Video access method and video access apparatus

A video picture access system, comprising:

• means for displaying time-serially a list of representative images of scenes included in a video picture;
• and
• means for scrolling said list of representative images when a total number of said representative images exceeds a maximum number of representative images which can be displayed on said display screen while adding for display with scrolling a new representative image other than the one already displayed earlier;
• wherein said representative image added newly for display is a representative image of a scene distanced for a given time in conformance to a command inputted.

A video picture access system, comprising:

• means for displaying time-serially a list of representative images of scenes included in a video picture;
• means for selecting a representative image of a given scene from said list display;
• means for displaying with emphasis said selected representative image of said given scene;
• means for searching a scene same as or alternatively similar to the scene corresponding to said selected representative image;
• means for updating the representative image list displayed upon said selection with a representative image list containing a representative image of said searched scene or alternatively a scene temporally preceding/succeeding to said searched scene;
• and
• means for displaying with emphasis said searched scene or alternatively said temporally preceding/succeeding scene.

A video picture access system, comprising:

• means for displaying a disk-like image;
• and
• input means implemented in the form of a touch panel,
• wherein a jog-and-shuttle function is realized by touching said disk-like image and moving rotationally said disk-like image by tracing it with a finger.

A video picture access method, comprising the steps of;

• displaying in superposition on a video picture being displayed on a display screen a representative image list containing at least one representative image of a reduced size which corresponds to a scene included in said video picture;
• making into appearance said representative image list while extending stepwise a display field of said representative image list over a predetermined time duration;
• starting reproduction of a video picture of a scene corresponding to a representative reduced-size image selected by an operator to be next displayed from said representative image list at a display position of said selected representative reduced-size image with a size thereof;
• and
• causing said reproduction to transit temporally gradually to a full screen reproduction in which said video picture is displayed substantially over a whole surface of said display screen.

A video picture access method, comprising the steps of:

• displaying time-serially a list of representative images of scenes included in a video picture;
• selecting a representative image of a given scene from said list display;
• displaying with emphasis said selected representative image of said given scene;
• searching a scene same as or alternatively similar to said given scene corresponding to said selected representative image;
• updating the representative image list displayed upon said selection with a representative image list containing said searched scene or alternatively a scene temporally preceding/succeeding to said searched scene;
• and
• displaying with emphasis said searched scene or alternatively said temporally preceding/succeeding scene.

A computer implemented program for performing a video picture access method, comprising the steps of;

• displaying in superposition on a video picture being displayed on a display screen a representative image list containing at least one representative image of a reduced size which corresponds to a scene included in said video picture;
• making into appearance said representative image list while extending stepwise a display field of said representative image list over a predetermined time duration;
• starting reproduction of a video picture of a scene corresponding to a representative reduced-size image selected by an operator to be next displayed from said representative image list at a display position of said selected representative reduced-size image with a size thereof;
• and
• causing said reproduction to transit temporally gradually to a full screen reproduction in which said video picture is displayed substantially over a whole surface of said display screen.

A computer implemented program for performing a video picture access method, comprising the steps of:

• displaying time-serially a list of representative images of scenes included in a video picture;
• selecting a representative image of a given scene from said list display;
• displaying with emphasis said selected representative image of said given scene;
• searching a scene same as or alternatively similar to said given scene corresponding to said selected representative image;
• updating the representative image list displayed upon said selection with a representative image list containing said searched scene or alternatively a scene temporally preceding/succeeding to said searched scene;
• and
• displaying with emphasis said searched scene or alternatively said temporally preceding/succeeding scene.