Generation of digested image data

• US 20050232489A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kuwata, Naoki, Shinozaki, Junichiro, Hosoda, Tatsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/190
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/40 in video content extracting overlay text G06V20/62; video retrieval G06F16/70; processing of video elementary streams in video servers H04N21/234; processing of video elementary streams in video clients H04N21/44

Abstract

This invention provides a method of extracting at least a portion of moving image data from supplied moving image data. The method comprises: (a) a moving image evaluation step of generating moving image evaluation data by evaluating the supplied moving image data, the evaluation being chronologically performed based on a prescribed condition; (b) a moving image data extraction step of extracting the at least a portion of moving image data from the supplied moving image data based on the moving image evaluation data; and (c) a moving image data classification step of classifying the extracted moving image data into a plurality of classes based on the moving image evaluation data.

Claims

1. A method of extracting at least a portion of moving image data from supplied moving image data, comprising:

a moving image evaluation step of generating moving image evaluation data by evaluating the supplied moving image data, the evaluation being chronologically performed based on a prescribed condition;

a moving image data extraction step of extracting the at least a portion of moving image data from the supplied moving image data based on the moving image evaluation data; and

a moving image data classification step of classifying the extracted moving image data into a plurality of classes based on the moving image evaluation data.

2. The moving image data extraction method according to claim 1, further comprising a scene separation step of separating the supplied moving image data by scene, wherein

the moving image data extraction step has an extraction mode of performing the extraction by the separated scene.

3. The moving image data extraction method according to claim 2, wherein

the moving image data extraction step includes the steps of:

(a) evaluating multiple still image data included in each scene in order to generate multiple still image evaluation values, each of which representing an evaluation value for each of the multiple still image data;

(b) calculating an average value of the multiple still image evaluation values for the each scene as the moving image evaluation data; and

(c) extracting moving image data comprising a scene having the moving image evaluation data that exceeds a prescribed threshold value, from the supplied moving image data.

4. The moving image data extraction method according to claim 1, further comprising a display control step of controlling a display such that each of the extracted moving image data is displayed with respect to each of the classes to which each of the extracted moving image data belongs.

5. The moving image data extraction method according to claim 1, further comprising a moving image data file generation step of generating a data file, using the extracted moving image data and data indicative of the class to which the moving image data belongs.

6. The moving image data extraction method according to claim 1, wherein

the moving image evaluation data includes qualitative data, wherein

the moving image data classification step has a classification mode of performing the classification based on a difference in the qualitative data.

7. The moving image data extraction method according to claim 1, wherein

the moving image evaluation data includes quantitative data, wherein

the moving image data classification step has a classification mode of performing the classification based on magnitudes of the quantitative data.

8. A digested image data generating method of generating digested image data which is reduced moving image data, the reduction being performed by extracting a portion of moving image data from supplied moving image data, the method comprising:

(a) the steps included in the moving image data extraction method according to claim 1;

and

(b) a moving image data linking step of linking the extracted moving image data in order to generate the digested image data, when a number of the extracted moving image data is plural.

9. The digested image data generating method according to claim 8, wherein

the moving image data linking step has a linking mode of liking the extracted multiple moving image data chronologically.

10. The digested image data generating method according to claim 8, wherein

the moving image data linking step has a linking mode of liking the extracted multiple moving image data based on the moving image evaluation values.

11. A apparatus for extracting at least a portion of moving image data from supplied moving image data, comprising:

a moving image evaluator configured to generate moving image evaluation data by evaluating the supplied moving image data, the evaluation being chronologically performed based on a prescribed condition;

a moving image data extractor configured to extract the at least a portion of moving image data from the supplied moving image data based on the moving image evaluation data; and

a moving image data classifier configured to classify the extracted moving image data into a plurality of classes based on the moving image evaluation data.

12. The moving image data extraction apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a scene separator configured to separate the supplied moving image data by scene, wherein

the moving image data extractor has an extraction mode of performing the extraction by the separated scene.

13. The moving image data extraction apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the moving image data extractor performs processes of:

(a) evaluating multiple still image data included in each scene in order to generate multiple still image evaluation values, each of which representing an evaluation value for each of the multiple still image data;

(b) calculating an average value of the multiple still image evaluation values for the each scene as the moving image evaluation data; and

(c) extracting moving image data comprising a scene having the moving image evaluation data that exceeds a prescribed threshold value, from the supplied moving image data.

14. The moving image data extraction apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a display controller configured to control a display such that each of the extracted moving image data is displayed with respect to each of the classes to which each of the extracted moving image data belongs.

15. A digested image data generating apparatus of generating digested image data which is reduced moving image data, the reduction being performed by extracting a portion of moving image data from supplied moving image data, the apparatus comprises:

the moving image data extraction apparatus according to claim 11;

and

a moving image data linking unit configured to link the extracted moving image data in order to generate the digested image data, when a number of the extracted moving image data is plural.

16. A computer program product for causing a computer to extract at least a portion of moving image data from supplied moving image data, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising;

a moving image evaluation program for causing the computer to generate moving image evaluation data by evaluating the supplied moving image data, the evaluation being chronologically performed based on a prescribed condition;

a moving image data extraction program for causing the computer to extract the at least a portion of moving image data from the supplied moving image data based on the moving image evaluation data; and

a moving image data classification program for causing the computer to classify the extracted moving image data into a plurality of classes based on the moving image evaluation data.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16 wherein

the computer program further comprises a scene separation program for causing the computer to separate the supplied moving image data by scene, wherein

the moving image data extraction program has an extraction mode of performing the extraction by the separated scene.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17wherein

the moving image data extraction program comprises:

a program for causing the computer to evaluate multiple still image data included in each scene in order to generate multiple still image evaluation values, each of which representing an evaluation value for each of the multiple still image data;

a program for causing the computer to calculate an average value of the multiple still image evaluation values for the each scene as the moving image evaluation data; and

a program for causing the computer to extract moving image data comprising a scene having the moving image evaluation data that exceeds a prescribed threshold value, from the supplied moving image data.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16, further comprising a display control program for causing the computer to controll a display such that each of the extracted moving image data is displayed with respect to each of the classes to which each of the extracted moving image data belongs.

20. A computer program product for causing a computer to generate digested image data which is reduced moving image data, the reduction being performed by extracting a portion of moving image data from supplied moving image data, wherein

the computer program product comprises the computer program product according to claim 16, wherein

the computer program further comprises a program for causing a computer to link the extracted moving image data in order to generate the digested image data, when a number of the extracted moving image data is plural.