Distributed scalable encoder resources for live streams

A method for encoding media in a system of distributed encoders on a network,

• the system comprising:
• a plurality of servers;
• a plurality of encoders distributed on the network and communicatively connected to at least one server of the plurality of servers, the encoders configurable to encode video;
• and
• distributed storage communicatively connected to at least one server of the plurality of servers, the distributed storage configurable to store encoded video;
• the method comprising:
• receiving, by at least one server of the plurality of servers, from a content provider source, a media stream;
• dividing, by at least one server of the plurality of servers, the media stream into a plurality of portions, wherein each portion corresponds to at least one group of pictures (GOP);
• determining, by at least one server of the plurality of servers, a plurality of variants for the media stream, wherein each portion of the plurality of portions is to be encoded to create each of the plurality of variants and wherein each variant is associated with a different set of encoding parameters;
• distributing, by at least one server of the plurality of servers, (a) a first encoding job for a first portion of the plurality of portions to a first encoder of the plurality of encoders, and (b) a second encoding job for a second portion of the plurality of portions to a second encoder of the plurality of encoders, to cause the plurality of encoders to perform encoding the first portion to create the plurality of variants of the first portion, and encoding of the second portion to create the plurality of variants of the second portion;
• and
• determining, by at least one server of the plurality of servers, a first address information for at least one of the plurality of variants of the first portion and a second address information for at least one of the plurality of variants of the second portion, wherein the first address information and the second address information are used to create a file provided to at least one user device to enable the user device to request at least one of the plurality of variants of the first portion and the plurality of variants of the second portion from the distributed storage for playback on the user device.

A system comprising:

• at least one input/output circuitry configured to:
• receive, from a content provider source, a media stream;
• and
• at least one control circuitry configured to:
• divide the media stream into a plurality of portions, wherein each portion corresponds to at least one group of pictures (GOP);
• determine a plurality of variants for the media stream, wherein each portion of the plurality of portions is to be encoded to create each of the plurality of variants and wherein each variant is associated with a different set of encoding parameters;
• distribute (a) a first encoding job for a first portion of the plurality of portions to a first encoder of a plurality of encoders that are distributed on a network, and (b) a second encoding job for a second portion of the plurality of portions to a second encoder of the plurality of encoders, to cause the plurality of encoders to perform encoding the first portion to create the plurality of variants of the first portion, and encoding of the second portion to create the plurality of variants of the second portion;
• and
• determine a first address information for at least one of the plurality of variants of the first portion and a second address information for at least one of the plurality of variants of the second portion, wherein the first address information and the second address information are used to create a file provided to at least one user device to enable the user device to request at least one of the plurality of variants of the first portion and the plurality of variants of the second portion from distributed storage for playback on the user device.