Patent Publication Number: US-2013236161-A1

Title: Image processing device and image processing method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based on and claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-052670 filed on Mar. 9, 2012. The entire disclosure of the above-identified application, including the specification, drawings and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an image processing device capable of editing a video. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An electronic device and a program are known which are capable of editing acquired still-image data or acquired video-image data. For example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses a video-contents editing apparatus which can edit, on an arbitrary frame basis, a video on which inter-frame coding has been performed on a group of pictures (GOP) basis, and can associate editing information with the video so as to administrate the editing information. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         [PTL 1] Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2009-260933 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     For a user who wants to edit a video easily, it is beneficial that the video editing can be performed in a shorter time. 
     The present disclosure provides an image processing device capable of performing the video editing more efficiently. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An image processing device according to the present disclosure includes a processor that: (i) acquires video data including a plurality of frames, and characteristic information indicating a characteristic value of an image in each of the frames; (ii) receives designation of a correction-target frame which is one of the frames; (iii) identifies, as a correction section, a section to which a frame group belongs, based on the characteristic information, the frame group being made up of consecutive frames including the correction-target frame; and (iv) applies correction designated by a user to the frame group which belongs to the identified correction section. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     An image processing device according to the present disclosure can perform the video editing more efficiently. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specific embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram which shows a primary hardware configuration of a digital video camera according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram which shows a primary hardware configuration of a personal computer (PC) according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram which shows a primary functional configuration of the PC according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart which illustrates an operational flow of a digital video camera according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram which shows metadata generated during recording of a video in the digital video camera according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram which shows a configuration of an editing screen of an image editing application according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart which illustrates a basic-processing flow in relation to correction processing in the PC according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart which illustrates a specific processing flow in relation to the correction processing in the PC according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart which illustrates a coding flow in the PC according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram which shows a functional configuration in the PC according to the embodiment, in relation to coding processing in a corrected section. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment is described in detail, arbitrarily referring to the drawings. Detailed description beyond the necessity may be omitted. For example, detailed description for well-known matter or duplicated description for a configuration substantially same with those previously described may be omitted. This is to avoid the following description from being unnecessarily redundant, and to help a person skilled in the art to easily comprehend the description. 
     It should be noted that the inventor provides the attached drawings and the following description for a person skilled in the art to adequately comprehend the present disclosure. It is not intended that the drawings and the description limit a subject matter of the claims. 
     Embodiment 
     &lt;1-1. Outline&gt; 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram which shows a primary hardware configuration of a digital video camera  100  according to an embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram which shows a primary hardware configuration of a personal computer (PC)  400  according to the embodiment. 
     The digital video camera  100  according to the embodiment records a shooting condition as metadata along with actual data of a video, when shooting the video. 
     The PC  400  according to the embodiment identifies a section which can be considered, for example, to be shot in the same shooting condition, from a single pictorial cut in the inputted video data. Then, the PC  400  collectively performs correction on the section which can be considered to be shot in the same shooting condition. 
     In the following description, the digital video camera  100  and the PC  400  according to the embodiment are described with respect to a configuration and an operation, referring to the drawings. 
     &lt;1-2. Configuration&gt; 
     &lt;1-2-1. Configuration of Movie Camera&gt; 
     A configuration of the digital video camera  100  according to the embodiment is described, with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     In the digital video camera  100 , a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging sensor  140  captures a subject image formed by an optical system  110  which includes one or more lenses. 
     Image data generated by the CMOS image sensor  140  undergoes various processing by the image processing device  160 , and is stored in a memory card  200 . 
     The optical system  110  includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, and the like. The zoom lens is moved along an optical axis, thereby enlarging and reducing the subject image. The focusing lens is moved along the optical axis, thereby adjusting the focus on the subject image. 
     A lens driving unit  120  drives various lenses included in the optical system  110  to move. The lens driving unit  120  includes, for example, a zoom motor for driving the zoom lens and a focus motor for driving the focus lens. 
     A diaphragm  300  adjusts a size of an aperture automatically or in accordance with user setting, thereby adjusting an amount of light passing through the aperture of the diaphragm  300 . 
     A shutter  130  blocks light reaching the CMOS image sensor  140  via the shutter  130 . 
     The CMOS image sensor  140  captures a subject image formed in the optical system  110  to generate the image data. The CMOS image sensor  140  performs various operations, such as, exposure, transfer, an electronic shutter, and the like. 
     An analog-digital (A/D) converter  150  converts analog image data generated by the CMOS image sensor  140  to digital image data. 
     The image processing unit  160  performs various processing on the image data (more specifically, referring to the digital image data that has undergone conversion by the A/D converter, hereinafter) generated by the CMOS image sensor  140 , generates image data to be displayed on a display monitor  220 , generates image data to be stored in the memory card, and performs other processing. The image processing unit  160  performs various processing on the image data generated by the CMOS image sensor  140 , such as gamma correction, white-balance correction, and defect correction. 
     In addition, the image processing unit  160  compresses, as video data, the image data generated by the CMOS image sensor  140 , in complying with a compression format and the like based on H.264 standard or a moving picture experts group (MPEG) 2 standard. 
     The image processing unit  160  records, in a single frame basis, information of sensitivity obtained by the CMOS image sensor  140 , information of shutter speed, a value (a white-balance value) used for the white-balance correction performed by the image processing unit  160 , and so on, as metadata indicating the shooting condition (shooting information) with respect to the moving data which is being recorded. 
     It should be noted that the image processing unit  160  can be achieved using a digital signal processor (DSP) or a microcomputer. 
     The metadata is an example of characteristic information indicating a characteristic value for each of images in a plurality of frames. Each of the information for the sensitivity, the information for the shutter speed, and the white-balance value is an example of the characteristic value of an image. 
     The controller  180  controls the entirety of the digital video camera  100 . The controller  180  can be achieved using a semiconductor element, and the like. The controller  180  may also be achieved using hardware alone or combination of hardware and software. The controller  180  can by achieved using a microcomputer, and the like. 
     A buffer  170  serves as a working memory of the image processing unit  160  and the controller  180 . The buffer  170  can be implemented as, for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or a ferroelectric memory. 
     A card slot  190  is a device to/from which the memory card  200  is inserted/removed. Specifically, the card slot  190  is mechanically and electrically connectable to the memory card  200 . 
     The memory card  200  includes therein a flash memory, ferroelectric memory, or the like, and can store the video data generated by the image processing unit  160 , and the like. 
     An internal memory  230  includes a flash memory, a ferroelectric memory, or the like. The internal memory  230  stores a control program or the like for controlling the entirety of the digital video camera  100 . 
     An operation unit  210  is a user interface for receiving an operation from a user. The operation unit  210  includes, for example, a video recording button, a cross key, a set button, and the like for receiving operations from a user. 
     When the digital video camera  100  is in a shooting mode, the controller  180  receives press of the video recording button, and starts recording the video data in the memory card  200 . When receiving the press of the video recording button by the user during recording of the video, the controller  180  halts recording the video data in the memory card  200 . 
     The display monitor  220  can display an image (a through image) indicated by the image data generated by the CMOS image sensor  140 , and an image indicated by the image data read out from the memory card  200 . The display monitor  220  can also display various menu screens and the like whereby various settings of the digital video camera  100  are made. 
     A gyro sensor  240  detects camera shake in a yawing direction and camera motion in a pitching direction based on an angle variation of the digital video camera  100  per unit time, i.e., an angular rate. The gyro sensor  240  outputs, to the controller  180 , a gyro signal indicating an amount of the detected motion. 
     &lt;1-2-2. PC Configuration&gt; 
     The PC  400  is an example of image processing devices, and includes a controller  401 , a system administration memory  402 , a working memory  403 , a hard disc drive (HDD)  404 , a universal serial bus (USB) connector, and a display device  408 . The controller  400  is connected to a mouse  405 , a keyboard  406 , a liquid-crystal display  409 , and the like. 
     The controller  401  includes a processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or the like, and serves as a processing unit for causing various information in the PC  400  to be executed. The controller  401  is electrically connected to the system administration memory  402 , the working memory  403 , the HDD  404 , the display device  408 , and the USB connector  407 . 
     The controller  401  can change screens displayed on the liquid-crystal display  409  via the display device  408 . The controller  401  receives, via the USB connector  407 , information regarding an operation of a user using the mouse  405  and the keyboard  406 . 
     The controller  401  controls the entirety of a system (not shown), such as electric power supplied to each of units in the PC  400 . 
     The system administration memory  402  is a memory in which an operating system (OS) or the like is stored. In the system administration memory  402 , a system time and the like are also stored. The system time is updated by executing the program in the OS by the controller  401 . 
     The working memory  403  is a memory for temporarily storing information necessary for the controller  401  to perform various processing. In the working memory  403 , various information items are stored by the controller  401 . The various information items includes, for example, shooting information of editing-target video data, correction information indicating various parameters adjusted by a user, information for defining a section (correction section) to which the correction is applied, and the like. 
     The various information items are described below which are stored in the working memory  403  when the PC  400  performs the editing processing on the video data. 
     The working memory  403  has the shooting information for each of frames, which is obtained from the metadata associated with the video data to be corrected (hereinafter, also referred to as “correction-target video data”). In other words, in the working memory  403 , the shooting information for each of the frames is stored, which is the characteristic information contained in the correction-target video data. 
     The controller  401  can obtain and update the shooting information stored in the working memory  403 . 
     The working memory  403  has a parameter for image correction which is required by a user, as the correction information. The parameter for the image correction includes a hue, chroma, brightness, luminance, contrast intensity, noise-reduction filter intensity, and the like. The controller  401  can obtain and update the correction information stored in the working memory  403 . 
     The working memory  403  has information for defining the correction section, as correction section information. The controller  401  can obtain and update the correction section information stored in the working memory  403 . The controller  401  can also obtain the correction section information from the working memory  403 , and present, via the display device  408 , a correction section on the liquid-crystal display  409 , using a value indicated in the correction section information. 
     The HDD  404  is a disc drive which has a large capacity to store video data and the like. In addition, in the HDD  404 , an execution file for an image-editing application program  500  (hereinafter, referred to as “image-editing application  500 ”) is stored. 
     The controller  401  loads, in the working memory  403 , the execution file stored in the HDD  404 , in accordance with an instruction by a user to start up the image-editing application  500 . Accordingly, the controller  401  can perform various processing operations in accordance with the image-editing application  500 . 
     The mouse  405  is a pointing device used by a user upon the editing operation. The user operates the mouse  405  so as to perform, on an editing screen of the image-editing application  500 , selection and changing of the frames to be corrected (also referred to as “correction-target frame”, hereinafter), changing in the correction sections, adjustment of the parameters for various correction, and the like. 
     An example of configuration of the editing screen displayed on the liquid-crystal display  409  is described later, referring to  FIG. 6 . 
     The keyboard  406  is a keyboard device used by a user, upon the editing operation, for inputting character and the like to the PC  400 . 
     The USB connector  407  is a connector for connecting the mouse  405 , the keyboard  406 , and the card slot  410  to the PC  400 . 
     The card slot  410  is a device to/from which the card memory  200  is inserted/removed. Specifically, the card slot  410  can be mechanically and electrically connected to the memory card  200 . The card slot  410  can also be electrically connected to the controller  401 , via the USB connector  407 . It should be noted that the card slot  410  is not limited to an external configuration which is to be used via the USB connector  407 , but may be included in the PC  400 . 
     The display device  408  is a device for imaging screen information calculated by the controller  401 , and for transmitting the screen information to the liquid-crystal display  409 . 
     The liquid-crystal display  409  is a display device for displaying the screen information imaged by the display device  408 . 
     The controller  401  reads out the image-editing application  500  from the HDD  404 , stores the read-out image-editing application  500  in the working memory  403 , starts the image-editing application  500 , and executes the image-editing application  500 . 
     The controller  401  obtains the shooting information from the working memory  403 , and identifies a point at which the shooting information changes, for example. The controller  401  identifies one or more frames containing the shooting information which can be considered, for example, to be same with that of the frame selected by a user as the correction-target frame in the video data. With the above, the section to which a frame group which includes a plurality of frames including the frame selected as the correction-target frame, is identified as a candidate of the correction section. 
     The controller  401  can further update the correction section information stored in the working memory  403 , in accordance with the identified correction section. 
     The controller  401  can also update the correction section information stored in the working memory  403 , in accordance with the correction section adjusted by the operation by the user. 
     The controller  401  can obtain the correction information from the working memory  403 , and perform the image processing (correction) on the frame obtained by decoding the correction-target video data using a value contained in the correction information. 
     The controller  401  reads out the correction-target video data which is stored in the HDD  404  so as to perform the decoding, perform the image processing on the decoded video data, codes the video data on which the image processing has been performed, and stores the coded video data in the HDD  404  as an output file 
     The controller  401  can also extract a motion vector, an intra prediction mode, and the like, from the video data during a process of the decoding, and perform a part of the processed in the decoding at high speed, using the extracted motion vector, the intra prediction mode, and the like. 
     A specific flow of a series of processes in each of the decoding, correction, and coding, which are performed by the controller  401 , is described later, with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     Next, a functional configuration of the PC  400  according to the embodiment is described, referring to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram which shows a primary functional configuration of the PC  400  according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the PC  400  according to the embodiment includes, as primary functional units, an acquiring unit  420 , a receiving unit  430 , an identifying unit  440 , and an image processing unit  450 . 
     It should be noted that below-described processing performed by each of the acquiring unit  420 , the receiving unit  430 , the identifying unit  440 , and the image processing unit  450  is achieved by executing the aforementioned image-editing application  500  and the like by the controller  401 , in the present embodiment. 
     The acquiring unit  420  acquires the video data including a plurality of frames, and the characteristic information indicating a characteristic value of an image of each of the frames. 
     In the present embodiment, the acquiring unit  420  (controller  401 ) acquires, via the memory card  200 , the video data which is generated by the digital video camera  100  and contains the metadata indicating the shooting information for each of the frames. 
     The receiving unit  430  receives designation of the correction-target frame which is one of the frames. 
     In the present embodiment, the receiving unit  430  (controller  401 ) receives, via the USB connector  407 , the designation on the correction-target frame, inputted in the PC  400  in response to an operation of the mouse  405  or the keyboard  406 . 
     The identifying unit  440  identifies, as the correction section, a section to which the frame group made up of consecutive frames including the correction-target frame belongs, based on the characteristic information. 
     In the present embodiment, the identifying unit  440  (controller  401 ) identifies the correction section, based on the characteristic value (the white-balance value and the like indicated in the shooting information) indicated in the metadata of the correction-target frame. 
     The image processing unit  450  applies the correction designated by a user to the frame group which belongs to the correction section identified by the identifying unit  440 . 
     In the present embodiment, the image processing unit  450  (controller  401 ) performs the correction on the frame group which belongs to the correction section, in accordance with a type of the correction, a parameter, and the like, which are set by a user operating the mouse  405  or the keyboard  406 . 
     Specifically, upon the correction, the decoding and the coding are performed by the image processing unit  405  (controller  401 ), as mentioned above. 
     When the phrase “correction is applied to a frame” is used, in the present embodiment, it should be appreciated that the PC  400  which serves as the image processing device performs the correction processing on the image indicated in the frame. 
     The “correction” or “correction processing” to be applied to a frame includes processing of changing in the hue, chroma, brightness, luminance, color temperature, color tone, or contrast, or processing of removing noise. Briefly, “correction” or “correction processing” is the image processing without substantial change in arrangement in a whole image. The image processing includes lightening of an image in the frame, changing in colors of the image, preventing from roughness in the image, and the like. 
     Therefore, “correction” or “correction processing” can also be referred to as, for example, the changing in the image quality shown in the frame. 
     &lt;1-3. Operation&gt; 
     &lt;1-3-1. Recording Operation by Digital Video Camera&gt; 
     Subsequently, a recording operation by the digital video camera  100  is described, with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart which illustrates an operational flow of the digital video camera  100  in the present embodiment. 
     The controller  180  determines whether or not a video recording button is pressed (Step S 301 ). When the video recording button is pressed (Yes in Step S 301 ), the controller  180  starts recording video data in the memory card  200  (Step S 302 ). 
     The controller  180  starts recording the video data and also starts recording metadata in the memory card  200  (Step S 303 ). 
     The metadata is data describing, for each of the frames of the video data to be generated, shooting information at the time when the frame is generated. For example, in the video data recorded with 60 frames per second (fps), the metadata in which 60 sets of shooting information are described as the shooting information for 1 second is recorded. 
     The controller  180  determines whether or not the video recording button is pressed again (Step S 304 ). If the video recording button is pressed again (Yes in Step S 304 ), the controller  180  terminates the recording of the video, and also terminates the recording of the metadata (Steps S 305  and S 306 ). 
     If the video recording button is not pressed again (No in Step S 304 ), the controller  180  continues the recording of the video data (Step S 302 ) and the recording of the metadata (Step S 303 ). 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram which shows the metadata generated during recording of a video, in the digital video camera  100  according to the embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  (A) is a diagram which shows the entirety of the video data generated by the digital video camera  100 .  FIG. 5(B)  is a diagram which shows a plurality of frames serving as a part of the video data shown in the  FIG. 5(A) .  FIG. 5(C)  is a diagram which shows the metadata in which the shooting condition corresponding to each of the frames shown in  FIG. 5(B) . 
     The metadata is associated with the video data in such a manner that one set of the metadata corresponds to one frame of the video data. For example, the metadata corresponding to a frame is recorded in the header of the frame in the video data. In one set of the metadata, various values are recorded which include the white-balance value, the value for the sensitivity, the value indicating the shutter speed, and the like. 
     &lt;1-3-2. Determination on Correction Section by PC&gt; 
     Subsequently, an identifying operation by the PC  400  to identify correction section is described. First, a preparation operation for image editing is described. 
     As described above, the card slot  410  can be inserted by the memory card  200  in which video data containing metadata is recorded by the digital video camera  100 . When the memory card  200  is inserted in the card slot  410 , the controller  401  detects a state that the memory card  200  is mounted. 
     When the controller  401  detects the memory card  200 , a user can make a copy of the video data recorded in the memory card  200  to the HDD  404  in the PC  400 , using the mouse  405 , and the like. 
     With this, the video data recorded in accordance with the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 4  is recorded in the HDD  404  in the PC  400 . In other words, in the HDD  404 , the metadata which corresponds to the frame and is included in the header of each of the frame, is recorded along with actual data of each of the frames in the video data. 
     When an execution file for executing the image-editing application  500  is selected by a user using the mouse  405  and the like, the controller  401  executes and starts up the image-editing application  500 . The controller  41  starts up the image-editing application  500 , and then, displays a screen (editing screen) of the image-editing application on the liquid-crystal display  409 . 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram which shows a configuration of an image screen  501  of the image-editing application  500  according to the embodiment. 
     The editing screen  501  includes a preview area  510 , an adjusting bar area  520 , a correction-section display area  530 , a set button  540 , and the like. 
     The preview area  510  includes a display panel  511  for displaying a content of the video data, a stop button  512 , a review button  513 , a play button  514 , a pause button  515 , a fast-forward button  516 . 
     A user can look for a frame to be corrected in the video data by selecting the stop button  512 , the review button  513 , the play button  514 , the pause button  515 , and the fast-forward button  516 , using the mouse  405  and the like. The user can also check the corrected video on the display panel  511 . 
     For example, if a user presses the play button  514  using the mouse  405 , the controller  401  reads out the video data to be corrected from the HDD  404  and performs decoding. Then, the controller  401  continuously displays, via the display device  408 , each of the frames forming the video data resulting from the decoding, on a position of the display panel  511  on the liquid-crystal display  409 . With the above, the video data to be corrected is played. 
     When a user presses the pause button  515  using the mouse  405 , the controller  401  displays, via the display device  408 , only one frame among a plurality of frames forming the video data resulting from the decoding, on the position of the display panel  511  on the liquid-crystal display  409 . Accordingly, the one frame displayed on the display panel  511  is selected as the correction-target frame. 
     As described above, a user can look for a frame to be corrected in the video data by selecting the stop button  512 , the review button  513 , the play button  514 , the pause button  515 , and the fast-forward button  516 , using the mouse  405  and the like. 
     According to the present embodiment, the adjusting bar area  520  includes a color adjusting bar  521 , a brightness adjusting bar  522 , and a noise-reduction intensity bar  523 . Thus, a user can correct an image as he/she likes. 
     The controller  401  reads out the correction information stored in the working memory  403 , and plots a value of each of the parameters indicated in the correction information on position information of each of the adjusting bars. With this, the color adjusting bar  521 , the brightness adjusting bar  522 , and the noise-reduction intensity bar  523  are displayed in the respective positions according to the correction information, in the adjusting bar area  520  on the liquid-crystal display  409 . 
     For example, each of the adjusting bars is positioned at ±0 in a default position. In other words, the correction information stored in the working memory  403  for the occasion is stated in such a manner that an adjusted value of each of the color, brightness, noise-reduction is ± 0 . 
     A case is supposed that a user change a position of any one of the color adjusting bar  521 , the brightness adjusting bar  522 , and the noise-removal intensity bar  523 , using the mouse  405 . In this case, the controller  401  performs the image processing on the frame resulting from the decoding and is displayed on the display panel  511 , in accordance with the correction information complying with the positions of the changed adjusting bars. Then, the controller  401  displays, via the display device  408 , the result of the image processing on the position of the display panel  511  on the liquid-crystal display  409 . 
     In other words, if the user changes the positions of the respective adjusting bars using the mouse  405 , a preview of a frame which reflects the result of the adjustment is displayed on the display panel  511  in real time. Therefore, the user can easily figure out whether or not a desired result of the adjustment is obtained. 
     In the correction section display area  530 , timeline information of the video data to be edited (also referred to as “editing-target video data”, hereinafter) is displayed. In the correction section display area  530 , also displayed are a bar indicating the entire section of the editing-target video data, and a time point counted from the start of the recording with respect to the bar indicating the entire section. 
     The correction section display area  530  includes a pointer  531 , a correction section  532 , and the like. The pointer  531  indicates a position of the frame currently displayed on the display panel  511  with respect to the entire section of the video data. Accordingly, the position of the correction-target frame in the entire video data is indicated by the pointer  531 . 
     With the above, a user can easily figure out which point the frame currently displayed (correction-target frame) positions in the entire section of the video data. 
     The correction section  532  indicates to which area the correction adjusted using the adjusting bar area  520  is applied, in the entire section of the video data. 
     This allows the user to easily check which area the correction selected and adjusted by the user himself/herself is applied to in the entire section of the video data. In addition, the user can adjust a length of the correction section by dragging at least one of the left and right ends of the presented correction section  532  using the mouse  405 . 
     The controller  401  reads out the correction information stored in the working memory  403 , and plots the read-out information to temporal position information of the correction section display area  530 . The controller  401  further presents, via the display device  408 , the temporal position information in the correction section display area  530  on the liquid-crystal display  409 , as the correction section  532 . 
     In addition, when a user drags at least one of the left and right ends of the presented correction section  532  using the mouse  405 , the controller  401  plots the temporal position information on the correction section information, so as to update the correction section information stored in the working memory  403  using the plotted temporal position information as new correction section information. 
     In other words, when receiving an instruction to make a change on the specified correction section  532 , the controller  401  updates the correction section  532  in response to the change instruction. 
     When the user presses the set button  540  using the mouse  405 , the controller  401  reads out the correction section information and the correction information which are stored in the working memory  403 , and performs processing for outputting a file resulting from the correction, and stores the result of the outputting (i.e., the corrected video data) in the HDD  404 . 
     Next, a flow of basic processing in relation to the correction processing performed by the PC  400  is described, with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart which illustrates a flow of the basic processing in relation to the correction processing performed by the PC  400  according to the embodiment. 
     To be specific,  FIG. 7  shows the basic processing performed in each of the functional blocks (see  FIG. 3  which shows the acquiring unit  420 , the receiving unit  430 , the identifying unit  440 , and the image processing unit  450 ) achieved using the controller  401  according to the embodiment. 
     The acquiring unit  420  acquires the video data including a plurality of frames, and the characteristic information metadata indicating a characteristic value of an image of each of the frames (Step S 400 ). 
     The receiving unit  430  receives designation of a correction-target frame which is one of the frames (Step S 410 ). 
     The identifying unit  440  identifies, as the correction section, a section to which the frame group made up of consecutive frames including the correction-target frame belongs, based on the characteristic information (Step S 420 ). 
     The image processing unit  450  applies the correction designated by a user to the frame group which belongs to the correction section identified by the identifying unit  440  (Step S 430 ). 
     Subsequently, a flow of specific processing in relation to the correction processing performed by the PC  400  is described, with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart which illustrates a flow of the specific processing in relation to the correction processing performed by the PC  400  according to the embodiment. 
     The controller  401  reads out the correction-target video data from the HDD  404 , performs decoding, and display the decoded correction-target video data on the display panel  511 . With the above, the correction-target video data is played (Step S 601 ). 
     The controller  401  determines whether or not the pause button  515  is pressed (Step S 602 ). If the pause button is not pressed (No in Step S 602 ), the controller  401  continues to play the correction-target video data. If the controller  401  determines the pause button  515  is pressed (Yes in Step S 602 ), the controller  401  identifies the correction section (Step S 603 ). 
     Upon identifying the correction section, the controller  401  first reads out the metadata corresponding to the frame (correction-target frame) displayed on the display panel  511  from among the metadata (see  FIG. 5(C) ) of each of the frames, which is stored in the working memory  403 . 
     The controller  401  then scans the metadata of the frame positioned in temporarily forward (the left in  FIG. 5 ) of the correction-target frame. 
     The controller  401  identifies one ore more frames each having metadata indicating a parameter which can be considered as the same with the parameter (for example, at least one of a white-balance value, a sensitivity value, and a shutter-speed value) indicated by the metadata of the correction-target frame. 
     The controller  401  identifies one or more frames each having the metadata which shows the parameter indicating, for example, a value smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, as a difference from the parameter shown by the metadata of the correction-target frame. 
     As the result of scanning the metadata of the frame positioned temporally forward of the correction-target frame, the controller  401  identifies a frame corresponding to a parameter which cannot be considered to be the same with the parameter indicated by the metadata of the correction-target frame. The controller  401  further sets a start position of the frame which is temporally one frame after the identified frame, as the left end (start position of the correction) of the correction section  532 . 
     Subsequently, the controller  401  starts scanning the metadata of each of the frames positioned temporally backward (in the right in  FIG. 5 ) of the correction-target frame. 
     The controller  401  identifies one ore more frames each having metadata indicating the parameter which can be considered to be the same with the parameter indicated by the metadata of the correction-target frame. As the result of scanning the metadata of the frame positioned temporally backward from the correction-target frame, the controller  401  identifies a frame corresponding to a parameter which cannot be considered to be the same with the parameter indicated by the metadata of the correction-target frame. The controller  401  further sets an end position of the frame which is temporally one frame before the identified frame, as the right end (correction end position) of the correction section  532 . 
     In other words, the controller  401  according to the present embodiment identifies one or more frames positioned in at least one of temporally forward and backward of the correction-target frame. Each of the one or more frames has the characteristic value within a predetermined range from the characteristic value of the correction-target frame. With this, the controller  401  identifies the correction section  532  which a frame group including the correction-target frame as well as the aforementioned one or more frames belong to. 
     The controller  401  plots, on the timeline, a time range of the identified correction section  532 , thereby presenting an image showing the correction section  532 , in the correction section display area  530  (Step S 604 ). 
     Then, the controller  401  determines whether or not any one of adjusting bars including the color adjusting bar  521 , the brightness adjusting bar  522 , and the noise-reduction intensity bar  523  is operated by a user (Step S 605 ). 
     If none of the color adjusting bar  521 , the brightness adjusting bar  522 , and the noise-reduction intensity bar  523  is operated (No in Step S 605 ), the controller  401  maintains the display of the frame (correction-target frame) which is paused, on the display panel  511 . 
     On the other hand, if any one of the color adjusting bar  521 , the brightness adjusting bar  522 , and the noise-reduction intensity bar  523  is operated (Yes in Step S 605 ), the controller  401  performs the image processing (correction) on the correction-target frame resulting from the decoding displayed on the display panel  511 , in accordance with the correction information complying with the positions of the respective adjusting bars. The controller  401  further displays, via the display device  408 , the image resulting from the image processing, in a position of the display panel  511  on the liquid-crystal display  409  (Step S 606 ). 
     The controller  401  determines whether or not the set button  540  is pressed (Step S 607 ). If the set button  540  is not pressed (No in Step S 607 ), the controller  401  determines whether or not the change of the correction section  532  is instructed (Step S 608 ). 
     When determining the change of the correction section  532  is not instructed (No in Step S 608 ), the controller  401  continues the presenting processing (Step S 604 ) without changing the start and end positions of the correction indicated in the correction section  532 . 
     On the other hand, when determining the change of the correction section  532  is instructed (Yes in Step S 608 ), the controller  401  changes the correction section information (Step S 610 ) which defines the correction section  532 , and performs the presenting processing on the correction section  532  in accordance with the changed correction section information (Step S 604 ). 
     When determining the set button is pressed in Step S 607  (Yes in Step S 607 ), the controller  401  performs coding of the video data (Step S 609 ). 
     Specifically, the controller  401  performs the image processing on the frame group which belongs to the correction section  532 , in accordance with the correction information complying with the positions of the respective adjusting bars in the adjusting bar area  520 . Then, the controller  401  codes data resulting from the image processing, and stores the coded data in the HDD  404 . With the above, the corrected video data can be obtained. 
     &lt;1-3-3. PC Operation of Outputting Corrected File&gt; 
     Subsequently, the coding (Step S 609 ) is described in detail. To be specific, the coding performed at the time when the corrected video data is outputted is described in detail, with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart which illustrates a flow of coding performed by the PC  400  according to the embodiment. 
     The controller  401  reads out the correction-target video data from the HDD  404  (Step S 701 ). Then, a counter i indicating a frame position is initialized with zero (Step S 702 ). 
     The controller  401  reads out the video data by one frame, and determines whether or not the read-out ith frame is included in the correction section  532  (the section between the correction start position and the correction end position) (Step S 703 ). 
     When determining the ith frame is included in the correction section  532  (Yes in Step S 703 ), the controller  401  decodes the ith frame (Step S 704 ). Subsequently, the controller  401  performs the image processing on the decoded ith frame, in accordance with the correction information complying with the positions of the respective adjusting bars in the adjusting bar area  520 , and obtains an uncompressed frame which is the corrected ith frame (Step S 705 ). 
     The controller  401  further performs coding on the obtained uncompressed frame, and obtains the coded data corresponding to the ith frame (Step S 706 ). Then, the processing proceeds to multiplexing in Step S 707 . 
     In the multiplexing (Step S 707 ), the coded data obtained in Step S 706  and audio data associated with the coded data are multiplexed. The audio data has been, for example, separated from the video data and held in the processing in Step S 701 . 
     On the other hand, when determining the ith frame is not included in the correction section  532  (No in Step S 703 ), the controller  401  does not perform the image processing on the read-out ith frame, in accordance with the correction information complying with the positions of the respective adjusting bars in the adjusting bar area  520 , and treats the read-out frame as the ith coded data. Then the controller  401  shifts the processing to the multiplexing in Step S 707 . 
     The controller  401  performs the multiplexing on the ith coded data to which the correction is not applied (Step S 707 ), and stores the multiplexed ith coded data in the HDD  404 , as a part of the video data resulting from the correction (Step S 707 ). 
     Subsequently, the controller  401  determines whether or not the ith frame is the last frame of the correction-target video data (Step S 708 ). When determining the ith frame is the last frame of the correction-target video data (Yes in Step S 708 ), the controller  401  terminates the coding, and treats the video data which is the result of the correction and is stored in the HDD  404  in the multiplexing (Step S 707 ), as the video data obtained as the final result of the correction. 
     When determining the ith frame is not the last frame of the correction-target video data (No in Step S 708 ), the controller  401  increments the frame counter i, and continues the processing in Steps S 703  to S 708 . 
     Here, a method for performing, in short time, processing in steps (Steps S 704  to S 706  shown in  FIG. 9 ) of the decoding, correcting, and coding on the ith frame is described, with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram which shows a functional configuration included in the image processing unit  450  according to the embodiment, in relation to the coding of the correction section. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the image processing unit  450  included in the PC  400  includes a decoding unit  810 , an image correction unit  830 , and a coding unit  850 . 
     The decoding unit  810 , the image correction unit  830 , and the coding unit  850  are achieved using the controller  401  in the present embodiment. 
     The decoding in Step S 704  corresponds to a part of the processing shown in  FIG. 10 , in which uncorrected coded-data  800  is decoded in the decoding unit  810 , and uncorrected uncompressed-data  820  is obtained. 
     The coding in Step S 706  corresponds to another part of the processing shown in  FIG. 10 , in which corrected uncompressed-data  840  is coded in the coding unit  850 , and corrected coded-data  860  is obtained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the decoding unit  810  includes a variable-length-coding (VLC) decoding unit  811  and an uncompressed-data decoding unit  813 . The decoding unit  810  receives the uncorrected coded-data  800  as input data, and outputs the uncorrected uncompressed-data  820 . 
     In the decoding unit  810 , the VLC decoding unit  811  performs VLC decoding on the inputted uncorrected coded-data  800 , and outputs decoded information  812 . 
     The decoding information  812  per a processing unit, such as a macroblock, includes a motion vector or an intra prediction mode, a discrete cosine transformation (DCT) coefficient, and the like. 
     The controller  401  stores the decoding information  812  obtained by the VLC decoding, in the working memory  403 , for example. Subsequently, the uncompressed data decoding unit  813  reads out the decoding information  812  from the working memory  403 , performs processing of motion compensation, intra-screen prediction, and inverse DCT transformation, using the read-out decoding information  812 , and outputs the obtained uncorrected uncompressed-data  820 . 
     The image correction unit  830  receives the uncorrected uncompressed-data  820  as input data, and outputs the corrected uncompressed-data  840 . The image correction unit  830  performs image processing on the processing target frame (uncorrected uncompressed-data  820 ), in accordance with the correction information complying with the positions of the respective adjusting bars in the adjusting bar area  520 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the coding unit  850  includes the coding information generation unit  851  and the VLC coding unit  852 . The decoding unit  850  receives the corrected uncompressed-data  840  as input data, and outputs the corrected coded-data  860 . 
     In the coding unit  850 , the coding information generation unit  851  performs, on the inputted corrected uncompressed-data  840 , one of the motion prediction processing and the intra screen prediction processing, and the DCT conversion processing, on a per processing unit basis, such as the macroblock, and generates information necessary for the VLC coding. 
     When the motion prediction processing is performed, the coding unit  850  reads out a motion vector corresponding to the processing target data from the decoding information  812  stored in the working memory  403 , and sets the motion vector as the motion vector of the corrected coded-data. 
     When the intra screen prediction processing is performed, the coding unit  850  reads out an intra prediction mode corresponding to the processing target data from the decoding information  812  stored in the working memory  403 , and sets the intra prediction mode as the intra prediction mode of the corrected coded-data. 
     Then, the VLC coding unit  852  performs the VLC coding on the information generated by the coding information generation unit  851 , and outputs the corrected coded-data  860  obtained by the VLC coding. 
     As described above, the image processing unit  450  (controller  401 ) uses the motion vector and the intra prediction mode which are obtained from the uncorrected coded-data, for generating the corrected coded-data. Accordingly, the corrected coded-data can be generated in a short time. 
     Here, the correction processing performed by the PC  400  according to the present embodiment is image processing, such as the lightening of an image in a frame, that is, processing unaccompanied with any change in a configuration in the entire image. 
     Accordingly, information obtained by the decoding of correction-target coded-data can be used for coding the corrected uncompressed-data  840 . The information includes the motion vector, the intra prediction mode, or the like, by a processing unit, such as the macroblock. 
     In other words, the corrected coded-data can be obtained as data in which the DCT coefficient is changed, while the motion vector or the intra prediction mode in the uncorrected coded-data is maintained. 
     As described above, with the PC  400  according to the present embodiment, generation of the corrected coded-data is speeded up. 
     &lt;1-4. Advantageous Effects&gt; 
     As described above, the PC  400  according to the present embodiment includes the acquiring unit  420 , the receiving unit  430 , the identifying unit  440 , and the image processing unit  450 . 
     The acquiring unit  420  acquires the video data including a plurality of frames, and metadata indicating the characteristic value of an image in each of the frames. 
     The receiving unit  430  receives designation of a correction-target frame, which is one of the frames. 
     The identifying unit  440  identifies, as a correction section, a section to which a frame group made up of consecutive frames including the correction-target frame belongs, based on the metadata. 
     The image processing unit  450  applies the correction designated by a user to the frame group which belongs to the correction section. 
     In the present embodiment, the PC  400  includes the controller  401  (processor) which serves as the acquiring unit  420 , the receiving unit  430 , the identifying unit  440 , and the image processing unit  450 . 
     In other words, an image editing device (PC  400 ) includes a processor that: (i) acquires video data including a plurality of frames, and metadata indicating a characteristic value of an image in each of the frames; (ii) receives designation of a correction-target frame which is one of the frames; (iii) identifies, as a correction section, a section to which a frame group belongs, based on the metadata, the frame group being made up of consecutive frames including the correction-target frame; and (iv) applies correction designated by a user to the frame group which belongs to the identified correction section. 
     The PC  400  includes the above configuration, thereby automatically identifying, as the correction section, the section to which a frame group belongs. The frame group is, for example, associated with the shooting condition (shooting information) which can be considered as the same with that of the correction-target frame. As a result, the PC  400  can perform, at once, the correction processing on the frame group which belongs to the correction section, so as to perform the video editing in a shorter time. 
     In the present embodiment, the processor identifies one or more frames positioned in at least one of temporally forward and backward of the correction-target frame, to thereby identify the correction section to which the frame group including the correction-target frame and the one or more frames belongs, the one or more frames each having a characteristic value within a predetermined range from a characteristic value of the correction-target frame. 
     With this configuration, the frame group is identified which has a shutter speed within a predetermined range from a standard value as the characteristic value (shooting information). The standard value is defined by the shutter speed of the correction-target frame. As a result, the frame group is identified which has brightness (or darkness) approximately same with that of the correction-target frame. In other words, the correction section is identified to which the frame group having frames suitable for the application of the same correction belongs. 
     In the present embodiment, the processor identifies the correction section using a value which (i) is indicated in the metadata, (ii) serves as the characteristic value of the image in each of the frames, and (iii) indicates a shooting condition for generating the video data. 
     In the present embodiment, the processor applies, to each of the frames in the frame group, the correction which is processing for changing at least one of a hue, chroma, brightness, luminance, a contrast intensity, and a noise-reduction filter intensity. 
     With this configuration, the PC  400  can apply various corrections according to a request of a user to the frame group in the correction section identified by the PC  400 . 
     In the present embodiment, the processor further receives an instruction to make a change on the identified correction section, and updates the correction section in accordance with the change instruction. The processor further applies the correction to the frame group which belongs to the updated correction section. 
     With this configuration, the correction section automatically identified by the PC  400  can be changed according to the determination of a user, for example. 
     In the present embodiment, the processor: outputs (i) uncompressed data which corresponds to the frame group, and is obtained by decoding coded data which is data of the frame group belonging to the correction section, and (ii) decoding information which indicates one of a motion vector and an intra prediction mode which are obtained by the decoding. 
     The processor applies the correction to the uncompressed data obtained by the decoding. The processor performs coding on the uncompressed data to which the correction is applied, using one of the motion vector or the intra prediction mode which are indicated in the decoding information. 
     With this configuration, the PC  400  can reduce calculation load required for the coding associated with the image correction, thereby performing video editing in a shorter time. 
     Another Embodiment 
     As described above, the embodiment has been described as an example of the technique disclosed in the present application. However, the technique in the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and is applicable to an embodiment to which modification, replacement, addition, omission, and the like are appropriately conducted. It is also possible to create a new embodiment by combining structural components described in the above embodiments. 
     Another embodiment is exemplified hereinafter. 
     In the above embodiment, the shooting condition is recorded in metadata for each frame from start to end of video shooting. However, if the frame rate is 60 fps, a representative value of the shooting condition may be recorded every 60 frames 
     At this time, the representative value may be an average value of values indicated in the shooting condition (for example, the white-balance value) in the 60 frames, alternatively, may be a value of the first frame or the last frame of the 60 frames. The representative value may also be a value of a middle frame in the 60 frames. 
     Accordingly, a data format of the characteristic information (metadata in the embodiment) used by the PC  400  for identifying the correction section has no limitation, as long as each of the frames and a value treated as the characteristic value of the image in each of the frames are associated with each other. 
     In the present embodiment, the controller  401  (processor) identifies the correction section with reference to at least one of the white-balance value, the sensitive value, and the shutter speed value which are indicated by the metadata of the correction-target frame. 
     Therefore, the controller  401  (processor) may identify the correction section, using two or more types of characteristic values. 
     For example, the controller  401  may identify the correction section by identifying one or more frames each having the white-balance value within a predetermined range from the white-balance value indicated in the metadata of the correction-target frame, and also having the shutter speed value within a predetermined range from the shutter speed value indicated in the metadata. 
     Upon identifying one or more frames each having the characteristic value within a predetermined range from the characteristic value (standard characteristic value) of the correction-target frame, the determination whether or not the characteristic value is within the predetermined range may not be performed on a basis of whether or not difference between the standard characteristic value and the characteristic value to be compared is smaller than or equal to a threshold value. For example, when the ratio of a comparison-target characteristic value with respect to the standard characteristic value is within a previously set range (for example, 90% to 110%, and so on), it may be determined that the comparison-target characteristic value is within a predetermined range from the standard characteristic value. 
     For example, when a change ratio (change amount per unit time) of the comparison-target characteristic value with respect to the standard characteristic value is within a predetermined set range, it may be determined that the comparison-target characteristic value is within a predetermined range from the standard characteristic value. 
     The predetermined range for the determination may not be a fixed range, but may be changeable by a user, for example. For example, the predetermined range is narrowed, thereby performing determination more strictly as to whether or not the correction-target frame belongs to the frame group to which the same correction performed on each of the frames should be applied at once. 
     The correction section may be identified by identifying one or more frames each associated with the characteristic value coincident with the standard characteristic value. 
     In other words, the correction section may be identified based on the characteristic information (metadata in the embodiment) indicating the characteristic value of the image in each of the frames included in the video data. Various methods can be adopted as a method, using the characteristic value (standard characteristic value) of the correction-target frame, for identifying the frame to be included in the correction section. 
     In the present embodiment, a value indicating the shooting condition, such as the white-balance value, and the like is exemplified, as the characteristic value of the image in each of the frames included in the video data. However, the characteristic value of the image in each of the frames may be another type of value. 
     For example, an average pixel value of the frame may be treated as the characteristic value of the frame. In addition, if a video frame to be corrected is video data to which some correction has already been applied, a parameter used for the correction may be adopted as the characteristic value for identifying the correction section in the video data. 
     The characteristic value indicated in the characteristic information used for identifying the correction section need not be a numerical value. A character or a symbol indicating the characteristic of the image may be treated as the characteristic value. 
     In other words, any values may be adopted as the characteristic value of each of the frames, as long as the value identifies the frame group in which the frames can be considered to have approximately same brightness, darkness, roughness and the like in appearance. 
     In the present embodiment, metadata which is an example of the characteristic information is included in the video data. However, the video data and the characteristic information may be acquired by the PC  400  as mutually separated data. Accordingly, the PC  400  may acquire the video data and the characteristic information separately from each other, as long as correction-target video data and characteristic information corresponding to the video data are associated with each other. 
     The PC  400  may also acquire the video data and the characteristic information without using the memory card  200 . The PC  400  may, for example, acquire the video data and the characteristic information from the digital video camera  100 , using a wired or wireless communication network. 
     The content of the correction (type of the correction, the value of the parameter, and the like) designated by a user in the PC  400  may not be determined by a user&#39;s direct instruction. For example, if a user designates “automatic correction”, the PC  400  may execute the image editing application  500 , thereby allowing correction to be performed. The correction is such that the content thereof is previously set, or is set by analyzing the frame group in the correction section by the PC  400 . 
     The effect (speeding-up of the generation of the corrected coded-data) obtained by a series of processing performed by the image processing unit  450 , described referring to  FIG. 10 , is exerted even when the correction is performed on the entire video data. The effect is also exerted when the correction is performed on the frame group in the correction section identified by a user, for example. 
     The image processing unit  450  in the PC  400  can also be achieved as an image processing device which applies the correction on the one or more frames in the video data. 
     Accordingly, the image processing device is an image processing device which performs correction on video data including a plurality of frames. The image processing device includes the decoding unit  810 , the image correction unit  830 , and the coding unit  850 . 
     The decoding unit  810  outputs uncompressed data corresponding to a frame group obtained by decoding the coded data serving as data of the frame group which belongs to the designated correction section and is included in the frames, and decoding information indicating a motion vector or an intra prediction mode. 
     The image correction unit  830  applies the correction having the content designated by the user to the uncompressed data obtained by the decoding. 
     The coding unit  850  performs coding on the uncompressed data to which the correction is applied, using one of the motion vector and the intra prediction mode which are indicated in the decoding information. 
     A part of or all of functions of units included in the image processing device may be achieved using a single or a plurality of integrated circuits. The units include the decoding unit  810 , the image correction unit  830 , and the coding unit  850 . In other words, the image processing device may be achieved by combination of dedicated circuits. 
     The image processing device includes the above configuration, so as to perform the coding on the corrected data, using one of the motion vector and the intra prediction mode which are obtained by the decoding performed before the correction. As a result, the generation of the corrected coded-data can be performed in a shorter time. 
     A part or all of functions of the units included in the PC  400  (see  FIG. 3 ) according to the embodiment may be achieved using a single or a plurality of integrated circuits. The units include the acquiring unit  420 , the receiving unit  430 , the identifying unit  440 , and the image processing unit  450 . Accordingly, the image editing device according to the present embodiment may be achieved using combination of dedicated circuits. 
     In the present embodiment, the PC  400  as an example of the image editing device is described with respect to a configuration and a processing flow thereof. However, another type of electronic device may be functioned as the image editing device. 
     For example, a server computer (hereinafter, referred to as “server”) connected to the Internet may be functioned as the image processing device. A controller executing information processing in the server functions as, for example, the acquiring unit  420 , the receiving unit  430 , the identifying unit  440 , and the image processing unit  450 , so that the server can perform the aforementioned processing, such as identifying the correction section, generating the video data to which the correction is applied, and the like. 
     In this case, a user can upload video stream from a local PC to the server via the Internet, for example, and remotely perform the editing such as designation of the correction-target frame. As a result of the editing, the video data to which the correction is applied can be downloaded to the PC. 
     An electronic device, such as a mobile terminal, a video camera, and a video recorder may be functioned as the image editing device according to the present disclosure. For example, the digital video camera  100  shown in  FIG. 1  may include the acquiring unit  420 , the receiving unit  430 , the identifying unit  440 , and the image processing unit  450 . 
     In other words, an image processing method including processing executed by the image processing device (PC  400 ) according to the embodiment may be executed by various electronic devices. 
     In addition, an image processing method including a series of processing in relation to image correction associated with decoding and coding, described referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , may be executed by various electronic devices. 
     As described above, the embodiment is described as an example of the technique disclosed in the present disclosure. For the disclosure, the attached drawings and the detailed description are provided. 
     Accordingly, structural components illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the detailed disclosure may include not only necessary structural components but also structural components that are not essential for solving the problems, in order to exemplify the above technique. Therefore, the illustration or description of these inessential structural components in the attached drawings and the detailed description should not lead immediate recognition on the necessity of the inessential structural components. 
     The above described embodiments should be referred to as an example of the technique of the present disclosure. Accordingly, various modification, replacement, addition, omission, and the like can be performed within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof. 
     Although only some exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present disclosure is applicable to an image processing device which can perform video editing more efficiently. To be specific, the present disclosure is applicable to an electronic device, such as a PC, a server, a mobile terminal, a video camera, a video recorder, and so on. In addition, the present disclosure is also applicable to a recording medium, such as a compact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disc (DVD) which stores a program capable of causing a PC to execute functions similar with those executed by the electronic devices.