Adaptive video bit-rate control

2:

• The method of claim 1, wherein setting the first number of bits includes:
• assigning a second number of bits to represent the plurality of groups of pictures (GOPs);
• and
• allocating a first portion of the second number of bits to the selected GOP based at least in part upon the second amount of motion in the selected GOP.

4:

• The method of claim 3, wherein setting the first number of bits based, at least in part, upon the first ratio of motion involves at least one of the following techniques:
• allocating the first number of bits in proportion to the first ratio of motion;
• allocating the first number of bits in multiples of the first ratio of motion;
• and
• allocating the first number of bits based in part upon a user defined weight.

6:

• The method of claim 5, further comprising
• compressing the selected GOP to the first number of bits;
• and
• wherein, the sum-of-absolute-differences is utilized to compress the selected GOP.

7:

• The method of claim 6, wherein compressing the selected GOP includes utilizing a compression scheme substantially in compliance with at least one of the following compression schemes:
• the H.263 or H.261 video compression standards;
• the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) family of video compression standards;
• the QuickTime family of standards;
• and
• a video compression standard utilizing a transform including at least one of the following:
• a discrete-cosine transform (DCT), a sub-band coding transform, and wavelet transform.

9:

• The method of claim 1, further including:
• receiving an aggregate of groups of pictures (GOPs) that includes a multitude of pluralities of GOPs;
• and
• estimating a third amount of motion in the aggregate of GOPs utilizing, at least in part the estimated first amount of motion.

10:

• The method of claim 9, further including:
• receiving a second plurality of groups of pictures (GOPs);
• estimating a fourth amount of motion in the plurality of GOPs;
• refining the third amount of motion utilizing, at least in part the estimated fourth amount of motion.

11:

• The method of claim 10, wherein setting the first number of bits includes:
• assigning a second number of bits to represent the aggregate of groups of pictures (GOPs);
• and
• allocating a first portion of the second number of bits to the selected GOP based at least in part upon
• determining a first ratio of motion between estimated second amount of motion to the third estimated amount of motion and
• setting the first number of bits based, at least in part, upon the first ratio of motion.

12:

• An apparatus comprising:
• a video frame buffer to
• store a first plurality of group of pictures (GOPs);
• and
• store a first GOP selected from the first plurality of group of pictures (GOPs);
• a motion estimator to
• estimate a first amount of motion in the first plurality of GOPs;
• and
• estimate a second amount of motion in the first selected GOP;
• a bit rate controller to
• allocate a first number of bits to represent the selected GOP;
• and
• a video compressor to
• compress the selected GOP to the first number of bits.

13:

• The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bit rate controller is capable of, during operation,
• storing a value representing a second number of bits to represent the first plurality of GOPs;
• and
• allocating a first portion of the second number of bits to the selected GOP.

14:

• The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the bit rate controller is capable of, during operation,
• determining a first ratio of motion between the second amount of motion and the first amount of motion;
• and
• allocating a first portion of the second number of bits to the selected GOP based, at least in part, upon the first ratio.

15:

• The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bit rate controller is capable of, during operation, allocating a first portion of bits utilizing at least one of the following techniques:
• allocating in proportion to the first ratio of motion;
• allocating in multiples of the first ratio of motion;
• and
• allocating based in part upon a preconfigured weight value.

18:

• The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a video compressor, during operation, compresses the first selected GOP utilizing a compression scheme substantially in compliance with at least one of the following compression schemes:
• the H.263 or H.261 video compression standards;
• the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) family of video compression standards;
• the QuickTime family of standards;
• and
• a video compression standard utilizing a transform including at least one of the following:
• a discrete-cosine transform (DCT), a sub-band coding transform, and wavelet transform.

20:

• A system comprising:
• an analog-to-digital capture unit to convert analog signals to a digital first plurality of group of pictures (GOPs);
• a video frame buffer to
• store the first plurality of group of pictures (GOPs);
• and
• store a first GOP selected from the first plurality of group of pictures (GOPs);
• a motion estimator to
• estimate a first amount of motion in the first plurality of GOPs;
• and
• estimate a second amount of motion in the first selected GOP;
• a bit rate controller to
• allocate a first number of bits to represent the selected GOP;
• a video compressor to
• compress the first GOP to the first number of bits;
• and
• a video storage unit to store the compressed first GOP;

21:

• The system of claim 20, wherein the bit rate controller is capable of, during operation,
• storing a value representing a second number of bits to represent the first plurality of GOPs;
• and
• allocating a first portion of the second number of bits to the selected GOP.

22:

• The system of claim 21, wherein the bit rate controller is capable of, during operation,
• determining a first ratio of motion between the second amount of motion and the first amount of motion;
• and
• allocating a first portion of the second number of bits to the selected GOP based, at least in part, upon the first ratio.

23:

• The system of claim 22, wherein the bit rate controller is capable of, during operation, allocating a first portion of bits utilizing at least one of the following techniques:
• allocating in proportion to the first ratio of motion;
• allocating in multiples of the first ratio of motion;
• and
• allocating based in part upon a preconfigured weight value.

26:

• The system of claim 25, wherein a video compressor, during operation, compresses the first selected GOP utilizing a compression scheme substantially in compliance with at least one of the following compression schemes:
• the H.263 or H.261 video compression standards;
• the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) family of video compression standards;
• the QuickTime family of standards;
• and
• a video compression standard utilizing a transform including at least one of the following:
• a discrete-cosine transform (DCT), a sub-band coding transform, and wavelet transform.

28:

• An article comprising:
• a storage medium having a plurality of machine accessible instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a machine, the instructions provide for
• receiving a first plurality of groups of pictures (GOPs);
• estimating a first amount of motion in the plurality of GOPs;
• selecting a GOP from the plurality of GOPs;
• estimating a second amount of motion in the selected GOP;
• and
• setting a first number of bits to represent the selected GOP based at least in part upon the first estimation of motion and the second estimation of motion.

29:

• The article of claim 28, wherein the instruction s that provide for setting a first number of bits include instructions that provide for:
• assigning a second number of bits to represent the plurality of groups of pictures (GOPs);
• and
• allocating a first portion of the second number of bits to the selected GOP based at least in part upon the second amount of motion in the selected GOP.