Abstract: A method of creating a database for facilitating a synthetic interview begins with the step of generating questions. The questions and responses to the questions are recorded. A transcript of the recorded questions and responses is created. An association between each question and the response thereto is maintained. Each of the responses and each of the questions is expanded with semantic information. Inverted indices are created for the semantic expansions of the responses, the questions, and the transcripts of the responses and questions to enable retrieval of the recorded responses in a seamless manner. A method is also disclosed for creating a database for creating a synthetic interview from existing material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of creating a digital library from audio data and video images. The method includes the steps of transcribing the audio data and marking the transcribed audio data with a first set of time-stamps and indexing the transcribed audio data. The method also includes the steps of digitizing the video data and marking the digitized video data with a second set of time-stamps related to the first set of time-stamps and segmenting the digitized video data into paragraphs according to a set of rules. The steps of storing the indexed audio data and the digitized video data with their respective sets of time-stamps is also provided. The method also includes the step of passing the transcribed audio data through a natural language interpreter before indexing the transcribed audio data. A method and apparatus for searching the digital library is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for skimming digital audio and video data, wherein the video data is partitioned into video segments and the audio data has been transcribed, is comprised of the steps of selecting representative frames from each of the video segments. The representative frames are combined to form an assembled video sequence. Keywords contained in the corresponding transcribed audio data are identified and extracted. The extracted keywords are assembled into an audio track. The assembled video sequence and audio track are output together. An apparatus for carrying out the disclosed method is also disclosed.