FR2846133A1 - Remotely controlled display panel for digital printing of posters, uses digital representation of graphic data on poster which can be transmitted over network for local display and printing - Google Patents

Abstract

The poster is prepared from a digital file which may be sent over a communication network or via a recording on a compact disk. The file is prepared by a microcomputer which sets format and secures the file, and is then sent to remote display panels which translate the digital file contents to a graphic display on the panel. The content of the display can be printed locally.

Description

- 1 This innovation concerns the manufacture of a panel

  remote-controlled digital display of posters of varying size and format. Printing is done directly inside the display panel from a digital file downloaded remotely or loaded locally on the panel: we design the poster on a remote computer, we send the digital graphic file to the panel that supports its printing and display. The panel automatically removes the poster when the display delay has expired. The digital graphic file is sent through all types of networks: fixed or mobile telephone, wireless, satellite, digitized,

  adsl, switched (private or public), radio (local radio loop), WIFI ...

  To understand the innovation of this new system, it is necessary to follow the long journey necessary for the traditional production of an advertising poster until its display on the public highway: 1- A company which wishes to launch an advertising campaign s '' address in

  general at his advertising agency.

  2- The latter designs the message and creates the graphic design for the poster. She submits her poster project to her client in the form of a paper color proof

  made in principle on a color inkjet or color laser printer.

  3- The customer makes changes until the definition of the final poster. The final final project is the subject of a paper output on which the client signs for acceptance of the print (in printing language, this final document is called good to print

or good to print).

    From this stage, the advertising agency can start the process of manufacturing the paper poster:

  1- It sends the digital graphic file to a flashing company which produces a film output in high definition (generally at 2400 or 3600 dpi resolution).

  2- from the films, it must also have a cromalin produced which is a reliable print on paper from the films in order to ensure that the final impression corresponds to the good to be drawn from the client. This cromalin will then be used by the printer to calibrate

  his machine to get the most faithful impression.

  3- With the films and the cromalin, the agency must then contact a poster printer. The latter uses the films and by a projection system (for

  enlargement) produces offset plates after mounting and exposure.

  4- These plates are then wedged on an offset printing machine, the

  driver must adjust the inking in order to obtain an impression most faithful to the 35 cromalin. Once the calibration has been completed, he can finally print the posters.

  - The posters are then cut to size (cut into several pieces in format

final) and folded.

  6- They are sent to the display for pasting or final hanging on the

  panels selected by the agency.

  7- The display operator must then distribute the posters by display network and have them posted by his agents, who use vans generally equipped for this purpose.

  nacelles to make the posters sticking or hanging at height.

  In summary, it can be estimated that between the signing of the customer's proof to print and the final collage or hanging of the poster, it takes an average of one week. If advertiser 10 decides to relaunch a poster campaign with a different visual or text, it

  will have to travel the same path again.

  The traditional system of manufacturing a poster does not allow any error, does not allow any modification after printing under penalty of returning to square one. It does not offer any immediate reactivity because the manufacturing and display time is incompressible. 15 At a time when communication requires immediate reactivity, permanent changes to messages, visuals that adapt to the target and sophisticated marketing methods, It is imperative to design a modern system for producing multi-media posters ( paper, cardboard, fabric, plastic ...) by eliminating all current constraints and by giving the different actors in the graphic chain 20 (agency, graphic designer, poster) the modern reaction and creation means using the latest available technologies: network broadband internet such as ADSL, UMTS,

  hexachromy printing, portable multi-platform PDF file format ...

  It was from this observation that the idea of designing an interactive poster creation system called iP.A.î.N.T (billboard with digital remote control printing) was born. The idea is simple: abolish all stages of manufacturing the poster by printing it directly on the display panel. The latter becomes a remote-controlled poster printing unit. The advertising agency designs the poster and has the customer validate a proof. It then sends the digital file to be printed to the display. The display reformats the graphic file, remotely selects the various 30 panels previously defined by the agency and sends the digital file instantly to each display panel. On receipt of this file, the panel immediately prints the poster in the desired format, size and shape. The display, thanks to a video system installed on each panel, can remotely control the correct

  printing process for each poster.

  What required a week of manufacturing with the intervention of several actors is

  reduced to one hour of manufacturing.

  In addition, a classic poster campaign required the advertiser to make the most of its budget to maintain the same poster for at least one week. It also forced the display to optimize a schedule of occupancy of its panels by avoiding as many display gaps as possible. With the iPAINT system, an advertiser can 5 over a period of one week display several messages or change the visual when he wishes, since reprinting a poster on several panels requires half an hour of work. Finally, the advertiser is not obliged to engage in a long poster campaign. For example, to advertise an open house day, it can reserve a network of signs for one or two days or simply on a 10 hour slot with high traffic from 7h to 9h and from 17h to 20h when the car traffic is highest . For the Display, the profitability of its panel increases because it can

  rent by the hour, by the day or by the week.

  The iPAINT device is a set of hardware and software which allows the display panel to digitally print inside the panel itself posters of variable size and format on different types of support (paper, cardboard, fabric, plastic ...). Each element performs specific functions, some components may be options to use or not depending on the location of the panel,

  outdoor temperature and the environment.

  The material part is made up of: 1- A display box of variable size, shape, material and colors with a varied fixing system (anchoring to the ground, on fixed or telescopic stand, wall fixing, suspension, on rail ). It brings together all the mechanical, electrical, electronic and software elements that constitute the digital printing unit for the poster:

it is the body of the panel.

  2- A microcomputer (under Windows, Linux or Mac OS system) called iTerminalserver. This remote station is responsible for a range of specific software capable of controlling the printing panels for posters and

  take charge of sending and printing the digital poster file.

  3- A slave power supply system (connected to the external electrical network) or autonomous (solar collectors, combustion cells) to supply all of the mechanical, electrical or electronic components electrically.

  4- An inverter to avoid power cuts.

  - An electrical stabilizer to reduce electrical micro-cuts. 6- A digital color printing system which uses either a single printing technology of the inkjet or ink bubble type or several printing technologies -4 depending on the medium to be printed of the inkjet type, laser, engraving or flocking). This digital color printing system can print in

  four-color, hexachrome or spot color for pantone colors.

  7- A print media supply unit. This unit can accept print media in continuous roll or with sheet feeder.

  8- A unit for receiving the already printed support to archive, recycle or destroy.

  9- A reprocessing unit for cleaning erasable and reusable print media. 10- A unit of ink or toner tanks with level sensors and mixers 11- A drive, wedging and fixing system which directs the support to be printed

  to the print module until the poster is finally exposed.

  12- A drying system, varnishing after printing to fix and protect

the printed poster.

  13- A barcode reader to identify the poster or unarchive it.

  14- A system for receiving and transmitting digital files (simple modem or adsl, optical cable or satellite dish or local radio loop antenna or satellite antenna) - A central processing unit for graphic files already riped and compressed for preparation, launching and controlling printing. This unit includes a processor, an arithmetic and logic unit, eproms, modules of

ram and buffer memories ...

  16- A digital storage unit such as hard disk or fast buffer memory.

  17- A magnetic media reader to read a file and execute a remote maintenance program on the panel.

  18- A heat pump type heating and cooling system with temperature probe, hydrometric probe and electronic thermostat to keep

  inside the panel an adequate operating temperature.

  19- An anti-theft and burglar-proof system for the panel in the form of a key, keypad or alarm center.

  - A timer clock which manages the switching on and off of the exterior and interior lighting

  21- Simple protective glazing or anti-ultraviolet treated to protect the poster.

  22- A lifting system on rail or telescopic for the material maintenance of the panel (change of print media rollers, ink tanks, toners, powders, preventive cleaning ...) -5 23- A lightning rod 24- A camera fixed on the panel to view and remotely control the display panel

  - An internal and external device for night lighting of the display panel.

  26- A fire protection device. 27- Electric ventilation and ventilation shutters to regulate the temperature and

  humidity level inside the panel.

  The software part consists of a range of computer programs specific to the Paint system (called iSoft) which take care of the digital file from its preparation, checking and securing to its final printing by the display panel. These control programs are distributed both on the control microcomputer (iTerminalserver), and on the central unit of the display panel. This range is made up of the following software: a) A program for checking the digital file before printing, called iCheck. It is divided into two sub-modules, one loaded on the iTerminalserver

  called iCheck Master, and the other on the display panel called iCheck Slave.

  b) A program called iPrepare, for reprocessing (ripping, compression, securing and coding) of the previously controlled file, which allows

  interpret, compress, secure and encode the digital file before it is sent to the display panel for printing.

  c) A program called iSelect, for selecting the available display panels capable of printing the digital file, by choosing the

  print media to use, and the print mode to apply.

  d) A program called iPlan, which allows you to define the duration of exposure of the poster.

  e) A program called iSend, sending the digital file to the panels

previously selected.

  f A program called iReceipt, loaded on the panel, which controls the file

  received, decompresses it, and buffers it.

  g) A program called iPrint which manages the printing of the digital file on the panel by activating the various components necessary for printing and displaying the poster: choice of printing medium and printing technology adequate, activation of drying and varnishing, setting and

  print media drive, fixing the poster exposure ...

  -6 h) A program called iVisual which remotely controls and visualizes the progress of the printing and display operations of the printed poster via a camera

attached to the panel.

  i) A program called iDiag for remote maintenance and remote diagnostics of the display panel: hardware and software functional tests, takeover of the panel for all preventive, adjustment or maintenance operations, management and display of consumable levels for replenishment (print media, ink, toner ...)

  j) A program called iPaid for booking, planning poster campaigns and billing customers.

  The process of producing a poster using the Paint system takes place as follows: The communications agency designs an advertising poster for its client. To this end, it uses a variety of software for graphic creation and layout. The main market standards used by 95% of graphic arts professionals are Adobe illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Quark Xpress. The final poster retained by the customer is the result of a digital graphic file in standard format such as PDF, EPS

or Jpeg ...

    From this final graphic file executed by the communication agency, the 20 Paint device can start: 1- The digital graphic file is viewed on the iTerminalserver PC. It is a standard microcomputer (under Windows, Linux or Mac OS) loaded with the iSoft software range, each specialized module of which performs tasks

  specific to the preparation for the final printing of the poster. In principle, it is located at the Display.

  Thanks to the iCheck master program, the digital file undergoes an integrity and conformity check on various technical parameters: its size, its type of format, the fonts used, the colors listed, the images or photos incorporated, the graphic resolution , linearity ... In the event of 30 non-conformities, the iCheck master module prints an error diagnosis and the file is sent back to its sender for correction. These changes may also

  be produced by the Displayer after authorization by the client.

  2- In case of validation of the file, the iPrepare program generates, from the latter, a new ripped, compressed secure and codified file: Ripping consists in translating the digital graphic file into a language directly understandable by the printing system of

  display panel: the file is interpreted or translated into print language.

  - The compression step consists of compacting (or compressing) the size of the original file in order to speed up the transfer to the display panel. 5 - The security process consists in encrypting the file in order to avoid any

  hacking or any hijacking when transferred to the display panel.

  - The coding procedure consists in registering the file so that it is authenticated by the display panel.

  3- After these reprocessing, the iTerminalserver operator uses the iSelect module to select the panels or the network of panels on which he wishes to print his poster, defines the print medium to be used and the mode

  to apply. In the case of panels connected to the Internet, each panel is identified by a unique IP address (Internet 15 Protocol).

  4- After choosing the destination panels, the operator determines using the iPlan software the duration of display of the poster (time slot, day, week ...) which generates a display schedule and which will automatically trigger the updated billing and reservation program called iPaid. The validation of this schedule activates the iSend program which sends this graphic file to the panels previously selected via the internet (or any other network: dedicated line, switched line, digital line, local radio loop, network of

  satellites, umts, wireless network or WIFI).

  - Each remote display panel receives the file. This file is temporarily loaded for reading in the RAM of the CPU module. The iReceipt program operates to identify the file using an algorithm that allows it to read its registration and identification. This algorithm calculates a security key and compares it to its authorization table. If this calculated key is non-compliant, the display panel refuses the received file, unloads it from its temporary memory and sends an alert message to the iTerminalserver to notify it of the non-acceptance of the received file. If the authentication is correct, the iReceipt program decompresses and decrypts the file by copying it to memory

dead (hard drive).

  6- The end of the iReceipt program automatically activates the launch of the iPrint program. The latter opens the digital file to be printed, checks the printing parameters (poster size, type of medium to be printed ...) and -8 starts printing the poster on the appropriate medium (paper, cardboard , plastic, fabric ...) by selecting the appropriate printing module (inkjet, laser, thermal transfer, engraving or flocking). The selected printing module triggers the roll or the tray of the support to be printed and activates the printing material to be used (ink, toner, ...). The previously printed poster is directed to a recycling or reprocessing module where it can either be archived and recalled by its serial number generated during printing in the form of a barcode and identified by an appropriate reader, either be reprocessed or be destroyed, or be recycled. It should be noted that the display panel can use erasable supports which can be reused after treatment in the reprocessing unit. 7- Once the printing is finished, the iPrint program sends the iTerminalserver an end of printing message. The operator can remotely, from the iTerminalserver, thanks to the iView program, visually control each display panel by viewing through the camera attached to each panel the correct progress of the printing and exposure of the poster . This control

  remote can be done at any stage.

  8- Finally, independently of the printing process, the operator of the remote iTerminalserver can execute the preventive remote diagnosis program 20 iDiag master. The latter allows him to remotely check for each panel the physical state of the panel, namely: temperature and humidity management of the panel, level of ink tanks and toners, control of varnishing / drying modules, cleaning and alignment of the printheads, level of the print media, management of the reprocessing and recycling unit, control of the anti-intrusion and anti-intrusion system, revision and maintenance counter, printing tests , remote control of the panel processing unit, formatting of disks, purging of files, management of archived digital files, management of print media drive, diagnosis and test of electrical and electronic elements on board panel, management of reception and emission antennas, control of fire-fighting system, verification and orientation of solar panels, control of internal and ex lighting system dull and timer (ignition and

lighting off).

  Furthermore, on the display panel, the iDiag Slave software can be permanently activated to perform all of the previously mentioned checks and tests locally. In the event of an error, the display panel sends a diagnostic file to the iTerminalserver to help the operator plan a technical intervention directly on the display panel in the event of a hardware failure or preventive replenishment of consumables (ink, toner, print media, bulb ...) or remote software maintenance if the problem is a machine setting. Finally, if it is impossible to remotely transfer the digital file to the display panel, the iTerminalserver operator can copy his digital graphic file to an external medium (floppy disk, cd, dvdram or other burnable media) and have it inserted directly, by a technician, said support 10 in the display panel reader to launch locally on the panel

poster printing.

  At the end of the display period, the poster is automatically archived for

  destruction or recycling or reprocessing in the panel. The latter returns to the available position on the reservation schedule managed by the iPlan module and can again receive a file.

  The industrial application of this invention relates to the manufacture of remote control display panels for digital printing of posters of different formats on all types of printable materials. The printing of the poster and its display are carried out directly by the panel. These panels are remotely controlled by a microcomputer through any type of network. This invention

  is particularly intended for advertising display companies.

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Claims (4)

  1) Device for printing and displaying posters in color or in black and white, of variable format and size, directly on display panels, from a digital file sent remotely by computer via any type of network or locally loaded, which can use different printing technologies: inkjet, ink bubbles, laser, laser and thermal engraving, flocking or any color printing technology, and print on different supports: paper, cardboard, fabric,   plastic or any other printable, etchable or flockable material.   2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display panels comprise an autonomous printing module, a computer data processing unit, a camera, a lighting system, a power supply, an anti- intrusion and fire fighting, a   recovery or reprocessing unit for the support used located inside the panel box, X 6 or its telescopic leg.   3) Device according to claim l or 2 characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the remote control display panels with digital printing of posters by a computer, which send the same digital file to a network of several of these panels , located in different places, and which trigger the printing, engraving or serigraphy of the posters directly on the panels thus selected.   4) Device according to claim, i or 2 characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the remote control display panels with digital poster printing directly on these   panels, by inserting the digital file via a computer medium (diskette, CD or other similar medium), which allows printing, engraving or screen printing of the poster to be triggered directly on the signs locally, without going through the network.   ) Device according to any one of claims i to 4, characterized in that it further comprises,   a device for remote control of said panels, and of the printing and exposure of   the poster, via a camera or any other similar device, located on the panel.