FR2857477A1 - Digital contents e.g. text, automatic updating process for digital contents broadcasting network, involves activating downloading of contents of mobile computing unit, in which contents version is more recent, towards other units - Google Patents

Abstract

The process involves verifying a version of digital contents of each of multiple mobile computing units such as computer terminals. The version of each unit in a geolocalized zone (13) is compared for determining the unit in which the version is more recent. Downloading of the contents of the unit in which the version is more recent is activated towards other units in which the version is older for carrying out updating. The digital contents include text, images and video. Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) a mobile computing unit (b) a digital contents broadcasting network.

Description

Method for automatically updating digital contents between

  mobile computing elements, a mobile computer element adapted to

  such a method and network for broadcasting digital contents.

  The present invention relates to a method for automatically updating digital contents between computer mobile elements. It also relates to a mobile computer element adapted to such a method and a digital content broadcasting network implementing the method of the invention.

  In particular, the invention finds application for independent mobile computing elements belonging to the same closed user group, using zonal radiocommunication means. The invention proposes a new method of fully automatic updating of digital contents between mobile elements, but belonging to the same closed group of users.

  This process is active only when mobile computing elements are found, at a given moment, in the same radio coverage area and in a geolocated area.

  The mobile computing elements are all equipped with zonal radiocommunication means and positioning system of GPS, AGPS, DGPS, Gallileo, triangulation of BTS, etc. The mobile computer elements are all equipped with a software for activating and deactivating radiocommunications which supervises the entrances and exits of the zones. This software inhibits any emission of radio waves outside predefined geolocated areas. The mobile computing elements are all equipped with a system for archiving digital contents (text, images, video, ...).

  The mobile computer elements can be embedded either on land vehicles, or on marine craft (waterways, sea, etc.), or on pedestrians.

  The update times of the digital contents, by the invention, depend on the frequency, the transit times of the moving elements in the predefined geolocalised areas and more particularly when appearing in the radio coverage area of another mobile element. which has more up-to-date digital content. These digital contents may include digital audio, graphic, video or multimedia documents, with or without interactivity. They are intended to be viewed and / or operated by one or more users of the mobile computing element in which the digital content is recorded.

  In the state of the art, systems that use computer processes whose purpose is to update the computer content of a mobile computer element are already known.

  This is particularly the case for local radio networks (RLANs). These networks are based on different Hiperlan standards from ETSI, 802.11 from the IETF or WiFi Fidelity product lines. These networks operate in two modes: - HUB mode or by access point or hot spot, depending on whether it is operating in a closed environment or in an open environment. In this case, the communications are always carried out between the "hub", or the hot spot, and the mobile; the AD HOC mode, in which the mobile computer element analyzes the mobiles that are close to it as well as those that are close to these relatives, in order to determine the topology and to define the routing enabling it to join a remote mobile.

  "Radio" networks are also known, using radio resources of PMR (Private Mobile Radio) or DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) type.

  Finally, systems for transmitting digital contents by satellite beam are known, using broadcasting and reception by means of one or more radiocommunication satellites orbiting the Earth.

  Nevertheless, existing systems require heavy infrastructure, implementation costs, operating costs and prohibitive maintenance to cover a large area.

  The invention provides a remedy for the aforementioned drawbacks. Indeed, the present invention relates to a method for updating the common digital contents of a plurality of mobile computing elements that are at a given moment in the same limited geographical area. The invention is characterized in that the method consists in verifying the version of the digital content of at least one mobile computer element and comparing the version of each mobile computer element present in the zone so as to determine the identity of the mobile computer element with the latest digital content version, then triggering the download of the digital content of the most current mobile computing element to the mobile computing elements whose digital content is older version so as to update it.

  The present invention has the advantage over the state of the art that the set of mobile computer elements is substituted for the fixed infrastructure described in this state of the art. Thus, the invention makes it possible to create virtual networks able to perform updates of digital contents by contamination effect step by step.

  The process of the invention has many advantages. Indeed, the invention is independent of radiocommunication standards, is compatible with all existing and future standards, requires no fixed hardware infrastructure, often heavy and expensive, can manage closed groups of users, several groups can coexist in the same geolocated areas.

  On the basis of the principle of contamination, the method of the invention is very simple to implement and the management of a digital content broadcasting network is then simplified.

  When it operates communications in radio frequency form, the method of the invention does not unnecessarily disturb the radio environment, since there is no unnecessary radio-electric radiation emissions except in the geolocated areas.

  The method of the invention provides a means to make possible total nomadism, that is to say a mode of exploitation of computer means that does not require periodic returns forced to fixed points to stay up to date.

  The method of the invention provides a means to make possible the coexistence of a multitude of operators of digital content broadcasts and offering equivalent network services, through the use of distinct areas in the territory, without any risk of interference and disturbance.

  The method of the invention provides a means for increasing the autonomy of mobile computer elements such as computer terminals, which is a crucial problem for nomadic systems, thanks to the energy savings outside the zones, no communication attempt being made outside the Scheduled areas for updating digital content.

  The present invention also relates to a mobile computer element of the kind comprising means for connecting to at least one other mobile computer element, a means for recording at least one digital content. Such a mobile computer element comprises at least one means for identifying a version number of the recorded digital content, a means for presenting a request for digital version of digital content to at least one other mobile computer element, a means for comparing the number version of digital content recorded at the digital content version number returned by the other computer mobile element, means for receiving a version signaling request, means for returning a digital content version number activated by said means Finally, the invention relates to a digital content broadcasting network intended for computer mobile elements which comprises a plurality of computer mobile elements operating according to the method of the invention.

  Other advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood with the aid of the description and the appended figures among which: FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a particular implementation of the method of the invention; Figure 2 and Figure 3 are geographical maps explaining the implementation of the method of the invention according to the embodiment of Figure 1 in a practical case; FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the software implemented in an elementary network applying the method according to the embodiment of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 represents the architecture of the digital content in one embodiment of the invention; - Figures 6 to 8 are block diagrams of a computer mobile element implementing the method of the invention in other embodiments.

  The method of the invention is activated when mobile computing elements are in the same radio coverage area in a geolocated area. It implements the following objects: computer mobile elements, Closed User Groups, zonal radiocommunication, a radio coverage area and a geolocated area.

  Automatic updating is a process of exchanging data between computer mobile elements that store digital content. These digital contents evolve over time and are indexed to the corresponding version number. The mobile computing element that has digital content with a newer version number transmits the data for that digital content to the other elements for updating. This process can be compared to a contamination.

  A mobile computer element is a computing platform that is intended to move at least in geolocated areas and, preferably to change geolocated area. In an exemplary embodiment, the mobile computer element is attached to a vehicle that has no fixed geographical point of attachment.

  A Closed User Group (GFU) is a set of mobile computing elements that communicate with each other and only with each other.

  Zonal radiocommunication is a radiocommunication technique that covers a geographical area of about 104 W. A radio coverage area is a space in which mobile elements can communicate with each other.

  A geolocated area is a defined geographical area, determined by the characteristics (latitude and longitude) of its outline, within which the mobile elements are entitled to communicate with each other.

  In a state-of-the-art system, any mobile computer element tries to connect regardless of location and permanently. Once in the radio range area, it always communicates with a fixed point, called "access point".

  In the method of the invention, not only is there no fixed physical point, but, depending on the context and at a given moment, one of the mobile computing elements will behave exactly as a fixed point for other mobiles.

  We will now describe as a non-limiting example, an application of the invention in the case of a fleet of taxis.

  Taxis are equipped with a multimedia system that offers information services (tourist, event, advertising, etc ...) to the passenger. This information is stored in the on-board equipment. However, this information must be renewed and updated so as not to present outdated information. In the state of the art, updating the digital contents of the fleet is a complex problem and, even if the means to solve it exist, they require a heavy and expensive infrastructure. However, the invention is based on the analysis that taxis do not have a fixed point of attachment and circulate continuously. However, taxis tend to cluster in some special places such as train stations, airports, hotels, taxi ranks, etc. In these places, they usually stand in line one behind the other.

  In a particular embodiment, the method of the invention executes as an update of digital content, a new advertising campaign, between two taxis, belonging to the same fleet. Taxis are all equipped with computer mobile elements each comprising a multimedia display system and specialized circuits for carrying out the method of the invention. Taxis transit, waiting to race, in the same geolocated area predefined by geographical criteria.

  The method of the invention realizes, in a completely automatic manner, the updating of the digital contents by transferring a stream of data from the taxi whose mobile computer element contains the digital content of which the most recent version to the taxi whose mobile computer element contains the digital content whose version is the oldest.

  Each place of grouping of taxis is geographically defined. It is therefore simple to define the coverage areas. As soon as the taxis enter a geolocated zone, the access mechanism to the radiocommunication network executed on the mobile computer element associated with the taxi entering the zone is automatically awakened. At a given moment, two taxis are waiting, in the same radio coverage area, in a geolocated area. So they go first, according to an ad hoc protocol, to authenticate between them. In a second step, they will exchange information relating to the versions of the various digital contents stored. The taxi with the most up-to-date version will be defined as "master" and the other as "slave". The "master" then emits, in blocks, the elements for updating the digital contents. The slave "saves the blocks and updates its own digital contents." Once its digital contents updated, the taxi, "ex-slave", can, in turn, under the same conditions, update another taxi whose digital content versions are earlier than its own, so that taxis "contaminate" each other until the entire fleet is fully updated.

  The exchange protocol is based on the transmissions of two types of frames: The information frames: they contain information that makes it possible to define the context in which the data exchanges will take place; Data frames: These contain information and blocks of data that allow the updating of digital content.

  The information frames include: Presentation frames which are composed of: o The reference of the closed group of GFU users; o Identification of the mobile computing element; É Interrogation frames that are composed of: o States of the versions of the subsets; o Validity data of subsets (lifetime of digital contents); É Configuration frames that are composed of: 2857477 8 o References of the Master mobile computing element; Data frames include: É Domain frames that are composed of: o Data type (tourism, event, etc.). E The actual data frames that are composed of: o Data blocks; o Data validity period data blocks.

  The protocol specification that has just been given is provided as an example of the protocol principle that is used according to the invention, but the frame types are very open.

  All digital content to be broadcast is divided into themes. Each theme groups together information of the same nature (in the protocol specification, a theme is determined in a domain frame as a data type defined in a pre-established list: tourist information, event information, advertising information, etc.).

  Each theme is cut into clips. Each clip corresponds to a mini program: presentation of a tourist site, launch of a show, commercial spot.

  Each clip is divided into subsets, of defined size, which we will call "containers". The clip is a file containing a tree of directories and files in compressed mode (jar, zip, tgz, etc.). In a particular embodiment, information on the general state of the versions of the clips is transmitted to the computer mobile elements. using a permanent network such as GPRS for example.

  A container is a data file that must not be cut during transmission according to the method of the invention. A digital content signature, of the checksum type, is associated with each container, for integrity validation. To be valid, a container must be fully received and validated.

  The updating of the digital contents is initiated on some mobiles according to standard classical methods, starting from the central site or from satellite sites.

  In this context, the invention is the communication process that will allow the exchange of containers, so that all clips of all themes can be updated on all mobile fleet.

  The broadcast network that exploits the method of the invention comprises container management means, including means for creating, editing, modifying, interacting and broadcasting such contents. For this purpose, a central system manages container families and applies the protocol specification that has been described above.

  One of the characteristics of the container family is the identity of the associated GFU Closed User Group. Thanks to local management, on a given mobile computer element, it is possible to concurrently manage several fleets of mobiles (vehicles, boats, pedestrians, etc.) each having its own digital content to be updated. It then suffices that each mobile computer element verifies the identity of the GFU to which it belongs, and compares it to the identity of the GFU of the other mobile computer element with which an exchange can be initiated. If the identities of the two GFUs are recognized as identical, the exchange can continue. This exchange is interrupted otherwise.

  Another feature of the container family is the topic of digital content. For example, it is possible to manage, for the same Closed Group of GFU Users, digital contents relating to different themes (tourism, events, advertising, ...) For a given container, the size of the container is established in function of the predicted duration of presence of the normal computer mobile element in the geolocated zone.

  Containers are organized according to pre-established priority levels.

  In a particular embodiment, the containers are encrypted to guarantee the illicit readings at the time of their transit over the radio network. The decryption is done on reception by the mobile computer element which in this case comprises upstream of the content memory a decryption circuit which can be: - or an automatic decryption circuit, as soon as the reception of the digital content is detected or a decryption circuit controlled for example by a consumer payment mechanism or by the introduction of a password.

  In a particular embodiment, some digital containers are specially encrypted for decryption by the application that allows, in a particular mobile computer element, their use and only at the time of use. In this case also, the decryption is done at the start of the application by the mobile computer element which in this case comprises downstream of the content memory a decryption circuit which can be: either an automatic decryption circuit, as soon as that the reading of the particular encrypted digital content is detected; or a decryption circuit controlled for example by a consumer payment mechanism or by the introduction of a password.

  A family of containers can group containers with different version numbers. At the receiving end, it is only when all the containers of the same family all have the number of the new version that the digital content of the corresponding archive will be updated for the application.

  A manifest is placed at the top of each container. A manifest is a document that delivers container configuration information. This configuration information is generated in XML format and can collect: É the name of the GFU É the name of the container family É the name of the container É its creation date É its last update date É its version number É the list of included files.

  The structure of a container is as follows, except that the manifest, all other fields are optional: - the manifest of the container, - BDD (directory) contains the new evolutions of schemas and / or entries of the databases. Each of the diagrams or entries evolutions is stored in a subdirectory of the name of the database and a file of the name of the incriminated table.

  - media (directory) contains sub-directories images, videos themselves containing the multimedia information, The replication mechanism is organized as follows. The space time is organized in two phases: Phase 1: protocol phase; Phase 2: replication phase During the protocol phase, all the mobiles present in the geolocated zone exchange only the protocol. The protocol information exchanged is: É Membership: to give their membership GFU; É Authentication: to determine the instantaneous context (any mobile that enters the zone after this phase is automatically excluded from this space time.

  Status: Each mobile transmits its status: list of container families and version numbers of the containers.

  The organization: the mobile, which is the most up to date on the family with the highest priority, declares itself "master" and all the others go into "data reception" or "slave" mode.

  During the replication phase whose duration is greater than the previous one, the containers are emitted in carousel mode by the "master". At the end of receiving a container, the "slaves" issue an acknowledgment of receipt.

  Replication can be integral, that is, a container family contains only one container. Only the number of bytes already transferred is transmitted back which allows, in case of resumption of communication (following a network failure) to resume from this point Replication can also be done in blocks; that is to say that a set of containers are transmitted one after the other. The transmission of each container is guaranteed by a checksum. The dynamic management of the topology and the containers to be transferred allows the transmission / reception of the blocks in the disorder.

  The complete reception of a container and / or a family of containers is signaled to the sender, which makes it possible to remove it from the carousel list when all the recipients have been updated.

  The contributions of the invention are very numerous in the global field of mobility.

  Indeed, there are to date systems that meet the same need, but all with some disadvantages. We can provide the same services: - From fixed points, which requires regular and frequent mobile passes to certain predefined locations (office, garage, etc ...) From satellite reception, which requires the implementation heavy and expensive specific equipment and offers a discontinuous service in urban areas, due to lack of satellite coverage.

  From offers "mobile networks" operators (GPRS, UMTS, ...), which are very expensive because it is necessary to establish as many communications as there are mobiles.

  - From radiocommunication-type PMR broadcast, but coverage areas are reduced and high costs - From DAB radiocommunication broadcast, but coverage areas are, to date limited, the technology is subject to governmental authorization , the use of the service is subject to authorization from the CSA in France and the operating costs of the providers of broadcasting services are high.

  - From "hot spot" fixed points, which is equivalent to a fixed point solution while being more practical since the update can be done outside buildings by radiocommunication.

  The process of the invention can be applied together with the aforementioned solutions of the state of the art. The invention can also be considered complementary to the aforementioned solutions of the state of the art, by applying the concept of broadening the radio coverage.

  The invention does not require any hardware infrastructure. It applies in areas where there is no infrastructure, in protected areas where it is forbidden to place any pylon or antenna. In addition, the zones can be moved according to the needs, without additional cost. Operation and maintenance cost nothing since there is no charge for the use, unlike systems that require subscription to a broadcast channel such as a radio link. In addition, embedded equipment is a mass-market product, which provides many competing offers and competitive prices.

  We will now describe several particular modes of the invention, including keeping in mind the illustrative application to a fleet of taxis.

  In FIG. 1, a geolocated zone 13 is marked in advance by geographical references that the mobile computer element is capable of detecting. Such a geolocalised area 13 may be stored in a local memory of the mobile computer element in the form of geographical coordinates. An example of such a system is the GPS satellite tracking system.

  Within such a geolocated zone 13 is located at least one communication zone 12 in which, by experience, the broadcast network manager in which digital content is to be updated knows that the reception and the reception The transmission of the digital data streams is correct or admissible, for example because the average time of presence in this communications area 12 of a mobile computer element ensures that it reloads the digital content correctly.

  Three types of mobile computing elements are located in the location zone 13 or in a communications zone 12: mobile computer elements 14 which are in the exclusion zone included in the geolocated zone 13 but outside a communications area 12; - Computer type mobile elements 15 which is in a communications area 12; - Slave-type computer mobile elements 16 which is in a communications zone 12.

  In Figure 2, there is shown the disposition of several geolocated areas 17 to 20 on a geographical map in the form of limits shown in dashed lines. Outside these geolocalised areas, the digital contents can only be exploited using conventional multimedia systems associated with them: - or by integrating a mobile computer element according to the invention with a multimedia system in the case of a station integrated in the vehicle 10 as a taxi; - Or by electrical connection or without contact in the case of an association with a pre-existing multimedia system.

  In FIG. 3, the detail of the geolocated zone 20 of FIG. 2 is represented. In the application of the invention to a fleet of taxis carrying mobile computing elements, the zone 20 is arranged so as to approach the taxi stations located near a parking lot 21, a subway station 22, a regional railway station 23.

  FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the invention when two taxis are in the geolocated zone 20. During a step E1, a first mobile computer element A detects that it enters a geolocated zone 20 in a communication zone where there is a second mobile computer element B. In a step E2, the two mobile computer elements start a dialogue to determine whether they are on the same Group ID Closed 'GFU users.

  In an E3 test, if the identifier is not common, the control returns to the waiting step until one of the moving elements detects that it has left the communication area.

  In the test E3, the closed user group identifier GFU is found to be common and the control then proceeds to the step E4 of transmitting the status information of the previously described digital contents.

  At the end of step E4, the control is passed on the mobile A to a step E5 for analyzing the received states while the control of the mobile B executes the same step E6 identical to the analysis step E5 received states.

  In step E7 on the mobile A the control executes a comparison of the versions of the digital contents on the mobile B and determines that the version of digital content recorded in the mobile computer element A is newer than the version of digital content recorded in the mobile computer element B, and declares the master mobile A in the content broadcasting network.

  In step E8 on the mobile B, the control performs a comparison of the versions of the digital contents on the mobile A and determines that the version of digital content recorded in the mobile computer element A is newer than the digital content version recorded in the mobile computer element B, and declares the mobile B slave in the content broadcast network.

  During a step E9, the control on the mobile said master executes the transmission of the digital content recorded in the mobile computer element A, while, at the same time the control on the mobile computer element B which s' is declared slave has entered the receiving mode so as to store in its memory the newer digital content broadcast by A. During a step E10, the mobile computer element A generates a consistency check message of the content broadcast or a package of the content and broadcast it in the broadcast protocol. The mobile control B then performs an E12 test to calculate the coherence of the digital content it has received or of the transmitted packet and compares the coherence calculation result with the coherence check message of the broadcast of the content or of a packet. package of the content broadcast by A. If the test E12 is negative, the content update on the mobile computer element slave B is canceled and the control returns at least to the identity test of the Closed Group of GFU Users (as shown in the drawing) so that the resumption of an update operation is re-initialized.

  In Figure 5, there is shown a diagram of a portion of the data frames that are exchanged between a master mobile computer element and a slave mobile element in a particular embodiment. The protocol preferably used in the invention comprises a hierarchy of data which is represented in the organization of FIG.

  In a first level, a digital content editing system operated at the level of the content distribution network makes it possible to produce a plurality of themes such as theme 30 which group together similar contents. A theme 30 may relate to digital content in the field of advertising campaigns.

  The theme 30 comprises a plurality of clips such as the clip 31 which is itself hierarchized into a sequence of containers 32. A container 32, which is the smallest data unit of the broadcast protocol, comprises three inseparable parts: a field 33 of container information 32; a digital data zone 34; and a data validation of the update or consistency of the data of the container, such as a checksum.

  The digital content broadcasting network thus cooperates with a digital content editing and formatting system according to the principle of the chosen protocol so as to allow the transmission of the digital contents and their different versions.

  New or newer digital content from the editing system is then inserted into the broadcast network by at least one mobile computer element. Such prior loading can be carried out by any known means including: downloading by using a digital data communication network such as an Internet protocol telephone network or WAP or GPRS on at least one digital mobile element, equipped with a data transmission circuit; a suitable connection that should serve as an initiator of the contamination mechanism to perform the update process on the other mobile computing elements of the same Closed Group of GFU Users; downloading by direct connection, for example using a USB connection compatible with the nature of the digital contents and if equipped with a digital content editing station and at least one digital mobile element, equipped with a digital a suitable connection circuit which is to serve as initiator of the contamination mechanism for performing the updating process on the other mobile computing elements of the same Closed Group of GFU Users; one or the other of these two downloads during the initial configuration of a new mobile computer element that must join the distribution network, when it is first put into circulation and which will thus serve as initiator of the contamination mechanism to perform the update process on the other mobile computing elements of the same GFU Closed User Group.

  In Figure 6, there is shown a first embodiment of a mobile computer element 1 adapted to the method of the invention. The functions provided by the mobile computer element 1 will be described using blocks that can be produced in the form of both hardwired circuits and software elements executed on a conventional processor.

  The mobile computer element 1 of the invention comprises a memory 2 of digital contents which are in accordance with what has been described in particular with the help of FIG. 5. This memory 2 can be read by a content editing system which has not been represented but which allows the user of the mobile computer element to consult a specific container.

  The memory 2 is connected to a means 5 for detecting the digital content version number in the memory 2. In practice, if the mobile computer element 1 belongs to several closed groups of GFU users, the means can be split.

  The means 5 for detecting the digital content version number is connected to a first input of a version number comparator 10. A circuit 6 is capable of producing a version number request which reaches by a transmission means 7 the data stream that the mobile computer element 1 is able to exchange in the communications area in which there are other substantially identical mobile computing elements.

  The version number request transmitter circuit 6 of the digital contents is activated by a not shown circuit which detects the arrival of the mobile element 1 in a communications area belonging to a predetermined geolocated area in the method of the invention as the geolocated area 20 (Figures 2 and 3) and as described above. Such a circuit is preferably based on a resource of geopositioning such as a GPS or Galileo resource.

  A data receiving means 8 is connected to an input terminal of a version number request response receiver circuit 9 which provides the version number of a mobile computer element also in the communication area. to a second input terminal of the comparator 10 of version numbers. If the version number stored in the detector 5 is newer than the version number received by the receiver 9, the comparator 10 which is connected to a master-slave mode change input terminal of a transceiver 4 digital content update, goes to master state, that is to say, as explained with the help of Figure 4, transfers the contents of the memory 2 to all mobile computing elements that have positioned themselves in slave mode. If the version number stored in the detector 5 is older than the version number received by the receiver 9, the comparator 10 which is connected to a master-slave mode change input terminal of the transceiver 4 digital content update, goes into slave state, that is to say, as explained with the aid of FIG. 4, loads the memory 2 with the data transmitted from the memory of digital contents of the mobile computer element positioned in master mode.

  We will now describe the case where two mobile computer elements are placed in master mode and emit content at the same time.

  During the protocol phase, the mobile elements present in the same radio coverage of the same zone communicate the state of their tables. If multiple mobile elements display the same up-to-date table, then they are eligible as "master". Each eligible "master" declares himself "master". Two cases are possible.

  The declarations are issued exactly at the same time. There is a collision, the messages blur each other, they must be repeated. A re-transmission mechanism with delays relating to the address of the mobile element makes it possible not to re-transmit these messages simultaneously.

  Declarations are not issued simultaneously. The beginning of the reception of the first transmitted "master" declaration message blocks all the transmission mechanisms of this message from the other eligible "master" mobile elements.

  We will now describe the case where a mobile computer element enters the zone while an updating operation is already taking place.

  The content update sequences are divided into two phases. The first phase is protocolary, the second phase is operational. When a mobile element enters the active zone while the second phase of a sequence is in progress, it sends a declaration message which remains unanswered. It re-transmits it to the next protocol sequence.

  According to the embodiments, the transmission-reception means of each mobile element allow: direct communication between several mobile computer elements; - a communication through a base station which defines the communication area.

  These two modes are standardized in principle. The invention allows their implementation in the case of use of these means for the reciprocal updating of contents is between a fixed element and a movable element, or between two movable elements between them.

  Similarly, the mobile computer element 1 comprises a circuit not shown to receive a request sent by a new mobile element entering the communication area and a circuit (not shown) and connected to a transmission resource to return in response to the digital content version number from circuit 5.

  FIG. 7 shows another part of a mobile computing element which comprises at least the circuits described in FIG. 6. The circuit 6 for sending version number requests already described also includes a second activation input which is connected to the output of a comparator 39 group identities GFUs which are subscribed to the mobile computer element 1 and the other mobile elements present in the communication area.

  To this end, a register 40 stores a number ID_GFU representative of the closed user group identity to which the mobile computer element 1 is subscribed. This register is loaded during the first commissioning of the mobile computer element 1 and may be modified if necessary by a procedure for subscribing to new closed groups of different users. If several GFU IDs are provided, the means of FIG. 7 are split.

  The register 40 is connected to a first input terminal of the comparator circuit 30 already mentioned, a second input terminal of which is connected to the output of a GFU group identity request receiver circuit.

  A request sending circuit ID GFU is connected to a means 36 for transmitting data in the radio communication zone and the request is sent to the other mobile elements present in the communication zone. If at least one mobile element responds to the request, its response is detected on a communication resource 37 in the communications area and transmitted to the decode input of a GFU group identification request response receiver 38.

  The receiver 38 produces a data representative of the identity of the group GFU to which belongs the mobile element responding to the mobile element 1 which is inputted to the second input terminal of the comparator 39 of identities ID GFU including an output terminal is connected to an activation terminal of the circuit 6 issuing requests for version numbers, which can then, when the mobile element 1 is in the communication area generate its request.

  Similarly, the mobile computer element 1 comprises a circuit not shown to receive a request sent by a new mobile element entering the communication area and a circuit (not shown) and connected to a transmission resource to return in response to the request. GFU ID of the closed user group to which it belongs and read from the Registry 40.

  FIG. 8 shows a particular embodiment of a mobile element 1 in which a means is provided for activating the method of updating the contents in a given communication zone when the management characteristic of the Closed Groups d 'GFU users is enabled.

  By a suitable communication resource 41, geolocation information is produced on a geolocation circuit 42 having an output terminal connected to an input terminal of a geolocated area detection circuit 43. The circuit 43 contains geographical referencing data of geolocalised zones for the definition of an arbitrary number of geolocalised zones such as the zones 16 to 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4). If the circuit 43 detects that the comparison of the geolocation data and geographical referencing data of geolocated zones recorded in the circuit 43 correspond, then the circuit 43 produces a control signal of a wake-up circuit 44 whose output is connected to an activation input of the GFU identity request transmitter circuit 45 already described.

  The geographical referencing data of geolocated zones are entered in the circuit 43 of the mobile element 1 during its configuration before its first commissioning and during modifications or maintenance of the broadcast network.

Claims (14)

  A method of updating the common digital contents of a plurality of mobile computing elements that are at a given instant in the same limited geographical area, characterized in that it consists (E7, E8) to verify the version digital content of at least one mobile computer element and comparing the version of each mobile computer element present in the zone so as to determine the master state of the mobile computer element whose digital content version is the most recent, and then initiating the download (E9) of the digital content of the most recent version of the mobile computer element to the mobile computer elements whose digital content is of an older version so as to update it.   2 - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step for defining at least one geolocalised area in which the update will be authorized.   3 - Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a step for defining at least one closed user group (GFU).   4 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, to increase the autonomy of mobile computer elements, no attempt to communicate is allowed outside the geolocated areas of digital content updates.   - Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of checking the consistency of the update data.   6 - Process according to claim 5, characterized in that if the update data are not consistent with the data of the mobile element in the master state, the update is canceled.   7 - Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an access mechanism to the radiocommunication network is executed on the mobile computer element entering the geolocated area, so that, in a first step, according to a protocol ad hoc, the various mobile computer elements can authenticate with each other, and then, secondly, exchange information relating to the versions of the various digital contents stored.   8 Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the updating of the digital contents is initiated on some mobiles according to standard standard methods, from a central site or satellite sites.   Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the replication mechanism is organized in two phases: Phase 1: protocol phase; Phase 2: replication phase A method according to claim 9, characterized in that, during the protocol phase, all the mobiles present in the geolocated zone exchange only the protocol, then that the protocol information exchanged comprises separately or in combination: Membership; É Authentication; É The state; The organization so that the mobile, which is the most up to date on the highest priority family, declares itself "master" and all the others go into "data reception" or "slave" mode.   11 Process according to claim 9, characterized in that during the replication phase, the containers are emitted in carousel mode by the "master", and in that at the end of reception of a container, the "slaves" emit a acknowledgment of receipt.   Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the replication is integral.   Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the replication is in blocks; that is to say that a set of containers are transmitted one after the other, the transmission of each container being guaranteed by a checksum, so that the dynamic management of the topology and containers to be transferred allows the transmission / reception blocks in the mess.   Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that the complete reception of a container and / or a family of containers is signaled to the transmitter, which allows it to be deleted from the carousel list when all recipients has been updated.   Computer mobile element of the kind comprising a means of communication (3, 7, 8) with at least one other mobile computer element, means (2) for recording at least one digital content, characterized in that it comprises at least means (5) for identifying a version number of the recorded digital content, means (6) for presenting a request for digital version reporting of digital content to at least one other computer mobile element, means (10) for comparing the digital content version number recorded at the digital content version number returned by the other computer mobile element, means (9) for receiving a version signaling request, means for returning a digital content version number 16 Element mobile device according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a decryption means on reception by the mobile computer element.   17 mobile element according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, the digital contents being organized in indivisible containers, some digital containers being specially encrypted for decryption by an application that allows their use, it comprises downstream of the memory contents (2) a decryption circuit.   Mobile element according to claim 15, characterized in that it cooperates with a digital content editing system to consult a specific container stored in the memory (2).   19 - mobile element according to claim 15, characterized in that the circuit (6) capable of producing a version number request is activated by a circuit which detects the arrival of the mobile element (1) in a communications area belonging to a geolocated zone (20; FIGS. 2 and 3), - moving element according to claim 19, characterized in that the circuit (6) capable of producing a version number request also comprises a second activation input which is connected to the output of a comparator (39) GFUs group identities to which are subscribed the mobile computer element 1 and the other mobile elements present in the communication area, the mobile element (1) having a register (40) of ID_GFU number representative of the identity of the closed user group to which the mobile computer element (1) is subscribed, and which is connected to a first input terminal of a comparator circuit (30), one of which of the input terminal is connected to the output of a GFU group identity request receiver circuit, a request sending circuit (35) GFU ID so that if at least one mobile element responds to the request, its response is detected at the decoding input of a GFUs group identification request response receiver (38), which produces data representative of the identity of the GFU group to which the mobile element responsive to the mobile element belongs (1) which is inputted to the second input terminal of the comparator (39) of identities ID GFU having an output terminal connected to an activation terminal of the circuit (6) issuing version number queries, which can then, when the mobile element 1 is in the communication area generate its request.   21 movable element according to claim 20, characterized in that it comprises a circuit for receiving a request sent by a new mobile element entering the communication area and a circuit (not shown) and connected to a transmission resource to return in response to the GFU ID of the closed user group to which it belongs and read from the registry (40).   22 movable element according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that it also comprises a geolocation circuit (42) having an output terminal is connected to an input terminal of a circuit (43) for detection of geolocated area , which contains geographical referencing data of geolocated areas for the definition of an arbitrary number of geolocated areas (16 to 20, Figures 3 and 4) to produce a control signal of a wake-up circuit (44) whose output is connected to an activation input of the GFU identity request transmitter circuit (45).   23. Mobile element according to claim 22, characterized in that the geographic referencing data of geolocated areas are entered into the circuit (43) during its configuration before its first commissioning and during modifications or maintenance of the broadcast network.   24 Network for broadcasting digital contents on mobile computer elements implementing the updating method according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises means for creating, editing and updating contents digital signals intended to be broadcast on the basis of two types of frames: The information frames: they contain information that makes it possible to define the context in which the data exchanges will take place; Data frames: They contain information and data blocks that allow the updating of digital contents.   Broadcast network according to claim 24, characterized in that the information frames comprise: Presentation frames which are composed of: the reference of the closed group of GFU users; o Identification of the mobile computing element; É Interrogation frames that are composed of: o States of the versions of the subsets; o Validity data of subsets (lifetime of digital contents); É Configuration frames that are composed of: o References of the Master mobile computing element; 26 - broadcast network according to claim 25, characterized in that the data frames comprise: É The domain frames which are composed: o Of the data type (tourism, event, etc.) É The data frames themselves which are composed of: o Blocks of data; o Data validity period data blocks.   27 - broadcasting network according to claim 26, characterized in that all the digital content to be broadcast is divided into themes, each theme gathering information of the same nature.   28 - broadcasting network according to claim 27, characterized in that each theme is cut into clips, each clip corresponding to a mini program and being divided into subsets, of defined size, or "containers", the clip being a file containing a tree of directories and files in compressed mode (jar, zip, tgz, etc.).   29 - broadcasting network according to claim 28, characterized in that the container is a data file which must not be cut during its transmission according to the method of the invention and in that a digital content signature, type checksum, is associated with each container, for validation of integrity, so that, to be valid, a container must be fully received and validated.   A broadcast network according to claim 29, characterized in that a family of containers can group containers with different version numbers, and encoded so that when all the containers of the same family all have the number of the new version, the digital content of the corresponding archive will be updated for the application.   31 - broadcasting network according to one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that the digital content editing system comprises means for placing a manifest at the head of each container that delivers configuration information of the container.   32 - broadcast network according to one of the preceding claims, 25 characterized in that the structure of a container comprises separately or in combination: - the manifold of the container, BDD (directory) contains the new evolutions of diagrams and / or entries databases, media (directory) contains subdirectories images, videos themselves containing the multimedia information, 33 broadcast network according to one of claims 24 to 32, characterized in that the theme information of the digital content is managed for the same Closed Group of GFU Users for digital contents relating to different themes (tourism, events, advertising, etc.). 34 Broadcast network according to one of claims 24 to 33, characterized in that, for a given container, the size of the container is established according to the predicted duration of presence of the normal computer mobile element in the geolocated zone e.   - Broadcast network according to one of claims 24 to 34, characterized in that the containers are organized according to pre-established priority levels.   36 - broadcasting network according to one of claims 24 to 35, characterized in that the containers are encrypted to ensure the illicit readings at the time of transit over the radio network.