Content-based downloading for digital video

In this paper we examine a content-based method to download/record digital video from networks to client stations and home VCR's. The method examined is an alternative to the conventional time-based method used for recording analogue video. Various approaches to probing the video content and to triggering the VCR operations are considered, including frame signature matching, program barcode matching, preloaded pattern searching, and annotation signal searching in a hypermedia environment. Preliminary performance studies are conducted to provide some insights into this approach.