Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing the amount of network bandwidth used by a distributed video editing system. A server dynamically chooses from among several encoding options, depending on the context and network conditions. The server makes every attempt to transmit a given video frame only once over the network. Depending on network performance, the quality of the transmitted video may vary. A frame identification technique is used to improve efficiency to avoid duplication of rendering work. On the client, the frame identity is used by the client to cache the frames individually, at varying qualities. These frames are cached on the client indefinitely. When the client prepares to play a frame, it examines its local cache of frames and chooses either a local cached frame or requests a remote frame at a different quality, based on the context.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for designating a memory region for receiving image frames from an image frame server, the image frames are from a first sequence of image frames. Each image frame in the first sequence of image frames is associated with a time position on a first timeline. A needed image frame is selected, the needed image frame associated with a second time position on a second timeline. The second time position is mapped on the second timeline to a first time position on the first timeline. The image frame server is requested to provide an image frame from the first sequence of image frames at the first time position on the first timeline.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing the amount of network bandwidth used by a distributed video editing system. A server dynamically chooses from among several encoding options, depending on the context and network conditions. The server makes every attempt to transmit a given video frame only once over the network. Depending on network performance, the quality of the transmitted video may vary. A frame identification technique is used to improve efficiency to avoid duplication of rendering work. On the client, the frame identity is used by the client to cache the frames individually, at varying qualities. These frames are cached on the client indefinitely. When the client prepares to play a frame, it examines its local cache of frames and chooses either a local cached frame or requests a remote frame at a different quality, based on the context.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for designating a memory region for receiving image frames from an image frame server, the image frames are from a first sequence of image frames. Each image frame in the first sequence of image frames is associated with a time position on a first timeline. A needed image frame is selected, the needed image frame associated with a second time position on a second timeline. The second time position is mapped on the second timeline to a first time position on the first timeline. The image frame server is requested to provide an image frame from the first sequence of image frames at the first time position on the first timeline.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for designating a memory region for receiving image frames from an image frame server, the image frames are from a first sequence of image frames. Each image frame in the first sequence of image frames is associated with a time position on a first timeline. A needed image frame is selected, the needed image frame associated with a second time position on a second timeline. The second time position is mapped on the second timeline to a first time position on the first timeline. The image frame server is requested to provide an image frame from the first sequence of image frames at the first time position on the first timeline.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of methods and apparatus for providing reduced bit rate digital video formats. Generally speaking, the present invention decodes digital video data stored in a first, higher bit rate format and then encodes the digital video data into a second fixed bit rate digital video format that is less than the first fixed bit rate digital video format. Several different compression techniques are contemplated. For example, in one embodiment the dc and header information is preserved intact, higher ac frequency information is deleted, and new macroblocks are created for the decoded video segments. The new macroblocks are then assembled into shorter length video segments. Another technique involves quantizing the DC and AC frequency information. Of course, both the high frequency “lopping” and the quantizing techniques can be combined for even further compression.