Title of Invention	METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALLING UP AN INTERNET OR E-MAIL ADDRESS
Abstract	The invention relates to method for calling up an Internet or E-mail address comprising the steps of accessing the Internet or E-mail address by an Internet browser) receiving teletext data! and displaying the received teletext data. Selecting Internet or E-mail address information from the displayed teletext data and supplying an Internet or E-mail address correspoding to the selected Internet or E-mail address information to the Internet browser.

Title of Invention

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALLING UP AN INTERNET OR E-MAIL ADDRESS

Abstract

The invention relates to method for calling up an Internet or E-mail address comprising the steps of accessing the Internet or E-mail address by an Internet browser) receiving teletext data! and displaying the received teletext data. Selecting Internet or E-mail address information from the displayed teletext data and supplying an Internet or E-mail address correspoding to the selected Internet or E-mail address information to the Internet browser.

Full Text	FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention is based on a method for finding an internet or E-mail address. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Internet or E-mail addresses are noted in the content of many Teletext pages regardless of whether they contain advertising or information. The addresses are currently transmitted within the visable area of a Teletext page so that the user must normally copy them and enter them into an Internet browser. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention is based on the object of creating a simplified method for finding an Internet or E-mail address. This object including further advantageous developments is achieved by the features of the invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method according to the invention for finding an Internet or E mail address which is reproduced in a teletext system, comprising visible areas and non-visible areas of the teletext system, a selection unit, a control unit and a link unit, is distinguished by the fact that the address in the visible area is selected by the selection unit, the control unit recognizes the selected address, the control unit accepts and/or modifies the address format and the address is selected via the link unit. The method according to the invention provides the user with the advantage that he does not need to copy the Internet address which he sees in the teletext. This provides him with faster access. Furthermore, the method can be characterized in that the control unit recognizes the address by means of obvious address information. If the user is not able to select the address required by him with the aid of a cursor or another unit for highlighting the address, it is possible for the system itself to emphasize an Internet address. This means that the Internet address in the teletext is rendered visible for the user and he can let this address be selected by means of an acknowledgement key on a remote control unit. Obvious address information is, for example, Internet address strings such as "http2//", "www." or subsequent strings such as, for example, "com" or " de" or strings which are preferably separated only by dots (without spaces). The control unit can use this information to perform highlighting. For example if the highlighting were to begin at "www" and end at "com", the control unit could then translate the address thus found and use it for selection. Or if the highlighting begins at "www", the end can be determined in accordance with the extraction algorithm described below. The control unit can then translate the address thus found and use it for selection. Furthermore, the method can be distinguished by the fact that the address is displayed in the visible area and the non- visible area contains address information which is used by the control unit for calling up the address. If the translation of the Internet address is to be omitted it is possible to store the address information in the non- visible area so that it could be found there. This means that there is a link between the visible teletext information and the non-visible Internet address which is then used by the control unit for selection. It is also possible for a user to highlight the address by means of a highlighting unit and this address is to fox transferred to the control unit. The highlighting unit has the advantage that the user himself can highlight the part of the address relevant to him. For example, in the case of a long Internet address where however, only the home page is of interest to the user only the first part of the address needs to be highlighted which as a rule, applies to the home page. In this manner the user will not have to reach the home page via the detour of a subpage. Furthermore, the method can be distinguished by the fact that the control unit contains a memory and/or that there is a link to a memory for storing addresses and/or retrieving addresses. If the control unit contains a memory and/or accesses a memory this would have the advantage that as soon as the control unit recognizes an address in the teletext page it can store it in the memory. The memory can also be used for checking whether the address selected by the control unit is correct. If for example an Internet address is not specified completely it is possible to find it completely by means of a comparison with the addressin a memory. This memory can be filled with many Internet addresses right from the start in order thus to provide the prerequisite that the correct Internet address will be found. Using the control unit the user can also perform a search algorithm so that he can find in this manner the address which he does not reliably know. A circuit for finding an Internet or E-mail address which is reproduced in a teletext system comprising a selection unit a control unit and a link unit is distinguished by the fact that the selection unit recognizes the address and the link unit sets up the link as soon as the control unit requests it to do so. Further, the circuit can contain a selection unit and a link unit in the control unit. Furthermore, the circuit can be distinguished by the fact that the control unit contains a memory and/or that there is a link to a memory. In the text which follows, possibilities will again be explained by means of which Internet or E—mail addresses can be found. The Internet or E-mail addresses(s) will be called addresses in the text which follows. The teletext page (s) is (are) called page (a) in the text which follows. They are designated by magazine numbers and a decimal page number. The corresponding line in the magazine is identified by a numerical value, e.g. x/5 is line 5 in a magazine x. teletext pages with a hexadecimal page number are called "ghost-page". Page-related addresses The page—related addresses must establish their reference to the page by at least one reference also being transmitted in one of the data packets belonging to this page. Visible area! x/1 - x/23 The addresses which are transmitted in the visible area of the page do not have an identification which identify them as addresses. Such a page is then searched for address-specific identifiers. The names of the addresses are subject to the familar restrictions of the character set according to the teletext specification (European Broadcasting Unions Interim Technical Document SPB 492). Thus the characters 6 ("at") and ~ (tilde) are not available in every national character set. Although it would be possible to generate them by x/26, they are, as a rule, replaced, namely a by (at) and v by (*). The data themselves are sensitive to interference along the transmission path since they are only protected by one parity bit per 7 data bits. Non-visible area: x/27 to x/31 As a rule, such additional data are protected by hamming coding. The character codes which contain colour attributes and others in the visible area can be used for completing the character set. The following forms are conceivable for optimizing the transmissioni - direct entry of the addresses, if necessary with row/column address for display within the visible areas - reference to an address table which is transmitted in a separate "ghost page" (see under "sender-related addresses"). If a navigation medium (mouse, pointing device, tab stop) points to such an entry or reference, the complete address can be displayed in a superimposed window (free or docked, or cart be visually emphasized if it is already, displayed on the screen (as in the case of "page-related addresses"). x/27 The functions having designation codes 0-7 art used for transmitting links to other teletext pages. The functions can also be used in this sense for looking for the corresponding address. x/28 The functions having designation codes 0-4 are used. The functions having designation codes 5-15 can be freely specified for pointing to an address or to contain one. x/30 The functions having designation codes 0-3 are used in magazine 3. x/31 The packets are used for data services in magazine 1—3 and 8. Sender-related addresses Addresses which can be called up from each end must be translated and stored in page-independent tables. Such tables are usually transmitted with hexadecimal page numbers and are thus not directly selectable by the user. x/28 The x/28 data to be defined can also contain references to "ghost pages". These can be handled like data pages of teletext presentation level 2.5 (described in ETC (European Telecommunication Standard) 3OO 7O6 issued by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, F-06921) Sophia Antipolis). Application An application in the sense of ETS 300 708 is a non-teletext service which is transmitted in accordance with the transmission specification of teletext. Such a one can also contain addresses in a form which enables or necessitates the addresses to be administered independently of the teletext. Separate Application The access to the internet can be defined as a separate application. This requires that the addresses are administered independently of the teletext. Existing Application Within an electronic program guide (EPB), addressed can be named as pure text characters in the short or long information relating to the individual PIs (Program Information) (compare "visible area"; it differs from a teletext in the generation of the special characters! by x/26 in teletext and by ESC sequences in EPG). Exraction algorithm The transmitted addresses, as described above in the section "visible area", need a special extraction aglorithm. This is capable of recognizing addresses, if necessary over line breaks. In this connection attention must be paid to various conditions. It it is assumed that texts which are written over a number of lines are continued in the first possible column of the next line following, the column number in the continuation line is smaller than or equal to the starting column. If it is assumed that texts are written in various colour combinations (foreground - background), it must be assumed that a start item is continued in the same colour combination. Thus all areas with different colours and all mosaic graphics areas must be ignored (mosaic colour atext colour). Address generation Apart from the method of extracting complete Internet addresses from the received data, it would also be possible to generate Internet addresses by oneself from fractions. For this purpose, the user can select a part of the displayed text by mouse or pointing device. If the selected text is free of characters which cannot occur in an Internet address such as for example a space an attempt is made to find a valid Internet address in the following manner: a) by prefixing a string which determines the type of Internet address such as e.g. "www." "ftp." or "gopher". b> by appending a string which represents the so-called domain name such as e.g. ".com", ".edu", "gov" or of one of dynamic probability of use and/or stored for the user in accordance with geographic location such as e.g. "de", "fr", "it". c) by arbitrary combinations of the two above-mentioned measures. d) by progressive shortening of the text by the last "/" in each case and the subsequent text. In each case the control unit transfers an Internet address thus generated to the Internet browser. If an address is recognized as valid i.e. the browser is capable of reaching the Internet address without errors the current address is entered into a list of valid Internet addresses. In this time the browser can for example display the content of the address first recognized as valid. If more than one Internet address is recognized as valid the user is presented with a list containing these addresses for selection. If only one valid address is found the browser requests the content of this address. If no valid address is found for the selected text or if the text contains characters which cannot occur in an Internet address this text is transferred to the browser with the command to search the Internet for the text or for logically combined parts of the text by means of the search engine set as a standard. Thus for example Internet pages cam be searched for which contain each or at least one of the words of a selected text. Navigation Navigation is made possible as follows: Addresses or address components which can be read explicitly in the text (see "address generation") appear visually emphasized (e.g. by underlining). If a navigation medium (e.g. mouse visual pointing device or cursor, if nececessary fay tab stop) coo within the capture range of an address the address is marked as logically combinable. This marking can be don by changing the cursor or by inserting the address (superimposition in a pop-up window or in a special status line). On confirmation by means of an OK button, the selected address is provided to a browser for selection or respectively for disposal. Similarly it is possible to insert all information contained on the page (visible as fragment or in the non-visible area) in a pop-up menu within which it is possible to navigate by means of cursor keys or mouse (pointing device). "Ok" - see above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS In the text which follow the invention will be explained with a number of illustrative embodiments referring, to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the method according to the invention Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of the method according to the invention. DETAlL DESCRIPTION UP A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the method according to the invention. The tuner l receives the satellite, cable or terrestrial signal IN which is then forwarded to the data decoder DD and to the colour demodulator FD. The data then pass via a line or via a bus system to the memory MEM which contains data and programs. Furthermore the data pass to the procesor PR. The processor forwards the data obtained to the picture tube B via the graphics card GK. The picture tube could be constructed as television set or as monitor. The processor PH also performs a data exchange with the modem MD and the modem is connected to an analog or digital telephone network TEL. The process contains the selection unit and the control unit. the link unit is implemented by the modem MD. If a string which is an Internet address is then displayed on the picture tube B, the user can highlight this by means of the remote control unit FB. The remote control unit FB is connected to the other units by wires and/or wirelessly.The address thus formed is converted by the process in such a form that the search can begin via the modem, that is to say, the program which is stored in a memory MEM is called up by the processor in the background, the data of the internet address are conveyed to this program and the program activates a modem for the search. The program is preferably a program which is also used for normal Internet use. It is also possible tor the search routine then running to be displayed to the user on the picture tube B. That is to say the user sees that the address selected by him in the teletext is transferred to the program and the search mechanism is started. As soon as the address is round, the content of the page is displayed to the user. The displaying is preferably also performed in the form in which the programs for internet or E mails are constructed. If the user has seen enough information, he can navigate further in the internet, simply change to teletext or also wholly to the television programme by means of the remote control unit. this makes it possible for the user to select in a simple manner an Internet or E-mail address discovered in a teletext and the result to be provided to him directly. if the user does not highlight the address, the system independently looks tor address information in the teletext page, highlights this address information and the user can let the address be searched for by means of the remote control unit. The address search and the selection is performed in the same manner as in the case of the highlighted address. Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of the method According to the invention. If the user does not highlight the address by means of the remote control unit the processor PR starts a program for finding addresses. Firstly the program looks for significant address components. These would be, for examplef "https//", "www.", "com", "de" and others. As soon as an address meeting the start or end condition is found it is stored. After that a check is made whether the address ends before column 30 or an invalid character is detected. If this is the case the search is ended and if not the search is continued in the subroutine 'continue searching'. The 'continue searching" subroutine compares whether the colour combination is the same as in the case of the start address. If this is the case the contents of the column are allocated to the address and if not the next colour combination is looked for and a check is made whether the column number is greater than in the case of the start address. If the column number is greater than the start address the search is ended since the address will be continued in this column at the latest. If the column is not greater the subroutine is run again. In this manner the address is found since the address has the same colour continuously as a rule. That is to say if the address begins in one column the colour is used for checking whether the address ends in the column or whether it is continued in the next higher or lower column. This depends on the following criteria it is continued in the next lower column (i.e. higher column number) if the start characters of the adress are found and it is continued in the next higher column (i.e. lower column number) if the end—of—address condition is found. If both address conditions are found i.e. start and end condition the address can be determined by taking the start condition end condition and the information in between and/or it is possible to recognize the entire address by means of the colour information. WE CLAIM 1. Method for calling up an Internet or E-mail address, comprising the steps of: -accessing the Internet or E-mail address by an Internet browser; -receiving teletext data; and, displaying the received teletext data; characterized by comprising the steps of: selecting Internet or E-mail address information from the displayed teletext data; and, supplying an Internet or E-mail address corresponding to the selected Internet or E-mail address information to the Internet browser. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, comprising supplying the Internet or E-mail address from teletext data which have been transmitted in teletext pages not selectable by the user. 3. Method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, comprising analysing the displayed teletext data for Internet or E-mail address information and highlighting detected Internet or E-mail address information. 4. Method as claimed in Claim 3, comprising displaying all Internet or E-mail address information contained on a teletext page in a pop-up menu. 5. Method as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, comprising generating the Internet or E-mail address from fractions selected in the displayed teletext data. 6. Method as claimed in Claim 5, comprising prefixing the selected fraction with a string determining the type of Internet or E-mail address such as e.g. 'www'. And/or appending to the selected fraction a string representing the domain name such as e.g. ".com". 7. Method as claimed in Claim 5 or 6,comprising for only one valid address found, requesting the content of this address by the browser. 8. Method as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 7, comprising for more than one valid address found, displaying a list containing these addresses for selection. 9. Method as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 8, comprising for no valid address found, transferring the selected fraction to the browser and searching the Internet for the text or for logically combined parts of the text by means of a search engine. 10. Apparatus for calling up an Internet or E-mail address, wherein the Internet or E-mail address is supplied to an Internet browser, characterized by comprising: means (T) for receiving teletext data comprised in a satellite, cable or terrestrial signal (IN); means (B) for displaying the received teletext data; means (FB) for selecting Internet or E-mail address information from the teletext data; and means (B) for supplying an Internet or E-mail address corresponding to the selected Internet or E-mail address information to the Internet browser. The invention relates to method for calling up an Internet or E-mail address comprising the steps of accessing the Internet or E-mail address by an Internet browser) receiving teletext data! and displaying the received teletext data. Selecting Internet or E-mail address information from the displayed teletext data and supplying an Internet or E-mail address correspoding to the selected Internet or E-mail address information to the Internet browser.

Full Text

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on a method for finding an internet
or E-mail address.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Internet or E-mail addresses are noted in the content of
many Teletext pages regardless of whether they contain
advertising or information. The addresses are currently
transmitted within the visable area of a Teletext page so that
the user must normally copy them and enter them into an Internet
browser.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the object of creating a
simplified method for finding an Internet or E-mail address. This
object including further advantageous developments is achieved
by the features of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method according to the invention for finding an
Internet or E mail address which is reproduced in a teletext
system, comprising visible areas and non-visible areas of the
teletext system, a selection unit, a control unit and a link
unit, is distinguished by the fact that the address in the
visible area is selected by the selection unit, the control unit
recognizes the selected address, the control unit accepts and/or
modifies the address format and the address is selected via the
link unit.
The method according to the invention provides the user with
the advantage that he does not need to copy the Internet address
which he sees in the teletext. This provides him with faster
access.
Furthermore, the method can be characterized in that the
control unit recognizes the address by means of obvious address
information.
If the user is not able to select the address required by
him with the aid of a cursor or another unit for highlighting the
address, it is possible for the system itself to emphasize an
Internet address. This means that the Internet address in the
teletext is rendered visible for the user and he can let this
address be selected by means of an acknowledgement key on a
remote control unit. Obvious address information is, for example,
Internet address strings such as "http2//", "www." or subsequent
strings such as, for example, "com" or " de" or strings which are
preferably separated only by dots (without spaces). The
control unit can use this information to perform highlighting.
For example if the highlighting were to begin at "www" and end
at "com", the control unit could then translate the address thus
found and use it for selection. Or if the highlighting begins at
"www", the end can be determined in accordance with the
extraction algorithm described below. The control unit can then
translate the address thus found and use it for selection.
Furthermore, the method can be distinguished by the fact
that the address is displayed in the visible area and the non-
visible area contains address information which is used by the
control unit for calling up the address.
If the translation of the Internet address is to be omitted
it is possible to store the address information in the non-
visible area so that it could be found there. This means that
there is a link between the visible teletext information and the
non-visible Internet address which is then used by the control
unit for selection.

It is also possible for a user to highlight the address
by means of a highlighting unit and this address is to fox
transferred to the control unit.
The highlighting unit has the advantage that the user
himself can highlight the part of the address relevant to him.
For example, in the case of a long Internet address where
however, only the home page is of interest to the user only the
first part of the address needs to be highlighted which as a
rule, applies to the home page. In this manner the user will not
have to reach the home page via the detour of a subpage.
Furthermore, the method can be distinguished by the fact
that the control unit contains a memory and/or that there is a
link to a memory for storing addresses and/or retrieving
addresses.
If the control unit contains a memory and/or accesses a
memory this would have the advantage that as soon as the
control unit recognizes an address in the teletext page it can
store it in the memory. The memory can also be used for checking
whether the address selected by the control unit is correct. If
for example an Internet address is not specified completely it
is possible to find it completely by means of a comparison with

the addressin a memory. This memory can be filled with many
Internet addresses right from the start in order thus to provide
the prerequisite that the correct Internet address will be found.
Using the control unit the user can also perform a search
algorithm so that he can find in this manner the address which he
does not reliably know.
A circuit for finding an Internet or E-mail address which is
reproduced in a teletext system comprising a selection unit a
control unit and a link unit is distinguished by the fact that
the selection unit recognizes the address and the link unit sets
up the link as soon as the control unit requests it to do so.
Further, the circuit can contain a selection unit and a link
unit in the control unit.
Furthermore, the circuit can be distinguished by the fact
that the control unit contains a memory and/or that there is a
link to a memory.
In the text which follows, possibilities will again be
explained by means of which Internet or E—mail addresses can be
found.
The Internet or E-mail addresses(s) will be called
addresses in the text which follows. The teletext page (s) is
(are) called page (a) in the text which follows. They are designated
by magazine numbers and a decimal page number. The corresponding
line in the magazine is identified by a numerical value, e.g. x/5
is line 5 in a magazine x. teletext pages with a hexadecimal page
number are called "ghost-page".
Page-related addresses
The page—related addresses must establish their reference to
the page by at least one reference also being transmitted in one
of the data packets belonging to this page.
Visible area! x/1 - x/23
The addresses which are transmitted in the visible area of
the page do not have an identification which identify them as
addresses. Such a page is then searched for address-specific
identifiers. The names of the addresses are subject to the
familar restrictions of the character set according to the
teletext specification (European Broadcasting Unions Interim
Technical Document SPB 492). Thus the characters 6 ("at") and ~
(tilde) are not available in every national character set.
Although it would be possible to generate them by x/26, they
are, as a rule, replaced, namely a by (at) and v by (*). The
data themselves are sensitive to interference along the
transmission path since they are only protected by one parity bit
per 7 data bits.
Non-visible area: x/27 to x/31
As a rule, such additional data are protected by hamming
coding. The character codes which contain colour attributes and
others in the visible area can be used for completing the
character set. The following forms are conceivable for optimizing
the transmissioni
- direct entry of the addresses, if necessary with
row/column address for display within the visible areas
- reference to an address table which is transmitted in a
separate "ghost page" (see under "sender-related addresses"). If
a navigation medium (mouse, pointing device, tab stop) points to
such an entry or reference, the complete address can be displayed
in a superimposed window (free or docked, or cart be visually
emphasized if it is already, displayed on the screen (as in the
case of "page-related addresses").
x/27
The functions having designation codes 0-7 art used for
transmitting links to other teletext pages. The functions can also
be used in this sense for looking for the corresponding address.
x/28
The functions having designation codes 0-4 are used. The
functions having designation codes 5-15 can be freely specified
for pointing to an address or to contain one.
x/30
The functions having designation codes 0-3 are used in
magazine 3.
x/31
The packets are used for data services in magazine 1—3 and
8.
Sender-related addresses
Addresses which can be called up from each end must be
translated and stored in page-independent tables. Such tables are
usually transmitted with hexadecimal page numbers and are thus
not directly selectable by the user.
x/28
The x/28 data to be defined can also contain references to
"ghost pages". These can be handled like data pages of teletext
presentation level 2.5 (described in ETC (European
Telecommunication Standard) 3OO 7O6 issued by the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute, F-06921) Sophia
Antipolis).
Application
An application in the sense of ETS 300 708 is a non-teletext
service which is transmitted in accordance with the transmission
specification of teletext. Such a one can also contain addresses
in a form which enables or necessitates the addresses to be
administered independently of the teletext.
Separate Application
The access to the internet can be defined as a separate
application. This requires that the addresses are administered
independently of the teletext.
Existing Application
Within an electronic program guide (EPB), addressed can be
named as pure text characters in the short or long information
relating to the individual PIs (Program Information) (compare
"visible area"; it differs from a teletext in the generation of the
special characters! by x/26 in teletext and by ESC sequences in
EPG).
Exraction algorithm
The transmitted addresses, as described above in the section
"visible area", need a special extraction aglorithm. This is
capable of recognizing addresses, if necessary over line breaks.
In this connection attention must be paid to various conditions.
It it is assumed that texts which are written over a number
of lines are continued in the first possible column of the next
line following, the column number in the continuation line is
smaller than or equal to the starting column.
If it is assumed that texts are written in various colour
combinations (foreground - background), it must be assumed that a
start item is continued in the same colour combination. Thus
all areas with different colours and all mosaic graphics areas
must be ignored (mosaic colour atext colour).
Address generation
Apart from the method of extracting complete Internet
addresses from the received data, it would also be possible to
generate Internet addresses by oneself from fractions. For this
purpose, the user can select a part of the displayed text by
mouse or pointing device.
If the selected text is free of characters which cannot
occur in an Internet address such as for example a space an
attempt is made to find a valid Internet address in the
following manner:
a) by prefixing a string which determines the type of
Internet address such as e.g. "www." "ftp." or "gopher".
b> by appending a string which represents the so-called
domain name such as e.g. ".com", ".edu", "gov" or of one of
dynamic probability of use and/or stored for the user in
accordance with geographic location such as e.g. "de", "fr",
"it".
c) by arbitrary combinations of the two above-mentioned
measures.
d) by progressive shortening of the text by the last "/"
in each case and the subsequent text.
In each case the control unit transfers an Internet address
thus generated to the Internet browser. If an address is
recognized as valid i.e. the browser is capable of reaching the
Internet address without errors the current address is entered
into a list of valid Internet addresses. In this time the
browser can for example display the content of the address first
recognized as valid. If more than one Internet address is
recognized as valid the user is presented with a list containing
these addresses for selection. If only one valid address is
found the browser requests the content of this address. If no
valid address is found for the selected text or if the text
contains characters which cannot occur in an Internet address
this text is transferred to the browser with the command to
search the Internet for the text or for logically combined parts
of the text by means of the search engine set as a standard.
Thus for example Internet pages cam be searched for which
contain each or at least one of the words of a selected text.
Navigation
Navigation is made possible as follows:
Addresses or address components which can be read explicitly
in the text (see "address generation") appear visually emphasized
(e.g. by underlining). If a navigation medium (e.g. mouse visual
pointing device or cursor, if nececessary fay tab stop) coo
within the capture range of an address the address is marked as
logically combinable. This marking can be don by changing the
cursor or by inserting the address (superimposition in a pop-up
window or in a special status line). On confirmation by means of
an OK button, the selected address is provided to a browser for
selection or respectively for disposal.
Similarly it is possible to insert all information
contained on the page (visible as fragment or in the non-visible
area) in a pop-up menu within which it is possible to navigate by
means of cursor keys or mouse (pointing device).
"Ok" - see above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
In the text which follow the invention will be explained
with a number of illustrative embodiments referring, to the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the method according to
the invention
Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of the method according to
the invention.
DETAlL DESCRIPTION UP A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the method according to
the invention. The tuner l receives the satellite, cable or
terrestrial signal IN which is then forwarded to the data decoder
DD and to the colour demodulator FD. The data then pass via a
line or via a bus system to the memory MEM which contains data
and programs. Furthermore the data pass to the procesor PR. The
processor forwards the data obtained to the picture tube B via
the graphics card GK. The picture tube could be constructed as
television set or as monitor. The processor PH also performs a
data exchange with the modem MD and the modem is connected to an
analog or digital telephone network TEL. The process contains the
selection unit and the control unit. the link unit is
implemented by the modem MD.
If a string which is an Internet address is then displayed on
the picture tube B, the user can highlight this by means of the
remote control unit FB. The remote control unit FB is connected to
the other units by wires and/or wirelessly.The address thus formed is
converted by the process in such a form that the search can begin
via the modem, that is to say, the program which is stored in a
memory MEM is called up by the processor in the background, the
data of the internet address are conveyed to this program and the
program activates a modem for the search. The program is
preferably a program which is also used for normal Internet use. It
is also possible tor the search routine then running to be displayed
to the user on the picture tube B. That is to say the user sees
that the address selected by him in the teletext is transferred
to the program and the search mechanism is started. As soon as
the address is round, the content of the page is displayed to the
user. The displaying is preferably also performed in the form in
which the programs for internet or E mails are constructed. If
the user has seen enough information, he can navigate further in
the internet, simply change to teletext or also wholly to the
television programme by means of the remote control unit. this
makes it possible for the user to select in a simple manner an
Internet or E-mail address discovered in a teletext and the
result to be provided to him directly.
if the user does not highlight the address, the system
independently looks tor address information in the teletext page,
highlights this address information and the user can let the address
be searched for by means of the remote control unit. The address
search and the selection is performed in the same manner as in
the case of the highlighted address.
Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of the method According to the
invention. If the user does not highlight the address by means
of the remote control unit the processor PR starts a program for
finding addresses. Firstly the program looks for significant
address components. These would be, for examplef "https//",
"www.", "com", "de" and others. As soon as an address meeting
the start or end condition is found it is stored. After that a
check is made whether the address ends before column 30 or an
invalid character is detected. If this is the case the search is
ended and if not the search is continued in the subroutine
'continue searching'. The 'continue searching" subroutine compares
whether the colour combination is the same as in the case of the
start address. If this is the case the contents of the column
are allocated to the address and if not the next colour
combination is looked for and a check is made whether the column
number is greater than in the case of the start address. If the
column number is greater than the start address the search is
ended since the address will be continued in this column at the
latest. If the column is not greater the subroutine is run

again. In this manner the address is found since the address
has the same colour continuously as a rule. That is to say if
the address begins in one column the colour is used for checking
whether the address ends in the column or whether it is continued
in the next higher or lower column. This depends on the following
criteria it is continued in the next lower column (i.e. higher
column number) if the start characters of the adress are found
and it is continued in the next higher column (i.e. lower column
number) if the end—of—address condition is found.
If both address conditions are found i.e. start and end
condition the address can be determined by taking the start
condition end condition and the information in between and/or it
is possible to recognize the entire address by means of the
colour information.
WE CLAIM
1. Method for calling up an Internet or E-mail address, comprising the steps
of:
-accessing the Internet or E-mail address by an Internet browser;
-receiving teletext data; and,
displaying the received teletext data;
characterized by comprising the steps of:
selecting Internet or E-mail address information from the displayed
teletext data; and,
supplying an Internet or E-mail address corresponding to the selected
Internet or E-mail address information to the Internet browser.
2. Method as claimed in claim 1, comprising supplying the Internet or E-mail
address from teletext data which have been transmitted in teletext pages
not selectable by the user.
3. Method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, comprising analysing the displayed
teletext data for Internet or E-mail address information and highlighting
detected Internet or E-mail address information.
4. Method as claimed in Claim 3, comprising displaying all Internet or E-mail
address information contained on a teletext page in a pop-up menu.
5. Method as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, comprising generating
the Internet or E-mail address from fractions selected in the displayed
teletext data.
6. Method as claimed in Claim 5, comprising prefixing the selected fraction
with a string determining the type of Internet or E-mail address such as
e.g. 'www'. And/or appending to the selected fraction a string
representing the domain name such as e.g. ".com".
7. Method as claimed in Claim 5 or 6,comprising for only one valid address
found, requesting the content of this address by the browser.
8. Method as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 7, comprising for more than one
valid address found, displaying a list containing these addresses for
selection.
9. Method as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 8, comprising for no valid address
found, transferring the selected fraction to the browser and searching the
Internet for the text or for logically combined parts of the text by means
of a search engine.
10. Apparatus for calling up an Internet or E-mail address, wherein the
Internet or E-mail address is supplied to an Internet browser,
characterized by comprising:
means (T) for receiving teletext data comprised in a satellite, cable or
terrestrial signal (IN); means (B) for displaying the received teletext data;
means (FB) for selecting Internet or E-mail address information from the
teletext data; and means (B) for supplying an Internet or E-mail address
corresponding to the selected Internet or E-mail address information to
the Internet browser.
The invention relates to method for calling up an Internet
or E-mail address comprising the steps of accessing the Internet
or E-mail address by an Internet browser) receiving teletext
data! and displaying the received teletext data. Selecting
Internet or E-mail address information from the displayed
teletext data and supplying an Internet or E-mail address
correspoding to the selected Internet or E-mail address information
to the Internet browser.

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Patent Number

222749

Indian Patent Application Number

IN/PCT/2000/00239/KOL

PG Journal Number

34/2008

Publication Date

22-Aug-2008

Grant Date

21-Aug-2008

Date of Filing

22-Aug-2000

Name of Patentee

DEUTSCHE THOMSON-BRANDT GMBH

Applicant Address

HERMANN-SCHWER-STRASSE 3, D-78048 VILLINGEN-SCHWENNINGER

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	ERBAR MAXIMILIAN	SCHALMENAECKER 30, D-78052 VILLIGEN-SCHWENNINGGEN
2	LACHENMAIER REINHARD	STEPPACHHALDE 45, D-78647 TROSSINGEN
3	LEBEGUE XAVIER	15 RUE MONTAGNE DE I'ESPEROU, F-78015 PARIS

PCT International Classification Number

H04N 7/088, 5/445

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP99/01340

PCT International Filing date

1999-03-02

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	198 11 103.7	1998-03-13	Germany