Patent ID: 8064514

Claim:
A videoconferencing unit, comprising: a first encoder encoding a first video stream and generating first variables indicating changes occurring in the first video stream; a second encoder encoding a second video stream and generating second variables indicating changes occurring in the second video stream; and a controller operatively coupled to the first and second encoders and configured to: compare the first and second variables from the first and second encoders, determine first and second bit rates for the first and second encoders based on the comparison, set the first and second encoders to the first and second determined bit rates respectively, and repeatedly adjust the first and second bit rates for the first and second encoders, wherein to repeatedly adjust the first and second bit rates, the controller is configured to: calculate a difference between the first and second variables, adjust the first and second bit rates at a first of at least two fixed intervals of time when the difference is less than a first of at least two predetermined values, and adjust the first and second bit rates at a second of the at least two fixed intervals of time when the difference is greater than a second of the at least two predetermined values.