Internet and tv data service browsing apparatus

1 . Internet and TV data service browsing apparatus configured to display Internet pages retrieved from the Internet in response to a Internet address being inputted by a user and to display TV data service data retrieved from a TV channel broadcast in response to a TV data service address being inputted by a user, characterised by a common input mechanism with which a user may input both a Internet address and a TV data service address to display Internet pages and TV data service data respectively.

2 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the input mechanism is text entry in a text entry box displayed on the screen.

3 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the input mechanism is the selection of a particular type of hyperlink displayed on the display.

4 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the TV data service address contains either the channel name or channel number of the TV channel.

5 . Internet and TV data service browsing apparatus configured to display Internet pages retrieved from the Internet in response to a Internet address being inputted by a user and to display TV data service data retrieved from a TV channel broadcast in response to a TV data service address being inputted by a user, characterised by saving means for saving a TV data service data file in a file format which is viewable by the browser, which is composed of, contains or refers to the TV data service data, and which is saved either having a file name or having a directory structure indicating either the channel name or channel number of the TV channel.

6 . Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein, upon retrieving TV data service data in a file format which is viewable by the browser, the saving means saves this file as the TV data service data file.

7 . Apparatus according to claims 5 or 6 wherein, upon retrieving TV data service data in a file format which is not viewable by the browser, the saving means first converts that file to a format which is viewable by the browser and then saves that converted file as the TV data service data file.

8 . Apparatus according to claims 5 wherein, upon retrieving TV data service data either in a file format which is not viewable by the browser or not in a file format, the saving means first creates or amends a file to containing either TV data service data retrieved from the TV channel or a reference to an associated file containing TV data service data retrieved from the TV channel, and then saves that created or amended file as the TV data service data file.

9 . A method of providing browsing of Internet and TV data services comprising the steps of:

supporting a browser;

retrieving TV data service data from a TV channel; and

saving a TV data service data file which is composed of, contains or refers to the TV data service data in a file format which is viewable by the browser and with either a file name or directory structure indicating either the channel name or channel number of the TV channel.

10 . A method according to claim 9 wherein upon retrieving TV data service data in a file format which is viewable by the browser, that file is saved as the TV data service data file.

11 . A method according to claims 9 or 10 wherein, upon retrieving TV data service data in a file format which is not viewable by the browser, that file is first converted to a format which is viewable by the browser and then that converted file is saved as the TV data service data file.

12 . A method according to claims 9 or 10 wherein, upon retrieving TV data service data either in a file format which is not viewable by the browser or not in a file format, a file is first created or amended to contain either TV data service data retrieved from the TV channel or a reference to an associated file containing TV data service data retrieved from the TV channel, and that created or amended file saved as the TV data service data file.