Abstract: An identification apparatus keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications, and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. The apparatus comprises a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or structure for a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member is located in the guide member where a fingertip is positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with where a finger to be imaged should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images. The apparatus may also include dual light sources power saving functionality, and means for limiting the interference of external light sources.

Abstract: A method and a medium for recording video information make it possible to retrieve particular scenes quickly based on representative images alone, which are chosen by taking the contents of images and sounds into account. The method for recording video information comprises a first step of storing video, a second step of dividing the video into segments, and extracting the top frame number of each segment, a third step of extracting the frame number of the frame having the maximum feature amount in each segment, and a fourth step of storing the frame numbers extracted by the second and third step in the first step.