Systems, methods, and devices for optimizing streaming bitrate based on variations in processor load

A streaming media server, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable storage medium that stores a first predetermined threshold less than LOADMAX;
• and a second predetermined threshold less than LOADMAX and less than the first predetermined threshold, and further storing computer-readable code that, when executed by the processor, causes the streaming media server to perform the operations of:
• encoding segments of a video stream at a final variable bitrate (ABRFINAL);
• transmitting encoded segments over a network and to a first client media receiver for presentation to an end user;
• repeating the steps of encoding and transmitting during a streaming video session with the first client media receiver, while varying a value of ABRFINAL based, at least in part, upon a running average of a processor load placed on the processor (LOADAVG);
• and
• increasing the value of ABRFINAL when LOADAVG is less than the first predetermined threshold, but greater than the second predetermined threshold.

A streaming media server, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable storage medium that stores a predetermined threshold less than LOADMAX, and further storing computer-readable code that when executed by the processor, causes the streaming media server to perform the operations of:
• encoding segments of a video stream at a final variable bitrate (ABRFINAL);
• transmitting the encoded segments over a network and to a first client media receiver for presentation to an end user;
• repeating the steps of encoding and transmitting during a streaming video session with the first client media receiver, while varying a value of ABRFINAL based, at least in part, upon a running average of a processor load placed on the processor (LOADAVG);
• determining a default value for the final variable bitrate;
• and
• setting the value of ABRFINAL at the default value when LOADAVG is less than the predetermined threshold.

A method performed utilizing a streaming media server with a memory that stores a first predetermined threshold less than LOADMAX and a second predetermined threshold less than the first predetermined threshold, the method comprising:

• utilizing an encoder module contained in the streaming media server, encoding segments of a video stream at a final variable bitrate (ABRFINAL);
• transmitting encoded segments of the video stream from the streaming media server, over a network, and to a first client media receiver for presentation to an end user;
• repeating the steps of encoding and transmitting, while varying a value of ABRFINAL based, at least in part, on a running average of a processor load placed on the processor (LOADAVG);
• and
• increasing the value of ABRFINAL when LOADAVG is less than the first predetermined threshold, but greater than the second predetermined threshold.