Abstract: Simple, computational efficient, and robust audio features are applied in a uniform program indexing method for picking up video segments relating to highlight plays in a recorded program worthy of being reviewed. By focusing on certain frequencies in an audio sequence of the program, a computational complexity of the uniform program indexing method is significantly decreased. With the aid of MFCC coefficients and a DFBE coefficient generated from the MFCC coefficients, audio patterns may be utilized for differentiating exciting events in the program from other unnecessary information. Scores corresponding to various audio segments are regarded as standards for picking up video segments in the program worthy of being chosen in a recorded highlight collection. Some low-level-feature parameters, some video segments having highlight-related visual characteristics, and a re-ranking procedure are utilized for enhancing precision of the scores for providing video segments worthy of being reviewed.

Abstract: A method for indexing a sports video program carried by a video stream is disclosed. The method includes temporarily indexing a plurality of shots of the video stream by performing shot detection. In addition, the method further includes extracting a plurality of shots of the sports video program from at least one portion of the shots indexed during the shot detection at least according to low level visual features of the at least one portion, whereby the extracted shots are temporarily kept indexed. Additionally, the method further includes validating a plurality of shots by comparing one of the extracted shots with at least the others of the extracted shots, whereby the validated shots are kept indexed for use of playback of at least one portion of the sports video program.

Abstract: A camera motion parameter retrieving system and solving process begins with using the equation of that the vector field divergence volume integral is equal to the total outgoing throughput passing through the surface area of the volume through the vector in conjunction with camera motion detection to solve the Motion Vectors (MVs) in the domain, followed by operation to further solve camera motion parameter respectively contains that for PAN, TILT and ZOOM while the value of the parameter represents the motion value; upon obtaining those three parameters, the moving direction of the camera motion of the present image being indicated after simple addition and subtraction operation.

Abstract: A method of identifying a target synchronization point pair including a source synchronization point corresponding to a source end and a destination synchronization point corresponding to a destination end is provided. The method includes receiving a source scan-line image corresponding to a first video source from the source end; selecting at least a comparing frame out of the source scan-line image; providing a destination scan-line image corresponding to a second video source at the destination end; and determining the target synchronization point pair by comparing the comparing frame and the destination scan-line image.

Abstract: A method of indexing final pitching shots for each batter in a video recording of a baseball game is disclosed. The method includes locating pitching video frames in the video, identifying individual pitching shots contained in the video, determining which of the pitching shots is a final pitching shot for each batter in the baseball game, and creating an index of the final pitching shots.

Abstract: Method disclosed in the present invention is proposed to detect and eliminate flash scene in digital video. Particularly, averaging shot distribution of digital video is employed as knowledge to develop the algorithm of the present invention, and which is incorporated and used to identify three general types of shot distribution for flash scene event. In the present invention, the luminance difference between two consecutive frames is instead of actually analyzing the visual content so as to reduce the computational complexity. As a result, positions of flash frames can be exactly detected from the video signal for many applications. The method comprises the steps: frames are extracted from a video sequence inputted. A luminance difference by two adjoining frames is calculated. Then a histogram is made to record the differences, and a threshold is determined accordingly. Then the flash scene is detected and categorized into three types, and finally being eliminated.

Abstract: A method for adaptively estimating a remaining video length in real time for a user's convenience while viewing at least one program, includes calculating an average value of the viewed length of each viewed segment of the at least one program, and calculating the number of index points corresponding to remaining segments to derive a remaining number of index points. The method further includes multiplying the average value by the remaining number to estimate the remaining video length.

Abstract: A sports video retrieval method involves segregation of the video into multiple segments of different indexing conditions based on audience cheers recorded; the exciting intensity of the cheers being scored as the audio level of the cheers being in proportion of the wonderful performance of the athletes; cheer segments being retrieved and given rank depending on the score to each segment to provide the sports video segmental indexing with simple audio even including contents of video features.

Abstract: A system for identifying an event for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes: a video source; a receiving circuit, coupled to the video source, for receiving at least a target image from the video source positioned on the vehicle; and a determining circuit, coupled to the receiving circuit, for determining if the event occurs according to the target image. A related method includes: receiving at least a target image from a video source positioned on the vehicle; and determining if the event occurs according to the target image.

Abstract: A highlight detecting circuit for detecting a highlight segment within a video signal includes a pitch-tracking module for estimating a plurality of pitch values for an audio signal; a pitch difference detecting module coupled to the pitch-tracking module for computing a plurality of pitch difference values according to the pitch values; and a highlight detecting module coupled to the pitch difference detecting module for determining a starting point and a stopping point of the highlight segment according to the pitch difference values.

Abstract: A method to detect anchorperson segment in news reporting by using visual characteristics to provide the basis to divide news into various categories includes steps of providing news image for skin color detection on the image with color space; applying morphology depending on whether the object in the image subject to skin color detection is moving to eliminate noise surrounding the image of the face to solve the region of the face of the anchorperson; and performing anchorperson detection once again by detecting the probable anchorperson segment.

Abstract: A logo processing method includes: within a plurality of video frames sequentially received from a video source, comparing a base frame with at least a portion of the other video frames to generate a mask having at least one candidate region probably corresponding to at least one logo; performing post processing on the mask to correct the candidate region(s); and selecting at least one of the candidate region(s) as logo region(s) for indicating the logo(s).

Abstract: A method of generating pixel data of a missing block in an image frame is disclosed. Edge points are detected from neighboring image side adjacent to the missing block. A direction is calculated for each edge point. Edge lines are formed from edge points based on the direction thereof to partition the missing block into a plurality of missing regions. Data for missing pixels in each missing region are then calculated using reference pixels from neighboring image sides adjacent to the missing region.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting highlights of a media stream, the apparatus including: a video processing module, an audio processing module, a shot change detector, and a post processor. The video processing module determines a video threshold value; the audio processing module determines at least one audio threshold value; the shot change detector is electrically connected to the video processing module and the audio processing module for deciding a shot change to inform the video processing module and the audio processing module; and the post processor is electrically connected to the video processing module and the audio processing module for determining video highlights according to video parameters and the video threshold value, and audio highlights according to audio parameters and the audio threshold value, and then deciding the highlights of the media stream according to the video highlights and the audio highlights.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encrypting and decrypting digital data employing multiple Huffman tables and at least one encryption key to enhance security of the digital data. At least one image parameter for characterizing the digital data, such as a motion vector table or DC-luminance, is selected as an image parameter. All possible Huffman tables according to the image parameter are then generated by Huffman tree mutation. A predetermined number of active Huffman tables from all possible Huffman tables are selected using a first encryption key and a hash function. Afterward, a coding sequence for the active Huffman tables is generated using a second encryption key and the hash function. Finally, the digital data is encrypted into an encrypted bit stream by the active Huffman tables with the coding sequence. Encrypted symbols of the image parameter can be reduced by symbol statistic analysis, thus reducing computation effort.

Abstract: A method of identifying a target synchronization point pair including a source synchronization point corresponding to a source end and a destination synchronization point corresponding to a destination end is provided. The method includes receiving a source scan-line image corresponding to a first video source from the source end; selecting at least a comparing frame out of the source scan-line image; providing a destination scan-line image corresponding to a second video source at the destination end; and determining the target synchronization point pair by comparing the comparing frame and the destination scan-line image.

Abstract: Simple, computational efficient, and robust audio features are applied in a uniform program indexing method for picking up video segments relating to highlight plays in a recorded program worthy of being reviewed. By focusing on certain frequencies in an audio sequence of the program, a computational complexity of the uniform program indexing method is significantly decreased. With the aid of MFCC coefficients and a DFBE coefficient generated from the MFCC coefficients, audio patterns may be utilized for differentiating exciting events in the program from other unnecessary information. Scores corresponding to various audio segments are regarded as standards for picking up video segments in the program worthy of being chosen in a recorded highlight collection. Some low-level-feature parameters, some video segments having highlight-related visual characteristics, and a re-ranking procedure are utilized for enhancing precision of the scores for providing video segments worthy of being reviewed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a display method for a video stream including video contents of a plurality of channels, the display method includes: displaying video contents transmitted by a first channel on a first portion of a display screen, wherein the first channel is not a currently tuned channel; displaying video contents transmitted by a second channel on a second portion of the display screen, wherein the second channel is the currently tuned channel; and when the video contents of the first channel are being displayed on the first portion of the display screen and the currently tuned channel is switched from the second channel into a third channel, displaying video contents transmitted by the third channel on the second portion of the display screen.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for setting channel contents are provided. A method includes: associating a specific channel with a specific program category; assigning a program to the selected specific channel when the specific channel is selected and the program corresponding to the specific program category is available from a live multimedia stream source; and assigning at least a pre-stored program corresponding to the specific program category from a storage device to the selected specific channel when the specific channel is selected and the program corresponding to the specific program category is unavailable from the live multimedia stream source. Therefore, a user can easily and conveniently watch programs corresponding to a favorite program category on the selected specific channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic program guide and a method for forming the electronic program guide thereof. The electronic program guide includes a plurality of program category groups each comprising at least one television channel. The method for forming the electronic program guide includes generating a plurality of program category groups, and categorizing a plurality of television channels into the program category groups according to program categories of the television channels. Therefore, the television channels are categorized based on their categories to benefit users to navigate through the television channels.