GB2354660A

GB2354660A - Production and management of a database in a television set

Info

Publication number: GB2354660A
Application number: GB0018392A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philippe Meulle
Original assignee: Sagem SA
Current assignee: Sagem SA
Priority date: 1999-07-27
Filing date: 2000-07-27
Publication date: 2001-03-28
Also published as: DE10036124A1; FR2797135A1; FR2797135B1; GB0018392D0

Abstract

To produce a data base in a television set (1) especially from address information elements displayed on a screen (2) of the television set (1) an image (23) is memorised. This image (23) comprises a character information element on an address information, and this address information element is produced. Once the address information element has been produced, it is memorised in a memory (24) of the television set (1) and/or is used to set a receiver (3) of the television set (1). Furthermore, to manage this data base, a method of searching for an address information element from among the address information elements present in the memory (24) is implemented, and this is done with a remote control unit (16) linked to the television set (1). A search for an address information element in the memory (24) is done iteratively. At each iteration, a list of possible address information elements to be selected is reduced.

Description

2354660 Method for the production of a data base in a television set,

method for the management of a data base in a television set An object of the present invention is a method for the production of a data base in a television receiver. An object of the invention is also a method for the management of a data base in a television receiver. It can be applied to all types of digital television receivers or more generally to all types of multimedia terminals capable of receiving information to be viewed. This information to be viewed is received on an antenna and/or by a cable connected to a computer network. One frequently used computer network is the Internet, but it could also be a network connected to one or more data retrieval centres used to produce information on request.

The aim of the invention is to produce a data base in a television receiver, or television set, using visual information present in a received information message to be viewed and also for the management, by means of a remote control unit, of a data base of a television set. This data base comprises chiefly addresses used to access data base servers or any device accessible by a computer network.

Present-day television sets have an increasingly wide variety of uses.

Indeed, in addition to receiving television information, the television set must be capable of receiving multimedia type information from various computer networks such as the Internet. Thus, there is a considerable number of available addresses being brought to a viewer's attention, chiefly by visual means in combination with received messages.

This high degree of development raises problems. Indeed, a user increasingly needs to manage all this address information. At present, a user is in no position to cope with a supply of this kind without help in the management of all this information. Indeed, given the quantity of information transmitted, items of address information that might be interest to the user are buried in a multitude of information that is secondary to him.

Consequently, the greater the amount of secondary information, the more complicated is it for him to search for this address information amidst all this multitude of information.

Another problem lies in the fact that a keyboard is used to send a message to the television set.Indeed, a keyboard is bulky and 2 impracticable. Many users do not enjoy having to use a keyboard in order to control a system such as a computer to which the keyboard is connected.

This is chiefly due to the large number of keys in the keyboard and also the number of characters that form the message.

Thus, the invention proposes an approach to produce a data base out of address information displayed on a television screen or more generally on a multimedia terminal screen. The main function of this data base is to highlight address information useful to a user. Thus, preferred addresses of the user are placed in this data base. For this purpose, the method uses a method of optical character recognition implemented automatically or on request.

Furthermore, with the invention, this data' base is managed and updated. For this purpose, a method for the management of a data base is implemented by using a remote control unit of a television screen as a control panel, a remote control unit comprising fewer keys than a keyboard.

With this simple device namely the remote control unit, a set of scrolling menus managed by the remote control unit is associated.

In the invention, a character is defined as a writing symbol. With this definition, symbols such as "A", "V, "@" or again "V' are characters.

A use must be as simple as possible so that it can be easily accessible to the widest variety of users. Consequently, any user may save an item of address information by pressing a key of the remote control unit.

Furthermore, any user may select an address information element from his data base by pressing one or more keys of the remote control unit. An implementation of such methods by means of a remote control unit reduces the --cost price of a television receiver of this kind since the need for an extended keyboard is eliminated. An extended keyboard is a keyboard wherein each key is generally associated with one or two symbols.

It is necessary to specify a meaning of the expression "address information" in the context of the invention. An address information element is an information element indicating an origin of a message to be received.

For a message to be received originating in a computer network, this address information element is chiefly but not obligatorily produced by complying with the IP (Internet protocol). In this case, a television receiver sends a request so that it can receive a message comprising a header 3 constituted especially with an address information element of this kind.

However,'in the case of a message to be received corresponding to a television transmission broadcast or any other television message, this address message corresponds to a channel number on which this transmission is broadcast. Thus, a receiver unit of the television set, commonly called a tuner, is set with this address information. Indeed, a channel number corresponds to a transmission frequency. The tuner is therefore matched to this frequency and can receive messages transmitted with this frequency. This definition of the address information is the one used throughout the rest of the document.

An object of the invention therefore is a meth O'd for the production of a data base.in a television set comprising a television screen, characterized in that:

- a part of an image information element representing an image present on the television screen is temporarily memorised, this part comprising a character information element, - a search is made in this memorised image information element part for a character information element pertaining to an address information element, - this character information element is expressed in the form of an address information element, - the address information is saved in a back-up memory, this back-up memory constituting a data base.

An object of the present invention is also a method for the management of address information in a produced data base, in a television set -comprising a -screen, the television set being connected to a remote control unit, characterized in that:

- the data base is organized into information segments, each information segment consisting of a sequence of characters that can be displayed on the screen, - information segments are associated with each other, one of them comprising an address information element, each association forming a line, - at least one character is associated with a key of the remote control unit, - a first key is pressed, an associated character of this key 4 corresponding to: a first character of a segment in the data base, a first list of values is displayed on the screen, the first character of which corresponds to the character associated with the key pressed, - a value of a segment present in the first list of values is selected with the remote control unit, - the receiver of the television set is set as a function of the address information element associated with the selected value.

Finally, an object of the present invention is a method for the management, in a television set connected to a remote control unit, comprising a screen and a modem, of address information elements in a produced data base, characterized in that:

- the data base is organized into information segments, each information segment consisting of a sequence of characters that can be displayed on the screen, - segments of information are associated with each other, one of them comprising an address information element, each association forming a line, - at least one character is associated with a key of the remote control unit, - a first key is pressed, an associated character of this key corresponding to a first character of a segment sought in the data base, - a first list of values is displayed on the screen, the first character of which corresponds to the character associated with the key pressed, - a value of a segment present in the first list of values is selected with the remote control unit, a connection is made to the Internet with the modem, a transmission is made on the Internet of the address information element associated with the selected value.

The invention will be understood more clearly from the following description and the appended figures. These figures are given purely by way of an indication and in no way restrict the scope of the invention. Of these figures:

- Figure 1 shows a simplified view of an architecture of a television receiver to implement methods of the invention; - Figure 2 shows an exemplary scrolling menu used to add information to a data base and/or search for information in this data base; Figure 3: gives a view in the form of an algorithm of an exemplary operation of the method for the production of a data base; - Figure 4 exemplifies the display on a screen of the television receiver during a search; - Figure 5 exemplifies a refined search for information in a data base; - Figure 6 shows a view in the form of an algorithm of an exemplary operation of the method of address management in a data base.

Figure 1 shows a television receiver 1 or again a television set 1 in which the invention is implemented. This television set 1 has a television screen 2 to display information messages to be viewed. The television set 1 furthermore has a receiver 3 connected to an antenna 4 receiving radioelectric signals 5 transmitted by a transmitter station 6 and/or connected by a link 7 to a data network 8 such as the Internet for example. The link 7 is generally a coaxial link but it could be an optic fibre link or the like. The main function of the receiver 3 is to shape received signals and transmit them to a decoder 9. The decoder 9 has a microprocessor 10 and a programme memory 11 in which a programme 12 for the production of a data base is saved. The chief function of the decoder 9 is to interpret a signal received by the receiver 3. and transmit it to a device for which the received signal is intended. Indeed, an information element received by the receiver 3 is an information element to be viewed or listened to, or both. The television set 1 therefore comprises a device 13 for the management of a display on the screen 2 and a device 14 for the management of acoustic signals designed for a transducer 15, generally a loudspeaker. To enable a selection of a received message from among many received by the receiver 3, the television set 1 comprises a remote control unit 16. This remote control unit 16 sends a signal 17 received by a reception device 18, generally a photosensor associated with means for shaping the received signal 17. The receiver 3, the decoder 9, the device 13, the device 14 and the device 18 are connected to a data, address and control bus 19. Furthermore, the device 13 is connected to the screen 2 by a link in the form of a bus 20 and the device 13 is connected to the transducer 15 by a symbolic link 21.

Thus, an image information, element received by the receiver 3 is displayed on the screen 2. In the invention, this image information element is temporarily memorised. To memorise this image information element 6 temporarily, it is: possible to use a device 13. Indeed, in one preferred example, the device 13 is provided with a main video memory (not shown), namely a memory in which an image information element representing the image to be displayed on the screen 2 is placed. The image information element is frozen on the screen 2 before it is temporary memorised. This means that any new image information element arriving while the image on the screen 2 is frozen is not taken into account. To achieve this, the contents of the main video memory are kept in a frozen state for a period of time at least equal to a period needed to search and possibly translate a character information element.

The programme 12 orders the microprocessor 10 to make a search in the main video memory for a character information'. element pertaining to an address information element. The programme 12 is generally called an optical character recognition method. The programme 12 enables a search in the main video memory for a part 22 of the image 23 displayed on the screen 2. This part 22 corresponds to a visual depiction of an address information element. The programme 12 then translates this character information element into an address information element. The decoder 9 orders the saving of this address information element in a back-up memory 24. The memory 24 thus forms a data base.

In this memory 24, the address information element is organized in the form of a table 25. In a preferred example, the table 25 has a list of address information elements stored in the form of a line list 26 comprising two fields 27 and 28 per line. In the field 27, a value of an address information element thus obtained is placed, and in the field 28, a value is placed that is the value of a key word used to name the value of the address information element of the field 27 by means of a value generally chosen by the user. Indeed, a value of an address information element, in the case of a network, is a string of characters in the form hftp:\\www. name Mr. In a preferred example, a value of the key word in the field 28 corresponds to namel, but it is possible to use any other value which, it is wished, should be associated with the address information element. In the invention, the term "value" signifies both number and word, this term being used only to illustrate a notion of contents of a field or segment.

In one example, a temporary storage of an image information element 7 is done on request. Thus, when a television viewer sees an address that appears to him to be interesting on the screen 2, he asks that this character information element should be saved in the list 25 of the memory 24 in the form of an address information element.

To request a saving of an address information, the television viewer uses the remote control unit 16. The remote control 16 has several keys that may be combined into two main groups according to the functions for which they are intended. A first group 29 of keys combines keys used to select a station and a second group 30 combines to perform selection functions and validation functions from a general control menu of the television set 1.

Consequently, the group 30 comprises a me,hu call key 31, a key 32 for selecting a label in a menu, a key 33 for validati ng a function associated with a selected label and a group 34 of shift keys for shifting in a menu.

Thus, to summarize an operation of the remote control unit 16, the key 31 is pressed to call up a menu and a shift in this menu is used to choose a label with the group 34. The chosen label is selected with the key 32 so long as the operation is in the intermediate menus. Then after a choice to validate a choice of a label, the key 33 is pressed.

Figure 2. shows an exemplary scrolling menu that can be displayed on the screen 2. Thus, after the key 31 is pressed (Figure 1), a menu 35 appears with the list of labels. In the first example, the menu 35 shows a label 36 corresponding to a general menu. This menu 35 furthermore comprises a label 37 to implement the method of production of a data base of the invention. With the group of keys 34, there is a shift in the menu 35 and the label 37 is chosen. In a preferred example and in order to indicate an authorization of the choice of the label 37, the label 37 is highlighted. To highlight the label 37, it is possible to modify a colour of the screen background and highlight a set of contents of the label 37 or any other means to highlight an information element with respect to other information.

Pressing the selection key 32 selects - the label 37 thus chosen and accordingly orders t he display of a back-up menu 38. In this first example, the menu 38 comprises a label 39 for activating the optical character recognition method. Pressing the key 33 validates this activation.

In a second variant, a temporary memorising of the image information element in the list 25 is done periodically. This means that, in this variant, a 8 microprocessor 10 of the decoder 9 automatically, under the control of the programme 12, manages a storage of address information. To do this, the decoder 9, in an auxiliary video memory (not shown) of the device 13, copies out a set of contents of an image information element to be viewed. An operation of the auxiliary video memory is the same as that of the main video memory except that a set of contents of this memory can be frozen. The image information elements are placed in an auxiliary video memory in order to prevent, in a preferred example, the freezing of an image displayed on the screen 2. Indeed, since the method is automatic, the viewer would be disturbed by the periodic freezing of the image on the screen 2. In a preferred example of this alternative, the viewerl is given the choice of allowing or not allowing the automatic control of'the back-up of address information elements.

In a third variant, a part of the image information comprising the character information element is stored temporarily. This lightens the processing by the decoder 9. Indeed, instead of completely processing the image displayed on the screen 2, the method of the invention processes only the part of the image that comprises the character information. To make a selection, in a preferred example, of that part of the image that comprises the character information, a selection is made on request of the surface corresponding to the part of the character information. To enable this function, the menu 35 is modified. More specifically, instead of validating the label 39 with the key 33, it is selected by the key 32 and a sub-menu 40 is made to appear. This sub-menu 40 comprises especially a label 41 for the selection of a part of the image information element displayed on the screen 2, to be processed with the optical character recognition method.

Thus, a validation of the label 41 causes a display of a visual element on the screen 2. In a preferred example, the visual element is an image of a dot. However, it is possible to display any other visual element on the screen 2 so that the user can have a reference point to select the part 22 such as a cursor. In this preferred example, it is considered that a part such as a part 22 to be processed is rectangular. Thus, with the group 34, this point is positioned at a first corner of this rectangular shape and this position is selected with the key 32 and then the dot is shifted again with the group 34 so as to be positioned at a second corner diagonally opposite to the first 9 corner. The rectangle thus formed is highlighted from its two comers and pressing the key 33 validates the part 22 thus highlighted during this pressing operation. For the highlighting, in a preferred example, a background colour of the screen of the part 22 is modified. Then, the optical character recognition is activated.

In the sub-menu 40, it is thus possible to display also a label 42 on an automatic recording of an address information element by periodic searches.

A selection of the label 42 reveals a sub-menu 43 comprising a label 44 to validate an activation of this automatic functioning and a label 45 to deactivate such functioning. Furthermore, a label 46 is displayed in the menu 40 to activate a default operation of the optical character recognition method for which the image information element is rocessed in its entirety.

P In a preferred example, the remote control unit 16 is provided with a short-cut key 47 to activate the optical character recognition method. This key 47 is activated when the label 41 or 46 is validated. In this case, after the key 47 is pressed and when it is the label 41 that is activated, an image of a dot then appears on the screen 2 for the selection, as above, of a part of the image present on the screen 2. Should the label 46 be activated, pressing the key 47 has the effect of freezing the image present on the screen 2 and of launching the optical character recognition method. In this preferred example, it can be envisaged that a first operation of pressing the key 47 will activate a function associated with the label 41 or 46 and that a second operation of pressing the key 47 will cancel this activation.

The decoder 9 thus saves an address information element in the memory 24. In a preferred variant, it is proposed to the viewer that he should set the receiver 3 of the television set 1 as a function of the address information element obtained in order to view information coming from this address information element. The proposal made to the viewer to accept or not accept the setting of the receiver 3 is done in the form of a visual message displayed on the screen 2 and/or in the form of a sound message emitted by the transducer 15. Pressing the key 33 will for example permit the decoder 9 to set the receiver 3 as a function of this address information element and pressing the key 32 is interpreted by the decoder 9 as a refusal on the part of the user.

Should the address information be an IP address, then the receiver is connected to a modem (not shown) or, in one variant, it includes this modem or fulfils its functions. Thus, the television set 1 is connected to the Internet with the modem. Then, the address information element is sent out on the Internet.

All the processing means associated with the optical character recognition method are controlled by the decoder 9. It is possible, in one variant, to consider delegating this processing to an external microprocessor 100, namely one located outside the television set 1. Thus, the television set 1 has an interface device 48. This device 48 is used in a preferred example to set up an RS232 series link. The microprocessor 100, which is placed for example in a computer, is connected to the device 48 by a link 49. Thus, when the optical character recognition method is activated, a set of contents of the video memory associated with the image displayed on the screen 2 or the part 22 is sent by means of the bus 19 to the device 48 and with the link 49 to the computer 47. This computer 47 returns the produced address information element in the form of a result. It is also possible to consider providing the computer 47 with a screen 50 in order to view the image information element and, if necessary, be able to carry out additional processing operations.

Figure 3 gives a view, in the form of an algorithm, of an exemplary operation of the method for the production of the data base in the television set 1 according to the invention. Thus, in a first step 51, an image capture request is awaited. This request comes from pressing the key 47 or choosing the label 41 or a label 46, or again it happens automatically when the label 44 is validated. In the case of an image capture request, the decoder 9, in a step 52, temporarily memorises the contents of an image information element representing an image present on the screen 2. Once this image is memorised, the programme 12, in a step 53, activates an optical character recognition method with which a search is made in this image information for a character information element pertaining to an address information element. After analysing the image information element during the phase 53, a check is made in a testing step 54 to find out if this image information element contains or does not contain a character information element. If the response is positive at the test of the step 54 then, in a step 55, the address information element, obtained after conversion of the character information element into an address information element, is memorised. In a step 56, the viewer is given the possibility of setting the television set 1 with the address information thus obtained.

Should the viewer accept the proposal, in a step 57, the receiver 3 is set according to the address information obtained. In the event of a negative response to this proposal, no setting of the receiver 3 is done.

Should a negative response be obtained at the test step 54, it means that there is no information on characters in the image information element memorised or that the programme 12 is unable to identify the character information element because its shape is too complex for the programme 12 for example. In this case, in a step 58, the decoder 9 displays an alarm message stating that the optical character recognition method has failed.

However, in a preferred example and subsequent to this display, it is proposed to the user, in a step 59, that he should help select a part of the image, if there is one, comprising the character information. This proposal takes the form of the display, on the screen, of the sub-menu 40 in highlighting the label 41 for selecting a window in the image displayed on the screen 2. If however the user refuses to give his help, then he responds negatively to the message requesting help by pressing the key 32 for example.

The present invention also relates to a method for the management of address information in a data base in the television set 1. The data base is organized into information segments. Each information segment consists of a sequence of symbols that can be displayed an the screen. The data base is produced chiefly as here above, especially with respect the production of the list 25. 1 n fact, a segment of information can be made to correspond with a field such as the field 27 and the field 28. Similarly, information segments are associated and lines 26, 73 or 78 are obtained. Each line comprises an address information element. The decoder 9 thus comprises a management programme 60 in the memory 11. With this method, a search is made for an address information element in the memory 24 as a function of a code transmitted by means of the remote control unit 16. Rather than a search for an address information element, in a preferred example a search is made for a value of a key word present in a field 28 associated with an address information present in a field 27. Indeed, it is simpler to distinguish between

12 two key words than between two address information elements that often have identical prefixes such as the prefix hftp:\\www in the case of an IP address.

Thus, at least one character is associated with a key of the remote control 16. In a preferred example, a number of characters is associated as a function of a number of keys present in the group 29. For example, if we consider nine useful keys for a search in the group 29, the characters A, B, C are associated with a first key 61 of the group 29. The characters D, E and F are associated with a second key 62 and so on an so forth for the other keys of the group 29. However, it is possible to choose any other criterion of association between a key and a character.

To be able to search for a value of a key word in the memory 24, a selection is made first of all in a search mode. Then, the key 31 of the menu is pressed and the menu 35 is displayed. This menu 35 comprises, in addition to the label 36 and the label 37, a label 63 pertaining to a search menu. A validation of a function represented by this label results in a display of a sub-menu 64 used to select a type of address information to be searched for. The menu 64 to this effect comprises a label 65 on an address information element pertaining to a computer network, a label 66 on an address information pertaining to a television station and a label 67 on an address information element pertaining to a broadcasting station. Thus, after a selection of one of the labels 65 to 67, the decoder 9; or more specifically the programme 60 knows a type of address associated with an address information element to be sought in the data base.

In the case of a selection of the label 65, a sub-menu 68 is caused to be displayed. This sub-menu comprises a label 69 indicating that the searchis made by using the contents of a field 27 and a label 70 indicating that the search is made by using the contents of a field 28.

In the memory 24, each type of address is assembled in a list. Thus, the list 25 (Figure 1) is used for a computer network type address, a list 71 is used for an address of a television station and a list 72 is used for the address of a broadcasting station. In a preferred example, the list 71 is produced from a programme information element contained by the receiver 3 by means of the antenna 4 or the link 7 if the network 8 is a network giving video type information. The list 71 is updated by the decoder 9 after each 13 new reception of the programme by the receiver 3. This programme preferably indicates a type of show, a time schedule for the broadcasting of this show, a station on which this show is broadcast and, if necessary, miscellaneous pieces of secondary information. The list 71 is produced in the form of a sequence of lines 73. A line 73 comprises, in a preferred example, a field 74 pertaining to a type of show, a field 75 pertaining to a time schedule for the broadcasting of this show, the time schedule consisting of a piece of information on time and/or date, a field 76 pertaining to a station or a number of a channel on which this show is broadcast and a field 77 in which secondary information or again key words such as for example names of actors, producers, etc. are recorded.

The. list 72 for storing radio station address information is organized in a preferred example in a sequence of lines 78 comprising a field 79 pertaining to a frequency value at which a show to be listened to is broadcast, a field 80 pertaining to a name associated with this frequency value.

When the label 66 is chosen in the menu 64, a sub-menu 81 is displayed. In this sub-menu, there is a label 82 pertaining to a search for address information by type using a set of contents of a field 74 of the list 71.

Similarly, the sub-menu 81 comprises a label 83 for searching by time schedule and a stationwise search label 84. The sub-menu 81 furthermore has a label 85 used for searching by key words, i.e. all the fields 74 to 77 of a line 73 are read.

A selection of the label 67 pertaining to a search for an address information element of a broadcasting station causes a display of a sub menu -86 comprising a label 87 for a search by a name of a radio station, namely by using a set of contents of a field 80 of a line 78. The submenu

86 also comprises a label 88 enabling a search by using a set of contents of a field 79, namely by using a frequency value.

However, it may happen that a set of contents of two fields of two different lines are identical. Consequently, the decoder 9 causes a display of all the corresponding address information elements. The user then only has to select the address information that is of interest to him among all the information elements found. For example, if the user makes a search by type and searches for address information elements associated with an 14 action film, then the decoder will display all the address information broadcasting an action film. The decoder could also display additional information associated with each address information such as broadcasting time schedules.

Figure 4 gives an example of a display on the screen 2 during a search phase. The screen 2 in this example, comprises a window 89 in which a code representing an address information element that a user is searching for may be displayed. In a preferred example, a displayed code represents a code of a pressed key. This code generally corresponds to a figure. A character is associated with a key. Thus, a code is the same for all the characters of a key.

The. screen 2 also has a window 90 showing'a result of a search. To start a search, the user presses a key of the group 29, an associated character of which corresponds to a first character of the word used for the search. In a preferred example, this first character corresponds to the first character of the word used, but it could be another character. In this case, this other character is considered to be more significant of the word used than the first character because, for example, of an original feature that distinguishes it from another word. This original feature makes it possible, in a way, to encode the word used and therefore to differentiate it totally from another word that could be the same except for this character. Hereinafter therefore, this first character is deemed to be the first character of the word used. Thus, in the window 90, there is a display of a list of possible values of a type of field considered, or again segment, for which the first character corresponds to one of the characters associated with the pressed key.

-. In an example given by way of an illustration, a search is made for an address information element of a computer network by using a key word.

That is, a function associated with the label 70 is validated. In this example, the keyword "FAMILY" is used.

A search is therefore made for an address information element associated with the key word "FAMILY". First of all, the key 62 associated with the characters D, E and F is pressed. This takes the form, in the window 89, of the display of a figure associated with the key 62, for example the figure two. Thus, in the window 90 the decoder 9 obtains the display of all the key words beginning with the letter D, the letter E and the letter F.

A first continuation consists in making a search for the desired key word in the list displayed in the window 90. This approach may be used if there are only a few key words in this list. It is preferred to press a second key of the group 29, an associated character of which corresponds to the second character of the key word sought, "A" in the example. Thus, on the screen 2, figure 5, in the window 90, a list of key words is displayed, the first and second characters of which correspond to the characters associated with the keys pressed.

With the example of the keyword FAMILY, the second key pressed is the key 61, for example number one. Thus, the decoder 9 brings about the display, in a window 90, of all the key words whose first character is a D and whose second character an A or a B or a C as well as all the key words whose first character is an E and whose second character an A or a B or a C and finally all the key words whose premier character is an F and whose second character is an A or a B or a C. Thus, the number of information elements present in the list 90 is reduced. If the list is sufficiently reduced, it is possible to select a key word among the key words present, or else the operation is recommenced by pressing a third key in order to further reduce the list in the window 90. This is continued until the obtaining of either the only key word being sought or a list small enough for the key word sought to be selected from it.

In this example, it is considered that pressing the keys associated with the characters "P, "N' and "M", for example the keys number two, one and five respectively, is enough and gives a list of three key words. It is possible, however, to further refine the search by pressing the key associated with the character "I" and so on and so forth. - However, in a preferred example, the code is recorded digit by digit in the search window 89. In this preferred example, each address information element is associated with a quantification of audience rating. Thus, after a key has been pressed, the word with the highest audience rating quantification is shown highlighted in a list of proposed keywords in the result window 90. For this purpose, each line 26, 73 and 78 is provided with an additional segment (not shown), each additional segment comprising a quantification. Thus, whenever a key is pressed again, the highlighted word is updated as a function of the words remaining in this list of key words.

16 The key word FAMILY is displayed as many times as there are lines containing this key word. However, to avoid the need for a displaying the same key word several times in the window 90, in one variant, an additional information element, especially a set of contents of another segment, is associated with a displayed key word. This additional information element may be an address information element for example, or even a second key word. More generally, a word being sought from a line 26, 73 or 78 is displayed. A set of contents of another field of this line is associated with this word in order to distinguish between two displayed words that may be identical.

In a preferred variant, with a key of the group;29, there is associated a number of characters that is inversely proportional to a probability of use of these characters. Thus, the key associated with the character "E" that is often used is associated with a restricted number of characters. By opposition, a key associated with the character "W", which is less frequently used, is associated with a larger number of characters, for example the characters "XYZ", which too may be infrequently used. In this case, the remote control unit 16 is used to limit a number of words present in the window 90. Indeed, a search is made for all the words which, at a given position, contain the characters associated with the key that is pressed. By associating few characters with the key pressed, the work load of the microprocessor 10 is reduced in that there are fewer criteria to be verified and therefore fewer searches to be made. If, however, there are more characters associated with the key that is pressed, then it means that these characters are little used and that, therefore, the words found will be especially fewer since a key of this kind is pressed at the end of the word being searched for. This makes a search converge more rapidly on the desired address information element.

Figure 6 shows a view, in the form of an algorithm, of an exemplary operation of the method of management of the invention. In a waiting step 91, there is a wait for a selection of a search mode in the sub-menu 64. As soon as a search mode is selected, a search is made in a step 92 for all the values of a given type of segment in one of the lists 25, 71 or 72 for which the first character corresponds to one of the characters associated with the first key pressed. A first list of results is displayed in the window 90. A 17 second key is pressed and a search is made, in the first list of results, for all the values whose second character corresponds to one of the characters associated with the second key pressed, and so on and so forth. Once the value being searched for is present alone in the window 90 or else when the user deems the list present in the window 90 to be small enough, the desired value is selected in a step 93 by using the remote control unit 16. For this purpose, the value being searched for is selected with the key 32 and the group 34. In a test step 94, there is a wait for a validation of the selection by means of the key 33. A validation has the effect, in a step 95, of instructing the decoder 9 to make a search in the memory 24 for the address information element associated with the value being searched for and send it to the receiver 3 in order to set this receiver accodingly as earlier. A non validation results in the cancellation of this search.

In one variant, it is planned to memonse an address information element produced by the user in the memory 24. Thus, the menu 38 has a label 101 for saving an address information element. Selecting this label 101 has the effect of obtaining the display of a menu 102 comprising a label 103.

Selecting the label 103 leads to the saving of only one address information element. The. menu 102 furthermore has a label 104. Selecting this label 104 means saving an address information element as well as an associated key word or any other piece of information. To implement this back-up operation, which updates the data base, the remote control unit is used as a keyboard. To obtain a display of a desired character, it is possible to apply different known techniques such as, for example, repeatedly pressing a key to obtain the scrolling of the characters associated with this key. For example, if the. characters A, B and C are associated with a key, then to reach C this key is pressed three times. The storage is validated by pressing the key 33.

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Claims

1. Method for the production of a data base in a television set (1) comprising a television screen (2), characterized in that:

- a part of an image information element representing an image (23) present on the television screen is temporarily memorised, this part comprising a character. information element, - a search is made in this memorised image information element part for a character information element pertaining to an address information element, - this character information element is expressed in the form of an address information element, - the address information element is saved in a back-up memory (24), this back-up memory (24) constituting a data base.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that:

- the image information element is frozen before the image information part is temporarily memorised.

3. Method according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that:

- an image information element is temporarily memorised on request.

4. Method according to one of the claims 1 or 2 characterized in that:

- an image information element is temporarily memorised periodically.

5. Method according to one of the above claims characterized in that:

- the part (22) of the image corresponding to the image information element is selected on request.

6. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 5 characterized in that:

- a suggestion is made to a television viewer, in the form of a visual or sound message, that he should set a receiver (3) of the television set (1) with the address information element obtained and display information coming from this address.

7. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 6 characterized in that:

- the television set (1) is connected to an external microprocessor (100) for example by a series link (49), - an address information element is sought and produced with the external microprocessor (100), 19 - the address information element produced is transmitted to the television set (1).

8. Method for the management of address information in a produced data base, in a television set (1) comprising a screen (2), according to one of the above claims, the television set being connected to a remote control unit (16), characterized in that:

- the data base is organized into information segments (27, 28, 74-77, 79, 80), each information segment (27, 28, 74-77, 79, 80) consisting of a sequence of characters that can be displayed on the screen (2), information segments (27 and 28, 74 to 77, 79 and 80) are associated with each other, one of them comprising an address information element, each association forming a line (26, 73, 78), - at least one character is associated with a key (61, 62) of the remote control unit (16), - a first key is pressed, an associated character of this key corresponding to a first character of a segment in the data base, - a first list of values is displayed on the screen (2), the first character of which corresponds to the character associated with the key pressed, - a value of a segment present in the first list of values is selected with the remote control unit (16), - a receiver (3) of the television set is set as a function of the address information element associated with the selected value.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that:

- a second key, of which an associated character corresponds to the second character of the value being searched for, is pressed, - a display is obtained of a second list of values on the basis of the first list of values, the second character of which corresponds to a character associated with the second character pressed.

10. Method according to one of the claims 8 or 9, characterized in that:

- each address information element is associated with a quantification of audience rating, - in the list of displayed values, the value associated with the address information element having the highest audience rating quantification is proposed in the list of displayed values, for example in highlighted form and after a key has been pressed,

11. Method according to one of the claims 8 to 10 characterized in that:

- with a key of the remote control unit (16) there is associated a number of characters inversely proportional to a probability of use of these characters.

12. Method for the management, in a television set connected to a remote control unit, comprising a screen (2) and a modem, of address information elements in a produced data base according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that:

- the data base is organized into information segments (27, 28, 74-77, 79, 80), each information segment (27, 28, 74-77, 79, 80) consisting of a sequence of characters that can be displayed on the screen (2), - segments (27 and 28, 74 to 77, 79 and 80) of information are associated with each other, one of them comprising an address information element, each association forming a line (26, 73, 78), - at least one character is associated with a key (61, 62) of the remote control unit (16), - a first key is pressed, an associated character of this key corresponding to a first character of a segment sought in the data base, - a first list of values is displayed on the screen (2), the first character of which corresponds to the character associated with the key pressed, - a value of a segment present in the first list of values is selected with the remote control unit (16), - a connection is made to the Internet with the modem, - a transmission is made on the Internet of the address information element associated with the selected value.

13. Method for the production of a data base in a television set (1) substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Method for the management of address information in a produced data base in a television set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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15. Method for the management, in a television set connected to a remote control unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.