US5099322A
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Scene change detection system and method
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1990-02-27
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Granted: 1992-03-24
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Expires: 2010-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A system detects scene changes in a sequence of video images by analyzing the sequence for abrupt frame-to-frame changes in certain image features. The system accepts the signal into a quantizer, which digitizes the image, and stores it into a frame buffer. An image processor, a component of the system, analyzes the digitized images, and determines certain features which a decision processor can use to detect a scene change.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Gove
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:17
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; G08B13/196; G08B13/19602; G08B13/19606; G08B13/19665; G08B13/19671; G08B13/19673; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/11; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/32; G11B27/326; H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/10; H04N19/134; H04N19/142; H04N19/169; H04N19/179; H04N19/85; H04N19/87; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/144; H04N5/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for detecting scene changes in a sequence of video image comprising: a video signal source; and a computer coupled to the video input source for analyzing the video sequence, comprising: quantizer coupled to the video signal source for converting the video signal to a digital representation; a frame buffer coupled to the quantizer for storing the digital representations of the video signal; an image processor for analyzing the digital representations of the video signal to determine where scenes change; a digital video random access connection between the frame buffer and the image processor for transmitting the digitized video frames; and an application interface coupled to the image processor; wherein said image processor comprises: (i) a detection zone assignment generator for designating zones which are to be used to detect a scene change; (j) a feature change calculator coupled to the detection zone assignment generator for determining frame-to-frame feature changes within each detection zone; and (k) a scene change decision module coupled to the feature change calculator for deciding whether the feature changes within the detection zones meets a predetermined decision criteria indicating a scene change.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for detecting scene changes in a sequence of video image comprising: a video signal source; and a computer coupled to the video input source for analyzing the video sequence, comprising: quantizer coupled to the video signal source for converting the video signal to a digital representation; a frame buffer coupled to the quantizer for storing the digital representations of the video signal; an image processor for analyzing the digital representations of the video signal to determine where scenes change; a digital video random access connection between the frame buffer and the image processor for transmitting the digitized video frames; and an application interface coupled to the image processor; wherein said image processor comprises: (i) a detection zone assignment generator for designating zones which are to be used to detect a scene change; (j) a feature change calculator coupled to the detection zone assignment generator for determining frame-to-frame feature changes within each detection zone; and (k) a scene change decision module coupled to the feature change calculator for deciding whether the feature changes within the detection zones meets a predetermined decision criteria indicating a scene change.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system in claim 1, wherein said feature change calculator is a light intensity change calculator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system in claim 1, wherein said decision processor further comprises a comparator to compare the feature change against a threshold value to determine that a scene change has occurred.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system in claim 1, wherein said decision processor uses a number of frames and said predetermined decision criteria when there is large change in light intensity for a zone preceded by a trend of small changes in light intensity in the same zone and followed by a trend of small changes in light intensity in the same zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system in claim 1, wherein said application interface is a hypercard-like stack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system in claim 1, wherein said application interface stores a representative image of each scene, a time code number, and a brief description of the contents and action of the scene onto a hypercard card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system in claim 1, wherein said application interface is a fast forward device which allows the user to automatically skip to a next scene, a previous scene or any other desired scene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system in claim 1, wherein said application interface is a security system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system in claim 24, wherein the computer analyzes a subset of the video images int eh sequence by sampling at an interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system in claim 24, wherein the rate at which the video signal source produces images is reduced to the rate at which the computer system is able to analyze the sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system in claim 1, wherein the feature change calculator is a color change calculator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system in claim 1, wherein the feature change calculator is a texture change calculator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system in claim 1, wherein the feature change calculator is a motion detector.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for detecting scene changes in a video sequence, comprising the steps of: (a) digitizing a video frame; (b) detecting objects int he digitized video frame; (c) computing features for the objects detected in step (b); (d) determining a frame-to-frame difference in said features; and (e) indicating a scene change when said determined differences meet a certain decision criteria.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for detecting scene changes in a video sequence, comprising the steps of: (a) digitizing a video frame; (b) detecting objects int he digitized video frame; (c) computing features for the objects detected in step (b); (d) determining a frame-to-frame difference in said features; and (e) indicating a scene change when said determined differences meet a certain decision criteria.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method in claim 14, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of: (f) selecting a plurality of detection zones in the digitized video frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method in claim 14, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of: (i) calculating the light intensity of the object; (j) determining the color of the object; (k) finding the texture of the object; and (l) detecting the motion of the object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method in claim 14, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of: (g) segmenting the objects.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in claim 17, wherein step (c) further comprises the step of: (h) computing features for each object and for each constituent segment of that object.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for detecting scene changes in a sequence of video image comprising: a video signal source; and a computer coupled to the video input source for analyzing the video sequence, comprising: quantizer coupled to the video signal source for converting the video signal to a digital representation; a frame buffer coupled to the quantizer for storing the digital representations of the video signal; an image processor for analyzing the digital representations of the video signal to determine where scenes change; a digital video random access connection between the frame buffer and the image processor for transmitting the digitized video frames; and an application interface coupled to the image processor; wherein said image processor comprises: an object detection module for separating an image into discrete objects and for labeling those objects; and a scene change detection module coupled to the object detection module for detecting a scene change based on a decision criteria.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for detecting scene changes in a sequence of video image comprising: a video signal source; and a computer coupled to the video input source for analyzing the video sequence, comprising: quantizer coupled to the video signal source for converting the video signal to a digital representation; a frame buffer coupled to the quantizer for storing the digital representations of the video signal; an image processor for analyzing the digital representations of the video signal to determine where scenes change; a digital video random access connection between the frame buffer and the image processor for transmitting the digitized video frames; and an application interface coupled to the image processor; wherein said image processor comprises: an object detection module for separating an image into discrete objects and for labeling those objects; and a scene change detection module coupled to the object detection module for detecting a scene change based on a decision criteria.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system in claim 19, wherein said scene change detection module uses large change in appearance of an object, the appearance of a new object of the disappearance of an existing object as the decision criteria.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system in claim 19, wherein said image processor further comprises: a motion detection module coupled to the scene change detection module for providing said scene change detection module with motion information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system in claim 19, wherein said application interface is a hypercard-like stack.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system in claim 19, wherein said application interface stores a representative image of each scene, a time code number, and a brief description of the contents and action of the scene onto a hypercard card.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system in claim 19, wherein said application interface is a fast forward device which allows the user to automatically skip to a next scene, a previous scene or any other desired scene.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system in claim 19, wherein said application interface is a security system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system in claim 19, wherein the computer analyzes a subset of the video images int eh sequence by sampling at an interval.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system in claim 19, wherein the rate at which the video signal source produces images is reduced to the rate at which the computer system is able to analyze the sequence.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system in claim 19, wherein said scene change detection module further comprises: a feature change calculator coupled to said object detection module and operable to compute a feature change indicative of a scene change in said sequence of video images.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system in claim 28, wherein said feature change calculator is a light intensity change calculator.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system in claim 28, wherein said feature change calculator is a color change calculator.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system in claim 28, wherein said feature change calculator is a texture change calculator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system in claim 28, wherein said feature change calculator further comprises: a comparator coupled to said object detection module for comparing said feature change against a threshold value to determine that a scene change has occurred.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 32, wherein said comparator uses a number of frames and said decision criteria to determine that a scene change has occurred when a large feature change has occurred preceded by a trend of small feature changes and followed by a trend of small feature changes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4257063A
Cited
US4774570A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-24 | 1995-09-23 | 1996-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-24 | 1999-09-23 | 2000-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-24 | 2003-09-23 | 2004-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |