The present invention, in particular embodiments, is directed to methods, apparatuses and systems directed to rate adaptive video transmission. In a particular implementation, the present invention provides a video server that delivers video frames received from a video source in response to video frame requests transmitted by one or more video clients. In such a configuration, video clients essentially pull video frames of a video stream at a rate adapted to various attributes of the client and/or the client application consuming the video stream, such as bandwidth available to the client the video client application requirements, and the like. Additional embodiments also provide for novel video data compression techniques that use client pull mechanisms to achieve an adaptive video streaming mechanism. In one implementation, only lower levels of a multi-resolution or wavelet video stream are requested to optimally utilize system bandwidth. In combination with client frame pull, a temporally and spatially scalable multi-resolution image codec, that utilizes wavelet compression, is realized. In yet another implementation, a differencing codec is utilized for compression wherein successive predictive frames are dependent on a reference frame. In combination with client frame pull, the differencing codec is also temporally and spatially scalable. Furthermore, the present invention provides an efficient way to transmit video over wired and wireless networks, particularly mixed networks that contain both wired and wireless networks.