Method and apparatus for a delay-adaptive rate control scheme for the frame layer

Abstract

A digital video encoder and method for its operation are disclosed. This encoder comprises a frame-layer rate controller that bases a rate-distortion-optimized target bit assignment T on an energy estimate for frame j, an average energy estimate for a group of frames, and the desired overall bit rate. If the encoder uses motion compensation, motion bits used for frame j and an average motion bits estimate for a group of frames may also be used by the frame-layer rate controller. Preferably, the desired delay in the system affects how average estimates are computed by the encoder. The frame-layer rate controller of the video encoder above may also utilize buffer protection logic during target bit assignment. This logic adjusts an initial target bit assignment T based on the transmission bit rate and desired delay. A primary benefit of the frame-layer rate controller disclosed herein is its basis in a rate-distortion optimal solution to the frame-layer rate control problem. Additional benefits are provided by the explicit consideration of buffer delay during selection of a target bit assignment: rate control robustness allows one controller to be used in a range of delay situations (or even a varying delay situation); and buffer underflow/overflow can be largely eliminated, even in very low delay implementations.