Abstract: A method and a medium for recording video information make it possible to retrieve particular scenes quickly based on representative images alone, which are chosen by taking the contents of images and sounds into account. The method for recording video information comprises a first step of storing video, a second step of dividing the video into segments, and extracting the top frame number of each segment, a third step of extracting the frame number of the frame having the maximum feature amount in each segment, and a fourth step of storing the frame numbers extracted by the second and third step in the first step.

Abstract: A personal identification device and method prevent the reduction in the finger vein recognition rate which otherwise occur due to erroneous insertion of a finger by a user not accustomed to operation or insertion of a false finger at low cost. The device includes an imager picking up an image of a finger vein pattern, a light source emitting light adapted to be transmitted through the finger, an image operating unit matches the image, guides indicating the position of picking up the finger image, a detector detecting the contact between the finger and the guides, another light source radiating light reflected from the thick of the finger, a switch which is depressed by the forward end of the finger, a further light source emitting light transmitted through the forward end of the finger, and a light-sensor receiving the light from the further light source through the finger.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a video includes the steps of extracting frame images from an input video, calculating a time length between each of the frame images and a next one of the frame images, assigning index information determined by the calculated time length to each of the frame images, stringing together the index information assigned to the frame images, and characterizing the input video by the strung-together index information. The index information is a character code, and the strung-together index information is a character code string. The frame images include head frame images located at scene changes of the input video. The input video is being broadcasted or is included in a data base.

Abstract: An economical surveillance apparatus robust to an environmental change includes an input unit for inputting images in a time series, a background image memory unit for storing a plurality of input images, a difference image memory unit for calculating and storing difference degree between a plurality of background images of the background image memory unit and an image inputted afresh, and a judging unit for judging an existence/absence of an invading object by utilizing the value of the difference degree of the difference image memory unit. This surveillance apparatus can automatically register a plurality of background images from a camera image. Since the background images that are no longer used are automatically erased, the drop of detection speed and detection sensitivity can be prevented.

Abstract: An economical surveillance apparatus robust to an environmental change includes an input unit for inputting images in a time series, a background image memory unit for storing a plurality of input images, a difference image memory unit for calculating and storing difference degree between a plurality of background images of the background image memory unit and an image inputted afresh, and a judging unit for judging an existence/absence of an invading object by utilizing the value of the difference degree of the difference image memory unit. This surveillance apparatus can automatically register a plurality of background images from a camera image. Since the background images that are no longer used are automatically erased, the drop of detection speed and detection sensitivity can be prevented.

Abstract: A compact authentication device that prevents user from feeling pressure and is strong against external light, when capturing an image of a finger blood vessel pattern with transmitted light. The device includes a guidance part for determining the finger position, a light source disposed on at least one side of the guidance part to emit light to be transmitted though the finger, an image capture part for capturing the transmitted light, a shading unit for limiting an irradiation region of the light, a finger thickness measuring unit, a unit for controlling a light amount of the light source based on a result of the measurement, a unit for recording registered image patterns of the finger, a unit for collating a captured image pattern from the image capture part with the registered patterns, and a unit for controlling different processing according to the collation result.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a video includes the steps of extracting frame images from an input video, calculating a time length between each of the frame images and a next one of the frame images, assigning index information determined by the calculated time length to each of the frame images, stringing together the index information assigned to the frame images, and characterizing the input video by the strung-together index information. The index information is a character code, and the strung-together index information is a character code string. The frame images include head frame images located at scene changes of the input video. The input video is being broadcasted or is included in a data base.

Abstract: A digital camera has an image sensor, and an optical system for focusing a scene on the image sensor. A zooming system is used for changing a zoom rate of the scene that is focused on the image sensor. By operating the zooming system during the recording of a series of images, each of the images has a different zoom rate and therefore a different level of detail and field of view. The images are combined to form one still image of super high resolution. The zoom rate between images is detected by using horizontal and vertical pixel intensity value projection distributions in both forward and backward prediction methods. Horizontal and vertical candidate projection distributions that are correlated to a range of possible zoom rates are compared with the horizontal and vertical projection distributions of the former and current images being processed to determine a least error match that is selected as the zoom rate between the adjacent images.

Abstract: For image recording/reproduction in a monitoring system, a monitoring image signal as inputted is converted into a plurality of time-serial digitized monitoring image frames to be stored temporarily in a first storage area. From the plurality of digitized monitoring image frames stored in the first storage area, a plurality of monitoring image frames relevant to at least one type of concerned event for monitoring are extracted to be stored in a second storage area. A monitored event database having a data structure comprised of elements each containing information concerning a storing location of relevant monitoring image frame in the second storage area and information concerning attributes of the relevant monitoring image frame for each of the monitoring image frames stored in the second storage area is generated to be stored in a third storage area.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a video includes the steps of extracting frame images from an input video, calculating a time length between each of the frame images and a next one of the frame images, assigning index information determined by the calculated time length to each of the frame images, stringing together the index information assigned to the frame images, and characterizing the input video by the strung-together index information. The index information is a character code, and the strung-together index information is a character code string. The frame images include head frame images located at scene changes of the input video. The input video is being broadcasted or is included in a data base.

Abstract: An envelope arithmetic device for determining arithmetically an envelope of a sound signal waveform associated with video image signals inputted on a time-serial basis, a sound level threshold setting device for setting previously a threshold value of sound level for values of the above-mentioned envelope and a start/end point detecting device for detecting points at which the above-mentioned threshold level and the above-mentioned envelope intersect each other as the start and end points of the sound segment are provided for thereby arithmetically determining an envelope of a sound waveform associated with the video for detecting as the start point of the sound segment a point at which the value of the envelope exceeds the threshold of the sound level while detecting as the end point a point at which the value of the envelope becomes smaller than the threshold value.

Abstract: By sequentially inputting images for each frame, sequentially extracting features from the inputted frame images, converting the features sequentially extracted into a feature series corresponding to the inputted frame image series, compressing the feature series in the direction of the time axis, storing the compressed feature series in the storage, sequentially extracting features separately from the images to be retrieved for each inputted frame, sequentially comparing the features of the images to be retrieved for each frame with the stored compressed feature series, storing the progress state of this comparison, updating the stored progress state of the comparison on the basis of a comparison result with the frame features of the succeeding images to be retrieved, and retrieving image scenes matching with the updated progress state from the images to be retrieved on the basis of the comparison result between the updated progress state and the features of the images to be retrieved for each frame, the pre

Abstract: A method of characterizing a video includes the steps of extracting frame images from an input video, calculating a time length between each of the frame images and a next one of the frame images, assigning index information determined by the calculated time length to each of the frame images, stringing together the index information assigned to the frame images, and characterizing the input video by the strung-together index information. The index information is a character code, and the strung-together index information is a character code string. The frame images include head frame images located at scene changes of the input video. The input video is being broadcasted or is included in a data base.

Abstract: Highly convenient automobile engine starting uses an individual authentication device which utilizes biological information and provides a security function required when starting the engine, while protecting a sensor for receiving the biological information. An engine starting system can comprise an ignition switch for controlling a state of an automobile; a key for changing a state of the ignition switch; a registration key for registering biological information; a switch for starting an engine; a sensor for inputting biological information; a device for storing biological information; a collating unit for collating the inputted biological information with the stored biological information; and a lid for covering the sensor of an authentication device.

Abstract: An identification apparatus that keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. An identification apparatus comprising a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or a structure that inspires a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member such as a button switch is preferably located at a position in the guide member at which a fingertip is to be positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with a position at which a portion of a finger to be imaged for identification should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a video includes the steps of extracting frame images from an input video, calculating a time length between each of the frame images and a next one of the frame images, assigning index information determined by the calculated time length to each of the frame images, stringing together the index information assigned to the frame images, and characterizing the input video by the strung-together index information. The index information is a character code, and the strung-together index information is a character code string. The frame images include head frame images located at scene changes of the input video. The input video is being broadcasted or is included in a data base.

Abstract: A digital wide camera is capable of forming, in real time, a wide view still image from a dynamic sequence of images generated during a recording operation by panning the camera to capture a scene. The camera shoots each frame of the sequence with a certain angular field of view at 30 frames per second, for example. The wide view still image has an apparent field of angular view that is greater than that of the image of each frame. The images of the sequence are connected together by determining a shift in position between adjacent images and then overwriting each image to a wide view image buffer after shifting the image by the shift amount. Determining the shift amounts and overwriting the image buffer is accomplished in less time than the interval between shooting consecutive images so that the display of the wide view image can be updated in real time for a user's observation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for searching character image in an image whether the characters are incorporated into an image or separately picked up from a flip card, which are difficult to be detected by the prior art. The invention enables the character strings thereby detected to be searched in a common framework without relying on the language or the character font. An image is chosen, a character region is detected from the frame of the chosen image on the basis of its shape, and a visual feature of the character area is extracted. On the other hand, a character string to be searched for which has been entered by a character input means is drawn as an image, and a visual feature is extracted from the character area image. The visual feature of the obtained character area and the visual feature of the character area image are matched to determine a level of similarity, and the character region containing a character string the level of similarity of which has been determined is outputted.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a video includes the steps of extracting frame images from an input video, calculating a feature of each of the frame images, assigning index information determined by the calculated feature to each of the frame images, stringing together the index information assigned to the frame images, and characterizing the input video by the strung-together index information.

Abstract: By sequentially inputting images for each frame, sequentially extracting features from the inputted frame images, converting the features sequentially extracted into a feature series corresponding to the inputted frame image series, compressing the feature series in the direction of the time axis, storing the compressed feature series in the storage, sequentially extracting features separately from the images to be retrieved for each inputted frame, sequentially comparing the features of the images to be retrieved for each frame with the stored compressed feature series, storing the progress state of this comparison, updating the stored progress state of the comparison on the basis of a comparison result with the frame features of the succeeding images to be retrieved, and retrieving image scenes matching with the updated progress state from the images to be retrieved on the basis of the comparison result between the updated progress state and the features of the images to be retrieved for each frame, the pre