Readme.Txt

I About Attrasoft VideoFinder

Attrasoft VideoFinder consists of two components, VideoFinder and FrameFinder. The software will perform three independent tasks:

·	Attrasoft VideoFinder matches a newly obtained video clip against a pre-established library of video clips. 

·	Attrasoft FrameFinder searches video clips for an object specified by a key image.

·	Attrasoft FrameFinder searches live video for an object specified by a key image.


II How to Use VideoFinder

0. Initialization (Only Once After Starting the Software)

This step initializes the software. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/0. Initialization (Only Once)” menu item, OR
·	“Init” button. 

3.	Select Library (Source button)

A video clip is converted into a video clip signature. A set of video clip signatures forms a library. A set of video clips will be placed in a directory and the directory path (for example, “c:\abc\def\”) will be entered into the VideoFinder.

This step selects a video clip directory. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/1. Select Library (Source button)” menu item, OR
·	“Source” button. 

The video clips in the selected directory will be displayed in the second picture box (labeled ‘Library’). 
Use the “Play” and “Stop” buttons to play the video clip. 
Use the “F” button to select the First video in the directory; use the “>” button to select the next video clip; and use the “<” button to select the previous video clip.



2. Get Library Signatures (source.txt)

This step converts all video clips in the selected directory into signatures and saves them to the file, “source.txt”. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/2. Get Library Signatures (source.txt)” menu item, OR
·	“Signature/Library Signatures” menu item. 

3. Select Key (Key button)

A key is a newly obtained video clip. The video clip is converted into a signature. The key (for example, “c:\abc\def\ghi.avi”) will be entered into the VideoFinder. 

This step selects a key. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/3. Select Key (Key button)” menu item, OR
·	“Key” button. 

The selected key will be displayed in the first picture box. Use the “Play” and “Stop” buttons to play the video clip.



4. Get Key Signatures (key.txt)

This step converts a key video clip into a signature and saves them to the file, “key.txt”. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/4. Get Key Signatures (key.txt)” menu item, OR
·	“Signature/Key Signature” menu item. 

5. Create Library File (lib1.txt)

Before matching, you will need to select a library and load it to the VideoFinder. The library to be loaded is fixed to the file, “lib1.txt”. We have created a library file, “source.txt”; now we will simply copy it to the loading-library file, “lib1.txt”.

This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/5. Create Library File (lib1.txt)” menu item, OR
·	“Library/Copy source.txt to lib1.txt” menu item. 

6. Load Library (lib1.txt)

Before matching, you will need to select a library and load it to the VideoFinder. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/6. Load Library (lib1.txt)” menu item, OR
·	“Library/Load (lib1.txt)” menu item. 

7. 1:N Matching  (Match/1:N Match menu item)

“1:N Matching” (read as 1 to N matching) compares “1” (i.e., the new video clip) with “N” (i.e., the previously stored video clips).  This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/7. 1:N Matching” menu item, OR
·	“Match/1:N Matching” menu item. 



8. First Results (2nd F Button)

The 1:N matching results are also displayed in the third picture box (labeled ‘Results’). 
To select the first retrieved video clip, use: 

·	“Beginner/8. First Results (2nd F Button)” menu item, OR
·	Second “F” button. 

Use the “Play” and “Stop” buttons to play the video clip.

9. Next Results (2nd > Button)

The 1:N matching results are also displayed in the third picture box (labeled ‘Results’). 
To select the next retrieved video clip, use:
 
·	“Beginner/9. Next Results (2nd > Button)” menu item, OR
·	Second “>” button. 

Use the “Play” and “Stop” buttons to play the video clip.


III How to Use FrameFinder

0. Initialization (Only Once After Starting the Software)

This step initializes the software. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/0. Initialization (Once)” menu item, OR
·	“Init” button. 



1. Select Key (Key button)

A key is an image, which specifies an object. A key is selected via the “Key” button. This step selects a key. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/1. Select Key” menu item, OR
·	“Key” button. 

The selected key will be displayed in the first picture box.

2. Learn Key

In this step, the FrameFinder will learn the object specified by the key image. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/2. Learn Key” menu item, OR
·	“V(Video)Match/Learn Key” menu item. 


3. Select Source 

A source is a folder consisting a set of video clips. A set of video clips will be placed in a directory and the directory path (for example, “c:\abc\def\”) will be entered into the FrameFinder.

This step selects a video clip directory. This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/3. Select Source” menu item, OR
·	“Source” button. 

The video clips in the selected directory will be displayed in the second picture box (labeled ‘Source’). 

Use the “Play” and “Stop” buttons to play the video clip. 
Use the “F” button to select the First video in the directory; use the “>” button to select the next video clip; and use the “<” button to select the previous video clip.

4. Searching

“Searching” compares the key image with all video frames in all of the video clips.  This step is implemented by clicking:

·	“Beginner/4. Search” menu item, OR
·	“V(Video) Match/Search” menu item. 


The results are also displayed in the third picture box (labeled ‘Results’). Results consist of two sections: matched videos and matched frames. Use the “Play” and the “Stop” button below the label ‘Results’ to play the matched video clip. Use the “VF”, “V>”, and “V<” button (Video First, Video Next, Video Previous) to select a video clip in the matched collections. Use the “IF”, “I>”, and “I<” button (Image First, Image Next, Image Previous) to display matched image frames.


IV Software Requirements

Software Requirements:

·	Microsoft Windows;
·	Windows .Net Framework. 
 
To get the latest version of  .Net Framework, use Internet Explorer; then click  “Tools\Windows Update". 


V Installing the Software

If you have not done so, go to Internet Explorer, then click  “Tools\Windows Update" to download Windows .Net Framework .

Click “CD:\setup.exe” to install the VideoFinder.

The serial number is the word “attrasoft”.


VI. Supported Video Formats and Camera

The VideoFinder uses Windows .Net Framework for video decoding and camera. It supports *.avi files, *.wmv files, and limited *.mpg files. It supports Logitech and several other cameras.


VII. Information and Support

Attrasoft ImageFinder
Attrasoft
P. O. Box 13051
Savannah, GA. 31406 
USA

http://attrasoft.com

gina@attrasoft.com (Email Subject: Attrasoft)

Phone:  (912) 484-1717


