Patent ID: 6925474

Claim:
A video information retrieval system comprising: a client system having: (i) means for issuing a search request in respect of desired video material; and (ii) means for accessing video material using uniform resource locator (URL) and a SMPTE unique material identifier (UMID); a server system having: (i) access to one or more databases containing metadata information relating to a plurality of video material items, a UMID associated with each video material item and at least one URL associated with each UMID; (ii) means for receiving a search request from said client system and detecting one or more video material items for which metadata information stored in at least one of said database(s) substantially corresponds to said search request; (iii) means for supplying said metadata information, said URL and said UMID relating to said one or more detected video material items to said client system; (iv) and at least one video repository having: (v) a video storage arrangement storing video material and associated UMID data; (vi) in which said metadata, said URL and said UMID are communicated between said server and said client using a markup language having descriptors for data content.