Computer-implemented method, computer program and apparatus for video processing and for generating a thumbnail from a video sequence, and video surveillance system comprising such an apparatus

A video processing apparatus, comprising at least one processor configured to:

• receive from a user a first query corresponding to a first predetermined object and a second query corresponding to a second predetermined object, and an instruction to generate search results matching any or all of the first and second search queries;
• obtain from at least one database a first video sequence of a target area comprising the first predetermined object and a second video sequence of the target area comprising the second predetermined object;
• upon receipt of the instruction, determine whether the said first and second video sequences originate from a single video camera and whether a recording period of the first video sequence and a recording period of the second video sequence overlap for a time period;
• and
• in a case where the said first and second video sequences originate from a single video camera and the recording periods of the first and second video sequences overlap for a time period, define at least one first video clip using frames of the first and/or second video sequence(s) from the period of overlap, and present the first video clip to the user as a search result;
• and
• in a case where the user chooses to obtain search results matching any of the first and second search queries and the recording periods of the first and second video sequences do not overlap for any time period, presenting the user with the first and second video sequences as different search results.