Patent ID: 8396114

Claim:
A method of processing input video for variable bit rate encoding of segmented compressed video streams for multi bit rate video streaming, the method comprising: receiving input of raw video content to be encoded for multi bit rate video streaming; encoding the raw video content in segments comprising groups of pictures as a plurality of compressed video streams ranging in video quality from a top video stream to a bottom video stream, wherein said encoding comprises: for the top video stream, encoding the raw video content at a variable bit rate subject to peak bit rate and average bit rate constraints; for the bottom video stream, encoding the raw video content at a constant chunk rate, wherein the constant chunk rate is a constant number of pictures per unit time; and producing an encoded set of the video streams segmented into the groups of pictures; said encoding the raw video content further comprises, for one or more intermediate video streams, encoding the raw video content at a variable bit rate, wherein the peak bit rate and average bit rate constraints of the top video stream and intermediate video streams decrease progressively.