WO2004049729A1

WO2004049729A1 - Systems and methods for browsing the content of analog and/or digital video sequences

Info

Publication number: WO2004049729A1
Application number: PCT/DE2003/003932
Authority: WO
Inventors: Winfried OBERMÜLLER
Original assignee: HÖSL, Thomas
Priority date: 2002-11-27
Filing date: 2003-11-27
Publication date: 2004-06-10
Also published as: AU2003289812A1

Abstract

The invention relates to systems and methods for browsing the content of analog and/or digital video sequences, as well as data carriers that carry those in programmed form. The system for browsing the content of analog and/or digital video sequences is designed to take at given intervals snapshots as representative images of the video sequences and to process them so that the snapshots can be evaluated. The method for browsing the content of analog and/or digital video sequences is characterized in that snapshots are automatically taken at given intervals as representative images of the video sequences and are processed and then evaluated.

Description

Systems and methods for checking the content of analog and / or digital

video sequences

description

The present invention relates to systems and methods for checking the content of analog and / or digital video sequences, as well as data carriers thus in program form.

In many areas it is necessary to check video films or recordings by sighting. This is a very lengthy and exhausting job, for which extremely highly qualified employees have to be deployed, so that very high costs are involved. The possibilities of playback devices to shorten the playback time by means of a function with faster advance is generally unsuitable, since this creates an even greater effort for viewers. Another disadvantage of a fast forward is that the sound cannot be checked.

The invention has and achieves the aim of creating such systems and methods for checking the content of analog and / or digital video sequences so that the effort and effort involved in checking video films and measures are substantially reduced.

According to the invention, systems and methods for checking the content of analog and / or digital video sequences are thus created, with all necessary devices or steps being provided in terms of the device and method in order to realize the compression of the analog and / or digital video sequences onto individual images in a sequence ,

In particular, the invention provides a system for checking the content of analog and / or digital video sequences, the system being designed to take and process snapshots at intervals as representative images of the video sequences so that the snapshots can be evaluated.

A method according to the invention for checking the content of analog and / or digital video sequences is characterized in that snapshots are automatically generated and processed as representative images of the video sequences at intervals and are then evaluated. Further preferred embodiments of this invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing.

In the following, the invention is only explained in more detail by way of example using exemplary embodiments and for clarification, without this being associated with the fact that the invention would be restricted to individual configuration options within the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

Identical reference symbols in the individual figures and figures in the drawings denote identical or similar or identically or similarly acting components. Features that are not provided with reference numerals also become clear on the basis of the representations in the drawing, regardless of whether such features are described below or not. On the other hand, features which are contained in the present description but are not visible or shown in the drawing are also readily understandable for a person skilled in the art.

Individual features that specify and / or are shown in connection with specific exemplary embodiments are not limited to these exemplary embodiments or the combination with the other features of these exemplary embodiments, but can, within the scope of what is technically possible, with any other variants, even if they are in the available documents are not treated separately, can be combined.

Basic principle of the invention

Systems and methods for checking the content of analog and / or digital video sequences are created by the invention, wherein in terms of device and method all necessary devices or steps are provided in order to compress the analog and / or digital video sequences to individual images in a sequence realize. The basic principle of the invention is the compression of analog and / or digital video sequences into individual images in succession. This sequence shows the content of a video sequence. In principle, the idea of sequential order can be established as reverse storyboarding, or in other words, a kind of scene-wise documentation of a film or a recording afterwards. The time interval between individual images is to be chosen in such a way that at least one image is obtained as a snapshot or representation for each scene, with longer images or more images than just one image being obtained for each scene. Viewing the sequential sequence of the representative images thus obtained allows the viewer to grasp the content of an entire film in a very short time. Our own tests have shown that the viewer can view the content of a video sequence of 180 minutes as a sequence of 360 images in about 5 minutes with the help of a PC and its displays and check for special content. In this example, the sequence on one image was selected every 30 seconds. Instead of looking at the entire video sequence or the entire film over 180 minutes, the image sequence provided can be evaluated in less than 10 minutes. In the event of anomalies, such as illegal content, a report generator can provide the image, including metadata, such as text information, which, within the scope of the invention, is preferably created automatically during the storage of the images, as a document or printout.

The system and method according to the invention thus enable time savings of over 90% compared to conventional systems and methods.

Components of systems and methods according to the invention

1. Analog video sources (video players with appropriate tapes / cassettes) or digital video sources (DND players with appropriate media)

2. Video acquisition device (e.g. so-called "frame grabber")

3. Computer with processing memory, mass storage, processor and display (display device)

4. Control for the acquisition and processing of video data and metadata; This can be achieved, for example, by means of specially switched electronic hardware, but is usually up-to-date by means of appropriate programs in conjunction with a universal computer or computer, in particular because it is an easy, quick and uncomplicated updating, adaptation and expansion of systems and Procedures are possible

5. Control for processing image data and metadata, such as Text, for the provision of documents and their output to printers; This can be achieved, for example, by means of specially switched electronic hardware, but is usually up-to-date by means of appropriate programs in conjunction with a universal computer or computer, in particular because it is an easy, quick and uncomplicated updating, adaptation and expansion of systems and Procedures are possible

The components according to the invention explained above are also preferably combined and connected to one another in a certain way. A variant for connecting the components to one another is exemplarily explained in more detail below. 1. The central device is preferably a personal computer with standard equipment. In addition, a video acquisition device (e.g. frame grabber or firewire device) is installed.

2.At least one commercially available video player or more precisely video player, but preferably several such devices, such as, for example, in particular four such devices, can be used with the video acquisition device and above that with the other resources of the personal computer and also its peripheral devices, e.g. Printer.

The method is described below on the basis of an exemplary description of a method variant, but on the other hand specific properties of the system according to the invention are also readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. In particular, the clarification takes place on the basis of preferred configurations, the generalization of which for a person skilled in the art can be derived from the functions and effects.

1. All video players send data to the video acquisition device simultaneously. However, a separate "channel" for data transmission is provided for each video player.

2. A controller, as stated above, in particular by a program, controls the recording of the image sequences from each source in an orderly manner and the backup of metadata and the individual images in an orderly manner on the digital storage medium, which is preferably used as a mass storage device for the computing unit Commitment comes. The method runs according to such a control.

3. A time interval between pictures of each picture sequence as well as start to save the pictures and metadata and the end can be individually regulated or set by the user for each channel.

Another method and another control, each implemented in particular by a program, permit the selection of individual images and the printing or storage of individual images, preferably together with the corresponding metadata as a document for backup purposes, and in particular in each case immediately while viewing the images.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram to schematically illustrate the device composition of the invention in a preferred embodiment. At the very top, the interface between the system and a user is symbolized under the name "MediAN User Interface". For example, this interface contains output lines with in particular display devices, such as a computer screen, and a printer, and input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse and the like. The term "MediAN" stands for the system and method according to the invention.

In the left "column" of the illustration in FIG. 1, possible sources for films or recordings to be examined are given. In addition to a digital camera that feeds live images, these are at least playback devices for video cassettes (only the formats VHS, Hi8 and S-Video or S-VHS are given as representations), DVDs and video CDs and other data carriers for multimedia files for playing recorded films among others in the formats .AVI, .MOV, .MPG, .RM, whereby the playback devices can also be formed by corresponding programs on a computer. Without limitation, these playback devices themselves can also be designed as recording devices, the recording properties of these devices not being important in the context of the invention. Finally, single images or sequences of individual images, for example in the formats .JPG, .BMP, .TIF, .PNG, .GIF, etc., can of course also be fed in as sources.

The next "column" in the block diagram of FIG. 1 contains various interface devices which can be included in the system according to the invention in order to obtain the data from the media sources specified above. In addition to so-called frame grabbers, which convert motion picture data into frame data that can be saved and / or processed in any way, these are a wide variety of interface designs in accordance with current standards in current computer technology: SCSI, IDE, USB, USB2, IP / Ethernet. Depending on the media sources and source data formats, any such interface can be used.

From the interface devices, the data are sent from the media sources to the bus of the computer, from where they come to the actual processing device in the computer. The processing device is equipped in the conventional manner and contains one or more processors and memory devices. Such processing devices are usually formed by a so-called motherboard or a motherboard of a computer. The data from the media sources are processed there, in accordance with the control of the system and in accordance with the method. Analog and digital data can be processed, treated, generated and / or simulated, for which the blocks MediANanalog and MediANdigital stand. Image and text data are stored in the "Image storage & Meta Data" unit. Using the MediANfilter block, different specifications for filtering data from the media sources can be set and carried out. The results of processing the data from the media sources are Delivery devices in the form of a display device that is operated by MediANview and printing devices that are operated by MediANprint are provided to users. MediANview is especially designed for intelligent browsing, while MediANprint is used for case or case documentation.

Although the block diagram representation contains some general principles of the present invention, the functionalities and functional units in this regard are clear to the person skilled in the art in this regard, but in particular also with regard to more specific information due to the technical teaching on which the invention is based.

In the following, the invention is also explained in more detail with reference to the drawing using the embodiment variants shown therein.

As already mentioned, the objectives of the invention are achieved with systems and methods which are designed to evaluate and document analog and / or digital media for determining, for example, illegal content. In this respect, one possible application in the field of police work is when examining video films for illegal content. However, the invention is not limited to such an application.

In the following, further exemplary configurations of systems and methods according to the invention are given, in particular with regard to components of the system, installation (cabling or connection material, installation of the playback devices, cabling of the preview unit, cabling of the capture unit, network connection of a workstation), introduction into the Technology (channel overview: start / remaining time display, picture settings, film sequences, status display, channel window, call channel settings, exit; channel settings, channel change, start / stop, start / remaining time, channel window, picture settings, data compression, status message, data fields, tape length, back to the channel overview), Working with the system (system start and media analysis, performing media analysis, ending media analysis), printouts (introduction: data fields, image settings, printing, side view, exit; work to print: preparation of the evaluation report, review of the evaluation report, printing of the evaluation report).

The main components of the system and method according to the invention are: the work station, preferably formed by a conventional personal computer with suitable equipment for the operation of the other two main components, the control, in particular real Based on software for the workstation and playback devices connected to the workstation for the media to be analyzed.

The workstation has two modules on the hardware side with the preview and capture unit, which enable the system to be operated and are formed, for example, by corresponding plug-in cards in the personal computer in connection with the so-called driver software. The task of the preview unit is to give the user an overview of the current analysis progress. The capture unit is responsible for data compression. It enables snapshots of the media to be analyzed.

The control in the form of software that is easy to update and adapt in line with the times enables the user to compress the media to be analyzed and also offers the user the opportunity to process the most important information about the respective medium. To do this, she accesses the preview and capture unit of the workstation. Of course, any software components can also be replaced by corresponding special hardware without restrictions.

After a successful compression process, the media can be viewed using an image viewing program, which is also part of the control according to the invention.

Since the system has all of the hardware and software resources of the workstation, i.e. no further software should be installed and used in parallel with the control according to the invention in the present exemplary embodiment of a personal computer, at least largely exhausted according to the current state of the art. The installation and use of third-party software could, under certain circumstances, severely impair the operation of the controller according to the invention and lead to malfunctions.

The players are the third component of the system. For example, up to four players can be connected and operated in parallel to the preview or capture unit of the workstation. As playback devices e.g. Video recorders, DVD and video CD players, but also multimedia programs can be used.

installation

wiring material To set up the system, some cables are required to connect the components or parts. According to the devices used in the present exemplary embodiments, these are in detail: 2 x preview adapters, for connecting the playback devices consisting of

^• 26-pin multifunction plug for connection to the workstation and

^• 2-way cinch (see Figure 2) for connection to two playback devices 1 x capture adapter for connecting the playback devices consisting of

^• 42-pin multifunction plug for connection to the workstation

^• 4-way S-VHS (see Figure 3) for connection to four players

4 x adapter Scart to S-VHS or Cinch (see Figure 4) for connection to the playback devices consisting of

^• 20-pin connector and

^• an S-VHS socket

^• two cinch sockets

It should be noted that the Scart-S-VHS / Cinch adapter is only required if the playback device used does not have an S-VHS or Cinch socket for the video output. Otherwise, the RCA and S-VHS cables can be connected directly.

Notes on using the Scart adapter on S-VHS / Cinch:

^• The cinch cable is only connected to the yellow video socket V in practice. The red and white cinch sockets C (audio) are not used.

^• The switch on the adapter must be set to "Output". The connected player does not work if the switch is set to "Input".

Setting up the players: The players are preferably set up in the immediate vicinity of the workstation. Before wiring, check whether all players have an S-VHS and cinch video output. If this is not the case, the Scart-S-VHS / RCA adapter must be used.

Wiring the preview unit: The preview unit, itself designed as a plug-in board for a personal computer, is responsible for the optical control (seeing) of the system according to the invention. The preview unit has a connection plate, which is usually located on the back of the workstation and has two 26-pin sockets (see FIG. 4) which are arranged horizontally, for example, like two eyes. The preview unit is connected using a preview adapter. The 26-pin plug of the adapter is plugged into the designated socket PB and with the help two setscrews fixed in nuts M. It should be noted that only the socket marked for this purpose may be used, as is only shown by way of example in FIG. 5. The other socket remains unused.

Connecting the playback devices to the preview unit: The playback devices are connected to the workstation via the S-NHS cables of the preview adapter. The labels on the S-VHS connectors must be observed when connecting to the corresponding video display device. To connect, simply plug the S-VHS plug of the preview adapter into the sockets on the back of the playback devices or into the Scart-S-VHS / Cinch adapter used.

Cabling of the capture unit: The capture unit is connected using the capture adapter. The capture unit, itself designed as a plug-in board for a personal computer, has a connection plate, which is usually located on the back of the workstation. However, it only has a multifunction socket MFB (see Figure 6) and an S-VHS (SA) and cinch connection CA. The multifunction plug of the capture adapter is plugged into the 42-pin multifunction socket MFB and fixed in nuts M with the help of two set screws. Please note that only the multifunction socket is used. Both the S-VHS- (SA) and the cinch socket CA remain unused.

Connecting the playback devices to the capture unit: The playback devices are connected to the workstation via the cinch cable of the capture adapter. Please note the labels on the cinch connector when connecting to the corresponding picture player. To connect, simply plug the capture adapter's cinch plugs into the sockets on the back of the playback devices or into the Scart-S-VHS / cinch adapter used.

Anschluss Network connection of the workstation: On the back of the workstation there is a buchWB socket as part of the motherboard connection board (see Figure 7). With the help of this network socket ΝWB the system can be connected to a local network.

Network jack

introduction The system according to the invention is a computer-based system that supports the user in the analysis of visual media such as video tapes, DVDs or video CDs. It simplifies and shortens the viewing process by taking “snapshots” at freely configurable intervals during the playback of a medium to be analyzed and storing them for further viewing at a location provided on the hard disk, which is preferably used as a mass storage device.

In this way, users are spared the time-consuming and concentration-consuming sighting of the entire length of the medium (e.g. up to 8 hours per film or medium). Instead of viewing the medium over its entire normal runtime, the fast viewing of stored images and / or video sequences takes place. The system and method according to the invention can thus be used to transform the previously extensive and lengthy process of viewing image media into an intensive and concentrated process. The use of the system and method according to the invention thus enables time savings of up to 95% while improving the quality of the analysis.

The control, i.e. In the present exemplary embodiments, the corresponding software essentially is based, for example, on the Microsoft operating system Windows XP Professional. The control program is started in the usual way by "clicking" on a corresponding icon that is located in the Windows Start menu and / or on the desktop of the workstation.

The channel overview: After starting the control software, the "Channel overview" window K opens (see Figure 8). The current status of the four analysis channels AK1, AK2, AK3 and AK4 is displayed in this window. The user recognizes at a glance which playback devices are currently active and can simultaneously read the start in window B and the remaining time in window R for each channel AK1, AK2, AK3 and AK4. In addition, he can make the image settings for each preview window in the usual way for graphics processing programs with corresponding virtual controllers BE and activate the recording of video sequences by means of a virtual switch S as well.

Start of remaining time display: In addition to the actual video window for each channel AK1, AK2, AK3 and AK4, there is a clock in window B that shows how long the respective channel has already been used to compress the medium displayed. Below this, the remaining term of the medium to be analyzed is optionally displayed in the R window. The respective channel is always in use when one or both clocks indicate progress. If a video image is shown in the channel window and the clocks do not display anything, a measurement is dium in the player, but it is not compressed by the inventive method. In the "Channel overview" there is a field O under each window of one of the channels AK1, AK2, AK3 and AK4, which shows the folder in which the snapshots are saved. This folder can be determined in the channel settings.

Image settings BE: On the right-hand side, brightness, contrast can be adjusted for each of the four preview windows with the help of sliders. Adjust hue and saturation individually. With the help of e.g. of the number pad Z, which is located under the controls, the user can switch between the individual preview windows. For example, if he selects channel 1, the image settings in the preview window of this channel are changed when the sliders are moved. Please note that the BE image settings are only valid for the preview of the individual channels. These settings have no influence on the image quality of the recorded "snapshots" or representative video sequences that are saved for checking.

Film sequences: Optionally, e.g. instead of individual pictures representative film sequences are created, saved and checked for each film scene, which also results in data compression, but not single frames but short clips. Such a mode can be activated by the switch FS.

Status display: The status display SA is a field that is located at the bottom of the "Channel overview" window and informs the user about important events, such as the start of the compression process or the occurrence of errors.

Channel window: The four channel windows AK1, AK2, AK3 and AK4 show the video images that are currently being fed into the workstation by the respective playback device.

Call up channel settings: The system, or more precisely the control in conjunction with the workstation, enables individual settings to be made for each channel. The "Set" button E, which is located next to each channel window, calls up these settings.

Exit: The exit button (the virtual switch S takes over this function as a "toggle switch") closes the control window and, for security reasons, preferably ends all data compression processes that are currently in progress. The control can also be ended in the usual way under the Windows operating system by clicking on the cross in the upper right corner of the channel overview. To start again Media compression, the software must be started again. All settings are then back to their basic position, or the last selected settings are offered as initial settings. With just one click on a button, the basic settings can be restored in the latter case.

The channel settings: All settings for all four analysis channels can be made in the Channel Settings KE window (see Figure 9) and the necessary information regarding the media to be analyzed can be entered. In addition, the channel setting window KE is used to start or stop data compression.

Channel change: In the KE channel settings window, you can only ever make settings for one analysis channel. The KS channel buttons are located at the top right of the KE channel settings window. The user can access the settings of the other channels by pressing the respective channel button. The fact that a channel has just been addressed is signaled by pressing the channel button (here channel 2). The color of the font on the channel buttons provides information as to whether the channel is currently used for data compression or not. Black font e.g. means that no data compression is in progress, while red text indicates that the compression process is currently active for this channel.

Start / Stop: With the help of the Start / Stop button ST, which is located under the four channel buttons KS, the data compression on the respective channel can be started and stopped. After pressing the start / stop button ST, it displays the word "Stop" and thus signals that the compression process is currently in progress.

Start / remaining time: Under the start / stop button there is a clock for the start status B, which shows how long the respective channel has already been used to compress the displayed medium. Below this, the remaining time R of the medium to be analyzed is optionally displayed. The respective channel is always in use when one or both clocks indicate progress.

Channel window: The large windows F in the upper right area show the video images that are currently being fed from the playback device into the workstation and give an impression of the quality of the “snapshots” that are written to the hard disk by the control.

Image settings: The controls for the SBE image setting are located under the channel window. This allows the brightness, contrast, hue and saturation of the ones to be created Determine snapshots. The channel window immediately reflects the changed image settings and thus shows the user the result of these settings.

Important: Once the data compression process has started, image adjustments can no longer be made. The settings can only be changed after this process has been completed.

Data compression DV: In this area you can specify the number of snapshots that should be taken per minute. For example, the maximum number is 20 per minute. (One picture every three seconds)

It is also possible to record short video sequences.

Status message: As a status message, the controller can, for example, send a message to any user within e.g. a local network. The status message is activated by entering the login name of the user (from his workplace) in the SM field with the name "Status message to". The controller then notifies the respective person using a network notification that appears on the screen of the registered person. If the field that is close to the data compression options remains empty, no status message is sent.

Data fields: In addition to data compression, the control also enables brief documentation of relevant information for the examination of the respective medium. In the data fields on the left-hand side of the Channel Settings window, the following data on the medium, specific case, investigating officer and suspect can be entered by the police, for example, in the presently used application of the invention for checking video material for illegal content:

^• Police file number

^• Current identification number of the medium

^• Collective file number

^• Office of the prosecutor

^• key

^• Because of (reason for the investigation)

^• Name and phone number of the investigating officer

^• Name and date of birth of the suspect Belt length: Below the source information is the BL belt length field. If the user enters the length of the medium to be analyzed in the field, the current remaining life of the medium is displayed after the start. It is not absolutely necessary to specify the runtime in minutes. If the user waives them, only the previous runtime is displayed.

A control element for the automatic tape length determination function is located under the tape length field. This function is analogous to such a function as the playback devices themselves already contain.

Back to the channel overview: The back button ZK, which is located at the bottom right in the window of the channel settings KE, leads the user back to the channel overview K (FIG. 8). The return to the channel overview has no influence on the active compression processes, i.e. all processes continue regardless.

Working with the system according to the invention

Call up control and prepare media analysis: The control software is started in a widely known manner from the Windows Start menu or from the desktop by double-clicking the icon. After calling up the software, the window of the channel overview K appears first. After the control has been started or before, the playback devices must be equipped with the media to be analyzed. The media is then started by pressing the start or play button on the respective playback device. As soon as the playback devices deliver a signal, this is displayed in the overview window K in the respective channel window AK1, AK2, AK3 and AK4. As soon as one or more channels display a moving image in the overview window, the settings for data compression can be made. By pressing the "Set" button of the desired channel, the user can access the channel settings KE. There you can first enter the most important information about the medium in the fields provided (e.g. police file number, identification number of the medium, etc.).

Before the actual compression process is initiated by pressing the start button S, the following settings should preferably be checked:

^• Channel: Is the desired medium played or was another channel accidentally selected? The button bar (channel 1-4) enables switching between the channels.

^• Tape length: Is the tape length known and should the remaining term be displayed? If so, has the tape length been entered in the corresponding field or has it been recognized automatically? ^• Picture settings: Is the video picture clearly visible in the channel window or do the brightness, contrast, saturation or color tone have to be adjusted? After starting the compression process, these settings can no longer be modified depending on the version.

^■ Data ^compression : Has the desired time interval for taking the snapshots been set?

^• Status message: Do you want a status message? If yes, is the login name of the relevant person entered in the SM field "Status message to"?

Perform media analysis: Before the media analysis can be started, the playback devices should be reset. If the entire length of the media is to be compressed, it must be rewound to the start. During the fast rewind, the playback devices do not feed an image into the workstation and the control. As a result, no video image is displayed in the preview window. After the media has been reset, data compression can be started in the Channel Settings window. This is done by pressing the start button S. Simultaneously or immediately afterwards, the respective playback device is started. The input video image appears in the channel window. The playback devices can preferably also be controlled via the control with regard to start, stop, forward, rewind, media ejection or discharge, possibly media change, etc.

There are the following signs that the compression on a channel is in progress:

^• The lettering on the channel button lights up red

^• The clock showing the start is running

^• The inscription on the start button S is now "Stop"

After the analysis according to the invention has been started on the desired channel, the remaining channels can also be activated one after the other. The channel bar at the top right of the Channel Settings window allows you to switch between channels quickly. Each channel can be prepared and started independently of the other channels in the manner described. There is no fundamental restriction to exactly four channels.

End media analysis: The media analysis is ended in the KE channel settings window. To end an ongoing compaction process, the user simply has to press the stop button S.

Important: For security reasons, the media compression can preferably not be interrupted, but only canceled or ended. It is then not possible to resume compaction. In this way, only partial or possibly incomplete processing is avoided. print options

Introduction: The control preferably contains or comprises software for printing out test reports. This configuration accesses data that were entered as a whole during the analysis of a medium with the aid of the control and inserts it into a predefined evaluation form. In addition, further information and comments on the respective examination can be entered (see FIG. 10).

Data fields: Name and telephone number of the investigating officer can be entered in the EB "Investigating officer" field. If this information has already been entered during data compression, it is automatically adopted and does not have to be entered again. In principle, it is possible to correct data on the investigating officer, which has been automatically taken over, and then to print it out in this form. In the context of the application of the invention chosen as an example here, the field EA with the name “Result of the Evaluation” offers the possibility of storing whether the examination of the respective medium shows a result that is relevant under criminal law or not. In the event that the user wants to write down further comments, there is a corresponding text field below.

Image settings: With the help of the EBE image settings, the user can change the brightness and contrast of the snapshot in order to achieve better print quality.

Print: Button D "Print" opens the standard print dialog. He initiates the printing of the evaluation report.

Print preview: The SV "Print preview" button opens the print preview (see Figure 10). The finished evaluation report AB is displayed, in which all available information is entered. At the top of this window is a bar with buttons that contains the following functions in the usual way under the Windows operating system:

^• Print: Opens the standard print dialog. This dialog initiates the printing of the evaluation report.

^• Enlarge: Enlarges the display of the evaluation report. This makes it easier to review the evaluation report before printing.

^• Close: This button ends the page view and returns to the main window of the print mode. The cross in the top right corner of the menu bar has the same function. Exit: The Exit button closes the MediAn-Print window of the side view mode and exits the program. The program can also be ended by clicking on the cross in the right corner of the window.

Working with the print mode: The drack function is started from the Windows start menu or from the workstation by double-clicking on the corresponding print icon.

Preparation of the evaluation report: First, the user selects a snapshot that was obtained or taken with the help of the system. To do this, the user selects "Open" in the program menu (see Figure 12) and then selects a specific snapshot in the desired folder in the file window that appears (see Figure 13). Each folder represents a compact medium. The print program then displays the selected snapshot. In addition to the snapshot, the print program also automatically reads in all data for the respective examination that was entered by the user when the data was compressed. This data then appears in the input fields (e.g. name of the investigating officer, see above) or can be viewed in the side view of the evaluation report. Subsequently, further information (e.g. relevance to criminal law) can be entered in the input fields provided before printing.

Important: It is possible to correct the information that was already entered during the data compression.

Checking the evaluation report: The "Side view" function is used to check the evaluation report. Certain parts can be enlarged by clicking on the evaluation report. If corrections are still necessary, the user can return to the main window of the Drack mode by clicking the close button.

Printing the evaluation report: The evaluation report is printed out by pressing the "Print" button D. In the print window that appears (see FIG. 14), the user can, for example, enter how many copies of the evaluation report are to be printed, as is customary for the Windows operating system. Pressing the OK button will give the print command to the printer. With the help of an additional module of the software, "electronic" printouts can also be created, for example in the form of PDF documents. In this way, evaluation reports can also be printed on the hard disk of the Save users. For this purpose, the appropriate software must be selected in the "Name" field instead of the printer.

Some further preferred developments of the invention are specified and explained below.

The sound can also be checked while the medium is playing. Speech recognition could be used to search for "key words" from a table and, when such a word is found, to take an image and / or to increase the frequency of the image recordings (e.g. tenfold), in particular for a predetermined period (e.g. 2 or 5 minutes).

Playback can also be done with 'fast forward' or as it is often called 'search'. With a simple snapshot creation at predetermined time intervals, it is easy to switch to a higher playback speed. It may have to the time between two image recordings can be reduced accordingly (the program could automatically convert if it is informed of the speed with which the data source is played), and the total runtime for a medium could be shortened in this way.

The search for interesting scenes by voice recognition can also be coupled with processing at an increased playback speed. This means that the sound is also monitored during "search" in order to find relevant points and to capture them with intermediate images or higher evaluation image density.

An automatic media changer can also be provided in or in the playback devices and enable fully automatic processing of a large number of media.

The illustration in FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the method according to the invention and can already be understood by the information contained therein. A system according to the invention is illustrated schematically in FIG. 16 and provides an overview of the system components, in particular the main components of the system according to the invention specified above. For a person skilled in the art, the features, equipment, functions and effects of the individual components result readily from the combination with the representations relating to the preceding figures, both in the description and in the drawing. According to a development of the invention, an interchangeable data carrier is provided which is at least sufficient for storing a software implementation of the system and method according to the invention and contains corresponding program files. However, the data carrier is of such a capacity, such as a so-called USB stick, that not only the program files but also data from the checking and evaluation of contents, for example from computer-internal hard disk memories, can be stored on it. In terms of method, such a USB stick or other suitable interchangeable data carrier is then simply inserted into the connection socket of a computer to be checked and the program stored on the USB stick is started. By means of the program, for example, the hard disk of the computer being examined is searched for corresponding multimedia files, these files are called up and checked using the programmed method. In this case, for example, only one key point mode can be operated, or a complete check can take place. The provision of the correspondingly designed interchangeable data carrier and thus the mobile implementation of the method enables at least a random check of computers for questionable content. For example, a seizure of a computer can be justified on site.

Main features of the invention have been explained above with reference to the drawing. In addition, refinements and developments were preferably shown. For the realization of these basic features and further configurations, the person skilled in the art, having knowledge of the invention, has sufficient means and possibilities for implementing details on the basis of the documents available, without having to act separately according to the invention.

The invention is only explained and illustrated by way of example in the description and in the drawings, and is not limited thereto, but includes all variations, modifications, substitutions and combinations which the person skilled in the art can understand in the present documents, in particular the description of the exemplary embodiments and their representations can be taken from the drawing and combined with his professional knowledge and the state of the art. In particular, all individual features and configuration options of the invention and its exemplary embodiments can be combined.

Claims

Expectations

1. System for checking the content of analog and / or digital video sequences, characterized in that the system is designed to create and process snapshots at intervals as representative images of the video sequences, so that the snapshots can be evaluated.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that devices for recognizing color and / or shape content of individual images and decision-making devices are included, which cause the creation of snapshots as a function of the finding / occurrence of predetermined color and / or shape content of individual images ,

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that report generating devices are included.

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is designed multi-channel.

5. Data carrier, characterized in that it contains a system according to one of the preceding claims.

6. A data carrier according to claim 5, characterized in that it is a USB stick and / or has a storage capacity of at least several MB, preferably at least one GB.

7. Method for checking the content of analog and / or digital video sequences, characterized in that snapshots are automatically generated and processed as representative images of the video sequences at intervals and are then evaluated.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a system according to one of claims 1 to 4 is operated.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a data carrier according to claim 5 or 6 is used.