translated video structure;
• and
• provide, in response to the request, access to the reference file by the data network-connected device, wherein actuation of the play control parameter values from the reference file, via associated play control commands on the data network-connected device, directs the native player to execute the video content container file and acquire the at least a portion of content data from the designated content source over a data network in accordance with the linking data, and to play the at least a portion of the content data acquired from the designated content source, via execution of the video content container file by the native player, as directed by the play control commands.

A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon for providing video content, the computer program code comprising:

• program code for receiving a request for access to a reference file from a data network-connected device including a native player, the reference file having a video content container file configured to be compatible with and executable by the native player, the reference file also including a plurality of player control parameter values and linking data linking to a content data file at a designated content source, the content data file including at least header data and content data, and the linking data linking only to at least a portion of the content data within the content data file;
• program code for determining whether the video content data file is in a format compatible with the native player;
• program code for generating the reference file in response to the request and, if the format of the content data file is incompatible with the native player, program code for generating the reference file to have a translated video structure compatible with the native player, and wherein the linking data is linked to codec-encoded data of the content data file and is compatible with the translated video structure;
• and
• program code for providing, in response to the request, access to the reference file by the data network-connected device, wherein actuation of the play control parameter values from the reference file, via associated play control commands on the data network-connected device, directs the native player to execute the video content container file and acquire the at least a portion of content data from the designated content source over a data network in accordance with the linking data, and to play the at least a portion of the content data acquired from the designated content source, via execution of the video content container file by the native player, as directed by the play control commands.