Video content detection method and system leveraging data-compression constructs

A content editor, comprising:

• a video compression encoder that generates first and second feature data from a video sequence as part of a compression process resulting in a compressed version of video data;
• said first and second feature data being separate from said compressed version of video data;
• an analysis engine programmed to receive said first and second feature data and calculate at least a third feature datum from at least one of said first and second feature data;
• a playback selector programmed to edit said compressed version of video data responsively to said at least a third feature datum, wherein said third data includes an identifier of a transition between interlaced and progressive video.

A content editor, comprising:

• a video compression encoder that generates first and second feature data from a video sequence as part of a compression process resulting in a compressed version of video data;
• said first and second feature data being separate from said compressed version of video data;
• an analysis engine programmed to receive said first and second feature data and calculate at least a third feature datum from at least one of said first and second feature data;
• a playback selector programmed to edit said compressed version of video data responsively to said at least a third feature datum, wherein said third data includes an identifier of an average of multiple substantially different frequencies of scene cuts.

A video content detector, comprising:

• a video compression encoder capable of receiving uncompressed video data and generating compressed video data;
• said analysis engine being connected to receive first data from the video compression encoder, said first data being separate from said compressed video data;
• said first data being generated as a result of a compression process;
• said analysis engine being programmed to generate an identifier of a beginning of a type of content in said compressed video responsively to said first data, wherein said analysis engine is programmed to identify, responsively to said first data, the presence or absence of a letterbox in said uncompressed video data and to generate an identifier of a location in a sequence of said compressed video data coinciding with said presence or absence.

A video content detector, comprising:

• video compression encoder capable of receiving uncompressed video data and generating compressed video data;
• said analysis engine being connected to receive first data from the video compression encoder, said first data being separate from said compressed video data;
• said first data being generated as a result of a compression process;
• said analysis engine being programmed to generate an identifier of a beginning of a type of content in said compressed video responsively to said first data, wherein said analysis engine is programmed to identify, responsively to said first data, the presence of interlaced or progressive video format in said uncompressed video data and to generate an identifier of a location in a sequence of said compressed video data coinciding with said interlaced or progressive video format.

A video content detector, comprising:

• a video compression encoder capable of receiving uncompressed video data and generating compressed video data;
• said analysis engine being connected to receive first data from the video compression encoder, said first data being separate from said compressed video data;
• said first data being generated as a result of a compression process;
• said analysis engine being programmed to generate an identifier of a beginning of a type of content in said compressed video responsively to said first data, wherein said analysis engine is programmed to identify, responsively to said first data, an indicator of an average of multiple substantially different frequencies of scene cuts.

A content editor, comprising:

• a video processor configured to generate first and second feature data from a video sequence;
• said first and second feature data being separate from said compressed version of video data;
• an analysis engine programmed to receive said first and second feature data and calculate at least a third feature datum from at least one of said first and second feature data;
• a playback selector programmed to edit said compressed version of video data responsively to said at least a third feature datum, wherein said third data includes an identifier of a transition between interlaced and progressive video.

A content editor, comprising:

• a video processor configured to generate first and second feature data from a video sequence;
• said first and second feature data being separate from said video sequence;
• an analysis engine programmed to receive said first and second feature data and calculate at least a third feature datum from at least one of said first and second feature data;
• a playback selector programmed to edit said video data responsively to said at least a third feature datum, wherein said third feature datum includes an identifier of a transition between letterbox format and non-letterbox format.

A content editor, comprising:

• a video processor that generates feature data from a video sequence;
• said feature data being separate from said video data;
• an analysis engine programmed to receive said feature data and identify a transition between interlaced and progressive video and output an identification thereof;
• a playback selector programmed to edit said video data responsively to said identification.

A content editor, comprising:

• a video processor tat generates feature data from a video sequence;
• said feature data being separate from said video data;
• an analysis engine programmed to receive said feature data and calculate an avenge frequency of scene cuts in respective portions of said video data and to output an indication of program content responsively to said average frequency of scene cuts;
• an editing process controller configured to edit said video data responsively to said indication, wherein said average is taken over substantially different frequencies of scene cuts.