Character-image search engine

In common Internet browsers, a user can search text within a Web page or a frame that the user is currently reading. The search algorithms used to search the source code of the HTML page, and a browser built in search program also highlights the matched words in the browser display. However, when users browse Web sites through some character-to-image conversion gateway, all characters are converted to images by using the same character to image conversion technology. In this case, the browser built-in search utility no longer works because it is impossible to search images in current implementations. We present a character-image search engine that provides character search functionality in a page with embedded character images. The engine works with a character-to-image conversion gateway using an agreed method, thus the character images can be treated just as characters in the search process. The provision of such a character-image search function makes the character-to-image conversion gateway more convenient to use. Consequently, people with no native font supports would still be able to access the Internet with the proper display and search tool provided.