Systems and methods for video processing in network edge devices

1. A network edge device with video processing capabilities, comprising:

a network interface configured to connect to one or more switch/routers; and

a transcoder configured to receive one or more video streams from the network interface, wherein the one or more video streams are transmitted over a network from the one or more switch/routers to the network edge device in a single high resolution encoding format, wherein the one or more video streams are in the single high resolution encoding format and wherein the transcoder is configured to process each of the one or more video streams based on an encoding format for a client connected to the network edge device, wherein the encoding format for the client is based upon requirements and characteristics of a physical medium to the client thereby reducing the single high resolution encoding format when required to the client based on monitoring the client's requirements and characteristics;

wherein the network comprises an access/aggregation network utilizing layer two functionality and comprising the one or more switch/routers and the network edge device and the network further comprises a core network comprising a server utilizing layer two and three functionality and transmitting the one or more video streams; and

wherein the one or more video streams are transmitted in the single high resolution encoding format in the core network and the access/aggregation network to the network edge device utilizing the transcoder to distribute the one or more video streams to a plurality of clients at different encoding formats and rates; and

wherein the client is configured to request a channel from the one or more video streams, and wherein the transcoder is configured to interpret the request including Session Initiation Protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, Extensible Markup Language Request, a Digital storage media command and control request (DSM-CC), a custom message over Internet Protocol, and an OpenCable Application Platform request, dependent upon the client's requirements and characteristics, and perform transcoding on the channel accordingly.

2. The network edge device of claim 1 , wherein the transcoder is further configured to adapt bandwidth of each of the one or more video streams for the client responsive to current bandwidth between the network edge device and the client.

3. The network edge device of claim 2 , wherein the transcoder is further configured to process multiple channels of the one or more video streams to provide a multiplexed variable bit rate on each of the multiple channels to the client; and

wherein a sum of the multiple channels in the multiplexed variable bit rate is shaped.

4. The network edge device of claim 2 , wherein the transcoder is further configured to adapt processing based on activity of the client.

5. The network edge device of claim 2 , wherein the transcoder is further configured to process the one or more video streams such that transitions in processing of one and more parameters of the encoding format are progressively coded to be imperceptible to the client.

6. The network edge device of claim 2 , wherein the transcoder is further configured to maintain a version of each of the one or more video streams with a start of encoder reference frame so that the start of encoder reference frame can be sent to the client upon joining; and

wherein the transcoder is able to perform a burst after a channel change to refill a buffer.

7. The network edge device of claim 1 , wherein the client connects to the network edge device through a physical medium comprising one of a digital subscriber loop, a coaxial cable connection, a wireless connection, Ethernet switch, Internet Protocol router, and a passive optical network connection.

8. The network edge device of claim 7 , wherein the transcoder performs processing comprising embedding error correction based on the physical medium; and

wherein the transcoder monitors a physical layer forward error correction to meet a target bit error rate when encoding.

9. The network edge device of claim 1 , wherein the transcoder comprises traffic management capabilities with an ability to prioritize requests for retransmitted frames.

10. The network edge device of claim 1 , wherein to process comprises one or more of transcoding, transsizing, transrating, translating/converting, summarizing, reformatting, splicing, generating, testing, and adding to each of the one or more video streams.

11. The network edge device of claim 1 , further comprising memory connected to the transcoder, wherein the memory is configured to store portions of the one or more video streams, and wherein the memory is utilized to provide trick play.

12. The network edge device of claim 11 , wherein the transcoder is configured to retransmit video to the client from the memory as required; and

wherein the memory is utilized for video on demand functionality.

13. The network edge device of claim 1 , wherein to process each of the one or more video streams based on the encoding format comprises transcoding to different encoding levels; and

wherein the transcoder comprises different encoders for a single line with multiple clients.

14. The network edge device of claim 1 ,

wherein the request comprises one or more of bandwidth abilities, set size, decoder feature modes, encryption, and error correction capabilities;

wherein the network edge device is configured to translate the request to the network interface; and

wherein the transcoder comprises encryption key support for encryption and decryption on any of the one or more video streams and the request.

15. The network edge device of claim 14 , wherein the transcoder is configured to receive different signaling formats from the client.

16. The network edge device of claim 11 , wherein the transcoder is configured to perform two or more passes for encoding.

17. The network edge device of claim 11 , wherein the transcoder comprises a graphic processing unit.

18. The network edge device of claim 1 , wherein one of a connection from the transcoder to the client, a connection from the transcoder to the one or more switch/routers, a connection from the one or more switch/routers to a core network, a connection from one of the one or more switch/routers to another one of the more or more switch/routers, and a combination thereof is configured to be tested and monitored with respect to video performance; and

wherein the client comprises one of one end and both ends of the connection at one or more of a forward error correction level, an MPEG level, a real media level, and a packet loss level.

19. The network edge device of claim 10 , wherein the client comprises a set top box, and wherein a plurality of clients comprising set top boxes are configured as a distributed resource for processing the one or more video streams.

20. A method of providing video to a client through a network edge device, comprising:

transmitting one or more video streams each with an encoding format to the network edge device, wherein the encoding format comprises a single high resolution encoding format such that each of the one or more video streams are transmitted over a network to the network edge device in a same format;

receiving a channel request from the client for one video stream of the one or more video streams;

transcoding the one video stream based on available bandwidth to the client, wherein the transcoding is performed at the network edge device based upon current requirements and characteristics of a physical medium to the client thereby reducing the single high resolution encoding format when required to the client based on monitoring the client's requirements and characteristics; and

providing the transcoded video stream to the client;

wherein the network comprises an access/aggregation network utilizing layer two functionality and comprising one or more switch/routers and the network edge device and the network further comprises a core network comprising a server utilizing layer two and three functionality and transmitting the one or more video streams; and

wherein the one or more video streams are transmitted in the single high resolution encoding format in the core network and the access/aggregation network to the network edge device utilizing the transcoder to distribute the one or more video streams to a plurality of clients at different encoding formats and rates; and

wherein the client is configured to request a channel from the one or more video streams, and wherein the transcoder is configured to interpret the request including Session Initiation Protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, Extensible Markup Language Request, a Digital storage media command and control request (DSM-CC), a custom message over Internet Protocol, and an OpenCable Application Platform request, dependent upon the client's requirements and characteristics, and perform transcoding on the channel accordingly.

21. A network with embedded video processing, comprising:

one or more network edge devices in an access/aggregation network utilizing layer two functionality; and

a video source in a core network utilizing layer two and three functionality and connected to the one or more network edge devices through one or more switch/routers, wherein the video source is configured to provide one or more video streams to the one or more network edge devices over the network in a single high resolution encoding format, wherein the one or more video streams are transmitted in the single high resolution encoding format in the core network and the access/aggregation network to the network edge device utilizing a transcoder to distribute the one or more video streams to a plurality of clients at different encoding formats and rates;

wherein the one or more edge devices connect to and monitor bandwidth associated with one or more clients;

wherein the one or more network edge devices are configured to transcode the one or more video streams responsive to current requirements and characteristics of a physical medium to the one or more clients attached to the one or more network edge devices thereby reducing the single high resolution encoding format when required to the one or more clients based on monitoring the one or more clients' requirements and characteristics; and

wherein the client is configured to request a channel from the one or more video streams, and wherein the transcoder is configured to interpret the request including Session Initiation Protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, Extensible Markup Language Request, a Digital storage media command and control request (DSM-CC), a custom message over Internet Protocol, and an OpenCable Application Platform request, dependent upon the client's requirements and characteristics, and perform transcoding on the channel accordingly.

22. The network with embedded video processing of claim 21 , further comprising one or more intermediate network elements connected to the one or more network edge devices;

wherein the one or more intermediate network elements are configured to transcode the one or more video streams responsive to clients attached to the one or more network edge devices.

23. The network with embedded video processing of claim 22 , wherein the one or more network edge devices and the one or more intermediate network elements are configured to participate in a peer-to-peer network and in community computing.