Staggered key frame video encoding

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• generate a first video stream for storing digital content encoded at a first playback quality, wherein the first video stream includes a first plurality of key frames, wherein each key frame in the first plurality of key frames is associated with a different encoded sequence of the digital content, and wherein a first key frame in the plurality of key frames is located within the first video stream at a first temporal distance from a first immediately preceding key frame also included in the plurality of key frames;
• generating a second video stream for storing the digital content encoded at a second playback quality that is higher than the first playback quality, wherein the second video stream includes a second plurality of key frames, wherein the second plurality of key frames includes a same number of key frames as the first plurality of key frames, wherein a second key frame in the second plurality of key frames is located within the second video stream at the first temporal distance from a second immediately preceding key frame also included in the second plurality of key frames and at an offset temporal distance from where the first key frame is located within the first video stream, wherein the offset temporal distance is less than a temporal distance between any two consecutive key frames in the first plurality of key frames included in the first video stream, and wherein the second key frame comprises a first switch point for switching download of the digital content from the first video stream to the second video stream or from the second video stream to the first video stream;
• and
• generating a third video stream for storing the digital content encoded at a third playback quality that is higher than the second playback quality, wherein the third video stream includes a third plurality of key frames, wherein a third key frame in the third plurality of key frames is located within the third video stream at the first temporal distance from a third immediately preceding key frame also included in the third plurality of key frames, at the first temporal distance from where the first key frame is located within the first video stream, and at the offset temporal distance from where the second key frame is located within the second video stream, and wherein the third key frame comprises a second switch point for switching download of the digital content from the first video stream to the third video stream or from the third video stream to the first video stream.

A computing environment, comprising:

• an encoding server that processes digital content to:
• generate a first video stream for storing digital content encoded at a first playback quality, wherein the first video stream includes a plurality of key frames, wherein each key frame in the plurality of key frames is associated with a different encoded sequence of the digital content, and a first key frame in the plurality of key frames is located within the first video stream at a first temporal distance from a first immediately preceding key frame also included in the plurality of key frames,
• generate a second video stream for storing the digital content encoded at a second playback quality that is higher than the first playback quality, wherein the second video stream includes a second plurality of key frames, wherein the second plurality of key frames includes a same number of key frames as the first plurality of key frames, wherein a second key frame in the second plurality of key frames is located within the second video stream at the first temporal distance from a second immediately preceding key frame also included in the second plurality of key frames and at an offset temporal distance from where the first key frame is located within the first video stream, and wherein the offset temporal distance is less than a temporal distance between any two consecutive key frames in the first plurality of key frames included in the first video stream, and
• generate a third video stream for storing the digital content encoded at a third playback quality that is higher than the second playback quality, wherein the third video stream includes a third plurality of key frames, wherein a third key frame in the third plurality of key frames is located within the third video stream at the first temporal distance from a third immediately preceding key frame also included in the third plurality of key frames, at the first temporal distance from where the first key frame is located within the first video stream, and at the offset temporal distance from where the second key frame is located within the second video stream, and wherein the third key frame comprises a second switch point for switching download of the digital content from the first video stream to the third video stream or from the third video stream to the first video stream, and
• a content player that switches download of the digital content from the first video stream to the second video stream or from the second video stream to the first video stream at the second key frame.