Abstract: A program for generating a significant video stream causes a computer to function as coding parameter extraction means for extracting a coding parameter of each macroblock for each frame from an original video stream, macroblock selection means for selecting a significant macroblock that has a coding parameter satisfying a predetermined condition, and significant video stream generation means for generating a significant video stream in which frames of the original video stream temporally synchronized with the frames of the coding parameter in the significant macroblocks are combined in time series.

Abstract: A method of providing a video content formed of a plurality of successive video frames is disclosed. The method includes: extracting a visual feature from an image of each of subject frames which are all or some of the plurality of video frames; and selecting one of a plurality of candidate overlay insertion regions which are pre-assigned on each of the subject frames at different positions for allowing an additional content as a content overlay to be overlaid on the subject frames for display, as a final overlay insertion region, based on distances of the plurality of candidate overlay insertion regions from the extracted feature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital data reproducing device having a simple configuration and being capable of protecting copyright of digital data such as video or audio. Content provider side embeds copyright management information (cumulative number of reproduction times, permissible number of reproduction times, etc.) into digital data that has been degraded by scrambling, and provides it to a content user. A reproducing device of the content user side causes copyright management information detection unit to detect the copyright management information, decreases the data degradation depending on result of the detection, and reproduces by data reproducing unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scene classification apparatus for classifying uncompressed or compressed video into various types of scenes at low cost and with high accuracy using characteristics of a video and audio characteristics accompanied by the video. When video are compressed data, their motion intensity, spatial distribution of motion and histogram of motion direction are detected by using values of motion vectors of predictive coding images existing in respective shots, and the respective shots of the video are classified into a dynamic scene, a static scene, a slow scene, a highlight scene, a zooming scene, a panning scene, a commercial scene and the like based on the motion intensity, the spatial distribution of motion, the histogram of motion direction and shot density.

Abstract: The picture input section 12 fetches image data from the storage device 11, and then, inputs image data on sequential n images into the section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images and the section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images. The section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images measures the correlation between sequential images based on video data. The section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images measures the correlation between sub-sampled images. The short shot determining section 15 determines short cut points by using the correlation between the sequential images and the correlation between the sub-sampled images. Otherwise, short cut points may be determined in consideration of motion amount between the sequential images or the sub-sampled images.

Abstract: Degraded digital data is distributed from a server 1 to each user A, B, C, and D. An encrypted degradation compensation module is also delivered to the digital data duplicating apparatus 2 for the user A. The digital data duplicating apparatus 2 decrypts the encrypted degradation compensation module using its own encryption key, when playing digital data, to generate a 100% degradation compensation module. This module is applied to the degraded digital data to compensate the degradation thereof. An encrypted degradation compensation module of which the degradation compensation capability is reduced is delivered from the user A to the user B. The user B can use the encrypted degradation compensation module of which the degradation compensation capability is reduced from the user A to replicate the degraded digital data.

Abstract: A method of providing a video content formed of a plurality of successive video frames is disclosed. The method includes: extracting a visual feature from an image of each of subject frames which are all or some of the plurality of video frames; and selecting one of a plurality of candidate overlay insertion regions which are pre-assigned on each of the subject frames at different positions for allowing an additional content as a content overlay to be overlaid on the subject frames for display, as a final overlay insertion region, based on distances of the plurality of candidate overlay insertion regions from the extracted feature.

Abstract: The picture input section 12 fetches image data from the storage device 11, and then, inputs image data on sequential n images into the section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images and the section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images. The section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images measures the correlation between sequential images based on video data. The section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images measures the correlation between sub-sampled images. The short shot determining section 15 determines short cut points by using the correlation between the sequential images and the correlation between the sub-sampled images. Otherwise, short cut points may be determined in consideration of motion amount between the sequential images or the sub-sampled images.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a classification apparatus for broadcasted sport videos for classifying various scenes constituting a sport video, depending on the importance level without being limited to any particular sport video by using visual and audio features. A sport video classification processing portion determines and classifies a play scene, a close-up shot and the like using an audio and a color feature extracted from motion picture data. Because the determination of the most frequent color can be changed adaptively for each inputted sport video, it is not necessary to determine any particular color to the most frequent color previously.

Abstract: The picture input section 12 fetches image data from the storage device 11, and then, inputs image data on sequential n images into the section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images and the section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images. The section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images measures the correlation between sequential images based on video data. The section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images measures the correlation between sub-sampled images. The short shot determining section 15 determines short cut points by using the correlation between the sequential images and the correlation between the sub-sampled images. Otherwise, short cut points may be determined in consideration of motion amount between the sequential images or the sub-sampled images.

Abstract: A feature vector computation apparatus includes a content obtaining unit that obtains a content; a key frame extractor that detects an instantaneous cut point in the content obtained by the content obtaining unit, and extracts two frames as key frames from the content, based on the instantaneous cut point; a feature vector computation target region extractor that extracts a feature vector computation target region from the two key frame extracted by the key frame extractor; and a feature vector computation unit that computes a feature vector from the feature vector computation target region extracted by the feature vector computation target region extractor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a real-time live picture information compression-transmission apparatus and method using a connection-less type protocol for a computer network. The compression-transmission apparatus is constituted to divide frame data output from a real-time encoder compressing live picture information into packets, and to transmit the live picture information in a real time manner according to the connection-less type protocol while suppressing burst transmission by conducting transmission control. The present invention also provides a compressed video data decoding apparatus capable of reducing compressed video decoding processing load without deteriorating picture quality and decreasing the number of played back picture planes when playing back a picture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the video playback unit of one or a plurality of videos, the delivery unit and the recording medium for recording the program of the processing of these units. The video playback unit of one video reads in order the video data of the video file from the storage unit. The display displays the video data, the time information sequence data and the still image sequence data positioned before and after the playback time of the video data. In this way, the video scene contained in the video file stored in the storage unit and the video file within the server network-connected can be effectively read or the target scene can be effectively retrieved. On the other hand, the playback unit of a plurality of videos divides a plurality of videos read from the storage unit into the main videos and the proxy videos so that these videos can be simultaneously displayed. In this way, a plurality of videos can be played back even in a limited transmission bandwidth and decoding capacity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital data reproducing device having a simple configuration and being capable of protecting copyright of digital data such as video or audio. Content provider side embeds copyright management information (cumulative number of reproduction times, permissible number of reproduction times, etc.) into digital data that has been degraded by scrambling, and provides it to a content user. A reproducing device of the content user side causes copyright management information detection unit to detect the copyright management information, decreases the data degradation depending on result of the detection, and reproduces by data reproducing unit.

Abstract: A video analyzing unit 1 analyzes features of an input video. A video classifying unit 2 estimates, based on results of an analysis by the video analyzing unit 1, whether the input video is one shot by a professional cameraman or one shot by an amateur to carry out classification. The video analyzing unit 1 includes a shot density measuring unit 11, a camera-shake determining unit 12, a blur determining unit 13, and a contrast measuring unit 14. Further, a sound analyzing unit that analyzes features of a sound accompanying the input video can be provided to use results of an analysis thereof as information for video classification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a real-time live picture information compression-transmission apparatus and method using a connection-less type protocol for a computer network. The compression-transmission apparatus is constituted to divide frame data output from a real-time encoder compressing live picture information into packets, and to transmit the live picture information in a real time manner according to the connection-less type protocol while suppressing burst transmission by conducting transmission control. The present invention also provides a compressed video data decoding apparatus capable of reducing compressed video decoding processing load without deteriorating picture quality and decreasing the number of played back picture planes when playing back a picture.

Abstract: Degraded digital data is distributed from a server 1 to each user A, B, C, and D. An encrypted degradation compensation module is also delivered to the digital data duplicating apparatus 2 for the user A. The digital data duplicating apparatus 2 decrypts the encrypted degradation compensation module using its own encryption key, when playing digital data, to generate a 100% degradation compensation module. This module is applied to the degraded digital data to compensate the degradation thereof. An encrypted degradation compensation module of which the degradation compensation capability is reduced is delivered from the user A to the user B. The user B can use the encrypted degradation compensation module of which the degradation compensation capability is reduced from the user A to replicate the degraded digital data.

Abstract: A feature description method capable of high-speed, efficiently searching audio data or grasping a summary of the audio data by giving considerations to elements and characteristics peculiar to the audio data, is provided. Also, an audio video data feature description collection construction method for collecting feature descriptions from multiple pieces of audio video data based on a specific feature type makes it possible to efficiently, clearly describe a feature description collection.

Abstract: A variance between sequential video pictures is extracted, and then, a GOP boundary position is decided based on inter-frame variance information. Furthermore, simple motion estimation is carried out with respect to video pictures inside one GOP. If a motion variation between the video pictures is large, a small predictive frame interval is taken; to the contrary, if the motion variation is small, a large predictive frame interval is taken. The simple motion estimation is carried out between two downscaled feature planes at a timewise fixed interval with respect to a video picture which is discriminated to be an interlaced video picture, wherein a motion compensatory prediction error at that time is output as image variance information. If the image variance is small, coding is conducted by a frame structure; to the contrary, if the image variance is large, the coding is conducted by a field structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a real-time live picture information compression-transmission apparatus and method using a connection-less type protocol for a computer network. The compression-transmission apparatus is constituted to divide frame data output from a real-time encoder compressing live picture information into packets, and to transmit the live picture information in a real time manner according to the connection-less type protocol while suppressing burst transmission by conducting transmission control. The present invention also provides a compressed video data decoding apparatus capable of reducing compressed video decoding processing load without deteriorating picture quality and decreasing the number of played back picture planes when playing back a picture.