1. A method of optimizing a search for a scene based on a stream of images archived in a video database, comprising: a first phase of preprocessing prior to archiving of the images, comprising: extracting generic information from the images of the stream, systematically annotating the scenes of the images by at least one indication defined as a function of the generic information, and indexing the scenes of the images based on information extracted from the indications originating from one or more streams; a second phase of investigation by preselecting video segments from the stream of images including the annotation indications associated with the images; a training making it possible to recognize at least one additional characteristic that is not part of the annotations associated with the preselected video segments; and a third phase of searching for a particular scene carried out using a generic request including the annotations associated with the preselected video segments and the at least one additional characteristic that is not part of said annotations, said at least one additional characteristic being a non-generic additional characteristic, wherein, during operation, the images obtained by a camera are transmitted, before compression, to a first preprocessing unit to dynamically add generic annotations to said images, and wherein the generic information extracted from the images is defined as a function of a considered application of the searched scene.