Patent Publication Number: US-7899809-B2

Title: Method and system for querying a multimedia database from a telecommunication terminal

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the field of information technologies, and more specifically the field of man-machine interfaces (MMIs) in a multimodal access environment, i.e. access to a multimedia database via several modes, for example keyboard mode and/or voice mode and/or graphical mode. The present invention relates more specifically to a method and a device for querying a multimedia database from a telecommunication terminal. 
     2. Description of the Relevant Art 
     “Multimedia database” is understood to mean a database having records with fields that may contain or refer to multimedia data such as text, sound, pictures or video. In other words, in a multimedia database, many types of digital data can be used simultaneously. 
     Many services offer users the possibility of obtaining information by accessing databases. These applications may be completely loaded in fixed or mobile telecommunication terminals, or distributed over various networked platforms. 
     Often, after a user has submitted a query for information through an application implementing a service, the number of responses to the request reflecting the query is too large. Hence, a number of problems arise, for example displaying problems. Some applications therefore suggest that the user refine their query by submitting a new query for information based on criteria for querying the database other than those used before. These criteria are predetermined and cannot be relied upon to rapidly decrease the number of responses to a database query. 
     In the prior art, applications exist that aim to improve the reduction in the number of records in response to a database query, by successive requests varying the database query criteria. 
     For example, patent application EP 1 197 951 discloses a voice recognition system estimating recognition scores to assess the similarity between the spoken phrase and the models in a dictionary. This document applies only in a voice context and not a multimodal context. 
     Patent application WO 01/69427 relates to information searches using natural spoken language as input and with a multimodal return of information, but makes no mention of a method of automatic choice of database query criteria. 
     Thus, in view of the above, the subjects of the invention are a method and a system for reducing the number of results obtained, possibly down to a single result, from a query of a multimedia database. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Also, according to the invention, a method is proposed for querying a multimedia database from a telecommunication terminal. The database is queried using an iterative step in which, at the current iteration, a portion retrieved from the database is determined using an ordered set of query criteria worked out at the previous iteration or at a previous initialization step if the current iteration is the first iteration, and using a criteria vector comprising characteristic values of a predetermined set of query criteria for the portion retrieved from the database. The criteria vector is initialized at the initialization step if the current iteration is the first iteration, and determined during the previous iteration otherwise. The query criteria are determined so as to reduce the number of responses supplied at successive iterations respectively. 
     Query criteria for a portion retrieved from the database are determined so as to optimize convergence of the database query towards a small number of results. 
     In a preferred implementation, the elements of the ordered set of query criteria are selected from the components of the criteria vector, the number of elements selected being less than or equal to a predetermined number. 
     In an advantageous implementation, the said initialization step includes steps in which: the criteria vector, to which is assigned the value of a predetermined vector, is initialized; the portion retrieved from the database, to which is assigned the complete database, is initialized; and the ordered set of query criteria, to which ordered set is assigned the value of an ordered set that is a function of the initialized criteria vector, is initialized. 
     In a preferred implementation, at the iterative step of querying the database, before determining the ordered set of query criteria needed for the possible subsequent iteration, the portion retrieved from the database is queried, and in response, a new portion retrieved from the database is obtained. 
     In an advantageous implementation, at the current iteration, a query is made based on information supplied by a telecommunication terminal user, in response to a prompt for information depending on the said ordered set of query criteria. 
     In a preferred implementation, the prompts for information and the corresponding responses are executed in any mode from a predetermined set of information exchange modes. Each mode in the predetermined set of modes uses means capable of comparing the information supplied by the user and the values of the predetermined query criteria for the records in the portion retrieved from the database. 
     In an advantageous implementation, the information exchange modes include a voice mode and/or a graphical mode and/or a text mode. 
     In a preferred implementation, the iterative step is completed when the number of responses to the current iteration, which is the number of records in the portion retrieved from the database, is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number, or when the ordered set of query criteria is empty. 
     In an advantageous implementation, at each iteration, the ordered set of query criteria is determined, for a possible subsequent iteration, from the criteria vector made up of characteristic criteria components. A component represents a criterion and comprises: a priority level for proposing the criterion represented; a list of identifiers of fields of the database forming the query criterion represented; a boolean that determines whether the criterion represented can be used at the current iteration; a boolean that determines whether the criterion represented can be used at any iteration; a hash table in which each unique value of the criterion represented, from the records in the portion retrieved from the database, is associated with the number of records in which this value appears; a total number of appearances of values of the criterion appearing several times in the portion retrieved from the database; and a probability of ambiguity of choice by the user equal to the ratio of the total number of ambiguous values to the total number of values of the portion retrieved from the database. 
     In a preferred implementation, the criteria of the said ordered set of query criteria have a probability of ambiguity of choice less than or equal to a predetermined maximum probability of ambiguity. 
     According to the invention, there is also proposed a system for querying a multimedia database, from a telecommunication terminal. The system includes a content platform supporting the said database, and a plurality of independent platforms each dedicated to a particular data exchange mode, the elements of the system having means for communicating with each other. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the system additionally includes an application platform supporting an application querying the said database using a method described above, the said application platform having means for communicating with the other elements of the system. It also includes iterative means of determining a portion retrieved from the database using an ordered set of query criteria worked out at the previous iteration or at a previous initialization step if the current iteration is the first iteration, and using a criteria vector comprising characteristic values of a predetermined set of query criteria for the portion retrieved from the database, the said criteria vector being initialized at the initialization step if the current iteration is the first iteration, and determined during the previous iteration otherwise. The query criteria are determined so as to reduce the number of responses supplied at successive iterations respectively. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other aims, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description given only by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system according to one aspect of the invention; and 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the method of the system according to one aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawing and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  represents a system for querying a database, which system is made up of a telecommunication terminal tc, an application platform  1  supporting an application  2  that implements a service requiring data stored in a database  3  hosted on a content platform  4 . The system also includes a graphical platform  5  and a voice platform  6 . All the platforms and the telecommunication terminal tc communicate over a communication network  7 . Clearly “telecommunication terminal” is understood to mean a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, a computer connected to a communication network, or any other device that can communicate over a communication network. These platforms may be hardware or software platforms, and the application platform may even be a software platform loaded in the user&#39;s telecommunication terminal tc. Clearly, if other information exchange modes are used, each additional mode will have a dedicated platform with a recognition grammar for the specific mode, as in the modes represented. Here, the voice platform  6  and the graphical platform  5  have respective means  8  and  9  for applying their respective grammars. The voice platform  6  and graphical platform  5  may also be loaded in the telecommunication terminal tc. The platforms mentioned may therefore be completely loaded, partially loaded, or not loaded in the terminal tc. This also applies to any additional platforms dedicated to other information exchange modes. A grammar for an information exchange mode is used to translate an item of information from this mode into an equivalent encoded piece of information, as though the information had been entered via a keyboard, in a text mode. Of course, the telecommunication terminal tc is capable of operating a text mode, via a keyboard, a virtual keyboard, a mobile telephone keypad, or any other device using a text mode. 
     To use a service, the user of a telecommunication terminal tc links up with the application platform  1 . Of course, the application may be directly loaded in the telecommunication terminal tc. At some time, this application would need to query a database, depending on the service needed. This query may require the use of an identifier and a password in the case of confidential data. The selected database is then queried in an iterative manner so as to optimize convergence of the database query towards a small number of results. Depending on the information exchange mode chosen by the user from a group of predetermined modes, before each query of a portion retrieved from the database, the data communicated by the user is translated using a suitable grammar into the usual encoded data of computer systems. For example, if the user conveys information in voice mode, then this data is translated by the means  8  of the voice platform  6  into data encoded in the usual way, as though the data had been entered by keyboard. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the method according to one aspect of the invention. An initialization step  10  is followed by an iterative query of the database  3 . This iterative query consists of, in succession, a step  11  prompting for data input by the user of a telecommunication terminal tc as represented in  FIG. 1 , a step  12  of data input by the user, a step  13  for translating the user-entered data by means of a specific grammar for the data exchange mode used, and a step  14  for determining a portion retrieved from the database based on an ordered set of query criteria (Vt) worked out at the previous iteration or at a previous initialization step if the current iteration is the first iteration. The iterative query also includes a step  15  for testing whether the number of results nb_res supplied at step  14  is greater than a predetermined maximum number NRMAX. If the test is negative, i.e. if the number of results nb_res is less than or equal to the predetermined maximum number NRMAX, the procedure continues with a step  16  reflecting a successful database query and therefore an end to the iterations. If the test is positive, i.e. if the number of results nb_res is greater than the predetermined maximum number NRMAX, the procedure continues with a step  17  for determining an ordered set of criteria Vt to refine the results. A step  18  for testing whether the ordered set of criteria Vt is empty is then executed. If the result of the test is positive, i.e. if the ordered set of criteria Vt is empty, a database query failure step  19  is executed. Otherwise, if the ordered set of criteria Vt contains at least one criterion, the process moves on to the next iteration by looping back to step  11  prompting for data input by the user of the telecommunication terminal tc. 
     Each of these steps will now be detailed theoretically and then the steps will be applied to a practical example. 
     At the initialization step  10 , the database which the user will consult through an application implementing a service being accessed is determined. If necessary, the database may be determined via an identifier and a password, if the data is confidential. The data depends on the service offered, and so may represent a contact in an address book, a database of musical works in which database an attempt may be made to recognize a list of pieces resembling an item sung by the user, or indeed any other type of data useful for a service. 
     A criteria vector Vcr is initialized, comprising characteristic values of a predetermined set of query criteria for the portion retrieved from the database, with a predetermined criteria vector Vcr_init. The components of the criteria vector have the following structure: 
     (Priority; Lif; Usable; Alw_Usable; Hv; N_app) 
     where: 
     
         
         
           
             “Priority” is an integer that determines the order of priority for proposing the criterion; 
             “Lif” is a list of identifiers of fields of the database forming the query criterion; 
             “Usable” is a boolean number that determines, during the iterations, whether the criterion can still be used; 
             “Alw_Usable” is a boolean number that determines whether the criterion can always be used, at each iteration, if it is desired that a criterion remains usable all the time; 
             “Hv” is a hash table in which each unique value of the criterion from the records is associated with the number of occurrences of this value. The function for determining whether two values are different depends on the type of application and on the data exchange mode used; for example, in the case of a voice-executed selection of an entry in an address book, two criteria are identical if their phonetic forms are identical; 
             “N_app” is the total number of appearances of values of the criterion appearing several times in the portion retrieved from the database; and 
             “Pa” is a probability of ambiguity of choice, given by N_app/nb_res. 
           
         
       
    
     The priority level “Priority” of each criterion is predefined at the initialization step  10 , and from this an initialization Vt_init of the ordered set of query criteria Vt is deduced. 
     In step  11 , for a current iteration, the user is prompted to supply data enabling the application to query the current portion retrieved from the database in accordance with the said data communicated by the user, based on the ordered set of query criteria Vt. Depending on the system, there may be several modes in which this prompt is expressed, for example voice mode, text mode, graphical mode, etc. Data structures are also worked out thereby enabling a search of results based on data communicated by the user. The data structures consist of a specific grammar for each data exchange mode and a function capable of applying this specific grammar. For the first iteration, these specific grammars may be pre-calculated at each update of the database. 
     This step  11  is detailed below, for example when a voice platform  6  is available (equipped with a voice recognition system of course) in the case of accessing an address book. The specific grammar is therefore a voice grammar for the language used. Means  8  for applying the voice grammar are able to associate a vector index with a recognized orthographic form, and convert an orthographic form to its phonetic equivalent, for the language used. The hash table Hv of the vector Vcr has as entries character strings representing phonetic forms, equality between two phonetic forms being determined conventionally on the basis of equality of the character strings representing them. Hence, a component vector Vp is also used, having the following structure: (Fo, Vr), where:
         Fo is a possible orthographic form for a phonetic form of an entry in the hash table Hv; and   Vr is a component vector of structure (IDe, cr), where IDe is an identifier of the result record in the database.       

     Also used is a hash table Hp that associates a phonetic form with the index in the vector Vp corresponding to the result, that can be multiple, of the recognition of this phonetic form. 
     Based on the portion retrieved from the database  3  at the current iteration and on the list of criteria that can be used for the user input defined by the ordered set of query criteria Vt, the algorithm used consists in determining the vector Vp and the hash table Hp in order to construct a recognition grammar associating each possible orthographic entry with an index in the vector Vp, without there being two entries with different orthographic forms having an identical phonetic form, since two different orthographic forms with an identical phonetic form will end up occurring in the same component of the vector Vp, having as the orthographic form the first one encountered. Hence the algorithm is as follows: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 For any record e of index IDe in the current portion retrieved from 
               
               
                 the database: 
               
               
                   for any usable criterion cr of Vt: 
               
               
                     // calculate the orthographic form fo of the value of the criterion 
               
               
                     // cr of e and the phonetic form fp corresponding to fo: 
               
               
                       if cr is a mono-field criterion 
               
               
                       then 
               
               
                         fo is the value of the field of cr for e 
               
               
                         fp is the phonetic representation of fo 
               
               
                       else 
               
               
                         fo is the concatenation of values of different fields 
               
               
                         of cr for e 
               
               
                         fp is the concatenation of phonetic representations 
               
               
                         of values of fields cr for e, with reuse of phonetic 
               
               
                         representations already applied in the case of 
               
               
                         mono-field criteria 
               
               
                     if fp is not known in Hp 
               
               
                     then 
               
               
                       create a new entry for fp in Hp, corresponding to the index 
               
               
                       i in Vp, corresponding to a new entry ep in this vector. 
               
               
                       assign fo to the field Fo of ep (ep.Fo    fo) 
               
               
                     else 
               
               
                       ep is the entry of index i in Vp, where i is the index 
               
               
                       corresponding to the entry fp of Hp 
               
               
                     add in the field Vr of ep an entry with {IDe, cr} 
               
               
                 Construction of the grammar is: 
               
               
                 for any entry ep of Vp 
               
               
                   associate the orthographic form of the field Fo of ep (ep.Fo) with 
               
               
                   the index of ep in Vp 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     When the voice platform  6  recognizes an orthographic form, it gives as the result its index i in Vp, from which the list of possible results contained in the field Vr of the vector Vp (Vp(i).Vr) will be obtained directly. 
     The user input step  12  is the response by the user to the prompt in step  11 . The user may of course respond using a variety of data exchange modes. In the case of an address book, the user input may take the form of speaking aloud a name to be recognized, typing a name on a keyboard, or even choosing a photograph on a graphical interface. 
     Step  13  consists in translating the user input by means of the specific grammar for the data exchange mode used. The specific grammar then gives an index corresponding to recognition of the user input. 
     Next, step  14  consists in determining the new portion retrieved from the database  3 , based on the current retrieved portion and on the index supplied in the previous step  13 . The new retrieved portion is indicated by the vector Vr of the component of Vp having as index the said index supplied in step  13 . 
     Step  15  then tests whether the number of results nb_res, i.e. the number of records in the new portion retrieved from the database, is greater than the predetermined maximum number NRMAX, and if this test is negative, i.e. if the number of result records is less than or equal to the predetermined maximum number NRMAX, then a successful outcome of the iterative step is reflected at step  16 , since the number of results obtained is less than or equal to the predetermined maximum number NRMAX. On the other hand, if the result of the test in step  15  is positive, the ordered set of query criteria Vt for a possible subsequent iteration is determined at step  17 . 
     The ordered set of criteria Vt is determined in step  17  using the following algorithm: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 // determination of the ordered set of criteria Vt 
               
               
                 // elimination of criteria already used 
               
               
                 for any result component r of Vr: 
               
               
                   if (the component Alw_Usable of the criterion component cr of the 
               
               
                      result r (r.cr.Alw_Usable) has the value false) 
               
               
                   then 
               
               
                     assign the value false to the component Usable of the criterion 
               
               
                     component cr of the result r (r.cr.Usable    false) 
               
               
                   end if 
               
               
                 end for 
               
               
                 // resetting of the variables of the remaining criteria 
               
               
                 for any criterion component cr of the criteria vector Vcr: 
               
               
                   if (the component Alw_Usable of the criterion cr (cr.Alw_Usable) 
               
               
                     has the value false and the component Usable (cr.Usable) 
               
               
                     has the value true) 
               
               
                   then 
               
               
                     empty the hash table Hv of the criterion cr 
               
               
                     assign the value zero to the total number of appearances N_app 
               
               
                     of the criterion cr (cr.N_app  0) 
               
               
                   end if 
               
               
                 end for 
               
               
                 // determination of data: hash table Hv, total number of appearances 
               
               
                 // N_app, probability of ambiguity of choice Pa of each 
               
               
                 // of the usable criteria. 
               
               
                 let Vt be an ordered set of criteria 
               
               
                   for any criterion cr of the criteria vector Vcr: 
               
               
                   if (the component Alw_Usable of the criterion cr (cr.Alw_Usable) 
               
               
                      has the value true) 
               
               
                   then 
               
               
                     insert the criterion cr in the set Vt 
               
               
                   else 
               
               
                     if (the component Usable of the criterion cr (cr.Usable) 
               
               
                       has the value true) 
               
               
                     then 
               
               
                       for any result r of the vector Vr 
               
               
                         if (the value valcr corresponding to the criterion or in 
               
               
                           the record of the result r is already present in the 
               
               
                           hash table component Hv of cr (cr.Hv)) 
               
               
                         then 
               
               
                          // multiple value 
               
               
                          if (the number of occurrences of the value valcr in 
               
               
                            the hash table component Hv of the criterion 
               
               
                            cr (cr.Hv[valcr]) is 1 
               
               
                          then 
               
               
                           // first time that this 
               
               
                           // multiple value is identified 
               
               
                           // its first occurrence 
               
               
                           // must be counted 
               
               
                           increment by 1 the number of appearances N_app 
               
               
                           of the criterion cr (cr.N_app  cr.N_app+1) 
               
               
                          end if 
               
               
                          // the new occurrence is counted 
               
               
                          increment by 1 the number of appearances N_app 
               
               
                          of the criterion cr (cr.N_app  cr.N_app+1) 
               
               
                          increment by 1 the number of appearances of the 
               
               
                          value valcr of the criterion cr in its hash table Hv 
               
               
                          (cr.Hv[valcr]  cr.Hv[valcr]+1) 
               
               
                         else 
               
               
                          insert this value valcr in the hash table Hv of the 
               
               
                          criterion cr, associating with it the value 1 as the 
               
               
                          number of 
               
               
                             occurrences 
               
               
                         end if 
               
               
                       if (the number of entries in the hash table Hv of the 
               
               
                         criterion cr is greater than 1) 
               
               
                       then 
               
               
                        // update the probability of ambiguity Pa of the criterion 
               
               
                        cr assign to the probability of ambiguity Pa of the 
               
               
                        criterion cr the quotient of the total number of 
               
               
                        appearances N_app and the number of entries in the 
               
               
                        vector Vr (cr.Pa  cr.N_app) 
               
               
                        if (the probability of ambiguity Pa is less than or equal 
               
               
                          to a predetermined maximum probability PAMAX 
               
               
                          (cr.Pa≦PAMAX)) 
               
               
                        then 
               
               
                          insert the criterion cr in the set Vt 
               
               
                        end if 
               
               
                       else 
               
               
                        assign the value false to the component Usable of the 
               
               
                        criterion cr (cr.Usable  false) 
               
               
                       end if 
               
               
                       end for 
               
               
                   end for 
               
               
                   // the set Vt is sorted to produce an ordered set, by using 
               
               
                   // the following function for comparing two criteria c1 and c2: 
               
               
                   if (the component Alw_Usable of c1 has the value true or the 
               
               
                     component Alw_Usable of c2 has the value true) 
               
               
                   then 
               
               
                     place c1 before c2 or c2 before c1 depending on their 
               
               
                     predetermined components Priority 
               
               
                   else 
               
               
                     if (the probability of ambiguity component of criterion c1 is 
               
               
                      less than the probability of ambiguity component of 
               
               
                      criterion c2 (c1.Pa&lt;c2.Pa)) 
               
               
                     then 
               
               
                      place c1 before c2 
               
               
                     else 
               
               
                      if (the probability of ambiguity component of criterion c2 is 
               
               
                       less than the probability of ambiguity component of 
               
               
                       criterion c1 (c2.Pa&lt;c1.Pa)) 
               
               
                      then 
               
               
                       place c1 before c2 
               
               
                      else 
               
               
                       if (the size of the hash table Hv of criterion c1 is greater 
               
               
                        than the size of the hash table Hv of criterion c2 
               
               
                        (c1.Hv&gt;c2.Hv)) 
               
               
                       then 
               
               
                        place c1 before c2 
               
               
                       else 
               
               
                        if (the size of the hash table Hv of criterion c2 is greater 
               
               
                         than the size of the hash table Hv of criterion 
               
               
                         c1 (c2.Hv&gt;c1.Hv)) 
               
               
                        then 
               
               
                         place c2 before c1 
               
               
                        else 
               
               
                         classify the two criteria according to their 
               
               
                         predetermined priority components 
               
               
                        end if 
               
               
                       end if 
               
               
                      end if 
               
               
                     end if 
               
               
                   end if 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     A description will now follow of a detailed example of how the invention operates, using as an example a service for accessing an address book by voice (the system therefore includes a voice platform). 
     The address book is for example: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 ID 
                 First name 
                 Surname 
                 Nickname 
                 Town 
                 Group 
                 Photo 
                 Audio 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 1 
                 Jean-Michel 
                 Martin 
                 Jean_mi 
                 Lannion 
                 Sports 
                 @ph1 
                 @file1 
               
               
                 2 
                 Nicolas 
                 Dupond 
                 Nicolas 
                 Lannion 
                 Work 
                 @ph2 
                 @file2 
               
               
                 3 
                 Michelle 
                 Martin 
                 Mimi 
                 Paris 
                 Friends 
                 @ph3 
                 @file3 
               
               
                 4 
                 Jean 
                 Michel 
                 Jean-mi 
                 Metz 
                 Sports 
                 @ph4 
                 @file4 
               
               
                 5 
                 Nicolas 
                 Dupont 
                 Nico 
                 Paris 
                 Family 
                 @ph5 
                 @file5 
               
               
                 6 
                 Michelle 
                 Chemin 
                 Lili 
                 Lannion 
                 Work 
                 @ph6 
                 @file6 
               
               
                 7 
                 Jean 
                 Michelle 
                 Ze boss 
                 Nice 
                 Sports 
                 @ph7 
                 @file7 
               
               
                 8 
                 Jean-Michel 
                 Duc 
                 Jean-mi 
                 Metz 
                 Sports 
                 @ph8 
                 @file8 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In this example the maximum number of criteria NCMAX is three (NCMAX=3). 
     At step  10 , the criteria vector Vcr is initialized by means of a predetermined criteria vector Vcr_init: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Vcr=Vcr_init=( c1={ Priority=2, Lif={First name}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0 }, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c2={ Priority=1, Lif={Surname}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                  Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0 }, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c3={ Priority=3, Lif={First name Surname}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                  Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0 }, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c4={ Priority=4, Lif= {Nickname}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                  Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0 }, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c5={ Priority=5, Lif={Town}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                  Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0 }, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c6={ Priority=6, Lif={Group}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                  Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0 }) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Hence the ordered set Vt is immediately initialized by a set Vt_init deduced directly from the values of the Priority field of the vector Vcr. 
     We immediately deduce from this: Vt={c2, c1, c3}, where c1={First name}, c2={Surname}, and c3={First name, Surname}. 
     Next, the iterative step begins with step  11 ; the hash table Hp is determined, associating a phonetic form with the index in Vp corresponding to the result, which may be a multiple result, of the recognition of this phonetic form, the voice recognition grammar, and the vector Vp: 
                                                Hp=   Σä mife1 → 0               Nik{ (o) (ao) }1a → 1               Mife1 → 2               Σä → 3               MaRtë → 4               Dypö → 5               f(θ)më → 6               dyc → 7               Σä mife1 maRtë → 8               Nik{ (o) (ao) }1a dypö → 9               mife1 maRtë → 10               mife1 f(θ)më → 11               Σä mife1 dyc → 12                        
voice recognition grammar:
         jean-michel→0   nicolas→1   michelle→2   jean→3   martin→4   dupond→5   chemin→6   duc→7   jean-michel martin→8   nicolas dupond→9   michelle martin→10   michelle chemin→11   jean-michelle duc→12
 
and the vector Vp is:
       

     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Vp = (0: {Fo= “jean-michel”, Vr=({IDe=1, cr={First name}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=8, cr={First name}}, 
               
               
                   
                 {IDe=4, cr={First name, Surname}}, 
               
               
                   
                 {IDe=7, cr={First name, Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1: {Fo= “nicolas”, Vr=({IDe=2, cr={First name}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=5, cr={First name}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 2: {Fo= “michelle”, Vr=({IDe=3, cr={First name}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=6, cr={First name}}, {IDe=4, cr={Surname}}, 
               
               
                   
                 {IDe=7, cr={Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 3: {Fo= “jean”, Vr=({IDe=4, cr={First name}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=7, cr={First name}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 4: {Fo= “martin”, Vr=({IDe=1, cr= {Surname}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=3, cr={Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 5: {Fo= “dupond”, Vr=({IDe=2, cr={Surname}}, 
               
               
                   
                 {IDe=53, cr={Surname}})}, 
               
               
                   
                 6: {Fo= “chemin”, Vr=({IDe=6, cr={Surname}})}, 
               
               
                   
                 7: {Fo= “duc”, Vr=({IDe=8, cr={Surname}})}, 
               
               
                   
                 8: {Fo= “jean-michel martin”, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Vr=({IDe=1, cr={First name, Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 9: {Fo= “nicolas dupond”, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Vr=({IDe=2, cr={First name, Surname}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=5, cr={First name, Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 10: {Fo= “michelle martin”, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                  Vr=({IDe=3, cr={First name, Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 11: {Fo= “michelle chemin”, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                  Vr=({IDe=6, cr={First name, Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 10: {Fo= “jean-michel duc”, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Vr=({IDe=8, cr={First name, Surname}})} ) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Step  11  ends with the prompt to the user for input; in this example, the system prompts the user via the voice platform  6  and the telecommunication terminal tc: “Say the surname, or the first name, or the first name followed by the surname of the person to contact”. This prompt reflects the three criteria of the ordered set Vt. 
     The user then says “Jean-michel”. Assuming that the voice platform  6  has successfully recognized “Jean-michel”, it returns index  0  of the voice grammar. 
     Next, at step  14 , the new portion retrieved from the database  3  is determined, given by the vector Vr of the entry  0  of the vector Vp: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Vr = ( 
                 {IDe=1, cr={First name}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=8, cr={First name}}, 
               
               
                   
                 (IDe=4, cr={First name, Surname}}, 
               
               
                   
                 {IDe=7, cr={First name, Surname}} ) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     There are many results, i.e. the records having identifiers IDe 1, 8, 4 and 7, of which the first two are selected by first name, and the other two by first name followed by surname. The new portion retrieved from the database  3  is therefore the following: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 ID 
                 First name 
                 Surname 
                 Nickname 
                 Town 
                 Group 
                 Photo 
                 Audio 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 1 
                 Jean-Michel 
                 Martin 
                 Jean_mi 
                 Lannion 
                 Sports 
                 @ph1 
                 @file1 
               
               
                 4 
                 Jean 
                 Michel 
                 Jean-mi 
                 Metz 
                 Sports 
                 @ph4 
                 @file4 
               
               
                 7 
                 Jean 
                 Michelle 
                 Ze boss 
                 Nice 
                 Sports 
                 @ph7 
                 @file7 
               
               
                 8 
                 Jean-Michel 
                 Duc 
                 Jean-mi 
                 Metz 
                 Sports 
                 @ph8 
                 @file8 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     There are still several results, and in this example we have a predetermined maximum number of responses NRMAX of 1 (NRMAX=1), since at the end only one response is sought. 
     At step  15 , the test is positive, i.e. the number of responses nb_res is greater than maximum number allowed NRMAX. 
     So we proceed to step  17  at which the new ordered set Vt of criteria is determined for refining the results at a possible subsequent iteration. 
     The criteria vector Vcr is updated, giving: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Vcr = ( 
                 c1= {Priority=2, Lif={First name}, Usable=false, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c2= {Priority=1, Lif={Surname}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={MaRtë→1, Mife1→2, 
               
               
                   
                 dyc→1}, N_app=2, Pa=2/4=1/2}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c3= {Priority=3, Lif={First name, Surname}, Usable=false, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c4= {Priority=4, Lif={Nickname}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={Σämi→3, zebos→1}, 
               
               
                   
                 N_app=3, Pa=3/4}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c5= {Priority=5, Lif={Town}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={laniö→1, mes→2, 
               
               
                   
                 nis→1}, N_app=2, Pa=2/4=1/2}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c6= {Priority=6, Lif={Group}, Usable=false, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Hv={spó→4}, N_app=4, Pa=1} ) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The set of query criteria Vt can therefore no longer contain criteria c1, c3 and c6, since their components Usable have the value false. Note that the component Usable of c6 has the value false because there is only one distinct value for the entry in the hash table component Hv of c6. Furthermore, Vt cannot include the criterion c4 since this criterion is not sufficiently discriminating: its probability of ambiguity Pa is ¾ which is greater than a predetermined maximum value PAMAX, taken to be 0.5 in this example. 
     Next, the set of query criteria Vt are ordered, as described earlier, and the set of criteria is obtained: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Vt = { c2, c5 } , in which: 
               
               
                   
                 c2 = {Priority=1, Lif={Surname}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={MaRtë→1, 
               
               
                   
                 Mife1→2, dyc→1}, N_app=2, Pa=2/4=1/2}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c5 = {Priority=5, Lif={Town}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={laniö→1, mes→2, 
               
               
                   
                 nis→1}, N_app=2, Pa=2/4=1/2) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Next, at step  18 , a test is performed to check whether the ordered set Vt is empty. This is not case here, and so we proceed to the second iteration in the process, i.e. to step  11 . 
     Thus, the results are refined using the criteria c2 (surname) and c5 (town), with the following variables: 
                                                Hp=   MaRtë → 0               Mife1 → 1               dye → 2               laniö → 3               mes → 4               nis → 5                        
voice recognition grammar:
         martin→0   michel→1   duc→2   lannion→3   metz→4   nice→5       

     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Vp = ( 
                 0: {Fo= “martin”, Vr=({IDe=1, cr={Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1: {Fo= “michel”, Vr=({IDe=4, cr={Surname}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=7, cr={Surname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 2: {Fo= “duc”, Vr=({IDe=1, cr={Nickname}})}, 
               
               
                   
                 3: {Fo= “lannion”, Vr=({IDe=1, cr={Town}})}, 
               
               
                   
                 4: {Fo= “metz”, Vr=({IDe=4, cr={Town}}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 {IDe=8, cr={Town}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 5: {Fo= “nice”, Vr=({IDe=7, cr={Town}})} ) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Step  11  ends with the user input prompt. In this iteration, the system prompts the user via the voice platform  6  and the telecommunication terminal tc: “Say the surname or the town of the person to contact”. This prompt reflects the two criteria of the ordered set Vt. The strategy to be adopted may depend on the number of different values of a criterion; for example, if this number is less than a predetermined number, they can be listed rather than posing an open question. Likewise, if the specific platform fails several times in a row to recognize a response of one of the criteria proposed, it can specifically request one of the other criteria proposed. 
     At step  12 , the user says “michel”. It is assumed that the voice platform has correctly recognized “michel”. At step  13 , index  1  of the voice grammar is identified. 
     The portion retrieved from the database is then determined at step  14 , based on the vector Vr of the component of index  1  of the vector Vp:
         Vr=({IDe=4, cr={Surname}}, {IDe=7, cr={Surname}})       

     So the new portion retrieved from the database is: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 First 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 ID 
                 name 
                 Surname 
                 Nickname 
                 Town 
                 Group 
                 Photo 
                 Audio 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 4 
                 Jean 
                 Michel 
                 Jean-mi 
                 Metz 
                 Sports 
                 @ph4 
                 @file4 
               
               
                 7 
                 Jean 
                 Michelle 
                 Ze boss 
                 Nice 
                 Sports 
                 @ph7 
                 @file7 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Again, there are several results. Since NRMAX is 1, the test of step  15  is positive; so we proceed to step  17  at which the new ordered set Vt of criteria is determined for refining the results at a possible subsequent iteration. 
     The criteria vector Vcr is updated, giving: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Vcr = ( c1= {Priority=2, Lif={First name}, Usable=false, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c2= {Priority=1, Lif={Surname}, Usable=false, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c3= {Priority=3, Lif={First name, Surname}, Usable=false, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={}, N_app=0, Pa=0}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c4= {Priority=4, Lif={Nickname}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={ Σämi→1, zebos→1 }, 
               
               
                   
                 N_app=0, Pa=0}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c5= {Priority=5, Lif={Town}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={ mes→1, nis→1 }, 
               
               
                   
                 N_app=0, Pa=0}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c6= {Priority=6, Lif={Group}, Usable=false, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Hv={spó→4}, N_app=4, Pa=1} ) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The set of query criteria Vt can therefore no longer contain criteria c1, c2, c3 and c6, since their components Usable have the value false. After criteria c4 and c5 are sorted, as described earlier, we have: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Vt= { c4, c5 } , in which: 
               
               
                   
                 c4= {Priority=4, Lif={Nickname}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={ Σämi→1, 
               
               
                   
                 zebos→1}, N_app=0, Pa=0}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 c5 = {Priority=5, Lif={Town}, Usable=true, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Alw_Usable=false, Hv={mes→1, nis→1, 
               
               
                   
                 nis→1}, N_app=0, Pa=0}  
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Next, at step  18  a test is performed to check whether the ordered set Vt is empty. This is not the case here, and so we proceed to the third iteration in the process, i.e. to step  11 . 
     Thus, the results are refined using the criteria c4 (nickname) and c5 (town), with the following variables: 
                                                Hp=   Σämi → 0               zebos → 1               mes → 2               nis → 3                        
voice recognition grammar:
 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 jean-mi → 0 
               
               
                   
                 ze boss → 1 
               
               
                   
                 metz → 2 
               
               
                   
                 nice → 3 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Vp = ( 0: {Fo= “jean-mi”, Vr=({IDe=4, cr={Nickname}})}, 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1: {Fo= “ze boss”, Vr=({IDe=7, cr={Nickname}})}, 
               
               
                   
                 2: {Fo= “metz”, Vr=({IDe=4, cr={Town}})}, 
               
               
                   
                 3: {Fo= “nice”, Vr=({IDe=7, cr={Town}})} ) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The system may then ask to specify the nickname or the town of the person to be contacted, or directly whether “jean-mi” who lives in Metz or “ze boss” who lives in Nice is to be contacted. 
     At step  12 , the user says “ze boss”, and it is assumed that the voice platform has correctly recognized “ze boss”. 
     The translation using the specific grammar at step  13  gives the index  1 . 
     Then, at step  14 , the new portion retrieved from the database  3  is determined, given by the vector Vr of entry  1  of the vector Vp: 
     Vr=({IDe=7, cr={Nickname}}) 
     There is now only one result, and therefore the test at step  15  is negative. Therefore we proceed to step  16  reflecting success, and the system may now indicate to the user the contact details of the person to be contacted. 
     Thus by virtue of the invention it is possible to reduce the number of results obtained when querying a multimedia database, by successive refinements, by means of an iterative step. 
     Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description to the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims. In addition, it is to be understood that features described herein independently may, in certain embodiments, be combined.