Patent ID: 7533398

Claim:
A method for selecting encoding parameters for the transmission of media objects from a processing device over a communications network, the method comprising the steps of: determining a play duration value for a media object to be transmitted over the communications network; determining a bandwidth value for transmitting said media object over the communications network; receiving a first input indicative on a deadline time value in which said media object must be transmitted over the communications network; calculating a plurality of encoding time values, each reflective of the time to encode said media object using one of a plurality of resolution and frame rate combinations; calculating a plurality of bit rates, each corresponding to one of said plurality of encoding time values, using said play duration value, said bandwidth value and said deadline time value; receiving a second input indicative of a selection of one of said plurality of bit rates, wherein said media object is transmitted over the communications network using one of said plurality of resolution and frame rate combinations corresponding to said selected bit rate; accessing a data store containing a plurality of historical encode time values, each corresponding to one of said plurality of resolution and frame rate combinations; and calculating each of said plurality of encoding time values using the equation: T h *D; wherein T h is one of said plurality of historical encode time values corresponding to one of said plurality of resolution and frame rate combinations; and D is said play duration value.