FR2605128A1 - Method of presenting messages, such as images or texts, especially advertising images or texts, and system for implementing this method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for presenting messages, especially advertising messages. The method is characterised in that each message to be visually displayed is produced on an appropriate medium, such as a slide or film, so as to be projected with the aid of a light beam onto a visual display screen 10, in that each message presentation station B is equipped with a station 8 for projecting images by light beam, uses, as presentation surface, a reflecting surface 10 capable of forming a projection screen such as a wall or a facade of a building and links each projection station 8 to a central station A for control and central management of the projection stations. The invention can be used for projecting advertising messages on large-size facades of buildings.

Description

 The present invention relates to a method and a system for presenting messages such as images or texts, in particular advertising texts, advantageously on large surfaces, at one and preferably several presentation stations.

 According to the state of the art, known to date, advertising messages are printed on posters forming a support made of a flexible material, such as paper, and then fixes, in particular by gluing, these posters to large areas. or display panels in general specially prepared and constructed for this purpose.

 These known methods and systems for displaying advertising messages have many drawbacks. They require material posters whose preparation and production are costly and whose installation constitutes delicate and expensive work, especially when it comes to large posters. Once placed on their support surface, the posters are permanently present, which can constitute a problem with the aesthetics of the environment.

The high cost of manufacturing the posters and the difficult operation of hanging them precludes a rapid change in advertising messages. The known methods and systems thus completely lack flexibility and the exploitation of the display surfaces which have been specially designed beforehand is very poor.

 The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of known methods and systems.

 To achieve this goal, the method according to the invention is characterized in that each message to be viewed is produced on an appropriate medium, such as a slide or film, so as to be projected using a light beam on a display screen, which is fitted to each message presentation station with a light beam image projection station, a reflecting surface is used as the presentation surface capable of forming a projection screen such as a wall or a facade of a building and connects each projection station to a central control and central management station for the projection stations.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, a dialogue is established before a period of operation of a projection station between it and the central station, during which the projection station informs the central station of its operating state and receives from the latter the instructions relating to said period of operation.

 The message presentation system according to the invention essentially comprises a central station, in particular a remote control station which is connected by an advantageously bidirectional communication channel to each of the presentation stations and in that each of these comprises a projection station by light beam of the messages contained on a support, such as a slide, photograph or film, on a reflecting surface such as a wall or a facade of a building.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the central station comprises a computer system and each projection station is equipped with means for monitoring and automatic control of their state and of their operation, such as a microprocessor device.

 According to yet another characteristic of the invention, a projection station comprises an air-conditioned protective enclosure, enclosing all of the means necessary for the projection of messages, such as the projector device and the supports of the messages to be projected, the means of monitoring and control of the projector and the air conditioning system.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating a mode of the invention and in which
- Figure 1 shows in the form of a block diagram a system according to the present invention
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a projection station according to the present invention; and
- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the projection station according to Figure 2, in the direction of arrow III.

 As can be seen from FIG. 1, a system for presenting messages such as images or texts, in particular advertising, comprises a central station A and at least one and advantageously several presentation stations B, each of which is connected to the central station by a link. communication can be established using the telephone network or over the air. The means of establishing the communication channel are shown in C.

In the embodiment shown by way of example, the central station comprises a computer 1 for managing and programming advertising messages, with which a mass memory 2, a printer 3, a backup inverter 4 and a microprocessor card are associated. 5 to which the computer communicates the identification number, such as the telephone number of a presentation station to be called. The outputs of the microprocessor card 5 are connected to a switch card 6, the output of which is connected by a modem 7 to the system for establishing the communication channel.
C. Each presentation station B comprises a projection station 8 which is connected by a modem 9 to the network C and is suitable for projecting using a light beam advertising messages in the form of images onto a projection screen 10 advantageously large dimensions.

 Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the structure of a projection station 8 according to the present invention will be described below. These stations are advantageously installed at a certain height above the ground, on support posts not shown.

 Such a station comprises a box forming an enclosure and comprising a bottom part 12 a front wall 13 and a cover part 14 removable and lockable with key in its closed position of the enclosure. The cover is shown in the figures only in thin lines to reveal the internal structure. It can thus be seen that the interior of the enclosure has a number of compartments separated from each other by suitable partitions. This compartmentalization of the internal space of the enclosure allows a separation of the different devices of the projection station, having different functions.

Thus a first compartment I comprises, indicated diagrammatically a microprocessor device 15 intended to manage and monitor the state and the operation of the various devices of the projection station, four batteries 16 which are permanently charged by the sector, a heating device 17 provided with a fan and advantageously with an electrical heating resistor, an intrusion detector 18 and the aforementioned modem 9. The four batteries form an autonomous source of electrical energy in the event of a fault or power failure, for example during a duration of 48 hours. They are able to supply the necessary supply voltages
the operation of the microprocessor device and
electronic circuits of other devices.
heating and ventilation device 17 has for
function of maintaining the temperature around
electronic devices for example between 20 and 250C.

A second compartment II includes a group
air conditioning refrigerator 19 of the headlamp compartment III by injecting air having a
temperature between for example 20 and 250 across a
window 20. The ambient air intake holes for
refrigeration unit 19 are all operated in the
bottom 12 of the enclosure, some of which are indicated at 21.

The windows are provided with filtering means (not
represented) of the air to be admitted into compartment II.

Reference number 22 indicates the output of the
group 19 exhaust air.

Compartment III essentially houses the
projector device 23 which is advantageously of the Xenon lamp type, that is to say an arc lamp between two
platinum electrodes in a Xenon atmosphere. The
lamp is schematically indicated at 24. The projector
could be a slide projector including a
basket 29 which can be rotated forward and
backwards. 0n notes that the window 20 for passage of
the air coming from compartment II is placed in a fa
lesson in creating an ascending draft around the lamp
24, which comes out through holes 25 of the projector
above the lamp, and around the slides.
ensures efficient removal of calories around the
lamp and slides. Reference number 26 desi
provides an extractor fan device which draws
part of the air heated by the lamp 24 and leaving
through the orifices 25 of the projector to create a current of hot air deflected by a deflection plate 27 outside the front wall 13 of the casing forming the enclosure of the projection station to pass tangentially on the glass before passage of the spotlight beam. This tangential hot air stream makes it possible to clean the glass 28. The hot air for cooling the slides is also extracted by a vertical extractor 30 - which is located vertical to the basket of slides 29 and returns using a bell 31 mounted on the upper surface of the hood, the heated air exiting on the top of the housing to remove, for example, snow. The compartment III also comprises a heating resistor 32 which makes it possible, in the event of frost, to maintain the internal temperature within a range of predetermined temperatures, for example from 20 to 250, using a thermostat located right next to it and indicated schematically in 33. The arrivals of the telephone line and the electric power supply sector are also found in this compartment III and are symbolized in 34 and 35.

It appears from the description of the projector post according to the invention, which has just been made, that it is adapted to monitor and maintain in good working order all these essential functional parts, under the effect of the microprocessor device 15 To this end, the station includes means for detecting the operating conditions of the lamp.
Xenon of the projector, the extractor fans and the air conditioning system in compartment II. All these means are connected to the microprocessor device and are connected for this purpose to a connection panel 37 provided in compartment II which also carries all the relays necessary for controlling the various devices and means of the projection station.
Regarding the structure of a projection station according to the present invention, it should also be noted that the entire enclosure-shaped housing is made of iron and aluminum so as to constitute a Faraday cage which allows installation from the projection station even under high voltage lines. To prevent water from entering the enclosure from the front, the cover is provided with a projection shroud 38 having, for example, an inclination of 450.

Thanks to the various air conditioning measures and maintaining good thermal and hygrometric conditions inside the enclosure, it is possible to use a projector of sufficient power, for example 1000 Watts, making it possible to project images having for example dimensions ranging from 4 mx 3 m to 20 mx 15 m and this under ambient temperature conditions ranging from -250 to 500C. The images can be projected on external walls such as facades of buildings or internal, for example parking lots.

 The operation of the message presentation system which has just been described will be described below.

 During the day, it is possible to program the sequences of advertising messages to be displayed the following night, in image numbers and in time allotted to each of these images, for example contained on a slide. At nightfall, the central station automatically starts its projection program.

 His computer then successively calls the different projection stations using the numbers assigned to the different stations, such as telephone numbers when these are connected to the central station by the telephone network. Between the central station and each called projection station, a dialogue can thus be established. This is advantageously done in a random manner, which eliminates the risk of intervention in the network by an unauthorized person. To this end, the projection station called could respond to the central station by sending a specific signal. After recognition of this signal, the central station could transmit a number. The projection station could make a calculation on the basis of its call number and this number. If the result of this calculation constitutes the password, the central station gives it instructions relating to the advertising images to be projected, at the times respective switching on and off of the projector and the times allocated to each image. The projection station informs the central station of its operating status. In the event of a breakdown, the incident and its time are printed. The central station then examines the next projector and passes it the instructions and so on. During the rest of the time, the computer monitors the system. In the morning, the central station passes the stop instructions for each of the projection stations. He then publishes the night's march sheet.

 Regarding the operation of each projection station, its microprocessor device listens to the central station. It is programmed to monitor in particular the state of the lamp and the temperature of the projection device and of the environment external to the projector and manages the start-up of the projector and the fans. It communicates alarms to the central station and indicates incidents, for example in the form of a specific coded message.

 The microprocessor device is also programmed to perform emergency recovery in the event of a central station failure. Indeed, in the absence of new instructions from the central station, until a predetermined time, it resumes the previous day's instructions, until a resumption of dialogue with the central station, to which it reports the error .

 It emerges from the description of the system according to the present invention and from its operation that it has extreme flexibility and makes it possible to satisfy almost immediately new requests for viewing advertising messages. It is simply enough to program the sequence of images to be projected accordingly the following night, and this simultaneously in all display stations, regardless of their geographic position relative to the central station.

Claims (19)

 1. A method of presenting messages such as images or texts, in particular advertising texts, advantageously on large surfaces, at one and preferably several presentation stations, characterized in that each message to be displayed is produced on an appropriate medium, such as than a slide, or film, so as to be projected with the aid of a light beam on a display screen (10), which is fitted to each presentation station (B) with messages from a projection (8) of images by light beam, uses as a presentation surface a reflecting surface (10) capable of forming a projection screen such as a wall or a facade of a building and connects each projection station (8) to a central station (A) for central control and management of the projection stations.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that before a period of presentation of messages, the program is established and in particular determines the messages to be presented, the hours and the duration of time allocated to the projection of each message.  3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that one equips a projection station (8) with a control device, such as a microprocessor device (15) and manages the setting on and off the projector station and monitor the state of it advantageously before and during projection periods by this device (15).  4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before a message projection period, an advantageously random dialogue is established between the central station (A) and each projection station (8), during which the projection stations inform the central station (A) of their status and receive from the latter the instructions relating to said projection period.  5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the projection stations (8) are programmed so that they execute, in the absence of new instructions from the central station (A), the instructions relating to the period of previous projection, for a predetermined period of time.  6. Method according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the central station (A) is programmed to interrogate and dialogue successively with the projection stations (8).  7. Method according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, to ensure a dialogue between a projection station (8) and the central station (A), the latter calls the projection station (8) by the number that has been previously assigned to it, the called projection station responds to the central station by sending a specific signal, the central station, after recognition of this signal, transmits a number to the projection station, the station projection performs a calculation on the basis of its call number and this number and, if the result of this calculation constitutes the password, the dialogue between the two stations can take place.  8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an alarm signal is automatically transmitted to the central station (A), by a projection station (8) which is the victim of a defect or of '' intrusion by an unauthorized person.  9. System for presenting messages such as images or texts, in particular advertising texts, advantageously on large surfaces with one and preferably several presentation stations, characterized in that it essentially comprises a central station (A), in particular for control remotely, which is connected by a communication channel (C) advantageously bidirectional to each of the presentation stations (B) and in that each of these comprises a projection station (8) by light beam of the messages contained on a support such as a slide, photograph or film on a reflecting surface (10) such as a wall or a facade of a building.  10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the central station (A) comprises a computer system (1) and each projection station (8) is equipped with means for monitoring and automatic control of their state and their operating, such as a microprocessor device (15).  11. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a projection station (8) comprises an air-conditioned protective enclosure (12, 13, 14), enclosing all the means necessary for the projection of messages, such as the projector device (23), the supports for the messages to be projected, the means for monitoring and controlling the projector and the air conditioning means (19, 17, 32).  12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the air conditioning means (19, 17, 32) are adapted to create and maintain inside the enclosure predetermined thermal and hygrometric conditions favorable to the proper functioning of the various devices and projection station means (8), under the supervision and control of the microprocessor device (15).  13. System according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the air conditioning means comprise a refrigeration unit (19) adapted to create a stream of air of predetermined temperature, in particular for maintaining the appropriate thermal and hygrometric conditions to the headlamp device (23), and advantageously heating means (17, 32) such as electric resistors, with which thermostats and fans are associated.  14. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the enclosure has a passage for using part of the air current produced by the refrigeration unit (19) for cooling the light source (24) of the projector (23) and, if necessary, an air passage for cooling the support of the messages to be projected (29).  1+. System according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the enclosure comprises in its front face (13) a window closed by a transparent element (28) such as a window, for the passage of the light beam of projection produced by the projector (23), in the direction of the presentation surface (10), and means (26, 27) for automatic cleaning of this transparent element.  16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the abovementioned automatic cleaning means are formed by means generating an air current (26) from the air heated in particular by the light source (24) of the projector (23), and deflector means (27) provided on the front face of the enclosure and adapted to pass said current advantageously tangentially over the aforementioned transparent element (28).  17. System according to claim 12 to 16, characterized in that a projection station (8) comprises a passage for the heated air, advantageously situated above the message support (29), through an orifice in the upper surface of the enclosure, which is overhung by a bell-shaped member (31) adapted to direct the hot air leaving on said upper surface of the enclosure.  18. System according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the internal space of the enclosure is divided into a number of compartments (I, II, III) in which are respectively housed in particular the microprocessor device (15), the refrigeration unit (19) and the projection device (23).  19. System according to one of claims 9 to 18, characterized in that the projector device (23) comprises as light source (24) a Xenon lamp.  20. System according to one of claims 9 to 19, characterized in that the enclosure comprises a first part formed by a base wall (12) and a front wall (13) and a second part forming a removable cover forming the others walls of the enclosure and advantageously lockable with key on said first part, a shroud (38) being provided for the protection of the front face of the enclosure against the penetration of water inside the enclosure and in that the air intake orifices are provided in the aforementioned base wall (12).