Method and apparatus for detecting and displaying a representative image of a shot of short duration in a moving image

• US 6,341,168 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1999
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Fujita, Takehiro, Miyatake, Takafumi, Nagasaka, Akio, Taniguchi, Katsumi, Tanaka, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayanti K.
• Application Number:
  US09/287,188
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 382/236, 382/107, 382/103, 382/278, 348/190, 348/232, 348/700, 348/143, 348/154, 348/415.1, 348/416.1, 348/699, 340/541, 345/474, 352/129, 375/240.16, 356/23
• US Class Current: 382/107
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/147 Scene change detection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for displaying a representative image corresponding to a shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image. The moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image and each shot includes a plurality of the successive frames. In the invention a plurality of shot change points are sequentially detected from the moving image. The shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed. Thereafter a detection is performed to determine whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range. A representative image corresponding to the shot having a duration within the specified range is displayed along with duration time information representing the duration of the shot. A reduced image from the shot can be displayed as the representative image and the number of detected shots having a duration within the specified range can be reduced according to preset conditions.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a representative image corresponding to a shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

sequentially detecting from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed;

detecting whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range; and

displaying a representative image corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

reducing an image corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range; and

displaying the reduced image as said representative image.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

displaying along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said shot having a duration within the specified range.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sounding an alarm at the same time said representative image is displayed.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said shot having a duration within the specified range.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said representative image is displayed as a solid having a thickness according to the duration of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said representative image is displayed in such a manner that a number of images are stacked in a manner where the images are shifted in position relative to one another according to the duration of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying along with said representative image, start time information indicating the start time of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said duration time information and start time information are provided by one of a clock, frame number or time code.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying step is performed using a multi-window function.

11. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for execution by a computer to cause said computer to display a representative image corresponding to a shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to sequentially detect from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed;

a second code for causing said computer to detect whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range; and

a third code for causing said computer to display a representative image corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range.

12. A computer program according to claim 11, further comprising:

a fourth code for causing said computer to reduce an image corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range; and

a fifth code for causing said computer to display the reduced image as said representative image.

13. A computer program according to claim 12, further comprising:

a sixth code for causing said computer to display, along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said shot having a duration within the specified range.

14. A computer program according to claim 11, further comprising:

a fourth code for causing said computer to sound an alarm at the same time said representative image is displayed.

15. A computer program according to claim 11, further comprising:

a third code for causing said computer to display along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said shot having a duration within the specified range.

16. A computer program according to claim 11, wherein said representative image is displayed as a solid having a thickness according to the duration of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

17. A computer program according to claim 11, wherein said representative image is displayed in such a manner that a number of images are stacked in a manner where the images are shifted in position relative to one another according to the duration of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

18. A computer program according to claim 11, further comprising:

fourth code for causing said computer to display along with said representative image, start time information indicating the start time of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

19. A computer program according to claim 18, wherein said duration time information and start time information are provided by one of a clock, frame number or time code.

20. A computer program according to claim 11, wherein said third code includes a multi-window function.

21. A display apparatus for displaying a representative image corresponding to a shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said apparatus comprising:

a display having a display screen for displaying images; and

a processing apparatus for sequentially detecting from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed, detecting whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range, and displaying on said display screen a representative image corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range.

22. A display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing apparatus reduces an image corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range, and displays the reduced image as said representative image.

23. A display apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said processing apparatus displays along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said shot having a duration within the specified range.

24. A display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing apparatus sounds an alarm at the same time said representative image is displayed.

25. A display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing apparatus displays along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said shot having a duration within the specified range.

26. A display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said representative image is displayed as a solid having a thickness according to the duration of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

27. A display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said representative image is displayed in such a manner that a number of images are stacked in a manner where the images are shifted in position relative to one another according to the duration of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

28. A display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said processing apparatus displays, along with said representative image, start time information indicating the start time of said shot having a duration within the specified range.

29. A display apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said duration time information and start time information are provided by one of a clock, frame number or time code.

30. A display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said displaying is performed using a multi-window function.

31. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for execution by a computer to cause said computer to display a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to detect a part of a moving image having a quick change, said part of the moving image includes a plurality of shots, each shot having a duration within the specified range,

wherein each shot is defined by at least one frame disposed between a first shot change point and a second shot change point, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed; and

a second code for causing said computer to display a representative image corresponding to said group.

32. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for execution by a computer to cause said computer to display a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to detect shots having a duration within the specified range that occur repeatedly within a predetermined time period of each other due to frames where there is a quick change,

wherein each of said shots are detected by detecting a first shot change point preceding said shot and a second shot change point succeeding said shot, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed; and

a second code for causing said computer to display a representative image corresponding to said group.

33. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for execution by a computer to cause said computer to display a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to detect a part of a moving image, said part of the moving image includes a plurality of successive shots, each representative image of a pair of successive shots having a greater difference than a predetermined level,

wherein each of said shots are detected by detecting a first shot change point preceding said shot and a second shot change point succeeding said shot, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed;

a second code for causing said computer to store detecting times indicating the detected parts of the moving image; and

a third code for causing said computer to display an image from the moving image according to the detecting time as a representative image of the moving image.

34. A method of detecting a representative image corresponding to a shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

sequentially detecting from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changes;

outputting whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range; and

displaying a representative image information on a display corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range.

35. A method of detecting a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

sequentially detecting from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot having changed;

detecting whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and succeeding shot change point is within a specified range;

grouping shots having a duration within the specified range into a group when said shots having a duration within the specified range occur within a predetermined time period of each other;

adding a subsequently detected shot having a duration within the specified range to said group containing a previously detected shot having a duration within the specified range when said subsequently detected shot has occurred within a predetermined time period of said previously detected shot and a frame of said subsequently detected shot contains information similar to information contained in a frame of said previously detected shot; and

outputting representative image information corresponding to said group.

36. A computer program for execution by a computer to cause said computer to detect a representative image corresponding to a shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to sequentially detect from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed;

a second code for causing said computer to detect whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range; and

a third code for causing said computer to output representative image information corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range.

37. A computer program for executing by a computer to cause said computer to detect a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to sequentially detect from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed;

a second code for causing said computer to detect whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and succeeding shot change point is within the specified range;

a third code for causing said computer to group shots having a duration within the specified range into a group when said shots having a duration within the specified range occur within a predetermined time period of each other;

a fourth code for causing said computer to add a subsequently detected shot having a duration within the specified range to said group containing a previously detected shot having a duration within the specified range when said subsequently detected shot has occurred within a predetermined time period of said previously detected shot and a frame of said subsequently detected shot contains information similar to information contained in a frame of said previously detected shot; and

a fifth code for causing said computer to output representative image information corresponding to said group to display.

38. An information processing apparatus for detecting a representative image corresponding to a shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said apparatus comprising:

a processing apparatus for sequentially detecting from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed, detecting whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range, and outputting to an external display screen representative image information corresponding to said shot having a duration within the specified range.

39. A method of detecting a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

sequentially detecting from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed;

detecting whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range;

grouping shots having a duration within the specified range into a group when said shots having a duration within the specified range repeatedly occur within a predetermined period of time due to frames where there is a quick change; and

outputting representative image information corresponding to said group.

40. A method of detecting a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of said moving image includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a part of a moving image, said part of said moving image includes a plurality of successive shots, each representative image of a pair of successive shots having more differences with each other than a predetermined level,

wherein each of said shots are detected by detecting a first shot change point preceding said shot and a second shot change point succeeding said shot, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed;

storing detecting times corresponding to the detected parts of said moving image; and

outputting an image from said moving image according to the detecting times as a representative image of said moving image.

41. A computer program for executing by a computer to cause said computer to detect a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to sequentially detect from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changes;

a second code for causing said computer to detect whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range;

a third code for causing said computer to group shots having a duration within the specified range into a group when said shots having a duration within the specified range repeatedly occur within a predetermined period of time due to frames where there is a quick change; and

a fourth code for causing said computer to output data indicating a representative image corresponding to said group.

42. A computer program for executing by a computer to cause said computer to detect a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to sequentially detect from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changes, each shot including at least one frame;

a second code for causing said computer to detect whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and a succeeding shot change point is within the specified range; and

a third code for causing said computer to group shots having a duration within the specified range into a group when said shots having a duration within the specified range repeatedly occur within a predetermined period of time.

43. A computer program for executing by a computer to cause said computer to output a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to detect a part of a moving image having a quick change, said part of the moving image includes a plurality of shots, each shot having a duration within the specified range,

wherein each of said shots are detected by detecting a first shot change point preceding said shot and a second shot change point succeeding said shot, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed; and

a second code for causing said computer to display a representative image corresponding to said group.

44. A computer program for executing by a computer to cause said computer to display a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to detect shots having a duration within the specified range that occur repeatedly within a predetermined time period of each other due to frames where there is a quick change,

wherein each shot is defined by at least one frame disposed between a first shot change point and a second shot change point, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed; and

a second code for causing said computer to display a representative image corresponding to said group.

45. A computer program for executing by a computer to cause said computer to output a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to detect a part of a moving image, said part of the moving image includes a plurality of successive shots, each representative image of a pair of successive shots having a greater difference than a predetermined level,

wherein each of said shots are detected by detecting a first shot change point preceding said shot and a second shot change point succeeding said shot, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed;

a second code for causing said computer to store detecting times indicating the detected parts of the moving image; and

a third code for causing said computer to output an image from the moving image according to the detecting times as a representative image of the moving image.

46. A method of displaying a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

sequentially detecting from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed;

detecting whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and succeeding shot change point is within the specified range;

grouping shots having a duration within the specified range into a group when said shots having a duration within the specified range occur within a predetermined time period of each other;

adding a subsequently detected shot having a duration within the specified range to said group containing a previously detected shot having a duration within the specified range when said subsequently detected shot has occurred within a predetermined time period of said previously detected shot and a frame of said subsequently detected shot contains information similar to information contained in a frame of said previously detected shot; and

displaying a representative image corresponding to said group.

47. A method according to claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

reducing an image corresponding to said group; and

displaying the reduced image as said representative image of said group.

48. A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of:

sounding an alarm at the same time said representative image is displayed.

49. A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of:

displaying, along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said group.

50. A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of:

displaying, along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said group.

51. A method according to claim 46, wherein said representative image is displayed as a solid having a thickness according to the duration of the shots which make up said group.

52. A method according to claim 46, wherein said representative image is displayed in such a manner that a number of images are stacked in a manner where the images are shifted in position relative to one another according to duration of the shots which make up said group.

53. A method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of:

displaying along with said representative image duration time information indicating the duration of the shots which make up said group and start time information indicating the start time of the shots which make up said group.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein said duration time information and said start time information are provided by one of a clock, frame number or time code.

55. A method according to claim 46, wherein said displaying step is performed using a multi-window function.

56. A method according to claim 46, wherein said displaying step comprises the step of:

displaying in a hierarchical form said representative image and images corresponding to the shots that make up said group.

57. A method according to claim 46, wherein an operator can inspect the contents of frames included in a shot of said group by selecting the image corresponding to said shot from the hierarchical form being displayed.

58. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for execution by a computer to cause said computer to display a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said computer program comprising:

a first code for causing said computer to sequentially detect from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed;

a second code for causing said computer to detect whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and succeeding shot change point is within the specified range;

a third code for causing said computer to group shots having a duration within the specified range into a group when said shots having a duration within the specified range occur within a predetermined time period of each other;

a fourth code for causing said computer to add a subsequently detected shot having a duration within the specified range to said group containing a previously detected shot having a duration within the specified range when said subsequently detected shot has occurred within a predetermined time period of said previously detected shot and a frame of said subsequently detected shot contains information similar to information contained in a frame of said previously detected shot; and

a fifth code for causing said computer to display a representative image corresponding to said group.

59. A computer program according to claim 58, further comprising:

a sixth code for causing said computer to reduce an image corresponding to said group; and

a seventh code for causing said computer to display the reduced image as said representative image of said group.

60. A computer program according to claim 58, further comprising:

a sixth code for causing said computer to sound an alarm at the same time said representative image is displayed.

61. A computer program according to claim 58, further comprising:

a sixth code for causing said computer to display, along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said group.

62. A computer program according to claim 58, further comprising:

a sixth code for causing said computer to display, along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said group.

63. A computer program according to claim 58, wherein said representative image is displayed as a solid having a thickness according to duration of the shots which make up said group.

64. A computer program according to claim 58, wherein said representative image is displayed in such a manner that a number of images are stacked in a manner where the images are shifted in position relative to one another according to duration of the shots which make up said group.

65. A computer program according to claim 58, further comprising:

a sixth code for causing said computer to display along with said representative image duration time information indicating the duration of the shots which make up said group and start time information indicating the start time of the shots which make up said group.

66. A computer program according to claim 65, wherein said duration time information and said start time information are provided by one of a clock, frame number or time code.

67. A computer program according to claim 58, wherein said fifth code includes a multi-window function.

68. A computer program according to claim 58, wherein said fifth code comprises:

a sixth code for causing said computer to display in a hierarchical form said representative image and images corresponding to the shots that make up said group.

69. A computer program according to claim 68, wherein an operator can inspect the contents of frames included in a shot of said group by selecting the image corresponding to said shot from the hierarchical form being displayed.

70. A display apparatus for displaying a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said apparatus comprising:

a display having a display screen for displaying images; and

a processing apparatus for sequentially detecting from said moving image a plurality of shot change points representing points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a succeeding shot have changed, detecting whether a duration of a shot between a preceding shot change point and succeeding shot change point is within the specified range, grouping shots having a duration within the specified range into a group when said shots having a duration within the specified range occur within a predetermined time period of each other, adding a subsequently detected shot having a duration within the specified range to said group containing a previously detected shot having a duration within the specified range when said subsequently detected shot has occurred within a predetermined time period of said previously detected shot and a frame of said subsequently detected shot contains information similar to information contained in a frame of said previously detected shot and displaying on said display screen a representative image corresponding to said group.

71. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said processing apparatus reduces an image corresponding to said group, and displays the reduced image as said representative image of said group.

72. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said processing apparatus sounds an alarm at the same time said representative image is displayed.

73. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said processing apparatus displays along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said group.

74. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said processing apparatus displays, along with said representative image, frames preceding and succeeding said group.

75. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said representative image is displayed as a solid having a thickness-according to duration of the shots which make up said group.

76. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said representative image is displayed in such a manner that a number of images are stacked in a manner where the images are shifted in position relative to one another according to duration of the shots which make up said group.

77. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said representative image displays along with said representative image duration time information indicating the duration of the shots which make up said group and start time information indicating the start time of the shots which make up said group.

78. A display apparatus according to claim 77, wherein said duration time information and said start time information are provided by one of a clock, frame number or time code.

79. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said displaying is performed using a multi-window function.

80. A display apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said processing apparatus displays in a hierarchical form said representative image and images corresponding to the shots that make up said group.

81. A method of displaying a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a part of a moving image having a quick change, said part of the moving image includes a plurality of shots,

wherein each shot is defined by at least one frame disposed between a first shot change point and a second shot change point,

wherein each shot has a duration within a specified range, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed; and

displaying a representative image corresponding to said part of said moving image.

82. A method of displaying a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting shots having a duration within the specified range that occur repeatedly within a predetermined time period of each other due to frames where there is a quick change,

wherein each of said shots are detected by detecting a first shot change point preceding said shot and a second shot change point succeeding said shot,

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed; and

displaying a representative image corresponding to detected shots of a moving image.

83. A method of displaying a representative image of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of said moving image includes at least one frame, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a part of a moving image, said part of said moving image includes a plurality of successive shots, each representative image of a pair of successive shots having more differences with each other than a predetermined level,

wherein each shot is defined by at least one frame disposed between a first shot change point and a second shot change point, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed;

storing detecting times corresponding to the detected parts of said moving image; and

displaying an image from said moving image according to the detecting time as a representative image of said moving image.

84. A display apparatus for displaying a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said apparatus comprising:

a display having a display screen for displaying images; and

a processing apparatus for detecting a part of a moving image having a quick change where said part of the moving image includes a plurality of shots and each shot has a duration within the specified range, and displaying on said display screen a representative image corresponding to said part of said moving image,

wherein each shot is defined by at least one frame disposed between a first shot change point and a second shot change point, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed.

85. A display apparatus for displaying a representative image of a moving image, said moving image including a plurality of successive frames, and each shot of the moving image includes at least one frame, said apparatus comprising:

a display having a display screen for displaying images; and

a processing apparatus for detecting shots having a duration within a specified range that occur repeatedly within a predetermined time period of each other due to frames where there is a quick change, and displaying on said display screen a representative image corresponding to said group, wherein each of said shots are detected by detecting a first shot change point preceding said shot and a second shot change point succeeding said shot, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed.

86. A display apparatus for displaying a representative image corresponding to at least one shot of a duration within a specified range included in a plurality of shots of a moving image, said moving image includes a plurality of successive frames each having an image, and each shot includes at least one frame, said apparatus comprising:

a display having a display screen for displaying images; and

a processing apparatus for detecting a part of a moving image where said part includes a plurality of successive shots and each representative image of a pair of successive shots has a greater difference than a predetermined level, storing a detected time indicating detected parts of the moving image and displaying an image from the moving image according to the detected time as a representative image of the moving image,

wherein each shot is defined by at least one frame disposed between a first shot change point and a second shot change point, and

wherein said shot change points represent points between a pair of frames where images of a preceding shot and images of a preceding shot have changed.