MPEG-7: Multimedia Content Description Interface

Abstract

More and more audio-visual information is available indigital form, in various places around the world. Along with theinformation, people appear that want to use it. Before one can useany information, however, it will have to be located first. At thesame time, the increasing availability of potentially interestingmaterial makes this search harder. The question of finding contentis not restricted to database retrieval applications; also in otherareas similar questions exist. For instance, there is an increasingamount of (digital) broadcast channels available, and this makes itharder to select the broadcast channel (radio or TV) that ispotentially interesting.\parIn October 1996, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) started a newwork item to provide a solution for the urging problem of generallyrecognised descriptions for audio-visual content, which extend thelimited capabilities of proprietary solutions in identifying contentthat exist today. The new member of the MPEG family is called``Multimedia Content Description Interface'', or in short MPEG-7.\parThe associated pages presented in the navigation tool shall provideyou with the necessary information to learn more about MPEG-7. AsMPEG in general is a dynamic and fast moving standardisation body,some documents and related information may be outdated quickly. Wewill make every effort to keep up with the MPEG pace - however, keepin mind that the Webpages may not always contain the newestinformation.