| CPC H04N 19/115 (2014.11) [H04N 19/156 (2014.11); H04N 19/162 (2014.11); H04N 19/184 (2014.11)] | 18 Claims |

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1. A method, comprising:
encoding each of a first plurality of video streams of a video program at one of a first plurality of predetermined bitrates;
generating a first alternate video stream at a first alternate bitrate that is not any of the one of the first plurality of the predetermined bitrates at which the first plurality of video streams of the video program are encoded, wherein the first alternate bitrate is selected at a randomized percentage higher than one of the first plurality of the predetermined bitrates but not exceeding a bitrate of a second one of the first plurality of the predetermined bitrates that is a next higher bitrate from the one of the first plurality of the predetermined bitrates;
providing, to a plurality of viewing clients, an option to select one of the first plurality of video streams or the first alternate video stream at the first alternate bitrate; and
determining, by an optimization logic, a second plurality of bitrates based on at least one selection of a first alternate stream at the first alternate bitrate by the plurality of viewing clients.
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