MPEG-7 is a content description standard for audio visual items intended to increase the usability and interoperability of existing and previous MPEG encoded and other A/V materials.  MPEG-7 was created by the Motion Pictures Expert Group and is defined in ISO standard (15938).     

 

The highlights: 

Unlike other MPEG standards MPEG-7 only contains information about content as opposed to information which defines the content itself such as coding, format, colour space or other technology factors.  This means the MPEG-7 schema can be applied to analogue items such as still images or motion picture film as well as digital objects. 

When applied in conjunction with certain codec’s such as the MPEG-4 video codec, MPEG-7 can maintain synchronisation with the source time-code allowing, description of elements throughout the duration and within the audio or visual space. 

MPEG-7 uses four tools, Descriptor, Description Schemes, Description Definition Language and System tools.  Description Definition Language is based on XML schema language but with certain extensions which are specific to audio visual description.  

Both open source and proprietary systems are available which utilise the MPEG-7 with the source standard purchasable from the ISO website.