VIDEO INFORMATION RETRIEVAL

A video information retrieval system comprising a client system having a request issuer for issuing a search request in respect of desired video material; and a video accessor for accessing video material on the basis of a uniform resource locator (URL) and a SMPTE unique material identifier (UMID). The retrieval system also comprising a server system having 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. A receiver is provided for receiving a search request from the client system and detecting one or more video material items for which metadata information stored in at least one of the database(s) substantially corresponds to the search request. An information supplier supplies the metadata information, the URL and the UMID relating to the one or more detected video material items to the client system. The server system has at least one video repository having: a video storage arrangement storing video material and associated UMID data. The metadata, the URL and the UMID are communicated between the server and the client using a markup language having descriptors for data content.