Systems and methods for sharing encoder output
Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for sharing encoder output of video streams. In a particular embodiment, a method provides determining video profiles for each of a plurality of devices. The method further provides determining if two or more of the video profiles are similar by determining if parameters associated with each video profile differ by less than a threshold value. The method further provides transmitting a video stream encoded in a single format to the devices if they have similar profiles and transmitting video streams encoded in different formats to the devices if they do not have similar profiles.
1. A method of sharing encoded video comprising:
determining a video profile for each of a plurality of receiving devices capable of receiving transmitted video streams, wherein each video profile includes a set of video formats which the receiving device associated with the video profile is capable of receiving and processing and a set of other parameters, wherein the set of other parameters further define the video receiving capabilities of the receiving device associated with the video profile;
determining if two or more of the plurality of receiving devices are capable of receiving video in the same format based on each receiving devices' video profile;
determining if the two or more of the plurality of receiving devices capable of receiving video in the same format are similar by determining if the set of other parameters associated with each receiving devices' video profile differ by less than a threshold value;
transmitting a first video stream encoded by a codec in a first format to each of the two or more of the plurality of receiving devices if they are determined to have similar profiles; and
transmitting simultaneously the first video stream and at least a second video stream encoded simultaneously by the codec in different formats to the receiving devices if they do not have similar profiles.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a video output module determines the video profiles associated with each of the plurality of devices based on receiving profile information from each of the plurality of devices.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a video output module determines the video profiles associated with each of the plurality of devices based on information contained in the video output module for each of the plurality of devices.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a video encoder determines the video profiles associated with each of the plurality of devices based on receiving profile information from each of the plurality of devices.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a video encoder determines the video profiles associated with each of the plurality of devices based on information contained in the video encoder for each of the plurality of devices.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising specifying the set of other parameters within each video format.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the set of other parameters are selected from the group consisting of at least one of: bit rate, frame rate, and image resolution.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the set of other parameters vary within each video format.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video format is selected from the group consisting of: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-7, MPEG-21, H.264, DV, MiniDV, DVCAM, DVCPRO, DVCPR050, DVCPRO HD, HDV, DVD, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, HD-VMD, CH-DVD, HDTV, 1080i, 1080p, Flash, Quicktime, RealMedia, VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, S-VHS-C, D-VHS, Windows Media, 8 mm, Video8, Hi8, Digital8, Beta, Betamax, Betacam, Betacam SP, Betacam SX, Digital Betacam, 3GP, and 3G2.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is set to a predetermined percentage of difference.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is set to a predetermined absolute difference.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is a comparison of different thresholds for multiple parameters.
13. A method of sharing encoded video comprising:
determining a video profile for each of a plurality of receiving devices capable of receiving transmitted video streams, wherein each video profile includes a set of video formats which the receiving device associated with the video profile is capable of receiving and processing and a set of other parameters, wherein the set of other parameters further define the video receiving capabilities of the receiving device associated with the video profile;
determining if two or more of the plurality of receiving devices are capable of receiving video in the same format based on each receiving devices' video profile;
determining if the two or more of the plurality of receiving devices capable of receiving video in the same format are similar by determining if the set of other parameters associated with each receiving devices' video profile differ by less than a threshold value;
transmitting a first video stream encoded by a codec in a first format to each of the two or more of the plurality of receiving devices if they are determined to have similar profiles;
transmitting simultaneously the first video stream and at least a second video stream encoded simultaneously by the codec in different formats to the receiving devices if they do not have similar profiles
monitoring power consumption and temperature during the transmitting; and
modifying an encoding rate of the codec if the power consumption and/or temperature are above an accepted range.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monitored power consumption is that of the system as a whole.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monitored power consumption is that of the codec.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monitored temperature is that of the codec.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the encoding rate comprises a frame rate, a bit rate, and an image resolution for each video stream.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the modification of the encoding rate reduces the frame rate.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the modification of the encoding rate reduces the resolution.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the modification of the encoding rate reduces the resolution.
21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the modification of the encoding rate is applied to all video streams.
22. The method of claim 13 , wherein the modification of the encoding rate is applied to the first video streams.
23. The method of claim 13 , further comprising after the encoding rate has been modified, modifying the encoding rate to the original encoding rate.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the original encoding rate is resumed after a predetermined amount of time.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the original encoding rate is resumed after a command by the user.