Patent ID: 6983420

Claim:
A method for forming a hierarchical structure of representative images for use in editing a motion picture, wherein said hierarchical structure including a plurality of representative images is displayed on a screen of a display device, each of said representative images represents a series of frame images forming said motion picture, said method of forming a hierarchical structure comprising the steps of; selecting first representative images representing a series of said frame representative images; designating by a user a feature of a predetermined object to be detected in a frame image of the representative images; performing an image detection processing for detecting said predetermined object based on said feature from a series of frame images corresponding to said selected first representative images; displaying first information showing that said predetermined object is included in a series of said frame images on said screen, as a result of said image detection processing displaying second information showing that said image detection processing has not been performed vet in a series of said frame images; and forming said hierarchical structure based on said first representative images corresponding to a series of said frame images within which said predetermined object has been detected.