US5485611A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video database indexing and method of presenting video database index to a user
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1994-12-30
•
Granted: 1996-01-16
•
Expires: 2014-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A computer-implemented method for generating a video database index for indexing a video database comprising a plurality of video frames, the video database index comprising a plurality of index frames, wherein each video frame within the video database has a unique location within the video database. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the video frames of the video database are transmitted to a processor. A processor generates the index frames of the video database index in accordance with the amount of change occurring in images depicted by the video frames of the video database. Each of the index frames represents a unique video sequence of a plurality of video sequences that constitute the video database. Each video sequence comprises a sequence of video frames of the video database. Also, each video sequence has a unique location within the video database.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Astle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:44
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/34; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/70; G06F16/71; G06F16/73; G06F16/738; G06F16/739; G06F16/78; G06F16/783; G06F16/7847; G06F16/786; G11B27/02; G11B27/031; G11B27/034; G11B27/11; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/32; G11B27/326; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/21; G11B2220/213; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2545; G11B2220/40; G11B2220/41; G11B2220/90; G11B27/022; G11B27/024; G11B27/032; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a video database index for indexing a video database comprising a plurality of video frames, the video database index comprising a plurality of index frames, wherein each video frame within the video database has a unique location within the video database, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting the video frames of the video database to a processor; and (b) generating with the processor the index frames of the video database index in accordance with the amount of change occurring in images depicted by the video frames of the video database; wherein: each of the index frames represents a unique video sequence of a plurality of video sequences that constitute the video database; each video sequence comprises a sequence of video frames of the video database; and each video sequence has a unique location within the video database.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a video database index for indexing a video database comprising a plurality of video frames, the video database index comprising a plurality of index frames, wherein each video frame within the video database has a unique location within the video database, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting the video frames of the video database to a processor; and (b) generating with the processor the index frames of the video database index in accordance with the amount of change occurring in images depicted by the video frames of the video database; wherein: each of the index frames represents a unique video sequence of a plurality of video sequences that constitute the video database; each video sequence comprises a sequence of video frames of the video database; and each video sequence has a unique location within the video database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each index frame of the video database index further comprises information corresponding to the location of the respective video sequence represented by each index frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein some video sequences of the plurality of video sequences may comprise a plurality of video subsequences.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each video sequence of the plurality of video sequences represents a scene, wherein the scene represented by a given video sequence of the sequential plurality of video sequences differs by a predetermined threshold amount from scenes represented by video sequences adjacent to the given video sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (1) detecting a scene cut between sequences of video frames of the video database; (2) selecting a first reference frame of the video database index after a detected scene cut; (3) determining the difference between subsequent video frames and the first reference frame; (4) selecting a second reference frame when a predetermined threshold difference is determined between the second reference frame and the first reference frame and defining a defined video sequence comprising the plurality of video frames from the first reference frame to the second reference frame; (5) generating an index frame representative of the defined video sequence; and (6) selecting a subsequent first reference frame to generate index frames for subsequent video sequences.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 5, wherein: step (b)(1) comprises the step of detecting a second predetermined threshold difference or scene fade between sequences of video frames of the video database; and step (b)(2) further comprises the step of detecting transition frames and excluding the transition frames from being selected as a first reference frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, wherein step (b)(3) comprises the step of determining the motion-compensated difference between subsequent video frames and the first reference frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6, wherein step (b)(3) comprises the step of determining the difference between subsequent video frames and the first reference frame, wherein motion, panning, and zooms are taken into account.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the index frame comprises one of the video frames of the video sequence comprising the plurality of video frames from the first reference frame to the second reference frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the index frame comprises a difference-centered video frame of the video sequence comprising the plurality of video frames from the first reference frame to the second reference frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (c) detecting scene cuts between sequences of video frames of the video database; and (d) defining a video shot as comprising a plurality of sequential video frames between two consecutive scene cuts; wherein each video sequence of the plurality of video sequences comprises a video shot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 11, wherein each index frame of the video database index comprises a difference-centered video frame of a unique video shot of the video database.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (c) storing each index frame of the video database index in a mass storage device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of: (d) displaying a predetermined number of index frames of the video database index in parallel on a monitor; and (e) updating at a predetermined frequency the predetermined number of index frames displayed in parallel on the monitor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 14, wherein: the predetermined number and predetermined frequency may be varied by a user; and each index frame of the video database index further comprises information corresponding to the location of the respective video sequence represented by each index frame; and further comprising the step of: (f) displaying the location of a video sequence corresponding to an index frame selected by the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (c) displaying a predetermined number of index frames of the video database index in parallel on a monitor; and (d) updating at a predetermined frequency the predetermined number of index frames displayed in parallel on the monitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 16, wherein: the predetermined number and predetermined frequency may be varied by a user; and each index frame of the video database index further comprises information corresponding to the location of the respective video sequence represented by each index frame; and further comprising the step of: (e) displaying the location of a video sequence corresponding to an index frame selected by the user.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of presenting a video database index to a user, the video database index comprising a plurality of index frames and corresponding to a video database, wherein each index frame of the video database index represents a video sequence of a plurality of video sequences of the video database, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of index frames of the video database index in parallel on a monitor; and (b) updating at a predetermined frequency the predetermined number of index frames displayed in parallel on the monitor.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of presenting a video database index to a user, the video database index comprising a plurality of index frames and corresponding to a video database, wherein each index frame of the video database index represents a video sequence of a plurality of video sequences of the video database, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of index frames of the video database index in parallel on a monitor; and (b) updating at a predetermined frequency the predetermined number of index frames displayed in parallel on the monitor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 18, wherein: the predetermined number and predetermined frequency may be varied by a user; and further comprising the step of: (c) displaying on the monitor the location of a video sequence corresponding to an index frame selected by the user.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for generating a video database index for indexing a video database comprising a plurality of video frames, the video database index comprising a plurality of index frames, wherein each video frame within the video database has a unique location within the video database, the apparatus comprising: (a) a processor and means for transmitting the video frames of the video database to the processor; and (b) means for generating with the processor the index frames of the video database index in accordance with the amount of change occurring in images depicted by the video frames of the video database; wherein: each of the index frames represents a unique video sequence of a plurality of video sequences that constitute the video database; each video sequence comprises a sequence of video frames of the video database; and each video sequence has a unique location within the video database.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for generating a video database index for indexing a video database comprising a plurality of video frames, the video database index comprising a plurality of index frames, wherein each video frame within the video database has a unique location within the video database, the apparatus comprising: (a) a processor and means for transmitting the video frames of the video database to the processor; and (b) means for generating with the processor the index frames of the video database index in accordance with the amount of change occurring in images depicted by the video frames of the video database; wherein: each of the index frames represents a unique video sequence of a plurality of video sequences that constitute the video database; each video sequence comprises a sequence of video frames of the video database; and each video sequence has a unique location within the video database.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each index frame of the video database index further comprises information corresponding to the location of the respective video sequence represented by each index frame.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each video sequence of the plurality of video sequences represents a scene, wherein the scene represented by a given video sequence of the sequential plurality of video sequences differs by a predetermined threshold amount from scenes represented by video sequences adjacent to the given video sequence.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
136 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein means (b) comprises: (1) means for detecting a scene cut between sequences of video frames of the video database; (2) means for selecting a first reference frame of the video database index after a detected scene cut; (3) means for determining the difference between subsequent video frames and the first reference frame; (4) means for selecting a second reference frame when a predetermined threshold difference is determined between the second reference frame and the first reference frame and defining a defined video sequence comprising the plurality of video frames from the first reference frame to the second reference frame; (5) means for generating an index frame representative of the defined video sequence; and (6) means for selecting a subsequent first reference frame to generate index frames for subsequent video sequences.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein: means (b)(1) comprises means for detecting a second predetermined threshold difference or scene fade between sequences of video frames of the video database; and means (b)(2) further comprises means for detecting transition frames and excluding the transition frames from being selected as a first reference frame.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein means (b)(3) comprises means for determining the motion-compensated difference between subsequent video frames and the first reference frame.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein means (b)(3) comprises means for determining the difference between subsequent video frames and the first reference frame, wherein motion, panning, and zooms are taken into account.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the index frame comprises one of the video frames of the video sequence comprising the plurality of video frames from the first reference frame to the second reference frame.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the index frame comprises a difference-centered video frame of the video sequence comprising the plurality of video frames from the first reference frame to the second reference frame.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: (c) means for detecting scene cuts between sequences of video frames of the video database; and (d) means for defining a video shot as comprising a plurality of sequential video frames between two consecutive scene cuts; wherein each video sequence of the plurality of video sequences comprises a video shot.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each index frame of the video database index comprises a difference-centered video frame of a unique video shot of the video database.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: (c) a mass storage device for storing each index frame of the video database index.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising: (d) a monitor and means for displaying a predetermined number of index frames of the video database index in parallel on the monitor; and (e) means for updating at a predetermined frequency the predetermined number of index frames displayed in parallel on the monitor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein: the predetermined number and predetermined frequency may be varied by a user; and each index frame of the video database index further comprises information corresponding to the location of the respective video sequence represented by each index frame; and further comprising: (f) means for displaying on the monitor the location of a video sequence corresponding to an index frame selected by the user.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: (c) a monitor and means for displaying a predetermined number of index frames of the video database index in parallel on the monitor; and (d) means for updating at a predetermined frequency the predetermined number of index frames displayed in parallel on the monitor.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein: the predetermined number and predetermined frequency may be varied by a user; and each index frame of the video database index further comprises information corresponding to the location of the respective video sequence represented by each index frame; and further comprising: (e) means for displaying on the monitor the location of a video sequence corresponding to an index frame selected by the user.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4649380A
Cited
US5164865A
Cited
US5157511A
Cited
US5083860A
Cited
US5440401A
Cited
US5365384A
Cited
US5287230A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-15 | 1999-07-17 | 2000-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-15 | 2003-07-17 | 2004-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-15 | 2007-07-17 | 2008-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |