Audio-visual information must allow some degree of interpretation, which can be passed onto, or accessed by a device or a computer code. MPEG-7 aims to create a standard for describing these operational requirements. We provide an overview on the development, functionality, and applicability of MPEG-7. We present the role of MPEG-7 and outline ideas for using MPEG-7 technology based on examples of improved versions of existing applications as well as completely new ones. The MPEG standards preceding MPEG-7 have mainly addressed coded representation of audio-visual information. MPEG-7, on the other hand, focuses on the standardization of a common interface for describing multimedia materials (representing information about the content, but not the content itself ("the bits about the bits")). In this context, MPEG-7 addresses aspects such as facilitating interoperability and globalization of data resources and flexibility of data management.
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