WO2007129344A1 - System for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network - Google Patents

System for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007129344A1
WO2007129344A1 PCT/IT2006/000347 IT2006000347W WO2007129344A1 WO 2007129344 A1 WO2007129344 A1 WO 2007129344A1 IT 2006000347 W IT2006000347 W IT 2006000347W WO 2007129344 A1 WO2007129344 A1 WO 2007129344A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
displaying
local
data base
managing
subsystems
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2006/000347
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Maurizio Monzio Compagnoni
Original Assignee
Maurizio Monzio Compagnoni
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 Maurizio Monzio Compagnoni filed Critical Maurizio Monzio Compagnoni
Priority to EP06766289A priority Critical patent/EP2027722A1/en
Priority to PCT/IT2006/000347 priority patent/WO2007129344A1/en
Publication of WO2007129344A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007129344A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/21—Server components or server architectures
    • H04N21/222—Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end
    • H04N21/2223—Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2543—Billing, e.g. for subscription services
    • H04N21/2547—Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/266—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/414—Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
    • H04N21/41415—Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/47815—Electronic shopping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6125—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network, particularly comprising networks of monitors dedicated to display information, which can be placed in public and private structures with a high number of users .
  • receptive structures such as, for example, airports, railway and underground stations, post offices, medical and hospital centres, hypermarkets, discos, bars and meeting places in general, exhibitions and events, in which the access to the respectively supplied service or performance provides, by a user, typically for a long waiting time, which can be estimated as an average between 10 and 30 minutes.
  • the known prior art further do not propose integrated systems which allow, in addition obviously to the transmission of information to monitors, preparing and on-line selling advertising spaces directly on Internet, such advertising spaces being then able to be automatically inserted in palimpsests transmitted by the system on various monitors.
  • object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising managing means which allow automatically organising, delivering and controlling information displayed on monitors, in an easier and more efficient way than what is proposed by the prior art.
  • an object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network which allow automatically delivering and exploiting value services for video surveillance, VoIP telephony, Internet connectivity, in an easier and more efficient way than what is proposed by the prior art.
  • Another object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising at least one multimedia, multifunction and modular totem.
  • ⁇ further object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network which comprises automatic accounting means of displayed advertising information and delivered value services.
  • a further object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising e-commerce managing means which allow on-line selling, organising and delivering information and advertising spaces.
  • Another object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time distributing multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising monitoring means which allow performing a periodic and real-time check of the operating status of the system.
  • FIG. 1 shows a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2a, 2b, and 2c show some preferred variations of the system according to the present invention in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a multimedia, multifunction and modular totem of the system according to the present invention
  • FIG. 4 shows a block diagram representing the managing means of the system according to the present invention
  • FIG. 5 shows a block diagram representing the automatic accounting means of advertising information of the system according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 shows a block diagram representing the e-commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces of the system according to the present invention.
  • the system 1 for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network is a client/server system, comprising: at least one displaying subsystem 3a, comprising displaying means, such as, for example, at least one monitor or at least one video-projector, and a local processor for managing the displaying means themselves, such displaying means being adapted to be placed in a receptive seat 3, such as for example an airport, a railway or underground station, a post office, a medical or hospital centre, an hypermarket, a disco, a bar or another meeting place in general, such displaying subsystem 3a •being connected through a local telematic network 3b to at least one local server 3c for allowing to display such multimedia contents and to deliver such value services; at least one central seat 5 comprising at least one central server 5a for controlling and managing the local servers 3c and the multimedia contents to be transmitted and the delivered value services; and at least one global telematic transmission network 7, adapted
  • system 1 according to the present invention can advantageously be .of the "open” type, namely able to use standard technologies, such as, for example:
  • WWW World Wide Web
  • TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol
  • HTTP ⁇ Hypertext Transfer Protocol
  • FTP File Transfer Protocol
  • H.323 (VoIP standard for sending voice by using the IP protocol on Internet/Intranet network) protocol
  • WiFi Wireless Fidelity
  • ADSL/HDSL/XDSL/ISDN technologies for interconnecting system 1 components in a uniform way and on a world scale.
  • the system 1 structure therefore allows being able to allocate with maximum flexibility both central servers 5a and local servers 3c: it is therefore possible to create networks and sub-networks of local servers 3c, which can be controlled and managed by one or more central servers 5a.
  • the multimedia contents can obviously comprise traditional audio-visual entertainment forms or miscellaneous information, such as information dealing with services provided by the receptive seat 3, various kinds of real-time information about subjects like meteo, finance, sport, information news, advertising information which are generic or aimed to specific customer targets.
  • the delivered value services can instead comprise, for example, video- surveillance, Internet connectivity and VoIP services.
  • one or more local servers 3c can be placed, which are dedicated to managing one or more displaying subsystems 3a, and all local servers 3c are interconnected through the global telematic network 7 to the central server 5a.
  • the local server 3c manages the contents to be displayed on the displaying subsystems 3a and installed value services. On the local server 3c, software applications are installed which release the customised palimpsests of each of the displaying means connected to the local server 3c.
  • the Hot-Spot 3d is a device which interconnects the local telematic network 3b to the global telematic network 7.
  • Task of the Hot-Spot device 3d is sharing local and global network connections to each displaying subsystem 3a or another device being present inside every receptive seat.
  • the displaying subsystem 3a is aimed to display information, and is composed of displaying means comprising, for example, at least one monitor or at least one video- prjoector, and a local processor for managing the displaying means themselves.
  • displaying subsystem 3a it is possible to use a single local processor for displaying the same pieces of information on many monitors or video-projectors: in this case, all displaying means are connected to the same local processor by interposing an output multiplying apparatus.
  • the monitors which can be used in the system 1 can be of any type and with various video resolutions: traditional, plasma, LCD screens, etc; the system 1 in fact, once having identified the type of installed monitor and its video resolution, automatically adapts the information to be displayed.
  • the displaying subsystems 3a can transmit information in real time and independently one from the other. With a particular configuration, the displaying subsystem 3a can also operate in "stand-alone" mode, completely disconnected therefore from the local telematic network 3b.
  • the local 3b or global 7 telematic network is the set of all hardware and software technologies used for transmitting information from the central server 5a to the local servers 3c and to the displaying subsystems 3a.
  • the global network 7 in addition to interconnecting the central seat 5a with the various receptive seats 3, allows every single displaying subsystem 3a to access information outside the local networks 3b.
  • the local network 3b can interconnect every single displaying subsystem 3a to the local server 3c by using various technologies.
  • the local network 3b of the system 1 can provide for example for the use and integration of the following connection technologies to the displaying subsystem 3a, and the related configurations: carried wave technology (FIG. 2a), which uses the electric network 20 to transmit and receive signals; standard Lan Ethernet cable networks (FIG. 2b) with related routers 21 and switches 22;
  • protocols used in the global 7 and local 3b networks can be:
  • WWW World Wide Web
  • TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol
  • HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
  • FTP File Transfer Protocol
  • WiFi 802.11b 802. Hg Wi-Fi 802.11b 802. Hg (WAP, WEP WEP2) ;
  • the local server 3c can be connected, possibly by interposing the global telematic network 3b, to at least one IP video-camera 3f.
  • the video-camera 3f is installed in the receptive seat 3 and the system 1 allows displaying captured images, both from the PCs placed inside the receptive seat and from PCs outside the structure, provided that they are equipped with a connection to the telematic network.
  • an image controlling and recording system can be provided, accessible only through authentication credentials (for example by entering "user name” and "password” by an authorised used) .
  • Hot-Spot device 3d it is possible to provide Internet connectivity services inside the receptive seat 3; it is therefore possible to make an Internet connection available to any authorised user PC 3g, for example through WiFi network cards. Obviously, the service access is managed and protected through a suitable software.
  • a gateway CPE device integrated into the system 1 in fact allows delivering VoIP telephone services inside the receptive seat 3.
  • the users by connecting through a telephone pair or technology cordless their telephone apparata 3h to the system, can perform telephone calls.
  • a particular system 1 configuration can be provided, in which the local server 3c and the displaying subsystem 3a are wired to a single local unit.
  • the local unit can be realised as a multimedia multifunctional totem 30 which performs the double function of local server and control of the monitor or the video-projector 33a installed therein.
  • the totem 30 is composed of two modules which are able to be disassembled and assembled, a basic module 31 and an operating module 33, which facilitate its handling and installation.
  • the hardware and software components of the totem 30 thereby realise an integrated local unit with local server and displaying subsystem compatible with the system 1, in which it can be installed individually or as part of a network of traditional displaying subsystems 3a.
  • the totem 30 obviously comprises all previously described functionalities with reference to local server 3a and displaying subsystem 3a.
  • the totem 30 is also of the multifunction type since the previously described services of video surveillance, VoIP telephony and Internet connectivity can be wired therein.
  • the local processor for managing the displaying subsystem of the system 1 can obviously be a common PC.
  • the local managing processor can be realised as at least one integrated hardware card able to guarantee the continuous system use.
  • This card can be advantageously realised as a particular assembly of standard components (CPU, HD, etc.) and be made uniform for all types of displaying subsystems of the system 1: in practice, the hardware card integrated and installed in the totem can be identical to the one installed in standard displaying subsystems.
  • the displaying means such as a monitor or a video-projector and the related integrated hardware card, can be integrated in a single local unit through a supporting structure, preferably made of metal, in order to facilitate its handling, installation and maintenance.
  • every displaying subsystem wired as local unit of the system 1 according to the present invention can indifferently have one of the following configurations: multifunction multimedia totems with integrated hardware control card; supporting structure with monitor and integrated hardware control card; supporting structutre with video-projector and integrated hardware control card.
  • the system 1 further comprises managing means for delivering contents and supplying services composed, on the client side, of client managing means adapted to manage the displaying subsystems 3a and/or at least one multifunction totem 30 and, on the server side, of server managing means adapted to manage the whole system 1 and the delivered services.
  • the client managing means are installed on all displaying subsystems 3a and/or on all multifunction totems 30 and allow managing all activities which are strictly related to the displaying means operation.
  • the client managing means survey the following functions of the displaying subsystems 3a: displaying the palimpsest on the displaying means; turning the client on and off at certain times; automatically starting/restarting the client from the outside; client remote controlling; automatically restarting the client also in case of absence of current.
  • the client managing means installed on the local server can comprise integrating means to local services, adapted to integrate the system 1 according to the present invention with the information system existing in the receptive seat 3, in order to be able to share commonly interesting data and applications, providing customised services for internal and external users of the receptive seat.
  • integrating means to local services it is possible to realise specific utilities, such as, for example: extranet web side, which can be used by the receptive seat to organise, deliver and share internal pieces of information; interfacing with airport systems, where information about flight arrivals and departures have been integrated with advertising information.
  • the displaying means display information about flights and at regular intervals display advertising spots; in hospital structures, through Rfid technology, it is possible to track the patient inside the structure itself.
  • the patient, equipped with a bracelet with Rfid label, moves inside the structure and is identified in check points arranged next to every displaying subsystem which transmit detected information to the local server.
  • the server managing means are adapted to be implemented by the managing software residing on the central server 5a and allow defining and logically managing: local servers 3c allocated in the receptive seats 3; displaying subsystems 3a and totems 30 connected to the local servers 3c; palimpsests to be displayed on the displaying subsystems 3a and totems 30; services installed on the local servers 3c: video surveillance, Internet connectivity, VoIP telephony.
  • the managing means further comprise: managing means for receptive seats and displaying subsystems ; palimpsest managing means; palimpsest publication means; automatic accounting means of information and advertising spaces contained in the palimpsest; e-commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces ; monitoring means; remote controlling means; client protecting means; all above means being obviously controlled and managed by suitable software applications whose realisation is well within the capabilities of any average, technician in the art; it is also clear that the above means, in order to perform the functions for which they are devised ' and which will be afterwards examined in more detail, can be realised through the most different hardware configurations which the technology makes available.
  • the operation of the managing means is based on information contained in a set of common electronic data bases, stored on the most suitable known storage means, in which all necessary data for managing and operating the system 1 according to the present invention have been organised.
  • set of data bases comprises: at least one local servers data base 41 containing data dealing with the description of every local server 3c (or receptive seat 3) with all descriptive and technical information for identifying in the network and accessing every single local server 3c and the connection to the displaying subsystems 3a; at least one displaying means data base 42 containing data dealing with the description of every displaying subsystem 3a which comprises physical location, description, advertising spaces available depending on the currently published palimpsest.
  • the displaying means For every one of the displaying means, it is further possible to store variables identifying the target of the displaying subsystem 3a (medium number and user trends) , in order to be able to manage aimed advertising campaigns and making the price list different depending on targets and on variables which idenfity the system 1 status depending on monitoring means; at least one palimpsests data base 43 containing data dealing with the description of the palimpsest displayed on the displaying subsystem 3a; at least one spot publications data base 44 containing data dealing with all advertising spots published by customers on various palimpsests, operatively connected to the customers data • base 46 described below, to the palimpsests data base 43 and to the displaying subsystems data base 42; at least one spots reservations data base 45 containing data dealing with reservations for advertising spots not yet published but to be published afterwards.
  • at least one palimpsests data base 43 containing data dealing with the description of the palimpsest displayed on the displaying subsystem 3a
  • the reservations data base 45 and the spots data base 44 are used for planning and making available the level of filling of palimpsests in time; at least one customers data base 46 containing data dealing with customers' personal and fiscal data; at least one services data base 47 containing data dealing with deliverable services such as advertising spots, video surveillance, VoIP telephony and necessary for managing such services. Data obviously change depending on services to be managed;- at least one spot price list 48 containing the price list which comprises a standard cost set depending on the type of multimedia object to be displayed (image, video, text, etc.).
  • the price list can be customised depending on sales conditions of each customer and depending on the type of target of specific displaying means; at least one sales conditions data base 49 containing data dealing with sales conditions, which can be customised for each customer, thereby allowing to manage aimed advertising campaigns, customised offers by customer and by physical locations in which displaying means are installed; and at least one invoices and suspended payments data base 50 containing data dealing with invoices sent to customers and situation of performed payments.
  • the managing means of receptive seats and displaying subsystems are adapted to allow the operating management of: local servers 3c; displaying subsystems 3a and multifunction totems 3; all displaying subsystems 3a are connected to every local servers which it must be manage; palimpsests; the ' palimpsest which the displaying means must display is connected to every displaying subsystem 3a.
  • the managing means of receptive seats and displaying subsystems thereby take from the data bases of FIG. 4 placed on the central server 5a the necessary information for performing various possible functions, such as: creating, modifying, deleting local servers 3c and displaying subsystems 3a; managing and publishing palimpsests; monitoring and checking the status of various displaying subsystems 3a; checking and managing the advertising spots; checking and managing the video-cameras 3f of the video surveillance service; checking and managing the VoIP telephony service; checking and managing the Internet connectivity service.
  • the programming palimpsest is the programming which every displaying subsystem 3a displays during its operation; the palimpsest managing means are adapted to allow creating and modifying all necessary data to define the structure of a palimpsest.
  • a palimpsest structure is determined by a sequence of screens and comprises: programming length in minutes; number of screens which compose it; sequence of screens; length of each screen in seconds; composition of each screen; free advertising spaces; reserved spaces inside every- palimpsest for displaying non- advertising information.
  • the palimpsest managing means it is possible to create and modify the palimpsests to be displayed on the displaying means.
  • every palimpsest can be identified with a table, in which it is possible to specify the sequence and length of multimedia objects to be displayed depending on the provided programming time.
  • the palimpsest managing means allows translating, in a format which can be displayed on the displaying means, the specifications set during the creation of the palimpsest.
  • the palimpsest managing means allow the functions of: creating the palimpsest, with data structures which identify it; modifying the palimpsest, with data structures which identify it; copying/pasting palimpsests; displaying the palimpsest beforehand; associating the palimpsest to one or more displaying subsystems through logic connection between data structures; publishing the palimpsest on one or more displaying means.
  • the palimpsest publishing means allow the real-time publication on local servers 3c of the palimpsests to be displayed and on the displaying subsystems 3a connected thereto. Through A suitable user interface of the palimpsest publishing means, it is possible to- coherently select receptive seat, displaying subsystem, palimpsest to be published, in order to then proceed with the real-time publication of the palimpsest. The palimpsest is then published by transferring related data from the central server 5a to the local server 3c to which the displaying subsystem 3a belongs. Displaying of the new palimpsest on the related one of the displaying means occurs automatically and in real time. Updating of an already existing palimpsest deals only with modified multimedia objects.
  • the automatic accounting means of information and advertising spaces allow an optimised management of information displayed on each one of the displaying means inside the receptive seats.
  • Such means connected to all data bases which store the configuration of system 1 and palimpsests, make available various functions which allow simply and immediately managing the services supplied by the system 1 according to the present invention.
  • a process for automatically accounting information and advertising spaces through the automatic accounting means comprises the steps of: a) selecting Fl a receptive seat 3 and a related displaying subsystem 3a in such receptive seat 3 from the displaying means data base 42 and a related palimpsest from the palimpsests data base 43; b) associating F2 to every spot taken from the spot publications data base 44 and inserted in the palimpsest to a related customer of the customers data base 46; c) publishing the palimpsest F3; d) at the end of publishing, accounting the amount related to the advertising service delivered by the system 1 depending on the published spot, of customer, price list, sales conditions taking related data from customers data base 46, services -data base 47, spot price list 48 and sales conditions data base 49; e) possibly issuing the related invoice F4.
  • invoicing it. is possible to set monthly, quarterly or customised expiries for each customer.
  • the process further provides the step of automatically sending the invoice to the customer through
  • step c) is replaced by the step of keeping the palimpsest in the palimpsests data base 43 of the central server.
  • the automatic accounting means can perform a check of published spots according to various search criteria which can be set and outputting various data, among which: list of advertising services being expiring; free advertising spaces in each receptive seat and in all displaying means allocated therein; reservations of spots to be published.
  • the automatic accounting means can further allow: verifying the availability of advertising spaces according to various criteria (geographic area, time, days, target type, etc... ) ; setting expiries for renewing advertising contracts with an end; freeing advertising spaces upon contracts expiries; reserving advertising spaces; performing counting and statistics to verify redditivity of receptive seats and the whole system.
  • the automatic accounting means can be interfaced with e- commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces in order to provide the advertising services also in on-line mode: in this case, the automatic accounting means functions are made available through web and the customer can autonomously manage his own advertising campaign through the system 1 according to the present invention.
  • Video surveillance services are stored in the services data base 47 and provide for a fixed monthly fare which changes depending on the type of delivered service (number of video- cameras, type of video-cameras, managing modes).
  • VoIP Telephony services are stored in the services data base 47 and provide for the standard management provided in telephony services by sending telephone bills.
  • E-commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces allow on-line selling and distributing advertising services on displaying subsystems 3a and totem 30.
  • the customer can decide autonomously and with maximum flexibility: what he wants to publish, namely the format of his advertising spots (film, image, etc... ) ; where he wants to publish, namely in which physical location, meant as receptive seat but also as specific displaying means, he wishes to publish his advertising spots; when he wants to publish, namely in which day of the week and at what time he wishes to publish his advertising spots.
  • a reservation service can also be provided, which allows the user to plan his advertising campaign beforehand.
  • the e-commerce managing means can also be used, for example, by a network of advertising agencies which perform the services sales, but also by an individual user who can autonomously plan his own advertising campaign.
  • the system 1 makes available an innovative advertising service, which can be actuated in minimum details and above all in real time, arriving to plan time services of the type: in seat X, on displaying means 1,2,3, all Thursdays from 10:30 to 12:30.
  • the e-commerce managing means comprise a web site which can be accessed from Internet and possibly installed on central server 5a or in any web server integrated in the system 1.
  • a process for managing e-commerce of information and advertising spaces through the e-commerce managing means comprises the steps of: identifying a customer Sl; the customer, if for example uses the system for the first time, logs-in by entering his personal and fiscal data: after a check, the system releases a user name and a password and stores customer data in the customers data base 46; afterwards, the customer identifies himself by entering user name and password which associate him to his already stored data in the customers data base 46, in order to allow the customer to access to the following steps of the e-commerce management process; checking S2 the availability of advertising spaces; through a web interface, the customer selects from the local servers data base 41 the receptive seat in which he wishes to publish his own advertising spots.
  • a map of all displaying means can be shown with a target description and a photograph of the particular monitor or video-projector, which allow the customer to accurately identify the user pool.
  • free advertising spaces are shown, meant as type of space (image, text, video) and available times (from X to Y), with further data taken in the related data bases, such prices in the price • list 48 wh ch chance epend ng on the type of spot
  • the customer can also perform a reservation of currently unavailable advertising spaces by storing such order in the services data base 47; confirming the preventive amount and paying S5; after having confirmed the preventive amount, the customer performs the payment of the due sum for the advertising services, which can occur directly through Internet, through a credit card or according to various modes such as bank draft, direct payment, etc ...
  • the customer can download in the central server 5a, and in the related spot publications data base 44, his own advertising messages composed of images, texts, video, in the provided formats and according to his requests.
  • the procedure guides the user in order to be able to associate the exact location of spots in the corresponding palimpsests of the palimpsests data base 43; publishing the spot S7; from information being present in the preventive amount, all necessary data for publishing the spots will be taken from the data bases. Publication occurs in real time through an update and publication of the palimpsests of the palimpsests data base 43 involved in the customer requests, according to the already described modes with reference to the above automatic accounting means and process.
  • the monitoring means are adapted to carry out a periodic and real-time check of the operating status of all displaying subsystems 3a allocated in the system .1 according to the present invention, in order to guarantee the service continuity and the correct displaying of advertising spots.
  • Such means therefore perform a periodic (hourly, daily, upon user request) check of the displaying subsystems providing' as output a list of displaying means with related status, pointing out possible malfunctions which can occur on system 1 client or local servers.
  • the monitoring means operate according to the following procedure: when a displaying subsystem displays the multimedia contents of its own displaying means, at least one log file is updated by writing therein a piece of information identifying displayed object, displaying date and time; the monitoring means therefore perform a periodic check of all log files of all displaying subsystems, managing to identify and certify the correct operation of every displaying subsystem.
  • the remote controlling means allow the remote control of all devices installed in the receptive seats; in particular: the local server 3c can be equipped with a software component which allows managing the server itself from remote; the displaying subsystems 3a can be remotely managed through a suitable software installed on the local server 3c and on every displaying subsystem 3a (and/or on every multifunction multimedia totem 30); the Hot-Spots 3d can be remotely managed through a web or telnet interface; it is further possible to remotely manage every single video-camera 3f; for remotely managing VoIP telephony, the access to gateway occurs in a similar way to what is provided for the Hot-Spots.
  • the protecting client means comprise a suitable protection software adapted to link a client managing software of every displaying subsystem, which allows displaying the palimpsest, to a certain integrated hardware card. Therefore, through a software key released by a program outside the system, the client managing software is implemented only on such certain control card.
  • All components can further be remotely restarted and be able to automatically restart even upon interruptions on the electric mains.
  • failures related to single displaying subsystems 3a do not impair the correct operation of the system 1 according to the present invention.
  • the system 1 for realtime delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network undoubtedly has numerous advantages; in particular: the use of standard digital protocols allows preparing a system with reduced costs with respect to the traditional transmission through a television channel; the system scalability further allows managing the increase of costs/investments in a proportional way to expected incomes and allows its insertion in already existing network infrastructures ; the system 1 is an entertainment carrier through which it is possible to make user wait more pleasant and at the same time to use the structure as advertising vehicle which can be modelled depending on needs; the system 1 allows the integration of value services of video surveillance, Internet connectivity, VoIP telephony and ad-hoc applications; the displaying of information on every one of the displaying means is organised in palimpsests, completely independently and in real time; the installation of one of the displaying means inside a receptive seat is very simplified, does not require specialised personnel and uses a technology of the plug and play type; the availability of the multifunction multimedia totem allows an
  • monitors can be indifferently and interchangeably used;
  • the system 1 guarantees a simple management/publication of contents: it is in fact particularly simple to manage receptive seats, displaying means inside them, information to be published on each monitor and spot accounting;
  • the system 1 provides an e-commerce solution for selling and distributing advertising services on displaying means in a completely innovative way;
  • the system monitoring means guarantee in real time a high service standard;
  • the remote controlling means of the devices minimises post- installation interventions to be performed on site.

Abstract

A system (1) is described for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising at least one displaying subsystem (3a) adapted to be arranged in a receptive seat (3) , such displaying subsystem (3a) being connected through a local telematic network (3b) to at least one local server (3c) to allow displaying such multimedia contents organised into palimpsests and delivering such value services; at least one central seat (5) comprising at least one central server (5a) for checking and managing said local servers (3c) and such multimedia contents to be transmitted and such delivered value services; and at least one global telematic transmission network (7), adapted to communicate such central server (5a) with such local telematic network (3b).

Description

SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME DELIVERING MULTIMEDIA CONTENTS AND VALUE SERVICES ON A TELEMATIC NETWORK
The present invention refers to a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network, particularly comprising networks of monitors dedicated to display information, which can be placed in public and private structures with a high number of users .
As known, there are structures with a high number of people, generally called receptive structures, such as, for example, airports, railway and underground stations, post offices, medical and hospital centres, hypermarkets, discos, bars and meeting places in general, exhibitions and events, in which the access to the respectively supplied service or performance provides, by a user, typically for a long waiting time, which can be estimated as an average between 10 and 30 minutes. It is common experience that, in order to make thw users wait less boring, who in such situation are placed in an insulation state defined as "social escape", with which a perception of a lack of service is associated, which negatively affects the receptive structure, such structures have been equipped with monitors adapted to transmit various pieces of information about receptive structure service, news, advertising information, etc...
Obviously, the existing technology has allowed realising known monitors, and systems with which information are organised and transmitted to such monitors, with extremely various modes, as well as several systems are disclosed in a high number of patents.
Known systems however have several problems, the first one of which deals with the scarce, integration existing between hardware and software components, which compose the systems themselves and the most common technologic standards, this strongly limiting their elasticity, their ease of installation and of following improvements, and potential modularity.
Known systems further do not provide for the chance of automatically organising and accounting information displayed on monitors .
The known prior art further do not propose integrated systems which allow, in addition obviously to the transmission of information to monitors, preparing and on-line selling advertising spaces directly on Internet, such advertising spaces being then able to be automatically inserted in palimpsests transmitted by the system on various monitors.
Therefore, object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising managing means which allow automatically organising, delivering and controlling information displayed on monitors, in an easier and more efficient way than what is proposed by the prior art.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network which allow automatically delivering and exploiting value services for video surveillance, VoIP telephony, Internet connectivity, in an easier and more efficient way than what is proposed by the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising at least one multimedia, multifunction and modular totem.
Δ further object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network which comprises automatic accounting means of displayed advertising information and delivered value services.
A further object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising e-commerce managing means which allow on-line selling, organising and delivering information and advertising spaces.
Another object of the present invention is providing a system for real-time distributing multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network comprising monitoring means which allow performing a periodic and real-time check of the operating status of the system.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with a system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network as claimed in claim 1, Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims .
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the system for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network according to the present invention;
FIG. 2a, 2b, and 2c show some preferred variations of the system according to the present invention in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a multimedia, multifunction and modular totem of the system according to the present invention; FIG. 4 shows a block diagram representing the managing means of the system according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram representing the automatic accounting means of advertising information of the system according to the present invention; and
FIG. 6 shows a block diagram representing the e-commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces of the system according to the present invention.
With reference then to FIG. 1, it is possible to note that the system 1 according to the present invention for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network is a client/server system, comprising: at least one displaying subsystem 3a, comprising displaying means, such as, for example, at least one monitor or at least one video-projector, and a local processor for managing the displaying means themselves, such displaying means being adapted to be placed in a receptive seat 3, such as for example an airport, a railway or underground station, a post office, a medical or hospital centre, an hypermarket, a disco, a bar or another meeting place in general, such displaying subsystem 3a •being connected through a local telematic network 3b to at least one local server 3c for allowing to display such multimedia contents and to deliver such value services; at least one central seat 5 comprising at least one central server 5a for controlling and managing the local servers 3c and the multimedia contents to be transmitted and the delivered value services; and at least one global telematic transmission network 7, adapted to communicate the central server 5a with the local telematic network 3b, preferably by interposing a Hot-Spot device 3d, through which multimedia contents and value services are transported through communication protocols.
In particular, the system 1 according to the present invention can advantageously be .of the "open" type, namely able to use standard technologies, such as, for example:
WWW (World Wide Web) , TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol), HTTP ■ (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol) protocols;
H.323 (VoIP standard for sending voice by using the IP protocol on Internet/Intranet network) protocol;
WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) technology with 802.11b 802. Hg protocols for wireless communications;
ADSL/HDSL/XDSL/ISDN technologies for interconnecting system 1 components in a uniform way and on a world scale.
The system 1 structure therefore allows being able to allocate with maximum flexibility both central servers 5a and local servers 3c: it is therefore possible to create networks and sub-networks of local servers 3c, which can be controlled and managed by one or more central servers 5a.
The multimedia contents, organised in palimpsests, can obviously comprise traditional audio-visual entertainment forms or miscellaneous information, such as information dealing with services provided by the receptive seat 3, various kinds of real-time information about subjects like meteo, finance, sport, information news, advertising information which are generic or aimed to specific customer targets. The delivered value services can instead comprise, for example, video- surveillance, Internet connectivity and VoIP services.
As said, in the receptive seat 3 one or more local servers 3c can be placed, which are dedicated to managing one or more displaying subsystems 3a, and all local servers 3c are interconnected through the global telematic network 7 to the central server 5a.
The local server 3c manages the contents to be displayed on the displaying subsystems 3a and installed value services. On the local server 3c, software applications are installed which release the customised palimpsests of each of the displaying means connected to the local server 3c.
As said, the Hot-Spot 3d is a device which interconnects the local telematic network 3b to the global telematic network 7. Task of the Hot-Spot device 3d is sharing local and global network connections to each displaying subsystem 3a or another device being present inside every receptive seat.
As said, the displaying subsystem 3a is aimed to display information, and is composed of displaying means comprising, for example, at least one monitor or at least one video- prjoector, and a local processor for managing the displaying means themselves. In the displaying subsystem 3a it is possible to use a single local processor for displaying the same pieces of information on many monitors or video-projectors: in this case, all displaying means are connected to the same local processor by interposing an output multiplying apparatus. The monitors which can be used in the system 1 can be of any type and with various video resolutions: traditional, plasma, LCD screens, etc; the system 1 in fact, once having identified the type of installed monitor and its video resolution, automatically adapts the information to be displayed.
The displaying subsystems 3a can transmit information in real time and independently one from the other. With a particular configuration, the displaying subsystem 3a can also operate in "stand-alone" mode, completely disconnected therefore from the local telematic network 3b.
The local 3b or global 7 telematic network is the set of all hardware and software technologies used for transmitting information from the central server 5a to the local servers 3c and to the displaying subsystems 3a. The global network 7, in addition to interconnecting the central seat 5a with the various receptive seats 3, allows every single displaying subsystem 3a to access information outside the local networks 3b. The local network 3b can interconnect every single displaying subsystem 3a to the local server 3c by using various technologies. With particular reference to FIG. 2a, 2b and 2c, it is possible to note that the local network 3b of the system 1 can provide for example for the use and integration of the following connection technologies to the displaying subsystem 3a, and the related configurations: carried wave technology (FIG. 2a), which uses the electric network 20 to transmit and receive signals; standard Lan Ethernet cable networks (FIG. 2b) with related routers 21 and switches 22;
WiFi networks with related routers 23, access points 24 and switches 22.
In particular, the protocols used in the global 7 and local 3b networks can be:
WWW (World Wide Web) , TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol) , HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) , FTP (File Transfer Protocol) ; VoIP H.323;
WiFi 802.11b 802. Hg (WAP, WEP WEP2) ;
Obviously, all network components can be protected in a substantially known way with protection devices, to prevent a system access by unauthorised users.
In order to deliver the video surveillance service, the local server 3c can be connected, possibly by interposing the global telematic network 3b, to at least one IP video-camera 3f. The video-camera 3f is installed in the receptive seat 3 and the system 1 allows displaying captured images, both from the PCs placed inside the receptive seat and from PCs outside the structure, provided that they are equipped with a connection to the telematic network. For accessing information, an image controlling and recording system can be provided, accessible only through authentication credentials (for example by entering "user name" and "password" by an authorised used) .
Through the Hot-Spot device 3d, it is possible to provide Internet connectivity services inside the receptive seat 3; it is therefore possible to make an Internet connection available to any authorised user PC 3g, for example through WiFi network cards. Obviously, the service access is managed and protected through a suitable software.
With the system 1 it is further possible to provide the receptive seat 3 with a fixed and mobile telephone service in VoIP technology. A gateway CPE device integrated into the system 1 in fact allows delivering VoIP telephone services inside the receptive seat 3. The users, by connecting through a telephone pair or technology cordless their telephone apparata 3h to the system, can perform telephone calls.
For small-sized receptive seats 3, in which the presence of a single monitor or a single video-projector can be required, a particular system 1 configuration can be provided, in which the local server 3c and the displaying subsystem 3a are wired to a single local unit. In particular, with reference to FIG. 3, it is possible to note that such local unit can be realised as a multimedia multifunctional totem 30 which performs the double function of local server and control of the monitor or the video-projector 33a installed therein. Preferably, the totem 30 is composed of two modules which are able to be disassembled and assembled, a basic module 31 and an operating module 33, which facilitate its handling and installation. The hardware and software components of the totem 30 thereby realise an integrated local unit with local server and displaying subsystem compatible with the system 1, in which it can be installed individually or as part of a network of traditional displaying subsystems 3a. The totem 30 obviously comprises all previously described functionalities with reference to local server 3a and displaying subsystem 3a. The totem 30 is also of the multifunction type since the previously described services of video surveillance, VoIP telephony and Internet connectivity can be wired therein.
' The local processor for managing the displaying subsystem of the system 1 according to the present invention can obviously be a common PC. Alternatively, the local managing processor can be realised as at least one integrated hardware card able to guarantee the continuous system use. This card can be advantageously realised as a particular assembly of standard components (CPU, HD, etc.) and be made uniform for all types of displaying subsystems of the system 1: in practice, the hardware card integrated and installed in the totem can be identical to the one installed in standard displaying subsystems. In this case, the displaying means, such as a monitor or a video-projector and the related integrated hardware card, can be integrated in a single local unit through a supporting structure, preferably made of metal, in order to facilitate its handling, installation and maintenance.
For example, every displaying subsystem wired as local unit of the system 1 according to the present invention can indifferently have one of the following configurations: multifunction multimedia totems with integrated hardware control card; supporting structure with monitor and integrated hardware control card; supporting structutre with video-projector and integrated hardware control card.
The system 1 according to the present invention further comprises managing means for delivering contents and supplying services composed, on the client side, of client managing means adapted to manage the displaying subsystems 3a and/or at least one multifunction totem 30 and, on the server side, of server managing means adapted to manage the whole system 1 and the delivered services.
The client managing means are installed on all displaying subsystems 3a and/or on all multifunction totems 30 and allow managing all activities which are strictly related to the displaying means operation. In particular, the client managing means survey the following functions of the displaying subsystems 3a: displaying the palimpsest on the displaying means; turning the client on and off at certain times; automatically starting/restarting the client from the outside; client remote controlling; automatically restarting the client also in case of absence of current.
In case of possible malfunctions, failure of a client does not impair the correct system 1 operation. In case of temporary electric energy interruptions, the system 1 is not able to correctly restart and automatically realign itself to the service standard.
Moreover, the client managing means installed on the local server can comprise integrating means to local services, adapted to integrate the system 1 according to the present invention with the information system existing in the receptive seat 3, in order to be able to share commonly interesting data and applications, providing customised services for internal and external users of the receptive seat. In particular, due to the use of integrating means to local services, it is possible to realise specific utilities, such as, for example: extranet web side, which can be used by the receptive seat to organise, deliver and share internal pieces of information; interfacing with airport systems, where information about flight arrivals and departures have been integrated with advertising information. In this case, the displaying means display information about flights and at regular intervals display advertising spots; in hospital structures, through Rfid technology, it is possible to track the patient inside the structure itself. The patient, equipped with a bracelet with Rfid label, moves inside the structure and is identified in check points arranged next to every displaying subsystem which transmit detected information to the local server.
In particular, the server managing means are adapted to be implemented by the managing software residing on the central server 5a and allow defining and logically managing: local servers 3c allocated in the receptive seats 3; displaying subsystems 3a and totems 30 connected to the local servers 3c; palimpsests to be displayed on the displaying subsystems 3a and totems 30; services installed on the local servers 3c: video surveillance, Internet connectivity, VoIP telephony.
In particular, for performing the above mentioned functions, the managing means further comprise: managing means for receptive seats and displaying subsystems ; palimpsest managing means; palimpsest publication means; automatic accounting means of information and advertising spaces contained in the palimpsest; e-commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces ; monitoring means; remote controlling means; client protecting means; all above means being obviously controlled and managed by suitable software applications whose realisation is well within the capabilities of any average, technician in the art; it is also clear that the above means, in order to perform the functions for which they are devised ' and which will be afterwards examined in more detail, can be realised through the most different hardware configurations which the technology makes available.
The operation of the managing means is based on information contained in a set of common electronic data bases, stored on the most suitable known storage means, in which all necessary data for managing and operating the system 1 according to the present invention have been organised. In particular, with reference to FIG. 4, it is possible to note that such set of data bases comprises: at least one local servers data base 41 containing data dealing with the description of every local server 3c (or receptive seat 3) with all descriptive and technical information for identifying in the network and accessing every single local server 3c and the connection to the displaying subsystems 3a; at least one displaying means data base 42 containing data dealing with the description of every displaying subsystem 3a which comprises physical location, description, advertising spaces available depending on the currently published palimpsest. For every one of the displaying means, it is further possible to store variables identifying the target of the displaying subsystem 3a (medium number and user trends) , in order to be able to manage aimed advertising campaigns and making the price list different depending on targets and on variables which idenfity the system 1 status depending on monitoring means; at least one palimpsests data base 43 containing data dealing with the description of the palimpsest displayed on the displaying subsystem 3a; at least one spot publications data base 44 containing data dealing with all advertising spots published by customers on various palimpsests, operatively connected to the customers data • base 46 described below, to the palimpsests data base 43 and to the displaying subsystems data base 42; at least one spots reservations data base 45 containing data dealing with reservations for advertising spots not yet published but to be published afterwards. The reservations data base 45 and the spots data base 44 are used for planning and making available the level of filling of palimpsests in time; at least one customers data base 46 containing data dealing with customers' personal and fiscal data; at least one services data base 47 containing data dealing with deliverable services such as advertising spots, video surveillance, VoIP telephony and necessary for managing such services. Data obviously change depending on services to be managed;- at least one spot price list 48 containing the price list which comprises a standard cost set depending on the type of multimedia object to be displayed (image, video, text, etc.). The price list can be customised depending on sales conditions of each customer and depending on the type of target of specific displaying means; at least one sales conditions data base 49 containing data dealing with sales conditions, which can be customised for each customer, thereby allowing to manage aimed advertising campaigns, customised offers by customer and by physical locations in which displaying means are installed; and at least one invoices and suspended payments data base 50 containing data dealing with invoices sent to customers and situation of performed payments.
The managing means of receptive seats and displaying subsystems are adapted to allow the operating management of: local servers 3c; displaying subsystems 3a and multifunction totems 3; all displaying subsystems 3a are connected to every local servers which it must be manage; palimpsests; the 'palimpsest which the displaying means must display is connected to every displaying subsystem 3a.
The managing means of receptive seats and displaying subsystems thereby take from the data bases of FIG. 4 placed on the central server 5a the necessary information for performing various possible functions, such as: creating, modifying, deleting local servers 3c and displaying subsystems 3a; managing and publishing palimpsests; monitoring and checking the status of various displaying subsystems 3a; checking and managing the advertising spots; checking and managing the video-cameras 3f of the video surveillance service; checking and managing the VoIP telephony service; checking and managing the Internet connectivity service.
As previously mentioned, the programming palimpsest is the programming which every displaying subsystem 3a displays during its operation; the palimpsest managing means are adapted to allow creating and modifying all necessary data to define the structure of a palimpsest. In particular, a palimpsest structure is determined by a sequence of screens and comprises: programming length in minutes; number of screens which compose it; sequence of screens; length of each screen in seconds; composition of each screen; free advertising spaces; reserved spaces inside every- palimpsest for displaying non- advertising information.
Through the managing means of the palimpsest when composing each screen, it is possible to insert various types of multimedia objects, for example: video films with various length; static images in various formats (GIF, JPG, etc...); generic tests; connections to applications outside the system 1: in this case the object is not directly available in the system but is taken from the set location.
Through the palimpsest managing means, it is possible to create and modify the palimpsests to be displayed on the displaying means. In particular, every palimpsest can be identified with a table, in which it is possible to specify the sequence and length of multimedia objects to be displayed depending on the provided programming time. Moreover, the palimpsest managing means allows translating, in a format which can be displayed on the displaying means, the specifications set during the creation of the palimpsest. In particular, the palimpsest managing means allow the functions of: creating the palimpsest, with data structures which identify it; modifying the palimpsest, with data structures which identify it; copying/pasting palimpsests; displaying the palimpsest beforehand; associating the palimpsest to one or more displaying subsystems through logic connection between data structures; publishing the palimpsest on one or more displaying means.
The palimpsest publishing means allow the real-time publication on local servers 3c of the palimpsests to be displayed and on the displaying subsystems 3a connected thereto. Through A suitable user interface of the palimpsest publishing means, it is possible to- coherently select receptive seat, displaying subsystem, palimpsest to be published, in order to then proceed with the real-time publication of the palimpsest. The palimpsest is then published by transferring related data from the central server 5a to the local server 3c to which the displaying subsystem 3a belongs. Displaying of the new palimpsest on the related one of the displaying means occurs automatically and in real time. Updating of an already existing palimpsest deals only with modified multimedia objects.
The automatic accounting means of information and advertising spaces allow an optimised management of information displayed on each one of the displaying means inside the receptive seats. Such means, connected to all data bases which store the configuration of system 1 and palimpsests, make available various functions which allow simply and immediately managing the services supplied by the system 1 according to the present invention.
With particular reference to FIG. 5, a process for automatically accounting information and advertising spaces through the automatic accounting means comprises the steps of: a) selecting Fl a receptive seat 3 and a related displaying subsystem 3a in such receptive seat 3 from the displaying means data base 42 and a related palimpsest from the palimpsests data base 43; b) associating F2 to every spot taken from the spot publications data base 44 and inserted in the palimpsest to a related customer of the customers data base 46; c) publishing the palimpsest F3; d) at the end of publishing, accounting the amount related to the advertising service delivered by the system 1 depending on the published spot, of customer, price list, sales conditions taking related data from customers data base 46, services -data base 47, spot price list 48 and sales conditions data base 49; e) possibly issuing the related invoice F4. In particular, for invoicing, it. is possible to set monthly, quarterly or customised expiries for each customer. The process further provides the step of automatically sending the invoice to the customer through e-mail.
Should a customer require a spot reservations service, the accounting procedure is almost identical to the above one, apart that the palimpsest is not published and therefore step c) is replaced by the step of keeping the palimpsest in the palimpsests data base 43 of the central server.
Every day or upon user's request, the automatic accounting means can perform a check of published spots according to various search criteria which can be set and outputting various data, among which: list of advertising services being expiring; free advertising spaces in each receptive seat and in all displaying means allocated therein; reservations of spots to be published.
In addition to standard functions provided in the ordinary management of service sales, the automatic accounting means can further allow: verifying the availability of advertising spaces according to various criteria (geographic area, time, days, target type, etc... ) ; setting expiries for renewing advertising contracts with an end; freeing advertising spaces upon contracts expiries; reserving advertising spaces; performing counting and statistics to verify redditivity of receptive seats and the whole system.
The automatic accounting means can be interfaced with e- commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces in order to provide the advertising services also in on-line mode: in this case, the automatic accounting means functions are made available through web and the customer can autonomously manage his own advertising campaign through the system 1 according to the present invention.
Video surveillance services are stored in the services data base 47 and provide for a fixed monthly fare which changes depending on the type of delivered service (number of video- cameras, type of video-cameras, managing modes).
VoIP Telephony services are stored in the services data base 47 and provide for the standard management provided in telephony services by sending telephone bills.
E-commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces allow on-line selling and distributing advertising services on displaying subsystems 3a and totem 30. Through such means, the customer can decide autonomously and with maximum flexibility: what he wants to publish, namely the format of his advertising spots (film, image, etc... ) ; where he wants to publish, namely in which physical location, meant as receptive seat but also as specific displaying means, he wishes to publish his advertising spots; when he wants to publish, namely in which day of the week and at what time he wishes to publish his advertising spots. A reservation service can also be provided, which allows the user to plan his advertising campaign beforehand.
The e-commerce managing means can also be used, for example, by a network of advertising agencies which perform the services sales, but also by an individual user who can autonomously plan his own advertising campaign.
Through the e-commerce managing means, the system 1 according to the present invention makes available an innovative advertising service, which can be actuated in minimum details and above all in real time, arriving to plan time services of the type: in seat X, on displaying means 1,2,3, all Thursdays from 10:30 to 12:30.
The e-commerce managing means comprise a web site which can be accessed from Internet and possibly installed on central server 5a or in any web server integrated in the system 1.
In particular, with reference to FIG. 6, it is possible to note that a process for managing e-commerce of information and advertising spaces through the e-commerce managing means comprises the steps of: identifying a customer Sl; the customer, if for example uses the system for the first time, logs-in by entering his personal and fiscal data: after a check, the system releases a user name and a password and stores customer data in the customers data base 46; afterwards, the customer identifies himself by entering user name and password which associate him to his already stored data in the customers data base 46, in order to allow the customer to access to the following steps of the e-commerce management process; checking S2 the availability of advertising spaces; through a web interface, the customer selects from the local servers data base 41 the receptive seat in which he wishes to publish his own advertising spots. By getting information from the displaying means data base 42, a map of all displaying means can be shown with a target description and a photograph of the particular monitor or video-projector, which allow the customer to accurately identify the user pool. For every one of the displaying means, and getting from information in the palimpsests data base 43 and in the spot publications data base 44, free advertising spaces are shown, meant as type of space (image, text, video) and available times (from X to Y), with further data taken in the related data bases, such prices in the price • list 48 wh ch chance epend ng on the type of spot
(video, image, text, etc...), on displaying means location and on sales conditions 49; it can also be provided that, depending on optimisation of available spaces, the customer is presented with advertising campaigns at reduced prices; selecting S3' the receptive seat and the related displaying subsystem on which the customer wishes to publish his own advertising spots; computing S4 a cost preventive amount at the sales conditions. The customer can also perform a reservation of currently unavailable advertising spaces by storing such order in the services data base 47; confirming the preventive amount and paying S5; after having confirmed the preventive amount, the customer performs the payment of the due sum for the advertising services, which can occur directly through Internet, through a credit card or according to various modes such as bank draft, direct payment, etc ... ; uploading S6 advertising messages; after having made the payment, the customer can download in the central server 5a, and in the related spot publications data base 44, his own advertising messages composed of images, texts, video, in the provided formats and according to his requests. The procedure guides the user in order to be able to associate the exact location of spots in the corresponding palimpsests of the palimpsests data base 43; publishing the spot S7; from information being present in the preventive amount, all necessary data for publishing the spots will be taken from the data bases. Publication occurs in real time through an update and publication of the palimpsests of the palimpsests data base 43 involved in the customer requests, according to the already described modes with reference to the above automatic accounting means and process. The monitoring means are adapted to carry out a periodic and real-time check of the operating status of all displaying subsystems 3a allocated in the system .1 according to the present invention, in order to guarantee the service continuity and the correct displaying of advertising spots. Such means therefore perform a periodic (hourly, daily, upon user request) check of the displaying subsystems providing' as output a list of displaying means with related status, pointing out possible malfunctions which can occur on system 1 client or local servers. In particular, the monitoring means operate according to the following procedure: when a displaying subsystem displays the multimedia contents of its own displaying means, at least one log file is updated by writing therein a piece of information identifying displayed object, displaying date and time; the monitoring means therefore perform a periodic check of all log files of all displaying subsystems, managing to identify and certify the correct operation of every displaying subsystem.
The remote controlling means allow the remote control of all devices installed in the receptive seats; in particular: the local server 3c can be equipped with a software component which allows managing the server itself from remote; the displaying subsystems 3a can be remotely managed through a suitable software installed on the local server 3c and on every displaying subsystem 3a (and/or on every multifunction multimedia totem 30); the Hot-Spots 3d can be remotely managed through a web or telnet interface; it is further possible to remotely manage every single video-camera 3f; for remotely managing VoIP telephony, the access to gateway occurs in a similar way to what is provided for the Hot-Spots. The protecting client means comprise a suitable protection software adapted to link a client managing software of every displaying subsystem, which allows displaying the palimpsest, to a certain integrated hardware card. Therefore, through a software key released by a program outside the system, the client managing software is implemented only on such certain control card.
All components can further be remotely restarted and be able to automatically restart even upon interruptions on the electric mains. As regards possible malfunctions, failures related to single displaying subsystems 3a do not impair the correct operation of the system 1 according to the present invention.
From all that is mentioned above, the system 1 for realtime delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network according to the present invention undoubtedly has numerous advantages; in particular: the use of standard digital protocols allows preparing a system with reduced costs with respect to the traditional transmission through a television channel; the system scalability further allows managing the increase of costs/investments in a proportional way to expected incomes and allows its insertion in already existing network infrastructures ; the system 1 is an entertainment carrier through which it is possible to make user wait more pleasant and at the same time to use the structure as advertising vehicle which can be modelled depending on needs; the system 1 allows the integration of value services of video surveillance, Internet connectivity, VoIP telephony and ad-hoc applications; the displaying of information on every one of the displaying means is organised in palimpsests, completely independently and in real time; the installation of one of the displaying means inside a receptive seat is very simplified, does not require specialised personnel and uses a technology of the plug and play type; the availability of the multifunction multimedia totem allows an optimised services distribution, allowing to reach a wide range of potential customers; the publication of information to be displayed on the displaying means can occur in real time, in a scheduled mode or in a miscellaneous mode; the treatment of information is in digital technology and no particular devices are required for transforming the signals; the format of information transmitted on monitors is automatically suited to the type of used monitor and its video resolution: therefore, 14", 17", 21" , 42", 50", etc. monitors can be indifferently and interchangeably used; the system 1 guarantees a simple management/publication of contents: it is in fact particularly simple to manage receptive seats, displaying means inside them, information to be published on each monitor and spot accounting; the system 1 provides an e-commerce solution for selling and distributing advertising services on displaying means in a completely innovative way; the system monitoring means guarantee in real time a high service standard; the remote controlling means of the devices minimises post- installation interventions to be performed on site.

Claims

1. System (1) for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network, characterised in that it comprises : at least one displaying subsystem (3a) adapted to be arranged in a receptive seat (3), said displaying subsystem (3a) being connected through a local telematic network (3b) to at least one local server (3c) to allow displaying said multimedia contents organised into palimpsests and delivering said value services; at least one central seat (5) comprising at least one central server (5a) for checking and managing said local servers (3c) and said multimedia contents to be transmitted and said delivered value services; and at least one global telematic transmission network (7), adapted to communicate said central server (5a) with said local telematic network (3b) .
2. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said displaying subsystem (3a) comprises displaying means and a local processor for managing said displaying means.
3. System (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that said displaying means are at least one monitor.
4. System (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that said displaying means are at least one video-projector.
5. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said receptive seat (3) is an airport, a railway or underground station, a post office, a medical or hospital centre, ah hypermarket, a disco or a bar. β. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said global telematic network (7) is communicated with said local telematic network (3b) by interposing an Hot-Spot device (3d) . 7. System (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that said Hot-Spot device (3d) is adapted to share local (3b) and global (7) network connections among- each one of said displaying subsystems (3a) .
8. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said local network (3b) interconnects said displaying subsystem (3a) to said local server (3c) through a carried wave technology.
9. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said local network 3b interconnects said displaying subsystem (3a) to said local server (3c) through standard Ethernet Lan cable networks .
10. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said local network 3b interconnects said displaying subsystem (3a) to said local server (3c) through WiFi networks.
11. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said local server (3c) is connected to at least one IP video-camera Of) .
12. System (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that said Hot-Spot device (3d) is adapted to provide an Internet connectivity to at least one user PC (3g) .
13. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said local server (3c) is equipped with an integrated gateway CPE device to provide a VoIP telephony service.
14. System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said local server (3c) and said displaying subsystem (3a) are wired into a single local unit.
15. System (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that said single local unit is a multifunction multimedia totem (30) composed of a un basic module (31) and an operating module (33) which are adapted to be assembled and disassembled.
16. System (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said local managing processor is at least one integrated hardware card.
17. System (1) according to claim 16, characterised in that said integrated hardware card is adapted to be installed in all said displaying subsystems.
18. System (1) according to claim 14 or 16, characterised in that said local unit comprises a supporting structure adapted to integrate said displaying means, and said related integrated hardware card.
19. System (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises managing means of the distribution of said multimedia contents and the delivery of said value services.
20. System (1) according to claim 19, characterised in that said managing means comprise client managing means adapted to manage said displaying subsystems (3a) and server managing means adapted to manage said system (1).
21. System (1) according to claim 20, characterised in that said client managing means present on said local server (3c) comprise integrating means to local service adapted to integrate said system (1) with an existing information system in said receptive seat (3) .
22. System (1) according to claim 19, characterised in that said managing means operate on information contained in electronic data bases.
23. System (1) according to claim 22, characterised in that said electronic data bases comprise: at least one local servers data base (41); at least one displaying means data base (42); at least one palimpsests data base (43); at least one spot publications data base (44); at least one spots reservations data base (45) ; at least one customers data base (46); at least one services data base (47) ; at least one spot price list (48); at least one sales conditions data base (49); and at least one invoices and unpaid amounts data base (50) .
24. System (1) according to claim 19, characterised in that said managing means comprise: managing means of receptive seats and displaying subsystems; palimpsest managing means; palimpsest publishing means; automatic accounting means of information and advertising spaces; e-commerce managing means of information and advertising spaces; monitoring means; remote controlling means; client protecting means.
25. System (1) according to claim 24, characterised in that said managing means of receptive seats e displaying subsystems are adapted to create, modify, delete said local servers (3c) and said displaying subsystems (3a); manage and publish said palimpsests; check a status of said displaying subsystems (3a); check and manage said advertising spots; check and manage said video-cameras (3f) ; check and manage said VoIP telephony service; and check and manage said Internet connectivity.
26. System (1) according to claim 24, characterised in that said palimpsest managing means are adapted to create, modify and define a structure of said palimpsest.
27. System (1) according to claim 24, characterised in that said palimpsest publishing means are adapted to publish in real time said palimpsests to be displayed on said local server (3c) and on said displaying subsystem (3a) connected thereto independently for each one of said displaying subsystems (3a) .
28. System (1) according to claim 24, characterised in that said e-commerce managing means comprise a web site accessible from Internet.
29. System (1) according to claim 24, characterised in that said monitoring means are adapted to perform a periodic ■ check of an operating status of all said displaying subsystems (3a) through at least one log file updated with a piece of information identifying said displayed multimedia contents, displaying date and time related to said multimedia object displayed by at least one of said displaying subsystems and said monitoring means, performing a periodic, check of said log files of all said displaying subsystems to indentify and certify a correct operation of every one of said displaying subsystems .
30. System (1) according to claim 24, characterised in that said client protecting means comprise a protection software adapted to link a client managing software, adapted to allow said displaying of said palimpsest on every one of said displaying subsystems, to a certain one of said integrated hardware cards, and through at least one software key, said client managing software is implemented only on said certain integrated hardware card.
31. Automatic accounting process through said automatic accounting means according to claim 24, characterised in that it comprises the steps of: a) selecting (Fl) a receptive seat (3) and a related displaying subsystem (3a) in said receptive seat (3) from said displaying means data base (42) and a related one of said palimpsests from said palimpsests data base (43); b) associating (F2) to every spot taken from said spot publications data base (44) and inserted in said palimpsest to a related customer of said customers data base (46); c) publishing (F3) said palimpsest or keeping said palimpsest in said palimpsests data base (43); d) accounting an amount depending on said published spot, on said customer, on a price list, on sales conditions by taking related data from said customers data base (46), from said services data base (47), from said spot price list (48) and from said sales conditions data base (49) .
32. Process according to claim 31, characterised in that it comprises the step of issuing (F4) a related invoice of said amount .
33. Process according to claim 31, characterised in that it comprises the step of automatically sending said invoice to said customer through e-mail.
34. Process for e-commerce managing information and advertising spaces through said e-commerce managing means according to claim 24, characterised in that it comprises the steps of: a) identifying (Sl) a customer through said customers data base (46) ; b) checking (S2) an availability of advertising spaces; c) selecting (S3) one of said receptive seats (3) and a related one of said displaying subsystems (3a) on which said advertising spots has to be published; d) computing (S4) a preventive amount of costs and sales conditions; e) confirming said preventive cost and paying (S5) ; f) uploading (Sβ) the advertising messages; g) publishing (S7) said advertising spots.
35. Process according to claim 34, characterised in that it comprises the step of reserving at least one currently unavailable advertising space by storing said order in said services data base (47) .
PCT/IT2006/000347 2006-05-10 2006-05-10 System for real-time delivering multimedia contents and value services on a telematic network WO2007129344A1 (en)

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