Abstract: A format conversion method comprising decoding the bit stream of a first encoded video data format, converting decoded video data to the second encoded video data format, encoding the converted video data in a process for converting the bit stream of the first encoded video data format to the bit stream of the second encoded video data format, and controlling processing parameters of at least one of the decoding, the converting and the encoding.

Abstract: A structure of metadata relevant to a moving image, in which metadata editing is easily performed, comprising a stream data structure including one or more access units each capable of being independently processed; each of said access units has: first data for a reference time point within an access unit time for describing the metadata so as to cause the access unit time to correspond to a moving image time; an object area data describing a spatio-temporal region in the moving image; and second data for specifying a display method relevant to the spatio-temporal region and/or a processing when the spatio-temporal region is designated. The moving image time is to be made to correspond to the access unit time on basis of the reference time point in the first data, so that a period during which at least said second data may be called is specified.

Abstract: An object region data describing method of describing information about the object region in an image over a plurality of frames determines the region of a target object in an image using an approximate function that approximates the trajectory obtained by arranging, in the direction of frame advance, one representative point of an approximate figure for the object region and the difference values for determining the other representative points and describes information about the object region using a parameter for the function.

Abstract: A motion picture storage apparatus includes: a motion picture input unit which inputs motion picture data; a motion picture storage unit which sequentially stores the motion picture data; a condition storage unit which stores a condition related to a desirable scene previously set by a user; a motion picture analyzing unit configured to analyze the motion picture data stored in the motion picture storage unit to check whether a scene satisfying the condition is present, and configured to acquire specifying information of the scene satisfying the condition when the scene satisfying the condition is present; and an information notifying unit which notifies the specifying information to a device of the user.

Abstract: A computer system with a monitor display, comprises a decoder unit configured to decode video data containing digital watermark information to derive decoded data, and configured to determine, based on information included in the video data, whether or not first certification for certifying that the video data is legitimately reproduced data succeeds, and a graphics controller which determines, using the digital watermark information, whether or not second certification for certifying that the video data is to be protected from being copied succeeds, the graphics controller converting the decoded data into a protected decoded data from being copied and outputting the protected decoded data to the monitor display if the first certification and the second certification succeed, and the graphics controller inhibiting the decoded data from being output to the monitor display if the first certification fails and the second certification succeeds.

Abstract: A moving-picture processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire metadata including information about each temporal region in an input moving picture with a plurality of temporal regions, a decision unit configured to determine a cutout region corresponding to at least any one of the plurality of temporal regions on the basis of the metadata, and a cutting-out unit configured to cut out the cutout region from an image in each frame of the input moving picture.

Abstract: A hyper-media information providing method comprises acquiring object region information items corresponding to object regions appearing in a motion video and relevant information items concerning the object region information items, reconstructing the object regions corresponding to the object region information items, displaying the reconstructed object regions in list form, selecting an object region from the object regions displayed in list form, and displaying a relevant information item concerning the object region selected.

Abstract: A special reproduction control information comprises plurality of items of frame information. Each of the items of frame information comprises video location information indicating the location of video data to be reproduced in a special reproduction and display time control information indicating the time for displaying the video data.

Abstract: A data processing method processes image data including spatiotemporal locator information which is added. The spatiotemporal locator information represents a spatiotemporal area which is a temporal transition of an object region over a plurality of frames. The method sets a curved surface defined by a periphery of the spatiotemporal area based on the spatiotemporal locator information, calculates time when a reference trajectory crosses the curved surface, determines whether coordinate values of the reference trajectory are inside or outside of the object region in at least one of frames in which the object region exists, and outputs information relating to whether or not the reference trajectory passes the spatiotemporal area.

Abstract: A special reproduction control information comprises plurality of items of frame information. Each of the items of frame information comprises video location information indicating the location of video data to be reproduced in a special reproduction and display time control information indicating the time for displaying the video data.

Abstract: A format conversion method comprising decoding the bit stream of a first encoded video data format, converting decoded video data to the second encoded video data format, encoding the converted video data in a process for converting the bit stream of the first encoded video data format to the bit stream of the second encoded video data format, and controlling processing parameters of at least one of the decoding, the converting and the encoding.

Abstract: A spatiotemporal locator processing method of correcting a spatiotemporal locator capable of specifying a trajectory of a representative point of an approximate figure representing an arbitrary region in order to represent a transition of the region over a plurality of frames in video data, obtains the trajectory of the representative point based on the spatiotemporal locator, displays the obtained trajectory of the representative point on a screen, receives input of a correction instruction for the trajectory displayed on the screen, and corrects the spatiotemporal locator based on the correction instruction.

Abstract: An object extraction method comprises generating alpha data for each frame, determining an overwrite enable mode and an overwrite disable mode for each frame, setting one of the overwrite enable mode and the overwrite disable mode to the alpha data in accordance with a result of the determining, and overwriting new alpha data on the alpha data set to the overwrite enable mode.

Abstract: A special reproduction control information comprises plurality of items of frame information. Each of the items of frame information comprises video location information indicating the location of video data to be reproduced in a special reproduction and display time control information indicating the time for displaying the video data.

Abstract: An object region data describing method of describing information about the object region in an image over a plurality of frames determines the region of a target object in an image using an approximate function that approximates the trajectory obtained by arranging, in the direction of frame advance, one representative point of an approximate figure for the object region and the difference values for determining the other representative points and describes information about the object region using a parameter for the function.

Abstract: In an object region data generating method for moving picture, an object region is approximated with a polygon in each frame. Each vertex of the polygon in one frame is associated with each vertex of the polygon in adjacent frame based on the distance between the vertexes. A trajectory of the vertex is obtained on a time-series variation of the associated vertexes. The object region data is generated based on the trajectory of the vertex.