Systems and methods for selecting an initial streaming bitrate

1. A method of encoding segments of a media stream provided from an encoding system to a remotely-located client that is associated with an identifier, the method comprising:

establishing a data connection between the encoding system and the client via a network;

determining if historical bit rate data is available based upon the identifier associated with the client;

encoding a first portion of the media stream at an initial encoding quality, wherein the initial encoding quality is set based upon the historical bit rate data if the historical bit rate data is available for the identifier associated with the client, and otherwise set based upon a default value;

storing the first portion of the media stream in a buffer until the first portion is transmitted to the client via the data connection; and

adjusting the encoding quality of subsequent portions of the media stream based upon a buffer utilization breaching one of a set of watermarks, wherein each watermark is indicative of a transition point between states of a set of states each representing different levels of the buffer utilization.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying the set of watermarks to include adjustments within each state of the set of states configured with the buffer based upon actual measured and observed values of an encoder rate, the available buffer space and segment transmit time.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

adjusting the encoder rate based upon an amount of available buffer space that is tailored to an actual condition based on each state of the buffer rather than adjusting the encoder rate in accordance with a pre-determined amount that is empirically determined at a different time.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing the initial encoding quality in association with the identifier of the client for use as historical bit rate data during a future media streaming session with the same client.

5. A media encoding system for providing a media stream to a client over a network, the media encoding system comprising a processor and a non-transitory data storage comprising a buffer, wherein the processor is configured to perform an automated process comprising:

establishing a data connection between the media encoding system and the client via the network;

determining if historical bit rate data is available based upon the identifier associated with the client;

encoding a first portion of the media stream at an initial encoding quality, wherein the initial encoding quality is set based upon the historical bit rate data if the historical bit rate data is available for the identifier associated with the client, and otherwise set based upon a default value;

storing the first portion of the media stream in a buffer until the first portion is transmitted to the client via the data connection; and

adjusting the encoding quality of subsequent portions of the media stream based upon a buffer utilization breaching one of a set of watermarks, wherein each watermark is indicative of a transition point between states of a set of states each representing different levels of the buffer utilization.

6. The media encoding system of claim 5 wherein the automated process further comprises:

applying the set of watermarks to include adjustments within each state of the set of states configured with the buffer based upon actual measured and observed values of an encoder rate, the available buffer space and segment transmit time.

7. The media encoding system of claim 6 , wherein the automated process further comprises:

adjusting the encoder rate based upon an amount of available buffer space that is tailored to an actual condition based on each state of the buffer rather than adjusting the encoder rate in accordance with a pre-determined amount that is empirically determined at a different time.

8. The media encoding system of claim 7 wherein the automated process further comprises storing the initial encoding quality in association with the identifier of the client for use as historical bit rate data during a future media streaming session with the same client.

9. A video encoder device configured to supply a media stream to a remotely-located client device associated with an identifier via a network, the video encoder device comprising:

an interface to the network;

a data storage configured as a buffer; and

a processor configured to perform an automated process comprising:

establishing a data connection between the encoding system and the client via the interface;

determining if historical bit rate data is available based upon the identifier associated with the client;

encoding a first portion of the media stream at an initial encoding quality, wherein the initial encoding quality is set based upon the historical bit rate data if the historical bit rate data is available for the identifier associated with the client, and otherwise set based upon a default value;

storing the first portion of the media stream in a buffer until the first portion is transmitted to the client via the data connection; and

adjusting the encoding quality of subsequent portions of the media stream based upon a buffer utilization breaching one of a set of watermarks, wherein each watermark is indicative of a transition point between states of a set of states each representing different levels of the buffer utilization.

10. The video encoder device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to store the initial encoding quality in association with the identifier of the client for use as historical bit rate data during a future media streaming session with the same client.