JP2001216325A - Device and method for generating database for retrieval - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily generate a database for video retrieval. SOLUTION: Each time a portable external recording medium where index image data as part of video data are recorded is loaded in a loading means, index data for retrieving video data are generated by using the index image data reproduced from the portable external recording medium and stored in a specific storage means in order to structure a retrieval database for retrieving the stored video data. Consequently, the index data for retrieval can easily be generated by using the index image data representing the contents of video data each time the portable external recording medium is loaded in the loading means without inputting an explanatory sentence explaining the contents of the video data through a keyboard, so that the database for video retrieval can easily be generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for generating a search database. For example, the present invention is applied to a search database generator for generating a video search database for searching stored video materials in a broadcasting station. It is suitable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, broadcasting stations use video (hereinafter, referred to as a video material for coverage) recorded on a videotape (hereinafter, referred to as a video tape for material) by news gathering or a news program. A video of a desired scene selected from the video material (hereinafter, referred to as a news video material), and a video through the entire news program (hereinafter, referred to as a news video material)
This is referred to as a program video) and the like is recorded and stored on a video tape (hereinafter, referred to as a storage video tape) as a video material.

[0003] Each time a broadcast station saves a video material, the search database generating apparatus stores a description indicating the content of the video material, a method of photographing a video material as a source of the video material, and the like. And a unique identifier (hereinafter, referred to as a tape ID) assigned in advance to a storage videotape on which the video material is recorded, and various keywords for searching for the video material. The video search index is input as a search index, and the video search index is converted into a database to generate a video search database.

[0004] Incidentally, when the video material is a coverage video material and a news video material, an important scene in the coverage video material and the news video material is described as a description of the video material in the search database generation device. When a description is input and the video material is a program video, a description explaining an approximate configuration of the news program is input.

[0005] In addition, the search database generation device includes:
Key words to search for video material include the program name, information on the photograph of the person recorded as video, information on the person who appeared in the program, and the key in the news manuscript used during the program, according to the content of the video material , Information on the location of the coverage (name of municipalities, etc.) and the like are input.

Thus, in the search database generating device, when a keyword is input via a keyboard or the like, the search database is searched based on the input keyword, and all video search data having the keyword are searched. Display the index on the monitor.

[0007] Thus, in the search database generating apparatus, the desired video material is selected by the video search index displayed on the monitor, and the storage to be taken out of the storage to view the selected video material. The tape ID of the video tape for use can be recognized.

[0008]

However, in such a search database generating apparatus, every time a video material is stored, all information constituting a video search index corresponding to the video material is input via a keyboard. Must be entered, it takes a lot of time to enter it,
Since the video search index is not easily generated, there is a problem that the video search database is not easily generated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a search database generating apparatus and a method thereof capable of easily generating a video search database.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable external recording medium on which index image data, which is a part of video data, is preliminarily recorded. Each time, the index image data is reproduced from the portable external recording medium, index data for searching video data is generated using the reproduced index image data, and the index data for search is sequentially stored in a predetermined storage unit. Then, a search database for searching for video data to be stored by creating a database is generated.

Therefore, each time the portable external recording medium is removably loaded into the loading means without inputting a description explaining the content of the video data via the keyboard, an index representing the content of the video data is provided. Index data for search can be easily generated using image data.

In addition, since the search index data is generated using the index image data, the content of the video data can be easily confirmed by the index image when searching the video data.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a search database generating apparatus according to the present invention as a whole, and a main body 2 has a position-related data server 3, a database server 4,
A monitor 5 and a keyboard 6 are connected, and a mouse 7 is connected via the keyboard 6.

The main body 2 is provided with a memory slot 2A for a portable external memory 8 which is randomly accessible and detachable, such as a memory stick (trademark of Sony Corporation). , The portable external memory 8 is loaded.

The portable external memory 8 includes an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory (for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable) in a thin plastic case.
This is a flash memory card that stores and is configured to store a flash memory element, which is a type of Programmable Read-Only Memory, and that can write and read various data such as image data and audio data via a 10-pin terminal.

The portable external memory 8 can be removably loaded into a video camera used for news gathering or a camcorder that integrates the video camera and a video tape recorder. Various data including image data related to the coverage video material is recorded at the timing designated by the video camera and the camcorder when the coverage video material is recorded on the material videotape.

In practice, as shown in FIG. 2, the portable external memory 8 has an index consisting of one frame of still image in the video constituting the coverage video material at the timing designated by the video camera and the camcorder. The image is recorded as index image data, and audio data for a predetermined time in the audio constituting the coverage video material is recorded.

In the portable external memory 8, at the timing designated by the video camera and the camcorder,
Position data representing latitude, longitude, and altitude obtained by measuring the shooting location (ie, coverage location) of the coverage video material using a plurality of GPS (Global Positionig System) satellites is recorded, and the coverage video material is recorded. Attribute data including various information such as identification information, shooting date and time (that is, coverage date and coverage time), index image identification number and time code, and shot number are recorded.

Further, the portable external memory 8 includes a tape ID assigned in advance to a material video tape input by a cameraman via a predetermined operation panel provided on a video camera and a camcorder, and the video camera. And a unique identifier (hereinafter, referred to as a camera ID) assigned to the camcorder in advance is recorded as attribute data.

In the portable external memory 8,
These attribute data, position data, audio data, and index image data (hereinafter collectively referred to as memory recording data) correspond to JEIDA (Japan Electronic Indus
try Development Association) Attribute data, position data, audio data and index image data are collected at each timing specified by the video camera and camcorder according to the camera file system method specified in the standard and the image file format method for digital still cameras. Recorded in the memory map.

That is, in the portable external memory 8, attribute data is recorded from address 0 to address K at the timing designated by the video camera and the camcorder according to the data amount, and the position data is stored in the data. It is recorded from address (K + 1) to address L according to the amount,
The audio data is recorded from address (L + 1) to address M according to the data amount, and the index image data is recorded from address (M + 1) to address N according to the data amount, and then continues. After the address (N + 1), the memory recording data is sequentially recorded again at the timing designated by the video camera and the camcorder.

Incidentally, the recording capacity of the portable external memory 8 is selected so that memory recording data related to a large number of coverage video materials can be recorded.

The memory recording data corresponding to the coverage video material recorded in the portable external memory 8 is handled as the memory recording data corresponding to the coverage material when the coverage video material is stored as a video material. It is.

In a video camera, when recording a video material to be recorded on a material videotape using a video tape recorder connected to the video camera, the videotape for the material is collected using a plurality of GPS satellites. The location data obtained by measuring the location, for example, every second, is recorded in real time, the shooting date and time and the time code are also recorded in real time, and identification information for the coverage video material,
The tape ID and the camera ID are also recorded.

Also, in the camcorder, similarly to the video camera, when recording the video material on the video tape for the material, the position data, the photographing date and time and the time code are recorded on the video tape for the material in real time, Identification information for video material, tape ID and camera I
D is recorded.

For this reason, when a news video material selected from coverage video materials at the time of editing is recorded on a storage videotape as a video material, a program video including the news video material is recorded as a video material on a storage videotape. Then, the position data and the attribute data corresponding to the news video are recorded together.

Therefore, the portable external memory 8 is loaded into a personal computer which is configured to be removably loaded, and the video material reproduced from the storage videotape is taken in and displayed on the monitor. The memory recording data corresponding to the video material is recorded at a timing designated by the personal computer.

Incidentally, when the memory recording data is recorded by the personal computer in the portable external memory 8, the tape ID included in the attribute data is replaced with the tape ID of the material video tape at the time of coverage, The tape ID of the video tape is recorded.

In FIG. 1, when the portable external memory 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A,
Based on an operation command input via the keyboard 6 or an operation command input from the mouse 7 via the keyboard 6, the memory record data recorded in the portable external memory 8 and the position-related data server 3 A video search index for searching for video material is generated based on the position-related data stored in a database in advance on the hard disk and stored in the hard disk of the database server 4. I do.

Thus, the main body 2 is provided with the memory slot 2
A video search index is generated each time the portable external memory 8 is loaded into A, and the video search index is sequentially stored in the hard disk in the database server 4, so that the video search index is stored in the database server 4. It is made into a database to generate a search database.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, in the search database generating apparatus 1, a control unit 10 comprising a CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided inside the main body 2 is connected via a keyboard 6 and a mouse 7. An operation command input through the interface 11 is fetched through the interface 11, and various circuit blocks to be described later are comprehensively controlled based on the operation command.

In practice, the control unit 10 controls the video camera 1
2. When the portable external memory 8 in which the memory recording data D1 is recorded in the camcorder 13 and the personal computer 14 is loaded into the memory slot 2A (FIG. 1),
A predetermined memory driver (not shown) is controlled based on an index generation command input in response to an operation of the mouse 7, thereby reading the memory recording data D <b> 1 recorded in the portable external memory 8 from the memory. Stored in the internal memory 15.

Then, the location-related data server 3
Domestic and foreign map data D generated on the internal hard disk according to latitude and longitude as position-related data
In addition, a map search database 16 is stored in advance, and a location information data D3 such as a name such as an address and a telephone number for specifying each location on the map is stored on the hard disk in accordance with the latitude and longitude. An information search database 17 is stored in advance.

At this time, the control unit 10 searches the information search database 17 based on the position data included in the memory recording data D1 stored in the internal memory 15, and searches for a place name or the like corresponding to the position data. Is read out and stored in the internal memory 15.

Then, the control unit 10 stores the memory record data D1 and the location information data D3 stored in the internal memory 15.
Is read as index generation data D5, and the read index generation data D5 is sent to the arithmetic processing unit 18.

The arithmetic processing unit 18 generates search index screen data D6 based on the index generation data D5 given from the control unit 10, and outputs this to the control unit 10.
Via the monitor 5.

Thus, the control unit 10 causes the monitor 5 to display the search index screen 20 as shown in FIG. 4 based on the search index screen data D6.

Here, the search index screen 20 (FIG. 4) displays the initial screen 2 according to the operation of the mouse 7 when the portable external memory 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A (FIG. 1).
This is a window screen displayed in the initial screen 21 when the mouse cursor 24 moves and clicks on the index generation button 23 provided on the first menu bar 22.

In this case, the search index screen 20 is provided with a shooting information display area 25, a recording information display area 26, a keyword display area 27, and a comment display area 28.

The photographing information display area 25 includes a tape ID display section 25A, a photographer display section 25B, a device display section 25C, a format display section 25D, and a camera ID display section 25E. Indicates the tape ID of the storage videotape, the photographer name (the name of the photographer) at the time of coverage is displayed on the photographer display section 25B, and the video camera 12 or the video camera used for coverage is displayed on the equipment display section 25C. The device model name of the camcorder 13 is displayed, and the data format on the storage video tape is displayed on the format display section 25D.
Further, the camera ID of the video camera and the camcorder used for reporting are displayed on the camera ID display section 25E.

In the recording information display area 26,
Identification number display section 26A, shooting date display section 26B, recording start time display section 26C, recording pause time display section 26D, recording stop time display section 26E, recording time display section 26F, frame number display section 26G, still image number display Unit 26H, latitude display unit 26I, longitude display unit 26J, and place name display unit 26K
It is composed of

The identification number display section 26A displays the identification information of the video material, and the shooting date display section 26A.
B displays the coverage date.

The recording start time display section 26C displays the time when the recording start button (not shown) of the video camera 12 and the camcorder 13 is pressed at the time of coverage, and the recording pause time display section. In 26D,
The time when the pause button (not shown) of the video camera 12 and the camcorder 13 is pressed at the time of coverage is displayed, and the recording stop time display unit 26E displays the recording stop button (at the time of coverage) of the video camera 12 and the camcorder 13. (Not shown) is displayed.

The recording time display section 26F displays the recording time for one video material, and the frame number display section 26G displays the time when the index image is recorded and the time when the recording of the video material is completed. Is displayed, and the still image number display section 26H displays the identification number of the index image.

The latitude display section 26I displays the latitude of the position data measured at the timing when the index image was recorded at the time of coverage, and the longitude display section 26J.
Shows the longitude of the location data, and the place name display section 2
At 6K, a place name or an address indicating a reporting location is displayed.

In addition to this, in the keyword display area 27, search keywords such as place name, place, season, climate, coverage target, coverage status, etc. corresponding to each video material are displayed, and a comment display area is displayed. At 28, a comment on the video material is displayed.

Actually, the control unit 10 controls the photographing information display area 2
In 5, the tape ID display section 25A and the camera ID display section 25E display the tape ID and the camera ID based on the attribute data included in the memory recording data D1.

The control section 10 is provided with a photographer display section 25.
B, when the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked on the equipment display section 25C and the format display section 25D in accordance with the operation of the mouse 7, the photographer display section 25B, the equipment display section 25C, and the format display section 25D are input. When the photographer name, device model name, and data format are input via the keyboard 6 in this state, these are displayed on the corresponding photographer display unit 25B, device display unit 25C, and format display unit 25D. Display as a character string.

The control unit 10 displays the mouse cursor 24 on the tape ID display unit 25A in response to the operation of the mouse 7.
Is moved and clicked, the tape ID display 2
5A can be input, so that, for example, when the video material to be taken is stored as recorded on a video tape for material, the tape ID display section 25A
ID of video tape for material based on attribute data
Can be displayed as it is, and when the coverage video material is copied from the material video tape to the storage video tape and stored as video material, the tape ID of the storage video tape can be displayed on the tape ID display section 25A. Has been made.

The control unit 10 also controls the recording information display area 2
6, the identification number display section 26A and the shooting date display section 26
B, recording start time display section 26C, recording pause time display section 26D, recording stop time display section 26E, recording time display section 26F, frame number display section 26G, still image number display section 26H, latitude display section 26I, longitude display In the section 26J, corresponding information is displayed based on the attribute data and the position data included in the memory record data D1, and the place name display section 26J is displayed.
For K, corresponding information is displayed based on the point information data D3.

Further, the control unit 10 displays the place name in the keyword display area 27 based on the point information data D3, and displays other keywords (place, season, climate, coverage object, coverage state, etc.) in the keyword display area 27. Region 27
The mouse cursor 24 moves upward in response to the operation of the mouse 7 and is put into a state where it can be input when clicked. Thus, various keywords input via the keyboard 6 are displayed as character strings.

Further, when the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked on the comment display area 28 in response to the operation of the mouse 7, the control section 10 displays the comment display area 28.
Is ready for input, and in this state, the keyboard 6
When various comments are input via the, this is displayed as a character string.

By the way, when various information is displayed in the search index screen 20, the control unit 10 controls the scroll bar 26L provided in the record information display area 26, the keyword display area 27 and the comment display area 28, respectively. When 27A and 28A are operated via the mouse 7, information that cannot be displayed in the recorded information display area 26, the keyword display area 27, and the comment display area 28 can be scroll-displayed.

As described above, the control unit 10 easily generates the search index screen data D6 which is the basis of the video search index based on the memory recording data D1 and the point information data D3 by the arithmetic processing unit 18. At the same time, when supplementary information for a video material is input on the search index screen 20 based on the search index screen data D6, the video search index can be generated so as to be finished.

By the way, the control unit 10 moves the mouse cursor 24 to the number display frame 26HA of the still image number display unit 26H of the record information display area 26 in response to the operation of the mouse 7 on the search index screen 20. When clicked, the arithmetic processing unit 18 is controlled to cause the corresponding index image 30 to be displayed as a pop-up as an index representing the content of the material video material, as shown in FIG.

In a state where the index image 30 is displayed in the search index screen 20, the control unit 10 again puts the mouse 7 in the number display frame 26HA of the still image number display unit 26H corresponding to the index image 30.
When the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked in response to the operation, the arithmetic processing unit 18 is controlled to enlarge and display the index image 30 at a predetermined magnification. When the mouse cursor 24 moves and is clicked according to the operation of the mouse 7, the pop-up display of the index image 30 is closed.

In addition to this, in FIG.
Is displayed on a plurality of still image number display sections 26 by operating the mouse 7.
After the H number display frame 26HA is selected, the batch display button 3 provided at the lower right in the search index screen 20 is displayed.
1 (FIGS. 4 and 5), when the mouse cursor 24 moves and is clicked in response to the operation of the mouse 7, the corresponding plurality of memory recording data D stored in the internal memory 15 is displayed.
1, the map search database 16 of the position-related data server 3 is searched, map data D2 corresponding to the position data is read and stored in the internal memory 15, and based on the position data. Then, the information search database 17 is searched, and the point information data D3 corresponding to the position data is read and stored in the internal memory 15.

Then, the control unit 10 sends the memory recording data D1, the map data D2 and the point information data D3 stored in the internal memory 15 to the arithmetic processing unit 18 as video material confirmation data, and At 18,
By generating the video data confirmation screen data D7 based on the video data confirmation data and sending it to the monitor 5, the monitor 5 has the monitor 5 based on the video data confirmation screen data D7 as shown in FIG. Screen 3 for video material confirmation
5 is displayed.

Here, a video material confirmation screen 35 (FIG. 6)
Is a window screen that is displayed in the initial screen 21 instead of the search index screen 20 (FIG. 4), and is a place where a plurality of video materials displayed in the search index screen 20 (FIG. 4) are collected. Are displayed on the map 36 of the predetermined area including the address, a station, and the like, and a star mark 37 indicating the coverage location is displayed.

Further, image display sections 40 to 44 are displayed in the vicinity of the respective marks 37, and the correspondence between the marks 37 and the image display sections 40 to 44 is clarified by arrows 45.

The image display sections 40 to 44 have image display areas 40A to 44A and an attribute data display area 40B.
To the image display areas 40A to 44B.
In A, index images 30 and 4 representing the contents of the video material shot at the corresponding news gathering location as an index.
6 to 49 are displayed, and the attribute data display areas 40B to 44B are displayed.
In B, attribute data including the coverage date of the video material photographed at the corresponding coverage location, the tape ID, the time code of the index image 30, and the shot number is displayed.

By the way, the control section 10 has a plurality of index images 30, 46 to 46 representing the contents of the video material for each reporting location.
Since 49 are recorded, the image display areas 40A to 44A
A plurality of index images 30, 46 to 49 corresponding to A
Of the image display area 4
When the mouse cursor 24 moves and is clicked on 0A to 44A in accordance with the operation of the mouse 7, the arithmetic processing unit 18 is controlled in accordance with the click to display the image in the image display areas 40A to 44A. Index image 3
0, 46 to 49 are sequentially switched.

As a result, the control unit 10 can accurately and precisely recognize the contents of the video material on the video material confirmation screen 35 displayed on the monitor 5.

The control unit 10 displays each report location on the map 36 on the video document confirmation screen 35, and displays attribute data corresponding to each report location, thereby storing the video document to be stored. Can be easily recognized as to when and where the event occurred.

In response to the operation of the mouse 7, the control unit 10 moves and clicks the mouse cursor 24 on the close button 50 provided on the upper right of the video material confirmation screen 35 displayed on the monitor 5. Then, the video material confirmation screen 35 is closed, and the search index screen 20 is displayed again in the initial screen 21.

Thus, when the video search index is generated, the control unit 10 controls the index image 30 displayed on the search index screen 20 for generating the video search index and the video material confirmation screen 35. To check the contents of the video material to be stored,
On the search index screen 20, a keyword or a comment corresponding to the content of the video material can be input.

In FIG. 3, the control unit 10 displays the search index screen 20 (FIG. 4) on the monitor 5 again, and
Registration button 51 provided at the lower right of 0 (FIGS. 4 and 5)
When the mouse cursor 24 moves and is clicked on in response to the operation of the mouse 7, the search index screen data D6 (that is, the index image data and the keyword Index screen data D6) including various information such as comments and comments is sent to the database server 4 as video search index data D8 and stored in the hard disk.

Thus, every time the portable external memory 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A (FIG. 1), the control unit 10
Similarly, video search index data D8 including index image data representing the content of the video material is generated,
The generated video search index data D8 is stored in the hard disk of the database server 4 and converted into a database, whereby a video search database can be generated.

By the way, as shown in FIG.
When the search button 5 on the menu bar 22 is displayed while the initial screen 21 is
When the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked on the mouse 5 in response to the operation of the mouse 7, a search instruction screen 56 as a window screen is displayed in the initial screen 21.

On the search instruction screen 56, a date and time button 5 for inputting a coverage date and time as a keyword for search is displayed.
7. Location button 58 for inputting a news gathering location, target button 59 for inputting a news gathering target, status button 60 for inputting a news gathering status, method button 61 for inputting a shooting method, and other keywords Is provided with a button 62 for inputting.

Then, the control unit 10 moves the mouse cursor 24 on the place button 58 in response to the operation of the mouse 7, for example.
Is moved and clicked, the location button 58 is displayed differently from the other buttons to indicate that the button has been clicked, and a keyword input area 58A is displayed on the right side of the button. A keyword (for example, "Kanda") indicating the input coverage location is displayed in the keyword input area 58A.

In this way, after the keyword is input on the search instruction screen 56, the control unit 10 responds to the operation of the mouse 7 on the decision button 63 provided at the lower right of the search instruction screen 56. When the mouse cursor 24 moves and is clicked, a search process is executed based on the keyword.

By the way, the control unit 10 determines that the date and time button 57, the place button 58, the object button 5
9. A keyword corresponding to all of the status button 60, the method button 61, and the other button 62 can be input, whereby a plurality of keywords are used in one search, so that desired video data Can be narrowed down and searched.

Actually, in FIG. 3, when the control section 10 executes the search processing, the control section 10 searches the video search database of the database server 4 based on the keyword input on the search instruction screen 56, and All the video search index data D8 having the keyword are read out from the database and temporarily stored in the internal memory 15 and then sent to the arithmetic processing unit 18, where the video search index data is read. Based on D8, search result screen data D10 is generated and sent to monitor 5.

As a result, the control unit 10 replaces the search instruction screen 56 (FIG. 7) displayed on the monitor 5 with the one shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the search result screen 6 which is a window screen based on the search result screen data D10 in the initial screen 21
5 is displayed.

Here, on the search result screen 65, a keyword name used for the search is displayed at a predetermined position on the upper left thereof, and a search result display area 66 is provided on the lower side. , Date and time display section 66A, location display section 66B, target display section 66C, status display section 66D, method display section 66E, tape ID display section 66F, shot number display section 66G, start time code display section 66H, end time code display section 66I, still image number display section 66J
And a scroll bar 66K.

Then, in the search result display area 66,
The date and time display section 66A displays the coverage date and time of the coverage video material from which the corresponding video material is based, and the location display section 66B displays coverage of the coverage video material from which the corresponding video material was based. The location is displayed, the target display section 66C displays the coverage target (place, person, etc.) of the coverage video material from which the corresponding video material is based, and the status display section 66D displays the corresponding video. The coverage status (events covered) of the video material that was the source of the material is displayed.

The method display section 66E displays the shooting method of the coverage video material from which the corresponding video material is based, and the tape ID display section 66F displays the storage method for storing the video material. The tape ID of the video tape is displayed, and the shot number of the index image indicating the content of the corresponding video material as an index is displayed in the shot number display section 66G.

Further, a start time code display section 66
H, a time code at the time of starting reproduction of the corresponding video material is displayed, and an end time code display section 66I is displayed.
Is displayed at the end of the reproduction of the video material corresponding to the image data, and the still image number display section 66J displays the identification number of an index image representing the content of the corresponding video material as an index.

The control unit 10 controls the scroll bar 6
When the 6K is operated via the mouse 7, information that cannot be displayed in the search result display area 66 among a plurality of pieces of video material selected by the search is scroll-displayed.

Thus, the control section 10 can visually confirm various information such as the coverage date and location and the location of the video material selected by the search.

In addition to this, in FIG.
At this time, when the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked in the number display frame 66JA of the still image number display section 66J (FIG. 9) according to the operation of the mouse 7, the internal memory 15
Is searched in the map search database and the information search database of the position-related data server 3 based on the position data included in the video search index data D8 stored in the map data D2 and the map data D2 corresponding to the position data. The information data D3 is read and stored in the internal memory 15.

As a result, the control unit 10 controls the internal memory 1
5, the video search index data D 8, the map data D 2, and the location information data D 3 are read out as search result screen generation data D 11 and sent to the arithmetic processing unit 18.

The arithmetic processing unit 18 generates search result screen data D12 based on the video search index data D8 included in the search result screen generation data D11 given from the control unit 10, and transmits this to the control unit 10. By transmitting the index image 47 to the monitor 5 via the search result screen 65, as shown in FIG. 10, the corresponding index image 47 is pop-up displayed on the monitor 5 as an index representing the content of the video material to be selected.

Further, in a state where the index image 47 is displayed in the search result screen 65, the control unit 10 displays the still image number display unit 6 corresponding to the index image 47.
When the mouse cursor 24 moves and clicks again within the number display frame 66JA of 6J in response to the operation of the mouse 7,
The visibility of the index image 47 is improved by controlling the arithmetic processing unit 18 by enlarging the index image 47 at a predetermined magnification.
When the mouse cursor 24 moves and is clicked in the JA in response to the operation of the mouse 7, the pop-up display of the index image 47 is closed.

Further, when a plurality of index images 47 are registered for one video material, the control unit 10 displays the index images 47 in the search result screen 65 and displays the index images 47 on the index images 47. When the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked in response to the operation of the mouse 7, the arithmetic processing unit 18 is controlled in response to the click to sequentially switch the corresponding index images 47 so as to be displayed in a pop-up manner. The content of the video material to be selected can be confirmed more accurately.

Thus, the control unit 10 can easily and visually confirm the contents of the video material to be selected by using the index image 47 displayed on the search result screen 65 without reproducing the video material from the storage videotape. It is made to be able to make it.

In FIG. 3, the control unit 10 operates the mouse 7 on the collective display button 68 (FIGS. 9 and 10) provided at the lower right of the search result screen 65 (FIGS. 9 and 10). When the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked accordingly, the arithmetic processing unit 18 causes the video search index data D8, map data D2, and point information data D3.
The video data confirmation screen data D7 is generated on the basis of the above, and is transmitted to the monitor 5, so that the monitor 5 generates the video data confirmation screen data D7 in the same manner as when the video search index is generated. The video material confirmation screen 35 described above with reference to FIG. 6 is displayed.

Thus, the control unit 10 collectively visually confirms the index images representing the contents of the plurality of video materials selected by the search on the video material confirmation screen 35 so that the index images can be compared with each other. Thus, a desired video material can be easily selected in a short time.

Thus, the control unit 10 allows the index image 47 to confirm the content of the video material without reproducing the video material from the storage videotape,
When there is a desired video material, in the search result display area 66 of the search result screen 65, the storage video tape to be taken out of the storage can be recognized by the tape ID displayed on the corresponding tape ID display section 66F. ing.

Here, in practice, when the portable external memory 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A at the time of generating the video search index, the control section 10 proceeds to the video search database generation processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. Entered from SP1, in the following step SP2, the memory recording data D1 is read from the portable external memory 8 based on the index generation command input via the mouse 7, stored in the internal memory 15, and the process proceeds to step SP3.

In step SP3, the control unit 10
The information search database 17 is searched based on the position data included in the memory recording data D1, the corresponding point information data D3 is read out and stored in the internal memory 15, and the process proceeds to the subsequent step SP4.

In step SP4, the control unit 10
The memory recording data D1 and the location information data D3 stored in the internal memory 15 are read out as index generation data D5 and sent to the arithmetic processing unit 18, where the arithmetic processing unit 18 searches for data based on the index generation data D5. By generating the index screen data D6 and sending it to the monitor 5, the monitor 5 displays the search index screen 20 described above with reference to FIG. 4 based on the search index screen data D6, and then proceeds to step SP5. .

In step SP5, the control unit 10
In response to the operation of the keyboard 6 and the mouse 7, various information such as keywords are input on the search index screen 20, and the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked on the registration button 51 on the search index screen 20. Then, the video search index data D8 is generated using the various types of information in the search index screen data D6, and the process proceeds to step SP6.

In step SP6, the control unit 10
By transmitting the video search index data D8 to the database server 4 and recording it on the hard disk, the video search index data D8 is converted into a database in the database server 4 to generate a video search database. Proceeding to step SP7, the database search processing procedure RT1 for video search is terminated.

In this manner, every time the portable external memory 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A (FIG. 1), the control unit 10 controls the video based on the memory recording data D1 and the corresponding point information data D3. A video search index including an index image representing the contents of a material can be easily generated to generate a video search database.

By the way, when the control section 10 displays the search index screen 20 on the monitor 5, the control section 10 proceeds to step SP10 in the index image display processing procedure RT2 shown in FIG.
In step SP11, the process waits for the input of a display command for the index image 30, and the mouse cursor 24 is moved and clicked in the number display frame 26HA of the still image number display section 26H, or displayed collectively. When the display instruction of the index image 30 is input by moving the mouse cursor 24 over the button 51 and clicking, for example, the process proceeds to step SP12.

As a result, in step SP12,
The control unit 10 displays the index image 30 in the search index screen 20 or displays the video material confirmation screen 35 according to the type of the display command of the index image 30.
To display index images 30, 46 to 49,
Thereafter, returning to step SP11,
11 and the processing loop of step SP12 is repeated.

Thus, when generating the video search index, the control section 10 displays the index images 30, 46 to 49 representing the contents of the video material, thereby displaying the video material corresponding to the index images 30, 46 to 49. In this way, it is possible to allow the user to accurately recognize the contents of the information, thereby inputting an accurate keyword or comment for the video material.

On the other hand, when searching for video materials, the control unit 10
When the search instruction screen 65 is displayed on the monitor 5, the video material search processing procedure RT3 shown in FIG. 13 with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 12 is entered from step SP20. Waits for the input of a keyword, and when the keyword is input, the process proceeds to step SP22.

At step SP22, the control unit 10
Searches the video search database stored on the hard disk of the database server 4 based on the input keyword, reads out all the video search index data D8 having the keyword, and temporarily stores it in the internal memory 15. Then, the process proceeds to step SP23.

At step SP23, the control unit 10
Reads out the video search index data D8 from the internal memory 15 and sends it to the arithmetic processing unit 18, which generates search result screen data D10 based on the video search index data D8,
This is sent to the monitor 5 and the process proceeds to step SP24.

As a result, in step SP24,
The control unit 10 displays the search result screen data D1 on the monitor 5.
The search result screen 65 described above with reference to FIG. 9 based on 0 is displayed, and then the process proceeds to step SP11.

The control unit 10 then proceeds to step S
By sequentially repeating the processing of P11 and step SP12, the index image 47 representing the content of the video material to be selected is visually confirmed on the search result screen 65, or
The arithmetic processing unit 18 generates video data confirmation screen data D7 based on the video search index data D8, the map data D2, and the location information data D3, and displays the video data confirmation screen 35 displayed on the monitor 5. Are visually confirmed.

In the above-described configuration, in the search database generating apparatus 1, the memory recording data D1 including the index image data representing the contents of the video material, the position data indicating the coverage location, and the attribute data of the video material are recorded in advance. Each time the portable external memory 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A, the memory recording data D1 is read from the portable external memory 8 and stored in the internal memory 15.

In the search database generating apparatus 1, the information search database 1 is stored on the basis of the position data contained in the memory record data D1 stored in the internal memory 15.
7 and reads out the spot information data D3 corresponding to the news gathering place. Based on the read spot information data D3 and the memory record data D1 stored in the internal memory 15, the search index screen data D6 is read. Generate
This is sent to the monitor 5 to display the search index screen 20.

Then, the search database generating apparatus 1 allows the user to input various information such as a keyword for searching for a video material on the search index screen 20. Thus, the index image data representing the contents of the video material is obtained. , And video search index data D8 is generated based on the search index screen data D6 including the following.

Therefore, in the search database generating apparatus 1, every time the portable external memory 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A, a description describing the contents of the video material and the coverage video material used as the source of the video material are obtained. A video search index can be generated easily and in a short time using the memory recording data D1 recorded in the portable external memory 8 without inputting various kinds of information such as a report location and a report situation via the keyboard 6. To generate a video search database.

Further, in the search database generating apparatus 1, at the time of generating the video search index, the index image based on the index image data read from the portable external memory 8 which can be accessed randomly without reproducing the storage video tape. Since the contents of the video material are confirmed by 30, 46 to 49, it is possible to confirm the content of the video material in a short time and to input an accurate keyword or comment according to the content.

Further, at the time of searching for a video material, the search database generating device 1 searches for a desired video material using the video search index data D8 including index image data representing the contents of the video material. When the display command of the index images 30, 46 to 49 is input in a state where the obtained search result screen 65 is displayed on the monitor 5, the index image representing the contents of the video material to be selected on the search result screen 65 is input. 30, 46-4
Since 9 is displayed, the content of the video material to be selected can be easily confirmed without reproducing the video material from the storage videotape.

Then, in the search database generating apparatus 1, in order to display the index images 30, 46 to 49 on the search result screen 65, a desired video material is appropriately selected after confirming its contents. Can be done.

Further, in the search database generating apparatus 1, since the index images 30, 46 to 49 for a plurality of video materials to be selected are collectively displayed on the video material confirmation screen 35, the contents of each of these video materials are displayed. Can be easily confirmed in a short time, and thus the time from the search to the selection of the desired video material can be greatly reduced.

According to the above configuration, the portable external memory in which the memory recording data D1 including the index image data indicating the contents of the video material, the position data indicating the reporting location, and the attribute data of the video material is recorded in advance. Every time 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A, a video search index is generated based on the memory recording data D1 recorded in the portable external memory 8 to generate a video search database. Each time the portable external memory 8 is loaded into the memory slot 2A, the keyboard 6 transmits various information such as the description of the contents of the video material and the location and the status of coverage of the video material from which the video material is based. It is possible to easily and quickly generate a video search index and generate a video search database without inputting via the , It is possible to realize the search database generating device database for image retrieval can readily generated.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which still images are used as index images 30 and 46 to 49 of a video material. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. Moving images for a plurality of frames may be used as index images.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case has been described where the memory recording data D1 is used to generate the video search index. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least the index image data is used by using the index image data. A video search index may be generated. That is, even if only the index image data is used to generate the video search index and the operation of inputting via the keyboard 6 is deleted while considering the description explaining the contents of the video material to be stored, the video search index is not required. Can be easily generated in a relatively short time, and thus a video search database can also be easily generated.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to the search database generating apparatus 1 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any apparatus that generates a video search database for searching stored video data can be widely applied to various other search database generation apparatuses such as a personal computer.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the main body 2 is provided as a loading means for detachably loading a portable external recording medium on which index image data which is a part of video data is recorded in advance. Memory slot 2
A has been described for the case where A is applied, but the present invention is not limited to this, provided that a portable external recording medium in which index image data which is a part of video data is recorded in advance can be removably loaded. In addition, various other loading means can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the portable external memory 8 is applied as a portable external recording medium in which index image data which is a part of video data is recorded in advance. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if index image data that is a part of video data can be recorded in advance, a CD-R
(Compact Disc-Recordable) and DVD-RW (Digi
Other various portable external recording media such as a disc-shaped recording medium such as a tal Video Disk-Re Writable) can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, every time the portable external recording medium is loaded into the loading means, the index image data is reproduced from the portable external recording medium, and the reproduced index image data is used. As described above, the case where the control unit 10 and the arithmetic processing unit 18 are applied as search index data generating means for generating search index data for video data has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Each time the portable external recording medium is loaded, the index image data is reproduced from the portable external recording medium, and if the reproduced index image data can be used to generate index data for searching video data, Various other index image data can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the search index data generated by the search index data generation means is sequentially stored and formed into a database, so that the storage means for generating the search database is used as the storage means for the database. Although the case in which the server 4 is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the search index data generated by the search index data generating means is sequentially stored and formed into a database, so that the search database is created. Can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where the mouse 7 is applied as an input means for inputting a display command of an index image based on index image data. The present invention is not limited to this, and various other input means such as a pointing device other than a mouse can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the monitor 5 is applied as the predetermined display means has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other display means can be widely applied. can do.

[0124]

As described above, according to the present invention, each time a portable external recording medium on which index image data, which is a part of video data, is preliminarily recorded, is removably loaded into the loading means, the portable external recording medium is removed. The index image data is reproduced from the external recording medium of the type, the search index data of the video data is generated using the reproduced index image data, and the search index data is sequentially stored in a predetermined storage unit to be a database. As a result, a search database for searching for stored video data is generated, so that a portable external recording medium can be loaded without inputting a description describing the content of the video data via a keyboard. Each time it is removably loaded into the means, it is possible to search for images using index image data representing the contents of the video data. DEX data can be easily generated, thus, it is possible to easily create a database for image retrieval.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an embodiment of the entire configuration of a search database generation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic conceptual diagram showing a memory map of a portable external memory.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a search database generation device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a search index screen.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a search index screen on which an index image is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a video material confirmation screen.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a search instruction screen.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining input of a keyword on a search instruction screen.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a search result screen.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a search result screen on which an index image is displayed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a video search database generation process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an index image display processing procedure.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a video material search processing procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Search database generation device 2. Body part 2.
A: memory slot, 3: server for position-related data, 4: server for database, 5: monitor, 6
... keyboard, 7 ... mouse, 8 ... portable external memory, 10 ... control unit, 16 ... map search database, 17 ... information search database, 18 ... operation processing unit, 20 ... search Index screen, 30, 46-
49: Index image, 35: Video material confirmation screen, 56: Search instruction screen, 65: Search result screen, D
1 ... memory recording data, D2 ... map data, D3 ...
... Point information data, D6 ... Index screen data for search, D8 ... Index data for video search, RT1
…… Video search database generation processing procedure, RT2 ……
Index image display processing procedure, RT3 ... Video material search processing procedure.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 15/403 380F F-term (Reference) 5B075 KK07 MM00 MM23 ND12 ND14 NK07 NK10 NK13 NK24 NK44 NK46 PP02 PP03 PP12 PP13 PP22 PP30 PQ02 PQ33 PQ40 PQ46 UU35 5C052 AA01 AA17 AB03 AB04 AC08 CC06 CC20 DD04 EE02 EE03 EE08

Claims (10)

[Claims] A search database generating apparatus for generating a search database for searching video data recorded and stored on a predetermined recording medium, wherein index image data which is a part of the video data is recorded in advance. Loading means for detachably loading the portable external recording medium, and each time the portable external recording medium is loaded into the loading means, reproduces the index image data from the portable external recording medium, A search index data generating means for generating search index data for the video data using the reproduced index image data; and a database for sequentially storing the search index data generated by the search index data generation means. Storage means for generating the search database Search database generation apparatus characterized by comprising a. 2. The loading means is loaded with the portable external recording medium in which attribute data including an identifier of a predetermined recording medium on which the video data is recorded for storage is recorded in advance, and the search index is provided. The data generating means reproduces the attribute data from the portable external recording medium each time the portable external recording medium is loaded into the loading means, and uses the reproduced attribute data to retrieve the search index data. The search database generation device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The loading means is loaded with the portable external recording medium in which position data indicating the recording location of the video data is recorded in advance, and the search index data generating means is provided with the loading means. Each time a portable external recording medium is loaded, the position data is reproduced from the portable external recording medium, and the retrieved index data is generated using the reproduced position data. 3. The search database generating device according to 2. 4. An input means for inputting a display command of an index image based on the index image data, and a predetermined display means, wherein the search index data generating means performs a search based on the search index data. 4. The search index screen is displayed on the display means, and when the display command is input via the input means, the index image is displayed on the search index screen. 5. Search database generator. 5. The search index data generating means displays the search index screen on the display means, and when a display command for collectively displaying the plurality of index images is input via the input means, 5. The search database generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display means displays a plurality of the index images collectively instead of the search index screen. 6. A search database generating method for generating a search database for searching video data recorded and stored on a predetermined recording medium, wherein index image data which is a part of the video data is recorded in advance. A data reproducing step of reproducing the index image data from the portable external recording medium when the portable external recording medium thus set is removably loaded into a predetermined loading means; and the video data using the index image data. A data generating step of generating search index data, a storing step of storing the search index data in a predetermined storage means, and the data reproducing step each time the portable external recording medium is loaded in the loading means. Step, the data generation step, and the storage step are sequentially repeated. And generating a search database by converting the search index data stored in the storage means into a database. 7. In the data reproducing step, the portable external recording medium in which attribute data including an identifier of a predetermined recording medium on which the video data is recorded for storage is loaded in the loading means is loaded. 7. The search database according to claim 6, wherein the attribute data is reproduced from the portable external recording medium, and in the data generation step, the search index data is generated using the attribute data. Generation method. 8. In the data reproducing step, when the portable external recording medium in which position data indicating the recording location of the video data is previously loaded in the loading means, the portable external recording medium is read from the portable external recording medium. The search database generation method according to claim 7, wherein the position data is reproduced, and in the data generation step, the search index data is generated using the position data. 9. An input step for inputting a display command of an index image based on the index image data, wherein in the data generating step, a search index screen based on the search index data is displayed on a predetermined display means. 10. The index image is displayed on the search index screen when the display command is input in the input step.
Method for generating a search database described in. 10. In the data generating step, when a display command for displaying the search index screen on the display means and displaying a plurality of the index images collectively in the inputting step is input, the display means displays the search index screen on the display means. 10. The search database generation method according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of the index images are collectively displayed instead of the search index screen.