Real-time feature-based video stream validation and distortion analysis system using color moments

• US 6,246,803 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Kansas
• Original Assignee: University of Kansas
• Inventors: Gauch, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cooperrider, F. E.
• Application Number:
  US09/337,362
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 382/236, 382/282, 382/276, 382/162, 382/165, 348/1
• US Class Current: 382/276
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/02 for colour television signals

Abstract

A real-time distortion analysis system (20) utilizes a baseline preparation processor (38) and a remote comparison processor (50) to determine (72, 78) a plurality of color and central moments for baseline and broadcast video streams respectively. The baseline stream is taken from a broadcast signal sent from a broadcast station (26), and the broadcast video stream is taken from a viewer signal sent from a remote receiving station (28, 30, 32) to viewers (34). The remote comparison processor (50) compares (82), on a frame by frame basis, the baseline and broadcast moments and determines a cumulative absolute difference which reflects differences between the two video streams. To conduct a frame by frame analysis of the two video streams, the system (20) temporally aligns the video streams. Alternatively, the system (20) uses a moment database (88) to compare the moments at a time subsequent to broadcast.

Claims

1. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline color moments, including a plurality of baseline color moment types, for the baseline video stream, and to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of baseline color moments; and

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis of a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast color moments, including a plurality of broadcast color moment types, for the broadcast video stream, to receive the baseline signal, and to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the baseline preparation processor is operable to determine the baseline color moments and transmit the baseline signal in real time;

and the remote comparison processor is operable to receive the baseline signal, determine the broadcast color moments, and determine the variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments in real time.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a database operable to store a plurality of sets of the baseline color moments each set of the baseline color moments corresponding to a baseline video stream segment, and the remote processor being operable to compare the broadcast color moments with the sets of the baseline color moments and to determine which set of baseline color moments corresponds to the broadcast color moments.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the remote processor is operable to compare the broadcast color moments with the sets of the baseline color moments and to determine which set of baseline color moments corresponds to the broadcast color moments in real time.

5. The system according to claim 3 wherein the database is further operable to store the broadcast color moments, and the remote processor is operable to compare the broadcast color moments with the sets of the baseline color moments and to determine which set of baseline color moments corresponds to the broadcast color moments at a time subsequent to broadcasting of the broadcast video stream.

6. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a baseline transmitter operable to transmit the baseline signal including the plurality of color moments and a remote receiver operable to receive the baseline signal from the baseline transmitter.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the transmitter and receiver comprise Ethernet connection cards.

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein the transmitter and receiver comprise modems.

9. The system according to claim 6 further comprising a remote transmitter operable to transmit a variations signal including the variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments and a baseline receiver operable to receive the variations signal from the remote transmitter.

10. The system according to claim 9 further comprising an output mechanism operable to output the variations signal for evaluation.

11. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a baseline analog to digital converter operable to digitize the frames of the baseline video stream for analysis by the baseline processor.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the baseline analog to digital converter is operable to digitize frames at an input rate of approximately thirty frames per second.

13. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a decoder operable to decode digital video streams, and wherein the broadcast video stream comprises a digital, broadcast video stream.

14. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a remote tuner operable to select and receive a desired one of a plurality of viewer signals including the broadcast video stream.

15. The system according to claim 14 further comprising a baseline tuner operable to select a desired one of a plurality of broadcast signals.

16. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of remote tuners operable to receive a plurality of broadcast signals each containing a broadcast video stream, and wherein the remote processor is operable to substantially simultaneously analyze the broadcast video streams.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein the baseline processor is further operable to determine a plurality of baseline central moments for the baseline video stream, and the remote comparison processor is further operable to determine a plurality of broadcast central moments for the broadcast signal and determine variations between the baseline central moments and the broadcast central moments.

18. The system according to claim 1 wherein the remote comparison processor is operable to determine a temporal shift between receipt of the baseline signal by the receiver and receipt of the broadcast signal.

19. A videostream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline video feed device operable to introduce a baseline video stream having baseline frames into the system;

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis on the baseline video stream frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline moments, a plurality of baseline moment types, for the baseline video steam frames;

a baseline transmitter operable to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of moments; and

a plurality of remote sites, each remote site including;

a remote video feed device operable to introduce a broadcast video stream having broadcast frames into the system;

a remote receiver operable to receive the baseline signal from the baseline transmitter; and

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis on the broadcast video stream frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast moments, including a plurality of broadcast moment types, for the broadcast video stream, and to determine variations between the baseline moments and the broadcast moments.

20. The system according to claim 19 wherein the baseline processor is operable to analyze all baseline frames of the baseline video stream at approximately thirty frames per second in real time and the baseline frames comprise video frames.

21. The system according to claim 19 wherein the comparison processor is operable to determine a frame variation for corresponding broadcast frames and baseline frames.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the comparison processor is operable to determine a cumulative frame variation for a plurality of frame variations.

23. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline color moments, including a plurality of baseline color moment types, for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast color moments, including a plurality of broadcast color moments, for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline color moments, including a plurality of baseline color moment types, with the broadcast color moments; and

determining variations between the baseline color and the broadcast color moments.

24. The method according to claim 23 further comprising transmission of a record signal to a baseline signal recorder and recording the baseline video stream upon receipt of the record signal.

25. The method according to claim 23 further comprising determining a plurality of sets of baseline color moments, storing the sets of baseline color moments, and comparing the broadcast color moments with the sets of baseline color moments to find a match between the broadcast color moments and one of the sets of baseline color moments.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein comparing the broadcast color moments with the sets of baseline color moments comprises comparing the broadcast color moments with the sets of baseline color moments in real time.

27. The method according to claim 25 further comprising storing the broadcast color moments, and wherein comparing the broadcast color moments with the sets of baseline color moments comprises comparing the broadcast color moments with the sets of baseline color moments after the broadcast video stream has been broadcasted.

28. The method according to claim 23 wherein the broadcast video stream comprises a broadcast, digital video stream, and further comprising decoding the broadcast, digital video stream.

29. The method according to claim 23 further comprising selecting one of a plurality of broadcast video streams to be analyzed and selecting a corresponding baseline video stream form a plurality of baseline video streams for comparison with a selected one of the broadcast video streams.

30. The method according to claim 23 further comprising converting the baseline video stream from analog to digital and converting the broadcast video stream from analog to digital.

31. The method according to claim 23 wherein analyzing the baseline video stream comprises analyzing approximately thirty baseline frames per second in real time and analyzing the broadcast video stream comprises analyzing approximately thirty broadcast frames per second in real time.

32. The method according to claim 23 further comprising:

determining a plurality of baseline central moments for the baseline video stream;

determining a plurality of broadcast central moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline central moments with the broadcast central moments;

and determining variations between the broadcast central moments and the baseline central moments.

33. The method according to claim 23 wherein determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments comprises determining Euclidean distances for between corresponding moments for each pair of corresponding frames under comparison.

34. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline central moments, including a plurality of baseline central moment types, for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast central moments, including a plurality of broadcast central moment types, for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline central moments with the broadcast central moments; and

determining variations between the baseline central moments and the broadcast central moments.

35. The method according to claim 34 further comprising determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream and determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream.

36. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having baseline frames, the analysis including determination of a plurality of baseline moments including a plurality of baseline moment types, for the baseline video stream;

a remote comparison processor operable to perk an analysis of a broadcast video stream having broadcast frames, the analysis including determination of a plurality of broadcast moments, including a plurality of broadcast moment types, for the broadcast video stream;

a communications apparatus operable to exchange the baseline moments and the broadcast moments between the baseline processor and the remote processor; and

a selected one of the baseline processor and the remote processor being operable to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments.

37. The system according to claim 36 wherein the communications apparatus comprises a baseline transmitter in operable communication with the baseline processor and being operable to transmit a baseline signal including the baseline moments and a remote receiver in operable communication with the remote processor and being operable to receive the baseline signal, and the remote processor is operable to determine the variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments.

38. The system according to claim 36 wherein the baseline moments comprise baseline color moments, and the broadcast moments comprise broadcast color moments.

39. The system according to claim 36 wherein the baseline moments comprise baseline central moments, and the broadcast moments comprise broadcast central moments.

40. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream, and to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of baseline color moments;

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis of a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream, to receive the baseline signal, and to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

a baseline digital video recorder operable to record desired segments of the baseline video stream, and a remote digital video recorder operable to record desired segments of the broadcast video stream, and wherein the remote processor is operable to transmit a record signal to the baseline processor, so that the baseline recorder and remote recorder record substantially simultaneously.

41. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream, and to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of baseline color moments;

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis of a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream, to receive the baseline signal, and to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments;

the baseline processor is further operable to determine a plurality of baseline central moments for the baseline video stream, and the remote comparison processor is further operable to determine a plurality of broadcast central moments for the broadcast signal and determine variations between the baseline central moments and the broadcast central moments; and

the baseline processor is operable to determine and the plurality of the baseline central moments includes a plurality of first baseline central moments representing centers of image intensity, a plurality of second baseline central moments representing standard deviation of image intensity, and a plurality of third baseline central moments representing skews of image intensity; and

the remote processor is operable to determine and the plurality of the broadcast central moments includes a plurality of first broadcast central moments representing centers of image intensity, a plurality of second broadcast central moments representing standard deviation of image intensity, and a plurality of third broadcast central moments representing skews of image intensity.

42. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream, and to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of baseline color moments; and

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis of a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream, to receive the baseline signal, and to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments;

the baseline processor is further operable to determine a plurality of baseline central moments for the baseline video stream, and the remote comparison processor is further operable to determine a plurality of broadcast central moments for the broadcast signal and determine variations between the baseline central moments and the broadcast central moments; and

the baseline central moments include baseline gray-scale intensity moments, and the broadcast central moments include broadcast gray-scale intensity moments.

43. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream, and to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of baseline color moments;

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis of a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream, to receive the baseline signal, and to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

the baseline processor is operable to determine and the plurality of baseline color moments includes a plurality of first baseline red moments, a plurality of first baseline green moments, and a plurality of first baseline blue moments, the first moments representing averages of color values;

the remote comparison processor is operable to determine and the plurality of broadcast color moments includes a plurality of first broadcast red moments, a plurality of first broadcast green moments, and a plurality of first broadcast blue moments.

44. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream, and to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of baseline color moments;

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis of a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream, to receive the baseline signal, and to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

the baseline processor is operable to determine and the plurality of baseline color moments includes a plurality of second baseline red moments, a plurality of second baseline green moments, and a plurality of second baseline blue moments, the second moments representing standard deviations of color values;

the remote comparison processor is operable to determine and the plurality of broadcast color moments includes a plurality of second broadcast red moments, a plurality of second broadcast green moments, and a plurality of second broadcast blue moments.

45. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream, and to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of baseline color moments;

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis of a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream, to receive the baseline signal, and to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

the baseline processor is operable to determine and the plurality of baseline color moments includes a plurality of third baseline red moments, a plurality of third baseline green moments, and a plurality of third baseline blue moments, the third moments representing skews of color values;

the remote comparison processor is operable to determine and the plurality of broadcast color moments includes a plurality of third broadcast red moments, a plurality of third broadcast green moments, and a plurality of third broadcast blue moments.

46. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline video feed device operable to introduce a baseline video stream having baseline frames into the system;

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis on the baseline video stream frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of baseline moments, including a plurality of baseline moment types for the baseline video stream frames;

a baseline transmitter operable to transmit a baseline signal including the plurality of moments; and

a plurality of remote sites, each remote site including;

a remote video feed device operable to introduce a broadcast video stream having broadcast frames into the system;

a remote receiver operable to receive the baseline signal from the baseline transmitter;

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis on the broadcast video stream frames, the analysis including determining a plurality of broadcast moments for the broadcast video stream including a plurality of broadcast moment types, and to determine variations between the baseline moments and the broadcast moments; and

the frame variation comprises a sum of absolute differences between the plurality of baseline moments and the plurality of broadcast moments.

47. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline color moments with the broadcast color moments;

determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

recording the broadcast video stream upon detection of a variation value above a predetermined variation value.

48. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline color moments with the broadcast color moments;

determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

determining the plurality of broadcast color moments comprises determining a second color moment and a third color moment for a selected one of the broadcast frames based on a first moment from an immediately previous broadcast frame to the selected broadcast frame, determining a first moment for the selected frame, and comparing the first moment from the previous broadcast frame with the first moment from the selected broadcast frame.

49. The method according to claim 48 further comprising redetermining the second and third moments for the selected broadcast frame based on the first moment for the selected frame when the first moment for the selected frame is substantially different from the first moment for the previous frame.

50. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline color moments with the broadcast color moments;

determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

determining the broadcast color moments comprises determining a first order color moment representing an average value, determining a second order color moment representing a standard deviation value, and a third order color moment representing a skew value.

51. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video streams including a plurality of baseline color moment types;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast color moments, including a plurality of broadcast color moment types, for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline color moments with the broadcast color moments;

determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

transmitting a baseline signal, including the baseline color moments, from a baseline transmitter to a remote receiver.

52. The method according to claim 51 further comprising determining a temporal shift between the baseline signal and the broadcast video stream.

53. The method according to claim 52 wherein determining the temporal shift between the baseline signal and the broadcast signal comprises assuming a temporal shift, determining a cumulative variation for a selected number of frames, repeatedly changing the temporal shift and determining additional cumulative variations for each change in temporal shift, comparing the cumulative variations, and finding an optimal temporal shift providing a minimum cumulative variation.

54. The method according to claim 53 further comprising subsequently evaluating the optimal temporal shift for accuracy by determining further cumulative variations for other temporal shifts, terminating evaluation of the optimal temporal shift when the minimum cumulative variation is achieved, and if necessary resetting the optimal temporal shift.

55. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline color moments with the broadcast color moments;

determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments;

determining a plurality of baseline central moments for the baseline video stream;

determining a plurality of broadcast central moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline central moments with the broadcast central moments;

determining variations between the broadcast central moments and the baseline central moments; and

determining the baseline central moments comprises determining a plurality of first baseline central moments representing centers of image intensity, determining a plurality of second baseline central moments representing standard deviation of image intensity, and determining a plurality of third baseline central moments representing skews of image intensity; and

determining the broadcast central moments comprises determining a plurality of first broadcast central moments representing centers of image intensity, determining a plurality of second broadcast central moments representing standard deviation of image intensity, and determining a plurality of third broadcast central moments representing skews of image intensity.

56. The method according to claim 55 wherein the image intensity comprises gray-scale image intensity.

57. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline color moments with the broadcast color moments;

determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments;

determining the plurality of baseline color moments comprises;

determining a plurality of first baseline red moments, a plurality of first baseline green moments, and a plurality of first baseline blue moments, the first moments representing averages of color values;

determining a plurality of second baseline red moments, a plurality of second baseline green moments, and a plurality of second baseline blue moments, the second moments representing standard deviations of color values; and

determining a plurality of third baseline red moments, a plurality of third baseline green moments, and a plurality of third baseline blue moments, the third moments representing skews of color values; and

determining the plurality of broadcast color moments comprises;

determining a plurality of first broadcast red moments, a plurality of first broadcast green moments, and a plurality of first broadcast blue moments;

determining a plurality of second broadcast red moments, a plurality of second broadcast green moments, and a plurality of second broadcast blue moments; and

determining a plurality of third broadcast red moments, a plurality of third broadcast green moments, and a plurality of third broadcast blue moments.

58. The method according to claim 57 wherein upon detection of a variation greater than a predetermined variation value, determining a type of video distortion causing the variation greater than the predetermined variation value.

59. The method according to claim 58 wherein determining a type of video distortion causing the variation greater than the predetermined variation value comprises:

comparing the first baseline red moments, the first baseline green moments, and the first baseline blue moments with the first broadcast red moments, the first broadcast green moments, and the first broadcast blue moments, respectively;

comparing the second baseline red moments, the second baseline green moments, and the second baseline blue moments with the second broadcast red moments, the second broadcast green moments, and the second broadcast blue moments, respectively; and

comparing the third baseline red moments, the third baseline green moments, and the third baseline blue moments with the third broadcast red moments, the third broadcast green moments, and the third broadcast blue moments, respectively.

60. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream;

including a plurality of baseline color moment types;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream, including a plurality of broadcast color moment types;

comparing the baseline color moments with the broadcast color moments;

determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

determining variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments comprises determining a sum absolute difference for each pair of corresponding frames under comparison and determining a cumulative difference for a selected number of pairs of corresponding frames.

61. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline central moments for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast central moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline central moments with the broadcast central moments;

determining variations between the baseline central moments and the broadcast central moments; and

determining the baseline central moments comprises determining six baseline central moments per baseline frame and determining the broadcast central moments comprises determining six broadcast central moments per broadcast frame.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein determining the six baseline central moments per baseline frame comprises determining the six baseline central moments for all baseline frames and determining the six broadcast central moments comprises determining the six broadcast central moments for all broadcast frames.

63. A method for detecting video stream distortion with a video stream distortion detection system, the method comprising:

introducing a baseline video stream having a plurality of baseline frames into the system;

determining a plurality of baseline central moments for the baseline video stream;

introducing a broadcast video stream having a plurality of broadcast frames into the system;

determining a plurality of broadcast central moments for the broadcast video stream;

comparing the baseline central moments with the broadcast central moments;

determining variations between the baseline central moments and the broadcast central moments; and

determining a plurality of baseline color moments for the baseline video stream comprises determining nine baseline color moments per baseline frame, and determining the plurality of broadcast color moments for the broadcast video stream comprises determining nine broadcast color moments per broadcast frame.

64. The method according to claim 63 wherein determining the nine baseline color moments per baseline frame comprises determining the nine baseline color moments for all baseline frames, and determining the nine broadcast color moments per broadcast frame comprises determining the nine broadcast color moments for all broadcast frames.

65. A video stream distortion analysis system comprising:

a baseline preparation processor operable to perform an analysis of a baseline video stream having baseline frames, the analysis including determination of a plurality of baseline moments for the baseline video stream;

a remote comparison processor operable to perform an analysis of a broadcast video stream having broadcast frames, the analysis including determination of a plurality of broadcast moments for the broadcast video stream;

a communications apparatus operable to exchange the baseline moments and the broadcast moments between the baseline processor and the remote processor;

a selected one of the baseline processor and the remote processor being operable to determine variations between the baseline color moments and the broadcast color moments; and

the baseline moments comprise baseline audio moments, and the broadcast moments comprise broadcast audio moments.