Bit rate controller for encoding video signals

An apparatus for encoding video signals, comprising:

• (a) means for providing a reference characterization of encoded frames encoded using a first encoding process relative to encoded frames encoded using a second encoding process for a variety of frames;
• (b) means for encoding a previous frame using the first encoding process;
• (c) means for characterizing the encoded previous frame;
• and
• (d) means for encoding a current frame using the second encoding process, wherein the current frame is encoded in accordance with the reference characterization of means (a) and the characterization of the encoded previous frame of means (c), wherein:
• the reference characterization comprises an easy measure and a hard measure, wherein:
• the easy measure corresponds to the size of a first encoded frame relative to the size of a second encoded frame, wherein:
• the first encoded frame is a first frame encoded using the first encoding process;
• the second encoded frame is a second frame encoded using the second encoding process;
• and
• the first frame and the second frame are frames of a first video sequence for which motion compensation provides an accurate prediction;
• and
• the hard measure corresponds to the size of a third encoded frame relative to the size of a fourth encoded frame, wherein:
• the third encoded frame is a third frame encoded using the first encoding process;
• the fourth encoded frame is a fourth frame encoded using the second encoding process;
• and
• the third frame and the fourth frame are frames of a second video sequence for which motion compensation provides an inaccurate prediction, wherein the accurate prediction is more accurate than the inaccurate prediction;
• step (c) comprises means for characterizing the size of the encoded previous frame;
• and
• step (d) comprises means for encoding the current frame based on the size of the encoded previous frame relative to the easy measure and the hard measure.

A computer-implemented process for decoding encoded video signals, comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing the encoded video signals;
• and
• (2) decoding the encoded video signals to generate decoded video signals, wherein the encoded video signals were encoded by:
• (a) providing a reference characterization of encoded frames encoded using a first encoding process relative to encoded frames encoded using a second encoding process for a variety of frames;
• (b) encoding a previous frame using the first encoding process;
• (c) characterizing the encoded previous frame;
• and
• (d) encoding a current frame using the second encoding process, wherein the current frame is encoded in accordance with the reference characterization of step (a) and the characterization of the encoded previous frame of step (c), wherein:
• the reference characterization comprises an easy measure and a hard measure, wherein:
• the easy measure corresponds to the size of a first encoded frame relative to the size of a second encoded frame, wherein:
• the first encoded frame is a first frame encoded using the first encoding process;
• the second encoded frame is a second frame encoded using the second encoding process;
• and
• the first frame and the second frame are frames of a first video sequence for which motion compensation provides an accurate prediction;
• and
• the hard measure corresponds to the size of a third encoded frame relative to the size of a fourth encoded frame, wherein:
• the third encoded frame is a third frame encoded using the first encoding process;
• the fourth encoded frame is a fourth frame encoded using the second encoding process;
• and
• the third frame and the fourth frame are frames of a second video sequence for which motion compensation provides an inaccurate prediction, wherein the accurate prediction is more accurate than the inaccurate prediction;
• step (c) comprises the step of characterizing the size of the encoded previous frame;
• and
• step (d) comprises the step of encoding the current frame based on the size of the encoded previous frame relative to the easy measure and the hard measure.

An apparatus for decoding encoded video signals, comprising:

• (1) means for providing the encoded video signals;
• and
• (2) means for decoding the encoded video signals to generate decoded video signals, wherein the encoded video signals were encoded by:
• (a) providing a reference characterization of encoded frames encoded using a first encoding process relative to encoded frames encoded using a second encoding process for a variety of frames;
• (b) encoding a previous frame using the first encoding process;
• (c) characterizing the encoded previous frame;
• and
• (d) encoding a current frame using the second encoding process, wherein the current frame is encoded in accordance with the reference characterization of step (a) and the characterization of the encoded previous frame of step (c), wherein:
• the reference characterization comprises an easy measure and a hard measure, wherein:
• the easy measure corresponds to the size of a first encoded frame relative to the size of a second encoded frame, wherein:
• the first encoded frame is a first frame encoded using the first encoding process;
• the second encoded frame is a second frame encoded using the second encoding process;
• and
• the first frame and the second frame are frames of a first video sequence for which motion compensation provides an accurate prediction;
• and
• the hard measure corresponds to the size of a third encoded frame relative to the size of a fourth encoded frame, wherein:
• the third encoded frame is a third frame encoded using the first encoding process;
• the fourth encoded frame is a fourth frame encoded using the second encoding process;
• and
• the third frame and the fourth frame are frames of a second video sequence for which motion compensation provides an inaccurate prediction, wherein the accurate prediction is more accurate than the inaccurate prediction;
• step (c) comprises the step of characterizing the size of the encoded previous frame;
• and
• step (d) comprises the step of encoding the current frame based on the size of the encoded previous frame relative to the easy measure and the hard measure.