Frame dropping algorithm for fast adaptation of buffered compressed video to network condition changes

A method for adapting video coding to changing network conditions, comprising:

• in a stable network state, coding video data according to coding parameters that match an estimate of network bandwidth, the coding involving coding select source data elements as prediction references for coding of other source data elements;
• in an unstable network state, coding the video data according to coding parameters of the stable network state but with a reduced rate of prediction references as compared to the network state;
• buffering coded data generated during the stable network state and the unstable network state for transmission via a network;
• and
• in a network diminished state, selectively decimating buffered non-reference coded data.

A video coder system comprising:

• a video coder to code source video data according to coding parameters, the coded video data including reference data that is a source of prediction for other coded video data,
• a transmit buffer to store coded video data prior to transmission,
• a transmitter to read out coded video data from the transmit buffer and transmit it over a network,
• a network monitor to estimate network conditions,
• a buffer controller to selectively decimate non-reference data from the transmit buffer based on estimated network conditions, and
• a coder controller to establish the coding parameters for the video coder based on the estimated network conditions and indicators of decimated data from the buffer controller.

Computer readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• detect non-reference frames in a transmit buffer awaiting output to a network;
• drop one or more of the non-reference frames from the transmit buffer when network degradation is detected;
• and
• generate information about the dropped frames to an encoder for updating buffer parameters for future encoding.