Efficient Key-Frame Extraction and Video Analysis

Content based video indexing and retrieval has its foundations in the analyses of the prime video temporal structures. Consequently, technologies for video segmentation and key-frame extraction have become crucial for the development of advanced digital video systems. Conventional algorithms for video partitioning and keyframe extraction are mainly implemented autonomously. By focusing the analysis on the compressed video features, this paper introduces a real-time algorithm for scene change detection and key-frame extraction that generates the frame difference metrics by analysing statistics of the macro-block features extracted from the MPEG compressed stream. The key-frame extraction method is implemented using difference metrics curve simplification by discrete contour evolution algorithm. This approach resulted in a fast and robust algorithm. Results of computer simulations are reported.