Video capture device and method

Abstract

A device comprises a video capture device configured to generate video data, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, based on a utilization of the processor, a value of an encoding parameter associated with encoding the video data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A video data processing device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory element storing instructions that when executed by the processor enable the processor to perform the operations of:   at certain intervals determining a utilization level of the processor;   at the end of each interval, encoding a portion of available video data at a quality level that is selected based at least in part on the utilization level of processor; and   at the end of each intervals, sending the encoded portion of the video data to a computing device over a network.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores a utilization threshold, and wherein the quality level is selected based on comparing the utilization of the processor to the utilization threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores a plurality of utilization thresholds, and wherein the quality level is selected based on comparing the utilization of the processor to the utilization thresholds. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the quality level is associated with an encoding parameter and the encoding parameter corresponds to a video resolution. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the quality level is associated with an encoding parameter and the encoding parameter corresponds to an encoding speed. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein quality level is associated with an encoding parameter and the encoding parameter corresponds to a video quality. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the quality level is associated with an encoding parameter and the encoding parameter corresponds to a frame rate. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the quality level is associated with an encoding parameter and the encoding parameter corresponds to whether the video data is encoded in an audio-only mode. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the quality level is associated with an encoding parameter and the encoding parameter is associated with operation of a second processor. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and wherein the second processor comprises a graphic processing unit (GPU). 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the quality level is further selected based at least in part on whether the device is operating on battery power or power from an electrical outlet. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 encoding, at a computing device, a first portion of video data at a first video quality level, a first frame rate, or both;   sending the encoded first portion of the video data to at least a second computing device via a network;   determining that a utilization of a central processing unit (CPU) of the computing device exceeds a threshold;   responsive to determining that the utilization exceeds the threshold, encoding a second portion of the video data at a second video quality that is less than the first video quality, a second frame rate that is less than the first frame rate, or both; and   sending the encoded second portion of the video data to at least the second computing device via the network.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the encoded first portion of the video data is in high definition (HD). 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 encoding, at a computing device, a first portion of video data at a first video resolution;   sending the encoded first portion of the video data to at least a second computing device via a network;   determining that a utilization of a central processing unit (CPU) of the computing device is less than a threshold;   responsive to determining that the utilization is less than the threshold, encoding a second portion of the video data at a second video resolution that is greater than the first video resolution; and   sending the encoded second portion of the video data to at least the second computing device via the network.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the encoded second portion of the video data is in high definition (HD).