Method and system for parallel processing video data

Abstract

Described herein is a method and system for parallel processing video data. The system having parallel encoder devices can create a balance between quality of service and delay. In order to maintain quality, compression parameters in a group of pictures can be produced by one encoder device and used by another encoder device for estimation during the encoding of another group of pictures. Compression parameters of different picture types may be stored separately and used for the encoding of a future pictures of the same type. The generation and passing of compression parameters introduces a delay based on the time it takes to encode one or more pictures.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for parallel processing, said method comprising:
 generating a first set of compression parameters for a first group of pictures; 
 generating a second set of compression parameters for a second group of pictures; and 
 encoding a third group of pictures based on at least one parameter of the first set of compression parameters or the second set of compression parameters. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of compression parameters and the second set of compression parameters are generated simultaneously. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of pictures is prior to the third group of pictures in a display order, and wherein the first set of compression parameters are passed forward to be utilized during the encoding of the third group of pictures. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first set of compression parameters comprises a number of pictures bits in an I picture. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second group of pictures is after the third group of pictures in a display order, and wherein the second set of compression parameters are passed backwards to be utilized during the encoding of the third group of pictures. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second set of compression parameters comprises a number of picture bits in an I picture. 
     
     
       7. A system for parallel processing, said system comprising:
 a first encoder device for generating a first set of compression parameters for a first group of pictures; 
 a second encoder device for generating a second set of compression parameters for a second group of pictures; and 
 a third encoder device for encoding a third group of pictures based on at least one parameter of the first set of compression parameters or the second set of compression parameters. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first encoder device and the second encoder device are started simultaneously. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first group of pictures is prior to the third group of pictures in a display order, and wherein the first set of compression parameters are passed forward from the first encoder device to the third encoder device. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of compression parameters comprises a number of picture bits in an I picture. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second group of pictures is after the third group of pictures in a display order, and wherein the second set of compression parameters are passed backwards from the second encoder device to the third encoder device. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second set of compression parameters comprises a number of picture bits in an I picture. 
     
     
       13. A system for parallel processing, comprising:
 a first encoder device operable to encode a first group of pictures; and 
 a second encoder device operable to receive at least one compression parameter generated by the first encoder device for the first group of pictures and encode a second group of pictures based at least in part upon the at least one compression parameter. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein encoding the second group of pictures is delayed by at least a time to generate the at least one compression parameter by the first encoder. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second encoder device is operable to receive a plurality of compression parameters generated by the first encoder device for the first group of pictures. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second encoder device is operable to encode the second group of pictures based on the plurality of compression parameters. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein encoding the second group of pictures is delayed by at least a time to generate the plurality of compression parameters by the first encoder. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first group of pictures is after the second group of pictures in a display order, and wherein the at least one compression parameter is passed forward from the first encoder device to the second encoder device for encoding the second group of pictures. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first group of pictures is prior to the second group of pictures in a display order, and wherein the at least one compression parameter is passed backward from the first encoder device to the second encoder device for encoding the second group of pictures. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one compression parameter comprises a number of picture bits in an I picture.