FR2784535A1 - Automatic fixed or moving image presentation device, e.g. for public display on building exterior, stores tagged image sequences decoded from data stream over satellite link, reproducing them in order determined remotely - Google Patents

Abstract

A satellite receiver and decoder (DEC) on top of a tower or building, receives tagged image sequence data and relays it over a wireless link (FVD) to a display terminal (TER) where the data is stored, e.g. on a hard disc (HD). A remote station (SCN) controls the actual display of images by transmitting, over a wireless link, scenario information (FDE) which is stored in a memory (MEM), and determines the order in which the image sequences are to be presented. An Independent claim is included for a method of automatically presenting a sequence of moving or fixed information using the device of the invention.

Description

Device and method for automatic visualization of sequences of fixed and / or animated images on an outdoor site.

The present invention relates to the visualization or automatic display of sequences of fixed and / or animated images, in particular on an outdoor site.

It finds general application in the automatic visualization of all information, in particular signaling, advertising or retransmission information of exceptional events, for example in association with urban furniture, distributors of articles or drinks, or video walls.

There are already known display devices intended to be placed outdoors, and capable of automatically displaying signaling, advertising, or retransmission information.

In this type of known device, the information to be displayed is most often pre-recorded or downloaded.

In the first case, the visualization of the information takes place in a closed loop, which limits their interactivity with the atmosphere or the conjuncture of the visualization site.

In the second case, the connection between the display device and the remote download control unit is generally of the wired type, which makes the download easy to break or to damage, especially in an urban environment.

As a result, such known devices do not today constitute a completely satisfactory means of communication.

The present invention overcomes these drawbacks.

It relates to a device for viewing sequences of fixed and / or animated images, in particular on an outdoor site, of the type comprising a decoder capable of cooperating with a broadcasting network to receive and select a stream of digital data containing elementary data. representative of said sequences.

According to a general definition of the invention, the stream of digital data coming from the broadcasting network comprises a label associated at least with each sequence, and the display device comprises: a first input interface connected to the decoder for receiving the digital data stream thus selected by the decoder; a first memory for storing the data stream coming from the decoder; a second input interface suitable for cooperating with remote control means for receiving a stream of digital data representative of at least one scenario containing the sequence labels to be displayed in a chosen order; a second memory for storing the scenario thus received; and - own processing means, in response to a predetermined condition, to read in the second memory the current scenario, to search in the first memory for the digital data representative of the sequences using the labels contained in the current scenario, and applying said sequences to display means according to the order of the labels defined in said current scenario.

Such a device has the advantage of making it possible to choose or modify, without direct local human intervention, the scenario of the sequences to be displayed, which offers numerous possibilities for automatic interactivity or automatic synchronization with in particular the atmosphere (conditions hours, weather, sound, ...) or the situation of the viewing site.

As a result, such a display device constitutes an excellent vector of interactive and automatic communication.

Preferably, the link between the broadcasting network and the decoder is a non-wired link, of the satellite type for example. Thus, thanks to the non-wired downloading of the information to be viewed according to the invention, the installation of such a device on an outdoor site is less vulnerable to acts of vandalism than a wired downloading device.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the predetermined condition which controls the automatic display is of the event type while the device also comprises capture means connected to a third input interface, and suitable for delivering local information, the processing is likely to command the choice or modification of the current scenario.

In practice, the capture means are local and belong to the group formed by temperature detectors, rain or humidity detectors, presence detectors, pollution detectors, detectors for actuating predetermined keys.

In practice, the second input interface is intended to cooperate with the remote control means according to a wireless link, of the satellite, hertzian or paging type.

As a variant, the second input interface is intended to cooperate with the remote control means according to a wired link of the carrier current type, on an energy network.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first and second input interfaces constitute a common input interface for the data flow and the scenarios.

According to another aspect of the invention, the display means comprise means for decoding animated sequences such as MPEG, "realtime", "quicktime"; means for decoding the audio / video stream; display controller means; and screen or monitor means.

In the case where the digital data stream is scrambled, the decoder furthermore comprises descrambler means for descrambling said scrambled stream in order to apply it to the first input interface thus descrambled.

According to the invention, the decoder is of local or remote type.

When the decoder is local, it is advantageously connected to the first input interface according to a wired link, and the display device further comprises remote reception means arranged between the broadcasting network and the local decoder, said reception means remote being placed at a high point relative to the display device, and being suitable for communicating with the local decoder according to a non-wired transmission link of selected speed.

In practice, the bit rate of the non-wired transmission link between the remote reception means and the local decoder is of the order of a few MBits / s, this bit rate being, for example, that of the video sequence received.

When the decoder is remote, the display device further comprises remote reception means disposed near said remote decoder, at a high point relative to the display device, said remote reception means being connected to said remote decoder, and said decoder remote being connected to the first input interface according to a non-wired link of selected speed, of the order of a few hundred KBits / s for example, this speed being independent of the transmission speed of the sequence received by the remote decoder (This speed takes into account, for example, the economic conditions and the environment of the transmission system, which must comply with transmission regulations).

Advantageously, the processing means are connected by a microcomputer type bus to the various constituent elements of the display device, such as the first and second memories, the first and second input interfaces as well as the display means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is intended to be placed on an outdoor site capable of being subjected to external aggressions or to acts of vandalism.

In this application, the device comprises protection means of the shielding type capable of protecting the device from said external attacks or acts of vandalism.

According to another aspect of the invention, the device further comprises reception means of GPS type or the like, capable of cooperating with remote positioning means capable of delivering at least information relating to the positioning of the device, and the means of processing are specific, in response to the positioning information to manage the reception of the digital and scenario data flow as well as the selection of the current scenario.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device also comprises local reception means of the flat, single-frequency directive antenna type, for example in UHF.
The present invention also relates to a method for implementing the automatic display device according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the light of the detailed description below and of the drawings in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents a device for automatic display of sequences of animated and / or still images according to the invention ; and FIG. 2 schematically represents the essential, constituent, and local means of the automatic display device according to the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the automatic display device according to the invention comprises a TER terminal which makes it possible to automatically display on a screen or monitor MO sequences of fixed and / or animated digital images.

The TER terminal is for example of the microcomputer type. It manages the information received by different transmission links. The TER terminal is for example intended to be placed on an outdoor site, liable to be subjected to a high level of vandalism such as street furniture, a vending machine for drinks, or a video wall.

Very advantageously, the information to be displayed is transmitted by a satellite link, of the digital television or analogous type, comprising a satellite transmission transmitter EMS, a satellite SAT and a remote reception device comprising in particular a reception parabola PAR.

In practice, the PAR dish is placed on a high point
PH, for example at the top of a pylon or on the roof of a PYL building.

The PAR reception dish is, for reasons of anti-vandalism, separate from the TER terminal.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the PAR dish is connected to a REL relay equipped with a decoder
DEC says "remote" insofar as it is not housed in the terminal. The signals received by the parable PAR are processed by the remote decoder DEC to be stored in a temporary memory (not shown) resident at the high point PH.

Then, the content of the temporary memory is transmitted at low speed from the high point PH to the terminal TER. The link between the REL relay and the TER terminal is a low-rate radio frequency type link, for example, a few hundred KBits / s.

The advantage of such a radio frequency link is that it is easy to implement. Such a radiofrequency link also has the advantage of being almost permanent, which reduces the drawback relating to the waiting time.

In practice, the operator of TER terminals has a personal identifier PID (for Personal Identifier) which makes it possible to recognize the operator of display terminals. The decoder operates in permanent standby. As soon as it recognizes the identifier, the decoder stores the stream received on this identifier and then retransmits it to the TER terminal. This requires that the broadcast channel is always the same.

For example, this channel is only occupied part of the time (sharing of several users of the same channel).

According to a second embodiment of the invention (not shown), the REL relay is a simple direct relay capable of redirecting the incident flow received at the parable PAR to the TER terminal, after transmodulation.

The link between the REL relay and the TER terminal is, for example, a high speed wireless link making it possible to support the entire flow. For example, the speed of the link between the REL relay and the TER terminal is of the order of 36 MBits / s.

In this case, the TER terminal is locally equipped with a decoder adapted to recover the stream and, if necessary, descramble the stream.

To extract the stream at the level of the decoder (local or remote), provision is made to use a conventional identification protocol in the field of digital television.

Thus, the transmission of information for the satellite link is carried out directly by the use of a satellite multiplex link similar to that of a digital television operator or high speed INTERNET service.

It should be remembered that the multiplexing function makes it possible to assemble in a single digital stream the various information to be transmitted. It is based on a packet structure.

For example, the operator of TER display terminals according to the invention is identified in service tables present in a transport multiplex, defined by the European group DVB (for DIGITAL VIDEO BROADCASTING).

The transport multiplex allows the decoder to identify and accept the various constituent elements of the digital flow (services, components, access conditions ...) in a hierarchical manner. Thus, a selected signaling allows the decoder to quickly identify and access the elements of the multiplex. Signaling uses tables as the DVB group recommends. However, private data can be added to improve the information related to the processing of the flows received and the incorporation of these flows into display scenarios (priority, classification, deletion, modification). For example, the tables used in the present invention are those described in the documents issued by the DVB, and taken up by the ETSI (European Telecommunication Standards Institute).

Among these tables, we first distinguish the PAT table for "Program Association Table" which provides the correspondence between the program number and the identifier of the table to describe the components of this program.

We also use the PMT table for "Program Map Table" which provides the identifiers of the components of a program as well as their primary characteristics.

The NIT table for "Network Information Table" is also used. It describes the physical parameters of the network. The NIT table also provides information on the physical organization of the bouquets (multiplex) present on the same satellite. It can be made up of two parts, the first describing the bouquets of the same satellite and the second describing other bouquets present on another satellite or in a different frequency band. The NIT table can also include a description of the private data. This table also makes it possible to automatically search for bouquets.

Finally, the CAT table for "Conditional Acces Table" provides the identifiers of the access title messages. This table is optional, that is, access control is an optional operation. This access control has the advantage of providing access protection to information.

Certain data make it possible to provide the decoder with the possibility of selection by time slot, by theme and by service. The EIT tables for "Event Information Table" are dedicated to this information.

Thus, thanks to the EIT tables, the decoder receives sequences of the MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) type with all the information linked to the sequence (duration, comments and additional information). The definition of receiving the flow is defined in these EIT tables.

Thanks to the content of these tables, the decoder identifies the operator, controls and authenticates the sequence of images and finally, identifies the sequence of images to manage it in a database (not shown).

According to the invention, the identification of the sequences is obtained using digital labels associated with each sequence of images. These labels use the private fields of the tables. Public fields are brought into compliance with multiplex carriers and addressed in accordance with service operators.

The recovery and storage of the stream on a hard disk are carried out after identification of the sequence. Only the visualization information used is transmitted to the hard disk with the information from the labels making it possible to manage the sequence in its transmission environment.

The display information is sequences that must be ordered in time. This order can be transmitted by the satellite link in the form of a scenario containing a set of sequence labels to be displayed, arranged in a precise order. In this case, the TER terminal is equipped with a single common input interface to receive the digital data stream as well as the scenario conveyed by the satellite link.

As a variant, the scenario can be transmitted by remote control means SCN of the paging type. This paging message is received by the TER terminal in order to be stored in an appropriate MEM memory.

This scenario thus makes it possible to store new sequences and to eliminate the old ones. As will be seen in more detail below, each sequence is viewed in sequential mode.

The TER terminal can be associated with automatic dispensers of objects such as articles or bottles, for which an interactive and automatic display of signaling or advertising is to be added. In this application, the terminal is equipped with means for capturing local information or events whose content makes it possible to choose or modify the current scenario.

For example, these events can be actions on a key, a distribution request, a presence detection by ultrasound or infrared. In this case, the scenario can be modified to take account of the external event, for example to explain the action of the key, request for information, guidance etc.

Likewise, direct local actions on visualization can be linked to a climatic aspect (rain, sun, hours, (day, night, etc.)).

With reference to FIG. 2, the terminal TER comprises an input interface INT1 capable of cooperating with the remote broadcasting network over a wireless link, to receive the stream of digital data coming from the decoder DEC. This stream is hereinafter called the FVD video / remote stream. An HD hard drive allows the storage of the FVD data stream.

An input interface INT2 cooperates with the remote control means SCN to receive at least one scenario containing the labels of the sequences to be displayed. This scenario is hereinafter called FDE direct inbound flow. A memory MEM is provided for storing the scenario thus received.

Processing means of the microprocessor type UT, read the current scenario in the memory MEM in order to search the hard disk HD, using the labels contained in said current scenario, for the data representative of the corresponding sequences and apply them to the display means
MO according to the order of the labels defined in the current scenario.

In practice, the display means MO comprise means for decoding animated sequences, such as MPEG, "realtime", "quicktime"; means for decoding the audio / video stream; display controller means; and MON screen or monitor means. A graphics controller CG receives the decompressed video images stored in a video memory MIV to apply them to the display screen MON.

Preferably, the components of the TER terminal are connected to each other by an internal bus BUS of the microcomputer type allowing the processing means UT to control the various functions of the terminal.

For example, the display screen MON consists of a screen or flat panel of the light-emitting diode type.

Advantageously, the electronic equipment of the terminal is arranged inside the screen to protect it from acts of vandalism.

Advantageously, no opening to the outside is provided at the terminal. This receives only the energy which makes it possible to maintain a temperature in accordance with the operation of the LCD type panels. For example, the flat screen has a diagonal on the order of a meter or more.

The TER terminal comprises local reception means AP of the flat antenna directive single-frequency type or of the conventional type integrating with the terminal without risk of damage to the equipment.

MEM storage memories are non-volatile, such as FLASH memories (ROM) allowing to memorize information permanently (programs and information linked to sequences), as well as volatile memories (RAM) for data coming from the hard disk.

The HD hard drive is of classic technology. Its capacity is dependent on the volume of the sequences recorded to execute autonomously all the possibilities of the sequences.

For example, the capacity of the hard drive is in the range of 10 to 100 GBytes.

The terminal software is downloaded following the same procedure as that implemented for the transmission of video sequences. This download mode makes it possible to introduce into the terminal other operating programs than the initial programs or to correct operating incidents in real time.

The processing means UT can comprise a microprocessor of the PENTIUM or equivalent type operating at a frequency greater than 233 MHz for example.

The MON display screen is of the SVGA or high definition television type. The flat screen can also be of the plasma structure type allowing good vision.

An input interface INT3, of the communication controller type, is suitable for receiving local information IL emanating from local sensors (presence detector for example). Local information IL is processed by the processing unit to choose or modify the current scenario.

The invention can also be applied, in place of a satellite link, to an information source of the digital terrestrial television or cable channel type. Likewise, the information to be displayed can be routed by the electrical network with an adapted modulation, for example of the COFDM type adopted by the standardization bodies (DVB,
DTAG, ...) to digital terrestrial transmission.

For example, in the case where the only physical link between the terminal and the outside world is the electricity network (via public lighting for example, street lamps), the technique of carrier currents on the energy network can be used to transmit scenario information using the same technologies as those used in home automation.

This carrier current technology, also proposed and tested by NORTEL, makes it possible to transmit viewing scenarios and information related to the recovery of satellite flow. This NORTEL technology has a bit rate on the order of Mbps which is better suited than that of the current 12 kHz carrier currents of EDF technology.

The physical link by carrier currents can replace the paging system described above. The messages transmitted by the energy network are recovered by a terminal connected to a MODEM link. This terminal is located for example in a building close to the terminal.

Advantageously, the terminal is equipped with passive protection means, for example of the shielding type, making it possible to protect the local antenna AP and the screen MON as well as the electronic elements HD, UT, MEM ...

For example, the local antenna is made in a flat structure which fits better in an anti-vandalism environment than conventional antennas.

Advantageously, the device is also equipped with reception means of the GPS (Global Positioning System) type. These reception means are suitable for cooperating with remote positioning means capable of delivering at least one piece of information relating to the positioning of the device. Thus, the processing means in response to the positioning information are capable of managing the reception of the digital data stream and of the scenarios as well as the selection of the current scenario.

In practice, the GPS reception means make it possible to self-locate the terminal in order to allow geographic processing of the display of information.

It should be noted that a relatively complete interactivity is made possible thanks to the invention. This interactivity can be achieved by direct local actions linked to the atmosphere of the viewing site or linked to user interaction. It should also be noted that the change of the scenario or the modifications made in the course of the scenario can be quickly remote-controlled by paging for example. Local information sensors (rain, pollution) can also make changes to the scenario.

It should be noted that paging is not essential since the scenarios can be routed in the satellite-type transport stream.

The display terminal according to the invention is capable of constituting a satisfactory and solid communication vector in a hostile environment. In addition, it is interactive, automatic, with a short response time compared to the prior art display devices.

Claims (18)

Claims 1. Device for viewing sequences of fixed and / or animated images, in particular on an outdoor site of the type comprising a decoder (DEC) capable of cooperating with a broadcasting network (EMS, SAT, PAR) to receive and select a digital data stream containing elementary data representative of said sequences, characterized in that the digital data stream coming from the broadcasting network comprises a label associated with each sequence, and in that the display device comprises: -a first interface d input (INT1) connected to the decoder (DEC) to receive the digital data stream (FVDI) thus selected by the decoder (DEC); a first memory (HD) for storing the data stream (FVD) coming from the decoder; a second input interface (INT2) capable of cooperating with remote control means (SCN) to receive at least one scenario (FDE) containing the sequence labels to be displayed in a chosen order; a second memory (MEM) for storing the scenario (FDE) thus received; and -processing means (UT) suitable, in response to a predetermined condition, to read in the second memory (MEM) the current scenario, to search in the first memory (HD) the digital data representative of the sequences corresponding to the using the labels contained in said current scenario, and applying said sequences to display means (MO) according to the order of the labels defined in said current scenario. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the link between the broadcasting network and the decoder (DEC) is non-wired, in particular of the satellite type. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined condition which controls the automatic display is of the event type, while the display device comprises capture means connected to a third input interface (INT3), and specific to deliver local information whose processing is likely to command the choice or modification of the current scenario. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the capture means belong to the group formed by temperature detectors, rain or humidity detectors, presence detectors, pollution detectors, actuation detectors predetermined keys. 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second input interface (INT2) is intended to cooperate with the remote control means (SCN) according to a wireless link, of satellite, hertzian or paging type. 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second input interface (INT2) is intended to cooperate with the remote control means (SCN) according to a wired link of the carrier current type, by energy network. 7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second input interfaces (INT1 and INT2) constitute a common input interface for the data flow (FVD) and the scenarios (FDE). 8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display means (MO) comprise decoding means (MPEG), means forming display controller (CG) and means forming screen or monitor (MON). 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decoder (DEC) comprises descrambling means capable of descrambling a scrambled data stream in order to apply them to the first input interface (INT1) thus descrambled. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the decoder (DEC) is local and connected to the first input interface (INT1) according to a wired link, and in that the device also comprises remote reception means (PAR) arranged between the remote broadcasting network and the local decoder, the remote reception means (PAR) being placed at a high point (PH) relative to the display device, and being suitable for communicating with the local decoder (DEC ) according to a non-wired transmission link. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the bit rate of the non-wired transmission link between the remote reception means (PAR) and the local decoder (DEC) is of the order of a few MBits / s. 12. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the decoder (DEC) is remote, in that the device further comprises remote reception means (PAR) arranged near the remote decoder, at a high point (PH) relative to the device, and connected to said remote decoder and in that the remote decoder (DEC) is connected to the first input interface (INT1) according to a non-wired link. 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the bit rate of the non-wired transmission link between the remote decoder (DEC) and the first input interface (INT1) is of the order of a few hundred KBits / s . 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing means (UT) are connected by a bus (BUS) of microcomputer type to the first and second memories (HD and MEM), to the first and second input interfaces (INT1, INT2), as well as to the display means (MON, CG, MPEG). 15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, intended to be placed on an outdoor site liable to be subjected to external aggressions or acts of vandalism, characterized in that it comprises means of protection of the shielding type specific to protect the device from said external aggressions. 16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises reception means of GPS type or the like capable of cooperating with remote positioning means capable of delivering information relating to the positioning of the device and what the processing means (UT) are able, in response to the positioning information, to manage the reception of the digital data stream and of the scenarios as well as the selection of the current scenario. 17. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises local reception means (AP) of the flat antenna type. 18. Method for automatic display of sequences of fixed and / or animated images implemented by the device according to one of claims 1 to 17.