GB2113445A - Customer operated automatic message dispenser system - Google Patents

Abstract

A customer operated message transmission apparatus for use in association with an electrically operated self-service device such as a petrol pump comprises at least one wire 2 through which current flows when the customer operates the device 1, a sensor 4 (e.g. an induction coil) in physical proximity to the wire 2 and responsive to the magnetic field about the wire 2 consequent upon current flow, means 6, 8, 9 for presenting a message to the customer and control means responsive to signals in the sensor 4 and operable to trigger the message presentation means 6 to present a message when the current flows in the wire. As shown, operation of a petrol pump 1 causes an induction coil 4 to operate a message machine 6 through a signal amplifier 5, the message being delivered through loudspeakers 11. A microphone 13 can override the message. The message may be audio or visual. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Customer operated automatic message dispenser system A business advertising communication can be transmitted to a customer on the forecourt of a petrol filling station by means of a predetermined repeating time program or by means of memory operated switching using a taped, or otherwise electronically recorded messsage and/or an illuminated, electronically motivated sign. A system for initiating the transmissions of such messages so as to cause it to start when a customer arrives, or at a chosen point during a petrol delivery sequence has considerable advantages, which are further improved in the case of a self-service petrol station if the message can be arranged to be related to the time when the customer has left his car.One way of achieving this is to connect the message/sign initiating system to an electrical system that controls the supply or accounting of the petrol delivery. However, direct connection of the message transmission system to the installed delivery and accounting systems brings the message transmission system within the scope of control regulations applicable to the sale and supply of inflammable fuel and its accurate metering.

It is one object of this invention to provide a way of initiating message transmission that requires no direct connections to any installed petrol delivery equipment and yet provides the facility required.

Further, it is desirable that the transmission of sales and other messages through a forecourt public address system should not interfere with the transmission by the cashier or attendant of emergency or other necessary messages through his own microphone from the control office. The attendant microphone should therefore override the message transsmission device.

Furthermore, a typical environment for speech transmission in petrol station forecourts is the vicinity of both busy roads and private housing. This leads to the two conflicting requirements, firstly of providing an adequate sound volume to achieve audibility over traffic noise and secondly of maintaining volume at a sufficiently low level to avoid nuisance. Where the level of ambient noise generated by the traffic remains constant throughout the operating period, these requirements could normally be reconciled by suitable speaker siting and carefully chosen levels of volume. However, on most sites the traffic volume rises and falls at various times during the trading periods and nuisance may be caused if appropriate volume control is not maintained in the message transmission system.

The present invention therefore provides for a customer operated message transmission apparatus for use in association with an electrically operated self-service device including at least one wire through which current flow is altered when the customer operates the device, a sensor in physical proximity to but not in electrical circuit with the wire and responsive to alteration in magnetic field about the wire consequent upon altered current flow, means for presenting a message to the customer and control means responsive to signals in the sensor and operable to trigger the message presentation means to present a message when the current flow in said wire is altered.

The message transmission device may be a motivated or illuminated sign or a video display but preferably it is by way of speech or music.

Although the apparatus as applied to petrol pumps uses the current passing from the mains electric supply to the individual petrol pump motor or passing from the fuel metering device to activate the trigger system from which the message transmission device is then operated, this is achieved without any direct electrical connections being made to that circuit but uses the electric or magnetic field generated by that current flow to the pump motor to trigger its operation.

The combination of an induction sensing device with the petrol pump and a device for reproducing the audible message, which in itself can be overriden by the operation of the forecourt microphone, is believed to be novel when applied to the petrol pumps of a self-service forecourt petrol station.

The above talking device has the obvious advantage that the message equipment will not transmit messages to an empty forecourt but only after being triggered by the lifting of a pump nozzle (or alternatively after a petrol delivery has actually commenced). The customer is at that time in a determinable position to receive an audible message, as he is holding the petrol pump nozzle and will therefore receive that message complete. If used with a time delay device, the actual transmission of the message can be arranged at the determinable point when such a customer is considered to be at his most receptive to receive that particular information being transmitted. Thus triggered, the message machine will then provide the message and indeed any other kind of coincidental communication by which operational instructions and/or sales promotion messages can be programmed.In one variant, a particular pump only on the forecourt can be programmed to give a message, such as a diesel pump, which is required to be identified from the remaining pumps which sell petrol, so as to advise the user that this pump dispenses diesel and should not be confused with a petrol pump.

Such messages can, according to another variant, remain triggered but not operative until such time as the pump is replaced. Thus a customer can be advised of a sales offer at any time after arrival but such sales offers would not be triggered until the appropriate time. Accordingly there is not need for a repetitive message to be indiscriminately broadcast on the forecourt, which can be a nuisance to staff and neighbours. The message operated only by a customer in the above described manner positively identifies the time when such a message is most effective.

The inclusion in the invention of the override control wherein a message may be transmitted from the.cashier/attendant's office direct into the public address system during the process of a sales message, the result of which is the immediate interruption of that sales message, the sounding of an "Attention" interrupt signal automatically, the line then being left open for the verbal message to be transmitted without delay, is a novel part of such a system.

An existing system for operating a microphone is avilable which automatically switches on that microphone on the input of speech, and although this system is known and could be embodied in this invention, the simple tripole switching system shown in Diagrams '1' and '2' has been adopted for the purpose of description as this serves the purpose required.

The inclusion of an automatic volume control facility provides a further novel and desirable feature ofthe invention.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram of a petrol pump and an associated message transmission device; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a practical embodiment of a message transmission device; and Figure 3 is a block diagram of an automatic volume control system associated with the message transmission system of Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 1, a petrol pump motor 1 is electrically connected by power cable 2 to a power supply 3 that is usually located in a sales office or cashpoint area in which is situated mains control equipment for isolating power to the motor of the pump. An induction coil 4 of electrically conductive material arranged as a tube or ring is placed around the power cable 2 so that it is influenced by the magnetic field induced in the cable 2 when an electrical current flows. The coil 4 need not surround the cable 2 but could merely lie alongside it. Any other means sensitive to the induced magnetic field could be used in place of the coil 4, for example a pivoted member of magnetic material that rotates in response to the passage of a current, but an induction coil is the simplest detector and is preferred.The coil 4 is connected to a signal amplifier 5 where the signal induced in coil 4 is detected, amplified and passed to a message machine 6 where it triggers the commencement of a sales or other message recorded on magnetic tape. A suitable message machine includes a solenoid operated cassette tape player and associated control logic that on receipt of a signal from amplifier 5 begins transmission of a prerecorded message and continues transmission until the end of the message has been detected by the absence of any signal on the tape for a predetermined period. The message machine 6 is arranged to rewind automatically at the end of the prerecorded messages on the tape and there could be more than one such machine for transmitting different messages under different conditions or the tape player could be replaced by a microprocessor-based speech generator.

Also associated with the message machine 6 is an attention signal generator 7 that is operable to transmit an attention signal such as chimes automa ticallyatthe beginning and end of each sales message. The output from message machine 6 is transmitted via a three pole microphone operating switch 8 which in its normal position connects the output of the message machine to the public address system including amplifier 9 and loudspeakers 11 that is routinely fitted in self-service petrol stations, thereby bypassing the cashier's microphone.

It is an advantage of the present message transmission devicethat it can be used in association with the existing forecourt public address system and interfaces with the cashier's microphone. But there could be a separate public address system for the message machine 6, the only necessary interface being with the microphone operating switch 8 so that the message machine 6 is muted when the customer's microphone 13 is in use.

It is preferred that a multiplicity of messages are recorded in message machine 6 and are arranged to be reproduced non-repetitively so that no individual customer is likely to hear the same message twice on any one visit. A delay lock-out unit may be provided so that the message machine can only be operated once during any five minute period thereby permitting control of the "density" of messages delivered to the customers.

The control system for the message machine 6 may be programmed to react to a time indexed spacing between a multiplicity of different messages recorded at intervals along a tape with a silent five second index spacing between each message. The control system includes a sensing device that detects the presence or absence of sound and after a silent time related to but less than the index spacing is triggered to respond to sbund denoting the beginning of the next message in sequence to switch the recorder off thereby positioning the next message ready for transmission to a further customer arriving at the petrol pump.The control system for message machine 6 may further include a time delay lock-out unit that overrides the reception of further triggering signals from the or each induction coil 4 until after a predetermined variable time delay such as 60 seconds (or a randomly selected time delay) has elapsed. The number of prerecorded messages on the tape is limited only by the capacity of the tape.

A further circuit in the control system detects when the tape has been running silent for a period such as 15 or 25 seconds longer than the intermessage silent interval which it interprets as being the end of the message sequence on the tape. The tape recorder is then rewound and repositioned to the beginning of the first message where it is stopped ready for triggering by the next customer. Provision may be made for any pump motor M to provide a sensing signal to a microprocessor-based control system in message machine 6 that causes immediate return to any particular message if a particular one of the pumps is activated thereby causing transmission of a particular management-preferred message (eg.

that the pump contains diesel fuel rather than petrol).

Consider the situation when a message is in progress and switch 8 is in the normal position and allowing the message machine 6 to pass data to the public address equipment 9, 11, and assuming that the operator of the microphone 13 now wishes to interrupt that message. Switch 8 is moved from the diagrammatic position shown to make contact with the other pole and thus a circuit is created from the automatic attention signal generator 7 up through that contact point and back down through to public address equipment 9, 11 so that an attention signal is transmitted through the forecourt speakers 11.

Coincidentally the microphone 13 is also connected through tri-pole switch 8 through public address equipment 9 to the speakers 11 and any message required can then be passed without delay. The message machine 6 now having been disconnected from the public address equipment continues to play until the end of the message being transmitted is detected and is stopped at the beginning of the next following message which is ready to be triggered by the arrival of the next following customer.

In Figure 2 a multiplicity of current transformers 10a associated with pump power supply leads of up to eight petrol pumps are connected to a detector circuit 12 that includes diodes for rectifying the AC current in each transformer connected in parallel to the input of an operational amplifier whose output is passed to a latch that may be enabled or disabled by means of a signal in line 14. When not disabled by the signal in line 14 the detector circuit 12 will give a logic 1 output to OR gate 16 whenever a current is detected in any of the coils 10a indicating that one or more pump motors is on.The output from gate 16 passes through line 18to an OR gate 20 that on receipt of a logic 1 input activates an attention signal generator 22 whose audio output is passed via line 24 to mixer 26 and thence to an audio amplifier and to loudspeakers associated with each petrol pump.

Thus, when the customer lifts the pump nozzle and the pump motor is switched on the first response is the transmission of chimes or another attention signal to alert him that a message is about to be transmitted. The line 18 also activates a delay circuit 28 that for an appropriate predetermined time transmits a delay signal through line 30 to OR gate 32 whose output signal is returned via line 14 to the detector circuit 12. By this means, when the detector circuit 12 has been activated by a transformer 1 0a for the transmission of one message, it cannot be reactivated for the transmission of a second message until after a predetermined delay period.The gate 16 also signals through line 34 to delay unit 36 that after a brief delay typically of 1.5 seconds to permit the chimes to sound clocks a flip-flop 38 whose true output Q signals through line 40 a drive unit 42 that drives a tape advance motor 44 of a cassette tape recorder in which the tape has a plurality of pre-recorded customer messages interspersed by five second silent intervals. The audio signals from replay head 46 pass via equalisation amplifier 48 and tape audio mute switch 50 to mixer 26. The signal in line 40 also passes through line 52 to enable logic unit 54 and via line 56 to OR gate 32 by which the detector circuit 12 is disabled whenever motor 44 is in normal play.

The audio signal also passes from mute switch 50 via line 58 to signal detector 60 which supplies a first output through line 62 to enable logic 54, a second output through line 64 to first no signal detector logic 66 and a third output through line 68 to second no signal detector logic 70. The first no signal detector logic 66 is enabled from logic 54 when the motor has been switched on by the output of flip-flop 38 going to logic 1 passes an enable signal to the no signal detector 66 through line 72. Detector 66 is enabled when no signal has been detected for 2.5 seconds and operates when a new signal is detected by detector 60 to pass a reset signal through OR gate 74 and line 76 to the flip-flop 38 to turn the tape drive motor 44 off and it also passes a reset signal through line 78 to microphone control flip-flop 80 described below.Thus the detector 66 responds to the five second gap between the recorded messages on the tape and operates to stop the tape after the end of one message at the beginning of the next following message. The second no signal detector 70 is enabled through line 82 whenever the motor control flip-flop 38 has a logic 1 output indicating that the motor 44 is running in normal play and is operable after no signal has been detected for 15 seconds to give an end of recording signal to rewind control flip-flop 84.The output from flip-flop 84 gives an output to driver 86 of a tape rewind solenoid, passes a signal through line to the mute switch 50 to prevent audio signals from replay head 46 from being reproduced, passes a rewinding signal through line 88 to OR gate 32 to reset the detector circuit 12 and passes a signal to OR gate 74 to reset motor control flip-flop 38 and reset the microphone control flip-flop 80. A motion signal from tape motion sensor 90 resets the flip-flop 84.

It is, as previously explained, desirable to be able to transmit a message by means of a microphone. A signal from microphone switch 92 passes via inverter 94 to the set input of control flip-flop 80 and also to OR gate 20 to signal chime generator 22 to generate a customer attention signal. After a 1.5 second delay defined by a delay unit 96 connected to the output of unit 80 a signal passes via OR gate 98 to a further mute switch 100 that switches off the tape play from the audio output line and permits the microphone to be connected directly to the amplifier and loudspeaker system.

The public address system may be used in association with a "Jackpot" prize allocation signal as described in UK Patent Specifications Nos. 1416737 and 1525928. When a prize is allocated a trigger signal in line 101 passes to an input of AND gate 103 to signal via gates 16, to generate chimes and a mute signal is passed through line 102 to OR gate 32 which causes detector circuit 12 to be disabled and also to one input of AND gate whose other input is inverting and is connected to the output of flip-flop 80. If therefore the microphone is not in use, a signal passes to OR gate 98 to actuate mute swithch 100, thereby disabling the customer message machine and permitting a message to be transmitted from the "Jackpot" module.

In Figure 3 a sound level transducer system includes a sensing module in which is a microphone 110 linked to an audio amplifier 112. The output therefrom which is an electrical analogue of the sound waveform impinging on microphone 110 is rectified by means of a peak reading detector 116 whose output is filtered by means of a single pole low pass filter 118 to provide a slowly varying voltage proportional to the noise level at microphone 110 which is mounted in an external location on the garage forecourt. A three core cable connects this externally mounted sensing module to the remainder of the message transmission system by means of an ordinary inexpensive three core cable 120 that carries DC power and returns the output signal.

Within the main module of the message transmission machine the transducer signal is passed through a single pole low pass filter 122 to remove mains or other interference picked up in the run of cable 120 and then passes to a logarithmic analog to digital converter 124 that supplies a digitised output signal representing the perceived forecourt sound level in decibels. The digitised signal from converter 124 passes to a digital processor operable to perform a long period first order low pass filtering action on the digitised signal with a time period of typically a few minutes. Too short an average period would cause isolated sounds like that of a single passing heavy goods vehicle to set a very high message volume level whereas too long a period leads to a sluggish response to changing forecourt noise levels.The microprocessor 126 supplies a three bit output volume control signal to a digitally controlled logarithmic attenuator 128 whose input side is supplied via mixer 100 with an input signal from the message machine or from a "Jackpot" machine and whose output passes via mixer 130 and audio amplifier 132 to forecourt loudspeakers. When the message machine is transmitting a message through attenuator 128 the control signal supplied by processor 126 is frozen so that the equipment responds only to external noise and not to its own messages. Accordingly, the sound level of the recorded message supplied by forecourt speakers 134 may be controlled in accordance with the external noise level. At the end of each message the processor 126 resumes its filtering action using the frozen value as the initial value. When the microphone 136 is in use to broadcast a message the microprocessor 126 sets a single bit output which is fed as a muting signal to attenuator 128 to mute speech generated by the message machine. The emergency microphone 136 is connected through audio amplifier 138 direct through mixer 130 and power amplifier 132 to the forecourt speakers 134 so that emergency messages are always passed at a predetermined high volume level.

The use of an externally positioned transducer module to transmit down cable 120 a slowly varying voltage proportional to the mean level of sound incident on microphone 110 enables long cable runs to be achieved without the need for screened cable.

Extraneous electrical signals may be filtered out by low pass filter 122 within the message machine, restoring the true voltage level.

Claims (15)

1. A customer operated message transmission apparatus for use in association with an electrically operated self-service device including at least one wire through which current flow is altered when the customer operates the device, a sensor in physical proximity to but not in electrical circuit with the wire and responsive to alteration in magnetic field about the wire consequent upon altered current flow, means for presenting a message to the customer and control means responsive to signals in the sensor and operable to trigger the message presentation means to present a message when the current flow in said wire altered.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the self-service device is a petrol pump.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of petrol pumps in a service station forecourt severally have pump motor power supply lines and lines from petrol flow meter means leading to a cashpoint area, a sensor is placed in physical proximity with each power supply or petrol flow meter line and the several sensors are connected to a detector in said control means so that operation of any pump causes the message to be transmitted.

4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the control means includes a first delay unit operable to prevent further triggering of the message presentation means for a predetermined period after a message has been triggered.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising means for generating an audible attention signal.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a second delay unit is operable when a message has been triggered to delay transmission of the message until after the audible attention signal has been transmitted.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensor is a coil that forms a current transformer with the wire.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the wire carries an AC signal and the control means includes a diode for detecting the signal that feeds into an amplifier.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the message presentation means comprises a tape recorder.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tape recorder is operable in association with a tape having a multiplicity of pre-recorded messages therealong with brief intervening silent intervals and the control unit includes means for detecting the playing of an audible signal and means responsive to a silent interval for arresting the tape before the next following recorded message.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit includes means triggered by a predetermined short silent interval and operable to arrest the tape recorder on first subsequent perception of a recorded message whereby the tape is stopped automatically at the beginning of each message to be played.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit includes means triggered by a longer silent interval and operable to cause the tape to be rewound.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 11 further comprising a microphone in the cashpoint area and switch means operable to switch an audio public address system from the message input to an input from the microphone.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 11 further comprising a sensing microphone operable during periods of non-message transmission to detect the level of ambient noise and volume control means responsive to the measured noise level to adjust the volume of transmitted audible messages.

15. Customer operated message transmission substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.