Adaptive single-field/dual-field video encoding

A method of encoding an input video stream, the method comprising:

• dynamically switching between a first encoding mode and a second encoding mode at a video processing device responsive to a variable quantization parameter, wherein:
• the input video stream comprises a sequence of frames, each frame comprising two fields;
• the first encoding mode comprises encoding both fields of a corresponding frame of the sequence;
• and
• the second encoding mode comprises encoding only one field of the two fields of a corresponding frame of the sequence.

A video processing device comprising:

• an interface to receive an input video stream, the input video stream comprising a sequence of frames, each frame comprising two fields;
• and
• an encoder to encode the input video stream to generate an encoded video stream, wherein the encoder is to dynamically switch between a first encoding mode and a second encoding mode responsive to a variable quantization parameter, wherein:
• in the first encoding mode the encoder is to encode both fields of a corresponding frame of the sequence;
• and
• in the second encoding mode the encoder is to encode only one field of the two fields of a corresponding frame of the sequence.