Patent ID: 6674796
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for encoding and multiplexing a plurality of original resolution video signals having mutually independent timing into a single multiplexed bit stream, comprising the steps of:(a) scaling each original resolution video signal of said plurality of original resolution video signals to produce a plurality of scaled video signals, where each scaled video signal of said plurality of scaled video signals is a reduced resolution version of a corresponding original resolution video signal of said plurality of video signals from which said respective scaled video signal was produced by scaling, (b) processing each scaled video signal of said plurality of scaled video signals to gather a priori statistics from said respective scaled video signal; (c) statistically allocating a first bit rate to each original resolution video signal of said plurality of original resolution video signals based on said gathered a priori statistics, wherein said first bit rate allocated to each particular original resolution video signal is generated from said a priori statistics gathered for said corresponding scaled video signal that is a reduced resolution version thereof, (d) independently encoding each original resolution video signal of said plurality of original resolution video signals at said respective original resolution to produce a corresponding compressed video bit stream depending on said allocated first bit rate, and (e) combining each of said compressed video bit streams into a multiplexed bit stream.