Method to automatically retrieve information and data, computer readable medium, and method and system of automatically selecting encoding parameters

A method to automatically retrieve data associated with content. An identifier is read flint is stored on electronic readable medium storing content. The identifier is used to search a database for data associated with the content. Data that is associated with the content is retrieved as guided by the database. And the data retrieved is used to create a version of the content for electronic distribution. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a computer readable medium is described to carry out the above method. A method of automatically selecting processing parameters for encoding digital content. Metadata containing the genre of the digital content; receiving the compression level selected for encoding the digital content is received. An algorithm selected for encoding the digital content is received. And a previously defined able to select the processing parameters for encoding the digital content based on the genre of the content, the compression level selected and the algorithm selected is indexed and the processing parameters are retrieved. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is described to carry out the above method. A method of determining an encoding rate for digital content. According to the method, a sample of the content data is encoded for a predetermined period of time. The encoding rate is calculated by knowing the size of the sample of content encoded and the length of time necessary for encoding. In another embodiment, the encoding rate calculated for a specific encoding algorithm and encoding bit rate is averaged with any previously stored encoding rate for this encoding algorithm and encoding bit rate. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is described to carry out the above method.