WO2009127928A2 - Multimedia, multichannel, universally accessible, location-aware electronic informational system - Google Patents

Multimedia, multichannel, universally accessible, location-aware electronic informational system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009127928A2
WO2009127928A2 PCT/IB2009/005150 IB2009005150W WO2009127928A2 WO 2009127928 A2 WO2009127928 A2 WO 2009127928A2 IB 2009005150 W IB2009005150 W IB 2009005150W WO 2009127928 A2 WO2009127928 A2 WO 2009127928A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
multimedia contents
hand
user
unit
electronic device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2009/005150
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2009127928A3 (en
Inventor
Antonio Fabrizio
Original Assignee
R P S Consulting S.R.L.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by R P S Consulting S.R.L. filed Critical R P S Consulting S.R.L.
Publication of WO2009127928A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009127928A2/en
Publication of WO2009127928A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009127928A3/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/20—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of structured data, e.g. relational data
    • G06F16/24—Querying
    • G06F16/245—Query processing
    • G06F16/2457—Query processing with adaptation to user needs
    • G06F16/24575—Query processing with adaptation to user needs using context

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electronic informational system.
  • the invention relates to an electronic informational system that enables distribution and. use, by anybody, of information in electronic format, in particular use of multimedia contents, in multichannel and location-aware mode, to which, for convenience, the following description will refer without this implying any loss of generality.
  • the present applicant has conducted an in-depth study aimed at investigating the possibility of providing an electronic informational system that will enable distribution to a user of information in electronic format and use of said information by the user in context-aware mode, i.e., on the basis of the context in which the user finds himself, in particular his position.
  • the aim of the present invention is to provide an electronic informational system of the aforesaid type.
  • a further aim of the present invention is to provide an electronic informational system that will enable use of information in electronic format in a universally accessible way, i.e., that will enable use of the information for a user having any physical capacity of use.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an electronic informational system according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows a scenario of application of an interactive electronic tourist guide obtained by means of the electronic informational system of Figure 1;
  • FIG 3 shows further details of the scenario of application of the interactive electronic tourist guide obtained by means of the electronic informational system of Figure 1.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an electronic informational system 10 according to the present invention.
  • the electronic informational system 10 is configured for supplying information in electronic format to a user equipped with a hand-held electronic device 11, which is configured for enabling the user to use said information.
  • the electronic informational system 10 comprises a central unit 12 configured for generating, structuring, storing, updating, and managing first information in electronic format and communicating with at least one distribution unit 13 for supplying it with second information in electronic format, comprised in the first information in electronic format, on the basis of the geographical position of the distribution unit 13.
  • the distribution unit 13 is configured for communicating with the hand-held electronic device 11 for supplying it with third information in electronic format, comprised in the second information in electronic format.
  • the electronic informational system 10 comprises at least one activation unit 14 configured for communicating with the hand-held electronic device 11 for activating automatically on the hand-held electronic device 11 reproduction of pre-set third information in electronic format on the basis of the geographical position of the activation unit 14.
  • the first information in electronic format comprises first multimedia contents
  • the second information in electronic format comprises second multimedia contents
  • the third information in electronic format comprises third multimedia contents, the first multimedia contents comprising the second multimedia contents, and the second multimedia contents comprising the third multimedia contents.
  • the first, second, and third multimedia contents can comprise at least one from amongst the following digital contents: multilingual text, multilingual audio, music, a sound, an image, an image with multilingual text, video with multilingual audio, video with subtitles in multilingual mode, an html page, an interactive content, etc.
  • the first, second, and third information in electronic format i.e., the first, second, and third multimedia contents
  • the hand-held electronic device 11 there is installed and executed in use at least one software application, configured, in general, for enabling use of the third information in electronic format by the user, and, in particular, for reproducing the third multimedia contents according to a specific modality of reproduction adapted to specific physical capacities of use of the person.
  • the hand-held electronic device 11 can be conveniently constituted by a cellphone, a palmtop, a smartphone, or a device for assistance to disabled persons currently available on the market, such as, for example, the Helper Phone SGH-E580® manufactured by Samsung®, so that the third information, or the third multimedia contents, will be usable also by disabled persons, in particular by persons with visual impairment and/or deaf and dumb persons.
  • a device for assistance to disabled persons currently available on the market such as, for example, the Helper Phone SGH-E580® manufactured by Samsung®, so that the third information, or the third multimedia contents, will be usable also by disabled persons, in particular by persons with visual impairment and/or deaf and dumb persons.
  • the third information in electronic format, or the third multimedia contents, that can be used by persons with visual impairment comprise at least one from amongst digital contents such as multilingual audio, music, a sound, and an interactive content specific for users with visual impairment
  • the third information in electronic format, or the third multimedia contents, that can be used by deaf and dumb persons comprise at least one from amongst digital contents such as multilingual text, an image, an image with multilingual text, video with subtitles in multilingual mode, an html page, an interactive content specific for deaf and dumb users .
  • the central unit 12, the distribution unit 13, and the activation unit 14 are each provided by means of use of a respective computer with one or more respective software programs .
  • the central unit 12 communicates with the distribution unit 13 by means of a packet-switched network, conveniently the Internet
  • the distribution unit 13 communicates with the hand-held electronic device 11 by means of Bluetooth technology
  • the activation unit 14 communicates with the hand-held electronic device 11 by means of NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology.
  • the activation unit 14 can be conveniently constituted by an RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification) tag, conveniently of the NFC type, in adhesive or "credit card” format, whereas the hand-held electronic device 11 consequently comprises both Bluetooth technology and NFC technology.
  • NFC technology is an RFID technology developed for cellphones by Philips® (NXP) , Nokia®, and Sony®.
  • NFC devices are basically equipped with an RFID reader module capable of reading the data stored in tags, such as, for example, the activation unit 14, present in other NFC phones, in other NFC devices, and in "Felica" devices, and of interacting with them at an applicational level , for example in order to make payments, for instance using the Europay- MasterCard-Visa standard of the Single Euro Payments Area, denoted in a known way by the acronym SEPA EMV.
  • tags such as, for example, the activation unit 14 present in other NFC phones, in other NFC devices, and in "Felica" devices, and of interacting with them at an applicational level , for example in order to make payments, for instance using the Europay- MasterCard-Visa standard of the Single Euro Payments Area, denoted in a known way by the acronym SEPA EMV.
  • the hand-held electronic device 11 which is equipped with an NFC reader module, since, for example, it is a Nokia® 6131® NFC, approaches or is swept over the RFID tag 14, the latter automatically activates, on the hand-held electronic device 11, reproduction of pre-set third multimedia contents on the basis of the geographical position of the RFID tag 14.
  • the RFID tag 14 can also be conveniently programmed for containing also links to further third multimedia contents, which are hence downloaded and then reproduced by the handheld electronic device 11 when the latter is in the proximity of or is swept over the RFID tag 14.
  • the central unit 12 preferably comprises a WEB portal .
  • the user can connect up to said WEB portal both via any type of electronic processor configured for use with a connection to the Internet, and via the same hand-held electronic device 11, if the latter is able to access the Internet, for instance by means of a browser and a GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA/HSUPA, WiFi, WiMAX connection, etc.
  • the user can sign on to the service for retrieval of information in electronic format provided by the electronic informational system 10.
  • the user subscribes to a type of service, i.e., one or more classes of multimedia contents, which he wishes to use and, if the class or classes subscribed to are pay ones, he pays using a credit card on the portal itself or, for example, with a money order.
  • a type of service i.e., one or more classes of multimedia contents
  • the user subscribe also to all the classes of multimedia contents .
  • the user upon signing-on, the user enters a series of personal data on the WEB portal, amongst which also his own specific physical capacities of use of the information in electronic format; i.e., in the case where he is disabled, he communicates the fact, specifying what handicap he suffers from.
  • the personal data could conveniently comprise also the indication by the user of his own mother tongue and of possible further languages spoken.
  • the WEB portal supplies the user with access data, which conveniently comprise a username and a password that will enable him to use the service or services subscribed to.
  • the password can be conveniently changed at any moment by the user on the WEB portal .
  • the central unit 12 automatically generates a data structure, referred to hereinafter as "user profile", containing all the personal data of the user, the class or classes of multimedia contents that the user has subscribed to and for which he has possibly paid, and the access data.
  • user profile a data structure, referred to hereinafter as "user profile"
  • the central unit 12 stores the user profile, updating it in the case where the user, by means of the WEB portal, changes his own password, subscribes to one or more new classes of multimedia contents or eliminates some of the ones subscribed to in the past, or simply changes one of the personal data previously entered.
  • the central unit 12 can generate and enter in the personal data of the user, and hence in the corresponding user profile, further data comprising, for example, statistics regarding the classes of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user and/or statistics of use by the user of the multimedia contents belonging to the classes subscribed to. Said further data can be used by the operator of the electronic informational system 10 for marketing studies, commercial offers, advertisements, promotions, newsletter services, etc.
  • the central unit 12 can associate, in different groups, user profiles will have particular characteristics in common in order to render management thereof more convenient.
  • the WEB portal can conveniently have two sections :
  • the user can also download from the WEB portal the software application to be installed on his own hand-held electronic device 11.
  • said software application can be downloaded from the WEB portal onto the hand-held electronic device 11 and then installed on the hand-held electronic device 11.
  • the software application can be downloaded from the WEB portal onto the electronic processor and then installed on the hand-held electronic device 11 by connecting the latter to the electronic processor, for example by means of a USB cable, and using a software program of installation of specific application packages of the hand-held electronic device 11, such as, for example in the case where the hand-held electronic device 11 is a Nokia® phone, the program Nokia PC Suite®.
  • the software application stores the username and password on the hand-held electronic device 11 and enables updating of the ⁇ password by the user.
  • the central unit 12 generates, structures, stores, updates, and manages the first information in electronic format, as well as supplying each distribution unit 13 of the electronic informational system 10, on the basis of the respective geographical position and of a respective distribution area, the respective second information in electronic format; i.e., it supplies, from amongst all the first information in electronic format available, only the information that regards said respective geographical position and said respective distribution area.
  • the central unit 12 knows, i.e., keeps in memory, the geographical position and the distribution area of each 5 distribution unit 13.
  • the central unit 12 updates the corresponding second information in electronic 0 format or the corresponding second multimedia content on each distribution unit 13 that is designed to distribute to the users said second information in electronic format or said second multimedia content.
  • the central unit 12 can be conveniently coupled, by means of a packet-switched network, also to each activation unit 14 of the electronic informational system 10 for setting and updating on each activation unit 14, knowing the respective geographical position and a respective activation
  • each activation unit 12 knows, i.e., keeps in memory, also the geographical position and the activation area of each activation unit 14.
  • the software application Once the software application has been installed on the handheld electronic device 11, when the latter enters the area of Bluetooth coverage, i.e., the distribution area of a distribution unit 13, the software application connects up, by means of Bluetooth, to the distribution unit 13 via the classic authorization procedure using the Bluetooth association code, and communicates to the distribution unit 13 the usemame and password.
  • the distribution unit 13 in turn communicates the usemame and password to the central unit 12, which supplies it with the corresponding user profile.
  • the distribution unit 13 supplies, by means of Bluetooth, the third information in electronic format, or the third multimedia contents, to the hand-held electronic device 11 on the basis of the corresponding user profile.
  • the distribution unit 13 amongst all the second multimedia contents available, supplies to the hand- held electronic device 11 only the ones that correspond to the class or classes of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user and contained in the corresponding user profile.
  • the distribution unit 13 from among the second information in electronic format corresponding to the class or classes of multimedia contents contained in the corresponding user profile, supplies to the hand-held electronic device 11 only the information that presents a mode of use in compliance with the specific physical capacities of use of the user contained in the user profile; i.e., the distribution unit 13, from among the second multimedia contents corresponding to the class or classes of multimedia contents contained in the corresponding user profile, supplies to the hand-held electronic device 11 only the ones that present a mode of reproduction in compliance with the specific physical capacities of use of the user contained in the user profile.
  • the software application is configured for setting on the hand-held electronic device 11 a specific mode of reproduction of the third multimedia contents that is in compliance with the specific physical capacities of use of the user, and for reproducing on the hand-held electronic device 11 the third multimedia contents only according to the specific mode of reproduction set.
  • the distribution unit 13 from amongst the second multimedia contents corresponding to the class or classes of multimedia contents contained in the corresponding user profile, supplies to the hand-held electronic device 11 the ones containing text, audio, video with subtitles, etc. in the mother tongue indicated in the corresponding user profile or, if this language is not available, in a possible further language spoken by the user, indicated in the corresponding user profile.
  • the distribution unit 13 from among the second multimedia contents corresponding to the class or classes of multimedia contents contained in the corresponding user profile, could supply to the hand-held electronic device 11 the ones regarding the current time and/or day.
  • the software application could be conveniently configured to enable purchase of a number of further classes of multimedia contents directly at the distribution units 13 by means of the functions of electronic portfolio offered by the NFC technology, for example, by means of the SEPA EMV standard.
  • the distribution unit 13 is equipped with NFC technology and updates the user profile with the new classes of multimedia contents purchased by the user and supplies the updated user profile to the central unit 12, which stores it.
  • the software application installed on the hand-held electronic device 11 can be conveniently provided by means of a specific Java Micro Edition (J2ME) application that respects the W JAR- 257 extension" specification regarding dialogue with the NFC reader module.
  • J2ME Java Micro Edition
  • the central unit 12 can conveniently be provided by means of the following software/hardware components in conjunction:
  • a WEB application created in ASP language for providing the WEB portal
  • a CMS Content-Management System
  • SCORM Shareable Content Object Reference Model
  • the second information in electronic format i.e., the second multimedia contents, can be conveniently distributed by the central unit 12 to the distribution units 13 via the packet- switched network, preferably the Internet, in XML and/or gzip format.
  • the third information in electronic format i.e., the third multimedia contents
  • the distribution units 13 can be conveniently distributed by the distribution units 13 to the hand-held electronic devices 11 via Bluetooth in XML and/or gzip format.
  • the distribution units 13 can be conveniently provided by means of a cross-platform workstation, on which the J2SE application is installed and executed in use for retrieval of the second information from the central unit 12, for sending usernames and passwords to the central unit 12, for retrieval from the central unit 12 of the user profiles, for communication by means of Bluetooth with the software application installed on the hand-held electronic devices 11, and for distribution of the third information in electronic format, i.e., of the third multimedia contents, to the handheld electronic devices 11.
  • the distribution units 13 also comprise the Bluetooth technology for communication with the hand-held electronic devices 11 and for distribution of the third information in electronic format, i.e., of the third multimedia contents, with a distribution area preferably of between 300 and 1000 m 3 for each distribution unit 13, as well as, possibly, also NFC technology for the payments made by users via the hand-held electronic devices 11, for example according to the SEPA EMV specifications.
  • the electronic informational system 10 is provided by implementation and use of networks of a Wi-Mesh (Wireless-Mesh) type and can thus be advantageously integrated with other wireless networks /systems .
  • Wi-Mesh Wi-Mesh
  • a Wi-Mesh network is a non-hierarchical and co-operative communication network constituted by a large number of nodes that can operate simultaneously as receivers, transmitters, and repeaters; i.e., a Wi-Mesh network is a network in which no distinction exists between server and client.
  • a Wi-Mesh network is provided by the aggregation of individual electronic devices that communicate with one another and transmit data to one another until a destination node is reached.
  • the destination nodes or terminals are constituted by the distribution units 13, which in addition to forming part, and hence constituting nodes, of the Wi-Mesh network of the electronic informational system 10, operate also as backbone for connection to the Internet .
  • each hand-held electronic device 11 represents a node of the network that is able to receive data packets, hence operating as client, and at the same time to re-transmit data packets, hence operating as repeater.
  • a sort of peer-to-peer system which by causing the signal to hop on one or more intermediate nodes, the so-called multi-hopping, enables connection between two nodes which would otherwise be mutually out of reach.
  • Wi-Mesh structure The purpose of the Wi-Mesh structure is to extend the current Wi-Fi networks to the open air, and hence into the entire urban context, covering long distances and enabling all the actors, and hence also the users, to exchange data. In fact, whereas hotspots necessitate direct connection to the Internet, the Mesh networks forward the request of access to the network until a valid connection is found.
  • Implementation of the electronic informational system 10 by means of Wi-Mesh architecture enables extension of the functions offered by the distribution units 13, affording a quantity and quality of services that go well beyond the simple supply of information and render the user an active part of the network and not a simple user of information.
  • the user hence plays an active part not only with his own hand-held electronic device 11 but also with other apparatuses installed on motor vehicles, motorcycles, or in apartments, offices, stores, etc.
  • systems for interfacing and exchange of data between the different existing subsystems such as, for example, control and signalling systems, traffic-management systems, videosurveillance systems, anti-effraction systems, firewall systems, diagnostics and maintenance systems;
  • domotic telecontrol for example for switching-on and/or switching-off of air-conditioning systems or for control of the temperature, for switching on and/or off external/internal lights, etc.
  • Wi-Mesh network • communication between one's own dwelling and other points within the Wi-Mesh network, it being thus possible, by means of the Wi-Mesh network, to "phone" from one point to another and also have a video control via the use of Wi-Mesh telecameras .
  • NFC technology enables the electronic informational system 10 to convey information depending upon from what direction the hand-held electronic device 11 is approaching .
  • the characteristic of the electronic informational system 10 being universally accessible, in the case of a user with visual impairment, when the hand-held electronic device 11 approaches or is swept over an RFID tag 14, it could conveniently vibrate to enable the user to understand that the reproduction of at least one third multimedia content is about to be activated.
  • the electronic informational system 10 according to the present invention can be exploited in many contexts and provide many services, some of which have been already listed previously, and, hence, have many applications.
  • listed hereinafter are, by way of non-limiting example, some of these applications.
  • the electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing systems for dispensing books, CDs, or DVDs, or for refuelling systems .
  • the electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing information systems for places of worship, universities, tourism, infomobility, and public administration.
  • the present invention can advantageously be exploited for providing an interactive electronic tourist guide designed to assist during visits to places of tourist interest, such as towns, museums, churches, palaces, castles, archeological sites, etc., and provide information thereon.
  • the electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing payment systems for cinemas, theatres, football grounds and stadia, carparks, etc., or else, again, for creating lottery systems, for example, of the type "place and win", Bingo, football pools, Lotto, etc.
  • the electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing systems for crediting wages, pensions, etc., or ATM systems or systems for providing digital and multimedia services, such as Sky and/or Digital Terrestrial Television, or systems for booking with payment of the service, for example, for medical examinations or tickets for trains, trams, buses, etc.
  • ATM systems or systems for providing digital and multimedia services such as Sky and/or Digital Terrestrial Television, or systems for booking with payment of the service, for example, for medical examinations or tickets for trains, trams, buses, etc.
  • the electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing traceability systems, for example, medical or agro-alimentary systems, or official systems for registration, for example, for recording the absence or presence of workers, or like electronic university transcripts .
  • the interactive electronic tourist guide provided by means of the electronic informational system according to the present invention is an electronic system, or platform, that enables a location-aware dispensing of cultural contents.
  • the interactive electronic tourist guide provided according to the present invention has the same architecture and the same characteristics as the electronic informational system 10.
  • the first, second, and third multimedia contents provide tourist information, historical information, cultural contents, and guided tours in the form of multilingual text, multilingual audio, music, sounds, images, images with multilingual text, video with multilingual audio, video with subtitles in multilingual mode, html pages, interactive contents , etc .
  • first, second, and third multimedia contents can conveniently be SCORM objects.
  • the distribution units of the interactive electronic tourist guide are located in areas of cultural interest, historical interest, and, in general, tourist interest, such as museums, churches, historical palaces, monuments, historic centres of towns, archeological sites, etc.
  • Said distribution units can be conveniently provided by means of electronic processors housed in non-vandalizable totem poles, such as, for example, painted walls.
  • the central unit of the interactive electronic tourist guide supplies, by means of a packet-switched network, to each distribution unit the respective second multimedia contents corresponding to the respective cultural area of interest where the distribution unit is installed.
  • each distribution unit receives from the central unit only the second multimedia contents that provide tourist information, historical information, cultural contents, and guided tours regarding the cultural area of interest where the distribution unit is installed.
  • the central unit supplies, either continuously or at pre-set time intervals, to each distribution unit the respective second updated contents.
  • a user who wishes to use the service " of interactive electronic tourist guide can connect up to the WEB portal Of the central unit of the interactive electronic tourist guide, subscribe to one or more information services amongst the ones offered by the interactive electronic tourist guide, possibly pay for said services, possibly download the software application to be installed on his own hand-held electronic device, and possibly download those multimedia contents that correspond to the services to which he has subscribed.
  • hand-held electronic devices for the services of interactive electronic tourist guide directly in the areas of cultural interest, such as museums, churches, historical buildings, monuments, historic centres of towns, archeological sites, etc., said hand-held electronic devices comprising already the software application and the third multimedia contents .
  • Shown in Figures 2 and 3 is a scenario of application of the interactive electronic tourist guide in an art gallery.
  • the software application of the hand-held electronic device 21 downloads from the distribution unit 22, by means of Bluetooth connectivity, the third multimedia contents regarding the art gallery and the information services that the user has subscribed to. If on the hand-held electronic device 21 some third multimedia contents are already present, the software application possibly downloads more updated versions thereof, if they are present in the distribution unit 22.
  • the software application of the hand-held electronic device 21 will download from the distribution unit 22, by means of Bluetooth connectivity, said third multimedia contents .
  • the distribution unit 22 notifies the software application also of the presence of further third multimedia contents corresponding to information services that the user not has subscribed to.
  • the user can decide whether or not to purchase said further third multimedia contents by means of the functions of electronic portfolio which are provided by the NFC technology of the hand-held electronic device 21 and of the distribution unit 22.
  • a plurality of activation units are distributed in an area corresponding to and in the proximity of points of particular interest of the area of cultural interest.
  • Each activation unit is configured for activating automatically, by means of NFC technology, the reproduction on the hand-held electronic device of given third multimedia contents that provide tourist information, historical information, cultural contents, etc. regarding the point of particular interest at which the activation unit is installed.
  • the software application downloads from the distribution unit 22 the third multimedia contents just purchased and reproduces them.
  • the visitor can at any moment interrupt, suspend momentarily, and resume reproduction of the third multimedia contents.
  • the advantages of the present invention may be readily understood, amongst which of particular interest are: • a highly scaleable architecture of the electronic informational system that enables addition, at any moment of any number of new distribution units and/or of new activation units, with consequent updating of the central unit; • a universal accessibility to the multimedia contents since the electronic informational system guarantees use of the multimedia contents also for disabled users; • an availability of the information in real time in the places of interest in a location-aware mode; and

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic system (10) configured to supply information in electronic format to a user provided with a hand-held electronic device (11; 21) configured to reproduce said information in electronic format. The electronic system (10) comprises a central unit (12) configured to generate, structure, store, update, and manage first information in electronic format. The central unit (12) is coupled to at least one distribution unit (13; 22) to supply it with second information in electronic format based on the position of the distribution unit (13; 22), the second information in electronic format being comprised in the first information in electronic format. The distribution unit (13; 22) is configured to supply to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) third information in electronic format, the third information in electronic format being comprised in the second information in electronic format. The electronic system (10) moreover comprises at least one activation unit (14; 23) configured to activate automatically, on the hand-held electronic device (11; 21), a reproduction of pre-set third information in electronic format based on the position of the activation unit (14; 23).

Description

MULTIMEDIA, MULTICHANNEL, UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE, LOCATION- AWARE ELECTRONIC INFORMATIONAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SECTOR OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic informational system. In particular, the invention relates to an electronic informational system that enables distribution and. use, by anybody, of information in electronic format, in particular use of multimedia contents, in multichannel and location-aware mode, to which, for convenience, the following description will refer without this implying any loss of generality.
STATE OF THE ART So far the distribution and use of information in electronic format has been based principally upon the use of telematic networks, such as, for example, the Internet, for distribution of said information, and of computers, cellphones, palmtops, smartphones, or electronic devices in general, for use of said information.
SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present applicant has conducted an in-depth study aimed at investigating the possibility of providing an electronic informational system that will enable distribution to a user of information in electronic format and use of said information by the user in context-aware mode, i.e., on the basis of the context in which the user finds himself, in particular his position.
Consequently, the aim of the present invention is to provide an electronic informational system of the aforesaid type.
In addition, a further aim of the present invention is to provide an electronic informational system that will enable use of information in electronic format in a universally accessible way, i.e., that will enable use of the information for a user having any physical capacity of use.
The above and other purposes are achieved by the present invention in so far as it relates to an electronic informational system according to what is defined in the annexed claims .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, some preferred embodiments, which are provided purely by way of explanatory and non-limiting example, will now be illustrated with reference to the annexed drawings (not all in scale) , wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an electronic informational system according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a scenario of application of an interactive electronic tourist guide obtained by means of the electronic informational system of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 shows further details of the scenario of application of the interactive electronic tourist guide obtained by means of the electronic informational system of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The ensuing description is provided to enable a person skilled in the sector to obtain and use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments presented will be immediately evident to persons skilled in the sector, and the generic principles disclosed herein could be applied to other embodiments and applications without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
Consequently, the present invention must not be understood as being limited merely to the embodiments described and shown herein, but it must be granted the widest sphere of protection consistently with the principles and characteristics presented and defined herein in the annexed claims .
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an electronic informational system 10 according to the present invention.
In particular, the electronic informational system 10 is configured for supplying information in electronic format to a user equipped with a hand-held electronic device 11, which is configured for enabling the user to use said information.
In particular, the electronic informational system 10 comprises a central unit 12 configured for generating, structuring, storing, updating, and managing first information in electronic format and communicating with at least one distribution unit 13 for supplying it with second information in electronic format, comprised in the first information in electronic format, on the basis of the geographical position of the distribution unit 13.
The distribution unit 13 is configured for communicating with the hand-held electronic device 11 for supplying it with third information in electronic format, comprised in the second information in electronic format.
In addition, the electronic informational system 10 comprises at least one activation unit 14 configured for communicating with the hand-held electronic device 11 for activating automatically on the hand-held electronic device 11 reproduction of pre-set third information in electronic format on the basis of the geographical position of the activation unit 14.
Preferably, the first information in electronic format comprises first multimedia contents, the second information in electronic format comprises second multimedia contents, and the third information in electronic format comprises third multimedia contents, the first multimedia contents comprising the second multimedia contents, and the second multimedia contents comprising the third multimedia contents.
The first, second, and third multimedia contents can comprise at least one from amongst the following digital contents: multilingual text, multilingual audio, music, a sound, an image, an image with multilingual text, video with multilingual audio, video with subtitles in multilingual mode, an html page, an interactive content, etc.
The first, second, and third information in electronic format, i.e., the first, second, and third multimedia contents, can provide the user with tourist information, guided tours, cultural and/or marketing contents, courses, video-courses, audio-courses, etc.
Conveniently, on the hand-held electronic device 11 there is installed and executed in use at least one software application, configured, in general, for enabling use of the third information in electronic format by the user, and, in particular, for reproducing the third multimedia contents according to a specific modality of reproduction adapted to specific physical capacities of use of the person.
In addition, the hand-held electronic device 11 can be conveniently constituted by a cellphone, a palmtop, a smartphone, or a device for assistance to disabled persons currently available on the market, such as, for example, the Helper Phone SGH-E580® manufactured by Samsung®, so that the third information, or the third multimedia contents, will be usable also by disabled persons, in particular by persons with visual impairment and/or deaf and dumb persons.
In particular, the third information in electronic format, or the third multimedia contents, that can be used by persons with visual impairment comprise at least one from amongst digital contents such as multilingual audio, music, a sound, and an interactive content specific for users with visual impairment, whereas the third information in electronic format, or the third multimedia contents, that can be used by deaf and dumb persons comprise at least one from amongst digital contents such as multilingual text, an image, an image with multilingual text, video with subtitles in multilingual mode, an html page, an interactive content specific for deaf and dumb users .
Preferably, the central unit 12, the distribution unit 13, and the activation unit 14 are each provided by means of use of a respective computer with one or more respective software programs .
Preferably, the central unit 12 communicates with the distribution unit 13 by means of a packet-switched network, conveniently the Internet, the distribution unit 13 communicates with the hand-held electronic device 11 by means of Bluetooth technology, and the activation unit 14 communicates with the hand-held electronic device 11 by means of NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology. In the latter case, the activation unit 14 can be conveniently constituted by an RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification) tag, conveniently of the NFC type, in adhesive or "credit card" format, whereas the hand-held electronic device 11 consequently comprises both Bluetooth technology and NFC technology.
In particular, NFC technology is an RFID technology developed for cellphones by Philips® (NXP) , Nokia®, and Sony®.
NFC devices are basically equipped with an RFID reader module capable of reading the data stored in tags, such as, for example, the activation unit 14, present in other NFC phones, in other NFC devices, and in "Felica" devices, and of interacting with them at an applicational level , for example in order to make payments, for instance using the Europay- MasterCard-Visa standard of the Single Euro Payments Area, denoted in a known way by the acronym SEPA EMV.
Then, when the hand-held electronic device 11, which is equipped with an NFC reader module, since, for example, it is a Nokia® 6131® NFC, approaches or is swept over the RFID tag 14, the latter automatically activates, on the hand-held electronic device 11, reproduction of pre-set third multimedia contents on the basis of the geographical position of the RFID tag 14.
Communication by means of NFC technology between two NFC devices, in the case in point the activation unit 14 and the hand-held electronic device 11, normally takes place when the two NFC devices are at a distance of a few centimetres, at the most 10 cm, whilst communication by means of Bluetooth technology between two Bluetooth devices, in the case in point the distribution unit 13 and the hand-held electronic device 11, takes place when the two Bluetooth devices are at a distance of some tens of metres, at the most approximately 100 m.
The RFID tag 14 can also be conveniently programmed for containing also links to further third multimedia contents, which are hence downloaded and then reproduced by the handheld electronic device 11 when the latter is in the proximity of or is swept over the RFID tag 14.
In addition, the central unit 12 preferably comprises a WEB portal .
The user can connect up to said WEB portal both via any type of electronic processor configured for use with a connection to the Internet, and via the same hand-held electronic device 11, if the latter is able to access the Internet, for instance by means of a browser and a GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA/HSUPA, WiFi, WiMAX connection, etc.
Once connected up to the WEB portal, the user can sign on to the service for retrieval of information in electronic format provided by the electronic informational system 10. At the moment of signing-on, the user subscribes to a type of service, i.e., one or more classes of multimedia contents, which he wishes to use and, if the class or classes subscribed to are pay ones, he pays using a credit card on the portal itself or, for example, with a money order. The user of course can subscribe also to all the classes of multimedia contents .
Preferably, upon signing-on, the user enters a series of personal data on the WEB portal, amongst which also his own specific physical capacities of use of the information in electronic format; i.e., in the case where he is disabled, he communicates the fact, specifying what handicap he suffers from.
In addition, the personal data could conveniently comprise also the indication by the user of his own mother tongue and of possible further languages spoken.
At the end of the signing-on procedure, the WEB portal supplies the user with access data, which conveniently comprise a username and a password that will enable him to use the service or services subscribed to. The password can be conveniently changed at any moment by the user on the WEB portal .
The central unit 12 automatically generates a data structure, referred to hereinafter as "user profile", containing all the personal data of the user, the class or classes of multimedia contents that the user has subscribed to and for which he has possibly paid, and the access data.
The central unit 12 stores the user profile, updating it in the case where the user, by means of the WEB portal, changes his own password, subscribes to one or more new classes of multimedia contents or eliminates some of the ones subscribed to in the past, or simply changes one of the personal data previously entered.
Conveniently, the central unit 12 can generate and enter in the personal data of the user, and hence in the corresponding user profile, further data comprising, for example, statistics regarding the classes of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user and/or statistics of use by the user of the multimedia contents belonging to the classes subscribed to. Said further data can be used by the operator of the electronic informational system 10 for marketing studies, commercial offers, advertisements, promotions, newsletter services, etc.
Preferably, the central unit 12 can associate, in different groups, user profiles will have particular characteristics in common in order to render management thereof more convenient.
The WEB portal can conveniently have two sections :
• a public section, where the user can find useful information on the various services offered, the geographical sites at which the various services are available, what hand- held electronic devices are able to use the various services, etc . ; and
• a private section, where the user, by accessing with his own username and his own password, can receive support and consult the first information in electronic format or the first multimedia contents, also being able to download the ones belonging to the class or classes of information that he has subscribed to.
In addition, the user can also download from the WEB portal the software application to be installed on his own hand-held electronic device 11.
If the user is connected to the WEB portal by means of the hand-held electronic device 11, said software application can be downloaded from the WEB portal onto the hand-held electronic device 11 and then installed on the hand-held electronic device 11.
If, instead, the user is connected to the WEB portal with an electronic processor, the software application can be downloaded from the WEB portal onto the electronic processor and then installed on the hand-held electronic device 11 by connecting the latter to the electronic processor, for example by means of a USB cable, and using a software program of installation of specific application packages of the hand-held electronic device 11, such as, for example in the case where the hand-held electronic device 11 is a Nokia® phone, the program Nokia PC Suite®.
The software application stores the username and password on the hand-held electronic device 11 and enables updating of the ■ password by the user.
On the other hand, as mentioned previously, the central unit 12 generates, structures, stores, updates, and manages the first information in electronic format, as well as supplying each distribution unit 13 of the electronic informational system 10, on the basis of the respective geographical position and of a respective distribution area, the respective second information in electronic format; i.e., it supplies, from amongst all the first information in electronic format available, only the information that regards said respective geographical position and said respective distribution area.
Of course, the central unit 12 knows, i.e., keeps in memory, the geographical position and the distribution area of each 5 distribution unit 13.
Furthermore, when a first information in electronic format or a first multimedia content is updated, the central unit 12 updates the corresponding second information in electronic 0 format or the corresponding second multimedia content on each distribution unit 13 that is designed to distribute to the users said second information in electronic format or said second multimedia content.
15 Likewise, the central unit 12 can be conveniently coupled, by means of a packet-switched network, also to each activation unit 14 of the electronic informational system 10 for setting and updating on each activation unit 14, knowing the respective geographical position and a respective activation
20 area thereof, which third information in electronic format, i.e., which pre-set third multimedia contents, to activate automatically on the hand-held electronic devices 11 because they regard said respective geographical position and said respective activation area.
25
In accordance with what has just been said, the central unit
12 knows, i.e., keeps in memory, also the geographical position and the activation area of each activation unit 14.
3.0 In addition, when a hand-held electronic device 11, on which the software application has not yet been installed, enters the area of Bluetooth coverage, i.e., the distribution area of a distribution unit 13 , the software application is supplied, after prior authorization via the Bluetooth association code,
35 to the hand-held electronic device 11 by the distribution unit
13 by means of Bluetooth connectivity and then installed on - li ¬
the hand-held electronic device 11.
Once the software application has been installed on the handheld electronic device 11, when the latter enters the area of Bluetooth coverage, i.e., the distribution area of a distribution unit 13, the software application connects up, by means of Bluetooth, to the distribution unit 13 via the classic authorization procedure using the Bluetooth association code, and communicates to the distribution unit 13 the usemame and password. The distribution unit 13 in turn communicates the usemame and password to the central unit 12, which supplies it with the corresponding user profile. Then, the distribution unit 13 supplies, by means of Bluetooth, the third information in electronic format, or the third multimedia contents, to the hand-held electronic device 11 on the basis of the corresponding user profile.
In other words, the distribution unit 13, amongst all the second multimedia contents available, supplies to the hand- held electronic device 11 only the ones that correspond to the class or classes of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user and contained in the corresponding user profile.
Preferably, the distribution unit 13 , from among the second information in electronic format corresponding to the class or classes of multimedia contents contained in the corresponding user profile, supplies to the hand-held electronic device 11 only the information that presents a mode of use in compliance with the specific physical capacities of use of the user contained in the user profile; i.e., the distribution unit 13, from among the second multimedia contents corresponding to the class or classes of multimedia contents contained in the corresponding user profile, supplies to the hand-held electronic device 11 only the ones that present a mode of reproduction in compliance with the specific physical capacities of use of the user contained in the user profile. Alternatively, the software application is configured for setting on the hand-held electronic device 11 a specific mode of reproduction of the third multimedia contents that is in compliance with the specific physical capacities of use of the user, and for reproducing on the hand-held electronic device 11 the third multimedia contents only according to the specific mode of reproduction set.
Preferably, the distribution unit 13, from amongst the second multimedia contents corresponding to the class or classes of multimedia contents contained in the corresponding user profile, supplies to the hand-held electronic device 11 the ones containing text, audio, video with subtitles, etc. in the mother tongue indicated in the corresponding user profile or, if this language is not available, in a possible further language spoken by the user, indicated in the corresponding user profile.
Conveniently, the distribution unit 13, from among the second multimedia contents corresponding to the class or classes of multimedia contents contained in the corresponding user profile, could supply to the hand-held electronic device 11 the ones regarding the current time and/or day.
In addition, in the case where the user were to wish to use multimedia contents belonging to one or more classes of multimedia contents different from the ones previously subscribed to and contained in the user profile, the software application could be conveniently configured to enable purchase of a number of further classes of multimedia contents directly at the distribution units 13 by means of the functions of electronic portfolio offered by the NFC technology, for example, by means of the SEPA EMV standard.
Of course, in this case, also the distribution unit 13 is equipped with NFC technology and updates the user profile with the new classes of multimedia contents purchased by the user and supplies the updated user profile to the central unit 12, which stores it.
In a way similar to what has just been said, also when further third multimedia contents belonging to a number of classes of multimedia contents different from the ones previously subscribed to and contained in the user profile are purchased by the user by means of the functions of electronic portfolio offered by the NFC technology of the hand-held electronic device 11 and of the activation unit 14, the activation unit 14 communicates said purchase to the central unit 12, which updates the user profile accordingly.
The software application installed on the hand-held electronic device 11 can be conveniently provided by means of a specific Java Micro Edition (J2ME) application that respects the WJAR- 257 extension" specification regarding dialogue with the NFC reader module.
The central unit 12 can conveniently be provided by means of the following software/hardware components in conjunction:
• a WEB application created in ASP language for providing the WEB portal; • a CMS (Content-Management System) for generating, structuring, updating, and managing the first information in electronic format, i.e., the first multimedia contents, and for distributing to the distribution units 13 the second information in electronic format, i.e., the second multimedia contents, and the user profile, the CMS being based upon the specific SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model) techniques to guarantee a greater interoperability; and
• a database based upon SQL (Structured Query Language) for storage of the user profile and of the first information in electronic format, i.e., the first multimedia contents. The second information in electronic format, i.e., the second multimedia contents, can be conveniently distributed by the central unit 12 to the distribution units 13 via the packet- switched network, preferably the Internet, in XML and/or gzip format.
Likewise, also the third information in electronic format, i.e., the third multimedia contents, can be conveniently distributed by the distribution units 13 to the hand-held electronic devices 11 via Bluetooth in XML and/or gzip format.
The distribution units 13 can be conveniently provided by means of a cross-platform workstation, on which the J2SE application is installed and executed in use for retrieval of the second information from the central unit 12, for sending usernames and passwords to the central unit 12, for retrieval from the central unit 12 of the user profiles, for communication by means of Bluetooth with the software application installed on the hand-held electronic devices 11, and for distribution of the third information in electronic format, i.e., of the third multimedia contents, to the handheld electronic devices 11.
Of course, in accordance with what has been mentioned previously, the distribution units 13 also comprise the Bluetooth technology for communication with the hand-held electronic devices 11 and for distribution of the third information in electronic format, i.e., of the third multimedia contents, with a distribution area preferably of between 300 and 1000 m3 for each distribution unit 13, as well as, possibly, also NFC technology for the payments made by users via the hand-held electronic devices 11, for example according to the SEPA EMV specifications.
On the other hand, the electronic informational system 10 is provided by implementation and use of networks of a Wi-Mesh (Wireless-Mesh) type and can thus be advantageously integrated with other wireless networks /systems .
A Wi-Mesh network is a non-hierarchical and co-operative communication network constituted by a large number of nodes that can operate simultaneously as receivers, transmitters, and repeaters; i.e., a Wi-Mesh network is a network in which no distinction exists between server and client. In fact, a Wi-Mesh network is provided by the aggregation of individual electronic devices that communicate with one another and transmit data to one another until a destination node is reached.
In the electronic informational system 10, the destination nodes or terminals are constituted by the distribution units 13, which in addition to forming part, and hence constituting nodes, of the Wi-Mesh network of the electronic informational system 10, operate also as backbone for connection to the Internet .
Within the decentralized Wi-Mesh network, each hand-held electronic device 11 represents a node of the network that is able to receive data packets, hence operating as client, and at the same time to re-transmit data packets, hence operating as repeater.
In this way, a sort of peer-to-peer system is provided, which by causing the signal to hop on one or more intermediate nodes, the so-called multi-hopping, enables connection between two nodes which would otherwise be mutually out of reach.
The purpose of the Wi-Mesh structure is to extend the current Wi-Fi networks to the open air, and hence into the entire urban context, covering long distances and enabling all the actors, and hence also the users, to exchange data. In fact, whereas hotspots necessitate direct connection to the Internet, the Mesh networks forward the request of access to the network until a valid connection is found.
Implementation of the electronic informational system 10 by means of Wi-Mesh architecture enables extension of the functions offered by the distribution units 13, affording a quantity and quality of services that go well beyond the simple supply of information and render the user an active part of the network and not a simple user of information.
Within the network, the user hence plays an active part not only with his own hand-held electronic device 11 but also with other apparatuses installed on motor vehicles, motorcycles, or in apartments, offices, stores, etc.
Consequently, the services that the user can make use of are for example:
• development and integration of mechanisms and methodologies of risk analysis (safety plus security) for personal safety, which in the case of emergency can request help and be geolocated in real time;
• interconnected sensor systems for detection of risks or external threats, such as presence or proximity detectors for premises or systems for detecting gas leaks or flooding; • reference architectures for active protection of the infrastructure in regard to faults or wilful actions of external origin, such as the control of operating parameters of vehicles or antitheft systems;
• systems for correlation of the information for support to the decisions and predictive diagnostics;
• systems for interfacing and exchange of data between the different existing subsystems, such as, for example, control and signalling systems, traffic-management systems, videosurveillance systems, anti-effraction systems, firewall systems, diagnostics and maintenance systems;
• domotic telecontrol, for example for switching-on and/or switching-off of air-conditioning systems or for control of the temperature, for switching on and/or off external/internal lights, etc.;
• connection to the Internet by means of the distribution units 13 exploited within the Wi-Mesh network as backbone for the connection to the Internet; and
• communication between one's own dwelling and other points within the Wi-Mesh network, it being thus possible, by means of the Wi-Mesh network, to "phone" from one point to another and also have a video control via the use of Wi-Mesh telecameras .
From what said has been said up to now, it emerges that the electronic informational system 10 described so far is: • a multimedia system because it is able to convey multimedia contents;
• a multichannel system since it exploits different communication technologies, such as the Internet, Bluetooth, and NFC technology; • a universally accessible system because it enables use of multimedia contents according to modes of reproduction in compliance with the specific physical capacities of use of the users, i.e., it enables a personalized sensorial experience on the basis of the specific physical capacities of use of the users; and
• a context-aware system, in particular based upon the knowledge of the position, since the multimedia contents are supplied by the central unit 12 to the distribution unit 13 on the basis of the geographical position of the distribution unit 13, and since the multimedia contents are activated on the hand-held electronic device 11 by the activation unit 14 on the basis of its geographical position.
In particular, as regards the characteristic of the electronic informational system 10 being based upon the knowledge of the position, use of NFC technology enables the electronic informational system 10 to convey information depending upon from what direction the hand-held electronic device 11 is approaching .
In addition, as regards the characteristic of the electronic informational system 10 being universally accessible, in the case of a user with visual impairment, when the hand-held electronic device 11 approaches or is swept over an RFID tag 14, it could conveniently vibrate to enable the user to understand that the reproduction of at least one third multimedia content is about to be activated.
The electronic informational system 10 according to the present invention can be exploited in many contexts and provide many services, some of which have been already listed previously, and, hence, have many applications. In particular, listed hereinafter are, by way of non-limiting example, some of these applications.
The electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing systems for dispensing books, CDs, or DVDs, or for refuelling systems .
Once again, the electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing information systems for places of worship, universities, tourism, infomobility, and public administration. In particular, as regards the tourist sector, the present invention can advantageously be exploited for providing an interactive electronic tourist guide designed to assist during visits to places of tourist interest, such as towns, museums, churches, palaces, castles, archeological sites, etc., and provide information thereon.
In addition, the electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing payment systems for cinemas, theatres, football grounds and stadia, carparks, etc., or else, again, for creating lottery systems, for example, of the type "place and win", Bingo, football pools, Lotto, etc.
The electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing systems for crediting wages, pensions, etc., or ATM systems or systems for providing digital and multimedia services, such as Sky and/or Digital Terrestrial Television, or systems for booking with payment of the service, for example, for medical examinations or tickets for trains, trams, buses, etc.
Finally, the electronic informational system 10 can advantageously be used for providing traceability systems, for example, medical or agro-alimentary systems, or official systems for registration, for example, for recording the absence or presence of workers, or like electronic university transcripts .
Described in greater detail hereinafter, purely by way of non- limiting example, is the electronic informational system forming the subject of the present invention used for providing an interactive electronic tourist guide.
The interactive electronic tourist guide provided by means of the electronic informational system according to the present invention is an electronic system, or platform, that enables a location-aware dispensing of cultural contents.
Of course, the interactive electronic tourist guide provided according to the present invention has the same architecture and the same characteristics as the electronic informational system 10.
In addition, in the case of the interactive electronic tourist guide, the first, second, and third multimedia contents provide tourist information, historical information, cultural contents, and guided tours in the form of multilingual text, multilingual audio, music, sounds, images, images with multilingual text, video with multilingual audio, video with subtitles in multilingual mode, html pages, interactive contents , etc .
In addition the first, second, and third multimedia contents can conveniently be SCORM objects.
The distribution units of the interactive electronic tourist guide are located in areas of cultural interest, historical interest, and, in general, tourist interest, such as museums, churches, historical palaces, monuments, historic centres of towns, archeological sites, etc.
Said distribution units can be conveniently provided by means of electronic processors housed in non-vandalizable totem poles, such as, for example, painted walls.
The central unit of the interactive electronic tourist guide supplies, by means of a packet-switched network, to each distribution unit the respective second multimedia contents corresponding to the respective cultural area of interest where the distribution unit is installed.
In other words, each distribution unit receives from the central unit only the second multimedia contents that provide tourist information, historical information, cultural contents, and guided tours regarding the cultural area of interest where the distribution unit is installed.
As has been mentioned previously, the central unit supplies, either continuously or at pre-set time intervals, to each distribution unit the respective second updated contents. A user who wishes to use the service "of interactive electronic tourist guide can connect up to the WEB portal Of the central unit of the interactive electronic tourist guide, subscribe to one or more information services amongst the ones offered by the interactive electronic tourist guide, possibly pay for said services, possibly download the software application to be installed on his own hand-held electronic device, and possibly download those multimedia contents that correspond to the services to which he has subscribed.
Otherwise, it is also possible to envisage distribution, possibly by payment, of hand-held electronic devices for the services of interactive electronic tourist guide directly in the areas of cultural interest, such as museums, churches, historical buildings, monuments, historic centres of towns, archeological sites, etc., said hand-held electronic devices comprising already the software application and the third multimedia contents .
Shown in Figures 2 and 3 is a scenario of application of the interactive electronic tourist guide in an art gallery.
In particular, as is shown in Figure 2, as soon as the user, who is equipped with a hand-held electronic device 21 and has gone to visit an art gallery served by the service of interactive electronic tourist guide, enters the distribution area, i.e., the area covered by Bluetooth, of the corresponding distribution unit 22, the software application of the hand-held electronic device 21 downloads from the distribution unit 22, by means of Bluetooth connectivity, the third multimedia contents regarding the art gallery and the information services that the user has subscribed to. If on the hand-held electronic device 21 some third multimedia contents are already present, the software application possibly downloads more updated versions thereof, if they are present in the distribution unit 22. If the user has not subscribed to information services of the interactive electronic tourist guide of the art gallery, it is always possible to purchase on the spot the corresponding third multimedia contents by means of the functions of electronic portfolio which are provided by the NFC technology of the hand-held electronic device 21 and of the distribution unit 22. Once said third multimedia contents have been purchased, the software application of the hand-held electronic device 21 will download from the distribution unit 22, by means of Bluetooth connectivity, said third multimedia contents .
The distribution unit 22 notifies the software application also of the presence of further third multimedia contents corresponding to information services that the user not has subscribed to. In this case, the user can decide whether or not to purchase said further third multimedia contents by means of the functions of electronic portfolio which are provided by the NFC technology of the hand-held electronic device 21 and of the distribution unit 22.
In addition, in the area of cultural interest a plurality of activation units are distributed in an area corresponding to and in the proximity of points of particular interest of the area of cultural interest.
Each activation unit is configured for activating automatically, by means of NFC technology, the reproduction on the hand-held electronic device of given third multimedia contents that provide tourist information, historical information, cultural contents, etc. regarding the point of particular interest at which the activation unit is installed.
Assuming once again as example the scenario of application of the interactive electronic tourist guide in the art gallery shown in Figure 2 and this time with reference to Figure 3 , a visitor could have subscribed to information services supplied by the interactive electronic tourist guide regarding only some paintings present in the art gallery, for example, the most important or the ones belonging only to certain historic and/or artistic periods.
Notwithstanding this, the visitor who is interested in paintings not covered by the information services that has subscribed to always has the possibility of purchasing, downloading, and using the corresponding third multimedia contents .
In fact, when the visitor approaches the activation unit 23 of a painting in which he is interested but of which he does not possess the corresponding third multimedia contents, he can purchase said third multimedia contents by means of the functions of electronic portfolio which are provided by the
NFC technology of the hand-held electronic device 21 and of the activation unit 23. Then, the software application downloads from the distribution unit 22 the third multimedia contents just purchased and reproduces them.
The visitor can at any moment interrupt, suspend momentarily, and resume reproduction of the third multimedia contents.
From the foregoing description, the advantages of the present invention may be readily understood, amongst which of particular interest are: • a highly scaleable architecture of the electronic informational system that enables addition, at any moment of any number of new distribution units and/or of new activation units, with consequent updating of the central unit; • a universal accessibility to the multimedia contents since the electronic informational system guarantees use of the multimedia contents also for disabled users; • an availability of the information in real time in the places of interest in a location-aware mode; and
• the possibility of purchasing multimedia contents both through the Internet and through hand-held electronic devices, such as cellphones, palmtops, smartphones, electronic devices equipped with NFC technology and enabled for payment according to the SEPA EMV standard.
Finally, it is clear that various modifications may be made to the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the invention, as defined in the annexed claims.

Claims

1. An electronic system (10) configured to supply information in electronic format to a user provided with a hand-held electronic device (11; 21) configured to reproduce said information in electronic format; the electronic system (10) comprising a central unit (12) configured to generate, structure, store, update, and manage first information in electronic format; the central unit (12) being coupled to at least one distribution unit (13; 22) to supply it with second information in electronic format based on a position of the distribution unit (13; 22), the first information in electronic format comprising the second information in electronic format; the distribution unit (13; 22) being configured to supply to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) third information in electronic format, the second information in electronic format comprising the third information in electronic format.
2. The electronic system according to Claim 1, wherein the central unit (12) is configured to store the position of the distribution unit (13; 22) .
3. The electronic system according to Claim 2, wherein the distribution unit (13; 22) is further configured to supply to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) the third information in electronic format only in a given distribution area, the central unit (12) being configured to store the distribution area of the distribution unit (13; 22) and being further configured to supply to the distribution unit (13; 22) the second information in electronic format also based on the distribution area.
4. The electronic system according to Claim 3, further comprising at least one activation unit (14; 23) configured to activate automatically on the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) a reproduction of pre-set third information in electronic format based on a position of the activation unit (14; 23) .
5. The electronic system according to Claim 4, wherein the activation unit (14; 23) is further configured to activate automatically on the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) the reproduction of the pre-set third information in electronic format only in a given activation area, the central unit (12) being coupled to the activation unit (14; 23) to set and update on the activation unit (14; 23) the pre-set third information in electronic format, reproduction of which is activated automatically by the activation unit (14; 23) based on the position and of the activation area of the activation unit (14; 23) , the central unit (12) being configured to store the position and the activation area of the activation unit (14; 23) .
6. The electronic system according to Claim 5, wherein the first information in electronic format comprises first multimedia contents, the second information in electronic format comprises second multimedia contents, and the third information in electronic format comprises third multimedia contents, the first multimedia contents comprising the second multimedia contents and the second multimedia contents comprising the third multimedia contents, the second multimedia contents being constituted only by the first multimedia contents regarding the position and the distribution area of the distribution unit (13; 22) .
7. The electronic system according to Claim 6, wherein the first, second, and third multimedia contents comprise at least one from amongst multilingual text, multilingual audio, music, a sound, an image, an image with multilingual text, video with multilingual audio, video with subtitles in multilingual mode, an html page, an interactive content.
8. The electronic system according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 , wherein the first, second, and third multimedia contents comply with the SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model) .
9. The electronic system according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the activation unit (14; 23) is configured to activate automatically on the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) a reproduction of pre-determined third multimedia contents,- the pre-set third multimedia contents being constituted only by the third multimedia contents regarding the position and to the activation area of the activation unit (14; 23).
10. The electronic system according to Claim 9, wherein the third multimedia contents have a reproduction mode in compliance with specific physical capacities of use of the user.
11. The electronic system according to Claim 9, wherein the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) is configured to reproduce the third multimedia contents according to a specific mode of reproduction adapted to specific physical capacities of use of the user.
12. The electronic system according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the central unit (12) is coupled to the distribution unit (13; 22) by means of a packet-switched network.
13. The electronic system according to Claim 12, wherein the packet-switched network is constituted by the Internet.
14. The electronic system according to any one of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the distribution unit (13; 22) is configured to supply, in use, the third multimedia contents to the hand- held electronic device (11; 21) by Bluetooth-communication means, the distribution unit (13; 22) and the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) each comprising respective Bluetooth-communication means.
15. The electronic system according to any one of Claims 10 to 14, wherein the activation unit (14; 23) is configured to automatically activate, in use, on the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) the reproduction of the pre-determined third multimedia contents by means of NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology, the activation unit (14; 23) and the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) each comprising respective NFC means .
16. The electronic system according to Claim 15, wherein the activation unit (14; 23) is constituted by an RFID (Radio- Frequency IDentification) tag for the identification to radio frequency.
17. The electronic system according to any one of Claims 10-16, wherein the central unit (12) comprises a WEB portal configured to manage a signing-on of the user and a subscription of the user to a class of multimedia contents, the WEB portal being further configured to supply access data to the user at the end of registration, the central unit (12) being further configured to store the registration of the user, the access data of the user and, the class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user, the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) being further configured to store the access data of the user.
18. The electronic system according to Claim 17, wherein the subscription to a class of multimedia contents is a pay subscription and wherein the WEB portal is further configured to manage payment by the user of the subscription to a class of multimedia contents .
19. The electronic system according to Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) is further configured to communicate the access data to the distribution unit (13; 22), the distribution unit being further configured to communicate to the central unit (12) the access data communicated by the hand-held electronic device (11; 21), the central unit (12) being further configured to communicate to the distribution unit (13; 22) the class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user based on the access data communicated by the distribution unit (13; 22), the distribution unit (13; 22) being further configured to supply the third multimedia contents to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) based on the class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user.
20. The electronic system according to Claim 19, wherein the third multimedia contents are constituted only by the second multimedia contents regarding the class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user.
21. The electronic system according to Claim 20, wherein the user communicates to the central unit (12) by means of the WEB portal his own specific physical capacities of use, the central unit (12) being further configured to store the specific physical capacities of use of the user and to communicate to the distribution unit (13; 22) based on the access data communicated by the distribution unit (13; 22) the specific physical capacities of use of the user.
22. The electronic system according to Claim 20 or Claim 21, wherein the central unit (12) can be coupled by means of a packet-switched network to the hand-held electronic device
(11; 21), the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) being further configured to communicate to the central unit (12) the access data by means of the packet-switched network, the central unit (12) being further configured to supply to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) first multimedia contents on the basis of the access data communicated by the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) .
23. The electronic system according to any one of Claims 19 to 22, wherein the distribution unit (13; 22) is further configured to manage subscription of the user to a new class of multimedia contents and to communicate to the central unit (12) the new class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user, the central unit (12) being further configured to store the new class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user, the distribution unit (13; 22) being further configured to supply the third multimedia contents to the hand-held electronic device (11; 22) also based on the new class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user.
24. The electronic system according to Claim 23, wherein subscription to a new class of multimedia contents is a pay subscription and wherein the distribution unit (13; 22) is further configured to manage the payment by the user of the subscription to a new class of multimedia contents by means of NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology, the distribution unit (13; 22) and the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) each comprising respective NFC means.
25. The electronic system according to any one of Claims 19 to 24, wherein the activation unit (14; 23) is further configured to manage subscription of the user to a further new class of multimedia contents and to communicate to the central unit (12) the further new class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user, the central unit (12) being further configured to store the further new class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user and to communicate the further new class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user to the distribution unit (13; 22), the distribution unit 0
- 31 -
(13; 22) being further configured to supply the third multimedia contents to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) also based on the further new class of multimedia contents subscribed to by the user.
26. The electronic system according to Claim 25, wherein the subscription to a further new class of multimedia contents is a pay subscription and wherein the activation unit (14; 23) is moreover configured to manage the payment by the user of the subscription to a further new class of multimedia contents by means of NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology, the activation unit (14; 23) and the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) each comprising respective NFC means.
27. The electronic system according to any one of Claims 19 to 26, wherein the central unit (12) is further configured to supply an updating of the second multimedia contents to the distribution unit (13; 22) based on an updating of the first multimedia contents, the distribution unit (13; 22) being further configured to supply third updated multimedia contents to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) based on the updating of the second multimedia contents .
28. The electronic system according to any one of Claims 19 to 27, wherein on the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) there is installed and executed in use by processing means of the hand-held electronic ' device (11; 21) a software application configured to:
• store the access data; • communicate with the distribution unit (13; 22) by Bluetooth-communication means for communicating thereto the access data and for downloading the third multimedia contents from the distribution unit (13; 22);
• store the third multimedia contents on storage means coupled to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) ;
• communicate with the activation unit (14; 23) by means of NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology to reproduce automatically the pre-set third multimedia contents; • manage a payment by means of NFC (Near-Field Communication) technology; and • reproduce the third multimedia contents according to a specific reproduction modality adapted to the specific physical capacities of use of the user.
29. The electronic system according to Claim 28, wherein the distribution unit (13; 22) is further configured to supply the software application to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) .
30. The electronic system according to Claim 28 or Claim 29, wherein the central unit (12) is further configured to supply the software application to the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) .
31. The electronic system according to any one of preceding claim, wherein the distribution unit (13; 22) and the hand-held electronic device (11; 21) are configured to operate as nodes of a wireless mesh network.
PCT/IB2009/005150 2008-04-14 2009-04-01 Multimedia, multichannel, universally accessible, location-aware electronic informational system WO2009127928A2 (en)

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IT000226A ITBO20080226A1 (en) 2008-04-14 2008-04-14 MULTIMEDIA, MULTICANAL INFORMATION SYSTEM, UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY AND BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE POSITION
ITBO2008A000226 2008-04-14

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