A method of generating data for identifying a video storage media comprising the steps of (1) generating from the contents of the media a data sequence representing the picture and/or the audio and/or data content of the video medium, (2) combining said data sequence with position information and/or picture and/or text and/or data or other information. It also provides a system for controlling a video recorder or other media device for selective enabling and disabling of associated functions. A graphical user interface is adapted to display information relating to television program content and/or data content from other sources such as the Internet and video recorder or other media device content and to display information relating to one or more video tapes or other media contents.