FR2844069A1 - Consumer multimedia information multicriteria search having rotating ball pointer/button pusher providing computer mouse/selecting film previews/summaries over internet validating using button pushing. - Google Patents

Abstract

The consumer multimedia information search system has a rotating ball pointer (3) and a button pusher (4) acting like a computer mouse. There are computer base components. The rotating ball places a cursor on the screen with icons symbolising the criteria sought. Pushing the button validates the research setting and starts interrogation of the internet base. the results are displayed on the screen. The user can access film previews and summaries.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for searching

  multi-criteria of multimedia information (digital data such as text, image, sound, video) stored in a Database on a local or remote server. This invention applies to VIDEO CASSETTES, DVD, AUDIO CD, CD-ROM or any other product having a

  multimedia description. Viewing information about

  a film offered for sale or for rental in a store is traditionally made by a summary on the back of the support sold (CASSETTE VIDEO, DVD,) or through a seller and the viewing of the trailer is not offered. The presentation of information on video games in stores is done only by: - viewing information on the box that contains

the game CD ROM.

  - the provision of a console or a computer

(PC) to test a given game.

  - the presentation of a trailer on a screen of

television for a given game.

  Pre-listening to CD Audio in stores is currently done on systems that only allow

  select a limited number of albums.

  In some stores, customers pick up the CD on the shelf and present it to a device allowing it to be listened to. All of these techniques highlight two problems: The client does not have a central system allowing him to carry out a multicriteria search on the products he wishes to buy as well as to view trailers in

  for movies and video games.

  - 2 In the case of audio CDs, sellers spend time reclassifying the products that customers have left on the shelves

at the listening terminals.

  For buyers, this device according to the invention is particularly intended to help them better understand films, video games, audio CDs before buying in order to choose the product that best meets their expectations and to

  tell them their location on the shelf.

  This device is compact, taking up very little space on a shelf, very easy to use and very user-friendly. It is

  additionally fitted with anti-vandalism components.

  For stores, this device, in addition to animating the audio and video departments, can considerably improve the rotation of shelves by highlighting products with low rotation or which do not have

no advertising medium.

  The device according to the invention makes it possible to consult a multimedia database of VIDEO CASSETTES, DVDs, or any other digital medium while leaving the customer the possibility of viewing the trailers of the films or video games selected. A multi-criteria search by TITLE, GENDER (Adventure,

  Police ...), by ACTOR, by DIRECTOR, by YEAR allows the customer to select the films available in store 25 and to watch the trailer.

  A multi-criteria search by TITLE, GENDER (Adventure games, Strategy games, Action games ...), by EDITOR, by YEAR allows the customer to select the video games available in store and to watch the trailer. 30 A multi-criteria search by TITLE, GENRE (Pop Music, Rock, Jazz ...), by INTERPRETER, by COMPOSER allows the customer to select the titles available in the store and to listen to the songs chosen in a format

compressed audio (MP3, ...).

  - 3 This device is composed on a hardware level of a box containing a motherboard, a microprocessor, a graphics card, an audio chip, a loudspeaker, a color LCD screen, a pointing device (rotating ball) , a push button, an audio headset, a hard disk, RAM, a power supply connected to the mains, a network card which allows a high speed INTERNET connection with a database server. This device works on the software level (software) using an operating system and software which will make it possible to search via the Internet all multimedia information on a remote database.

  according to the criteria entered by the client.

  In order to better understand this invention, we

let's describe the device in the appendix.

  Figure 6 represents a modeling of a prototype

  comprising an external view and an internal view of the device.

  Figure 1 shows a schematic description of

  elements visible from the outside. These consist of a housing (1), an LCD screen (2), a time ball (3), a push button (4), a speaker (5), d headphones (6) The customer by rotating the rotating ball (3) moves a cursor visible on the LCD screen (2), this cursor highlights search selection buttons

(GENDER, TITLE, ...).

  The whole rotating ball device (3) and button

  pusher (4) functions like a computer mouse.

  The use of this set is very intuitive and can operate with one hand. The index finger rotating the

  ball while the thumb presses the push button.

  - 4 By pressing the push button (4), the device displays on the LCD screen (2) a window corresponding to the

highlighted button.

  This function is described in Figures 2 to 5.

  In figure 2, we can see the cursor (1) move thanks to the displacement of the rotating ball (3) of figure 1. When the cursor is above a button (2) symbolizing a search by GENRE, pressing the push button validates the button highlighted by the cursor and links the display

symbolized by figure 3.

  If the user makes the wrong selection, he can always go back by selecting the back button (3).

  In Figure 3 we can see the list of genres 15 corresponding to a search by GENRE. When the cursor is above a button (2) symbolizing the chosen genre (example COMEDY), pressing the push button validates the button highlighted by the cursor

  and connects the display symbolized by FIG. 4.

  As before, if the user makes the wrong selection, he can always go back by selecting the

back button (3).

  In Figure 4 we can see the list of films

  selected corresponding to the GENRE previously selected in this instance COMEDY.

  This information was obtained by a request sent

  via the Internet to the multimedia database server.

  The user refines his selection by choosing the film

  desired (selection with the rotating ball (3) and validation 30 by pressing the button (4) in Figure 1.

  - 5 As before, if the user makes the wrong selection, he can always go back by selecting the

back button (3).

  In figure 5, we arrive at the display of the last screen presenting the film summary (1), the film cover (2), the trailer (4), a symbol that will trigger the reading (5), a symbol which will pause the trailer (6), the

selection (7).

  As before, if the user makes the wrong selection, he can always go back by selecting the

back button (3).

  Selecting the play symbol (5) and

  pressing the push button will display the video in full screen.

  When the device stops being used, a pre-programmed internal clock triggers the display of trailers. These

  will stop as soon as a user actuates the rotary ball 20 (3) of FIG. 1.

  In a variant of this device, a touch screen could replace the LCD screen (2), rotary ball (3) and push button (4) assembly in FIG. 1 and provide the same

research purpose.

  According to a variant of the invention, the visual symbols of the buttons in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 can represent a search by TITLE, GENDER, EDITOR

for video games.

  The display of the trailer for the selected game is carried out by selecting the play symbol (5).

  According to another variant of the invention, the visual symbols of the buttons in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 can represent a search by TITLE, GENDER, INTERPRETER and COMPOSER for AUDIO CDs. Figure 5 may then differ in that selecting the button (5) would only cause listening to a piece of music from the chosen album. The latter being in a compressed digital format (MP3, ...) According to another variant of the invention, the rotating ball can be replaced by a rectangular sensor (3) sensitive to touch. Moving your finger over this sensor will move the cursor on the screen. (Figure 7) According to another variant of the invention, the assembly 10 screen, rotating ball and button can be replaced by a touch screen (2). (Figure 8) Although in this talk we have made reference to video films, DVDs and audio CDs, you should know that this invention can be applied to promote any other

  product as long as it has a digital description

  multimedia. The latter can be easily referenced in a

database.

  The industrial production of this invention can be carried out by the manufacture of a housing made of metal, plastic or any other material sufficiently resistant to impact and in accordance with the rules and uses necessary for use by the general public, the various components mentioned above. (motherboard, 25 hard disk, time ball ...) as well as the necessary cables) can be easily found on the market

  computer or industrial equipment.

  In addition, a support bar can be added to the device, making it easy to position it on the racks of the gondolas of large retail stores.

Claims (1)

- 7 - CLAIMS   l) Interactive audio visual multimedia information terminal intended for consumers characterized by a rotating pointing ball (3) associated with a push button (4). This set acts like a computer mouse. Inside the case, we find all the basic components of a computer, namely: a power supply, a motherboard, a microprocessor, RAM, a graphics card, a hard drive, an audio chip, a network card and speaker. Moving the rotating ball (3) moves a cursor on the screen   above the icons symbolizing search criteria.   Pressing the push button (4) validates the highlighted search. Example: the fact of carrying out a search by GENRE involves a query of the database via the Internet. The corresponding results   the criteria entered are displayed on the screen (2).   The user continues the same manipulation to refine his   research until being able to display the data of the film sought (jacket, summary, trailer) in the case of a search for films.   2) interactive audio visual information terminal according to claim 1 characterized by the fact of a multi-criteria search by TITLE, GENDER (Adventure games, Strategy games, Action games ...), by EDITOR, by YEAR 25 allowing the customer to select video games   available in store and watch the trailer.   3) Interactive audio visual information terminal according to claim 1 characterized by the fact of a multi-criteria search by TITLE, GENDER (Pop Music, Rock, - 8 Jazz ...), by INTERPRETER, by COMPOSER allowing the customer to select the titles available in store and listen to the selected songs in audio format compressed (MP3, ...).   4) Interactive audio visual information terminal according to claim 1 characterized by the fact of a multi-criteria search by NAME, RADIUS, FAMILY, MANUFACTURER allowing the customer to select any product   with a multimedia description available in 10 stores.   ) Interactive audio visual information terminal according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterized in that the screen, rotary ball and push button assembly will be replaced by a touch screen (2) performing the same search operations. . (Figure 8) 6) Interactive audio visual information terminal according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterized in that the rotating ball will be replaced by a touch sensitive sensor (3) of Figure 7, the fact of move the finger on the sensor moving the cursor on the screen. The   software performing the same search operations.   7) interactive audio visual information terminal according to claim 1 characterized in that one   can add to the device a support strip allowing it to be easily positioned on a gondola rack.