WO2016135238A1

WO2016135238A1 - Terminal for interaction with users and system comprising such a terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2016135238A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/053970
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sébastien LEROUGE; Olivier VANHOUCKE; Cédric DESRIER
Original assignee: Evalandgo; Sectronic
Priority date: 2015-02-27
Filing date: 2016-02-25
Publication date: 2016-09-01
Also published as: EP3262592A1; FR3033202B1; FR3033202A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wireless terminal (100) for interaction with users, which is designed to be located in a place accommodating the public or persons, in particular for the measurement of a user satisfaction data item, said terminal (100) comprising a support (102) in/on which are arranged: - at least one electronic display screen (112), - at least one battery for powering said terminal (100), - at least two buttons (114₁-114₄) for selection making it possible to select a choice from among at least two proposals in connection with a message displayed on said electronic screen (112); characterized in that said at least one display screen (112) carries out a display according to the technology of electronic paper. It also relates to a system for interaction with users implementing at least one such terminal (100).

Description

"Interaction terminal with users and system comprising such a terminal"

Technical area

The present invention relates to a terminal of interaction with users, particularly in places where the public or people. It also relates to a user interaction system implementing such a terminal. The field of the invention is more particularly, but in a nonlimiting manner, that of the terminals of interaction with people, especially in places where the public or persons with a view for example to measure a data relating to a satisfaction rate .

State of the art

There are currently different types of terminals for interacting with users, especially in public places, for example to measure a rate of satisfaction of users of a service.

For example, wire terminals are known which require a connection to a power source. These terminals are provided with screens, which can be tactile, and are very functional, on the one hand during the interaction with the users and on the other hand, during their configuration, which can for example be performed remotely. It is thus possible to add, delete, modify the displayed messages, and to know in real time the measured data. The major disadvantage of this first category of terminals is that they consume energy and therefore require a wired connection to a power source: which makes them inflexible when positioned in space.

To address the problem of positioning flexibility, the players in this field have replaced the wired electrical connection with a battery. These terminals, said autonomous or wireless, although very flexible for their positioning in space, have the disadvantage of requiring frequent electrical recharging, which is not very ergonomic. In an attempt to overcome the need for frequent reloading, new terminals no longer having a display screen have been developed. In these terminals, the messages to the users are displayed on a paper support disposed on the terminal. However, these standalone terminals without screen have the disadvantage of being not very functional, firstly when interacting with the users because it is possible to display only one message at a time, and of other hand when configuring them because the displayed message can not be configured remotely. An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless terminal for interaction with users who consume less energy, while being more functional than the wireless terminals currently known during interaction with users.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a wireless terminal for interaction with users who consume less energy, while being more functional than the wireless terminals currently known during their configuration.

Finally another object of the present invention is to provide an interaction terminal which is both functional, flexible in space, and less energy consuming.

Presentation of the invention

At least one of these objectives is achieved by a wireless terminal for interaction with users, intended to be arranged in a place that is welcoming to the public or people, in particular for measuring user satisfaction data, said terminal comprising a support in / on which are arranged:

at least one electronic display screen,

at least one battery for powering said terminal,

at least two selection buttons making it possible to select a choice from at least two proposals relating to a message displayed on said electronic screen; characterized in that said at least one display screen provides a display according to the electronic paper technology.

Thus, the invention proposes a terminal for interaction with users, intended to be arranged on a support in a place that welcomes the public or people, including an electronic display screen based on the technology of electronic paper, or e- paper in English. Such a display screen consumes very little electricity. Indeed, in an electronic paper display screen, the only electricity consumption occurs when changing the information displayed. When information is displayed then the electricity consumption to maintain the same display is zero or almost zero. In addition, an electronic display screen provides the ability to configure the displayed message (s) remotely and to monitor the displayed message (s). Finally, a display screen provides the possibility of performing a dynamic display for displaying a plurality of messages. Therefore, the terminal according to the invention consumes very little energy compared to current wireless terminals, while offering a great autonomy, great flexibility of positioning in space and greater flexibility of operation. According to a first embodiment, the display screen can produce a monochrome display.

According to a second embodiment, the display screen may comprise at least one colored optical filter, for example superimposed on a monochrome display surface, and can thus produce a polychrome display.

According to a third embodiment, the display screen can produce a color display according to the electronic paper technology, for example by the use of colored beads or beads of different pigments and which can be individually polarized.

According to a first exemplary embodiment, the display screen may be an electrophoretic display screen. Alternatively, the display screen may be a display screen or bistable LCD.

Of course, the display screen can be a rigid display screen. Alternatively, the display screen may advantageously be a flexible display screen.

According to a particular embodiment of the terminal according to the invention the screen, and possibly the control button (s) and / or the battery, can be arranged in a sealed housing.

Such a characteristic allows greater flexibility in the spatial positioning of the interaction terminal. Thus, it is possible to have the interaction terminal indoors in a humid environment but also outdoors.

Advantageously, the interaction terminal according to the invention may further comprise means of wireless connection to a communication network for transmitting and / or receiving data.

Such a connection means may be a WiFi ™, BLUETOOTH® solution or a connection solution to a mobile telephone network, and more generally a radiofrequency solution for transmitting and / or receiving data by radiofrequency waves.

In addition, the interaction terminal according to the invention may further comprise at least one data storage means representing at least one message, in particular a plurality of messages to be displayed.

Thus, it is possible to configure the terminal with one or a set of messages to display with at least, in particular each message one or more choices offered to the user.

In addition, the interaction terminal according to the invention may further comprise at least one data storage means representing the choice or choices made by at least one user in response to at least one message, and possibly a time data item associated with this choice. Thus, it is possible to store within the terminal the data representing the results of the interaction between the terminal and the users and to transmit this data in a grouped manner, without having to transmit them in real time.

In addition, the terminal according to the invention may comprise at least one processor configured to select a message to be displayed according to at least one choice made by a user among at least two proposals related to at least one previous message.

Thus, it is possible to achieve a display and a personalized interaction for each user and according to the choices of each user for at least one, in particular each, message displayed on the display screen.

The configuration of the processor can be performed according to at least one predefined rule taking into account at least one choice made by the user in response to at least one message. Such a rule can be in the form of a mathematical rule or in the form of a table. According to the invention at least one selection button may be a push button type mechanical button.

Alternatively, at least one selection button may be a touch or sensitive button of the capacitive, inductive, photoelectric type, etc. The terminal according to the invention may further comprise a short-range wireless communication module with an apparatus in the vicinity of said terminal.

Such a short-range communication module may be an NFC module or an RFID module.

Such a module can be used / proposed so that users can interact with the interaction terminal.

Alternatively or additionally, such a module may be used / proposed for one or more local operators to configure the interaction terminal. The at least one battery can advantageously be rechargeable. In this case, the terminal according to the invention may comprise an electric charging interface of said battery. According to an advantageous characteristic, the terminal according to the invention may comprise a means of electrical generation from solar or wind energy.

This feature is even more advantageous when the terminal according to the invention is proposed for outdoor use or in an environment with good sunlight.

The support may be a support placed on a surface, for example on the ground, a support fixed to a wall or on a surface or on an existing device / device such as a display stand.

Of course, the terminal according to the invention may comprise at least one fastening means, by screwing, gluing, clipping, etc. to fix the display screen on said support.

The terminal according to the invention can be used in any place welcoming people, such as railway stations, airports, public or private buildings, but also in trams, trains, buses, gyms, swimming pools, public or private.

According to another aspect of the same invention, there is provided a system for interacting with users, in particular for measuring user satisfaction data, comprising:

at least one interaction terminal according to the invention; and

at least one server connected to said at least one terminal via a communication network.

In particular, such a server may be located at a site remote from the site on which the interaction terminal is located.

Such a server is in particular connected to several interaction terminals through the same connection network or different connection networks. Such a server can be used to configure each interaction terminal:

- add, delete, modify a sequence of messages to display and / or a response option associated with a displayed message;

- put a standby on standby,

- etc.

Such a server may additionally or alternatively be used to retrieve and process the data representing the result of the interaction with one or more users, such as the data representing the choices made by one or more users in response to such and such displayed message on the terminal.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the system according to the invention may further comprise a user interface allowing a remote connection to said server, via an Internet type communication network, for example to configure at least one terminal interaction or at least one message to be displayed on at least one interaction terminal.

Such an interface can also display the data relating to an operating parameter of at least one, in particular of each terminal, such as for example:

- the on / standby / off status of a terminal,

- all or some of the messages being displayed,

an interaction rate with the terminal,

- etc.

Description of the Figures and Embodiments

Other advantages and characteristics will appear on examining the detailed description of non-limitative examples, and the appended drawings in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are diagrammatic representations of a nonlimiting example of a terminal according to the invention; FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic representations of a nonlimiting example of an interaction module implemented in the terminal of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting example of the electrical / electronic components of the terminal of FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a nonlimiting exemplary example of a system according to the invention. It is understood that the embodiments that will be described in the following are in no way limiting. It will be possible, in particular, to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the state of the art. This selection comprises at least one feature preferably functional without structural detail, or with only a part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other if nothing stands in the way of this combination at the technical level.

In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

FIGURES 1 and 2 are schematic representations of a non-limiting example of a terminal according to the invention.

Terminal 100 is shown in a front view in FIGURE 1 and in a rear view in FIGURE 2.

Terminal 100 comprises a support 102 on which an interaction module 104 is arranged.

The support 102 consists of a foot 106 provided to be disposed on a reception surface and a pole 108 fixed to the foot 106 at its lower end and the module 104 at its upper end. The interaction module 104 comprises a shell 110, for example sealed, in / on which are arranged a screen 112 of electrophoretic display and four selection buttons 114i-114 ₄ allowing a user to make a choice among several proposals, by examples shown on the display screen 112. Each selection button 114 is a push button and is identified via an identifier that can be:

a color, for example red, green, etc.

- a number,

- a letter,

- a sign, for example "+" or "-", etc. / or

- an emoticon, for example a smiling face representing a "satisfied" choice or a "sad" face representing an "unsatisfied" choice, etc.

The interaction module 104 is fixed to the post 108 by means of four fastening screws (not shown).

The shell 110 may be made of plastic material, flexible or not, or metal or any other suitable material and the support 102 may be made of hard plastic or metal.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are diagrammatic representations of a nonlimiting example of an interaction module implemented in the FIG. 1 and 2 terminal.

Interaction module 104 is shown in a front view in FIGURE 3 and in a rear view in FIGURE 4.

The interaction module 104 is shown in FIG. 3 without the front face of the shell 104 and reveals the display screen 112 arranged in a support 302 made of silicone

The interaction module 104 comprises a battery 304 for powering the various elements of the terminal.

Positioned below the push buttons 114, the interaction module

104 comprises an electronic card 306 notably comprising radio wave communication antennas (not visible in FIG. 3). On the rear face visible in FIG. 4, the interaction module 104 comprises four fastening openings 402i-402 ₄ on the support 102 provided to receive fastening screws (not shown). In addition, a hatch 404 provides access to the battery 304 for changing and / or charging.

FIGURE 5 is a non-limiting schematic representation of the electrical / electronic components of the terminal of FIGURES 1 and 2.

In the example shown in FIGURES 1-4, all the components are arranged in the interaction module 104. Of course, some of these components may not be arranged in an interaction module and arranged for example on in the support 102.

Thus, the terminal 100 further comprises the elements described above:

a modem 502 for 2G / 3G or 4G communication, associated with a SIM card reader 504;

a geolocation module 506 of the GPS type;

a communication module 508 according to the WIFI ™ protocol;

a communication module 510 in the ISM band (for "industrial, scientific and medical");

- a Bluetooth® Low Energy 512 module;

a communication module 514 according to Near Field Communication (NFC) technology;

an electronic clock 516;

storage means 518 and 520 such as a flash memory, SRAM, SD card, etc. ;

a charger 522 for recharging the battery 304 from the mains or from an electrical generating module (not shown);

All these components, and more generally the general operation of the terminal 100, is managed by a microcontroller 524.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting example of a system according to the invention. The system 600 shown in FIGURE 6 includes a plurality of interaction terminals 100 disposed at the same site or different sites.

Each of these terminals 100 is connected to a remote server through a communication network 604, of the Internet type, via a 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, WiFi ™, ISM, etc. connection.

The server 602 and / or each terminal 100 is accessible through a dedicated human / machine interface 606. It is thus possible to configure each terminal independently or in groups.

In addition, the human machine interface makes it possible to consult operational data relating to each terminal, but also data representing the results of the interactions with the users, such as, for example, the choices made by the users by pressing the selection buttons. 114 in response to messages displayed on the display screen 112.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

A wireless interaction terminal (100) with users intended to be arranged in a public or persons-friendly location, in particular for measuring user satisfaction data, said terminal (100) comprising a support (102) in / on which are arranged:

at least one electronic display screen (112),

at least one battery (304) for supplying said terminal (100),

- at least two selection buttons (114i-114 ₄ ) for selecting a choice among at least two proposals relating to a message displayed on said electronic screen (112); characterized in that said at least one display screen (112) provides a display according to the electronic paper technology.

2. Terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the display screen (112) performs a monochrome display.

3. Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display screen (112) is an electrophoretic display screen or bistable liquid crystal.

4. Terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the display screen (112) comprises at least one colored optical filter and carries a polychrome display.

5. Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display screen is flexible.

6. Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display screen (112), and optionally the selection buttons (114i-114 ₄ ) and / or the battery, is / are arranged in a sealed housing.

The terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means (502, 504, 508-512) for wireless connection to a communication network (604) for transmitting and / or receive data.

8. Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one storage means (518,520) of data representing at least one message, in particular a plurality of messages to be displayed.

9. Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a processor (524) configured to select a message to be displayed according to a choice made by a user from at least two proposals related to a previous message.

10. Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one selection button is a push button

11. Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a module (514) short-range wireless communication, NFC or RFID type.

Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one battery (304) is rechargeable, said terminal further comprising an interface (522) for electrically charging said battery (304) .

13. Terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a means of electrical generation from solar or wind energy.

A system (600) for interacting with users, particularly for measuring user satisfaction data, comprising: at least one terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, and

at least one server (602) connected to said at least one terminal (100) via a communication network (604).

15. System (600) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an interface (606) for remote connection to said server (602), via an Internet-type communication network (604), for configuring at least one terminal (100) or at least one message to be displayed on at least one terminal (100).