Advanced, self-balancing video multiplexer system

A method for multiplexing digital video program content, comprising:

• providing a session manager for establishing digital video sessions with client devices, for identifying digital video program content to be provided to said client devices, and how said digital video program content is to be encrypted;
• providing a video server, responsive to said session manager, for providing said digital video program content, said digital video program content being further characterized by a plurality of video segments;
• providing a multiplexer for selecting and combining said video segments into one or more multi-channel multiplexes and determining Multi Program Transport Stream (MPTS) occupancy levels;
• providing a device to encrypt said digital video program content according to encryption parameters associated with authorization information for said digital video program content;
• providing a device to establish authorization tiers for encrypting said digital video program content, each authorization tier corresponding to a class of programs and having a particular different encryption;
• and
• providing at least one transrating module associated with said multiplexer which enables modification of at least one of a bit rate or encoding format of said digital video program content;
• wherein said multiplexer:
• receives a request for said digital video program content, the request identifying the authorization tier of said digital program content;
• manages encryption resources and routes said digital video program content associated with new sessions for encryption via previously established encryption channels when such previously established encryption channels are compatible with encryption requirements of said new sessions and allocating new encryption channels otherwise;
• combines said digital video program content for multiple clients having compatible encryption requirements associated with said authorization tier for encryption according to a specific set of the encryption parameters via the same encryption channel;
• and
• routes said digital video program content associated with a new session and re-routes said digital video program content associated with previously established sessions to balance MPTS occupancy.