DE3418995A1 - Method and apparatus for presenting stored information items on at least one monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to present stored information items on at least one monitor (1), at least some of the information items to be presented are called up, from time to time from a central memory, in a sequence which is defined in said central memory, via a videotext system, and are stored in a bulk memory (4) from which they are subsequently taken for presentation on the monitor (1). For this purpose, together with at least one decoder (2) which permits communication with a central memory of a videotext system, the apparatus has a modem (3) connected to the decoder (2), a connecting controller (5) connected to the decoder (2), a read/write controller (6) connected to the connecting controller, the bulk memory (4), which is used as an information memory and is connected to the read/write controller (6), the connecting controller (5) and the decoder (2), and at least one sequence controller (7), which is connected to the decoder (2) of the read/write controller (6), and to the monitor (1). <IMAGE>

Description

Method and device for presenting stored information

information on at least one monitor The invention relates to a Method for presenting stored information on at least one Monitor.

It is known to store information on a video memory of a video recorder or optical disk device and to present it on one or more monitors, whereby the presentation can be initiated automatically or manually.

The disadvantage here is that a change in the information or the replacement of another piece of information, the replacement of the videotape or the Requires an optical disk.

There are no difficulties in changing the one to be presented Information or the replacement by other information in the so-called teletext system, there here the information provider provides the information to be presented through remote data transmission can change in the central memory. IJer retrieval of the information happens when BiidschirmtexU-Systtn # in interactive dialog traffic, i.e. that the subscriber must determine which partial information is retrieved and in which order partial information is retrieved.

The information provider therefore has to present his information no overriding influence and the retriever does not know whether the information retrieved are new or old.

The invention is based on the object of a method for presenting of stored information, on the one hand, to the information provider enables centrally structured programs, i.e. centrally defined sequences of information, interested parties to be able to present them in the simplest and most cost-effective way possible and this To be able to replace information with other information quickly and inexpensively. This object is achieved by a method with the features of claim 1.

Since the information from the central memory in a specified there Sequence are retrieved, the information provider has the option of the Define information sequence, i.e. optimally structured information sequences for the user to ensure. By using a teletext system, both the transfer of information from the information provider to the central repository as well as a change in the information, for example an update or an exchange for other information, easy and inexpensive to carry out. For a simple and inexpensive transmission of the information to the user or certain user groups also play a decisive role in the transmission of information via the teletext system to mass storage and the presentation a request from this mass storage device. On the one hand, namely via the screen text system the users or user groups can be easily reached and, on the other hand, the Information transfer in the mass storage device at the user with a much higher Rate than with an immediate presentation on the monitor, as in the case of the usual screen text system is the case. Use of the teletext system is shortened considerably as a result. Finally, it simplifies the storage of the Information retrieved from the central memory in the mass storage device, including the presentation, because this does not require any interactive dialog traffic on the part of the user, rather a presentation is possible without any operation. The retrieval of the im Mass storage stored information can namely be triggered automatically controlled.

The retrieval of information from the central memory for takeover in the mass storage can take place according to a time program, for example hourly. But there is also the option of calling up information from to transmit control information to the time memory indicating the next retrieval time or specifies further retrieval times. In a preferred embodiment at each retrieval time when a first attempt to establish a connection to the central store is unsuccessful, the attempt is repeated automatically, however, after a specified number of unsuccessful attempts, the next attempt will not be made carried out again at the next request time.

When information is retrieved from the central Memory also transfer control instructions, for example within the first Page of a series of information pages. Such control instructions can, for example can be used to check whether the information retrieved is already in mass storage is stored or whether it is new, for example updated information acts.

Another possibility is, for example, regional information only to be transferred to the designated region by initially retrieving It is checked whether it matches one of the region or the caller assigned Identifier exists. Control instructions can also be used for this purpose, for example other information, for example image information, is included in an additional Storage is contained between the information taken from the central storage to bring in. One can also provide at predetermined times or based on to report the status of the device back to the information provider using a control instruction, so that they check the information offered and / or the time of presentation can.

The invention is also based on the object of creating a device which makes it possible in the simplest and most economical manner possible, the inventive Procedure to be carried out.

This object is achieved by a device with the features of claim 6.

The decoder and the modem provide access to the teletext network and the central storage enabled and legalized. The connection control establishes the connection to the central memory of the teletext system, and initiated by time, remotely or manually and can also initiate the test first, whether new information should be transferred to the mass storage device, if applicable also when the next request should be made.

If new information is to be adopted and saved, the loading and reading control initiates the loading of the mass storage device with the intended, information pages stored in the central memory. The sequence control causes the presentation of the information stored in the mass storage device via the decoder on the monitor or, if several monitors are provided, on these. In which Monitor or monitors can also be standard television sets, including Home televisions, act.

The individual information pages can be called up automatically take place. If a keyboard is available, this can also be used to send a request signal can be entered. In the event that a video memory is available, you can use this retrieval signals be stored.

Of course, it is also possible to just throw one in to provide one or more coins activatable trigger circuit, so that no free access to the presentable information is possible. Furthermore is it is also possible to equip the device according to the invention with a printer, which prints out the alphanumeric information or part of it, Here, too, the expression can be made dependent on a certain Amount of money is paid.

Are at least one further decoder with an assigned sequence control provided, then different information from the central Memory are taken over. It can also be used if there are several monitors different information is presented on these at the same time. Is one with the load / read over control connected keyboard available, then / this keyboard can not only show a presentation of the ones loaded in the mass storage device Information to be initiated. There is also the option to give the user the Keyboard to enable access to individual parts of the stored information. Video information can also be accessed using a keyboard, provided video memory is available. A communication with the screen text center however, it is not necessary in any of these cases and is preferably also not possible.

To information from a video memory, i.e. a video recorder or an optical disk, and in particular also in the mass storage device To be able to insert stored information during their presentation, one can provide video control. It is also possible to control the device with an effects control to be added, which supplies the signals necessary for video control, if special image change effects are to be achieved.

Several monitors can be connected to each planned sequence control so that, for example, monitor walls can also be implemented.

In the following the invention is illustrated with reference to in the drawing Embodiments explained in detail.

They show: FIG. 1 in a perspective and schematic representation a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, FIG. 2 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, 3 shows a front view of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of the device according to FIG. 1, FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the device according to FIG. 2, FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the device according to FIG. 3.

The device shown in Fig. 1 for presenting information is integrated in a column that can be set up freely and in which a monitor 1 is built-in. Instead of the monitor 1, however, a home television set could also be used, for example that does not need to be attached to the device, and also could the lower part shown in dashed lines is missing. Of course the pillar could instead of the illustrated rectangular cross-sectional area also a differently shaped Cross-sectional area, for example a circular cross-sectional area. Below the monitor 1, which is a black and white screen or a color screen can have, the individual components of the device are housed in the column, to which a commercially available decoder 2 belongs, as it is for access to a teletext system, in the Federal Republic of Germany the Btx system of the Deutsche Bundespost, necessary is. As Fig. 4 shows, the decoder is also used to access the Btx system connected to the Deutsche Bundespost necessary modem 3, which like all other parts of the device is housed in the column. The device also includes a floppy disk drive with a 3 inch industrial floppy disk as mass storage 4, which is connected to both the decoder 2 and a connection control 5 is connected, which is also connected to the decoder 2 and a load / read control 6 is connected, which in turn is connected to the mass storage device 4. The device also contains a sequence control 7, which is connected to the charge / read control 6. The controls mentioned are, in the exemplary embodiment, logical function groups, which are e.g. can be realized.

The information provider provides the information sequences that he present wants, together and transmits them in the usual way via the teletext system in its central storage or, in the case of regionally distributed central storage in one or more of the same. The content of the Information sequence is irrelevant. The number of information sequences is arbitrary and only through the Capacity of the mass storage device 4 is limited. The information provider also transmits the necessary control instructions via a simple to the central memory structured start page, the number of which is known to the hardware. By means of this Tax statements, it is possible to access the information regionally or to be restricted according to other points of view. As a result of the easy access of the information provider He can transfer the information to the central memory of the teletext system at any time update or replace.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 4, certain Times, for example by means of a timer that has a power reserve The device is connected to the mains voltage. The connection control then supplies the time stamps to which a signal is to be generated, based on which the connection control 5 tries to connect to the central memory of the teletext system via decoder 2 to manufacture. If this connection cannot be established, the attempt will be made repeated. There is no connection after a specified number of dialing attempts come about, then the next attempt will only be made again at the next time stamp carried out. However, if the connection has been established, the first information page will appear retrieved from the central memory and stored in decoder 2. Then prompt the connection control checks whether the information is already in the mass storage device 4 are saved or are new. If they are already saved, no Loading command is commanded and the connection is interrupted, releasing decoder 2 will. However, if the information is new, the necessary control information is which also include, for example, the number of pages and the page numbers, stored in the connection control 5 and the load / read control 6 called, which causes the information to be stored in the mass memory 4. So you can the transmission of the information to be presented to the presentation device refer to as a download. After completion of the entire charging process the connection is released again.

If the connection is not disconnected properly, this generates an internal command for a new selection. If the interruption occurs during of the download process, then the device remains ready to receive until the canceled Charging process has been completed properly.

As the transfer of information from the decoder to the mass storage device 4 can take place with a significantly higher transmission rate than the presentation this information on a monitor is the use of the teletext system for the remote loading of the mass storage device 4 is limited to a short time in each case.

The retrieval of the information stored in the mass storage device and the This information is presented automatically on the monitor in the exemplary embodiment during the time when there is no connection to the teletext system. On the basis of a read signal, the sequence control 7 first calls the second in the mass memory 4 stored page of the information sequence in the decoder as the first page does not contain any information relevant to the presentation. On the monitor 1 this information is presented. After a predetermined time, the next following Information page retrieved from the mass memory 4, stored in the decoder 2 and presented on monitor 1. After the presentation of the last page will be due a corresponding command repeats the read cycle.

During the shutter, the to be presented will be switched on Information page prevented. The Sequence control 7 is free again for the switching process.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that a keyboard 108 is provided which is in the Embodiment arranged on the outside of the column supporting the monitor 101 is, and that the device is in addition to the allc} l in the embodiment According to FIG. 1 existing functional groups still have a recorder 109, which is can be a video recorder or a video disc player, as well as a video controller 110 and an effects controller 111 comprises. However, only keyboard 108 or only the recorder 109 with the associated video control 110 can be provided.

As FIG. 5 shows, the keyboard is provided with the load / read control 106 tied together. The video controller 110 is connected to the sequence controller 107, the decoder 102 and the recorder 109 in connection and controls the presentation of the video information on the monitor 101. Is a connection to at least one further monitor 101 ' possible, then the presentation of the video information is also possible on this monitor controlled by the video controller 110. The modem is with 103, the mass storage denoted at 104, the connection control at 105 and the load / read control at 106.

The keyboard 108 enables a connection to be established to the Establish teletext system and its central memory as well as retrieval initiate the information stored there. Furthermore, it is via the keyboard possible to present the information loaded in the mass storage device on the monitor and also to trigger the page indexing. If as in the embodiment 1 and 4 for the retrieval of information from the central memory and an automatic system for the presentation of the information loaded in the mass storage device is present, of course, care must be taken that during an intervention via the keyboard, the automatic mode remains ineffective.

Video signals are switched on by means of the video controller 110 controlled on the monitor and a connection of the recorder 109 enables. Additionally to the signals for switching on the recorder signal and the video text signal If the video control system generates an "error recorder" signal, it is a signal to advance the teletext information pages and a signal to return of Recorder 109. While the mass storage device 104 is being downloaded, the recorder is running return. In the exemplary embodiment, it is started as soon as the video control 110 Receives input signals indicating the end of loading of mass storage 104 and the reception of information by the decoder 102. The securities control 111 supplies the video controller 110 with the special image change effects, for example a sliding, abrupt or stepped image change, necessary signals.

As in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 4, the information can be presented on multiple monitors at the same time.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 of the invention Device has three superimposed z.

horizontal rows of four monitors 201 each, with / in each of the three horizontal rows different information can be presented. The device therefore comprises, as FIG. 6 shows, in addition to the functional units, which the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 5, in addition to the decoder 202 contain two further decoders 202 'and 202' 'which are connected to the decoder 202 and the Connection controller 205 are in communication. Each of the two decoders 202 'and 202 ″ is assigned a sequence control 207 'and 207 ″, which, like the sequence control 207 of the decoder 202 are connected to the load / read controller 206. So is it is possible on the series of monitors 201 connected to the decoder 207 'as well as the series of monitors connected to decoder 202 ″ simultaneously with that of the decoder 202 assigned monitor series to present different information. Of course it would be possible to change the number of additional decoders and sequencers to choose.

As FIG. 6 shows, the two additional rows of monitors can each a recorder 209 'or 209 "with associated video control 210' or 210" is assigned be, where then, if a securities control 211 is available, this is expediently connected to all video controls 210, 210 'and 210' ' is. In accordance with the exemplary embodiments described above, this is Modem with 203, the mass storage with 204, the connection control with 205, the Keyboard with 208 and the video control of the recorder 209 with 210.

All mentioned in the above description as well as only Features that can only be taken from the drawing are further refinements Components of the invention, even if they are not particularly pointed out and in particular are not mentioned in the claims.

Claims (11)

Method for presenting stored information on at least one monitor, characterized in that from time to time about a teletext system at least part of the information to be presented retrieved from a central store in an order specified there and can be stored in a mass storage device, from which they can then be used for the presentation on the monitor. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the request takes place according to a time program. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that to each Retrieval time when a first attempt to establish a connection to the central store is unsuccessful, the attempt is retried, and that after a given number of unsuccessful attempts, the next attempt only becomes the next Is carried out at the time of retrieval. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that when the information is retrieved from the central memory, there are also control instructions be transmitted. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that in addition to the information stored in the mass memory in controlled Sequence of information stored in a video memory is presented 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the status of the presentation device is reported back to the information provider. 7. Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 1, with a Information store for use together with at least one monitor, characterized by a) at least one communication with a central memory of a teletext system permitting decoder (2; 102; 202, 202 ', 202' '), b) one connected to the decoder Modem (3; 103; 203), c) a connection controller (5; 105; 205) connected to the decoder, d) a load / read controller (6; 106; 206) connected to the connection controller, e) a mass storage device (4; 104; 204) serving as an information storage device, which with the load / read control (6; 106; 206), the connection control (5; 105; 205) and with the decoder (2; 102; 202, 202 ', 202 ") is connected, f) at least one to the decoder (2; 102; 202,202 ', 202' '), the load / read control (6; 106; 206) and the monitor (1; 101; 201) connected sequencer (7; 107; 207, 207 ', 207 "). 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized by at least one further Decoder (202 ', 202' '), one connected to it and to the first sequence control (207) Sequence control (207 ', 207' ') and at least one of each further sequence control (207 ', 207' ') controlled monitor (201). 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by a keyboard (108) connected to the load / read controller (206). 10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that that at least one of the sequence controls (107; 207, 207 ', 207' ') has a video control (110; 210, 210 ', 210 "), which in connection with a video memory (109; 209,209 ', 209' ') whose information, controlled by the sequence control, can be presented on at least one of the latter downstream monitors (101; 201) are. 11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that that an effects control (111) with the video control (110) or at least one the video controls (210, 210 ', 210' ') is connected.