US 11611785

US Patent 11611785, titled "Systems and methods for encoding and streaming video encoded using a plurality of maximum bitrate levels," was issued on March 21, 2023. The patent was filed on February 22, 2021, and its current assignee is Divx LLC. The inventor is Kourosh Soroushian.

Abstract:
The patent describes systems and methods for streaming and playing back video that has a variety of resolutions, frame rates, and/or sample aspect ratios. The key aspect is that these video streams are encoded at one of a limited number of "maximum bitrate levels." One embodiment includes a processor and storage containing an encoding application and data that relates combinations of resolution and frame rates to maximum bitrates. A plurality of resolutions and frame rates that share the same maximum bitrate form a "maximum bitrate level." The encoding application configures the processor to encode a video stream into multiple video streams with different resolutions and frame rates. The target maximum bitrate used for encoding is chosen based on the maximum bitrate levels associated with the resolution and frame rate combinations specified in the stored data.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim outlines a method for encoding source video content into multiple alternative video streams and adaptively streaming them. The process involves:

  1. Identifying the source video content.
  2. Identifying a plurality of resolutions for encoding the video content.
  3. For each identified resolution, encoding a portion of the source video multiple times using that resolution and different target bitrates, and then evaluating the quality of each encoding.
  4. Selecting a plurality of resolution and target bitrate combinations for the alternative streams based on the evaluated quality.
  5. Uploading these encoded sections (for each selected combination) to servers within a content distribution system.
  6. Generating entries in a top-level index file that describes at least one of these alternative streams.
  7. Providing this top-level index from the content distribution system to one or more playback devices capable of adaptive streaming.
  8. Responding to requests from these playback devices, where the requests are for specific encoded sections.

• Claim 11 (Non-transitory Machine Readable Medium): This claim describes a non-transitory machine-readable medium containing processor instructions. When a processor executes these instructions, it performs a process identical to the method described in Claim 1. This means the claim covers the software or firmware that enables the encoding and adaptive streaming process.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, a search of CAFC 2026 dockets does not specifically show any cases directly involving US patent 11611785. The provided search results for CAFC in 2026 discuss general patent litigation trends, such as issues with inventorship, patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101, and appeals concerning damages and IPRs. However, no specific mention of US11611785B2 was found in the provided CAFC dockets.