Using content-based search to download digital video into a client station

In this paper we examine a content-based method to download/record digital video from networks to client stations and home VCRs. 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 search, and annotation signal search in a hypermedia environment. A concept of go-ahead-downloading is introduced and system capacity of the downloading device is evaluated. Some experimental studies are conducted on preloaded pattern search to provide more insights into this approach. Our results show that with the option of go-ahead-downloading, some content-based search operations can be effectively used for downloading digital video. © 1996 Academic Press Limited.