Abstract: A camera-recorder apparatus comprises an image capture device operable to capture a plurality of video images; a storage medium by which the video images are stored for later retrieval; a feature extraction unit operable to derive image property data from the image content of at least one of the video images substantially in real time at the capture of the video images, the image property data being associated with respective images or groups of images; and a data path by which the camera-recorder apparatus is operable to transfer the derived image property data to an external data processing apparatus.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus which is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source, the audio and/or video generation apparatus comprising a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, wherein the audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged to receive metadata associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the metadata on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The data processor may be arranged to receive signals representative of the time codes of the recorded audio/video signals, and the metadata may include time code data representative of the in and out points of a take of the audio/video signals generated by the data processor. The metadata may also include unique identification code for identifying the audio/video signals.

Abstract: An application programmer's interface provides a facility for accessing metadata describing the content or attributes of information material. The application programmer's interface comprises a signalling protocol processor operable to receive a metadata string which includes a resource identifier providing an address of a metadata resource, and a file transfer processor operable to provide access to the metadata resource in accordance with a request from the application program. The signalling protocol processor provides an efficient facility for communicating the metadata string. The metadata string may be in the form of a mark-up language such as XML. The metadata resource may be for example a proxy version of the information material, such as a video proxy if the information material is video. Accordingly, the file transfer processor is arranged to provide efficient access to the video proxy using the address provided with metadata string.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source has a meta data generation tool which is arranged in operation to generate meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals, wherein the type of meta data generated by the meta data generation tool is user selectable. The audio and/or video generation apparatus may comprise a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, and the audio and/or video generation apparatus may be arranged to receive meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the meta data on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The meta data may be user generated, such as text describing the audio/video signals, or may be secondary meta data which is automatically generated by the audio/video apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data storage medium storing data material having a data replay order, the stored data material being associated with dummy data material stored on the medium at a different position in the data replay order, in which metadata identifying the data material is encoded as a watermark in the dummy data material.

Abstract: A video information retrieval system comprising a client system having a request issuer for issuing a search request in respect of desired video material; and a video accessor for accessing video material on the basis of a uniform resource locator (URL) and a SMPTE unique material identifier (UMID). The retrieval system also comprising a server system having access to one or more databases containing metadata information relating to a plurality of video material items, a UMID associated with each video material item and at least one URL associated with each UMID. A receiver is provided for receiving a search request from the client system and detecting one or more video material items for which metadata information stored in at least one of the database(s) substantially corresponds to the search request. An information supplier supplies the metadata information, the URL and the UMID relating to the one or more detected video material items to the client system.

Abstract: An editing system has a video store for storing a video sequence and a text store for storing a sequence of text associated with the video sequence. Displays and are provided for displaying the video and the text on the text display. The current text position is indicated by a cursor 10 or by another marker. The frames of the video sequence have time codes associated therewith. Corresponding time codes are associated with the text using the time codes and the rate n of reading words:— The current position in the text is controllable in dependence on the time code of the video frames; and the video frame currently displayed is controllable in dependence upon the current position in the text.

Abstract: A data processor comprises a data compression encoder which operates to compression encode source data into compression encoded data having a variable compressed data rate, a multiplexer coupled to the data compression encoder and arranged in operation to concatenate the compressed data and ancillary data into a concatenated data stream, and a control processor coupled to the multiplexer and arranged in operation to control the multiplexer whereby a combined data rate of the concatenated data stream is less than or equal to a pre-determined maximum. The data processor finds application with a compression encoder which operates in accordance with an MPEG-type encoding algorithm. The source data may be representative of video signals or audio signals, and the ancillary data may be descriptive metadata.

Abstract: An audio/video reproducing apparatus is connectable to a communications network for selectively reproducing items of audio/video material from a recording medium in response to a request received via the communications network. The audio/video reproducing apparatus may comprise a control processor operable in use to receive data representing the request for the audio/video material item via the communications network. A reproducing processor is operable in response to signals identifying the audio/video material items from the control processor to reproduce the audio/video material items. The data identifying the audio/video material items includes meta data indicative of the audio/video material items. The meta data may be one of UMID, tape ID and time codes, and a Unique Material Identifier the material items.

Abstract: Editing apparatus for controlling editing of source audio and/or video material stored as one or more source files on a storage medium to generate an edited material series of clips from the source material arranged as one or more parallel sequences of temporally successive source material clips, at least some of the clips having one or more predefined time points within the clip comprises user-controllable means for adjusting the temporal position of a start point, an end point or both of clips in the edited material series, the adjusting means being operable to adjust the temporal position in steps so that at each step the temporal position is aligned with a predefined point of another clip in the same or another parallel sequence.

Abstract: A data structure for representing metadata describes the content of at least one shot or sub-shot of information material. The data structure comprises a volume identification defining a data carrier on which the information material is contained, at least one shot identification defining the shot or sub-shot within the material, and at least one type of metadata associated with the content of the shot or sub-shot. The volume identification is arranged at a first hierarchical level and the shot identification is arranged at a lower hierarchical level and the metadata describing the shot is arranged with respect to the shot hierarchical level. The data structure provides an efficient facility for communicating metadata between metadata nodes including application programs which use the metadata. The metadata is identified on the basis of a shot and volume on which the information material which the metadata describes is contained.

Abstract: An application programmer's interface provides a facility for accessing metadata describing the content or attributes of information material. The application programmer's interface comprises a signalling protocol processor operable to receive a metadata string which includes a resource identifier providing an address of a metadata resource, and a file transfer processor operable to provide access to the metadata resource in accordance with a request from the application program. The signalling protocol processor provides an efficient facility for communicating the metadata string. The metadata string may be in the form of a mark-up language such as XML. The metadata resource may be for example a proxy version of the information material, such as a video proxy if the information material is video. Accordingly, the file transfer processor is arranged to provide efficient access to the video proxy using the address provided with metadata string.

Abstract: A system for facilitating development of information material comprises a material generation apparatus and a digital assistant device. The material generation apparatus includes a recording device and a wireless communicator. The material generation apparatus is operable to generate the information material and the recording device is operable to store the information material on a data carrier with material location data identifying a location on the data carrier of the information material. The digital assistant device includes and a wireless communicator for providing a wireless communications link with the wireless communicator of the material generation apparatus. The material generation apparatus is operable in response to a request communicated from the digital assistant device via the wireless communications link for material location data identifying an event represented within the information material to communicate the material location data of the material representing the event.

Abstract: A sequence of video frames is assembled from video clips. The frames have time codes associated therewith. It is desired to match sections of the text (T1, T2) to corresponding sections (V1, V2) of the video sequence. Time codes (TCx, TCx+1) corresponding to the time codes of the video frames are entered into the text. A rate n of reading the words of the text is defined. The extent W of the text which matches an associated section of the video is calculated as W=(TCx+1−Tcx).n. On a text display, the extent W of the text which matches the video section is indicated by highlighting or in other ways. More text than matches a video section may be provided. The excess text or overflow text is distinguished on the display by e.g. color from the active text which matches the video section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data storage medium storing data material having a data replay order, the stored data material being associated with dummy data material stored on the medium at a different position in the data replay order, in which metadata identifying the data material is encoded as a watermark in the dummy data material.

Abstract: Editing apparatus for editing source video and/or audio material stored on a storage medium to generate an edited material sequence of clips from the source material, comprises: means for defining source files on the storage medium containing data representing the source material to be edited; and means for defining an output file on the storage medium for each edited material sequence, each output file comprising addressing information defining a sequence of storage locations on the storage medium of data within the source files representing the one or more clips of source material forming that edited material sequence.

Abstract: Editing apparatus for editing source video and/or audio material stored on a storage medium to generate an edited material sequence of clips from the source material, comprises: means for defining source files on the storage medium containing data representing the source material to be edited; and means for defining an output file on the storage medium for each edited material sequence, each output file comprising addressing information defining a sequence of storage locations on the storage medium of data within the source files representing the one or more clips of source material forming that edited material sequence.

Abstract: An audio/video reproducing apparatus is connectable to a communications network for selectively reproducing items of audio/video material from a recording medium in response to a request received via the communications network. The audio/video reproducing apparatus may comprise a control processor operable in use to receive data representing the request for the audio/video material item via the communications network. A reproducing processor is operable in response to signals identifying the audio/video material items from the control processor to reproduce the audio/video material items. The data identifying the audio/video material items includes meta data indicative of the audio/video material items. The meta data may be one of UMID, tape ID and time codes, and a Unique Material Identifier the material items.

Abstract: Video replay apparatus comprises a video material store and a replay controller for controlling replay of video material store; the replay controller being operable to control replay of video material stored in the store in accordance with associated data defining an information content of the video material.

Abstract: A video information processing apparatus for selecting a representative video image from a group of video images in dependence upon a frequency of occurrence of a plurality of possible values of at least one image property.