FR2711029A1 - Information transmission system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

This is an information transmission system and method comprising first means (2) for inputting initial information connected to a telecommunications network (3), means (4) for receiving and for storing the said information after transfer via the telecommunications network, and means (5, 6) for processing and printing the information. The processing and printing means comprise second means (5) for inputting supplementary information, means (6) for sorting the initial and supplementary information, and means (7) for printing the initial and supplementary information according to a predetermined journal format (8).

Description

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND METHOD
INFORMATION.

 The present invention relates to an information transmission system comprising first means for introducing so-called initial information in digital form, suitable for being connected to a telecommunications network, means for receiving and storing said initial information after transfer via the telecommunications network, and means for processing and editing said initial information thus stored.

 It also relates to a method of transmitting information.

 It finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in the field of interactive use of the Minitel network, integrated into the telephone network, by users belonging to the same profession such as, for example, the profession of dental surgeons.

 Devices and methods for transmitting digital information of this type are already known.

They have in particular the disadvantage of not providing the user with written documents, allowing him to obtain regularly and synthetically on the one hand a copy of the information that he could have transmitted himself and on the other hand a written record of information from other users.

 The present invention aims to provide a system and a method for transmitting information which respond better than those previously known to the requirements of practice, in particular in that it authorizes the regular editing of such written means and their transmission to users in the form a predetermined format log.

 To this end, the invention essentially proposes an information transmission system comprising first means for introducing so-called initial information in digital form, said means being suitable for being connected to a telecommunications network, means for receiving and storage of said initial information after transfer via the telecommunications network and means for processing and editing said initial information thus stored, characterized in that the processing and editing means comprise - second means for introducing so-called information additional in digital form, - means for sorting initial and additional information, and - means for editing said initial and additional information according to a predetermined log format.

 In advantageous embodiments, recourse is had to one and / or the other of the following arrangements - the system also comprises means for printing a determined number of newspapers and for putting said envelopes in envelopes. newspapers labeled with predetermined addresses - the means for entering initial information are Minitel devices.

 The invention also provides a method of transmitting information between users in which first information, called initial information in digital form, is introduced via a Minitel device, which is then transferred via a telecommunications network to a reception and storage server, and processing said initial information thus stored, characterized in that second information called additional information is introduced, the initial and additional information are sorted and said initial and additional information are edited according to a predetermined log format.

Advantageously, the newspapers are printed in a determined number which are automatically put in envelopes labeled at predetermined addresses corresponding to the users of the devices.
Minitel, said envelopes then being sent to users by post.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example.

 The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 2 gives a flowchart of an embodiment of the steps of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an information transmission system 1 comprising introduction means
Minitel 2 connected via the telephone telecommunications network 3 to a server 4.

The server comprises means for introducing additional information 5, for example constituted by a PC computer 386 or 486.

 The computer PC includes means 6 for processing and sorting information, comprising in a manner known per se a microprocessor, a read only memory and a random access memory loaded with software for processing, sorting and editing information whose design is within the reach of the skilled person who seeks to solve the problem.

 The computer is also connected to a printer 7 arranged for editing by printing newspapers 8.

 The means 6 are also connected to an interface unit 9, arranged to edit and pre-print envelopes 10 into which the newspapers 8 are introduced, for example manually.

 The envelopes are then sent by post 11 to users of minitels 2.

 Such a system is particularly suitable for use by professionals working in the liberal field.

 In fact, the small size of the structures and the multiplicity of tasks faced by members of the liberal professions make it often difficult for them to manage correctly the mass of professional information essential to good practice of their liberal activity.

 If personal computing provides the beginning of a solution to this type of problem, thanks in particular to the technical improvements recorded recently in the field of storage power, processing and extraction of information, keep a base alive yourself However, it takes a lot of time and is expensive.

 With a system according to the invention, it is possible to make information available to everyone, which then allows everyone to enrich their professional practice.

 FIG. 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of the embodiment of the method of the invention more particularly described here.

 A first step 12 of introducing or requesting information is carried out by a user 13 via a Minitel device connected to the PTT telephone network.

 This information is transmitted and then preprocessed in a manner known per se (step 14) at the level of the Minitel server, for example of the type 3617.

This is connected to a computer, for example of the PC type, which processes the information at 15 and publishes (step 16) an editorial which it presents in the form of a summary.

 Several steps can then be initiated in a manner known per se, simultaneously or successively by the processing and editing software loaded into the computer.

 The list of planned stages is provided below.

 It is not limiting.

There is provided - a step 17 for presenting information, for example on the medical profession concerned, - a step 18 for processing and outputting a directory, for example on the screen of the device.
Minitel of the user, followed by a step 19 of research according for example to the medical specialty targeted (for example odonto-stomato, prosthetists, suppliers, pharmaceutical laboratories, professional structures, services, etc.) followed by a step 20 of editing a summary, - a step 21 of searching for products using software means 22 known in themselves, for example of searching by descriptive word, advantageously followed by a step 23 of editing summary, - a step 24 of ordering by the user of the product identified in 21 with editing in 25 of proposals, then processing in 26, 27, 28 of each of said proposals and issuance (step 29) of an order bond, - a step 30 "information on transfer of firms" with summary edition in 31, - a step 32 giving the agenda of professional events published in 33 with summary - a step 34 of interrogation of classified ads in the form interactive pages 35, - a step 36, here again and for example in the form of interactive pages 37, of communication between professionals, for example to communicate useful tips and tricks of the hand.

 Finally, other steps 38, 39 allowing for example the emission of announcements related to para-professional fields, such as for example hobbies or questions to the creators of the database by a system of interactive pages 40, can also be advantageously provided.

 The steps which have made it possible on the one hand to produce interactive pages and which on the other hand having required the introduction of additional information are then followed, according to the invention, by a step 41 of editing in the form of newspaper of predetermined format, and by a last step 42 of transmission by post to users 13 of Minitels devices.

 As is obvious and as it follows from the above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment more particularly described. On the contrary, it embraces all variants and in particular those where the interface devices consist of Minitels cards integrated in a microcomputer.

Claims (5)

 1. Information transmission system comprising first means for introducing (2) so-called initial information in digital form, said means being suitable for being connected to a telecommunication network (3), means (4) for receiving and storage of said initial information after transfer via the telecommunications network and means (5,6) for processing and editing said initial information thus stored, characterized in that the processing and editing means comprise - second means (5) for introducing so-called additional information, - means for sorting (6) initial and additional information, and - means (7) for editing said initial and additional information according to a predetermined log format (8) .  2. An information transmission system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system further comprises means (9) for printing a determined number of newspapers and enveloping (10) said newspapers denominated with predetermined addresses.  3. Information transmission system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first information input means are devices constituted by Minitel devices (2).  4. Method for transmitting information between users in which first information, called initial information in digital form, is introduced via a Minitel device, information which is then transferred via a telecommunications network to a reception and storage server (4), and processing said initial information thus stored, characterized in that second information called additional information is entered in digital form, said initial and additional information are sorted and said initial and additional information are edited according to a predetermined log format.  5. Method for transmitting information according to claim 4, characterized in that the newspapers are printed in a determined number which is automatically put in envelopes labeled at predetermined addresses corresponding to the users of Minitel terminals, said envelopes then being forwarded to users by mail.