OA17975A - Device for access to a service platform for a digital screen - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for accessing a service platform for a digital screen, and in particular, but not exclusively for digital screens such as public digital displays for the display of informative or advertising content.

Such digital screens generally provide for dynamic display of digital content, and are of variable sizes depending on their use. Networks of digital screens can be installed in points of sale, airports, train stations, restaurants or in waiting rooms of healthcare establishments. The content displayed can be targeted according to the public attending the places in which the digital screens are located.

For this purpose, the digital contents displayed can be stored in memories of the digital screens. However, such a solution requires manual intervention to update the digital content, which is long and expensive, especially for a network comprising a large number of digital screens.

Another solution was proposed by the company Broadsign ™ and proposes the addition of an accessory module that can be connected directly to a digital screen, and further comprising a 2G / 3G / 4G or Wifi type connectivity allowing remote access. to a service platform. Thus, digital contents stored on a digital screen can be dynamically updated.

However, a drawback of such a solution is that it is expensive to operate since it requires a subscription to the services of a mobile operator for each accessory module and therefore for each digital screen. In addition, it lacks reliability since it depends on the operator's network coverage areas. In practice, 2G / 3G / 4G and Wifi technologies are not uniformly available everywhere, and have uncertain speeds, especially outside densely populated areas.

There is therefore a need to provide access for a digital screen to a service platform, with reduced costs and with improved reliability, compared to the solutions of the prior art.

The present invention improves the situation.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a device for accessing a service platform for at least one digital screen comprising:

- a downlink radio interface for receiving digital broadcast content from a service platform;

- a filter unit for selecting at least one digital content from among the digital content received on the radio interface unit, according to an identifier of the access device;

- a storage unit for storing said at least one selected digital content; and

- a management unit for selecting a first digital content if the storage unit stores multiple digital content, for triggering the playback of said first digital content and for transmitting the first selected digital content to the digital screen via a transmission interface.

Thus, the present invention provides for the broadcasting of digital content by a broadcasting operator using at least one broadcasting technology in unconnected mode, such as the DVB standards (for “Digital Video Broadcasting” in English: DVB-T, DVB-T2 , DVB-H, etc,) or DAB (for “Digital Audio Broadcasting” in English), DAB +, DMB (for “Digital Multimedia Broadcasting” in English) or T-DMB, or the ATSC, ISBT or 3GPP / LTE Simless standards eMBMs, which breaks with the techniques of the prior art which use point-to-point connections in the connected mode of telecommunications operators, which are expensive and uncertain as to the area covered. Indeed, the aforementioned broadcasting technologies have much larger average coverage radii (around 30 km against 3 km for connections in connected mode) and the cost per area of a coverage area is in fact much lower. From the user's point of view, the invention thus enables a reduction in costs since it is no longer necessary to contract a subscription with a telecommunications operator for each of the digital screens and makes scale effects possible. making it possible to significantly reduce broadcasting costs for a set of digital screens. Access to the service platform is also less dependent on the coverage area of network operators, considering that the offer of a broadcast operator is more attractive because it offers much larger areas of coverage, including rural area. The same digital content is thus broadcast by the service platform and is filtered by the access device, which makes it possible to maintain differentiation in the digital content displayed, while limiting costs.

In addition, the invention makes it possible to decouple the mechanisms for receiving digital content and reading it. The service platform thus broadcasts digital content in "push" mode, the content is stored in memory and then executed in deferred time. The diffusion constraints linked to the bit rate are thus restricted.

According to one embodiment, the access device may further comprise a geolocation unit capable of determining location data of the access device and the identifier of the access device may comprise the location data of the access device. .

Digital content can thus be personalized depending on the location of the access device, and therefore the location of the digital screen. To this end, metadata associated respectively with the digital content can indicate to which geographical area a given digital content is intended.

In addition or as a variant, the identifier can be a unique identifier stored in the access device.

The use of a unique identifier, in addition to the use of the location of the access device, makes it possible to personalize the content displayed on the digital screens, even in cases in which a location signal (GPS for example) cannot be picked up by the access device. When used as an alternative, the use of a unique identifier makes it possible to keep the locations of digital screens confidential, which is particularly advantageous when the organization in charge of the service platform is separate from the organization in charge. of a set of digital screens.

According to one embodiment, the management unit may be able to delete stored digital content when a storage capacity of the storage unit is insufficient to receive new digital content selected by the filtering unit, or to replacing one of the stored digital content with new digital content selected by the filter unit.

The management of stored digital content is therefore ensured by the access device. Digital content can thus be regularly updated without requiring large storage capacities at the level of the access device.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device may further comprise at least one sensor capable of detecting an event, and the management unit may be capable of selecting and triggering the reading of the first digital content according to a event detected by the sensor.

Digital content displayed on a digital screen can thus be dynamically adapted to the environment of the digital screen.

As a variant, the downlink radio interface may further be able to receive a command from the service platform, the command comprising a digital content identifier and access device identifier data, and the control unit. filtering may be able to transmit the command to the management unit if the access device identifier data matches the access device identifier, and the first digital content may be the digital content corresponding to the digital content identifier of the order.

According to this embodiment, the service platform dynamically manages the display of content stored locally on the access devices. This is because little bandwidth is consumed by sending commands that include only identifiers. The display of content can thus be adapted to one-off events, which makes it possible to better target the digital screen audience.

In addition, the order may further include a reading instant, and the management unit may be able to trigger the reading of the first digital content at the reading instant of the order.

The service platform can thus anticipate the display of digital content adapted to a future event.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the transmission interface may be able to transmit respective first digital contents to several digital screens.

Such an embodiment makes it possible to minimize costs by pooling the access device, without however preventing different digital content from being displayed on the digital screens connected to the access device.

In addition, the command may further include a digital screen identifier, and the management unit may be able to transmit the first digital content corresponding to the digital content identifier of the command, to the digital screen corresponding to the digital screen identifier of the control.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the access device may further comprise an upstream radio interface unit for transmitting supervision data or contextual data to the service platform.

In one embodiment, the access device may further include a decryption unit capable of decrypting the digital content selected by the filter unit.

The digital content broadcast by the service platform can thus be encrypted, preventing interception and display by third-party devices.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a digital content display system comprising an access device according to the first aspect of the invention and at least one digital screen.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a method of accessing a service platform for at least one digital screen, the method being implemented in an access device connected to said at least one digital screen, and comprising the following steps :

- reception of digital broadcast content from a service platform;

- filtering of broadcast digital content to select at least one digital content based on an identifier of the access device;

- storage of said at least one selected digital content;

- selection, if several digital content is stored, of a first digital content;

- triggering of the reading of the first digital content; and

- transmission of the first digital content to the digital screen.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to the third aspect of the invention, when this program is executed by a processor.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on examination of the detailed description below, and of the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a system according to one embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a device for accessing a service platform according to one embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 3 is a diagram showing the steps of a method according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a system according to one embodiment of the invention.

A service platform 10 is able to broadcast digital content by radio link (link using electromagnetic waves). By broadcast is meant any mode of information transfer opposing a "point-to-point" connected transmission (used in the prior art presented in the introductory part). In the context of the invention, the norms and standards applicable to broadcasting may be the current and future standards of DVB families (for "Digital Video Broadcasting" in English: DVB-T, DVB-T2,

DVB-H, etc.), or DAB (for “Digital Audio Broadcasting” in English), DAB +, DMB or T-DMB, or the ATSC, ISBT or 3GPP / LTE Simless eMBMs standards.

The term digital content is understood to mean any set of digital data forming a content continuum, which may represent digital data of audio or video type, but also data files of all kinds which may be exchanged between the service platform 10 and devices accessing to. the service platform 10. The digital contents can be distributed with associated metadata. Metadata is management data that allows enriched processing of digital content in devices receiving this digital content. For example, metadata may indicate a digital content identifier, digital content duration, playback rate, or execution time.

The service platform 10 can bring together a set of applications providing production, processing, supervision and control, security, ordering and invoicing, information storage capacities as well as interfaces and portals ( Web type for example) to satisfy exchanges with devices capable of communicating with the service platform 10.

The system shown in Figure 1 comprises an access device 11 according to the invention, connected to a first digital screen 12.1 and to a second digital screen 12.2. Two digital screens have been shown for illustrative purposes. However, the access device 11 can be dedicated to a single digital screen, or, on the contrary, can be common to more than two digital screens.

As detailed in the introductory part, digital screens 12.1 and

12.2 may be of the public digital display type for the display of informative or advertising content. The digital screens can in particular be of the high definition television or computer monitor type, capable of displaying digital content.

According to the invention, digital content can be broadcast in "push" mode (broadcast initiated by the service platform 10). The digital content can thus be broadcast in masked time and at a low bit rate decorrelated from the reading bit rate of the digital content. In addition, such a mode of transmission does not require any subscription with a telecommunications operator, and is therefore less expensive than the solutions employed in the prior art.

Such a distribution method is particularly advantageous in the context of targeted exploitation, in particular public advertising.

Indeed, the use of asymmetric radio broadcasting allows increased reliability compared to the solutions of the prior art which depend on the coverage areas of network operators.

In the downstream direction (from the service platform 10 to the access device 11), the data rate is preferably high, but reasonable since the reading of the digital content is decorrelated from its reception. For example, a throughput of the order of 100 kbit / s to 2 Mbit / s at the level of the IP protocol layer can be expected. The throughput may be higher depending on the volume of digital content to be conveyed for the intended application, in particular depending on the level of quality of the digital content desired, and the supply of digital content required at the digital screen.

Figure 2 shows a detailed structure of the access device 11, according to the invention.

The access device 11 comprises a downlink radio interface 21 for receiving digital content broadcast from the service platform 10. Advantageously, the downlink radio interface 21 can be made up of a modular element, of the type "Dongle" for example, pluggable into a USB interface of the access device

11. Such a modular element makes it possible to avoid making the access device 11 dependent on a single type of radio broadcast technology. Thus, several plug-in elements can be connected to the access device 11, each plug-in element being a radio interface suitable for a broadcast technology (DVB, ATSC, etc.). Alternatively, a single radio interface unit can be included in the access device 11.

The radio interface 21 can include a demodulator adapted to broadcast standards (DVB, ATSC, etc.). The access device 11 may include an optional uplink radio interface 30 detailed later.

The access device 11 further includes a filter unit 22 for selecting at least one digital content from the digital content received on the air interface unit, based on an identifier of the access device 11.

The identifier of the access device 11 may include location data. To this end, the access device may include a geolocation unit 23 capable of determining location data for the access device 11. The geolocation unit 23 may for example be based on GPS technology. The service platform can thus broadcast digital content with respective metadata identifying geographic areas for which the digital content is intended. The access device 11 according to the invention can thus select only the digital content associated with a geographical area including the location of the access device 11.

As a variant, the identifier of the access device 11 can comprise a unique identifier stored in a memory 24 of the access device 11. In this case, each digital content can be associated with metadata comprising a range of device identifiers. access to which the digital content is intended. For example, if the unique identifier of the access device is ‘144’, the filter unit 22 may select digital content associated with a range of identifiers between ‘102’ and 156 ’.

The unique identifier of the access device 11 and the location data can moreover be used in a complementary manner as the identifier of the access device 11. For example, the location data may not be known to the user. organization in charge of the service platform 10, which can potentially be different from that which manages the digital screens 12.1, 12.2 (absence of GPS signal in an underground place such as a metro, forgetting to report by the organization in charge of digital screens). The use of a unique identifier then makes it possible to offer a fallback solution making it possible to collectively manage a set of digital screens 12.1, 12.2. It also improves the confidentiality related to the location of digital screens 12, in the event that the organization in charge of these screens does not wish to reveal their respective positions to the service platform 11.

The selected digital contents can be stored in a storage unit 26 of the access device 11. The storage unit 26 has a limited storage capacity.

The access device 11 further comprises a management unit 25 for selecting a first digital content from among the content stored in the storage unit 26, for triggering the reading of the first digital content and for transmitting it to one of the screens. 12.1, 12.2, or digital screens, via a transmission interface 28 of the access device 11. The transmission interface 28 can include an HDMI output by digital screen 12.1, 12.2, for example (an HDMI input being present on the vast majority of digital screens), or any other communication interface and protocol (DVI or SDI digital wired, VGA analog wired, composite, wireless, etc.). There is no restriction on the number of outputs that transmit interface 28 includes.

The management unit 25 can group together a set of software resources such as:

- “middleware” federating the applications running on an operating system embedded on the access device 11. No restriction is attached to the operating system used by the access device 11. The “middleware” is notably capable of reconstituting usable pieces of information (digital content in the present case) from the received and filtered data, and of storing the digital content in the storage unit 26. It can also activate or deactivate the reception of certain digital contents by order of application software, and can inform the application software of the reception status of the digital contents;

- application software for orchestrating the execution of functions (see below) of the access device, and also allowing basic configuration functions. The application software is responsible for the entire operation of the access device and in particular for the activation of the interface units 21 and 30, the management of the filtering unit 22, the management of the digital content. received and filtered (storage, deletion, memory management, selection and playback of content according to location, time, etc.), of the reproduction on the digital screens 12.1, 12.2 via the transmission interface 28 according to a local event or a command from the service platform 11, as detailed in the following;

- file management software allowing write, read, delete, replace functions;

- an audio-video player for opening and playing any type of digital content stored in the storage unit 26;

- decryption software making it possible to decrypt any digital content encrypted by the service platform 11.

The access device 11 can also include a decryption unit separate from the management unit 25.

After receiving and filtering digital content, it is possible that the capacity of the storage unit 26 is insufficient to store the digital content. The management unit is able to select and delete stored digital content in order to free up storage capacity, or to replace one of the stored digital content with new digital content selected by the filtering unit. There are no restrictions on how the digital content to be deleted is selected. For example, the oldest received digital content may be deleted.

Several embodiments can be provided for the selection and playback of a first digital content.

According to a first embodiment, the access device comprises at least one sensor 29. The sensor 29 may for example be a presence detector or a movement detector. For example, it can detect the presence of people in front of the digital screen and can transmit this detected event to the management device 25 which can select and trigger the playback of a first digital content. According to another example, when the access device is connected to a digital screen in a metro station, the sensor 29 can detect an event such as the imminent arrival of the metro in the station and play digital content that can interact with the station. environment, which has the effect of attracting the attention of travelers. More sophisticated sensors can make it possible to detect that people are looking at the digital screen (by facial recognition treatments allowing for example a personalization of the messages broadcast according to attributes such as average age, sex, etc. etc) and such an event can trigger the reading of a first digital content by the management unit 25.

According to a second embodiment, the downlink radio interface unit 21 is also able to receive a command from the service platform 10, the command comprising a digital content identifier and device identifier data. 'access 11. The filtering unit 22 is able to transmit the command to the management unit 25 if the access device identifier data correspond to the identifier of the access device (the identifier possibly comprising location data or a unique identifier, as previously explained).

From the digital content identifier of the order, the management unit 25 selects a first digital content from among the digital content stored in the storage unit 26. No restriction is attached to the digital content identifier. , which can be for example a file name with a file format.

Such an embodiment makes it possible to adapt the digital content displayed to one-off events. For example, on a sports event day in a stadium, the service platform can command all access devices near the stadium to display digital content stored in memory and relating to sports articles. As the command does not consume resources, it is transmitted and received in real time by the access devices, which ensures satisfactory responsiveness.

The command can also include an instant of reading. In this case, the management unit 25 is able to trigger the reading of the first digital content at the reading instant included in the command. For this purpose, the access device 11 can include a time reference unit 27 absolute or relative to a time reference in the service platform 10.

In addition, the command may optionally include a digital screen identifier. In this case, the management unit 25 is able to transmit the first digital content corresponding to the digital content identifier of the order, to the digital screen 12.1 or 12.2 corresponding to the digital screen identifier of the order. . To this end, the access device 11 may include a unit for detecting the identifier of a digital screen 12.1 or 12.2, the detection unit being able to be an RFID or NFC reader for example. When the order does not include a digital display identifier, the accessing device may transmit the same first digital content to the set of digital displays to which it is connected.

The second embodiment allows the implementation of additional services by the service platform 10. For example, a user in front of a digital screen can collect an identifier of the digital screen (by scanning a QR code or by entering manually an identifier such as a serial number for example) by means of a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone for example, and can transmit to the service platform 10 a message (of the “tweet” type for example) associated with the identifier of the digital display. The message can then be broadcast by the service platform 10 to a group of digital screens (or to a group of access devices), the group being identified in the broadcast message. The group of digital screens can be:

- a group of digital screens located in the same geographical area (the message is broadcast with data defining a geographical area, so that the access devices located in such an area can display the message);

- digital screens in front of which are friends of the user (friends being obtained and located by accessing a social network profile of the user);

- digital screens located at all bakers, butchers, or part of the shops in a shopping center, or all of them, etc.

According to a third embodiment, the digital content can be programmed to be displayed cyclically, each digital content being read at a given instant.

The three aforementioned embodiments have been presented as alternatives but can be used in combination by the access device 11.

As previously mentioned, the access device 11 can include an uplink radio interface 30 for transmitting supervision data or contextual data to the service platform 10. The data transmitted in the uplink requires lower bit rate than for the downward path. For example, bit rates on the order of or less than kbit / s may be appropriate depending on usage.

Just like the downlink radio interface 21, the upstream radio interface 30 can be of a modular element pluggable onto a USB interface of the access device 11 and can be adapted to a broadcast technology (DVB, ATSC , etc). Alternatively, the uplink radio interface 30 is included in the access device 11.

As mentioned above, the data transmitted by the upstream access device 11 can be supervision data. Such data may include temperature measurements of the access device 11, for example, to ensure that it is located in an environment that does not degrade its operation, or reports of device errors. The data transmitted upstream can also include contextual data, such as statistics relating to a number of people who have watched the digital screens connected to the access device 11, which can include for this purpose a video sensor and recognition functions. facial.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the steps of a method according to one embodiment of the invention.

In a step 31, the downlink radio interface 21 receives digital content broadcast by the service platform.

In a step 32, the filter unit 22 filters the received digital content.

If the digital content is not addressed to an identifier of the access device 11, the digital content is not retained. Otherwise, the digital content can be stored in a step 33 in the storage unit 26.

As previously explained the management unit 25 can select at a step 35 one of the digital contents stored in the storage unit 26, as the first digital content, and execute the reading of the first digital content at a step 35 .

The first digital content is transmitted in a step 36 to one or more digital screens via the transmission interface 28.

Claims (14)

1. Access device to a service platform (10) for at least one digital screen (12.1, 12.2) comprising: - a downlink radio interface (21) for receiving digital broadcast content from a service platform; - a filter unit (22) for selecting at least one digital content from among the digital content received on the radio interface unit, based on an identifier of said access device (11); - a storage unit (26) for storing said at least one selected digital content; and - a management unit (25) for selecting a first digital content if the storage unit stores several digital content, for triggering the reading of said first digital content and for transmitting the first selected digital content to the digital screen (12.1, 12.2 ) via a transmission interface (28). 2. Access device according to claim 1, further comprising: - a geolocation unit (23) capable of determining location data of the access device (11); wherein the access device identifier includes the location data of the access device. 3. Access device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the identifier is a unique identifier stored in said access device (11). 4. Access device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the management unit (25) is able to delete stored digital content when a storage capacity of the storage unit (26) is insufficient for receiving new digital content selected by the filter unit (22), or replacing one of the stored digital content with new digital content selected by the filter unit. 5. Access device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one sensor (29) capable of detecting an event, and in which the management unit (25) is capable of selecting and triggering the reading of the. first digital content as a function of an event detected by said sensor. 6. Access device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the downlink radio interface (21) is further adapted to receive a command from the service platform (10), the command comprising a content identifier. and access device identifier data (11), and in which the filter unit (22) is able to transmit the command to the management unit if the device identifier data of access correspond to the identifier of said access device, and wherein the first digital content is the digital content corresponding to the digital content identifier of the order. 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the command further comprises a reading instant, and wherein the management unit (25) is able to trigger the reading of the first digital content at said reading instant of the command. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission interface (28) is adapted to transmit respective first digital contents to several digital screens (12.1, 12.2). 9. Device according to claim 6 or 7, and claim 8, wherein the command further comprises a digital screen identifier (12.1, 12.2), and wherein the management unit (25) is able to transmit the first digital content corresponding to the digital content identifier of the order, to the digital screen corresponding to the digital screen identifier of the order. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an uplink radio interface (30) for transmitting supervision data or contextual data to the service platform (10). 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a decryption unit capable of decrypting the digital content selected by the filtering unit (22). 12. A digital content display system comprising an access device (11) according to one of the preceding claims and at least one digital screen (12.1, 12.2). 13. A method of accessing a service platform (10) for at least one digital screen (12.1, 12.2), the method being implemented in an access device (11) connected to said at least one digital screen, and comprising the following steps: -reception (31) of digital content broadcast from a service platform; -filtering (32) the broadcast digital content to select at least one digital content based on an identifier of said access device; - storage of said at least one selected digital content; - selection, if several digital content is stored, of a first digital content; - triggering of the reading of the first digital content; and - transmission (36) of the first digital content to the digital screen. 14. A computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to claim 13, when this program is executed by a processor.