JP2001523868A - Information collection and use system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To easily and inexpensively communicate with an information provider or an advertisement presenter in a public room and any number of people. The apparatus includes at least one portable, manually operable signal generator (70) having a surface for receiving a poster or the like, wherein the signal generator (70) includes a controller and the controller. A converter connected to the device (10), the converter providing a directional electromagnetic beam (S) to be directed to the surface based on a control signal sent from the controller (10). A scanning device (60) for generating and detecting an electromagnetic beam (S) directed at the surface by the signal generator (70), wherein the scanning device (60) is disposed at and near the surface. At least one sensor device, the sensor device detecting the electromagnetic beam (S) directed at the surface and generating at least a section of the surface to generate a corresponding received signal. In order to scan and evaluate the received signal, an information collection and use system including a transmission device (90) for transmitting the received signal to a computing device (100) is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an information collection and use system that allows a virtually unlimited number of people (users, customers, etc.) to easily communicate with information providers and advertisement presenters in public rooms. In particular, the invention relates to a device applicable in connection with an information or advertising surface, such as a poster or advertising column.

[0002]

[Prior art]

Until now, the effect of information or advertising on a targeted group of humans could only be measured indirectly at very high cost. For example, an indicator of advertising effectiveness was an increase in sales of the advertised product or advertised service. However, individual advertising methods,
That is, ads on radio, television, movies, print or posters,
The extent to which sales could be increased could only be determined by very costly customer surveys.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that enables simple and low-cost communication between an information provider or an advertisement presenter in a public room and any number of people.

[0004]

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention comprises a surface containing a poster or the like displaying graphic or textual information, and comprises at least one portable, manually operable signal generator, the signal generator comprising: a controller; A converter connected to the control device, wherein the converter generates a directional electromagnetic beam to be directed to the surface based on a control signal transmitted from the control device; A scanning device for detecting an electromagnetic beam directed at said surface, said scanning device comprising at least one sensor device disposed at and near said surface, wherein said sensor device is directed toward said surface. Scanning said surface at least section-by-section and evaluating said received signal in order to detect an electromagnetic beam received and to generate a corresponding received signal Because the, to provide information collecting utilization system having a transmitting apparatus for transmitting the received signal to the computing device.

The information collection and use system according to the present invention enables an information provider or an advertisement presenter in a public room to easily and inexpensively communicate with an arbitrary number of people. To this end, the information provider or the advertisement presenter posts a poster, and the passerby recognizes the information contained in the poster and communicates with the information provider or the advertisement presenter by a hand-held transmitter, A passer-by is realized by directing a (passer-specific) beam onto the poster surface by a passer-by signal generator, thereby triggering a notification to an information provider or an advertisement presenter. After this commencement of communication, statistical and polling surveys or assessments are performed, or the information provider or advertisement presenter communicates directly with the respective passer-by.

One effect in this case is that, for example, the effect of the poster means can be clarified. To this end, the information or advertising target is provided with a portable, manually operable signal generator. When the subject sees the surface on which the information or advertising poster is applied, he or she directs the signal generator at this surface and activates the signal generator to emit a beam, which can be directed to the surface or It is detected by a sensor device of the scanning device, which is arranged nearby, and transmitted to the computing device by the transmission device. At the computing device, the input information is collected and evaluated.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferably, the controller causes the control signal for the converter to include an identifier characteristic of the respective signal generator and / or user. Thereby, statistically significant data of the user or the subject (gender, age, married or unmarried, education, income area, etc.) is encoded and transmitted to the scanning device, from which it is transmitted to the computing device. Transmitted.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the transducer for generating a directional electromagnetic beam comprises a laser diode or an ultra-bright LED. Thereby, required information transmission is easily realized. This is because the (light) beam carrying the information can be amplitude modulated or frequency modulated. Furthermore, there is no need for costly focusing in order to achieve accurate point-like marking spots on the projection surface, especially in laser diodes. This greatly facilitates detection by sensors or scanners. The laser beam also forms spot-shaped luminous spots in the paper of the advertising poster, which luminous spots are particularly simple and reliable, even when the surroundings are very bright (sunlight or artificial light rays). Can be detected.

In another aspect of the signal generating device of the present invention, the receiver for the enabling signal has a directional receiving sensitivity, and transmitting a beam comes from the direction of the surface. It is arranged in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the transducer producing the directional electromagnetic beam, so that it can only take place when the enabling signal is received. This embodiment prevents uncontrolled operation of the signal generator in any direction. This first ensures that the user does not aim the beam at the surrounding pedestrians. Furthermore, by not sending out the enabling signal, it is possible to prevent the beam from being sent out at a specific time, irrespective of the beam direction desired by the user each time.

In one preferred embodiment of the signal generating device, the control device is connected to a reproducing device, which reproduces an optical signal, an acoustic signal or a clock signal recognizable to a user of the signal generating device. . The playback device can send out a plurality of signals (for example, an optical signal and a clock signal). Thereby, the respective user, for example, his signal generator receives the enabling signal and sends a signal telling him that at this point he can make a marking on the projection surface. Can be sent.

[0011] Furthermore, if, in addition to or instead of the enabling signal, the identifier of the beam directed at the surface is correspondingly evaluated, an identification signal is transmitted to the signal generator, which identification signal is received by the receiver. It is evaluated by the control device of each signal generator.
That is, the identification signal can be compared with what the signal generators indicate. If the result of the comparison is yes, the control device activates the playback device correspondingly as well,
In this way, each user can be considered as described above when the “this user” beam is detected and statistical evaluation is performed.

In order to limit the duration for which an individual user can direct the (light) beam to the (advertising) surface, in one preferred embodiment of the signal generator, A controller determines a duration signal in or with the enabling signal from the signal obtained from the receiver and generates the control signal for the converter in response to the duration signal. This allows each user to
Light) beam is not directed at the (ad) surface for any long time. The transmitted duration signal defines the maximum duration of the uninterrupted (light) beam and / or the duration signal allows the user to direct the (optionally large number) (light) beam to the projection surface Is defined, the length of the accumulation duration is possible. To this end, the control device has a counter, which is set to a certain value by the duration signal. The counter counts down during the time the user activates the signal generator to direct the (light) beam to the advertising surface. As soon as the counter reaches the counting state zero, the control device is prevented from generating a control signal for the converter (whether the signal generator is activated or not).

[0013] Alternatively, the controller is operable to determine an optical pulse number signal transmitted in or with the enabling signal and to generate a control signal for the converter based on the optical pulse number signal. Also in this case, the control device has a counter, and the counter is set to a specific value by the light pulse number signal. Each time the user activates the signal generator, the count of this counter is decremented. As soon as the counter reaches the counting state zero, the control device prevents the control signal from being generated for the converter.

Preferably, the scanning device scans a spatial region extending substantially parallel to the surface of the surface. As a result, only important regions are scanned. Furthermore, this ensures that the surface is scanned even when there are irregularities in the surface (e.g., overlap points in the edge regions of the individual poster portions).

Preferably, the scanning device is arranged at an edge of the surface, and the sensor device scans the surface through an optical device in an acute spatial angle region, and the optical device scans the surface with the optical device. Spots of light generated by the directed beam can be detected by the sensor device. In particular, for security reasons, the scanning device is located at the upper edge of the poster surface, so that the scanning device is not easily accessible to passers-by. As an additional safety measure, an alarm device can be provided on the scanning device to prevent damage from assault.

In order to reduce the amount of information transmitted to the computing device, preferably, the transmission device has a decoder for extracting from the received signal the information contained in the received signal. Thereby, the information thus retrieved can then be transmitted.

Since the poster wall is often located at a long distance from the terrestrial public telephone network, preferably the transmission device is connected to a receiver connected to the computing device,
A transmitter is connected to transmit the received signal and information included in the received signal wirelessly (for example, via a mobile communication network or the like).

[0018] To the same extent, the poster surface is often spaced relative to the public power grid, so that the scanning and transmitting devices located on the surface are independent of the public power grid, A storage battery powered by a battery is provided.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission device is arranged in a sequence which can be transmitted via a mobile communication network together with the telephone number of the receiving device of the computing device, and the received signal or the It has a decoder for converting the information contained in the received signal.

For example, in the GSM or PCS-1800 protocol, the telephone connection establishment is charged, while the telephone exchange connection is free, and the telephone exchange connection has a 32-byte information portion (header). ) Are transmitted together, so that by encoding corresponding to the detected information, this information can be put in this information part and transmitted free of charge. In this case, it is only necessary to conclude a corresponding use contract with the network manager. This eliminates the need to form an information transmission infrastructure that covers the area. Furthermore, there is no cost for the user. The usage contract concluded with the network manager is significantly lower in cost and allows budgeting in a lump.

The computing device may include a data bank in which the received information can be evaluated statistically. Thereby, the advertisement presenter can be provided with opinion polling and statistical information on the effect of the advertisement means of the advertisement presenter. For example, the number of customers interested in a product advertised by the ad presenter or the service of the ad presenter can be determined.

Furthermore, based on the received information, when the computing device is provided with the user's telephone number or address, contacting the user of the signal generator via telephone and postal mail
It is feasible. This allows the user to obtain more accurate information about the advertised product or advertised service. If contact via the phone is made via the user's mobile phone, the user may directly enter the advertised product or advertised service while still in front of the advertising poster. Can be purchased. Thereby, the information location and the information time point of the customer are the sales location or the sales time point.

The block circuit diagram shown in FIG. 1 of the signal generating device of the present invention has a microcontroller 10 as a control device, and the microcontroller 10 includes a central processing unit, a program memory, and a data memory. And a plurality of data input sides and data output sides.

Connected to the microcontroller 10 is a manually operable signal generator comprising a keyboard 12 with a plurality of keys, whereby control commands are transmitted to the microcontroller 1.
02 can be transmitted. Activating one of the keys (+,-, 1, 2) to generate an evaluation control command (yes, no) or one of the keys
Activate one to generate a control command that causes the user to call back and accept the order for the advertised product or advertised service.

The microcontroller 10 is further connected to a converter 14 comprising a laser diode, the converter 14 receiving a corresponding control signal from the microcontroller 10 when the converter 14 receives a corresponding control signal. An electromagnetic beam in the form of 16 is transmitted. The switching signal generated by the keyboard 12 causes the light beam 16 to contain the corresponding information by modulation when the microcontroller 10 generates the control signal for the converter 14.

Further, the microcontroller 10 is connected to the infrared receiver 18 and receives an externally generated enabling signal. Preferably, the enabling signal is emitted from a scanning device mounted on the surface. Alternatively, the receiver can be configured to receive signals in the ultrasonic range or other frequency or propagation type from a scanning device mounted on the surface.

The microcontroller 10 is correspondingly programmed in such a way that the control signals of the converter 14 include an identifier characteristic of the respective signal generator. For this purpose, the microcontroller 10 obtains the corresponding information via the infrared receiver while the signal generating device is activated, or from the advertisement presenter before the regular operation by the user. , (Serial) data input 20 is supplied with the corresponding data. The identifier is related to the user (age,
Gender, name, etc.).

The microcontroller 10 is further programmed so that the microcontroller 10 sends out control signals for the transducer only if the corresponding enabling signal is received via the infrared receiver 18. Have been.

An infrared receiver 18 for receiving the externally generated enabling signal is disposed in the tubular body 22 to realize the directional receiving sensitivity of the infrared receiver 18. Instead of a tubular torso,
It is also possible to use other optically active components. Infrared receiver 18
Is located next to the laser diode 14 and the laser diode 14
The two central longitudinal axes are oriented so that they run parallel to the axis of the light beam 16. This spatial arrangement of both components allows the light beam 16 to be transmitted only in the direction in which the enabling signal is received. In the infrared receiver 18,
Deviate from parallel incident directions based on the specific structure of the optically acting component. This is based in particular on the placement of the sensor device on the poster surface, the sensitivity area or the receiving area of the sensor device.

Further, the microcontroller 10 is connected to the reproducing device 24 having the light emitting display devices 24a, 24b and 24c, the vibrator 24d and the adder 24e, so that the user of the signal generating device can recognize optical signals, acoustic signals, and the like. Regenerate signals and clock signals. By correspondingly programming the microcontroller 10, for example,
When the user operates the switch device, the light emitting display device can be operated. Receipt of the enabling signal can be signaled, for example, by actuation of the transducer 24d by the microcontroller 10.

The microcontroller 10 further determines from the signal received by the infrared receiver 18 a duration signal that is transmitted in or together with the enabling signal, and then converts the duration signal. Based on this, it is programmed to generate a control signal for the laser diode. This prevents the user from transmitting the light beam at an arbitrary frequency. For this,
The microcontroller 10 has a counter, which is set to a certain value based on the duration signal. While the user activates the signal generator to emit the light beam, the counting state of the counter decreases. As soon as the counter reaches the counting state zero, the microcontroller 10 is prevented from generating a control signal for the converter 18.

[0032] Additionally, in this case, the microcontroller 10 sends the signal for reproducing the counting state of the counter to the light emitting display devices 24a, 24b and 24c, and / or the vibrator 24d and / or It can also be programmed to transmit to adder 24e.

Finally, the microcontroller 10 determines from the signal received by the infrared receiver 18 a group identifier signal to be transmitted in or together with the enabling signal, and based on the group identifier signal. And is programmed to generate control signals for the transducer. In addition, in this case, too, the microcontroller 10 outputs a signal which reproduces the respective group identifier to the light-emitting display devices 24a, 24b and 24c and / or the transducers 24d and / or It can also be programmed to transmit to adder 24e.

The power supply for the microcontroller 10 and other components of the signal generator is an Ultracap, characterized in that it is a capacitor having a capacity of 20 Farads or more.
Or, it is realized by GoldCap40. Charging such a capacitor is several times faster than charging a conventional storage battery. The charge management circuit 42 is inserted and connected between the capacitor 40 and the microcontroller 10, so that the low level state of charge can be communicated to the microcontroller 10, whereby:
Microcontroller 10 emits a corresponding (eg, optical) signal.

In this way, the signal generating device can be formed as a handheld device that is of the size of a matchbox and is therefore portable, and the user can easily use this device. It can be held, transported and used with one hand.

FIGS. 2 and 2a show how the signal generator works in cooperation with the other components of the invention.

A housing is disposed on the advertising surface 48, and a control device 50 is disposed in the housing, and the control device 50 is connected to a scanner or a scanning device 60. The scanning device 60 from the hand-held transmitter 70 shown in FIG.
Alternatively, a spot L of light generated by the light beam can be detected, and a corresponding signal can be transmitted to the control device 50. To this end, the scanning device 60 preferably has a plurality of sensors 62, each of which has only one predetermined area B1, B2.
, B3, and this area is correspondingly connected in front of each sensor 62 (
Focusing) is limited by the lens 62a. Thus, the selection fields A1, A2, A3 on the poster can be selected by the user and can be correspondingly evaluated in the manner described below.

The scanning device 60 is located in the upper corner of the poster and is positioned several centimeters away from the surface or directly in contact with the surface and oriented parallel to the surface,
Each of the sensors 62 scans its corresponding area in the acute spatial angular area a with respect to a surface or poster surface (see FIG. 2a). Since the sensors of the scanning device 60 are located at the upper (or other) corners of both poster surfaces, the scanning areas of the sensors may overlap. Accordingly, it is possible to more accurately detect the position where the user directs the beam from the signal generator (transmitter 70). Alternatively, the sensor device can be arranged in a central area of the surface, which again protrudes (by a few centimeters) from the surface and spines, each on the surface. Extends through the poster being placed. Preferably, in this case, the sensor device comprises sensors distributed around the spines, each of the sensors being configured to scan a sector-like area.

When the user points the user's sensor 70 at the surface, the infrared receiver 18 can receive the enabling signal transmitted from the infrared transmitter. This is recorded by the microcontroller 10 in the hand-held transmitter 70, and when the user activates the switch 12, a light beam is sent into this area, the light beam is detected by the scanning device 60 and the corresponding signal is controlled. It can be transmitted to the device 50. Thereby, the scanning device 60 particularly
The characteristic identifier of the sensor 70 in each case and other information about the user can be detected and transmitted to the control device 50 in the same manner.

The control device 50 is connected to a transmission device 90 in the form of a GSM standard (or other device) mobile telephone transmitter, located in the housing, and has a memory 9 in the transmission device 90.
The receiver number 2 is programmed and installed, and the detected information is transmitted to the receiver number. If a fixed-network telephone connection is available, the transmission device 90
It may be an SDN interface, a modem for data transmission over an analog telephone fixed network, or the like. As soon as the control device 50 transmits the information to the transmission device 90, the transmission device 90 calls the receiver of the remotely located computing device 100, and the information transmitted in the call is transmitted by the computing device 100. Received and evaluated statistically. To this end, the computing device 100 comprises a corresponding data bank and statistical software. This evaluated data can then be provided to and utilized by the ad presenter.

From location information (directly from the calling mobile telephone transmitter on each poster wall)
For example, the quality of the location on the advertisement surface can be detected. This is because a large number of calls from each location can be inferred to have a great customer response. If the user indicates, by means of the user's hand-held transmitter 70, the area in which the respective return call to the customer is to be signaled, the computing device 100 sends this directly to the advertisement presenter with the corresponding information about the customer. Have e by internet
Can be transmitted as email. In this case, in the call center of the ad presenter,
It is possible to be called directly via the customer's mobile phone while the customer is still in front of the poster. This allows passers-by to be a specific customer while still in front of the poster, because within the scope of the call back, more accurate and important information for the purchase is obtained. Exchanged or purchase completed,
It can also be performed. In this way, for the first time, according to the present invention, the information place becomes a sales place.

Alternatively, the customer can place an order directly or request that additional informational material be delivered, which is performed by the customer by means of the customer's handheld transmitter 70.
This is realized by designating another selection area. Corresponding information (such as an address) is also stored in the data bank of the computing device 100.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block circuit diagram of the signal generator of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the signal generation device of the present invention which cooperates with other components in the information collection and use system of the present invention. FIG. 2a is a schematic side view of a scanning device mounted on a poster advertisement surface of the information collection and utilization system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 control device 12 keyboard 14 converter 18 receiver 24 reproducing device 48 surface 50 transmission device 60 scanning device 62 optical device 90 transmitter 100 computing device

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Claims (13)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A device comprising a surface (48) for accommodating a poster or the like, comprising at least one portable, manually operable signal generator (70), wherein the signal generator (70) comprises a control device. (10) and the control device (10).
And a transducer (14) connected to the directional electromagnetic device to be directed to the surface (48) based on a control signal sent from the controller (10). Generating a beam (S); and an electromagnetic beam (S) directed by said signal generator (70) to said surface (48).
A scanning device (60) for detecting said surface (S), said scanning device (60) comprising:
48) at least one sensor device (62) disposed at or near said surface, said sensor device (62) detecting an electromagnetic beam (S) directed at said surface (48); To generate a corresponding received signal, the surface (
48) An information collection and use system, comprising: a transmission device (90) for transmitting the received signal to a computing device (100) in order to scan at least section by section and evaluate the received signal. 2. The control device (10) including in the control signal for the converter (14) an identifier characteristic of a respective signal generator (70) and / or a user. 2. The information collection and use system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The information collection and use system according to claim 1, wherein the converter (14) for generating a directional electromagnetic beam comprises a laser diode or an ultra-bright LED. 4. The control device (10) has a receiver (18) for an externally generated enabling signal, and the receiver (18) for the enabling signal has a directional reception sensitivity. A transducer (14) for generating a directional electromagnetic beam (S) so that it can only emit a beam when an enabling signal coming from the direction of said surface (48) is received. 2. The information collection and use system according to claim 1, wherein the information collection and use system is arranged in a fixed spatial relationship. 5. The control device (10) is connected to a reproduction device (24), which reproduces an optical signal, a sound signal or a clock signal recognizable to a user of the signal generation device. The information collection and use system according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The controller (10) determines a duration signal in or with the enabling signal and, based on the duration signal, generates the control signal for the converter (14). The information collection and use system according to claim 1, wherein the information is generated. 7. The information collection and use system according to claim 1, wherein the scanning device scans a spatial region extending substantially parallel to the surface. 8. The scanning device (60) is arranged at an edge of the surface (48), and the sensor device (62) is connected via an optical device (62a) to an acute spatial angular region (
a) scanning said surface (48) and by said optical device (62a) spots (L) of light generated by a beam (S) directed at said surface (48) are detected by said sensor device (60). 8. The information collection and use system according to claim 1, wherein the information collection and use system can be detected by the following method. 9. The information collection and use system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission device (50) has a decoder for extracting information contained in the received signal from the received signal. 10. A transmitter, wherein the transmission device (50) wirelessly transmits the received signal and information included in the received signal to a receiver connected to the computing device (100). The information collection and use system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the information collection and use system is connected to (90). 11. The received signal or the received signal in a sequence that the transmission device (90) can transmit via a mobile communication network together with a telephone number of a receiving device of the computing device (100). The information collection and use system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a decoder for converting information included in the information. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a data bank in which the received information can be evaluated statistically. Information collection and use system. 13. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the computing device implements telephone communication with a user of the signal generating device based on the received information. An information collection and utilization system according to one claim.