FR2774530A1 - LISTENING DEVICE FOR POINTS OF SALE AND SYSTEM USING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a listening device for sales outlets comprising at least a transducer connected to a sound source for reproducing a first type of sound recordings, the device further comprising means for reproducing a second type of sound recordings.

Description

 Listening device intended for points of sale and system implementing such a device.

 The present invention relates to the field of equipment intended to offer customers of a store the possibility of listening to extracts of an audiovisual product, for example a disk counter or a cassette, before making the purchase.

 It is known in the prior art to equip shelving or gondola heads with listening points comprising one or more compact disc players and one or more speakers.

 A control keyboard allows the customer to select a disc and listen to extracts.

 These are equipment intended exclusively for the promotion of a product, and not for the promotion of the store or of an event or partner of the store.

 The object of the invention is to propose listening equipment which makes it possible not only to allow the hearing of extracts from sound recordings from a first source, for example extracts from discs, but also to disseminate information originating from a second source, for example a server for advertising messages.

 To this end, the invention relates first of all to a listening device intended for points of sale comprising at least one transducer connected to a sound source for the reproduction of sound recordings of a first type characterized in that the device further comprises means for the reproduction of sound recordings of a second type.

 Advantageously, the listening device comprises a switch for triggering the reproduction of sound recordings of a second type.

 According to a first variant, it incorporates a storage means for sound recordings of the second type.

 Advantageously, the recording means is a downloadable memory.

 According to a second variant, the listening device integrates means of remote connection with a medium for sound recordings of the second type.

 The invention also relates to a listening system intended for point of sale of the type comprising listening stations each provided with at least one player with a sound recording medium of a first type and with at least one transducer connected to a sound source for the reproduction of sound recordings of a first type characterized in that it further comprises a server common to a plurality of listening stations, for the broadcasting by transducers of listening stations a second type of sound recording.

 Advantageously, the server comprising means of remote connection with the transducers of the listening stations.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, referring to the appended drawings where the single figure represents the block diagram of an installation according to the invention.

 In the example described, the installation comprises three listening stations (1 to 3). Each listening station (1 to 3) includes compact disc players (11 to 13), the audio output of which is connected to a mixer (31 to 33). The compact disc players (11 to 13) are controlled in a known manner by control buttons accessible by the customer, for example fast forward buttons or change of listening range. The starting and stopping of the readers can be controlled by a photosensitive cell arranged in the support rod of the helmet.

 The output of the mixer (31 to 33) is connected to a helmet (21 to 23) via conductive wires, preferably protected by a metal sheath preventing the tearing or degradation of the helmet and its connecting wires. The other input of the mixer (21 to 23) is connected to an audio server (40) comprising a recording of one or more pieces of information from a second source, for example advertising or promotional messages.

 It is an example of an embodiment only. It is also possible to store these messages in a downloadable memory or on a memory card, which is placed either in each headset (21 to 23), or in each listening station (1 to 3).

 The triggering of the advertising message can be automated, for example by a timer periodically activating the reproduction of the message, or even triggered by the customer, using a control button provided for this purpose either on the helmet or on the listening station (1 to 3).

 I1 can also be triggered automatically by a time delay initialized by switching on the compact disc player (11 to 13) or by removing the headphones from their support.

 The invention is described in the foregoing by way of nonlimiting example. Those skilled in the art will be able to produce variants coming within the scope of the invention. For example, the sound source for the reproduction of sound recordings of a first type could be an audio server. or multimedia, the information of which is distributed by wire link or by remote link to all listening points.

Claims (8)

R E V E N Dl CATI ON S  1 - Listening device intended for points of sale comprising at least one transducer connected to a sound source for the reproduction of sound recordings of a first type characterized in that the device also comprises means for the reproduction of recordings of a second type.  2 - Listening device for points of sale according to claim 1 characterized in that the listening device comprises a switch for triggering the playback of sound recordings of a second type.  3 - Listening device for points of sale according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it incorporates a storage means for sound recordings of the second type.  4 - Listening device for points of sale according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recording means is a downloadable memory.  5 - Listening device for points of sale according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it incorporates means of remote connection with a medium of sound recordings of the second type.  6 - Listening system intended for points of sale of the type comprising listening stations each provided with at least one reader of a sound recording medium of a first type and with at least one transducer connected to a sound source for the reproduction of sound recordings of a first type characterized in that it further comprises a server common to a plurality of listening stations, for the broadcasting by transducers of listening stations of a recording of a second type.  7 - Listening system for points of sale according to claim 6 characterized in that the server comprising means of remote connection with the transducers of listening stations.  8 - Listening system for points of sale according to claim 6 or 7 characterized in that the sound source for the reproduction of sound recordings of a first type may be an audio server. or multimedia, the information of which is distributed by wire link or by remote link to all listening points.