Patent ID: 7703121

Claim:
A method of distributing multimedia data from a central distribution station to local equipment ( 300 ), provided with an image sensor ( 302 ) and means to make a communication link with the central distribution station, the method comprising: a) the linking of a plurality of image characteristics ( 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 , 46 , 48 ) respectively with a plurality of sets of multimedia data ( 100 , 101 , 102 ) stored by the central distribution station, b) the making available to at least one user of a support ( 10 ) having at least one selection image ( 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 ) representative of the multimedia contents and of which one part at least has the image characteristic, c) in response to capture ( 200 ) of at least one image of the support by the local equipment, the automatic making of a communication link ( 204 ) between the local equipment and the central distribution station, and the calculation ( 202 ) of a characteristic of the captured image, d) the search ( 206 ) for a set of multimedia data of the central station linked to an image characteristic closest to the characteristic calculated in step c), e) the transfer of multimedia data to the local equipment and the reproduction to the user of the data, using the local equipment, the method further comprising: f) the linking of at least one image characteristic ( 48 ) of an overall image to a group of several of said sets of multimedia data ( 110 , 111 , 112 ); and g) the sending of an invitation ( 208 ) to restrict an image capture field when the characteristic of the captured image corresponds to the characteristic of the overall image and wherein the search for a set of multimedia data is limited to the group of data sets corresponding to the overall image, upon a new capture of an image.