Video coding for multiple target audiences
Alan Lippman · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1998
We explain some of the mechanisms used by the SureStreamTM method in RealSystemTMG2 software for streaming video over the Internet. We focus on the dynamic behavior of the system under changing Internet bandwidth conditions. Our approach measures available bandwidth and switches between separate (non-layered) video encodings to match the channel capacity. The choice of bitrates, appropriate rate control methods, and details of switching between each bitrate will be the main topics of this paper. Our goal is to present one approach to this problem and the rationale behind some of the decisions we made, in the hopes of encouraging progress in the development of the best possible video streaming experience over the Internet. To avoid complexity we have left out discussion of audio and the interaction between audio streaming and video streaming.