Encoding and Transmitting Video Streams

An encoder configured to encode a video stream comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a video signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising one or more portion of video data;
• a user interface block configured to receive from a user selection of at least one region in the video image, the region represented by a portion of video data;
• and
• an encoder block configured to encode the video signal, said encoder block arranged to receive an indication of the at least one selected region and operable to encode the portion of video data corresponding to the at least one selected region at a higher quality level than other portions of the video data in the video stream.

A user device comprising:

• a video signal generating block configured to generate a video signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising one or more portion of video data;
• a display configured to display to the user a video image derived from the video signal;
• a user interface block configured to receive from the user selection of at least one region in the video image, the region represented by a portion of video data;
• and
• an encoder block configured to encode the video signal while encoding the portion of video data corresponding to the at least one selected region at a higher quality level than other portions of the video data in the video stream.