Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
  • H04N21/4104—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
  • H04N21/4126—The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
  • G06F15/02—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
  • G06Q20/36—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
  • G07F7/10—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means together with a coded signal, e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/04—Protocols specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
  • H04L67/104—Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/12—Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • H04L69/14—Multichannel or multilink protocols
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • H04L69/30—Definitions, standards or architectural aspects of layered protocol stacks
  • H04L69/32—Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
  • H04L69/322—Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
  • H04L69/329—Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
  • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
  • Y02D30/50—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to multi-user transaction enabling systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multiple- computer-based server array and various user-operated transaction terminals, i.e., commercial PDAs, as well as a number of unique methods for implementing mission critical on-demand interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services to a community of concurrent customers at a commercial site.
• various user-operated transaction terminals i.e., commercial PDAs
• Multi-link multimedia architecture which is used as the preferred system architecture to configure the present disclosed system, (see U.S. Patent No. 6,049,823 issued April 11 , 2000 entitled “MULTI-SERVER, INTERACTIVE, VIDEO-ON-DEMAND TELEVISION SYSTEM UTILIZING A DIRECT- ACCESS-ON-DEMAND WORKGROUP”); and
• the merging of computer technology and various forms of entertainment and informational media provides a natural base for on-demand interactive multimedia involving a community of customers.
• a community of customers in a commercial site may, for example, include customers in retail 3 stores or customers in service-oriented retail sites like fast-food restaurants.
• a preferred form of the commercial system should provide businesses with the capability of offering interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services via its attached customer-operated transaction terminals, i.e., commercial PDAs, to facilitate "onsite" E-Store-based business operations.
• an ideal commercial system which is capable of communicating with the retailer's existing "online" E-Store-based and database servers, should provide in-store walk-in customers with the following interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services:
• Pre-sale service which allows walk-in customers to receive intermediary E-Currencies, such as E-Coupons, E-Points and E-Rebates, from interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs and redeem them via Point-Of-Sale (POS) based commercial PDAs.
• E-Currencies such as E-Coupons, E-Points and E-Rebates
• Pre-order service which allows walk-in customers to receive a hardcopy of the entire personal intermediary E-Currencies stored in the commercial system via customized content-based commercial PDAs.
• After-order service which allows walk-in customers to receive payment- based intermediary E-Currencies via POS-based commercial PDAs and such E-Currencies can further be stored in the database of the said commercial system for later use.
• additional interactive multimedia-based personal services such as Internet/e-mail, pay phone/e- directory, TV/news/sports and on-demand entertainment, can be rendered via additional portable commercial PDAs.
• the iACT unit (interactive Advertising and customized Content Triggering unit), which is interactive advertising-based commercial PDA that is also capable of providing customized content-based services. It is equipped with a smart card reader, a printer and a number of contact or contactless magnetic- tape card readers. When entering the store, the customer can insert the smart card into the smart card reader, as well as swipe or wave the magnetic tape card, as well as input the multi-function smart card via the contact or contactless magnetic-tape card reader. The iACT unit will print out a hardcopy of the entire available intermediary E-Currencies with associated items' locations in the store.
• the customer can access any nearby magnetic-tape card reader controlled by the iACT unit and simply swipe the smart card through it.
• the interactive advertising-based data i.e., E-Leads, as illustrated in co-pending patent application Serial No. 60/154,900 entitled "A SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING SMART CARD-BASED E-COMMERCE SERVICES USING E-COMMERCE BOXES"
• E-Leads as illustrated in co-pending patent application Serial No. 60/154,900 entitled "A SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING SMART CARD-BASED E-COMMERCE SERVICES USING E-COMMERCE BOXES
• the online servers can then decipher the E-Lead data, generate intermediary E- Currencies based on the advertiser's request and send them to the customer's database (i.e., E-CommerceBoxes, as illustrated in co-pending patent application Serial No. 60/154,900) in the said commercial system as well as the customer's database (E-CommerceBox) in the online database servers.
• the iPOS unit (interactive Point-of-Sale unit), which is interactive advertising-based commercial PDA that is also capable of providing onsite payment-based electronic purchasing services. It is equipped with a smart card reader and a 13" touch-screen LCD, showing interactive advertising on the right hand side.
• the customer can touch the screen based on the advertising and the associated E-Lead data that can be generated by the iPOS unit and subsequently uploaded to the online servers for intermediary E- Currency services, which are similar to what the iACT unit can provide.
• intermediary E- Currency services which are similar to what the iACT unit can provide.
• it is linked with cashier's POS station, so customers can be informed of any itemized charge, make electronic payment and receive rewards during the transaction.
• the iPOP unit (interactive Point-of-Purchase unit), which is interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs that are also capable of providing online- based electronic purchasing services. It is equipped with a keyboard, a smart card reader, a printer, a magnetic card reader and a 19" touch-screen VGA or TV monitor, showing interactive advertising-based content when not being used. The customer swipes or waves the smart card through the contact or the contactless magnetic card reader and generates implicit or user-select interactive advertising-based data that can be subsequently uploaded to the online servers for E-Currency services, which are similar to what the iACT unit can provide.
• the iPOP unit powered by the said commercial system which can communicate with online E-Store and database servers, allows customers to shop, order and pay, receive rewards and manage personal data online.
• iPOR units (interactive PORtable units), which are interactive advertising based commercial PDAs that are capable of rendering both the "onsite” and the "online” electronic purchasing services.
• the customer in a commercial site will first go to a service kiosk which houses a plurality of docking stations, each being equipped with an iPOR unit.
• the customer inserts the smart card into the smart card reader installed in the docking station.
• the docking station will release the iPOR unit to the legitimate customer, so that he or she can bring it to any table inside the commercial site.
• the customer will need to connect the plug from the table to the iPOR unit.
• wireless operation the customer needs to stay in the confines of the commercial site.
• the iPOR unit can perform all the functions similar to an iPOP unit.
• the customer since it is linked with cashier's POS system, the customer can order and pay electronically for the onsite purchasing without interfacing with a cashier, and the products or services can be delivered immediately, as such services in a fast food restaurant.
• it can be used for rendering personal-based entertainment services, such as Internet/e-mail, pay phone/e-directory, TV/news/sports and on-demand game or video.
• the above-mentioned interactive advertising contents are embedded with video clips, graphical pages, text pages and interactive-audio clips. Therefore, the above interactive advertising based commercial PDAs should be interactive multimedia capable, which means the commercial system should provide adequate concurrent interactive multimedia sharing among all the attached commercial PDAs.
• the ideal onsite interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing transaction system should also be easy and inexpensive to install and sufficiently scaleable and cost-effective to concurrently accommodate from a small number of customers in a typical retail store to a large number of customers in a hotel.
• the multi-user interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services in commercial sites can be offered by using a number of stand-alone client computers together with a number of networked servers, serving as Point-of-Purchasing units.
• Electronic purchasing services are directly rendered through each client computer functioned as user-interface terminal, which is equipped with all the user-interactivity peripheral and displaying devices.
• the onsite electronic purchasing system created by using client-based and server- based networking computers is referred as the client-server-based electronic purchasing system hereinafter.
• client-server-based systems are not capable of providing essential interactive multimedia features, such as full-motion, fullscreen video, when in a larger multi-user environment.
• essential interactive multimedia features such as full-motion, fullscreen video
• the current client-server network architecture populated with client computers and server computers, tends to create a number of on-demand multimedia database/file servers and a number of non-multimedia database/application servers.
• the bandwidth has to be sufficient enough to accommodate all the generated traffic, which can be categorized as follows: 8
• the application servers such as transaction/accounting servers for different transaction-oriented services, as well as system management/security servers, constantly generate non-multimedia data traffic on the network.
• the multimedia database/file servers such as digital audio-based server, digital video-based server, and interactive game server, also constantly generate multimedia data traffic to client computers.
• Each client computer functioned as one user-interface terminal, will accept interactivity from only one user through either a mouse, a keyboard or a touch-screen-based input device and generate the VGA display on the monitor for only one user to watch.
• the traffic between one multimedia database/file server and many client computers will quickly use up the network bandwidth.
• combining these two different groups of servers together on the same network link to all the attached client computers tends to create collisions that will degrade the network performance, thereby yielding unstable and jolted multimedia delivery, and slower system operation.
• Another thin-client server architecture will be ideal for bigger servers such as mainframes or minicomputers.
• the same kind of problem exists, as discussed above, that the use of networked servers, as on-demand multimedia database/file servers, will produce unsatisfactory throughput to client computers and degrade other application-based servers performance.
• the client-server based electronic purchasing system may provide adequate on-demand interactive multimedia for a few concurrent customers with only a few client computers.
• the price/performance will become less desirable.
• the fault tolerance of these client-server-based systems can't be easily implemented, since each server will have to be installed with additional redundant hardware and fail-safe OS-based clustering software packages.
• the client-server-based architecture using a plurality of client computers and server computers is not ideal in delivering on-demand fault- tolerant interactive multimedia-based services for either a small or a large group of customers concurrently and cost-effectively.
• current computer platforms are not ideal building blocks for implementing an onsite multi-user interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system.
• the mainframe computers are too costly and not scalable for a smaller number of customers, for example, customers in a fast-food restaurant.
• the mini-computers are also too costly and not scalable enough to satisfy a smaller group of customers.
• the high-end workstation servers or the PC servers are only capable of delivering on-demand interactive multimedia for a few customers concurrently.
• Wireless portability is more difficult to be implemented, due to the fact that, based on client-server architecture, if the wireless link, which is much slower, connects to the system network, the overall network throughput will be degraded dramatically.
• wireless portability as described in iPOR units, is desirable because it enables more units to be accessed by more customers concurrently and the operation it renders is more ergonomic and user-friendly.
• the client-computer-based user-interface terminal can be individually interactive multimedia capable, however, the concurrent interactive multimedia electronic purchasing services are usually generated from a number of centralized media and database servers located in a servicing center or in a headend, where the main processing unit is installed.
• the client-computer-based user-interface terminals are able to provide on-demand interactive multimedia services from the headend servers, due to headend servers' on-demand deficiency and the two-way broadband infrastructure not yet available. 11
• the conventional client-server-based electronic purchasing system is not capable of providing multi-user interactive-multimedia-based electronic purchasing services for accommodating either a small or a large group of concurrent customers via its client-computer-based user-interface terminals concurrently and cost-effectively.
• the aforementioned computer platforms i.e., main-frames, mini-computers, high-end workstations and PCs, together with the client-server architecture can not create a capable multi-user transaction enabling system to provide on- demand interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services for a community of concurrent customers efficiently and cost-effectively.
• the objects of this invention are accomplished by not only resolving the above-mentioned deficiencies but also devising more technological breakthroughs in constructing a multi-user interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing transaction system.
• the present invention comprises a plurality of apparatuses and employs different integration methods to build differently configured systems.
• Each disclosed system provides interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services to a community of concurrent customers via a variety of uniquely built wired or wireless user- operated transaction terminals, i.e., commercial PDAs.
• the present invention employs a workgroup-computer-based workgroup- server array (as illustrated in co-pending Provisional Application Serial No. 60/135,318), as the preferred building block to build the multiple-server-based main-processing unit.
• the main-processing unit can be configured based on multi-link multimedia architecture (as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,049,823) which includes not only the common internal network link, but also the video-delivery link and the user-interactivity link to interface with various commercial PDAs.
• the preferred embodiment of the disclosed system can thus be built to effectively generate as many "interactive channels" to accommodate as many concurrent customers as desired via a variety of commercial PDAs, utilizing multi-link-based workgroup server array's efficiency in delivering mission critical highly available and scaleable on-demand interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services in a commercial site. 13
• the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the following three types of uniquely built apparatuses. They are 1 ) multi-link workgroup server array-based main-processing units, 2) multi-link- based multiplexer devices, 3) multi-link-based commercial PDAs. Each multi- link commercial PDA consists of a multi-link-based set-top-box with various attached user-interface devices. There are three major kinds of user-interface devices: 1 ) off-the-shelf common devices, such as serial-port touch-screens and smart card readers, as well as USB-port-based, 2) Bluetooth devices, such as cell phones and handheld PDAs, 3) uniquely-built devices, which will be disclosed hereinafter. Furthermore, based on the preferred embodiment, the present invention employs a number of unique methods for implementing interactive advertising-based, interactive payment-based, and customized content-based "onsite" electronic purchasing services.
• the present invention employs yet another different integration methods, which utilize different apparatuses for building different configured systems for different applications.
• VGA-based commercial PDAs are ideal.
• NTSC/PAL-based commercial PDAs are more suited, because NTSC/PAL signals can be extended easily by simply implementing video repeaters.
• a smaller electronic purchasing system can be built by using a smaller workgroup-server-array, which configures a smaller main-processing unit that can serve 4 to 8 commercial PDAs concurrently.
• a larger electronic purchasing system can be built by using multiple workgroup server clusters, which can configure a larger main-processing unit that can serve thousands of commercial PDAs concurrently.
• the present disclosed system may employ an interactive kiosk, which houses a number of docking stations with portable user-interface devices and a number of security-based video-monitoring devices, so that "onsite" serviceability and real-time interactive security can be implemented.
• the present disclosed system allows external-computing devices, such as other LAN based server computers or client computers, to interface directly with the main-processing unit via the internal network link using either wired or wireless network hubs or switches.
• the present disclosed system further allows a number of personal-based accessories, such as cellphones and handheld personal digital assistants (PDA) to interface with disclosed commercial PDAs via either wired or wireless links, such as Bluetooth, so that the disclosed system's "onsite" electronic purchasing services can be extended onto those personal accessories.
• PDA personal digital assistants
• the disclosed system also allows WAN connectivity, either wired or wireless, enabling the disclosed system to communicate with online web-based servers via Intranet, Extranet and Internet.
• FIG. 1 A is an electronic-function block diagram illustrating a preferred multi- link workgroup computer-based processor, i.e., TeamProcessor, as one of the workgroup server array's components for building a preferred main-processing unit;
• a preferred multi- link workgroup computer-based processor i.e., TeamProcessor
• FIG. 1 B is an exploded view illustrating a preferred workgroup computer- based chassis, i.e., TeamChassis, as one of the workgroup server array's components for building a preferred main-processing unit;
• a preferred workgroup computer- based chassis i.e., TeamChassis
• FIG. 1 C is an electronic-function block diagram illustrating a plurality of preferred workgroup computer-based direct-access servers, i.e., TeamServers, as one of the workgroup server array's components for building a preferred main-processing unit;
• FIG. 1 D is an electronic-function block diagram illustrating a preferred workgroup computer-based modular peripheral device, i.e., TeamPanel, as one of the workgroup server array's components for building a preferred main- processing unit;
• a preferred workgroup computer-based modular peripheral device i.e., TeamPanel
• FIG. 1 E is an electronic-function block diagram illustrating multiple cascading of TeamPanels, for accommodating an 8-TeamProcessor-based or more than 8-TeamProcessor-based workgroup-server array for building a preferred main- processing unit; 16
• FIG. 2.0 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system (OS-204V), which is configured to include a main processing unit equipped with a 2- TeamProcessor-based workgroup-server-array, multi-link-based peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;
• OS-204V preferred interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system
• FIG. 2C is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOS-V unit, as one of the user-operated onsite electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 2.0;
• FIG. 2D is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred POS- interface peripheral device, to be used with the preferred iPOS-V units as shown in FIG. 2C;
• FIG. 2E is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOP-V unit, as one of the user-operated online electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred system as shown in FIG. 2.0;
• FIG. 2F is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred iACT unit, as one of the user-operated interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs to be integrated with the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 2.0; 17
• FIG. 3.0 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system (OS-408), which is configured to include a main-processing unit equipped with a 4-TeamProcessor-based workgroup-server-array, multi-link peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;
• OS-408 a preferred interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system
• FIG. 3.0 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing system (OS-408), which is configured to include a main-processing unit equipped with a 4-TeamProcessor-based workgroup-server-array, multi-link peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention
• FIG. 3B is an electronic-wiring block diagram illustrating a preferred cable distribution box (CDB-408), as one of the multi-link peripheral devices to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 3.0;
• CDB-408 a preferred cable distribution box
• FIG. 3D is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link iPOP-R unit, as one of the user-operated online electronic purchasing- based commercial PDAs to be integrated into the preferred configured system as shown in FIG. 3.0;
• FIG. 5A is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred WSA- based onsite electronic purchasing system
• FIG. 5B is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a multi-node server cluster-based onsite electronic purchasing system
• FIG. 6A is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred wireless and portable StorePDA user-interface device and its coupling transceiver;
• FIG. 6B is an electronic-function block diagram, illustrating a preferred multi- link ITVD unit, as one of the user-operated onsite interactive advertising-based commercial PDAs;
• FIG. 6E is a generic outline drawing illustrating a preferred StorePDA with front view and back view
• FIG. 6F is a generic outline drawing illustrating a preferred iMEC kiosk unit in a commercial site
• FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-204), which is configured to include a 2-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, multi-link multiplexer devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;
• OS-204 a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system
• FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-204), which is configured to include a 2-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, multi-link multiplexer devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention
• FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-1224), which is configured to include a 12-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, multi-link multiplexer devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;
• OS-1224 a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system
• FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-1224), which is configured to include a 12-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, multi-link multiplexer devices and user-operated commercial PDAs, in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention
• the present invention comprises a plurality of unique apparatuses, which are the basic building blocks for the disclosed system.
• the disclosed system provides interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services to a community of concurrent customers in a commercial site via attached user- operated wired and wireless transaction terminals, hereinafter referred as commercial Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).
• PDAs Personal Digital Assistants
• the preferred embodiment of the disclosed system comprises the following unique apparatuses. They are 1 ) multi-link workgroup server array-based main-processing units, 2) multi-link-based multiplexer devices for linking the main-processing unit with various multi-link commercial PDAs, and 3) multi-link-based commercial PDAs.
• the present invention includes various disclosed apparatuses in different preferred system configurations, so that their functionality, variation and relationship with one another can be demonstrated.
• This disclosure omits the standard power and other implied modules, to best illustrate only the relevant modules and components for the purpose of simplicity and clarity. 22
• a preferred Team/workgroup computer-based TeamProcessor for constructing a preferred main-processing unit, based on the aforementioned multi-link multimedia architecture, is illustrated.
• the preferred multi-link TeamProcessor is equipped with a 1-way, 2-way, 4-way, or 8-way Intel-Pentium PCI-based CPU card with 512MB RAM.
• multi-link-based components which include a group-based common 23 user-interactivity link module or multiple point-to-point user-interactivity link modules, as well as multiple point-to-point video-delivery link modules using VGA and a common video-delivery link module using composite NTSC/PAL- based video.
• a preferred workgroup server chassis i.e., TeamChassis
• TeamChassis is also equipped with internal redundant power supplies, security alarm, smart-power management, hot swappable disks and fans.
• the TeamProcessor is compactPCI-based, then all the add-in cards are also hot swappable.
• the maximum number of TeamProcessors that can be workgrouped together to form a workgroup server array is constrained by the internal workgroup server link, which is used for linking various TeamServers. If the workgroup server link employs SCSI-II or the like, the effective length to ensure proper data transmission is 6 meters and the number of nodes that can be attached is 16. That is why a TeamChassis, which can enclose at least two TeamProcessors, is used to support a better workgroup server link based on SCSI cable scheme.
• the first TeamProcessor connects the cable from the external port and links to the second TeamProcessor inside the TeamChassis, 24 which further extends the cable for external connection.
• the same TeamChassis can also house four CPU-card based TeamProcessors, allowing the SCSI cable to be even shorter.
• LVD SCSI-Ill a standard having both narrow (8-bit) and wide (16-bit) configurations. Therefore, the preferred SCSI implementation is to use LVD SCSI-Ill, which has the maximum data rate at 160MB/sec with the cable length up to twelve (12) meters.
• peripheral bus-based protocol standards such as Fiber Channel, Serial Storage Architecture (SSA) and IEEE 1394 FireWire, can also be used to implement various workgroup server link card modules, in addition to aforesaid SCSI standards.
• SSA Serial Storage Architecture
• IEEE 1394 FireWire IEEE 1394 FireWire
• FIG. 1 C shows a preferred workgroup server array, in which eight preferred multi-link TeamProcessors, each equipped with multiple SCSI-lll-based TeamServer controller card modules, are all connected by the first workgroup sever link (S1 ) using SCSI-Ill.
• the S1 workgroup server link also connects to four (4) Direct-Access SCSI-based TeamServers (DASTS), which can be SCSI-based RAIDs, hard disks, RAM-disks, tapes, as well as optical disks.
• DASTS Direct-Access SCSI-based TeamServers
• TeamProcessor-1 (TP-1 ) and TeamProcessor-2 (TP-2) are connected together with the second workgroup server link (S2) that also connects to a SCSI-disk-based DASTS-A, forming a fail-over Server-Pair-1.
• fail-over Server-Pair-2 are formed by TP-3 and TP-4 with SCSI-disk- based DASTS-B
• fail-over Server-Pair-3 are formed by TP-5 and TP-6 with SCSI-disk-based DASTS-C
• fail-over Server-Pair-4 are formed by TP-7 and TP-8 with SCSI-disk-based DASTS-D.
• SCSI-disk-based TeamServers i.e., DASTS-A, -B, -C and -D
• DASTS-A, -B, -C and -D are SCSI disk drives, each of which can be partitioned into two logical drives, so that each of the two TeamProcessors in the Server-Pair is allocated with one logical drive and enabled with absolute read and write privileges.
• TP-1 has the absolute read and write privilege over DASTS-A- Logid , but it can only read from DASTS-A-Logic-2 for fail-safe purpose, so that if TP-2 should fail, TP-1 can take over by reading the log file recorded earlier by TP-2 and continue the process without failure.
• TP-2 has the absolute read and write privilege over DASTS-A-Logic2, but it can only read from DASTS-A-Logic1 for fail-safe purpose.
• the same scenario applies to other fail-over Server Pairs.
• each preferred multi-link TeamProcessor has three Ethernet modules: 1 ) workgroup server array internal link, which connects with all the other TeamProcessors in the workgroup server array, 2) workgroup server cluster internal link, which connects with all the other counterpart fail- over Server-Pair in all the other workgroup server arrays within the same workgroup server cluster, 3) dual LAN links, one of which connects to one LAN segment switch/hub, the other connects to another LAN segment switch/hub, so that fail-safe LAN linkage can be established.
• the reason for implementing workgroup server array (WSA) internal link is to establish peer-to-peer connectivity among all the TeamProcessors, so that any activities within the workgroup server array will not affect other workgroup server arrays belonging to the same workgroup server cluster. Moreover, since all of these TeamProcessors are connected on the workgroup server array internal link and are installed with network operation system, each direct- access database/file TeamServer can be mapped by its primary TeamProcessor as a network-access drive, which allows other TeamProcessors in the same workgroup server array to act like a client to access the database with read and write services rendered by the primary TeamProcessor. Furthermore, if the workgroup peer-to-peer link using SCSI- 27
• the reason for implementing the workgroup server cluster (WSC) internal link is to establish inter-workgroup server array communication, so that all the distributed databases in all the workgroup server arrays can be seamlessly aggregated as one database within the same workgroup server cluster.
• a preferred workgroup server cluster is comprised of 10 preferred workgroup server arrays, and each workgroup server array has 4 fail-over Server-Pairs, and each server pair has two preferred multi-link TeamProcessors.
• the first workgroup server cluster link will connect the first Server-Pair in those ten workgroup server arrays, so that any workgroup cluster-based database request directed to anyone of the first Server-Pair in a particular workgroup server array will be also involved with either one of first Server-Pairs in all the other nine workgroup server arrays.
• the benefit is to ensure fail-safe and faster database services, since every TeamProcessor can render database services for other counterpart TeamProcessors in other workgroup server arrays, without jamming the primary database servers.
• FIG. 1 D illustrates the preferred TeamPanel, which comprises four (4) basic control units (CU) and one (1 ) main control unit (MCU), and connects to four (4) TeamProcessors via RAP, VGA, USB, and audio port.
• the basic control unit is equipped with an on-board micro-controller that uses COM1 and COM2 28 as fail-safe pair to communicate with its attached TeamProcessor and l 2 C to communicate with other basic control units and the main control unit.
• the on-board micro-controller of the basic control unit generates a set of ten interface signals, which connect to the front panel.
• the Front-Panel contains two interactive push-button switches; the first one is for selecting the chosen TeamProcessor for external workgroup shareable VGA-based monitor to display, for the external shareable keyboard and the shareable mouse to control. The second one equipped with an LED is for powering on or off the chosen TeamProcessor. There are also two sets of LEDs, which indicate primary system disk activity and select enabled respectively. A ball-pen- enabled reset switch is also included for resetting the chosen TeamProcessor.
• TeamManager The default TeamProcessor that supervises the main control unit (MCU) of the TeamPanel is called TeamManager. Even though the MCU maintains its own status and usage tables, TeamManager will always have the highest priority for MCU to react to.
• any TeamProcessor can first transfer the message to its attached control unit (CU) via COM2 of RAP, and then the control unit (CU) repacks the message with l 2 C protocol header and notifies the main control unit (MCU) via TeamPanel internal link using l 2 C.
• the basic control unit can communicate directly with the TeamManager through TeamPanel internal l 2 C link, thereby, for instance, reporting the current status of its attached TeamProcessor.
• the TeamPanel internal link can be used as an alternative communication link to workgroup server array peer-to-peer links using SCSI-Ill and Ethernet.
• FIG. 1 E shows two TeamPanels cascaded together to connect eight preferred workgrouped TeamProcessors.
• the first TeamPanel, i.e. TP-408M, and the second TeamPanel, i.e., TP-408C as slave to TP-408M, are connected via the common VGA, Audio, USB, and l 2 C buses, so that the main control unit in TP-408M will supervise all the basic control units (CU) in TP- 408C.
• the TeamManager controls the first TeamPanel, will also be the TeamManager of the second TeamPanel.
• any TeamProcessor of the second TeamPanel will first transfer the message to its attached control unit (CU) via COM2 of RAP and the control unit re-packs the message with l 2 C protocol header and notifies the main control unit in the first TeamPanel via internal l 2 C link.
• the particular basic control unit (CU) of the second TeamPanel can communicate directly with the TeamManager of the first TeamPanel through TeamPanel internal l 2 C link. Therefore, based on the same scenario, any particularly configured workgroup server array can be accommodated either by a single or by multiple TeamPanels cascaded together.
• the front-panel of each 30 can be accommodated either by a single or by multiple TeamPanels cascaded together. Furthermore, the front-panel of each 30
• the main-processing unit constructed by using preferred workgroup server array as the preferred building block, can then provide highly available and scaleable, mission-critical transaction enabling services for more concurrent customers.
• the preferred main-processing unit can further interface with a variety of disclosed multi-link wired or wireless user-operated transaction terminals, i.e., commercial PDAs, enabling on-demand fault- tolerant interactive multimedia-based electronic purchasing services to be rendered to onsite customers concurrently and in a scalable fashion.
• the onsite customers who are going to receive the onsite electronic purchasing services via the preferred onsite electronic purchasing systems, will have at least one of the following user-ID-based tokens: 1 ) a magnetic tape- based membership card, 2) a key-fob that provides contactless-based magnetic tape-based membership card information, 3) a processor-based smart card that enable two-factor authentication with PKI-based private key, user password and user-based membership ID# and E-Wallet.
• the 31 customers, who have a multi-function smart card that is also be equipped with contactless magnetic tape capability, will be also referred to herein as "smart card users".
• Multi-link interactive Point-of-Purchase commercial PDAs based on one (1 ) VGA-based individual video-delivery link and two (2) RS-422-based individual user- interactivity links, hereinafter referred as iPOP-V units.
• iPOP-V units Multi-link interactive Point-of-Purchase commercial PDAs, based on one (1 ) VGA-based individual video-delivery link and two (2) RS-422-based individual user- interactivity links, hereinafter referred as iPOP-V units.
• Customized content- based commercial PDAs based on two (2) RS-422-based individual user- interactivity links, hereinafter referred as iACT units.
• the preferred configured system there are two (2) iPOS-V units, two (2) iPOP-V units, and four (4) iACT units, each unit being linking to two (2) host TeamProcessors, both primary and secondary, via two (2) individual user-interactivity links for fault-tolerance.
• the preferred configured system is equipped with a number of non-interactive 32 channel generators, such as security-based Camcorders and DVD/VCRs, as well as a number of NTSC/PAL-based TVs.
• Each TeamProcessor contains two VGA-based cards and one DVD/MPEG-II playback card, which together can generate 3 NTSC/PAL based video signals, modulated as channel 65, 66, 67 for the first TeamProcessor and 68, 69, 70 for the second TeamProcessor.
• a preferred RF modulator box comprises ten RF modulators with preset channel numbers from 65 to 74. It further contains a group of video combiner, so that all these modulated channels can all be combined on an RF cable, i.e., a common video-delivery link, together with existing cable TV signals from channel 1 to channel 64.
• a preferred cable distribution box consolidates all the RS-422-based individual user-interactivity links from all the TeamProcessors in the preferred system and distributes each individual set of cables to each attached commercial PDA.
• the common RF-based video-delivery link also connects to all the TeamProcessors, so that each TeamProcessor can capture the video or the still-image from channel 1 to channel 74, for security and maintenance purposes.
• Keyboard-based magnetic card reader, touch-screen and smart card reader are the input modules
• a serial printer is the output module
• a VGA monitor and a backup LCD display are the display modules.
• the on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from the input modules and redirects event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the individual point-to-point RS- 422 serial-based user-interactivity link.
• the host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the input message, generates the interactive multimedia content, and sends the signals via the VGA-based individual video-delivery link to the display module.
• the host TeamProcessor can decipher and process the input message, generate text-based content, and send the data via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can further relay the data to the output printer.
• the set-top-box of iPOS-V unit is built-in with a C- MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors.
• SW C- MOS/TTL-based switch
• Such services as intermediary E-Currency and E-mails can be generated and sent to the smart card user's database (i.e., E-CommerceBoxes) resided in the present disclosed systems, online web-based servers as well as in the smart cards. All the details regarding interactive-advertising-based E-Lead and intermediary E- Currencies for onsite electronic purchasing-based e-commerce services are illustrated in the co-pending Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/154,900 filed September 20, 1999, entitled "A SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING SMART CARD-BASED E-COMMERCE SERVICES USING E-COMMERCE BOXES".
• the cashier operates all the devices attached to a POS station.
• a bar-code reader for inputting product and membership information
• a keyboard for activating POS functions
• a dial- up payment device for processing credit or debit card payment.
• a user-operated iPOS unit will have to rely on its TeamProcessor to communicate with the said POS station operated by the said cashier via network link.
• the data being input into the said POS station can then be obtained and processed by the said iPOS unit interfaced by a user in front of the said cashier, so that the user can be informed of each step of the POS processing.
• the purpose of the said POS interface unit is to help the iPOS unit integrate with the existing POS station seamlessly without having to modify the POS-based software program that has been installed. However, if the POS program can be accessed and modified to accommodate the iPOS unit, the payment transaction results can then be automatically transferred into the existing POS station via LAN, which completes the whole payment transaction and simplifies the cashier's operation.
• a preferred multi-link-based stationed commercial iPOP-V unit comprises an intelligent set- top-box, a 19" VGA-based monitor, and serial-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for VGA-based display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as a keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader.
• the on-board micro-controller of the iPOP-V unit's set-top-box handles all the interactivity events generated from the input modules and redirects event messages to its primary host TeamProcessor via the individual RS-422 serial-based user- 36 interactivity link.
• the TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the input message, generates the interactive multimedia content, and sends the signals via the VGA-based individual video-delivery link to the display modules.
• the TeamProcessor can further decipher and process the input message, generate text-based content, and send the data via the individual serial-port-based user-interactivity link to the micro-controller, which can further relay the data to the output module.
• the set- top-box of iPOP-V unit is built-in with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors.
• SW C-MOS/TTL-based switch
• the on-board micro-controller will detect and send a signal to the smart switch, which will disconnect the communication with the primary TeamProcessor and reconnect the secondary TeamProcessor, so that the user-interactivity generated from input modules will be processed by the secondary TeamProcessor. Even though the VGA display module doesn't receive any signal from the primary TeamProcessor, the output printer module still can receive the processing result from the secondary TeamProcessor.
• a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed commercial iACT unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box and its physical wire-linked user-interface unit, which includes a number of user- interface peripheral devices, such as an LCD display, a serial printer, a smart card reader, as well as one keyboard-based and a serial-based magnetic card reader.
• the on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from the input modules and redirects event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link.
• the TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the message, generates text- based content, and sends the customized content-based data via the individual serial-port-based user-interactivity link to the output printer and the LCD display.
• the set-top-box of iACT unit is built-in with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and send a signal to the smart switch, which will disconnect the communication with the primary TeamProcessor and reconnect the secondary TeamProcessor, so that the user-interactivity generated from input modules will be processed by the secondary TeamProcessor.
• SW C-MOS/TTL-based switch
• the iACT unit's main functions are for generating onsite-based E-Lead data. If the smart card user is interested in the ad generated by a TeamProcessor's MPEG-II playback card and shown on the in-store TVs, the user can access any nearby iACT unit and simply swipe the smart card through the contact magnetic card reader.
• the reader can be built-in with at least 3 Interest buttons, i.e., the current-ad button, the 1 st previous ad button and the 2 nd previous ad button, so that the user can push the desired ones to initiate the subsequent e-commerce services.
• the E- Lead data can be generated by the micro-controller based on the time of execution and stored in the iACT unit. The unit can later upload the E-Lead data to the interactive-advertising-based server for E-Lead processing.
• FIG. 3.0 illustrates a preferred workgroup-server-array-based multi-link electronic purchasing system, which is comprised of 1 ) a 4-TeamProcessor- based main-processing unit, 2) a number of multi-link-based multiplexer devices, as shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, 3) a number of multi-link-based commercial PDAs.
• iPOS-V RF-based interactive Point-of-Sale commercial PDAs
• iPOS-R RF-based interactive Point-of-Sale commercial PDAs
• iPOP- R RF-based interactive Point-of-Purchase commercial PDAs
• iPOR-C RF-based wireless interactive portable commercial PDAs
• multi-link-based multiplexer apparatuses i.e., a modulator box and a cable distribution box
• two (2) RS-422 serial- based iPOS-R units two (2) RS-422 serial-based iPOP-R units, eight (8) RS- 422 serial-based iACT units and four (4) RS-422 serial-based iPOR-C units.
• Each unit is linked to two (2) host TeamProcessors, both primary and secondary, for fault tolerance.
• the preferred configured system is equipped with a number of non-interactive channel generators, such as security-based Camcorders and DVD/VCRs, as well as a number of NTSC/PAL-based TVs.
• Each TeamProcessor contains two (2) VGA cards and one DVD/MPEG-II playback card, which together can generate 3 NTSC/PAL based video signals, modulated as channel 65, 66, 67 for the first TeamProcessor, 68, 69, 70 for the second TeamProcessor, 71 , 72, 73 for the third TeamProcessor and 74, 75, 76 for the fourth TeamProcessor.
• a preferred RF modulator box comprises 16 RF modulators with preset channel numbers from 65 to 80. It further contains a group of video combiner, so that all these modulated channels can all be combined on a RF cable, i.e., a common video-delivery link, together with existing cable TV signals from channel 1 to channel 64.
• a preferred cable distribution box consolidates all the RS-422-based individual user-interactivity links from all the TeamProcessors and a common RF-based video-delivery link, and distributes each individual set of cables to each attached commercial PDA.
• the common RF-based video-delivery link also connects to all the TeamProcessors, so that each TeamProcessor can capture the video or the still-image from channel 1 to channel 80, for security and maintenance purposes.
• a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed iPOS-R unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box, a 13" VGA/TV-changeable LCD display monitor, l 2 C-based tuner and On-Screen- Display (OSD) device, and serial port-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for VGA/TV display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader.
• OSD On-Screen- Display
• the set-top-box built-in with the iPOS-R unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of functional modules.
• Keyboard-based magnetic card reader, touch-screen and smart card reader are the input modules
• a serial printer is the output module
• a VGA/TV monitor is the display module.
• the on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from its input modules and redirects the event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link.
• the host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the message, and generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated into a RF video signal with a pre-set channel number.
• the host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board microcontroller, so that it can control the built-in l 2 C on-board tuner to receive the RF 40 video signal via the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel.
• the tuner further demodulates the RF video signal and displays the composite video onto the VGATV monitor.
• the host TeamProcessor can also decipher and process the input message, generate the text-based content, and send the data via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can relay the data to the On-Screen- Display (OSD) device's display buffer via l 2 C link.
• OSD On-Screen- Display
• the OSD device can process the data content and merge it with the incoming composite video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor.
• the OSD can further display any data content, which is the result of self-diagnosis or user-interactivity generated from interfacing either with the on-board microcontroller or any of the TeamProcessors.
• the set-top-box of iPOS-R unit is built-in with a C-MOS/TTL-based switch (SW), which controls two RS-422 communication lines that connect to two (2) host TeamProcessors. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the on-board micro-controller will detect and send a signal to the smart switch, which will disconnect the communication with the primary TeamProcessor and reconnect the secondary TeamProcessor, so that the user-interactivity generated from input modules will be processed by the secondary TeamProcessor.
• SW C-MOS/TTL-based switch
• the secondary TeamProcessor can provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board micro-controller, which further controls the on-board tuner to receive RF video signal from the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel.
• the interactive multimedia content generated by the secondary TeamProcessor can then be displayed onto the VGATV monitor; thereby the full-fledged fail-safe capability can be established.
• the iPOS-R unit is equipped with a VGA/TV- changeable display monitor, the primary TeamProcessor's VGA-based individual video-delivery link can also be connected. When the primary TeamProcessor fails, the user can switch the monitor from VGA mode to the TV-based NTSC/PAL mode, so that the content generated by the secondary TeamProcessor can be displayed.
• An iPOS-R unit's main functions are the same as an iPOS-V unit.
• an iPOS-R unit interfaces with the same POS interface unit, as shown in FIG. 2D, so that the existing POS station can be seamlessly integrated with an iPOS-R unit without having to modify the POS-based software program that has been installed.
• the set-top-box built-in with the iPOP-R unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of input, output and display modules as mentioned above.
• the on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from its input modules and redirects the event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link.
• the host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes each event message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated into a RF video signal with a pre-set channel number.
• the host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board microcontroller, so that it can control the built-in l 2 C on-board tuner to receive the RF video signal via the common video-delivery link, and tune to the right channel.
• the tuner further demodulates the RF video signal and displays the composite video onto the VGATV monitor.
• the host TeamProcessor can also decipher and process the input message, generate the text-based content, and send the data via the individual RS-422 serial-based user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can relay the data to the On-Screen- Display (OSD) device's display buffer via l 2 C link.
• the OSD device can process the data content and merge it with the incoming composite video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor.
• OSD can further display any data content, which is the result of self-diagnosis or user-interactivity generated from interfacing either with the on-board microcontroller or any of the TeamProcessors.
• the secondary TeamProcessor can provide the pre-set channel-number to the on-board micro-controller, which can control the on-board tuner, which receives RF video signal from the common video- delivery link, to tune to the right channel.
• the interactive multimedia content generated by the secondary TeamProcessor can then be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor; thereby the full-fledged fail-safe capability can be established.
• the iPOP-R unit is equipped with a VGA/TV-changeable display monitor, the primary TeamProcessor's VGA-based individual video- delivery link can also be connected. If the primary TeamProcessor should fail, the user can switch the monitor from VGA mode to the TV-based NTSC/PAL mode, so that the content generated by the secondary TeamProcessor can be displayed.
• the preferred 4-TeamProcessor system further is equipped with 4 fail-safe multi-link-based portable commercial PDAs.
• Each portable commercial PDA comprises a smart card docking station and its wireless-linked portable user- interface unit, which is built-in with a number of user-interface peripheral devices, such as digital or analog video LCD display with touch screen, batteries, as well as magnetic card reader.
• Each docking station communicates with its portable unit via wireless video-delivery link and wireless user-interactivity link.
• This particular commercial PDA which can be categorized as an interactive Portable-based PDA, is hereinafter referred as iPOR-C.
• a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based portable iPOR-C unit comprises a smart-switch-enhanced serial-based docking station and a wireless/portable user-interface unit, based on 900Mhz wireless serial and a 2.4Ghz wireless base-band composite video and audio for accessing all the interactive and non-interactive channels.
• 900Mhz wireless RS-232 module to communicate with its designated portable unit and redirect the user's interactivity generated from that particular portable unit to its host TeamProcessor through the wired RS422-based individual user-interactivity link.
• It is equipped with a tuner and an OSD (on-screen-display) module, so that tuner can tune to the desired channel and generate base-band video and audio signals.
• the base-band video can be channeled into OSD module, so that any on-screen message generated by the on-board micro-controller can be overlapped with the base-band video.
• WBBT wireless base-band transmitter module
• the portable user-interface terminal is equipped with a micro-controller board, a touch-screen, a 6" NTSC or PAL-based LCD display, a 2.4Ghz wireless base-band receiver (WBBR), a 900Mhz wireless RS232 module, an OSD (onscreen-display) module, speakers/ear phones, cooling fans, an alarm mechanism that interfaces with site entrances, a temperature sensor, and a battery pack. It can also be equipped with an optional magnetic card reader, as well as an optional cordless phone handset with locking mechanism.
• WBBR wireless base-band receiver
• OSD onscreen-display
• the tuner tunes to the desired interactive or non-interactive channel and demodulates the RF zignal into base band composite video that is channeled into the OSD module.
• the composite video which may be a combination of both in-coming video and the message content generated by a built-in On-Screen-Display (OSD) device.
• the message content which is resulted from user-interactivity, can be sent to the OSD device's display buffer.
• the OSD device processes the content and merges it with the base band composite video, creating an overlay-based composite video, which can be channeled into WBBT, together with composite audio generated from the tuner.
• the WBBT merges composite video and audio, and transmit them to the portable unit via 2.4 GHz.
• the portable unit is built in with the WBBR unit, which receives the composite video and audio signals.
• the audio signals link to built-in speakers or an earphone jack.
• the composite video signal links to the built-in OSD, which generates self- diagnostic messages. After OSD signal processing, the composite video can be display by the 6" LCD on the portable unit.
• a preferred portable user-interface unit is illustrated.
• the preferred portable unit is designed to be equipped with a handle for easy portability, a cordless phone handset and an optional card-swiping mechanism.
• the detached cordless handset with its contoured shape matches seamlessly with the unit handle, so that when it is locked with the unit, it can be part of the handle.
• the detachable cordless handset can be unlocked and released, so that customers can use it for telephone services. Because of its lightweight, the preferred portable unit can be easily accessed, carried and operated anywhere within the commercial site by a number of customers during the business hours.
• the iPOR-C unit's main functions are to provide customers with both onsite POS-based electronic purchasing and online POP-based electronic purchasing.
• the iPOR-C unit interfaces with disclosed system's TeamServers and online servers, so that iPOS and iPOP functions, as described above, can all be accommodated.
• Customers can use the smart card and insert it into the docking station's smart card reader to log in. After proper authentication, the docking station will release the designated portable unit, so that customers can bring it to the service area within the commercial site.
• Customers can touch the display monitor to activate subsequent services.
• the unit is interactive advertising capable, showing interactive advertising-based video or graphical pages on the display.
• the smart card user can touch the screen and generate interactive advertising-based E-Lead data, which can be stored in the unit and can later be uploaded to the online interactive-advertising-based server for E- Lead processing. 46
• group-based user-interactivity link uses Ethernet cable to connect a number of TeamProcessors, Ethernet-based commercial PDAs, creating a fail-safe group.
• the benefits are the Ethernet hub-based cabling scheme is simpler and fail-safe capability is built-in without adding additional hardware.
• group-based user-interactivity link using Ethernet cable, such as CAT5 only for the physical layer implementation, the data-link layer and networking layer protocols are implemented differently from the regular Ethernet protocol, such as IEEE 802.3 and the like.
• RFP 300-ohm antenna pair
• RFP 300-ohm antenna pair
• a preferred workgroup-server-array-based multi-link electronic purchasing system which is comprised of 1 ) an 8-TeamProcessor- based main-processing unit, 2) a number of multi-link-based multiplexer devices, as shown in FIG. 4A and 4B, 3) a number of multi-link-based commercial PDAs.
• iPOS-RE Point-of-Sale commercial PDAs
• iPOP-RE Point-of-Purchase commercial PDAs
• FIG. 4E 3) RF-wired/RFP and Ethernet-based interactive portable commercial PDAs, hereinafter referred as iPOR-W units, as shown in FIG. 4E.
• multi-link-based apparatuses i.e., a modulator box and two cable distribution boxes.
• Ethernet-based fail-safe groups there are two Ethernet-based fail-safe groups.
• the first fail-safe group contains four (4) TeamProcessors, four (4) iPOS-RE units, four (4) iPOP-RE units and eight (8) iACT units.
• the second fail-safe group contains four (4) TeamProcessors, eight (8) iPOR-W units and eight (8) iACT units.
• the preferred configured system is equipped with a number of non-interactive channel generators, such as security-based Camcorders and DVD ⁇ /CRs, as well as a number of NTSC/PAL-based TVs.
• Each TeamProcessor contains two (2) VGA cards and one DVD/MPEG-II playback card, which together can generate 3 48
• NTSC/PAL based video signals modulated as channel 31 , 32, 33 for the first TeamProcessor up to 52, 53, 54 for the eighth TeamProcessor.
• security-based Camcorders which generate 3 NTSC/PAL-based video signals that can be further modulated as channels 55, 56, 57 and one VCR, which generates backup or background video signal that can be modulated as channel 58.
• a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed iPOS-RE unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box, a 13" VGA/TV-changeable LCD display monitor, l 2 C-based tuner and On-Screen- Display (OSD) device, and serial-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for VGA/TV display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as a keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader. 49
• the set-top-box built-in with the iPOS-RE unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of functional modules.
• Keyboard-based magnetic card reader, touch-screen and smart card reader are the input modules
• a serial printer is the output module
• a VGA/TV monitor is the display module.
• the on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from its input modules and redirects the event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the common group-based user-interactivity link using Ethernet.
• the host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes the message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated onto an RF video signal with a pre-set channel number.
• the host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board microcontroller, so that it can control the built-in l 2 C on-board tuner to receive the RF video signal via the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel.
• the tuner further demodulates the RF video signal and displays the composite video onto the VGA/TV monitor.
• the host TeamProcessor can also decipher and process the input message, generate the text-based content, and send the data via the group-based common Ethernet user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can relay the data to the On-Screen- Display (OSD) device's display buffer via l 2 C link.
• OSD On-Screen- Display
• the OSD device can process the data content and merge it with the incoming composite video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the VGATV monitor.
• the OSD can further display any data content, which is the result of self-diagnosis or user-interactivity generated from interfacing either with the on-board microcontroller or any of the TeamProcessors.
• the on-board micro-controller will detect and search for all the other TeamProcessors within the fail-safe group, until a functioning TeamProcessor is located.
• the newly located TeamProcessor can then process the user-interactivity generated from input modules.
• the newly located TeamProcessor can provide the pre-set channel- number information to the on-board micro-controller, which further controls the on-board tuner to receive RF video signal from the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel.
• the interactive multimedia content generated by 50 the newly located TeamProcessor can then be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor; thereby the full-fledged fail-safe capability can be established.
• the primary TeamProcessor's VGA-based individual video-delivery link can also be connected.
• the primary TeamProcessor fails, the user can switch the monitor from VGA mode to the TV-based NTSC/PAL mode, so that the content generated by the newly located TeamProcessor can be displayed.
• a preferred fail-safe multi-link-based stationed commercial iPOP-RE unit comprises an intelligent set-top-box, a 19" VAG/TV-changeable display monitor, l 2 C-based tuner and On-Screen-Display (OSD) device, and serial-based user-interface devices, such as a touch-screen for NTSC/PAL-based display, a thermal printer, a smart card reader, as well as a keyboard-port-based magnetic card reader.
• OSD On-Screen-Display
• the set-top-box built-in with the iPOP-RE unit is equipped with a microcontroller and a number of input, output and display modules as mentioned above.
• the on-board micro-controller handles all the interactivity events generated from its input modules and redirects the event messages to its host TeamProcessor via the group-based user-interactivity link via Ethernet.
• the host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes each message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated onto an RF video signal with a pre-set channel number.
• the host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board micro-controller, so that it can control the built-in l 2 C on-board tuner to receive the RF video signal via the common video-delivery link and tune to the right channel.
• the tuner further demodulates the RF video signal and displays the composite video onto the VGA/TV monitor.
• the host TeamProcessor can also decipher and process the input message, generate the text-based content, and send the data via group-based common Ethernet user-interactivity link to the on-board micro-controller, which can relay the data to the On-Screen-Display (OSD) device's display buffer via l 2 C link.
• OSD On-Screen-Display
• the OSD device can process the data content and merge it with the incoming composite video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor.
• the OSD can further display any data content, which is the result of self-diagnosis or user- interactivity generated from interfacing either with the on-board micro-controller or any of the TeamProcessors.
• the on-board micro-controller will detect and search for all the other TeamProcessors within the fail-safe group, until a functioning TeamProcessor is located.
• the newly located TeamProcessor can then process the user-interactivity generated from input modules. Since the newly located TeamProcessor can provide the pre-set channel-number information to the on-board micro-controller, which further controls the on-board tuner to receive RF video signal from the common video- delivery link and tune to the right channel.
• the interactive multimedia content generated by the newly located TeamProcessor can then be displayed onto the VGA/TV monitor; thereby the full-fledged fail-safe capability can be established.
• the primary TeamProcessor's VGA-based individual video- delivery link can also be connected.
• the primary TeamProcessor fails the user can switch the monitor from VGA mode to the TV-based NTSC/PAL mode, so that the content generated by the newly located TeamProcessor can be displayed.
• the iPOP-RE unit's main functions are the same as an iPOP-R unit, which provides customers with the online electronic purchasing capabilities.
• the iPOP-RE unit is also interactive advertising capable, showing interactive advertising-based video or graphical pages from any video channel via the 52 common video-delivery link.
• the smart card user can touch the screen and generate interactive advertising-based E-Lead data, which can be stored in the said unit and can later be subsequently uploaded to the interactive-advertising- based server for E-Lead processing.
• the preferred 8-TeamProcessor system further is equipped with eight failsafe multi-link-based portable commercial PDAs.
• Each portable commercial PDA comprises a smart card docking station and its wireless-linked portable user-interface unit, which is built-in with a number of user-interface peripheral devices, such as digital or analog video LCD display with touch screen, batteries, as well as magnetic card reader.
• Each docking station communicates with its multi-link portable unit via wired/RFP-wireless video- delivery link and wireless user-interactivity link.
• This particular commercial PDA which can be categorized as an interactive Portable-based PDA, is hereinafter referred as iPOR-W.
• the docking station contains a built-in micro-controller board and an enclosure for housing the portable unit, so that the portable unit can be stored, locked and charged.
• the built-in micro-controller board is equipped with a battery charging mechanism, a solenoid-based locking mechanism, smart card reader, and a control-based LCD display with several push-button control lines.
• it is equipped with 900Mhz wireless RS-232 module to communicate with its designated portable unit and redirect the user's interactivity generated from that particular portable unit to its host TeamProcessor through the group-based common user-interactivity link using Ethernet. It is also equipped with wired/RFP-wireless module to relay RF signals to its designated portable unit. 53
• the portable user-interface terminal is equipped with a micro-controller board, a touch-screen, a 6" NTSC or PAL-based LCD display, a wired/RFP-wireless module, a 900Mhz wireless RS232 module, a tuner, an OSD module, speakers/ear phone jack, cooling fans, an alarm mechanism that interfaces with site entrances, a temperature sensor, and a battery pack. It can also be equipped with an optional magnetic card reader, an optional cordless phone and its handset locking mechanism.
• the on-board micro-controller of the portable unit handles all the interactivity events generated from the touch-screen and transmits the event messages to its host docking station via wireless RS232.
• the docking station receives the event messages and redirects them to the host TeamProcessor, either primary or secondary, via the common group-based user-interactivity link using Ethernet.
• the host TeamProcessor deciphers and processes each event message, generates the interactive multimedia content, which is further modulated onto an RF video signal with a pre-set channel number.
• the host TeamProcessor will provide the pre-set channel-number information to the onboard micro-controller of the docking station, which further transmits the information to its designated portable unit via wireless RS232.
• the on-board micro-controller of the portable unit receives the information and controls the built-in l 2 C tuner, which also constantly receives the RF video signal via the wired/RFP-wireless connection.
• the tuner demodulates the in-coming video, tunes to the desired interactive or non-interactive channel, and displays the composite video onto the LCD display.
• the composite video which may be a combination of both in-coming video and the message content generated by a built-in On-Screen-Display (OSD) device.
• the message content which is resulted from self-diagnosis or user-interactivity, can be sent to the OSD device's display buffer.
• the OSD device processes the content and merges it with the incoming video, creating an overlay effect that can be displayed onto the LCD display.
• FIG. 5A a standard WSA- based onsite electronic purchasing system can be summarized in FIG. 5A.
• the main-processing unit is equipped with a workgroup server array, which is comprised of up to m-Pair TeamProcessors, with each TeamProcessor having multiple links to connect with a plurality of multi-link-based set-top-boxes via a plurality of multi-link multiplexer devices.
• Each multi-link set-top-box can accommodate as many off-the-shelf common user-interface devices, Bluetooth-based user-interface devices, as well as special-purpose custom- made user-interface devices, all together creating a multi-link commercial PDA.
• FIG. 5B illustrates a multi-node server cluster-based onsite system
• FIG. 5C illustrates a multi-tier server array-based onsite system.
• Multi-node server clusters can provide fail-safe operations with a single application, such as database, while multi-tier server arrays can provide mission critical operations with multiple applications, such as load-balancing, application and database.
• they are not comprised of multi-link fail-over server-pair TeamProcessors with direct-access TeamServer-based database handling capabilities, so they can only link with a number of PC-based set-top-boxes or their equivalents via multiple network links.
• the scale-up capability will become a problem, if m is becoming a larger number in both cases.
• 5D illustrates a preferred workgroup server cluster-based onsite system. It contains a workgroup server cluster-based main-processing unit, which is comprised of a plurality of workgroup server arrays, from WSA-1 to WSA-K. Since each workgroup server array can provide all the attached commercial PDAs with guaranteed quality of services (QoS), the number of workgroup server arrays can be increased and scaled up without limitations. Furthermore, based on the workgroup server cluster link and the S2 link, all the distributed WSA-based database can be aggregated and function as one workgroup server cluster's database, rendering services to a huge number of commercial PDAs, from the first commercial PDA-1 in WSA-1 to the last commercial PDA-N k in WSA-K.
• QoS quality of services
• the present invention further employs a number of methods for implementing onsite electronic purchasing services, based on yet another group of special-purpose multi-link commercial PDAs.
• These special-purpose commercial PDAs can render 1 ) interactive advertising-based, 2) interactive payment- based and 3) customized content-based electronic purchasing services.
• FIG. 6A illustrates a preferred wireless and portable user-interface device, i.e., StorePDA, which allows walk-in customers to conduct onsite interactive advertising-based electronic purchasing activities.
• FIG. 6A also illustrates a preferred StorePDA Transceiver, which can be attached to any multi-link set- top-box with a UART-based RS232 port.
• FIG. 6B illustrates a preferred interactive TV display (iTVD) unit, which can be placed in a commercial site and provide public-viewing-based TV commercials for walk-in customers to take subsequent actions with a StorePDA.
• iTVD interactive TV display
• the method of using StorePDA to interface with iTVD and iMEC commercial PDAs is to render interactive advertising and intermediary e-currency-based electronic purchasing services, allowing walk-in customers to react to the public-viewing ads and private-viewing ads. If the walk-in customer is interested with the current commercial on the iTVD, the customer can push the current-AD-0 button as shown in FIG. 6E. If interested in the previous commercial, the customer can push AD-1 button.
• the StorePDA will record the time of the day and create the E-Lead data for iTVD and there is no need for the StorePDA to directly communicate with iTVD via any wireless link.
• the walk-in customer can then go the manufacturer's shelf area, which is installed with an iMEC kiosk and a number of attached iLCD user-interface devices, as illustrated in FIG. 6F.
• the customer can interface with the private- viewing-based iMEC kiosk unit via the touch screen and scan through all the advertising pages that are embedded with video.
• the customer can place the StorePDA into the receptacle of the iMEC kiosk unit and trigger via the touch screen to download the E-Lead data to the StorePDA via wireless IR.
• the customer can also trigger the StorePDA via IR button, directly aim at one iLCD user-interface device that is showing the interested item, and download the E-Lead data.
• the cashier will start the check out process on each item and place the StorePDA on the StorePDA transceiver and download all the E-Lead data to the iPOS unit, so that the E-Lead data gather from iMEC, iLCD as well as iTVD kiosks can be processed based on the customer's ID from the smart card or the membership card.
• E-Wallet is equipped with POS interface device, so the customer can be informed of any itemized charge, make electronic payment using E-Wallet and receive reward-based intermediary E-Currencies, such as e-coupons, e-points and e-rebates, during the transaction.
• E-Wallet electronic payment using E-Wallet
• reward-based intermediary E-Currencies such as e-coupons, e-points and e-rebates
• FIG. 6H illustrates a preferred iACT kiosk unit situated at the entrance in a commercial site.
• the iACT unit is an interactive advertising-based commercial PDA that is also capable of providing customized content-based services. It is equipped with a smart card reader, a printer and a contact or contactless magnetic-tape card reader. When entering the store, the customer can insert the smart card into the smart card reader, as well as swipe or wave the magnetic tape-based membership card or the multi-function smart card via the contact or contactless magnetic-tape card readers.
• the iACT unit will print out a hardcopy for the customer of the entire available intermediary E-Currencies, such as e-coupons, e-certificates, with associated items' locations in the store. 58
• All the commercial PDAs illustrated in the present invention are capable of communicating with personal-based Bluetooth devices, such as cellphones and handheld PDAs.
• These Bluetooth devices can interface with iACT kiosk unit by transmitting the membership card ID#, so that customized content- based electronic purchasing services can be rendered. They can further interface with the iTVD, iMEC and iLCD kiosk units by downloading the E-Lead data, so that interactive advertising-based electronic purchasing services can be rendered.
• they can interface with iPOS kiosk unit by transmitting membership card ID# and gathered E-Lead data, so that intermediary E- Currencies can be redeemed and re-issued, rendering interactive advertising- based electronic purchasing services.
• FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-1224), which is configured to include a 12-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs. It accommodates a fast-food restaurant, as one of the typical normal-scale installation sites, serving up to 24 customers concurrently.
• OS-1224 a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system
• FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred interactive multimedia- based electronic purchasing system (OS-1224), which is configured to include a 12-TeamProcessor-based main-processing unit, peripheral devices and user-operated commercial PDAs. It accommodates a fast-food restaurant, as one of the typical normal-scale installation sites, serving up to 24 customers concurrently.
• FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred workgroup server cluster-based electronic purchasing system (M10-OS1224), which comprises up to ten (10) OS-1224 systems. It is configured to accommodate a hotel, as one of the typical large-scale installation sites, serving up to 240 customers concurrently.
• M10-OS1224 workgroup server cluster-based electronic purchasing system
• FIG. 7D is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred large-scale interactive multimedia electronic purchasing system integration (M100-OS1224), which comprises up to ten (10) M10-OS1224 systems. It is configured to accommodate a theatre or stadium, as one of the typical very large-scale installation sites, serving up to 2,400 customers concurrently. Further up- scaling of capacity is readily accommodated.
• M100-OS1224 preferred large-scale interactive multimedia electronic purchasing system integration
• FIG. 7D is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred large-scale interactive multimedia electronic purchasing system integration (M100-OS1224), which comprises up to ten (10) M10-OS1224 systems. It is configured to accommodate a theatre or stadium, as one of the typical very large-scale installation sites, serving up to 2,400 customers concurrently. Further up- scaling of capacity is readily accommodated.
• the present invention provides an interactive advertising-based transaction-enabling system using user-operated terminals for rendering online and onsite electronic purchasing and e-commerce services.

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  • 2000-11-20 KR KR1020027006436A patent/KR20020055597A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
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