Seamless switching of scalable video bitstreams

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing acts comprising:

• receiving at least one bitstream;
• selectively switching between a first bitstream and a second bitstream, wherein said second bitstream provides a higher data rate than said first bitstream by:
• identifying a switching up period associated with said first and second bitstreams,
• establishing a third bitstream during said switching up period, said third bitstream being configured to carry additional data associated with a switch up from said first bitstream to said second bitstream;
• and
• switching up from said first bitstream to said second bitstream during said switching up period.

An apparatus suitable for encoding a first bitstream and a second bitstream, wherein said second bitstream provides a higher data rate than said first bitstream, said apparatus comprising:

• an interface configurable to selectively output said first and second bitstreams;
• and
• logic operatively coupled to said interface and configured to selectively encode a plurality of frames of a video sequence within said first bitstream as first encoded data that is at least partially transmittable by said interface in a base layer portion of said first bitstream and said plurality of frames of said video sequence within said second bitstream as second encoded data that is at least partially transmittable by said interface in a base layer portion of said second bitstream, and
• wherein said logic establishes a plurality of temporally spaced switching up periods associated with said first and second bitstreams, during which said logic causes said interface to output a third bitstream wherein said third bitstream is configured to carry additional data associated with a switch up from said first bitstream to said second bitstream.