Patent US 6,728,673

A video retrieval data generation apparatus includes an extractor that is configured to extract a characteristic pattern from a voice signal synchronous with a video signal. The video retrieval data generation apparatus also includes an index generator that is configured to set the voice signal for a voice period as a processing target. The index generator is further configured to prepare standard voice patterns of a subword corresponding to a plurality of subwords, detect, for each subword, a characteristic pattern similar to a standard voice pattern at each of the voice periods, and generate, for each subword, an index containing time synchronization information corresponding to a position where the similar characteristic pattern is detected. The video retrieval data generation apparatus also includes a multiplexer that is configured to multiplex video signals, voice signals and indexes to output in a data stream format.