Patent ID: 7075987

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a first plurality of groups of pictures (GOPs); estimating a first amount of motion in the plurality of GOPs; selecting a GOP from the plurality of GOPs; estimating a second amount of motion in the selected GOP; and setting a first number of bits to represent the selected GOP based at least in part upon the first estimation of motion and the second estimation of motion; and wherein setting the first number of bits includes: assigning a second number of bits to represent the plurality of groups of pictures (GOPs), and allocating a first portion of the second number of bits to the selected GOP based at least in part upon the second amount of motion in the selected GOP; and wherein allocating the first portion of bits includes: determining a first ratio of motion between the estimated second amount of motion to the first estimated amount of motion and setting the first number of bits based, at least in part, upon the first ratio of motion.