WO2007063571A2 - A guide system for museums, trade fairs or exhibitions in general and a corresponding information process - Google Patents

A guide system for museums, trade fairs or exhibitions in general and a corresponding information process Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007063571A2
WO2007063571A2 PCT/IT2006/000832 IT2006000832W WO2007063571A2 WO 2007063571 A2 WO2007063571 A2 WO 2007063571A2 IT 2006000832 W IT2006000832 W IT 2006000832W WO 2007063571 A2 WO2007063571 A2 WO 2007063571A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
guide device
visitor
display
information
guide
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2006/000832
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2007063571A3 (en
Inventor
Massimo Berni
Original Assignee
Administration's Center
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Administration's Center filed Critical Administration's Center
Publication of WO2007063571A2 publication Critical patent/WO2007063571A2/en
Publication of WO2007063571A3 publication Critical patent/WO2007063571A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11C—FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES; CANDLES; FATS, OILS OR FATTY ACIDS BY CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF FATS, OILS, OR FATTY ACIDS OBTAINED THEREFROM
    • C11C3/00—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom
    • C11C3/04—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom by esterification of fats or fatty oils
    • C11C3/06—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom by esterification of fats or fatty oils with glycerol
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23K—FODDER
    • A23K20/00—Accessory food factors for animal feeding-stuffs
    • A23K20/10—Organic substances
    • A23K20/158—Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11C—FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES; CANDLES; FATS, OILS OR FATTY ACIDS BY CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF FATS, OILS, OR FATTY ACIDS OBTAINED THEREFROM
    • C11C3/00—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom
    • C11C3/02—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom by esterification of fatty acids with glycerol
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23V—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION
    • A23V2002/00—Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a guide system for visitors to exhibitions of objects.
  • this function is implemented by people who accompany visitors - generally assembled in groups - supplying information on the objects on display, or through individual portable guide devices containing prerecorded information on each object on display, i.e. with a historical, artistic or technical content or the like.
  • this information is recorded on a magnetic medium - such as a mag- netic tape cassette - in a pre-established order by the organizer of the exhibition, and the visitor can listen to it (optionally omitting information he/she is not interested in) by means of the guide device which, in practice, is little more than a normal magnetic media reader.
  • a guide system for an exhibition of objects suitable to supply visitors with prerecorded information on each of these objects, the system comprising: - in the vicinity of each object, a relative identification device, suitable to emit in a portion of the surrounding space a sequence of electromagnetic pulses representing a unique code correlated to the object; - a series of portable guide devices to be entrusted to visitors, each device comprising: receiving means with a radio antenna and a receiving circuit suitable to pick up the sequence of pulses emitted by the specific identification device in whose portion of transmission space the guide device is located and to identify the code of the object represented by said sequence of pulses; first memoriz- ing means suitable to memorize the information to be communicated for each object on display; second memorizing means suitable to memorize the object codes received by the identification devices; third memorizing means suitable to memorize a firmware for controlling the guide device; and a microprocessor control circuit that utilizes said firmware, suitable to trace in said first memory means the prerecorded
  • each identification device associated with an object transmits over the air an identification code of the object to the guide device entrusted to the visitor, and the guide device identifies this code from a list of memorized codes, consequently accessing a file of instructions combined with the code and supplying the visitor with these instructions through the earphone.
  • the guide device Each time the visitor moves and enters the transmission range of the subsequent identification device, the guide device starts to reproduce the relative information. Moreover, after acquiring said identification code, the guide device re- cords it in a memory suitable to contain the series of codes received during the visit, in the order of the visit, so that at the end thereof said memory will contain information on the route followed.
  • the identification devices are active ISO 18.000 RFID tags, that is, provided with a battery and suitable to transmit at a useful distance of up to 6 meters, and preferably up to 3 meters.
  • These ISO 18.000 RFID devices can also comprise a memory in which a unique code of an object on display can be entered and transmitted with a pre- established frequency.
  • the device can comprise an alphanumeric display to supply help and diag- nostic messages and the title of the last object visited, or also a display of the type suitable to visualize color images with a resolution of at least 320x240 pixels, to show the visitor images relative to the object examined.
  • one or more of said first, second and third memorizing means comprise flash type integrated memory circuits, i.e. which can be repeatedly "rewritten” and which store the memorized data even without being supplied with power.
  • said connection means comprise a USB port and said decoding/amplifying circuit, suitable to supply the earphone or loudspeaker of the guide device, is of the type for reproducing audio files in MP3 format.
  • the guide device can be produced in an extremely compact form, due to the compactness of the memory components and of the mass of data to be memorized, to have approximately the dimensions of a fountain pen to be carried in a jacket pocket. In this way the guide device does not occupy the hands of the visitor, to his or her great advantage.
  • the invention also relates to a guide system as described above and comprising a database residing in a computer.
  • This database is randomly connectable to each guide device to supply prerecorded data thereto, such as the information relative to objects on display and the codes transmitted by the relative identification devices, and to receive from the guide device data relative to the route followed during the visit, in particular the list of the codes of the identification devices received.
  • the visitor can receive on a printout, or on an electronic medium such as a CD or the like, the entire series of information he or she received from the guide device during the route, optionally enhanced with photographs, films or the like present in the database, and complying with the visit route followed.
  • the invention also relates to a process suitable to supply information to a visitor of an exhibition of objects distributed in an exhibition space, such as a museum, trade fair or the like, the exhibition being provided with a guide system according to the invention, wherein:
  • the organizer of the exhibition prepares the information to supply to visitors for each object on display memorizing it in a database of a computer; - the organizer of the exhibition supplies the visitor with a portable guide device wherein, through connection of the guide device to said database, information on each of the objects on display has been memorized in a language chosen by the visitor;
  • the visitor supplied with said guide device, starts the visit by approaching an object in which he or she is interested, thereby moving the guide device into the range of transmission of the identification device coupled with said object and receiving the identification code relative to said object;
  • the guide device of the visitor then memorizes said identification code in said second memory means, reads the description file coupled with the code and memorized in said first memory means, and reproduces said file through the audio interface and optionally the video display of said guide device;
  • the previous step is repeated for all the objects on display of interest to the visi- tor, according to a free visit route chosen by said visitor;
  • the visitor returns, to the organizer of the exhibition, the guide device in which the codes of all the objects examined have been memorized in the order of the visit and, on request, using a computer and other known information means, the organizer downloads from said database the in- formation relative to these objects and prints or copies it onto an electronic medium, such as a CD, a DVD or the like to provide the visitor with the entire route followed during the visit and with the description of the objects examined.
  • an electronic medium such as a CD, a DVD or the like to provide the visitor with the entire route followed during the visit and with the description of the objects examined.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a guide system for an exhibition of works of art according to the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the guide device of the system in Figure 1; and Figures 3 and 4 respectively show the block diagram and the flow chart of the guide device in Figure 2.
  • Ai, A 2 , A 3 ,... A n are respectively paintings, statues or other objects on display in an art exhibition. Placed in the vicinity of each of said works of art is a respective identification device Bi, B 2 , B3, ...B n composed of an ISO 18.000 RFID tag available on the market, for example, an active Work- Tag® like a Series i-D2 Tag by the company Advanced Reader Technologies.
  • Each of these identification devices Bj (B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , ...B n ) is provided with its own battery and repeatedly emits in the surrounding space - with a pre-established frequency - a modulated radio signal representing a respective unique and typical UIDj code for each identification device in accordance with specific international standards, the number of which is written under each device B-, in Figure 1.
  • Figure 1 also represents a computer system, indicated respectively with CP in a preliminary stage and with CT in a final stage of a guided visit.
  • the assembly comprises a fixed computer C 1 provided with keyboard and monitor and connected in a network, e.g. to laptop computers and to the Internet, in particular to a website of the art exhibition.
  • a network e.g. to laptop computers and to the Internet, in particular to a website of the art exhibition.
  • portable reader devices D available on the market (i.e. an active Work-Tag® portable PCMCIA reader of the s- Card Il and s-Card III type by the company Advanced reader technologies)
  • the UIDi codes of the identification devices can be memorized in a database residing in the memory of the computer Ci coupled with respective identification codes of the works displayed.
  • Also memorized in the database, for each work displayed are one or more multimedia files (i.e. text files in various languages, image files, audio files in various languages) describing the work.
  • a software module C 4 to select said multimedia files and to send them to a portable guide device E, as will be described hereunder; a software module C5 to send all the UIDj codes to said guide device E; a software module C ⁇ suitable - upon returning the guide de- vice E at the end of the visit - to transfer to the computer C 1 the sequence of UIDj codes received during the visit to the exhibition.
  • C 7 and C 8 indicate the material that can be supplied to the visitor after the visit, respectively CDs and printed material containing audio-visual information concerning the tour route followed and the works visited.
  • the guide device E is shown in perspective in Figure 2 and has a compact flat shape with dimensions also similar to those of a memory pen.
  • a removable cap E 1 covers the output connector E 2 of a USB port suitable to be inserted in a USB socket of the computer C 1 for data exchange.
  • an antenna E 3 suit- able to receive the UIDj codes transmitted by the identification devices Bj.
  • an alphanumeric liquid crystal display E 4 On the upper face of the device is an alphanumeric liquid crystal display E 4 on which the title of the work that the visitor with the guide device is currently standing in front of, and optionally help and diagnostic messages for operation, are displayed each time. Moreover, a socket E 5 for an earphone F, controls for switching on and adjusting the volume and a cover E ⁇ for access to a rechargeable battery that supplies power to said guide device are located on the sides.
  • FIG. 3 shows the functional structure of the guide device E, which comprises a control module or circuit 4 with microprocessor con- nected to various peripheral modules or circuits, namely:
  • a radio frequency module 3 suitable to receive through the antenna E 3 the radio signals forming the UIDj codes from the identification devices Bj in front of which the route of the visitor carrying the guide device passes.
  • the control module 4 memorizes these UID codes in a flash memory unit 5A;
  • USB port 7 with relative output connector E 2 , to receive from the C 1 computer - before starting the visit - multimedia files describing the exhibition works in the language chosen by the visitor, files which the control module 4 memorizes in a flash memory unit 5B. Moreover, the same USB port 7 is used to transmit to the computer Ci - at the end of the visit - the list of UID codes relative to the works visited;
  • an audio module 6 suitable to reproduce, through the earphone F in Figure 2 connected to the socket E 5 and a volume control 10, the audio files describing the works visited; - a control module 2 of the display E 3 , to view the titles of the works visited and optionally diagnostic messages for operation;
  • a flash memory unit 5C connected to the control module 4 to memorize the firmware for operation of the guide device E according to the flow chart in Figure 4, as will be described hereunder; - a rechargeable battery 8 to supply power to the circuits of the guide device.
  • the guide device E is compact and light, so that it can be carried in a jacket pocket or around the neck with a specific strap, leaving the hands free.
  • operation of the guide device E is schematized in the flow chart in Figure 4.
  • the device is normally in a condition 101 standing by for a signal from the identification devices B 1 .
  • the signal emitted is picked up by the antenna E 3 and the unique code UIDj of the identification device is "read" by the radio frequency mod- ule 3 (step 102) and compared (steps 103 and 104) through the control module 4 with a table of codes memorized in the flash memory unit 5A containing all the codes combined with the works on display, said codes also being coupled with one or more multimedia files memorized in the flash memory unit 5B.
  • the unique code UID is memorized in a list of the codes visited in the route of the visitor, list which also resides in the flash memory unit 5A and which, at the end of the visit, will be downloaded through the USB port E 2 into the database of the computer Ci for the purposes described above.

Abstract

An identification device is placed in the vicinity of each object on display suitable to emit a sequence of electromagnetic pulses representing a unique code correlated to the object. Each visitor is entrusted with a portable guide device (E) comprising: an earphone (F); a display (E4); a radio antenna (E3) and a receiving circuit suitable to pick up said sequence of pulses; memory means suitable to memorize said unique codes, multimedia files relative to each object on display and firmware for operation of the guide device (E); and a control circuit suitable to trace in said first memory means the multimedia files relative to the last code received and to reproduce them through the earphone (F).

Description

"A GUIDE SYSTEM FOR MUSEUMS, TRADE FAIRS OR EXHIBITIONS IN GENERAL AND A RELATIVE INFORMATION PROCESS"
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a guide system for visitors to exhibitions of objects. Currently this function is implemented by people who accompany visitors - generally assembled in groups - supplying information on the objects on display, or through individual portable guide devices containing prerecorded information on each object on display, i.e. with a historical, artistic or technical content or the like. In general this information is recorded on a magnetic medium - such as a mag- netic tape cassette - in a pre-established order by the organizer of the exhibition, and the visitor can listen to it (optionally omitting information he/she is not interested in) by means of the guide device which, in practice, is little more than a normal magnetic media reader. This system is somewhat costly due to the number of electronic media to prepare and handled, especially if they must be repro- duced in several languages, and obliges the visitor to follow a predetermined itinerary. Moreover, after the visit is over and the guide device has been returned the visitor has nothing but the personal memory of the visit made and at the most can purchase, at considerable cost, the complete exhibition guide to take away.
To overcome these drawbacks, according to the present invention there is provided a guide system for an exhibition of objects suitable to supply visitors with prerecorded information on each of these objects, the system comprising: - in the vicinity of each object, a relative identification device, suitable to emit in a portion of the surrounding space a sequence of electromagnetic pulses representing a unique code correlated to the object; - a series of portable guide devices to be entrusted to visitors, each device comprising: receiving means with a radio antenna and a receiving circuit suitable to pick up the sequence of pulses emitted by the specific identification device in whose portion of transmission space the guide device is located and to identify the code of the object represented by said sequence of pulses; first memoriz- ing means suitable to memorize the information to be communicated for each object on display; second memorizing means suitable to memorize the object codes received by the identification devices; third memorizing means suitable to memorize a firmware for controlling the guide device; and a microprocessor control circuit that utilizes said firmware, suitable to trace in said first memory means the prerecorded information relative to the last object code received and memorized in the second memory means, and to reproduce said information by means of a decoding/amplifying circuit supplying it to the user through an earphone or loudspeaker, the control circuit also being provided with connection means for data exchange with an external database.
In this way each identification device associated with an object transmits over the air an identification code of the object to the guide device entrusted to the visitor, and the guide device identifies this code from a list of memorized codes, consequently accessing a file of instructions combined with the code and supplying the visitor with these instructions through the earphone.
Each time the visitor moves and enters the transmission range of the subsequent identification device, the guide device starts to reproduce the relative information. Moreover, after acquiring said identification code, the guide device re- cords it in a memory suitable to contain the series of codes received during the visit, in the order of the visit, so that at the end thereof said memory will contain information on the route followed.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the identification devices are active ISO 18.000 RFID tags, that is, provided with a battery and suitable to transmit at a useful distance of up to 6 meters, and preferably up to 3 meters. These ISO 18.000 RFID devices can also comprise a memory in which a unique code of an object on display can be entered and transmitted with a pre- established frequency.
The device can comprise an alphanumeric display to supply help and diag- nostic messages and the title of the last object visited, or also a display of the type suitable to visualize color images with a resolution of at least 320x240 pixels, to show the visitor images relative to the object examined.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more of said first, second and third memorizing means comprise flash type integrated memory circuits, i.e. which can be repeatedly "rewritten" and which store the memorized data even without being supplied with power. Moreover, said connection means comprise a USB port and said decoding/amplifying circuit, suitable to supply the earphone or loudspeaker of the guide device, is of the type for reproducing audio files in MP3 format.
With this structure the guide device can be produced in an extremely compact form, due to the compactness of the memory components and of the mass of data to be memorized, to have approximately the dimensions of a fountain pen to be carried in a jacket pocket. In this way the guide device does not occupy the hands of the visitor, to his or her great advantage.
The invention also relates to a guide system as described above and comprising a database residing in a computer. This database is randomly connectable to each guide device to supply prerecorded data thereto, such as the information relative to objects on display and the codes transmitted by the relative identification devices, and to receive from the guide device data relative to the route followed during the visit, in particular the list of the codes of the identification devices received.
In this way, at the end of the visit and when the guide device is returned, the visitor can receive on a printout, or on an electronic medium such as a CD or the like, the entire series of information he or she received from the guide device during the route, optionally enhanced with photographs, films or the like present in the database, and complying with the visit route followed.
The invention also relates to a process suitable to supply information to a visitor of an exhibition of objects distributed in an exhibition space, such as a museum, trade fair or the like, the exhibition being provided with a guide system according to the invention, wherein:
- the organizer of the exhibition prepares the information to supply to visitors for each object on display memorizing it in a database of a computer; - the organizer of the exhibition supplies the visitor with a portable guide device wherein, through connection of the guide device to said database, information on each of the objects on display has been memorized in a language chosen by the visitor;
- the visitor, supplied with said guide device, starts the visit by approaching an object in which he or she is interested, thereby moving the guide device into the range of transmission of the identification device coupled with said object and receiving the identification code relative to said object;
- the guide device of the visitor then memorizes said identification code in said second memory means, reads the description file coupled with the code and memorized in said first memory means, and reproduces said file through the audio interface and optionally the video display of said guide device;
- the previous step is repeated for all the objects on display of interest to the visi- tor, according to a free visit route chosen by said visitor;
- at the end of the visit, the visitor returns, to the organizer of the exhibition, the guide device in which the codes of all the objects examined have been memorized in the order of the visit and, on request, using a computer and other known information means, the organizer downloads from said database the in- formation relative to these objects and prints or copies it onto an electronic medium, such as a CD, a DVD or the like to provide the visitor with the entire route followed during the visit and with the description of the objects examined. The invention will now be better understood by following the description and accompanying drawing, which shows a non-limiting example of the invention. In the drawing:
Figure 1 schematically shows a guide system for an exhibition of works of art according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the guide device of the system in Figure 1; and Figures 3 and 4 respectively show the block diagram and the flow chart of the guide device in Figure 2.
With reference to Figure 1, Ai, A2, A3,... An are respectively paintings, statues or other objects on display in an art exhibition. Placed in the vicinity of each of said works of art is a respective identification device Bi, B2, B3, ...Bn composed of an ISO 18.000 RFID tag available on the market, for example, an active Work- Tag® like a Series i-D2 Tag by the company Advanced Reader Technologies. Each of these identification devices Bj (B1, B2, B3, ...Bn) is provided with its own battery and repeatedly emits in the surrounding space - with a pre-established frequency - a modulated radio signal representing a respective unique and typical UIDj code for each identification device in accordance with specific international standards, the number of which is written under each device B-, in Figure 1.
Figure 1 also represents a computer system, indicated respectively with CP in a preliminary stage and with CT in a final stage of a guided visit. The assembly comprises a fixed computer C1 provided with keyboard and monitor and connected in a network, e.g. to laptop computers and to the Internet, in particular to a website of the art exhibition. By means of specific portable reader devices D available on the market (i.e. an active Work-Tag® portable PCMCIA reader of the s- Card Il and s-Card III type by the company Advanced reader technologies), the UIDi codes of the identification devices can be memorized in a database residing in the memory of the computer Ci coupled with respective identification codes of the works displayed. Also memorized in the database, for each work displayed, are one or more multimedia files (i.e. text files in various languages, image files, audio files in various languages) describing the work.
Also memorized in the memory of the computer C are: a software module C4 to select said multimedia files and to send them to a portable guide device E, as will be described hereunder; a software module C5 to send all the UIDj codes to said guide device E; a software module Cβ suitable - upon returning the guide de- vice E at the end of the visit - to transfer to the computer C1 the sequence of UIDj codes received during the visit to the exhibition. C7 and C8 indicate the material that can be supplied to the visitor after the visit, respectively CDs and printed material containing audio-visual information concerning the tour route followed and the works visited. The guide device E is shown in perspective in Figure 2 and has a compact flat shape with dimensions also similar to those of a memory pen. Looking at Figure 2, at the left end of the device, a removable cap E1 covers the output connector E2 of a USB port suitable to be inserted in a USB socket of the computer C1 for data exchange. Projecting from the right end of the device is an antenna E3 suit- able to receive the UIDj codes transmitted by the identification devices Bj.
On the upper face of the device is an alphanumeric liquid crystal display E4 on which the title of the work that the visitor with the guide device is currently standing in front of, and optionally help and diagnostic messages for operation, are displayed each time. Moreover, a socket E5 for an earphone F, controls for switching on and adjusting the volume and a cover Eβ for access to a rechargeable battery that supplies power to said guide device are located on the sides.
The block diagram in Figure 3 shows the functional structure of the guide device E, which comprises a control module or circuit 4 with microprocessor con- nected to various peripheral modules or circuits, namely:
- a radio frequency module 3 suitable to receive through the antenna E3 the radio signals forming the UIDj codes from the identification devices Bj in front of which the route of the visitor carrying the guide device passes. The control module 4 memorizes these UID codes in a flash memory unit 5A;
- a USB port 7 with relative output connector E2, to receive from the C1 computer - before starting the visit - multimedia files describing the exhibition works in the language chosen by the visitor, files which the control module 4 memorizes in a flash memory unit 5B. Moreover, the same USB port 7 is used to transmit to the computer Ci - at the end of the visit - the list of UID codes relative to the works visited;
- an audio module 6 suitable to reproduce, through the earphone F in Figure 2 connected to the socket E5 and a volume control 10, the audio files describing the works visited; - a control module 2 of the display E3, to view the titles of the works visited and optionally diagnostic messages for operation;
- a flash memory unit 5C connected to the control module 4 to memorize the firmware for operation of the guide device E according to the flow chart in Figure 4, as will be described hereunder; - a rechargeable battery 8 to supply power to the circuits of the guide device.
With this arrangement, the guide device E is compact and light, so that it can be carried in a jacket pocket or around the neck with a specific strap, leaving the hands free.
With reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, operation of the guide device E is schematized in the flow chart in Figure 4. The device is normally in a condition 101 standing by for a signal from the identification devices B1. When the visitor with the guide device E enters the useful transmission range of any one Bj of said identification devices, the signal emitted is picked up by the antenna E3 and the unique code UIDj of the identification device is "read" by the radio frequency mod- ule 3 (step 102) and compared (steps 103 and 104) through the control module 4 with a table of codes memorized in the flash memory unit 5A containing all the codes combined with the works on display, said codes also being coupled with one or more multimedia files memorized in the flash memory unit 5B. Having veri- fied that the signal received corresponds to one of the UID codes memorized, audio-visual reproduction of said one or more multimedia files takes place (steps 106, 107) through the user interface (F and E4 in Figure 2). Finally, the unique code UID is memorized in a list of the codes visited in the route of the visitor, list which also resides in the flash memory unit 5A and which, at the end of the visit, will be downloaded through the USB port E2 into the database of the computer Ci for the purposes described above.
It is understood that the drawing only shows an example provided by way of a practical demonstration of the invention, which can vary in forms and arrange- ments without however departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. Any reference numerals in the appended claims are provided to facilitate reading of the claims with reference to the description and do not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.

Claims

CLAlMS
1. In an exhibition of objects distributed in an exhibition space, such as a museum, a trade fair or the like, a system suitable to supply visitors with information on each of said objects, the system being characterized in that it comprises: - in the vicinity of each object, a relative identification device (Bj), suitable to emit in a portion of the surrounding space a sequence of electromagnetic pulses representing a unique code (UIDj) correlated to the object;
- a series of portable guide devices (E) to be entrusted to visitors, each device comprising: receiving means with a radio antenna (E3) and a receiving circuit (3) suitable to pick up the sequence of pulses emitted by the specific identification device (Bj) in whose portion of transmission space the guide device (E) is located and to identify said code (UIDn) represented by said sequence of pulses; first memorizing means (5B) suitable to memorize the information to be communicated for each object on display; second memorizing means (5A) suitable to memorize the object codes received by the identification devices; third memorizing means (5C) suitable to memorize a firmware for controlling the guide device (E); and a microprocessor control circuit (4) that utilizes said firmware, suitable to trace in said first memory means (5B) the prerecorded information relative to the last object code (UID-,) received and memorized in the second memory means (5A), and to reproduce said information by means of a decoding/amplifying circuit (6) supplying it to the user through an earphone or loudspeaker (F), the control circuit (4) also being provided with connection means (7, E2) for data exchange with an external database.
2. Guide system for exhibitions as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said identification devices (Bj) are active ISO 18.000 RFID tags, that is, provided with a battery and suitable to transmit with a pre-established frequency a unique code (UIDi) at a useful distance of up to 6 meters.
3. Guide system for exhibitions as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that each of said identification devices (Bj) comprises a memory in which a unique code of an object on display can be entered and transmits said object code with a pre-established frequency.
4. A guide device for a system as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said receiving means comprise an antenna (E3) and a circuit (3) to read signals emitted by the identification devices (B1).
5. Guide device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a display (E4) to visualize the title of the work being viewed and optional instruction and/or diagnostic messages.
6. Guide device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said display
(E4) is of the type suitable also to visualize color images with a resolution of at least 320x240 pixels.
7. Device as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that one or more of said first (5B), second (5A) and third (5C) memorizing means comprise flash type integrated memory circuits.
8. Device as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said connection means of the guide device (E) comprise a USB port (7, E2).
9. Device as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said decoding/amplifying circuit (6) suitable to supply the earphone (F) of the guide device (E) is of the type for reproducing audio files in MP3 format.
10. Guide system as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a database residing in a computer (Ci) randomly connectable to each guide device (E) to supply thereto - by means of said connection devices (7, E2) - prerecorded data, such as the information relative to objects on display and the relative codes (UIDi) transmitted by the relative identification devices (Bj) and to receive from the guide device (E) data relative to the route followed during the visit, in particular the list of the codes (UIDj) of the identification devices received.
11. A process suitable to supply information to a visitor of an exhibition of objects distributed in an exhibition space, such as a museum, trade fair or the like, the exhibition being provided with a guide system according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized by the following sequence of operations:
- the organizer of the exhibition prepares the information to supply to visitors for each object on display memorizing it in a database of a computer (Ci); - the organizer of the exhibition supplies the visitor with a portable guide device (E) wherein - through connection of the guide device to said database - information on each of the objects on display has been memorized in a language chosen by the visitor; - the visitor, supplied with said guide device (E), starts the visit by approaching an object in which he or she is interested, thereby moving the guide device (E) into the range of transmission of the identification device (Bj) coupled with said object and receiving the identification code (UIDi) relative to said object; - the guide device of the visitor then memorizes said identification code (UIDj) in said second memory means (5A), reads the multimedia description files coupled with the code and memorized in said first memory means (5B) and reproduces said files through the earphone or loudspeaker (F) and optionally the video display (E4) of said guide device; - the previous step is repeated for all the objects on display of interest to the visitor, according to a free visit route chosen by said visitor;
- at the end of the visit, the visitor returns, to the organizer of the exhibition, the guide device (E) in which the codes (UIDj) corresponding to all the objects examined have been memorized in the order of the visit and, on request, using a computer and other known information means, the organizer downloads from said database the information relative to these objects and prints or copies it onto an electronic medium, such as a CD (C7), a DVD or the like to provide the visitor with the entire route followed during the visit and with the description of the objects examined.
12. A guide system for museums, trade fairs or the like and a relative information process; all as described above and represented by way of example in the accompanying drawing.
PCT/IT2006/000832 2005-12-02 2006-11-30 A guide system for museums, trade fairs or exhibitions in general and a corresponding information process WO2007063571A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITFI2005A000247 2005-12-02
IT000247A ITFI20050247A1 (en) 2005-12-02 2005-12-02 A GUIDING SYSTEM FOR MUSEUMS, FAIRS OR EXHIBITIONS IN GENERAL AND A RELATED INFORMATION PROCEDURE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007063571A2 true WO2007063571A2 (en) 2007-06-07
WO2007063571A3 WO2007063571A3 (en) 2007-07-19

Family

ID=38098616

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT2006/000832 WO2007063571A2 (en) 2005-12-02 2006-11-30 A guide system for museums, trade fairs or exhibitions in general and a corresponding information process

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IT (1) ITFI20050247A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2007063571A2 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009016661A1 (en) * 2007-07-30 2009-02-05 Administration's Center A guide system for museums, trade fairs or exhibits in general and a related information process
US8019819B2 (en) 2008-06-18 2011-09-13 Emergency 24, Inc. Methods and systems for expositions and conventions
CN105453075A (en) * 2013-03-14 2016-03-30 映翰德盖兹有限公司 Wirelessly triggered smart media guides

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000231393A (en) * 1999-02-10 2000-08-22 Nippon Columbia Co Ltd Reproducing device
WO2003012722A1 (en) * 2001-07-17 2003-02-13 Nohr Steven P System and method for content delivery
WO2003044728A1 (en) * 2001-11-15 2003-05-30 Readia, Llc A system and method for authoring and providing information relevant to the physical world

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000231393A (en) * 1999-02-10 2000-08-22 Nippon Columbia Co Ltd Reproducing device
WO2003012722A1 (en) * 2001-07-17 2003-02-13 Nohr Steven P System and method for content delivery
WO2003044728A1 (en) * 2001-11-15 2003-05-30 Readia, Llc A system and method for authoring and providing information relevant to the physical world

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009016661A1 (en) * 2007-07-30 2009-02-05 Administration's Center A guide system for museums, trade fairs or exhibits in general and a related information process
US8019819B2 (en) 2008-06-18 2011-09-13 Emergency 24, Inc. Methods and systems for expositions and conventions
CN105453075A (en) * 2013-03-14 2016-03-30 映翰德盖兹有限公司 Wirelessly triggered smart media guides
EP2972986A4 (en) * 2013-03-14 2016-11-16 In Hand Guides Ltd Wirelessly triggered smart media guides

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITFI20050247A1 (en) 2007-06-03
WO2007063571A3 (en) 2007-07-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4652733A (en) Technique for cataloging pictorial and/or written database information on video tape or disk
US20050173510A1 (en) Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium
US20060020513A1 (en) System and method for providing information
CN109559148A (en) Advertising information provides system
JP2001222433A (en) Information recording medium and information processing system and information processor and program recording medium
KR200171103Y1 (en) Portable terminal suitable for electronic publication system
GB2397149A (en) Associating a subject's identity with a photograph
CA2194577A1 (en) Universal data input card for navigation systems - particularly gps systems - and the gps device capable of reading the card
CA2439272A1 (en) Radio frequency identification reader with removable media
US6477542B1 (en) Device for location-dependent automatic delivery of information with integrated custom print-on-demand
US20130159396A1 (en) System for storing and retrieving data
US20140310380A1 (en) System for storing and retrieving data
WO2007063571A2 (en) A guide system for museums, trade fairs or exhibitions in general and a corresponding information process
CN103208297A (en) Voice information recording device
WO2002019079A1 (en) Information recorded medium, information display, information providing device, and information providing system
KR100788961B1 (en) Ar(augmented reality) book station
KR19990083972A (en) Electronic publication system
JP2001265801A (en) System and method for retrieval, and device and method for input
KR20140033270A (en) Tag series bundle having identification code and digital data storing and restoration system using this and digital data storing and restoration method using this
EP2181408B1 (en) A guide system for museums, trade fairs or exhibits
JPH05128156A (en) Information service system
US7703683B2 (en) Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium
JP2005235166A (en) Guide system
JPH05233893A (en) Information input/output system
WO2003012722A1 (en) System and method for content delivery

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 06832347

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2