Abstract: This invention discloses an image processing apparatus which divides moving image data at appropriate positions and sets key frames at appropriately distributed positions in the entire moving image. This image processing apparatus records action information (e.g., a zoom action) associated with actions made during image sensing and environment information (e.g., rotation information due to a pan action) associated with an image sensing environment during image sensing as additional information of the moving image data. Then, the apparatus divides moving image data for one shot into a plurality of sub-shots (S807, S811) in accordance with at least one of the recorded action information and environment information (S802-S806, S808-S810).

Abstract: The two-dimensional power spectrum of an input image, which is obtained by computing its two-dimensional Fourier transform, is segmented into a plurality of blocks (5×5) on the two-dimensional coordinate system, and the standard deviations of power spectrum components of blocks (5×3) of interest of those segmented blocks are computed. By masking the computed standard deviations in units of blocks (matrix of standard deviations) using predetermined mask patterns prepared in units of directions of interest, the sums of the standard deviations are computed as feature amounts in units of directions, and the directionality of the input image is determined based on the feature amounts. The feature amounts computed for the input image and the directionality determination result are stored in correspondence with each other, and a similar image search is made using the stored information.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus that judges an in-focus degree of a motion picture related to a motion picture signal based on control information inputted along with the motion picture signal and related to an operation of photographing the motion picture signal. The image processing apparatus then changes a form in which an image related to the motion picture signal is displayed or printed, in accordance with a result of the judgment.

Abstract: Frames constituting an input moving picture are extracted by a frame extraction unit, the extracted frames are compared and scene changes in the moving picture are discriminated by a scene-change discrimination unit. Scene-change information relating to specific scene changes is stored in a scene-change information storage unit. An image corresponding to a scene that is the object of a search is designated from a pattern-image designation unit. The designated image is compared with scene-change frames obtained by referring to the scene-change information that has been stored in the scene-change storage unit, and a scene corresponding to the image is extracted by a scene extraction unit based upon results of the comparison.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus, capable of selecting arbitrary plural sections in input image data, designating an order of reproduction of the image data of the selected plural sections, comparing the camera operation information relating to the image data of the selected plural sections with a predetermined rule relating to the camera operation information, and issuing predetermined warning information when the camera operation information of the plural sections violates the predetermined rule.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the invention obtains moving image data picked up by an image pickup unit and operation information concerning an operation condition of the image pickup unit as a time when the moving image data is picked up, and detects a predetermined operation on the basis of the obtained operation information. Then, if a time interval between the two successive predetermined operations is longer than a predetermined period, the image processing apparatus extracts image data of a frame corresponding to the former detected predetermined operation as an index.

Abstract: A moving image processing apparatus can perform a zoom process for each frame image of moving image data in an digital zoom section. An image quality determining section determines an image quality of a frame image obtained through the zoom process in reproduction, when this zoom process is performed, and passes quality information representing its determined result to an MPEG CODEC. The MPEG CODEC encodes the moving image data processed in the digital zoom section and a noise reduction section, and stores the image data, and the quality information associated with each frame in a storage medium. In this manner, when the reproduction object data is processed to have some effect on the quality in reproduction, the data can be provided with the information regarding the quality in reproduction.

Abstract: An image processing method of reproducing already stored moving image data while storing moving image data currently input. Input moving image data is stored in a moving image storage unit, and scene feature information of each of a plurality of scenes constituting the moving image data stored in the moving image data storage unit is extracted. In accordance with the extracted scene feature information, digest data for reproducing a digest of the moving image data is formed. In accordance with the formed digest data, a digest of the moving image data stored in the moving image data storage unit is reproduced.

Abstract: An image processing method for playing back a moving picture includes storing scene information associated with the moving picture including, at least, data for representative frames of scenes, data for intervals of the scenes, and data for hierarchical levels of the scenes; a display step for chronologically displaying images of the representative frames of the scenes stored in the storing step on a display device based on the external designation of the hierarchical level; and a playback step to play back one of the scenes corresponding to the representative frame displayed by the display device based on an external playback instruction.

Abstract: A frame extraction unit detects a luminance change point frame in which the brightness change amount between frames is equal to or higher than a threshold value from a moving image formed by a plurality of frames. A flash check unit checks the presence/absence of a flash portion in the moving image on the basis of the detected luminance change point frame.