A feature video image vdt and a thumbnail picture sdt read from a
receiving section C10 are recorded onto a mass storage medium M1, and
meta information mdt is recorded into a high-speed storage unit C12.
Semantic browser means C1 extracts a partial video image from the feature
video image on the basis of the meta information mdt so as to organize a
preview video image, and also displays a semantic graph and a current
position on the screen on the basis of the meta information and replays
the feature video image or the preview video image from that position
when there is a position designation input. Furthermore, when there is a
browsing instruction input, the semantic browser means C1 carries out
browsing between the feature video image and the preview video image, or
browsing within the feature video image or within the preview video
image. An accounting section C18 carries out accounting processing.