Scene-change detection method that distinguishes between gradual and sudden scene changes

Claim 2

A scene-change detecting method including: a first step in which a comparison result between a frame picture of input video signals and another frame picture of input video signals, the frames being adjacent to each other, is detected as a video change degree and, if the video change degree is great, it is determined a scene-change exists, wherein the first step determines that there is a scene-chance when a time differential of the video change degree exceeds a prescribed threshold value; a second step that distinguishes the scene-change determined in the first step between a momentum scene-change and a gradual scene-change, based on a continuity of the video change degree; and a third step in which for the momentum scene-change determined in the second step, its determined point is detected as the momentum scene-change, and for the gradual scene-change determined in the second step, a period from its determined point to a point at which the video change degree is stable, is detected as a gradual scene-change period.

Claim 3

A scene-change detecting method according to claim 1, wherein the first step determines the presence of a scene-change if the video change degree exceeds a prescribed threshold value.

Claim 4

A scene-change detecting method according to claim 1, wherein when the second step distinguishes the determined scene-change between a momentum scene-change and a gradual scene-change, provided that a video change degree at a point where the scene-change exists is defined as a first change degree, and a video change degree for at least one frame picture being captured after the first change degree is defined as a second change degree and, if the second change degree is greatly smaller than the first change degree, the above scene-change is determined to be the momentum scene-change, if the difference between the first and second change degrees is small, the above scene-change is determined to be the gradual scene-change.

Claim 5

A scene-change detecting apparatus including: a picture capture means for capturing an input video signal into a frame memory; a change degree detection means that compares a frame picture captured by the picture capture means with another frame picture captured previously, to detect its comparison result as a video change degree; a video change degree storage means for storing the video change degree; a scene-change determination means that determines a scene-change exists if the change degree of the input video exceeds a prescribed threshold value; a momentum and gradual scene-change determination means that distinguishes the scene-change determined in the scene-change determination means between a momentum scene-change and a gradual scene-change, utilizing the video change degree and a continuity thereof; the momentum and gradual scene-change determination means detecting a momentum scene-change determination point as the momentum scene-change, and detecting a gradual scene-change determination point as a start point of the gradual scene-change; a gradual scene-change end detection means in which if the momentum and gradual scene-change determination means determines the above scene-change as the gradual scene-change, a video change degree in a subsequent frame picture captured by the picture capture means is successively input and, a point at which the video change degree holds constant is detected as an end of the gradual scene-change duration; an index information storage means for storing an index picture of a moving picture and information thereof; and an index information recording means in which if the momentum and gradual scene-change determination means detects the above momentum scene-change and the gradual scene-change end detection means detects the end of the above gradual scene-change duration, a video signal is input as an index picture, which is then stored in the index information storage means, at the same time, a time counter corresponding the above video signal is recorded as associated information of the index picture, in the index information recording means.

Claim 6

A scene-change detecting apparatus including: a picture capture means for capturing an input video signal into a frame memory; a change degree detection means that compares a frame picture captured by the picture capture means with another frame picture captured previously, to detect its comparison result as a video change degree; a video change degree storage means for storing the video change degree; a scene-change determination means that determines a scene-change exists if the change degree of the input video exceeds a prescribed threshold value; a momentum and gradual scene-change determination means that distinguishes the scene-change determined in the scene-change determination means between a momentum scene-change and a gradual scene-change, utilizing the video change degree and a continuity thereof; the momentum and gradual scene-change determination means detecting a momentum scene-change determination point as the momentum scene-change, and detecting a gradual scene-change determination point as a start point of the gradual scene-change; a gradual scene-change end detection means in which if the momentum and gradual scene-change determination means determines the above scene-change as the gradual scene-change, a video change degree in a subsequent frame picture captured by the picture capture means is successively input and, a point at which the video change degree holds constant is detected as an end of the gradual scene-change duration; an index information storage means for storing an index picture of a moving picture and information thereof; and an index information recording means in which if the momentum and gradual scene-change determination means detects the above momentum scene-change and the gradual scene-change end detection means detects the end of the above gradual scene-change duration, a video signal is input as an index picture, which is then stored in the index information storage means, at the same time, a time counter corresponding the above video signal is recorded as associated information of the index picture, in the index information recording means.