Overview of the MPEG-7 standard

MPEG-7, formally known as the Multimedia Content Description Interface, includes standardized tools (descriptors, description schemes, and language) enabling structural, detailed descriptions of audio-visual information at different granularity levels (region, image, video segment, collection) and in different areas (content description, management, organization, navigation, and user interaction). It aims to support and facilitate a wide range of applications, such as media portals, content broadcasting, and ubiquitous multimedia. We present a high-level overview of the MPEG-7 standard. We first discuss the scope, basic terminology, and potential applications. Next, we discuss the constituent components. Then, we compare the relationship with other standards to highlight its capabilities.