KR100438302B1 - Method and device for video skimming - Google Patents

Abstract

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video skimming method comprising: selecting a first shot to be played based on unit playback segment length information set to a length to be played in skimming with reference to a current playback position and shot segmentation information; Reproducing a predetermined amount of a predetermined portion with respect to the shot selected as the shot to be reproduced; Based on the last position of the played part, the next playback shot is selected using at least the time offset and shot index set for skimming, and the segment belonging to the next shot to be played is dropped at least above the time offset set for skimming. Selecting two segments to be continuously reproduced by skimming to be segments belonging to different shots; In this case, the reproducing step and the next reproducing shot selection step are repeatedly performed.

In addition, another example of a video skimming method according to the present invention includes a low speed skimming method for performing a predetermined amount of playback on all individual shots with reference to the current playback position and shot segmentation information, the current playback position, shot segmentation information, Provides all the fast skimming methods to select the shot to be played based on the unit segment length to be played and the time offset specified for quick skimming, and to perform a certain amount of playback only for the selected shots. Correspondingly, a video skimming method for selectively performing low speed skimming or high speed skimming is provided.

Description

Method and device for video skimming

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for multimedia search and browsing, and more particularly, to a video skimming method and apparatus capable of quickly moving to a desired position with respect to a video stream.

Today, as the multimedia content is enormous, there is a demand for an automated system that selects data desired by the user, and researches on ways to solve the problem are actively conducted. In a busy modern society, users have a desire to grasp the entire contents of video content within a limited time. One example of this need is "highlights."

In general, "highlights" can be understood as a newly formed physical / logical content by gathering important scenes from video content, such as "sports highlights", "movie trailers" and "headline news". However, extracting highlights from video content is a very difficult area to automate with current technology. Therefore, it is common to rely on the manual work of most people. As mentioned above, it is almost impossible to manually provide highlights for all video content as the amount of media explodes, which requires a lot of manpower. Accordingly, there is a need for an automated system that enables the user to quickly understand the contents of the sketch.

In view of these conditions, there is a video skimming system. Here, video skimming refers to a function of skipping a portion of video content and playing a portion of the video content, to help the user understand the content in a short time, and to be used for searching.

As one of such video skimming systems, there is a video skimming system using shot segmentation information in order to provide a meaningful skimming function to a user. The video skimming system using the shot segmentation information reproduces only a portion of each shot using the content and the shot segmentation information of the content, and skips the remaining portions, thereby allowing the contents of the entire content to be displayed within a faster time than the normal speed browsing. It is a system that can be understood.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a concept of a video skimming method using conventional shot segmentation information. As shown in FIG. 1, the video skimming method using the shot segmentation information reproduces a predetermined amount of each shot continuously and skips the remaining portions so that the user can understand the contents in a shorter time. It is done.

However, the video skimming system using shot segmentation information selects all shots as shots to be played, which is a good function in the headline news part, which delivers summary information in a compact manner, but is similar in a dialogue scene of a movie or drama. As the scenes are repeatedly played, the content compression function is very degraded.

Meanwhile, another example of a video skimming system is a skimming system using structural information of video content. This is proposed to implement a more compact type of skimming function and is implemented based on structural information of video content. Here, the structural information about the video content refers to index information in which information about a scene as well as a shot in the video content is described together, and a relationship between shots / scenes is described together.

In general, video is defined as a sequence of shots, but portions of shots are used as elements that constitute one logical story unit. In this case, the logical story unit, not the editing unit, in the video content is called a scene, and the detection of the scene structure is a very important technology from the viewpoint of understanding the content of the video content. 2 illustrates a relationship between structural information of general video content.

As a method of extracting structural information about such video content, different algorithms are used according to genres. Until now, researches on structural information extraction of news content and movie / drama content have been reported. This structured video skimming method uses structural information and shot characteristics to not play similar shots in a scene, to play some shots at normal speed, and to play some shots at high speed. It aims to make it possible to understand the entire content in a faster time.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shot deployment method of a general conversation scene.

3 is a diagram for describing a property in which a similar segment is repeated in one scene in a video segment. From the visual feature point of view, the scene illustrated in FIG. 3 may be analyzed as a sequence of four kinds of shots having different characteristics. Each picture is a key frame to represent a shot, and the capital letters below the key frame represent shot characteristics according to visual features.

In the movie / drama content, the repetition of the similar segments frequently occurs, which can be detected in the process of extracting structural information of the video content. The skimming method using the repetition of the similar segments uses the characteristics of the shot, and FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the video skimming method using the repetition of the similar segments.

In the video skimming using the repetition of the similar segments, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to select a playback segment for a higher level summarization of video content, selecting a shot to be played first, and selecting the shot to be played. Reselecting the segment to be played in the.

In the step of selecting a shot to be reproduced, a method of selecting only one shot among similar shots repeated in one scene is generally used as a shot to be played. In FIG. 4, only three shots are selected from among a total of eight shots of the scene 1 using repetition information of similar shots. Also, the selected shot does not reproduce all shots, but reproduces only a predetermined portion of the shot as in the skimming method using shot segmentation information.

5 shows an example of a skimming method for news video.

Indexing news videos aims to detect anchor shots using segment information of shots that are the result of shot segmentation and audio visual features of the shots. The anchor shot is a shot in which the anchor provides a summary of the news article in the news video, and the episode shot is a shot for explaining the detailed news that reporters have reported. If anchor shots are detected, the news video is analyzed in news articles. News video skimming is implemented by using different playback methods for anchor shots and episode shots, or by using different playback segment selection methods. 5 illustrates an example of a skimming method in which anchor shots are played at a normal speed and episode shots are played at a high speed.

Also, as another method, anchor shots are selected as shots to be played, only a limited number of shots are selected as shots to be played, and only a portion of shots selected as the shots to be played are continuously played. It can also provide video skimming.

However, as described above, in order to perform video skimming using structural information, structural information about video content must be extracted first. In addition, as described above, the extraction of structural information is possible in some genres, but the technical progress is still insignificant in other genres, and extracting scene information requires a higher cost than a system for extracting only shot segmentation information. There is this.

Recently, development of a video stream recording / reproducing apparatus such as a personal video recorder (PVR) for recording a video stream received by a user and playing the recorded video stream has been developed. In addition, studies are being actively conducted to provide a nonlinear video browsing method for such a video stream recording / reproducing apparatus.

On the other hand, a user is demanding that video skimming can be implemented regardless of the genre of all video contents by using such a video stream recording / reproducing apparatus.

The present invention understands the contents of the entire video in a short time by using shot segmentation information and time offset information that can be applied regardless of the video genre, and does not select all the individual shots as a shot to be reproduced, and also selects a part of the selected shot. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video skimming method and apparatus that can quickly move to a desired position by playing the.

In addition, the present invention is implemented to enable the switching of the low speed skimming and high speed skimming according to the user's selection, and provides a video skimming method and apparatus that can be provided with a toggle switching function of the low speed skimming and high speed skimming according to the user's needs There is another purpose.

1 is a diagram illustrating a concept of a video skimming method using conventional shot segmentation information.

2 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between structural information of general video content.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shot deployment method of a general conversation scene.

4 is a view for explaining a video skimming method using a conventional similar segment repetition.

5 is a view for explaining an example of a skimming method for a conventional news video.

6 is a diagram illustrating a skimming method using shot segmentation information and a time offset by a video skimming method according to the present invention.

7 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a video skimming device according to the present invention.

In order to achieve the above object, the video skimming method according to the present invention includes a first playback shot based on unit playback segment length L _S set to a length to be played in skimming with reference to the current playback position and shot segmentation information. Selecting a step; Reproducing a predetermined amount of a predetermined portion with respect to the shot selected as the shot to be reproduced; On the basis of the last position of the reproduced portion, at least the next playback shot is selected using a time offset (O _S ) and a shot index set for skimming, and the segment belonging to the next shot to be reproduced is configured for the at least skimming. the method comprising selecting and off more than a set time offset (O _S), the two segments be continuously reproduced by skimming is so that segments belonging to different shot; It is characterized in that the playback step and the next playback shot selection step is performed repeatedly.

In the step of selecting the first shot to be reproduced, when the length from the current playback position to the end position of the shot including the current playback position is longer than the unit playback segment length L _S set as the length to be played in skimming. The feature is that the shot to which the current playback position belongs is selected as the first playback shot.

In addition, in the step of selecting the first shot to be reproduced, the feature is that the next shot of the shot including the current playback position is selected as the first shot to be played.

Further, in the step of reproducing the selected shot, the length of the shots selected for shot played and reproducing the unit reproduction segment length (L _S) is greater than the shot L _S or the second half segment of the L _S amount of the first part When the shot length is not greater than the unit playback segment length L _S , the shot is played back.

In the step of selecting the next playback shot, a position obtained by adding a time offset (O _S ) to the last position of a previously played unit playback segment based on the last position of the portion played back in the playback step, It is characterized in that the shot to which the corresponding position obtained or the next shot is selected as the next playback shot.

Also, on the basis of the last position of the portion reproduced in the reproducing step, the position obtained by adding the time offset (O _S ) to the last position of the previously reproduced unit reproduction segment is the same shot as the shot to which the previously reproduced segment belongs. In this case, it is characterized in that the next shot of the shot to which the obtained position belongs is selected as the next playback shot.

In addition, the video skimming method according to the present invention in order to achieve the above another object, the low-speed skimming method for performing a certain amount of playback for all the individual shots, with reference to the current playback position and shot segmentation information; It provides a fast skimming method that selects shots to be played based on the current playback position, shot segmentation information, unit segment length to be played, and a specified time offset for fast skimming, and performs a certain amount of playback only on the selected shots. In addition, the low speed skimming method or the high speed skimming method is selectively performed in response to a user's request for switching the skimming method.

Here, the low-speed skimming method, the step of recognizing the section of the individual shot from the shot segmentation information, selecting a specific portion in the recognized individual shot section as the playback area reflecting the content of the shot, each individual It is characterized in that it comprises the step of continuously playing back the selected playback area for each shot.

In addition, the selection of the portion to be reproduced in each shot section is characterized in that the first half, the second half, the middle, the first half and the second half of the shot are used simultaneously.

In addition, the video skimming device according to the present invention in order to achieve the above object,

User interface means for inputting user commands for video skimming to perform retrieval and browsing of digital video data;

Control means for processing video skimming by selecting a segment to be reproduced using shot index information and time offset information of a corresponding video stream according to a user command input through the user interface means;

An index storage for providing storage information and shot index information of a corresponding video stream in response to a request of the control means;

A media storage for providing a video stream in response to a request of the control means; And

Display means for reproducing the video stream skimmed by the control means; Its features are to include.

Here, the shot index information is characterized in that it includes shot segmentation information for the video stream.

The control unit may include a main control unit that determines whether a skimming request is made from a signal input from a user; A playback controller for receiving a skimming command from the main controller and performing video skimming with reference to the selected play segment information; And requesting to provide segment information to be played back from the playback controller, and obtaining segment information to be played back with reference to shot index information and current playback position and time offset information of the video stream transmitted from the playback controller to provide the playback information to the playback controller. A video browsing control unit; Its features are to include.

The user interface means may also include: low speed skimming as a degree of video skimming, which performs a certain amount of playback for all individual shots with reference to the current playback position and shot index information; Means for selecting a shot to be played based on a current playback position, shot index information, and a specified time offset for fast skimming, and fast skimming for performing a predetermined amount of playback only on the selected shot; Its features are to include.

According to the present invention, it is possible to grasp the contents of the entire video stream within a short time, to easily pass a boring part without missing an important part in grasping the entire contents, and to be applicable to all genres. .

In addition, according to the present invention, the user requires fast skimming for content and sections requiring fast skimming, and low speed skimming for content and sections requiring slow skimming, thereby providing a wide range of user selection. This has the advantage of being widened.

In addition, according to the present invention, by specifying the time offset and the unit playback length, the user can freely determine the speed of fast skimming, and thus there is an advantage that the user can roughly predict the total browsing time.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a skimming method using shot segmentation information and a time offset by a video skimming method according to the present invention. Next, a video skimming method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

Video skimming process according to the invention is characterized by utilizing the shot segmentation information of the video content and the time offset (O _S). Unlike the skimming method using the conventional shot segmentation information, the video skimming method according to the present invention selects the shot to be played based on the time offset (O _S ) rather than selecting all shots as the shot to be played. In addition, in the video skimming method according to the present invention, the length L _S of the unit segment to be played is set and used, which indicates the length of the maximum segment to be played in one shot.

First, when video skimming is requested from the user, the first shot to be played is selected based on the length L _S information of the unit segment to be played in skimming, in consideration of the current playback position and shot index information.

Then, a predetermined amount (maximum L _{S for} individual shots) of a predetermined portion (first half or second half) of the shot selected as the first shot to be reproduced is reproduced. Subsequently, based on the last position of the reproduced portion, the segments belonging to the next shot to be reproduced are separated by at least a time offset (O _S ) set for skimming, and the two segments to be continuously reproduced by skimming are respectively The next playback shot is selected to be a segment belonging to another shot.

Here, except for the case where the operation is stopped or the reproduction is terminated by the user's stop or other request, the reproduction step for the selected shot and the step of selecting the next reproduction shot are repeatedly performed. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a summary of the entire video content by playing back only certain segments without playing back the video content by the normal playback method.

In the video skimming method according to the present invention, the segments to be continuously played are made to be segments existing in different shots. As a condition for this, various methods can be proposed. Here, some basic methods will be described. In addition, although forward skimming is described here as an example, it will be obvious that the same applies to reverse skimming.

First, the process of selecting the first shot to be played will be described. Here, in the case of forward skimming, the current shot or the next shot may be selected as the first shot. This may be appropriately selected according to the implementation manner of the system (that is, depending on the system, it may be set so that the currently playing shot or the next shot is unconditionally selected), and also by adding a comparison condition, The shot being played or the next shot may be selected as the first shot to be played.

As one of such comparison conditions, the shot to be reproduced may be selected using the set length L _S of the unit playback segment. For example, when the length from the current playback position to the end position of the shot including the current playback position is longer than the unit playback segment length L _S set as the length to be played in skimming, the first shot to which the current playback position belongs is played back. You can choose to shot. If the length from the current playback position to the end position of the shot including the current playback position is not longer than the unit playback segment length L _S set as the length to be played back in skimming, the next shot after the current playback position belongs. It is also possible to select a shot as the first shot to be played.

On the other hand, even in reproducing the shots selected for the play shots, play back, and the length of the shot reproduction to L _S, or the second half segment of the L _S amount of the unit playback segment length is greater the shot than (L _S) the first part, the selection of If the length of the shot is not greater than the unit playback segment length L _S , the system may be designed to play the entire shot.

In selecting the next playback shot, the position obtained by adding the time offset O _S to the last position of the previously played unit playback segment is obtained based on the last position of the portion played back in the playback step. The shot to which the position belongs or the next shot may be selected as the next playback shot.

At this time, the position obtained by adding the time offset (O _S ) to the last position of the previously played unit playback segment on the basis of the last position of the portion played back in the playback step is the same shot as the shot to which the previously played segment belongs. In this case, by selecting the next shot of the shot to which the obtained position belongs as the next playback shot, it is possible to prevent the segment from being reproduced more than once in the same shot.

Also in the step of selecting the next playback shot, by adding a comparison condition, the time offset O _S at the last position of the previously played unit playback segment on the basis of the last position of the portion played back in the playback step. The position to which the position is added may be obtained, and a shot or a next shot to which the corresponding position is obtained may be selected as the next playback shot according to a condition.

As one of such comparison conditions, the shot to be reproduced may be selected using the set length L _S of the unit playback segment. For example, when the length from the obtained position to the end position of the shot including the position is longer than the unit playback segment length L _S set as the length to be played in skimming, the shot to which the obtained position belongs is played next. Can be selected. If the length from the obtained position to the end position of the shot including the position is not longer than the unit playback segment length L _S set as the length to be played in the skimming, the next shot of the shot to which the corresponding position belongs is obtained. Can also be selected as the next shot to play.

Using such a video skimming method, unlike a conventional skimming method using only shot segment information, a very fast skimming function can be provided. In addition, since it does not require a video clustering engine for extracting structural information of video content, there is an advantage that can provide fast skimming at a lower price.

In addition, in this type of fast skimming, short shot segments are mostly skipped, although most of the important segments for delivering content are longer than other segments. However, these important segments are included in the playback so that the understanding of the contents can be sufficiently delivered.

In addition, according to the video skimming method, the user can approximately estimate the reproduction speed. For example, when the time offset (O _S ) is set to 20 seconds and the unit playback segment length (L _S ) is set to 2 seconds, the user can browse and summarize the content at approximately 10 times or more. . In this way, by allowing the user to set the time offset (O _S) and a unit of playback segment length (L _S), it is possible to allow the user to select the browse speed and summary level of the video skimming.

On the other hand, by using the high speed video skimming method according to the present invention described above and the conventional low speed video skimming method which performs playback for all shots using shot segmentation information, it is possible to provide another function to the user. do.

That is, a low speed skimming method for performing a predetermined amount of playback for all the individual shots with reference to the current playback position and shot segmentation information; It provides a fast skimming method that selects shots to be played based on the current playback position, shot segmentation information, unit segment length to be played, and a specified time offset for fast skimming, and performs a certain amount of playback only on the selected shots. In addition, the skimming system may be implemented such that the low speed skimming method or the high speed skimming method is selectively performed according to a skimming method switching request of the user.

Here, the low-speed skimming method includes the steps of recognizing the section of the individual shot from the shot segmentation information, selecting a specific portion within the recognized individual shot section as the playback area reflecting the content of the shot, each individual It means to implement, including the step of continuously playing the selected playback area for each shot.

In addition, the selection of the portion to be reproduced in each shot section may use the first half, the second half, the first half, and the second half of the shot at the same time, which may be appropriately selected according to the implementation method of the system.

In this way, the skimming speed can be adjusted according to the user's selection, so that the user can request the skimming (low speed skimming or high speed skimming) according to his or her taste and content characteristics. Satisfaction can be improved.

In addition, the video skimming method capable of switching between high speed skimming and low speed skimming may be utilized to implement an intelligent skimming system that automatically switches between high speed skimming and low speed skimming in consideration of shot characteristics of video content.

Meanwhile, FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a video skimming device capable of recording / indexing / viewing / nonlinear browsing to provide a high speed skimming function according to the present invention. Next, the operation of the video skimming device according to the present invention will be briefly described with reference to the figure.

First, the signal input unit 701 is a source to which the digital audio / video signal is input, and the display unit 702 represents an output means such as a monitor or a speaker for outputting the digital audio / video signal. In addition, the user interface unit 711 refers to input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, a remote controller, and a button for receiving a user input.

Here, the media storage unit 708 is an apparatus for storing the audio / video stream input through the signal input unit 701, the main control unit 710 is a playback control / recording control / non-linear browsing control / indexing control, etc. It plays a role to deliver the related command to each control module.

In addition, the index generator 707 stores the stream information stored in the media storage 708 by the recording controller 706 in the index storage 709, and is input through the signal input unit 701. It is also responsible for generating index information from the audio / video stream using automatic video indexing and storing it in the index storage unit 709. Accordingly, the index storage unit 709 stores stream storage information, shot index information (including shot segmentation information), and the like.

In addition, the index manager 705 transfers the stored information of the stream to the playback controller 703 to provide a trick play, which is a variable speed playback function such as 'fast view' and 'fast rewind', and the index storage unit It is responsible for providing shot index information stored in 709 to the Non Linear Video Browsing (NLVB) control unit 704.

The recording controller 706 provides information about the stream to be recorded to the index generator 707 and stores the audio / video stream input from the signal input unit 701 in the media storage unit 708. The playback control unit 703 sends a media stream to the display unit 702 and is responsible for controlling the entire media playback. In some cases, the non-linear video browsing control unit 704 or the index management unit 705 is provided. It uses non-linear video browsing and trick play.

In addition, the nonlinear video browsing control unit 704 communicates with the index storage unit 709 through the index management unit 705, and what reproduction method is provided under the control of the reproduction control unit 703. Play a segment and provide information about which segment to skip.

In the video skimming device having such a configuration, the video skimming operation according to the present invention will be described.

First, when a skimming request is input from the user through the user interface unit 711 which is an input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, a remote controller, a button, the main control unit 710 determines whether the skimming request requested from the user is high speed skimming, or It determines whether or not it is low speed skimming and informs the reproduction control section 703 of this information.

Accordingly, the playback control unit 703 communicates with the nonlinear video browsing control unit 704 to obtain segment information to be reproduced according to the skimming request requested by the user. Accordingly, the nonlinear video browsing control unit 704 relates to shot index (shot segmentation) information input through the index management unit 705, the current playback position of the stream transmitted by the reproduction control unit 703, and a skimming method. Based on the information, the next shot to be played back is selected, and the segment to be played back in the shot to be played is reset, and the result is transmitted to the playback control section 703.

Then, the playback control unit 703 loads the corresponding segment from the media storage unit 708, outputs the corresponding stream to the display unit 702, and then communicates with the nonlinear video browsing control unit 704 to perform the next segment. Obtains information and continuously sends the corresponding segment to the display unit 702.

Through this process, the video skimming requested by the user can be provided. At this time, the user interface unit 711, such as a remote control is limited to the number of operation buttons. Accordingly, low-speed skimming sets a skimming request button in the user interface unit 711, and presses once to perform a predetermined amount of reproduction for all individual shots using shot segmentation information, and presses once more for shot segmentation information and time. It is possible to implement fast skimming that selects a shot to be played by using offset information and performs a certain amount of playback only on the selected shot. In this case, it is possible to provide a user with a toggle function. .

That is, in such a video skimming device, the user can request a skimming (low speed skimming or high speed skimming) that suits his or her taste and content characteristics, and thus, compared to a system that implements low speed skimming using shot segmentation information. The overall cost will remain the same while improving user satisfaction.

As described above, according to the video skimming method and apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to grasp the contents of the entire video stream in a short time, and to easily pass the boring parts without missing an important part in grasping the contents of the entire contents. It has the advantage of being applicable to all genres.

In addition, according to the video skimming method and apparatus according to the present invention, a user requests fast skimming for content and a section requiring fast skimming and slow skimming for content and a section requiring slow skimming. This has the advantage of widening user choice.

In addition, according to the video skimming method and apparatus according to the present invention, the user can freely determine the speed of the fast skimming by designating the time offset and the unit playback length, so that the user can roughly estimate the total browsing time. have.

In addition, the video skimming method and apparatus according to the present invention does not require a video clustering engine for extracting structural information of video content, thereby providing a fast video skimming at a lower cost.

Claims (13)

Selecting the first shot to be played based on the unit playback segment length L _S set as the length to be played in skimming with reference to the current playback position and shot segmentation information; Reproducing a predetermined amount of a predetermined portion with respect to the shot selected as the shot to be reproduced; On the basis of the last position of the reproduced portion, at least the next playback shot is selected using a time offset (O _S ) and a shot index set for skimming, and the segment belonging to the next shot to be reproduced is configured for the at least skimming. the method comprising selecting and off more than a set time offset (O _S), the two segments be continuously reproduced by skimming is so that segments belonging to different shot; And the reproducing step and the next reproducing shot selecting step are repeatedly performed. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the first shot to be reproduced, If the length from the current playback position to the end position of the shot including the current playback position is longer than the unit playback segment length (L _S ) set as the length to be played in skimming, the shot to which the current playback position belongs is the first shot to be played. Video skimming method, characterized in that the selection. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the first shot to be reproduced, And a next shot of the shot including the current playback position is selected as the first shot to be played. The method of claim 1, wherein the playing of the selected shot comprises: The length of the shots selected for shot length of the unit playback segment play (L _S) is greater than the shot reproduction to L _S, or the second half segment of the L _S amount of the first part, and plays the length of the selected shot unit segment length ( If not greater than L _S ) video skimming method characterized in that to play the entire shot. The method of claim 1, wherein in selecting the next playback shot, On the basis of the last position of the portion reproduced in the reproducing step, the position obtained by adding the time offset (O _S ) to the last position of the previously reproduced unit reproduction segment is obtained, and the shot to which the corresponding position is obtained or the next shot is obtained. A video skimming method, characterized in that it is selected as the next playback shot. The method of claim 5, If the position obtained by adding the time offset (O _S ) to the last position of the previously played unit playback segment on the basis of the last position of the portion played back in the playback step is the same shot as the shot to which the previously played segment belongs; And selecting a next shot of the corresponding shot to which the obtained position belongs as a next playback shot. A slow skimming method for performing a certain amount of playback on all individual shots and a video skimming method of any one of claims 1 to 6 are selected with reference to the current playback position and shot segmentation information. And a high speed skimming method for performing a predetermined amount of reproduction only for a selected shot, and selectively performing the low speed skimming or the high speed skimming in response to a user's request for switching a skimming method. . The method of claim 7, wherein the low speed skimming method, Recognizing the section of the individual shots from the shot segmentation information, selecting a specific portion within the recognized individual shot section as the playback region reflecting the contents of the shot, and successively selecting the selected playback region for each individual shot The video skimming method comprising the step of playing. The method of claim 8, The selection of the portion to be played back in each shot section comprises using the first half, the second half, the middle half, the first half and the second half of the shot at the same time. User interface means for inputting user commands for video skimming to perform retrieval and browsing of digital video data; Control means for processing video skimming by selecting a segment to be reproduced using shot index information and time offset information of a corresponding video stream according to a user command input through the user interface means; An index storage for providing storage information and shot index information of a corresponding video stream in response to a request of the control means; A media storage for providing a video stream in response to a request of the control means; And Display means for reproducing the video stream skimmed by the control means; Video skimming device comprising a. The method of claim 10, And the shot index information includes shot segmentation information for a video stream. The method of claim 10, wherein the control means, A main control unit which determines whether a skimming request is made from a signal input from a user; A playback controller for receiving a skimming command from the main controller and performing video skimming with reference to the selected play segment information; And A non-linear video which is requested to provide segment information to be played back from the playback control unit, obtains segment information to be played back with reference to shot index information and current playback position and time offset information of the video stream transmitted from the playback control unit A browsing control unit; Video skimming device comprising a. The method of claim 10, wherein the user interface means, A degree of video skimming, comprising: slow skimming for performing a certain amount of playback for all individual shots with reference to the current playback position and shot index information; Means for selecting a shot to be played based on a current playback position, shot index information, and a specified time offset for fast skimming, and fast skimming for performing a predetermined amount of playback only on the selected shot; Video skimming device comprising a.