WO1988003690A1

WO1988003690A1 - Information transmission system

Info

Publication number: WO1988003690A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000805
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Amachi Ashbey
Original assignee: Logicblend Limited
Priority date: 1986-11-11
Filing date: 1987-11-11
Publication date: 1988-05-19
Also published as: CA1330842C; GB2197736A; GB8626871D0; EP0329687A1; GB2197736B; JPH02501355A; AU8178487A; AU605207B2

Abstract

An information transmission system for communicating to an orienteering game player or a tourist relevant information selected from a large store of information includes an information dispenser (24) responsive to a key (Fig. 4) which is provided with machine-readable indicia. The dispenser dispenses a cassette (48) containing a paper band and provided with winding knobs by which successive portions of the band can be selected for viewing. The dispenser prints information on the band from the store, only items from the store being printed which are relevant to the particular user. The information comprises a route to be followed by the user to take the user to a plurality of desired locations.

Description

Information Transmission System

This invention relates to the transmission of information and to systems requiring and enabling the transmission of information. Information has become a valuable commodity but its handling from the practical standpoint is extremely cumbersome. It is easy to provide systems which will transmit vast quantities of information but much less easy to present relevant information to the user in a convenient and usable form. Solutions to this problem have generally involved complex and expensive processing systems but still only provide the information in a form which is not readily handled.

The sheer volume of information now available has meant that its handling has become tedious and off-putting. Systems and environments are needed to provide interest and excitement to the user.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate some of these problems and is defined in its various aspects in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram of an orienteering-type game embodying the invention;

Figure 2 shows various views of an information cassette;

Figure 3 illustrates a dispenser for the cassettes;

Figure 4 is a view of a machine-readable key;

Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating the main electronic components of the dispenser;

Figure 6 shows a modified information cassette;

Figure 7 shows information cassettes formed in various possible different shapes;

Figure 8 is a front perspective broken awayview of a modified dispenser station in diagrammatic form;

Figure 9 is an electrical block circuit diagram of the station of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 illustrates how several systems of the type shown in Figure 1 can be linked together.

Figure 1 shows the general layout of an orienteering-type game. A host computer 10 is linked by cable to an electronic mobile exchange 12 which provides radio communication. The computer also controls a key-issuing station which issues individually-coded keys 14 of the type shown in Figure 4. These keys have an area 16 which is machine readable such as comprising a magnetic stripe. The keys are issued to the individual game players who start by inserting the key in a reader 18 of an initial information station or node 20.

The initial information node 20 contains a memory bank of possible routes to be followed by the player and selects one of them in response to insertion of the key. The route selected may also depend on the routes issued to the holders of previously-presented keys so as to spread the players out on different routes.

The route is printed under the control of a microcomputer 22 which controls a dispenser 24 to print the selected route onto a paper band which is inserted in a cassette. The node 20 is shown as being in communication with the host computer 10 via a radio telephone link, and advises the computer that the route has been dispensed so that the computer 10 can instruct subsequent nodes to expect to receive that player.

The player goes to each of a number of intermediate stations 30 in turn, the order being determined by his particular routing. At each he puts his key into the intermediate station and is presented with a number which he notes, by a simple mechanical dialling device.

When he has completed the intermediate stations the player is directed to the final or prize station 60 where he again inserts his key and inputs all the numbers received at the intermediate stations. If the correct numbers are inputted the player receives a prize.

The intermediate and final stations are prepared to receive the key by radio-telephone link. Over this link is transmitted the routing for that key and possibly the numbers to be issued by each of the intermediate stations. Correct entry at the final station of the numbers issued by the intermediate stations indicates correct completion of the course. For the system to work requires a practical way of storing information which is individual to the player but can be fairly extensive in nature and varied in type. This is achieved by the cassette construction shown in the various views of Figure 2. Figure 2(a) shows a perspective view of the cassette which comprises a housing 32 having a window 34 through which the paper band 36 is seen. The band can be moved backwards and forwards by knurled wheels 38.

As shown in Figure 2(b) and (d) the paper band 36 is mounted on a unit 40 which has two axles with wheels or cogs 42 which are engaged to drive the paper band in either direction. A series of cogs 44 is provided in the housing to transmit the drive from the thumbwheels 38, see Figure 2(c). It would of course be possible to provide an electronic cassette using a random access memory to contain the information or even one containing a videodisc. However such systems would be more expensive and complicated, especially if the information to be displayed includes maps, and the cassette illustrated has immense practical advantages in this respect. Nevertheless it retains flexibility in allowing the information to be "personalised" to the individual user or player.

In the dispenser 24 at the initial information node information is printed on the band. Some information is pre-printed on the band, and to ensure that the individually-printed information is in register the band carries a series of perforations 44. A photocell arrangement is used to detect the presence of a perforation to index the printing operation correctly to the band. The dispenser is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3, which shows a stack 50 of cassettes to be printed, the printer 52, and the collection point 54. The electrical connections are shown in Figure 5, from which it is seen that the node receives some information via a modem and radio-telephone link.

More sophisticated systems may use other storage systems such as a video disc storage device which can hold very large amounts of data. Some of this information may be displayed on VDU's at the node instead of or as well as being printed on the band. An example of such a system is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. Here a mode or station 70 Is illustrated, shown in front perspective view in Figure 8 and In block schematic form in Figure 9. The unit 70 includes a microprocessor 72 linked to several major components including a printer mechanism 74 for cassettes, a cassette dispenser 76, the cassettes being fed from a store 78, a key or card reader/writer 80, a laser disc player 82 (such as sold under the trade mark Philips), a visual display unit 84 for images from the laser disc player, a keyboard 86 for imputting information by the user, a loudspeaker 88 for audio output to the user, which may also be combined with or function as a microphone, and also a modern 90 and telephone link device 92. In certain implementations the laser disc player and VDU maybe omitted.

The intermediate nodes are preferably associated with obstacles to be overcome and can be located in any interesting or exciting environment so long as they can be reached by radio-telephone. This gives enormous flexibility to the system. When a player visits a node this Information is conveyed back to the host computer; so that the host computer always contains the current status of each player. If the player successfully overcomes the obstacle he is given a number which he records in a simple dial unit 48 as shown in the modified cassette of Figure 6. This cassette also Includes a compass.

Some of the radio-telephone links can, however, be substituted by cable links if this proves more convenient. These cable links may be telephone or telex lines.

The final intermediate node may for example issue the successful player with a means of finding the prize node. This may take the form of a transparency which he places over a map printed in his cassette. The transparency is printed with an X to mark the position of the final node.

The shape of the information cassette may differ from that shown in Figures 2 and 6 and various options are indicated in Figure 7. Figure 7(a) shows a circular cassette unit which again has knurled thumbwheels for winding on the paper band and a separate small window for showing the frame or page number. Figure 7(b) illustrates a circularly cylindrical cassette and Figure 7(c) a cassette in the shape of an elongate triangular prism ("Toblerone" shape). Figure 10 illustrates how several systems of the type shown in Figure 1 can be linked together to provide a more extensive and exciting game. Here a central computer 100 controls several local computers 102, 104, 106 each of which corresponds to the 'host computer' 10 of Figure 1. Thus there are now two levels of communication, namely between the central computer 100 and local host computers, and between the local host computers and the users 108. Between the computers two-way communication is preferably available by cable, facsimile, telex, telephone (including mobile telephone), broadcast radio, or narrowcast radio using infra-red, UHF or VHF, microwave, television or teletext. The link between the host computers and the users is primarily by means of the route cassette, but can also involve the key 14, or alternatively a card, and a keyboard/VDU and microphone/loudspeaker, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

In an arrangement such as shown in Figure 10 information is distributed over the system. The central computer 100 contains the overall management software that ensures the satisfactory performance of the system, and monitors the state of the user network, keeping it within mangageable parameters. It thus contatins the entire scenario of the game. It may also contain a random event generator to give an extra element of variety to the game.

The local computers contain the local management software, and regularly update the central computer on its current status. Each local computer contains its local data base but specific variables, values or sections of text are supplied by the central computer. Appropriate information from this database complete with individual variables, etc., is supplied to the individual user.

These variables can change the meaning of text, the direction of the 'plot' of a game, the identltiy of an important character in the game, the task to be completed, the level of difficulty, or the reward that is offered.

The information storage principles behind this game may be used for other purposes such as providing tourist guides printed to meet an individuals requirements. In this system the user requests information on selected places or functions and this information is printed onto a cassette. The information can be kept very up to date. The cassette then provides a perfect tourist guide for that information with only relevant information in it.

In such a system it is also desirable to permit transmission of information by the user to the host computer. Such Information may relate to bookings or reservations for example.

If the tourist guide station is implemented into a larger network, of the type illustrated in Figure 10, the central computer contains the entire commercial database. Relevant sections of the database are downloaded to the local computers at predetermined intervals or on request. Variables supplied from the central computer can include menu prices, train and plane times, hotels with room availability, theatre ticket prices and availability, and least-congested routings.

Claims

1. Information dispensing apparatus comprising a cassette and a cassette dispenser, the cassette comprising a paper band having information recorded on it and means for selecting a portion of the band to be read at any instant, and the cassette dispenser comprising printing means for printing selected data on the band, a data store of information selectively to be printed on the band, means for selecting certain items of information from the data store and instructing the printing means to print the selected information on the band, the selection being made in response to external signals applied to the selecting means.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, including a key having machinereadable indications thereon, the selection being made in response to the key.

3. An information transmission system comprising a key having machine-readable indications thereon, an information dispenser responsive to the key to dispense printed information dependent upon the key and including information to be conveyed to a user and a route to be followed by the user and a plurality of stations related to the route and reponsive to the key.

4. A system according to Claim 3, in which the stations comprise intermediate stations and a final station, and in which different keys cause the information dispenser to dispense information including different routings to the stations.

5. A system according to Claim 3 or 4, in which the stations and the information dispenser are connected so that the stations are prepared when the information dispenser dispenses printed information to respond to the key.

6. A system according to Claim 5, in which the stations are communicated with by means of a radio-telephone link.