1. A method for automatically transforming a representation of a multimedia presentation having multiple information streams contained therein, the multiple information streams representing a plurality of multimedia presentation sources, the method comprising the steps of: (a) developing by a computer a set of presentation models, each presentation model associated with a class of multimedia presentations, each model defining expected event cues within at least one information stream of the multimedia presentation for a class of presentations to which a specific multimedia presentation belongs, the model being a finite state automaton having states corresponding to segments of the presentation class, and having state transitions corresponding to expected event cues, each model thereby also specifying an expected time sequence of state transitions between event cues for the class of presentations to which it relates; and” (b) determining by a computer that transforming the representation of the multimedia presentation belongs to a particular multimedia presentation class based upon the results of matching observed event cues against the set of presentation models.