Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program product for analyzing video images of a sports motion is provided for identification of key motion positions within a video and automatic extraction of segments of a video containing a sports motion. Video data displaying a sports motion has data representative of a number of image frames. For a number of image frames, one or more frame difference measures are calculated between the image frame and another image frame. The frame difference measures are analyzed to identify a plurality of image frames that each show a key position of the sports motion. The segment of the video containing the sports motion showing the sports motion is between two of the image frames showing the key positions. Frame difference measures may be calculated based on pixel difference measures or optical flow techniques.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method, apparatus, system and computer program product for analysing video images of a sports motion and, in particular, to identification of key motion positions within a video and automatic extraction of segments of a video containing a sports motion. Video data displaying a sports motion comprises data representative of a number of image frames. For a number of image frames, one or more frame difference measures are calculated between the image frame and another image frame. The frame difference measures are analysed to identify a plurality of image frames that each show a key position of the sports motion. The segment of the video containing the sports motion showing the sports motion is between two of the image frames showing the key positions. Frame difference measures may be calculated based on pixel difference measures or optical flow techniques.