A partial image identifying section extracts objects from an inputted
image inputted by an image inputting section, and identifies types of the
objects. A characteristic information generating section generates
characteristic information of each object on the basis of a
characteristic amount computed for each object. A plurality of partial
image databases are provided for the respective types of objects. For
each object, a degree of similarity computing section computes, on the
basis of both characteristic information, degrees of similarity with all
objects registered in the partial image database which corresponds to the
type of the object. A photographing time period specifying section
specifies a photographing time period, from the respective degrees of
similarity computed by the degree of similarity computing section. A
registering section registers extracted objects in association with the
specified photographing time period, in the databases of the types
corresponding to the objects.