Abstract: A method for searching data stored in at least one database (32, 34) accessible from an external server of a data transmission network (14), including sending a query (36) for every database from a local server associated with at least one local database (12), the query including fields containing general criteria relating to the type of information, the content of the information, and/or dates associated with the information, with the ability to link the fields by Boolean operators. The download step includes: generation of scripts by the local server including a series of commands based on the general criteria and enabling creation of pointers to identify the data fields to be downloaded, and activating robots to download the fields indicated by the pointers and other data fields associated by predefined relationships with the indicated data fields.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for processing alphanumeric and graphics information recorded in page form on a system to create a data base which can be searched and edited, wherein the following steps take place automatically:A) determination of digitized page images;B) a first phase of processing digitized page images providing: verification that these pages are sequential, determination of the characteristic elements on each page, determination of the angle of deviation, mask formation, window formatting, alignment correction, identification of characteristic elements, image segmentation; recording in separate files the digitized page images, the digital image entities and the digitized segmented images accessible for editing;C) a second processing phase consisting of optical character recognition of the components relative to the alphanumeric data from the segmented images and recording the data in a file to create a data base which can be searched.