# vfp_compare - Video Fingerprint Comparison Tool

# Overview

vfp_compare is a command-line tool that compares two video fingerprint files to determine if the videos are similar or identical. It's useful for detecting duplicate videos, finding similar content, or verifying video integrity.

# Features

  • Compare pre-generated video fingerprints
  • Fast comparison without re-processing videos
  • Configurable similarity threshold
  • Returns numerical difference score

# Usage 

vfp_compare -f "fingerprint1.vsigx" -s "fingerprint2.vsigx" [options]

# Required Parameters

  • -f, --f1 : Path to the first fingerprint file
  • -s, --f2 : Path to the second fingerprint file

# Optional Parameters

  • -d, --md : Maximum acceptable difference (default: 500)
  • -l, --license : VisioForge license key (default: "TRIAL")

# Examples

# Basic comparison 

vfp_compare -f "video1.vsigx" -s "video2.vsigx"

# Comparison with custom threshold 

vfp_compare -f "original.vsigx" -s "copy.vsigx" -d 100

# Using license key 

vfp_compare -f "file1.vsigx" -s "file2.vsigx" -l "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY"

# Output

The tool outputs:

  • Difference score (lower = more similar)
  • Comparison result based on threshold
  • Processing time

# Understanding Difference Scores

  • 0-5: Nearly identical videos (same content, minor encoding differences)
  • 5-15: Very similar videos (same content, different quality/compression)
  • 15-30: Similar videos (same content with edits, logos, or watermarks)
  • 30-100: Related content with significant differences
  • 100-300: Different videos with some similar scenes
  • 300+: Completely different videos

# Use Cases

  1. Duplicate Detection: Find exact copies of videos in different formats
  2. Quality Comparison: Compare different encodings of the same video
  3. Edit Detection: Identify if a video has been modified
  4. Copyright Verification: Check if content matches original source

# Workflow Example

  1. Generate fingerprints for videos:
vfp_gen -i "original.mp4" -o "original.vsigx" -t compare
vfp_gen -i "suspect.mp4" -o "suspect.vsigx" -t compare
  1. Compare the fingerprints:
vfp_compare -f "original.vsigx" -s "suspect.vsigx"

# Performance Notes

  • Comparison is nearly instantaneous
  • Memory usage is minimal (loads fingerprints only)
  • No video decoding required

# Error Handling

The tool will exit with an error if:

  • Either fingerprint file doesn't exist
  • Fingerprint files are corrupted
  • Fingerprints were generated with incompatible settings

# Best Practices

  • Use "compare" type fingerprints (generated with -t compare) for best results
  • Keep fingerprints with their source videos for reference
  • Document the difference threshold used for your use case

# Related Tools

  • vfp_gen : Generate fingerprints from video files
  • vfp_search : Search for fragments within videos
  • DVS : GUI tool for finding duplicate videos in folders