Method and Apparatus for Statistically Multiplexing Services

Apparatus for statistically multiplexing first services and second services in a group, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• obtain a measure of required bandwidth for the first services, the first services comprising pre-encoded services;
• determine an available encoding bandwidth for the second services from a group bandwidth for the first and second services using the measure of required bandwidth;
• allocate an encoding bit rate to each of the second services based on the available encoding bandwidth;
• a plurality of encoders, each of the plurality of encoders configured to encode one of the second services in accordance with the encoding bit rate thereof;
• and
• a multiplexer configured to multiplex the first services with the second services as encoded.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method of statistically multiplexing first services and second services in a group, comprising:

• obtaining a measure of required bandwidth for the first services, the first services comprising pre-encoded services;
• determining an available encoding bandwidth for the second services from a group bandwidth for the first and second services using the measure of required bandwidth;
• allocating an encoding bit rate to each of the second services based on the available encoding bandwidth;
• delaying the available encoding bandwidth;
• determining an available transmission bandwidth for the second services using the available encoding bandwidth as delayed;
• and
• allocating a transmission bit rate to each of the second services based on the available transmission bandwidth.