Abstract: A video compression system includes a compression module to compress each of a plurality of segments of an input signal using an initial quality setting. A rate calculation module calculates, for each compressed segment, a data rate for an output signal that would result from adding a compressed segment to the output signal. A selection module automatically selects, in response to the calculated data rate deviating from a target range, a quality setting for each segment that results in a data rate this is within the target range when a segment compressed using the automatically-selected quality setting is added to the output signal.

Abstract: An input module obtains a media signal to be communicated to a destination system, after which an identification module identifies a plurality of scenes within the media signal. A codec includes a selection module that automatically selects different compression methods to respectively compress at least two of the scenes. The compression methods are automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective scenes according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate. A compression module within the codec then compresses the scenes using the automatically-selected compression methods, after which an output module delivers the compressed scenes to the destination system with an indication of which compression method was used to compress each scene.

Abstract: A multimedia distribution device includes a nonvolatile memory that stores a compressed media signal in which at least two scenes are selectively compressed using different codecs from a codec library, the codecs being automatically selected to produce a highest compression quality for the respective scenes according to a set of criteria without exceeding a target data rate. The nonvolatile memory also stores a plurality of codec indicators specifying which codecs from the codec library were used to respectively compress each scene within the compressed media signal.