Virtual video tape: a novel development tool for real-time motion image understanding
Hiroshi Mizoguchi, Ken-ichi Hidai, Kazuyuki Hiraoka, Takaomi Shigehara, Taketoshi Mishima · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2000
This paper proposes Virtual Video Tape (VVT). It is a randomly accessible motion image recorder in main memory. VVT is realized with only software, not hardware. It is intended as a tool for real-time motion image understanding research. Recent remarkable progress of PC hardware enables to use gigabyte order main memory. By utilizing such large sized memory, there is a possiblity to realize motion image recorder with software. Thus we propose VVT as an example of this kind image recorder. Utilizing current components, recording time can be expected as minutes order. Since the proposed VVT is fully digital, there is no analog medium nor possibility for degradation of image quality. Since there is no deterioration of playback image and no rewinding, VVT must contribute to program development for motion image understanding. Based upon the proposed idea, the authors have implemented a prototype VVT and used the prototype to develop visual tracking, real-time face detection and so forth. Through the implementation and experience of the usage, we have confirmed feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed idea. In this paper, the authors discuss background, required functions and structure of the recorder. Some implementation issues are also described.