How to Automatically Mix Live and Recorded Video for Online Streaming
This patent describes a system for dynamically creating and updating a playlist for a live media stream that seamlessly combines both real-time video feeds and pre-recorded content based on a schedule and specific triggers.
Original patent title: “Publishing disparate live media output streams in mixed mode”
This patent describes a system for dynamically creating and updating a playlist for a live media stream that seamlessly combines both real-time video feeds and pre-recorded content based on a schedule and specific triggers. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The system generates a 'disparate live media output stream manifest,' which acts like a dynamic playlist for a mixed media broadcast. This manifest is built using a 'programming schedule,' an 'additional parameter,' and an initial content source, which can be either a 'live input stream manifest' (for real-time video) or a 'pre-encoded media asset manifest' (for pre-recorded video). Based on a 'first transition' or a 'second transition,' the system inserts new content, whether live or pre-recorded, into this output manifest. It then 'switches' the currently playing media to the newly inserted content and 'modifies' the manifest to reflect this change. For example, a streaming service could schedule a live sports event, then transition to a pre-recorded highlight reel, and then back to a live post-game analysis, all managed automatically by this system.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that only play pre-recorded content without mixing live streams.
- Does not cover systems that only broadcast a single continuous live stream without inserting pre-recorded assets.
- Does not cover manual switching between content without a manifest-driven system.
- Does not cover systems that do not modify the manifest to reflect content changes.
- Does not cover mixing non-media data streams, focusing specifically on 'media output stream'.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the dynamic generation and continuous modification of a single output stream manifest that seamlessly integrates both 'disparate' live and pre-encoded media assets. This process is driven by scheduled 'transitions' and 'additional parameters,' allowing for complex, automated programming that adapts in real-time.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Virtual TV channels on streaming platforms
Online news broadcasts mixing live reports and pre-recorded segments
Live event streaming with pre-roll and mid-roll content insertion
Hybrid online learning platforms combining live lectures with recorded modules
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is crucial for modern online broadcasting, allowing platforms to create flexible, TV-like channels that combine real-time events with on-demand content. It enables dynamic programming schedules for streaming services and virtual channels, offering a more engaging and varied viewing experience. This automation reduces the need for constant manual intervention in live production.
Filed
January 17, 2025
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud, along with specialized media technology companies such as Harmonic and Synamedia, are actively developing and deploying solutions for dynamic content assembly and delivery in live streaming environments. These companies provide the infrastructure and tools necessary for broadcasters to implement such mixed-mode streaming.
Market impact
This technology supports the growth of virtual linear channels and ad-supported streaming services (FAST channels), which mimic traditional linear TV but are delivered over the internet. It allows content providers to automate complex programming schedules, blending live events with a vast library of on-demand content, thereby increasing viewer engagement and monetization opportunities through dynamic ad insertion.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The system generates a 'disparate live media output stream manifest,' which acts like a dynamic playlist for a mixed media broadcast. This manifest is built using a 'programming schedule,' an 'additional parameter,' and an initial content source, which can be either a 'live input stream manifest' (for real-time video) or a 'pre-encoded media asset manifest' (for pre-recorded video). Based on a 'first transition' or a 'second transition,' the system inserts new content, whether live or pre-recorded, into this output manifest. It then 'switches' the currently playing media to the newly inserted content and 'modifies' the manifest to reflect this change. For example, a streaming service could schedule a live sports event, then transition to a pre-recorded highlight reel, and then back to a live post-game analysis, all managed automatically by this system.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the dynamic generation and continuous modification of a single output stream manifest that seamlessly integrates both 'disparate' live and pre-encoded media assets. This process is driven by scheduled 'transitions' and 'additional parameters,' allowing for complex, automated programming that adapts in real-time.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that only play pre-recorded content without mixing live streams.
- Does not cover systems that only broadcast a single continuous live stream without inserting pre-recorded assets.
- Does not cover manual switching between content without a manifest-driven system.
- Does not cover systems that do not modify the manifest to reflect content changes.
- Does not cover mixing non-media data streams, focusing specifically on 'media output stream'.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$17K – $54K
Midpoint $34K · 18.3 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How to Automatically Mix Live and Recorded Video for Online Streaming (U.S. Patent No. 12,739,460). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12739460/publishing-disparate-live-media-output-streams-in-mixed-mode
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Automatically Mix Live and Recorded Video for Online Streaming cover?
This patent describes a system for dynamically creating and updating a playlist for a live media stream that seamlessly combines both real-time video feeds and pre-recorded content based on a schedule and specific triggers.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is crucial for modern online broadcasting, allowing platforms to create flexible, TV-like channels that combine real-time events with on-demand content. It enables dynamic programming schedules for streaming services and virtual channels, offering a more engaging and varied viewing experience. This automation reduces the need for constant manual intervention in live production.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that only play pre-recorded content without mixing live streams.
Patent monitoring