Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for predictive frame selection supporting enhanced efficiency and subjective quality. The apparatus includes an encoder for encoding a picture using a selection scheme that selects between encoding the picture as a single direction inter predictive picture type and a bi-directional inter predictive picture type based on coding efficiency and a determination of a flickering artifact resulting from coding the picture as the bi-directional inter predictive picture type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding video is provided. A pre-analysis processor processes unencoded video data formed from a series of video pictures into respective video segments. An allocation processor allocates a first encoding time budget to a respective video segment respective video segment based on a size of the respective segment a target frame rate for the respective video segment, a second encoding time budget to individual pictures that form the respective video segment based on a picture-level complexity value and a type of picture, the second time budget for all individual pictures being substantially equal to the first time budget, and a third encoding time budget to individual blocks that form respective ones of the individual pictures based on a coding mode for the individual block and a block complexity value, the third time budget for all blocks being substantially equal to the second time budget for the respective individual picture that includes the blocks.

Abstract: At least one implementation provides a transcoder for merging two AVC (including, for example, the SVC annex) bitstreams. Various implementations provide advantages such as, for example, avoiding full decoding of at least one bitstream and/or avoiding motion compensation during the coding of an enhancement layer block. One particular implementation includes accessing a first and a second AVC encoding of a sequence of data. The second AVC encoding differs from the first AVC encoding in quality. The particular implementation further includes merging the first AVC encoding and the second AVC encoding into a third AVC encoding that uses the SVC extension of AVC. The merging is performed such that the first and second AVC encodings occupy different layers, and the first layer is a reference layer for the second layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for predictive frame selection supporting enhanced efficiency and subjective quality. The apparatus includes an encoder for encoding a picture using a selection scheme that selects between encoding the picture as a single direction inter predictive picture type and a bi-directional inter predictive picture type based on coding efficiency and a determination of a flickering artifact resulting from coding the picture as the bi-directional inter predictive picture type.