Embedding video content in portable document format files

1. A data processing system for producing video-embedded PDF files from an input video file having a file size and a playback length, the system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory including one or more digital storage devices;

a plurality of instructions stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to:

reduce the file size of the input video file while maintaining the playback length of the input video file;

convert the input video file to a standard video format;

wherein converting the input video file includes:

using a first video converter tool to convert the input video file to a selected video format and storing a resulting video file as a first temporary video file in the memory; and

wherein reducing a file size of the input video file includes:

comparing a file size of the first temporary video file to a preselected threshold, and, in response to the file size being greater than the preselected threshold, reducing a video bit rate of the first temporary video file using a second video converter tool, and

storing a resulting file as a second temporary video file in the memory; and

producing an output PDF file that is readable by a PDF reader program, wherein the output PDF file includes contents of the input PDF file, and the second temporary video file is embedded in the output PDF file and is playable within the PDF reader program and satisfies a maximum file size limit.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 for producing video-embedded PDF files from the input video file, wherein the input video file further defines a bit rate, wherein the file size of the input video file is reduced by selecting a lower bit rate for the input video file.

3. The data processing system of claim 1 for producing video-embedded PDF files from the input video file, wherein the input video file further defines a resolution, wherein the file size of the input video file is reduced by selecting a lower resolution for the input video file.

4. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the first video converter tool and the second video converter tool are included in a single software program.

5. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the preselected threshold is less than approximately 15 megabytes.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 , wherein the preselected threshold is approximately 10 megabytes.

7. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein producing the output PDF file includes embedding the second temporary video file in the output PDF file as a media annotation.

8. The data processing system of claim 7 , wherein the second temporary video file is embedded using one or more libraries of precompiled PDF-related routines.

9. The data processing system of claim 7 , wherein display settings of the media annotation are selected according to user input.

10. A data processing system for producing video-embedded PDF files from an input video file having a file size and a playback length, the system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory including one or more digital storage devices;

a plurality of instructions stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to:

determine an audio bit rate of the input video file stored in the memory,

select a new audio bit rate based on the audio bit rate of the input video file, and

convert the input video file to have the new audio bit rate,

reduce the file size of the input video file while maintaining the playback length of the input video file;

convert the input video file to a standard video format;

embed the input video file in an input Portable Document Format (PDF) file; and

produce an output PDF file that is readable by a PDF reader program, includes embedded video that is playable within the PDF reader program, and satisfies a maximum file size limit, wherein converting the input video file includes storing a resulting video file as a first temporary video file in the memory; and

wherein reducing the file size of the input video file includes:

comparing a file size of the first temporary video file to a preselected threshold size,

in response to the file size of the first temporary video file being greater than the preselected threshold size, modifying a video bit rate of the first temporary video file and storing a resulting video file as a second temporary video file in the memory,

comparing a file size of the second temporary video file to the preselected threshold size,

in response to the file size of the second temporary video file being greater than the preselected threshold size, comparing the file size of the first temporary video file to the file size of the second temporary video file, and

selecting a smaller video file of the first temporary video file and the second temporary video file; and

wherein the output PDF file includes contents of the input PDF file, and the selected smaller video file is embedded in the output PDF file.

11. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein producing the output PDF file includes embedding the selected smaller video file in the output PDF file as a media annotation.

12. The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein the selected smaller video file is embedded using one or more libraries of precompiled PDF-related routines.

13. The data processing system of claim 11 , wherein display settings of the media annotation are selected according to user input.

14. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the new audio bit rate is selected from a closed set of audio bit rates.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 , wherein each audio bit rate of the closed set of audio bit rates conforms to a respective audio standard.

16. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the preselected threshold size is less than approximately 15 megabytes.

17. The data processing system of claim 16 , wherein the preselected threshold size is approximately 10 megabytes.

18. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the maximum file size limit is approximately 15 megabytes.

19. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the standard video format is MPEG-1.

20. The data processing system of claim 10 for producing video-embedded PDF files from the input video file, wherein the input video file further defines a bit rate, wherein the file size of the input video file is reduced by reducing the bit rate by a process selected from the group consisting of sample rate conversion, intraframe compression, transcoding, and transrating.