Content generation, extraction and distribution of image region segments from video images

An image region segment extraction system, for extracting an image segment from a video image comprising:

• means for calculating motion data for a video image based on sequential video images obtained by a video camera;
• means for using said sequential video images to estimate the camera operations required of said video camera;
• means for referring to said camera operations performed under predetermined conditions to estimate the location of the center of a target area in a video image that has been obtained;
• means for designating image features in the vicinity of said center position of said target area;
• and
• means for designating an image segment in which said image features are included.

An image region segment extraction program, for permitting a computer system to extract an image segment from a video image, comprising the steps of:

• calculating motion data for a video image based on sequential video images obtained by a video camera;
• using said sequential video images to estimate the camera operations required of said video camera;
• referring to said camera operations performed under predetermined conditions to estimate the location of the center of a target area in a video image that has been obtained;
• designating image features in the vicinity of said center position of said target area;
• and
• designating an image segment in which said image features are included.