System and method for delivery of dynamically scalable audio/video content over a network

A computer-implemented process for providing network aware rate-distortion optimization for streaming media files over a network, comprising:

• encoding at least one media file using a scalable encoder, wherein each encoded media file further comprises at least one layered bitstream, each bitstream comprised of at least one data unit;
• scoring the data units comprising each layered bitstream with respect to a calculated rate-distortion decrease for each data unit;
• dynamically arranging data units within network packets in order of highest score to lowest score;
• transmitting at least one of the network packets from at least one server to at least one client, beginning with a network packet having the highest score data units;
• and
• continuing to transmit all available network packets in decreasing order of contained highest score data units until a measured network bandwidth has been fully utilized.

A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for automatically and dynamically streaming scalable media content over a network, said computer executable instructions comprising:

• scalably encoding a media file;
• determining a rate-distortion for data units comprising the scalably encoded media file;
• computing a score for each data unit based on adistortion decrease for each data unit and a size of each data unit, and wherein the score is recomputed for each timeslot of a network transmission;
• arranging at least one of the data units into at least one network packet, wherein data units are placed into packets based on the score for each data unit, with higher scoring data units being given priority over lower scoring data units for each timeslot of the network transmission;
• determining available network bandwidth for each timeslot of a network transmission between a server and at least one client;
• and
• transmitting all available packets from at least one server to at least one client beginning with a packet including the highest score data units, and continuing with packets having progressively lower data units until the available network bandwidth has been fully utilized for each timeslot of a network transmission.