Apparatus and method for searching multimedia data based on metadata

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus and method for searching multimedia data based on metadata. The apparatus for searching multimedia data includes: a mapping information storing unit for storing and managing mapping information between a Moving Picture Experts Group 7 (MPEG-7) query attribute and an MPEG-7 metadata property; and a query attribute mapping unit for acquiring the MPEG-7 metadata property to be mapped with the MPEG-7 query attribute according to a user query based on the mapping information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for searching multimedia data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing a procedure for searching Moving Picture Experts Group 7 (MPEG-7) multimedia data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for searching multimedia data, comprising: a mapping information storing unit for storing and managing mapping information between a Moving Picture Experts Group 7 (MPEG-7) query attribute and an MPEG-7 metadata property; anda query attribute mapping unit for acquiring the MPEG-7 metadata property to be mapped with the MPEG-7 query attribute according to a user query based on the mapping information.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a query input unit for creating and outputting an MPEG-7 query in an MPEG-7 query format from the user query.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the query attribute mapping unit creates and outputs an MPEG-7 metadata query based on the mapped MPEG-7 metadata property.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising: a searching unit for searching multimedia data based on the MPEG-7 metadata query.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the mapping information includes a couple of the MPEG-7 query attribute and the MPEG-7 metadata property.

6. A method for searching multimedia data, comprising the steps of: a) extracting a query attribute from a Moving Picture Experts Group 7 (MPEG-7) query;b) acquiring an MPEG-7 metadata property mapped with the query attribute based on mapping information; andc) creating an MPEG-7 metadata query from the MPEG-7 query based on the mapped MPEG-7 metadata property.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, furthering comprising the step of: d) searching multimedia data based on the MPEG-7 multimedia data query.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the mapping information includes a couple of the MPEG-7 query attribute and the MPEG-7 metadata property.