FR2887355A1 - Multimedia file e.g. multimedia advertising message, displaying system for advertising campaign, has electronic module with interface circuit and management program for communication with cellular telephone to control information - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has diffusion and display supports (5), each associated to an electronic module (6), and a station (3) for designing, forming and programming multimedia files (2) based on the diffusion of files. A server stores the files and organizes the diffusion of files transmitted by the station. Each module has an interface circuit and a management program ensuring interactive communication with a cellular or mobile telephone to control the information required to establish communication and control the display of the files on the corresponding support. An independent claim is also included for a method for displaying multimedia files in an advertising campaign.

Description

1 DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to the multiple and controlled broadcasting of multimedia messages, which may comprise data of the text, picture, sound and / or video type, advantageously in a plurality of places, where appropriate at mobile sites.

  The present invention more particularly for objects a multimedia file display system and a display method implementing this system.

  At present, outdoor advertising of consumer advertising messages is carried out mainly, either statically and with limited modification possibilities, on material supports (posters, panels, etc.) or on screens, with more significant editing possibilities and greater diversity in the types of messages that can be broadcast.

  When the display supports consist of screens, the messages broadcast are generally prepared in advance and stored locally in a suitable apparatus connected to said screen or possibly designed and modified in real time by an operator performing a suitable programming of said screen or a device supplying said screen with data to be displayed.

  However, this second known display solution, although much more flexible, more powerful and more possibilities, also reports significant limitations.

  Thus, the modification of the information to be displayed must be performed, at each display medium, either by changing or changing the storage medium containing the messages to be broadcast, or by a new corresponding programming of said medium. It is the same of the diffusion parameters (frequency, duration, ...).

  These provisions require physical access to each medium for each modification, and limit, or even prohibit, the mobility of said media or simultaneous intervention in several media separated geographically and not interconnected.

  In addition, in the known display possibilities, it is not possible for the recipient of the display or the designer of the poster campaign, nor for the consumer, to directly control the broadcast.

  Finally, the display solutions mentioned above have high realization costs and are generally fixed or even subject to specific implementations.

  The present invention is intended to overcome the limitations outlined above.

  For this purpose, it relates to a system for displaying multimedia files, in particular multimedia advertising messages, characterized in that it consists mainly of, on the one hand, by at least one design, production and programming in terms of broadcasting of the multimedia files to be displayed, on the other hand, at least one server for intermediate storage and the organization of the broadcasting of the multimedia files transmitted by said at least one station and, finally, by several media display and broadcast each of which integrates or is associated with an electronic module able to store multimedia files to be displayed by the corresponding medium, to manage the broadcast on said medium and to communicate with said at least one server via a wireless or radio frequency link, chosen from at least two connection possibilities using different wireless or radio-frequency networks and / or setting implement different communication protocols.

  The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings, in which: FIG. a synoptic and basic representation of the system according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a synoptic and principal representation of an electronic module forming part of the system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a selector circuit forming part of the electronic module of FIG. 2. .

  As shown in FIG. 1 of the appended drawings, the system 1 according to the invention mainly consists, on the one hand, of at least one station 3 for designing, producing and programming in terms of broadcasting the multimedia files 2 to be displayed on the other hand, at least one server 4 for intermediate storage and the organization of the broadcasting of the multimedia files 2 transmitted by said at least one station 3 and, finally, by several display and broadcast media 5 each of which integrates or is associated with an electronic module 6 able to store multimedia files 2 to be displayed by the corresponding medium 5, to manage the broadcast on said medium 5 and to communicate with said at least one server 4 via a link 7 wireless or radio frequency, selected from at least two connection possibilities using different wireless or radio frequency networks and / or implementing different communication protocols.

  The station 3, for example in the form of a computer workstation 10, can be located either directly to the recipient (client) of the display, or to the service provider who made the multimedia files 2 to display or at the broadcaster itself.

  The supports 5 may be of different types, depending in particular on the location and size of the display, and for example be of the liquid crystal display type, plasma screens, cathode ray tube screens, video projectors, light emitting diode screens or other.

  For a set 5, 6 given, the module 6 can be made in the form of a separate housing connected to an existing support 5 (possibility of using conventional screens), or be integrated in the structure and the housing of this last (realization of specific screens).

  According to a first characteristic of the invention, represented in FIG. 2 of the appended drawings, each electronic module 6, integrated or associated with a display and diffusion support 5, comprises a central unit 8 which controls said module 6 and the management of the diffusion on the corresponding support 5 of files 2 stored in a local memory 8 'adapted, a plurality of circuits 9 of wireless or radio frequency communication interface adapted to each connect to a different corresponding network and a selector circuit 10 capable of automatically determining the most suitable network for the transmission or downloading of the multimedia file or files 2 to be displayed.

  The interface circuits 9 for wireless communication are known to those skilled in the art, as well as the central unit 8, and therefore do not require a more detailed description.

  The selector circuit 10 can for its part, as shown in FIG. 3 of the appended drawings, be based on a programmable network structure, integrating a slave microprocessor 13, a computer program based on decision-making algorithms and a network of switches 15 performing physical connections for different wireless or radio frequency network technologies available and available.

  Advantageously, the physical connections are established, under the control of the microprocessor 13 and following the execution of the decision algorithms, according to the criteria provided by the various networks and selected from the group of network criteria formed by: the power of reception, the speed of data transfer, the reliability of the transmission and the availability of the network concerned.

  FIG. 3 represents, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of the selector circuit 10, in the form of a programmable logic network structure (FPGA) component.

  This circuit mainly comprises the following elements: a signal processing microprocessor in the form of a microcontroller with structure RISC (for example of the type of that of the company ARM) integrating a software of choice of network, a plurality of ports input / output device 14 serving as a communication interface with the different modules forming the interface circuits 9 with the different available wireless networks; - a plurality of analog switches (in the form of sets or multiple circuits) for selection of the chosen network (a multiple switch 15 being associated with each input / output port 14), - an analog / digital conversion circuit 16 for measuring the power of the reception signals at the various available networks, a selection bus 17 of the multiple switch circuit 15 corresponding to the selected network, - a communication bus 18 for the choice of the communication interface 9 without communication. it or radiofrequency corresponding to the selected network, - an RS 232 serial interface circuit 19 for communication with an electronic processing unit, such as for example a computer.

  Upon power-up of the selector circuit 10, the microprocessor 13 reads the input values provided by the analog-to-digital converter circuit 16 to detect the available wireless or HF networks and, among these, select the network with the strongest signal.

  As soon as the optimal network is determined, connection tests are carried out by a microprocessor 13 via the buses 18, with verification of the reliability, the transmission speed and the chosen network address.

  If the tests are successful, the microprocessor 13 selects the multiple circuit or set of switches 15 corresponding to the selected network, via the selection bus 17, to connect said selected network to the RS serial interface. 232.

  During operation, the microprocessor 13 constantly polls and analyzes, in the form of a background task or routine, the outputs of the converter circuit 16 and the connection test results for the other available networks. If one of the networks has a more powerful, reliable and / or faster output than the network in use, the microprocessor 13 automatically switches to the input / output ports 14 of this more efficient network by selecting the together or the corresponding multiple switch circuit 15 by action on the selection bus 17.

  Thus, each module 6 has the possibility, at any time, to choose freely and automatically the most suitable network (in terms of performance, reliability ...) for downloading the files 2 to display, among the available and accessible networks from said module 6. The connection between a module 6 and the server 4 may possibly be established via an intermediary relay device.

  For practical purposes, the possible networks for downloading or transferring the multimedia files to be displayed can be chosen from the group of networks known by the following acronyms: GPRS, S GM, 3G, UMTS, WI-FI, EDGE and BLUETOOTH. However, new future networks may also be used.

  In order to mitigate, if necessary, the risk of the absence of an available and accessible wireless network, the electronic module 6 also comprises a wired communication interface circuit 11, preferably of the high-speed Internet or Ethernet type, connected directly to and controlled by the Central Unit 8.

  In order to ensure a secure routing of the files 2 to be displayed to the recipient modules 6 / support 5, each message sent by the or each server 4 to one or more sets [display support 5 and diffusion / electronic module 6] comprises a header integrating a unique identification parameter for the or each module 6 considered, preferably its MSISDN number or IMEI (unique identification number of each module 6).

  In order to guarantee uniformity of configuration for all the modules 6 and a control of the latter by the server 4, each message addressed by the or each server 4 to a set [display and broadcast medium 5 / electronic module 6] and comprising one or more multimedia file (s) 2 to be displayed, also comprises a configuration file for the module 6 in question, as well as the display and broadcast parameters for the or each of said multimedia files 2.

  According to a further feature of the invention, it may further be provided that each electronic module 6 integrates at least one interface circuit and a management program allowing interactive communication with a mobile or cellular telephone, in particular for controlling the display at the corresponding support 5, the information necessary for the establishment of the communication and the control of the display being advantageously broadcast permanently at said support 5.

  Thus, a user equipped with a mobile phone and placed in front of a medium 5 displaying data of interest, can communicate with the module 6 associated with said support 5 and, for example by accessing a menu, control the display using his phone as a remote control. The user can also, if necessary, view information that is not normally displayed.

  The present invention also relates to a method of displaying multimedia files, particularly in the context of an advertising campaign, through a system as described above.

  This method essentially consists of designing and producing a file 2 or a set of multimedia files 2 to be displayed on different media 5 at a corresponding station 3, transmitting said file or files 2 to at least one server 4 , preferably via a link 12 of the high-speed Internet type, together with information relating to their broadcasting, to transfer said file or files 2 to one or more sets [display and broadcast medium 5 / electronic module 6 associated] determined by the broadcast information after reception by the server 4 considered a transfer request sent by the or each of the modules 6 considered, and finally to display the content of said file or files 2 according to parameters of determined broadcast, including in particular the frequency or times of broadcast, the duration of each broadcast or the number of broadcasts.

  Advantageously, the transfer of files 2 from or from a server 4 to a set [display and broadcast medium 5 / electronic module 6] is performed according to a file transfer protocol known as FTP , the transfer requests sent by each module 6 being consecutive to the receipt by the latter of a call signal sent by the server or a server 4, the flow of a predetermined time since the last previous transfert or to the occurrence of a new iteration of a repetitive cycle of sending requests.

  Furthermore, it can be provided to control the display at a given support 5 via a mobile or cellular phone, after establishment of a communication between the latter and the module 6 of the set [ support 5 / module 6] considered.

  When a file or a set of files to be displayed is present at the level of the server 4, the latter sends a call signal to the identification number of the or each of the modules 6 of the set or sets 5, 6 recipients .

  In addition, each module 6 can also automatically connect to preprogrammed times to the server 4 concerned for downloading information and / or files intended for it.

  It should be noted that route determination and file routing are supported by the chosen wireless or radio telecommunications network.

  In the two aforementioned cases the communication is initiated by the module 6 concerned.

  When sending a transfer request by a module 6, the latter establishes a connection with the server 4 concerned and identifies itself.

  So that the modules 6 can dialogue with the server 4 and provide the various functions that are assigned to them, they must be previously configured.

  The latter can for example be carried out in the following manner for a given module: - sending a call message from the server to the module, - response of the module by sending back its MSISDN number, its connection identifier (LOGIN) and its password and launching a file transfer request, - transmission of the server to the module of the configuration file of the latter and the file (s) to display, - automatic configuration of the module , then controlled transmission of the data to display the module to the support 5 with which it is associated.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. 15

Claims (1)

9 CLAIMS   1) System for displaying multimedia files, in particular multimedia advertising messages, characterized in that it consists mainly of, on the one hand, by at least one position (3) of design, production and programming in terms of for broadcasting the multimedia files (2) to be displayed, on the other hand, at least one server (4) for staging and organizing the broadcasting of the multimedia files (2) transmitted by said at least one item (3) and, finally, by several display and broadcast media (5) each of which integrates or is associated with an electronic module (6) capable of storing multimedia files (2) to be displayed by the corresponding medium (5) to be managed. broadcasting on said medium (5) and communicating with said at least one server (4) via a link (7) wireless or radio frequency, selected from at least two connection possibilities using wireless networks or different radio frequency and / or implementing different communication protocols.   2) Display system according to claim 1, characterized in that each electronic module (6), integrated or associated with a support (5) for display and diffusion, comprises a central unit (8) for controlling said module (6) and the management of the corresponding media broadcast (5) of files (2) stored in a local memory (8 ') adapted, a plurality of wireless or radio frequency communication interface circuits (9) adapted to each connect to a corresponding different network and a selector circuit (10) capable of automatically determining the most suitable network for the transmission or downloading of the multimedia file or files (2) to be displayed.   3) A display system according to claim 2, characterized in that the selector circuit (10) is based on a programmable network structure, integrating a slave microprocessor (13), a computer program based on decision algorithms and a network switches (15) making the physical connections for the various wireless and radio frequency network technologies available and available.   4) A display system according to claim 3, characterized in that the physical connections are established, under the control of the microprocessor and following the execution of the decision algorithms, according to the criteria provided by the various networks and selected in the group of network criteria formed by: the reception power, the data transfer speed, the reliability of the transmission and the availability of the network concerned.   5) Display system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the possible networks for downloading or transferring media files to be displayed are selected from the group of networks known by the following acronyms: GPRS, S GM, 3G, UMTS, WI-FI, EDGE and BLUETOOTH.   6) A display system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the electronic module (6) also comprises a circuit (11) of wired communication interface, preferably high-speed Internet or Ethernet type, connected directly to and controlled by the central unit (8).   7) Display system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each message sent by the or each server (4) to one or more sets [support (5) display and diffusion / electronic module (6)] comprises a header integrating a unique identification parameter for the or each module (6), preferably its MSISDN number.   8) A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each message sent by the or each server (4) to a set [display and broadcast medium (5) / electronic module ( 6)] and comprising one or more multimedia file (s) (2) to be displayed, also comprises a configuration file for the module (6) in question, as well as the display and distribution parameters for the or each said multimedia files (2).   9) A display system according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that each electronic module (6) integrates at least one interface circuit and a management program allowing inter-active communication with a mobile phone or cell, in particular to control the display at the corresponding support (5), the information necessary for the establishment of communication and the control of the display being advantageously continuously diffused at said support (5).   10) A method of displaying multimedia files, especially in the context of an advertising campaign, via a system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it consists, after conception and producing a file (2) or a set of multimedia files (2) to be displayed on different media (5) at a corresponding station (3), transmitting said file or files (2) to at least a server (4), preferably via a link (12) of the high-speed Internet type, together with information relating to their broadcast, to transfer said file or files (2) to one or more sets [support d display and broadcast (5) / associated electronic module (6)] determined by the broadcast information after reception by the server (4) of a transfer request addressed by the or each of the modules (6) considered, and Finally, to display the content dudi t or said files (2) according to determined broadcast parameters, including in particular the frequency or times of broadcast, the duration of each broadcast or the number of broadcasts.   11) Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the transfer of files (2) from or from a server (4) to a set [display and broadcast medium (5) / electronic module (6)] s performs according to a file transfer protocol known as FTP, the transfer requests issued by each module (6) being consecutive to the receipt by the latter of a call signal issued by the or a server (4) , at the expiration of a predetermined time since the last previous transfer or at the occurrence of a new iteration of a repetitive cycle of sending requests.   12) Method according to any one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that it consists in controlling the display at a given support (5) via a mobile or cellular phone, after establishment communication between the latter and the module (6) of the assembly [support (5) / module (6)] considered.