Apparatus and methods for improving video quality delivered to a display device

Apparatus for improving video quality delivered to a display device, comprising:

• an encoder for encoding a current video signal segment to be decoded at the display device,
• said encoder being adapted to estimate a time required for decoding said video signal segment at the display device, and if the estimated time exceeds a predetermined decoder time period, encoding one of:
• (a) said current video signal segment such that it can be decoded within said decoder time period,
• (b) a subsequent video signal segment to enable decoding thereof without reference to said current segment.

A system for improving the display quality of a video signal, comprising:

• an encoder for encoding a video stream;
• a decoder for decoding said video stream for display on a display device;
• and
• a communication path for communicating the encoded video stream to said decoder;
• said encoder modeling said decoder to determine whether a time required for decoding a current segment of said video stream is likely to exceed a predetermined decoder time period allocated to said segment;
• wherein:
• if said time period is likely to be exceeded, said encoder will encode one of:
• (a) said current video signal segment such that it can be decoded within said decoder time period,
• (b) a subsequent video signal segment to enable decoding thereof without reference to said current segment.