How good are you with a video camera? Why not let technology developed by KDDI R&D Laboratories decide?

As a division of the KDDI Group, KDDI R&D Laboratories carries out research, development, and consulting in the field of data communication technologies. In line with the Fixed Mobile and Broadcast Convergence (FMBC) strategy implemented with the aim of integrating broadcasting with fixed and mobile communications, this division is currently engaged in a wide range of research and development projects dealing with next-generation networks, ultra high-speed wireless transmission, security, applications, and other associated technologies. And at this year's Inter BEE, KDDI R&D Laboratories will reveal a technology capable of telling the difference between video content created by professionals and by amateurs.

n・Technology distinguishing between professional and amateur video content
In terms of the workflow involved in creating video content, KDDI R&D Laboratories have proposed a sequence whereby multimedia source material is collected, video is created through the process of authoring, this content is subjected to primary and secondary distribution, and content management is then carried out. While products providing solutions for each of these tasks will be exhibited at Inter BEE 2008, a technology that categorizes video content based on whether or not it was professionally made may well garner the most attention. Specifically, this KDDI R&D Laboratories innovation can automatically identify video content as being the work of an amateur or a professional.
Over the past few years, it has become commonplace for video content created by the individual to be freely and widely distributed via the Internet. This is no surprise given that compact video cameras are so widely available in mobile phones and as stand-alone products, that it is now extremely easy to shoot video content, and that video sharing web sites have become household names. However, one notable drawback of this situation is the posting of content pirated from TV shows, movies, and the like on such sites without permission. This is where the KDDI R&D Laboratories solution can be applied- automatically identifying pirated content in order that its copyright can be protected.
The technology has been made possible thanks to a unique approach developed by KDDI R&D Laboratories in order to analyze differences in the equipment, techniques, and processes used by professionals and amateurs in the creation of video content. With the very nature of video content being analyzed, there is no need for an advanced registration of the copyright content; furthermore, this technology also proves highly effective when used with new content that has never been posted online before.

n・Fancy yourself as the next Spielberg? Technology has the potential to make amateur video content look like the work of a famous director.
The version of this technology being presented at this year's Inter BEE has been further enhanced in order to score video content based on how professional it is. In specific terms, video content is analyzed, selected content is rated in terms of camera technique, stability of shot, and other similar characteristics, and these ratings are then used to determine an amateur/professional score. At Inter BEE 2008, however, KDDI R&D Laboratories intends to showcase the technology by having visitors shoot video using a camera, transferring this data to a PC, and having it immediately classifying on a professionalism scale in order to evaluate the participants' directorial skills.
This technology may be put to effective use wherever content production is undertaken or taught. In addition, it is also conceivable that further development of the technology would allow video shot by an amateur to be automatically enhanced to make it look like it was professionally produced. If this were achievable, even the work of newcomers to video could be made to look like high quality cinema from the likes of Hitchcock or Spielberg, thus opening up new realms of possibility for video sharing sites.
At this year's Inter BEE, KDDI R&D Laboratories will also present a host of other technologies and products such as the mobile video-transmission system VistaFinder; Inmarsat BGAN solutions; Iridium satellite phones; Version 5 of the MP-Factory software development kit for MPEG; HDTV video-quality evaluation software; video-transmission service solutions; and network-type, follow-up replay software.

Inter BEE Newsletter

- Video
Concept behind technology for distinguishing between professional and amateur video content