Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/011—Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an interactive virtual desk. More specifically, the invention relates to a virtual desk as manager in real-time of transactions and/or information, said manager being presented as an interactive movie, wherein a personage, preferably a smart, polite and with a beautiful appearance, speaks and react to the different situations, having a large range of behaviors and phrases, in function of what has been detected by a keyboard/touch screen, position/motion sensors and other possible environment data detectors, thus guiding the user to carry operations and/or to obtain information.
• a personage preferably a smart, polite and with a beautiful appearance
• said apparatuses can comprise displays and loudspeakers reproducing video and audio messages, mainly for advertising and information purposes.
• said apparatuses provided in public structures such as for example stations, ports, airports, and museums, can comprise displays and loudspeakers, or even hand-held audio reproduction devices, providing communications and information to passengers and visitors, and/or permit projection of movies to entertain passengers or visitors while waiting.
• Object of the present invention is that of providing a solution to the above, permitting having at disposal an interactive technology acting as real-time manager of transactions and/or information.
• Virtual desk suggested according to the present invention can be applied to three different situations:
• - ATM i.e. simple transactions available to the whole public
• - virtual desks inside branches to be used by clients and mainly destined to complex transactions, even in order to reduce the costs of the personnel
• an interactive virtual desk comprising a support structure, processing electronic means or Personal Computer, provided with Hard Disk, graphic card with two outlet and video accelerator with motion compensation, at least two USB, an audio card, a display, user interaction means, a video projector, an audio diffusion system, a card reader, said Personal Computer being provided with a computer program for real-time managing transactions and/or interrogations as an interactive movie.
• said virtual desk provides an electronic unit, connected to a USB serial port, collecting data arriving from a pressure sensor and/or an array of presence sensors.
• said pressure sensor can be provided within padding of a cushion.
• said presence sensor array can be comprised of photo-optical sensors and/or infrared sensors, preferably a horizontal array.
• said support structure provides a horizontal plane, comprised of wood or other suitable material, and a vertical plate comprised of transparent or semi-transparent material.
• said display can be an LCD display, surmounted by a touch sensitive sheet/film (touch screen), emulating mouse functions, and permitting pressure of virtual buttons, that can vary on the basis of the specific case, displayed on the same display by the computer program.
• a touch sensitive sheet/film touch screen
• said video projector is of the traditional type (front retro-projection), or of the anamorphic type, i.e. capable of projecting with an incidence angle of about 90° with respect to the display, and that can be also positioned on the ceiling or laterally.
• said audio diffusion system is a frequency separation system, provided with a low frequency diffuser (subwoofer), placed is such a way to touch the support structure, so as to exploit sound wave transmission though solid bodies and thus producing a perceived effect increasing realistic appearance of projected figures, and a pair of high frequency diffusers (tweeters), position toward the user.
• an electronic station connected to the serial port/USB, collecting data from said pressure sensor and/or array of presence sensors positioned in front of the user.
• said virtual desk can provide documents exchange cassette, and/or one or more possible printers, possibly with a paper product roll guided ejection mechanism, and/or a web-cam provided with a microphone.
• said processing electronic means can provide a computer program comprising movie parts animating the interaction and conceived and pre-recorded on the basis of a precedent analysis of the functional requirements, and integrated by logic/combinatory type rationale, and by relational psychological and customer care principles, said movie parts, once prepared being stored in a digital form on disk of said processing electronic means of the virtual desk, computer program "engine”, combining all inputs each other, and being able to display in every moment the suitable part, without solution of continuity, so as to realize very natural and realistic type, rhythm and dialog, which are various and never repetitive, with time and behavior type self-adapting to the user, to his/her reaction time, to maneuvering speed, including its possible hindrances, hesitations, uncertainties and change of ideas.
• movie parts succeeding without solution of continuity in function of the specific transactions and user choices, are selected in real-time by the computer program, taking them form a database containing all the possible version and variants of phrases, attitudes, explanations and communications suitable to carry out from the beginning to the end the desired transactions.
• computer program is further connected with one or more databases that are part of the Informative System of the delivering structure (bank, ecc.) that can provide information about the user identity, historical information of his/her relationships with the structure, account, deposits, bonds, ecc.
• Position said data, besides being informatively shown to the user, can also be used to automatically differentiate time, way, kind and contents of the transaction and/or to suggest others beyond the one required by the same user.
• computer program can eventually be connected with computerized stations of one or more real operators of the structure, so as to be able to indicate to the same a possible assistance or interlocution request by the user, or by a simple light, or signaling display, or acoustic warning device, switching on the operator station following the same request, or a transmission by beeper, in case of physical distance or impossibility to the motion by the human interlocutor, being eventually also provided a bidirectional audio/video transmission system between the virtual desk and the operator station.
• computer program algorithm is based on a so-called "state machine", handling the transaction logic flow, and a movie multimedia reproduction engine, comprising all couplings suitable to give high realism, such as pre-loading based on following movie parts forecast, alpha-blending and cross fade method among succeeding parts, randomization of variants of the same phrases, ecc.
• state machine handling the transaction logic flow
• movie multimedia reproduction engine comprising all couplings suitable to give high realism, such as pre-loading based on following movie parts forecast, alpha-blending and cross fade method among succeeding parts, randomization of variants of the same phrases, ecc.
• Virtual desk in the embodiment shown in figure 1 , provides seat 1 , having a cushion with pressure sensor, a linear array 2 of presence sensors, a card reader 3, a touch screen 4, a personal computer 5 or PC, a low frequency audio diffuser 6, a semitransparent display 7 (comprised of glass/Plexiglas) and an upper video projector.
• System is a typical desk of a bank point, with a wood (or other architectonically suitable materials) and a vertical glass/Plexiglas 7, similar to those usually separating the user from the bank operator.
• PC 5 is controlled by a Personal Computer 5, provided with a suitable Hard Disk, a graphic card with two outlets and video accelerator with motion compensation, at least two USB, and an audio card.
• PC 5 is housed within the mobile, so as to be not visible and reachable by the user.
• peripheral units are connected to the PC, such as LCD display 7, surmounted by a touch sensitive sheet/film (touch screen), emulating mouse functions, and permitting pressure of virtual buttons, that can vary on the basis of the specific case, displayed on the same display by the computer program, a video projector 8, that can be of the traditional type (front retro-projection), or of the anamorphic type, i.e.
• a frequency separation system audio diffusion system 6 provided with a low frequency diffuser (subwoofer), placed is such a way to touch the support structure, (so as to exploit sound wave transmission though solid bodies and thus producing a perceived effect increasing realistic appearance of projected figures), and a pair of high frequency diffusers (tweeters), position toward the user, an electronic station, connected to the serial port/USB, collecting data from a pressure sensor (placed within the padding of a cushion placed on the seating point) and a horizontal array of presence sensors (photo-optical and/or infrared sensors) positioned in front of the user, a card reader 3 (reading magnetic and/or microchip cards), also reading Bancomat cards, credit cards and/or other badges, one or more interchange documents cassette, one or more possible printers, possibly with a paper product roll guided ejection mechanism, and/or a web-cam provided with a microphone.
• a frequency separation system audio diffusion system 6 provided with a low frequency diffuser (subwoofer), placed is such a way to touch the support structure
• Movie parts animating the interaction and conceived and prerecorded on the basis of a precedent analysis of the functional requirements, and integrated by logic/combinatory type rational which are part of the specific know-how of the solution according to the invention, besides relational psychological and customer care principles.
• said movies are stored in a digital form on hard disk of said PC of each station.
• Computer program "engine” combining all inputs each other, and being able to display in every moment the suitable part, without solution of continuity, realizes very natural and realistic type, rhythm and dialog, which are various and never repetitive, with time and behavior type self-adapting to the user, to his/her reaction time, to maneuvering speed, including its possible hindrances, hesitations, uncertainties and change of ideas.
• Computer program operates piloting a series of movies showing a virtual person (represented by a real personage the video and voice of which has been recorder before), appearing on glass/Plexiglas display, and at the same time suggesting choices and options on the same touch screen and data input connected to the desk operativity.
• Movie parts succeeding without solution of continuity in function of the specific transactions and user choices, are selected in realtime by the computer program, taking them form a database containing all the possible version and variants of phrases, attitudes, explanations and communications suitable to carry out from the beginning to the end the desired transactions.
• Virtual personage was shot by cameras provided with a suitable optical system, permitting obtaining a suitable realism and reproducing optical deformation due to close distance with operator, which is usually unconsciously perceived by the user, automatically getting realistic sensation of the same proximity.
• Computer program is further connected with one or more databases that are part of the Informative System of the bank, that can provide information about the user identity, historical information of his/her relationships with the structure, account, deposits, bonds, ecc. Position, these data, beside being informatively shown to the user, can also be used to automatically differentiate time, way, kind and contents of the transaction and/or to suggest others beyond the one required by the same user; other possible connection is the one with ATM circuit, in case it is permitted the access by users not Client of the bank, or carrying out Bancomat typical functions.
• Computer program can be further connected with computerized stations of one or more real operators of the structure, so as to be able to indicate to the same a possible assistance or interlocution request by the user, or by a simple light, or signaling display, or acoustic warning device, switching on the operator station following the same request, or a transmission by beeper, in case of physical distance or impossibility to the motion by the human interlocutor, being eventually also provided a bidirectional audio/video transmission system between the virtual desk and the operator station. In case a physical distance exist or the human interlocutor cannot move, it could be provided a bi-directional audio-video transmission system between virtual desk and operator station that would provide installation of webcam and microphones in both these positions.
• ATM application is the one requiring the lowest number of specific hardware parts, since it is within and is piloted by PC already destined to the specific use and does not require further sensors; its realisation passes through the study and programming of a suitable data interface with customer computer programs, in order to exchange all the necessary information to the transaction logic.
• Virtual desk and informative totem can instead be conceived as corners with a high realistic effect, with virtual personages anamorphically projected at natural dimension on suitable photo-absorbent glass/Plexiglas walls, presence and motion sensors reducing at most manual operations, possible specific elements (printers, document exchange boxes, card readers and more).
• Realization of these stations passes through a study of requirements, least but not last logistic constraints already existing in architectural structures, with a precise estimate of hardware and preparation costs for each station that can be modulated along with customer in function of specific gradual steps for implementation on territory.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Inorganic Insulating Materials (AREA)
• Non-Silver Salt Photosensitive Materials And Non-Silver Salt Photography (AREA)
• Liquid Crystal (AREA)
• User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Citations (4)

• 2008
  • 2008-03-17 IT ITRM20080144 patent/ITRM20080144A1/it unknown
• 2009
  • 2009-03-16 WO PCT/IT2009/000102 patent/WO2009116112A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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