FR2768877A1 - Information broadcasting system for multiple receivers in common area - Google Patents

Abstract

The display devices receive text and image messages via the cellular telephone network.- DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The system provides a method of displaying simultaneously a set of images and/or messages on a number of different display devices. The system includes a transmitter of such messages using radio wave transmissions, preferably using a cellular telephone network, such that a number of receivers may use the same telephone call number to receive the message within a defined geographical region. Each receiver may include a graphic display panel for the received message information. The receivers include memory to hold a permanent display which is shown in the absence of any new received information. They may also include circuitry to determine the position of the receiver using a GPS system

Description

 The present invention relates mainly to a system for simultaneously displaying images and / or messages, preferably fixed, on a plurality of display means.

 Television systems of known type allow the simultaneous display on a large number of television sets of moving pictures.

Unfortunately, television broadcasting systems require considerable resources which do not always allow their implementation for the dissemination of inexpensive fixed advertisements as well as for the local dissemination of information.

 Also known are matrix display panels used in particular for displaying municipal information, receiving the texts to be displayed by cable. These devices also require significant infrastructure. In addition, the cable transmission is not suitable for communication with mobile display panels, in particular with panels carried by motor vehicles.

 FR-A-95 08948 describes the implementation of matrix displays on motor vehicles. The displayed messages are stored in a message memory located on board the vehicle, which limits the diversity of displayable messages. In addition, this system does not provide the possibility of updating the messages to be displayed.

 It is therefore an object of the present invention to offer a display system making it possible to broadcast messages to a plurality of display means.

 It is also an object of the present invention to offer such a system allowing the wireless broadcasting of messages in particular to mobile display means carried by vehicles in particular by boats, planes, land motor vehicles for example of the type cars, motor vehicles, vans, trucks, trains, trams or others.

 It is also an object of the present invention to offer such a system making it possible to store the images to be broadcast allowing multiple broadcasts of the same images or messages from a single download.

 It is also an object of the present invention to offer such a system making it possible to automatically select the images or messages to be displayed as a function of the location of the display means, in particular of the vehicle carrying a display panel.

 It is also an object of the present invention to offer such a system implementing a light and inexpensive transmission infrastructure.

 It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a system ensuring the counting of the messages actually displayed and, advantageously, ensuring the transmission to a centralized system of a report of messages displayed by various displays.

 These aims are achieved by a system according to the present invention comprising a transmitter of the images or messages to be displayed and a plurality of means for displaying alphanumeric and / or graphic messages, each associated with a signal receiver carrying said images or messages.

 Advantageously, electromagnetic waves and, preferably, radio waves are used. Preferably, the transmissions are carried out by a cellular telephone system with the possibility for a plurality of receivers to receive the same message, the various receivers corresponding to the same call number, at least for a given geographic area.

 Advantageously, displays are carried by vehicles in particular by boats, planes, land motor vehicles for example of the cars, motor vehicles, vans, trucks, trains, trams or others, further provided with means for knowing their position.

 The main object of the invention is a message display system comprising means for wireless transmission of the messages to be displayed and a plurality of means for receiving and displaying messages, characterized in that the means for receiving and message display are associated with means for storing displayed messages and in that it comprises means for synchronizing the display of messages on the means for receiving and displaying messages.

 The subject of the invention is also a system according to the invention, characterized in that the means for wireless transmission of messages transmit with each message a reference and in that they issue display orders for messages, each order with a reference to the message to display.

 The main object of the invention is a system according to the invention, characterized in that the reception and display means comprise a permanent memory, preferably a mass memory.

 The invention also relates to a system according to the invention, characterized in that the mass memory of the reception and display means memorize permanent messages to be displayed in the absence of reception of messages and / or of order display of messages.

 The main object of the invention is a system according to the invention, characterized in that the means for receiving and displaying messages are carried by land motor vehicles.

 The invention also relates to a system according to the invention, characterized in that the means for receiving and displaying messages comprise means for determining position, in particular a GPS receiver.

 The main object of the invention is a system according to the invention, characterized in that the wireless message transmission means transmit, on the one hand local messages to be displayed by the message reception and display means, finding in the corresponding zone and, on the other hand, global messages to be displayed by the means of reception and display of messages being outside a zone corresponding to a local message.

 The invention also relates to a system according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises means for memorizing the displays made associated with the display date and, preferably, the display duration, the location of the means reception and display at the time of display for each message displayed.

 The main object of the invention is a system according to the invention, characterized in that the reception and display means comprise means for transmitting to the means for wireless transmission of the messages of a message report. that have been posted.

 The invention also relates to a system according to the invention, characterized in that the communications between the means for wireless transmission of the displayed messages, the means for receiving and displaying the messages are carried out by cellular telephone, a plurality of reception and display means corresponding to a single telephone number.

The invention will be better understood by means of the description below and the appended figures given as nonlimiting examples and in which:
- Figure 1 is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the present invention
- Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a possible hierarchy of images or messages to be displayed.

 By displayed messages is meant any graphic message and in particular images, alphanumeric or digital. A message can, for example, correspond to a poster on a billboard.

Advantageously, such a message is simplified so as to be easy to read on the display means used, in particular on backlit liquid crystal screens or screens with dot matrix. The display of messages can be done in monochrome (on a background of a color different from that of the message) or, advantageously, in color.

 In FIG. 1, one can see the preferred example of the system according to the present invention comprising a base 1 for sending messages and N units 3 for receiving and displaying messages referenced 3.1 to 3.N.

 The message transmission base 1 comprises means 5 for storing messages to be sent, and consequently to be displayed.

 The storage means are preferably digital storage means of the mass memory type, and advantageously comprise at least one hard disk. Typically, the messages to be displayed provided by the customers are stored and indexed in the storage means 5. A computer 7 provides access to the storage means 5 for writing or reading a message. On the other hand, the computer 7 receives the information concerning the messages to be displayed. This information corresponds for example to display orders placed by an advertising agency. These commands can indicate the times and the durations of passage of messages on the displays. In a particularly improved variant of the system according to the present invention, the information on the messages can also include a territorial limit. For example, an advertisement for a product will be disseminated at the global level, an advertisement for an amusement park will be disseminated at the regional level while advertising for a restaurant or a hairdresser will only be disseminated at the local level. Thus, it is possible to simultaneously broadcast different local advertisements in various places. Likewise, the advertisement for a product can be modified to locally display the contact details of the nearest distributor. According to the commands received, the computer 7 draws up the display instructions for the various messages, the operation of which will be explained below with reference to FIG. 2.

 The computer 7 prepares the information to be transmitted.

 It is understood that a plurality of transmission bases 1 may be necessary to cover the territory in which the vehicles carrying the reception and display units 3 circulate.

 In a first embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the messages to be transmitted are permanently stored in means 9 for storing messages from the reception and display units 3.1 to 3.N. In such a case, only the display orders of the images are transmitted by the transmission base 1.

 In a second embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the base 1 transmits both the messages to be displayed and the display orders. Advantageously, during successive displays of the same message, the message is not transmitted each time with the corresponding display order.

 In a third exemplary embodiment, of the system according to the present invention, the message transmission base transmits only the messages which are displayed as soon as a complete message has been received by a reception and display unit 3 or which are s 'display as and when they are received. In such a case, simplified reception and display units are used, the storage capacity of which can be limited to one or advantageously to two images: the image being displayed and the image being received .

 The computer 7 is connected to the transmission means comprising for example a modulator 11 connected to a transmitter 13 itself connected to a transmission antenna 15. The data are for example transmitted as computer files. The modulator It provides for example a modulation by coded pulses (PMC in English terminology).

However, analog transmission, for example of television images with storage in frame memories does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

 The transmitter 13 is advantageously an emitter of electromagnetic waves, for example a transmitter of radio waves. Although it is possible to use dedicated transmitters transmitting simultaneously to a large number of units 3, it may prove advantageous to use the transmitters of cellular telephone systems.

For example, a single reception and display unit 3 establishes bidirectional communication with the base 1, the other reception and display units 3 being provided with passive means for reception and decoding of the information transmitted by the base. 1. On the contrary,
The establishment of the report of the displays carried out, that is to say a meter reading each reception and display unit 3 transmits in turn. For example, each reception and display unit 3 comprises a predetermined time slot which is specific to it. Preferably, all of the transmission ranges of the reception and display units 3 are located during off-peak hours when communications can benefit from a reduced rate.

 As a variant, successive communications are established with all the units 3, each being assigned an individual cell phone number.

 As a variant, the reception and display units 3 start to transmit at random times after ensuring that another reception and display unit is not in the process of issuing a report. In the event of a collision, that is to say if two reception and display units 3 have started to transmit at the same time, they both stop transmitting and subsequently try again.

 Advantageously, during a general broadcast of the messages displayed, all the reception and display units 3.1 to 3.N, or at least all those located in the same cell, correspond to a single call number.

 Each reception and display unit 3 comprises a reception antenna 17 and a receiver 19 adapted to the signals transmitted by the transmitter 13 via the antenna 15. The receiver 19 is connected to a computer 21, directly or via a demodulator (not shown). The computer 21 stores the messages and / or the display instructions in a central memory 23 and / or in a mass memory 9. The computer 21 is connected to display means, for example to a graphics card 25 , itself connected to a display 27, for example a flat screen, preferably with backlit liquid crystals of the type used in portable computers.

 Such screens can easily be adapted to a fleet of vehicles, for example to taxis. In variants, dedicated vehicles can be equipped with large-scale displays up to several meters, with electromechanical dot matrixes. Such displays can be adapted to trucks or river boats. The implementation of displays visible from the inside, by the passengers of the vehicle, in particular of a bus, an airplane or a boat, does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

 Advantageously, the computer 21 is connected to means 29 for determining the position of the reception and display unit, for example to a GPS receiver.

 One or more such screen (s) is (are) arranged, for example, at the level of the doors or the boot of the vehicle. Alternatively, a plurality of display screens are disposed on a structure carried by the roof of the vehicle.

 Advantageously, the computer 21 includes a clock 31 making it possible to record the durations and the dates of display of the messages.

This recording can be supplemented by the data on the location of the reception and display unit during display and by additional information indicating for example whether the vehicle carrying the reception and display unit was parked. or was traveling.

 In an advantageous variant, the reception and display units 3 comprise a transmitter making it possible to communicate to the transmission base 1 the indications of counters concerning the various messages displayed. Such transmission, for example daily or weekly, makes it possible to remunerate the owner of the vehicle and to bill the advertiser for the display of his messages.

 FIG. 2 illustrates the execution of the display orders transmitted by the base 1 to a display unit 3.

 In this example, the unit 3 can display on the one hand the priority messages corresponding for example to an advertising campaign synchronized at the national level, to the local messages corresponding for example to a district of a city or to a village of the regional messages corresponding for example a department or a region and global messages corresponding for example to the coverage of the system according to the present invention.

 In the absence of messages sent, the unit 3 displays pre-recorded permanent messages corresponding for example to an advertisement for the system according to the present invention.

 At 33, the computer 21 acquires the position of the vehicle for example from the GPS unit 29.

 We're going to 35.

 At 35, the computer 21 determines, from a geographic base on the one hand and from the position acquired at 33 on the other, what location it is in, that is to say in which district, city or region is currently the vehicle carrying the display unit 3.

 We're going to 37.

 At 37, it is determined whether there are priority messages.

 If yes, we go to 39.

 If not, we go to 41.

 At 39, the priority message is displayed.

 We're going to 43.

 At 43, the display of the message made at 39 is recorded in a counter, typically in mass memory 9. This recording can advantageously be taken into account to compensate the owner of the vehicle carrying the unit 3 and, on the other hand , to bill the display to the customer who asked to display his message. The recording advantageously includes additional data of the duration and date of display type as given by the clock 31 or by a clock of the transmitter 13 (the data of which can be included in the display order transmitted by the base 1), the transmission location, as well as data on the operation of the vehicle at the time of display, such as speed.

 We're going to 33.

 At 41, it is checked whether there is a local message to be displayed corresponding to the position of the vehicle acquired at 33 and determined at 35.

 If yes, we go to 45.

 If not, we go to 48.

 In 45, the local message corresponding to, for example, an advertisement from a local establishment, for example a hairdresser, a restaurant, a shop or the like, whose influence is only local, is displayed.

 We're going to 47.

 In 47, the display made at 45 is recorded.

 We go back to 33.

 At 48, it is checked whether there is a regional message, that is to say whether the unit 3 has been instructed to display a regional message corresponding to its current location.

 If yes, we go to 49.

 If not, we go to 51.

 In 49, the regional message corresponding to the display instructions received and to the region determined at 35 according to the position acquired at 33 is displayed.

 We're going to 53.

 At 53, the display of the message made at 49 is recorded in a counter typically in mass memory 9.

 At 51, it is determined whether the unit 3 has received instructions for displaying a global message.

 If yes, we go to 55.

 If not, we go to 57.

 At 55, the global message is displayed.

 We are going to 59.

 In 59, the display of the message made at 55 is recorded in a counter typically in mass memory 9.

 At 57, in the absence of any message display instructions, the unit 3 displays a permanent message stored in the mass memory 9 of the computer 21.

 We are going to 61.

 In 61, the display of the message carried out in 57 is recorded in a counter typically in mass memory 9.

 It is understood that the implementation of other categories of messages does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

 Advantageously, the system according to the present invention uses for communications a narrow bandwidth, which reduces the operating cost. For example, messages are transmitted for durations several times longer than the time they are displayed and are only displayed when a display command is received after the transmission of a complete image.

 The present invention applies mainly to the automotive industry, to display systems and to transmission systems.

Claims (10)

 1. Message display system comprising means (1) for wireless transmission of the messages to be displayed and a plurality of means (3) for receiving and displaying messages, characterized in that the means (3) for receiving and message display are associated with storage means (9,23) of displayed messages and in that it comprises synchronization means for displaying messages on the means (3) for receiving and displaying messages.  2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (1) for wireless transmission of messages transmit with each message a reference and in that they issue display commands for the messages, each order comprising a reference to the message to display.  3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (3) for reception and display comprise a permanent memory, preferably a mass memory (9).  4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the mass memory (9) of the means (3) of reception and display memorize permanent messages to be displayed in the absence of reception of messages and / or order of display of messages.  5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (3) for receiving and displaying messages are carried by land motor vehicles.  6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (3) for receiving and displaying messages comprise means (29) for determining position, in particular a GPS receiver.  7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the means (1) for wireless transmission of messages transmit, on the one hand local messages to be displayed by the means (3) for receiving and displaying messages are finding in the corresponding zone and, on the other hand, global messages to be displayed by the means (3) for receiving and displaying messages located outside a zone corresponding to a local message.  8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for memorizing the displays made associated with the display date and, preferably, the display duration, the location of the means (3 ) of reception and display at the time of display for each message displayed.  9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the means (3) for reception and display comprise means for transmitting to the means (1) for wireless transmission of messages from a message report. that have been posted.  10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communications between the means (1) for wireless transmission of the displayed messages, the means (3) for receiving and displaying the messages are carried out by cellular telephone, a plurality of means (3) for reception and display corresponding to a single telephone number.