Browsing system method and apparatus for video motion pictures

Apparatus for browsing through a motion picture for locating desired segments in the motion picture, comprising:

• a viewer having a screen for viewing the motion picture;
• a sampling criteria detector for selecting frames from sequential parts of the motion picture according to at least one predetermined sampling criterion;
• a size-reducer for reducing in size each of said selected frames such that said screen can accommodate the simultaneous display of a predetermined number "n" of frames;
• and a display control for displaying said frames sequentially at "n" sequential locations on said screen according to a predefined closed loop, each of said frames being displayed in its respective location on the screen for a time interval starting with a time delay "t.sub.D " after the start of the display of the frame at its preceding location in the loop and continuing until the loop has been completed with another frame displayed in its respective location, such that only the frames selected according to said predetermined sampling criterion need be viewed in order to locate a desired segment in the motion picture, but each such frame may be viewed for an extended time interval, equal to the product of the number "n" and the time delay "t.sub.D ".