GB2143975A

GB2143975A - Computerised interactive advertising and information display system

Info

Publication number: GB2143975A
Application number: GB08415439A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Frank Brown; Michael John Anstey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-18
Filing date: 1984-06-18
Publication date: 1985-02-20
Also published as: GB8415439D0

Abstract

A computerised interactive advertising and information display system comprising of an optoelectronic sensor unit 1, a main computing unit 3, a mass storage unit 4 and a visual display 5 and appropriate interconnections. The optoelectronic unit detects the presence of observers and permits interaction between an observer and the system without any type of physical contact. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Interactive computerised information display and advertising system The invention relates to interactive computerised information display and advertising systems. Such systems not only display information or advertising material but allow an observer to interact or control said systems.

Currently available information and advertising display systems are largely non interactive in that the observer is presented with a predetermined sequence of display material and the observer therefore is unable to select from the sequence or to control its progress. Such systems as are currently available that do offer an interactive capability require the observer to make physical contact with some sensory extension of the controlling computing unit.

Such units, for example, may be controlled by a keyboard or by capacitor touch switches.

Furthermore, such units do not react to the presence of the observer but to the physical contact instigated by the observer.

The present invention provides an interative computer information and advertising system which requires no physical contact between the observer and the system for both the instigation of the display and subsequent interaction by the observer.

The present invention provides an optoelectronic sensory unit capable of being mounted upon a transparent position (eg a window) or placed in a free standing position.

The sensory unit is linked by a multi core cable to analogue to digital converter circuitry attached to a main computing unit.

According to the invention there is also provided means of mass storage for the computer program and data, necessary for the operation of the system. The mass storage unit may comprise of any of the currently available forms (eg magnetic tape or discs or video disc).

Further provided is a means of displaying the output from the main computing unit.

The invention also provides a suite of computer software which enables the calibration and testing of the system, the monitoring of the data from the opto-electronic sensory unit and the control, selection, display, and construction of the information and advertising textual and graphical displays.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying diagrams in which: Figure 1 is a diagramatical representation of an example of a complete system.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the opto-electronic unit.

Figure 3 is an end view looking from the front of the opto-electronic unit (as would be seen by an observer).

Figure 4 is an end view looking from the rear of the opto-electronic unit.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sensory module incorporated within the opto-electronic unit.

The hardware for a complete interactive computerised information and advertising system as shown in Fig. 1 comprises of an optoelectronic sensory unit 1, a multicore connecting cable 2 connecting the sensory unit to the analogue digital port of a main computing unit 3. The main computing unit is connected to a mass storage device 4 and also to a visual display unit 5.

Advantageously, the main computing unit, the mass storage unit and the visual display unit can all be of types widely available as domestic consumer products and therefore do not have to be custom designed for the system.

The opto-electronic sensory unit is as shown in Figs. 2,3 and 4 and comprises of a plastic housing 6 which by means of adhesive pads 7 can be mounted onto the surface of a transparent partition (eg a shop window) or alternatively the unit may be free standing.

Retained within housing 6 is a spherical plastic moulding 8 with an axially moulded hole 9. The spherical moulding 8 is retained in such a manner within housing 6 so as to permit universal rotational movement about the centre of the spherical moulding but to preclude lateral movement.

Axially moulded hole 9 has one end screw moulded 10 in order to accept sensory module 11.

A flexible cable 12 connects the sensory unit 11 to the main computing unit 3 (Fig. 1).

The flexible cable is secured to the housing 6 by a clamping means 13.

The sensory module (Fig. 5) comprises a hollow cylindrical moulding 14. One end is screw moulded 15 to allow mating with screw moulding 10 in the spherical moulding 8.

Retained within moulding 14 is a light sensitive electronic device 16 (eg a light dependant resistor) with its optically sensitive surface facing into axially moulded hole 9.

The light sensitive electronic device 16 is connected to a potentiometer 17 or other electronic circuitry permitting manual adjustment, by means of control 18, of the output signal from the device 16.

The sensory module housing 14 can be employed as a handle which permits manual alignment of the light sensing device 16 with suitable source of external light transmitted via axially moulded hole 9.

Control 18 is adjusted in order that a suitable level and variation of signal is sent to the computer base.

A computer program within the software suite enables the alignment and calibration of the unit to be carried out by the monitoring of signals stemming from the opto-electronic sensory unit and the production of a graphical display indicating when signal levels fall within required parameters.

Once the opto-electronic unit has been aligned and calibrated a second computer program continuously monitors the output from the opto-electronic unit, automatically compensating for any natural changes in the ambient light. If a light change profile is detected which is indicative of an observer's presence, the program will trigger an initial display sequence and then the subsequent monitoring of the opto-electronic unit by the program is used to indicate an observers interaction with the system and ultimate departure. The observer interacts with the system by causing additional indicative light profile changes at appropriate moments (eg by placing a hand in front of the opto-electronic unit). Advantageously no physical contact is required between the observer and any part of the system at any time during the process.

The output from the computer to the visual display is dependant on the observers interaction with the system.

Further programs within the software suite permit the design and construction of the graphical and textural displays and their encoding into compact form for storage onto appropriate mass storage media.

Claims

1. An interactive computerised information and advertising display system comprising of an opto-electronic sensor unit, a main computing unit, a mass storage unit and a visual display unit.

2. An information and advertising display system according to claim 1 in which the opto-electronic sensory unit comprises of a housing enclosing an opto-electronic sensor and which is capable of being mounted onto the surface of a transparent partition.

3. An information and advertising display system according to claim 2 where the optoelectronic unit is also capable of freestanding positioning.

4. An information and advertising display system according to any one of the claims preceeding in which the opto-electronic sensory unit comprises of a plastic housing retaining a spherical plastic moulding having an axially moulded hole and capable of universal rotational movement. Said axially moulded hole having a sensory module attached which is connected to the main computing unit.

5. An information and advertising display system according to claim 4 in which the sensory module consists of hollow cylindrical moulding enclosing a light sensitive electronic device and associated electronic circuitry to permit control or adjustement of the signals output from said device and provide means for manual adjustement thereof.

6. An information and advertising display system according to claim 5 in which the light sensitive device consists of a lifht dependant resistor.

7. An information and advertising display system according to claim 5 or 6 in which the electronic circitry comprises of a potentiometer circuit.

8. An information and advertising display system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.