MediaSite Ships MediaSite Logger Real-Time Video Cataloging Software
Integrates Speech Recognition and Image Matching In a Web-Based Offering

Pittsburgh, PA—March 10, 1998—MediaSite, Inc., the leading developer and supplier of integrated solutions for constructing and accessing network-based, searchable digital media libraries, today announced the production shipment of MediaSite Logger (TM), the most full-featured, real-time software for building searchable digital video libraries currently available. Only Logger combines sophisticated speech recognition, image matching, automatic scene detection, time-stamping with SMPTE codes, and full motion video for real-time video processing and management.

In real-time applications including news and sports broadcasting, film production and government surveillance, users are continually inundated with incoming videotapes and live feeds. With MediaSite Logger software, users can now quickly and effectively manage this video with incredible speed and accuracy, using sophisticated cataloging, annotation, browsing, search, retrieval, and re-use capabilities. With Logger, large volumes of video are automatically encoded and indexed for subsequent searching over networks with unprecedented pinpoint accuracy.

"When we spoke with customers in real-time production environments about their video management issues, we quickly realized there was a tremendous need to deliver a sophisticated solution to manage the ever-increasing volume of incoming video," commented Mark Juliano, president and CEO of MediaSite. "In response, we built and delivered the MediaSite Logger solution."

MediaSite Logger digitally captures incoming video in real-time and uses content and time-based image and motion analysis to automatically identify key scene changes and build a storyboard. Catalogers can add key attributes to segments including description, title, reporter, location, and other user customizable information via spoken annotation using speech recognition or typed input to quickly capture the maximum amount of information possible. SMPTE time codes and closed-captioning can also be recorded if available.

MediaSite Logger software is available in a stand-alone or networked version. Logger operates in Windows 95 and NT platforms in client/server environments and offers a Web interface for Internet and intranet connectivity. Catalogers can be fully trained to operate the easy-to-use Logger system in less than one hour.

"Logger incorporates the features requested most by customers including spoken annotation using speech recognition, search and retrieval capabilities that find video with pinpoint accuracy, and compatibility with existing production and information systems," said Robert Mozenter, MediaSite’s director of engineering. He added, "MediaSite’s unique core speech, image and language technology allowed us to quickly respond to these requirements."

Real-Time Digitizing and Encoding
As a logging station receives incoming feeds, the video is digitized, encoded and analyzed to find key scene changes. This produces a storyboard, and users add annotations including description, title, location, tape ID, and other customizable information. Logger also records the SMPTE time-codes of each key frame in the storyboard. Closed captioning text is decoded and recorded for later searching.

Spoken Annotation With Speech Recognition
Logger is the only real-time system that accepts spoken segment annotations using speech recognition. This dramatically reduces annotation time, while increasing the depth of annotations. When using spoken annotation, loggers capture more detailed and comprehensive video segment content. These annotated segments are then incorporated into the user database for immediate searching and browsing via MediaSite Finder(TM) software for quick and accurate location of video segments.

Browsing/Search and Retrieval With MediaSite Finder
After video has been digitized and cataloged, users can search for video segments using image matching, natural language or keyword queries using MediaSite Finder. They can then quickly browse information including Tape ID, title, and segment description. Video segments can be browsed in a thumbnail or table view where users can watch segments as a filmstrip (storyboard) or low-resolution video.

Seamless Integration for End-to-End Digital Video Library Management and Re-Use
MediaSite Logger, which integrates with industry-standard databases including Oracle and Informix, can export information such as Tape ID and SMPTE time-codes to an Edit Decision List (EDL) file and will soon interface with AvidNews and NewsStar systems. MediaSite Logger is a key component of the MediaSiteSite Digital Library System(TM), the only end-to-end suite of software and services for constructing and managing video. MediaSite Logger for real-time applications, MediaSite Builder(TM) for full-content indexing, and MediaSite Finder for sophisticated search and retrieval enable organizations to finally unlock the value of their video content by converting their video assets to an easy-to-use digital medium.

Pricing and Availability
MediaSite Logger is available now and is priced from $14,900 for a stand-alone version. A complete MediaSite starter system which contains logging, speech recognition, and search capabilities is available for $25,000.

MediaSite
MediaSite, Inc. is the leading developer and supplier of integrated solutions for constructing and using network-based, searchable digital media libraries. MediaSiteoffers the MediaSite Digital Library System, a complete set of software and services for developing digital audio and video libraries, including MediaSite Logger, MediaSite Builder, and MediaSite Finder. The unique feature of MediaSite’s technical approach is the integrated application of speech recognition, language understanding, and image understanding technologies based on software components of Carnegie Mellon University’s Informedia Digital Video Library Project. For more information, visit www.mediasite.com.