WO2001093147A1

WO2001093147A1 - A just-in-time information control and operator system

Info

Publication number: WO2001093147A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/001139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rolf Carlsson; Sean O'neill
Original assignee: Infomakers Sweden Ab
Priority date: 2000-05-31
Filing date: 2000-05-31
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: AU2000254357A1

Abstract

A just-in-time information control and operator system comprises at least one electronic screen (16) for information display. A control unit (22) is disposed to determine a specific free area (20) outside a main information display area (18) on the screen and control the information display on the specific area on the screen depending on the main information displayed. The control unit is remotely located in respect of the screen and currently used web-browser.

Description

A JUST-IN-TIME INFORMATION CONTROL AND OPERATOR SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a just-in-time information control and operator system comprising at least one electronic screen for information display. Numerous information display systems are previously known. In WO

97/03418 a queue number system for serving customers is disclosed, said system comprising information unit summoning customers to be served. A customer can be identified and given priority within the queue number system and regarding information and service. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a just-in-time information control and operator system in which information displayed in a specific area of the screen outside a main information display area is controlled in response to the information shown in the main display area.

This purpose is obtained by a just-in-time information control and operator system of the kind defined in the introductory portion and having the characterising features of claim 1.

In this way a specific media channel is provided from remote third geographic location for controlling a specific dynamic active area outside a main display area on the user terminal screen which can be used for e.g. marketing. This specific area is positioned outside the main information display area in order not to cover anything of this main information.

According to advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention said screen is adapted to display information received over Internet in accordance with instantaneous URLs of current web browser, determined by a lo- cal user or by a local Internet TV^'s content script. The control unit is remotely located in respect of said screen and in respect of said web browser and adapted to communicate with said screen over Internet. Thus by using the standard Internet as a bi-directional carrier of information, remote system operators are able to control the display information, on said specific area, remotely on a world-wide basis. According to other advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention, said control unit comprises a DBMS-system controlling the display on said specific screen area in response to a local system in connection with said screen appearing online to said DBMS-system. Said local system sends signals informing said DBMS-system, when a change of URL occurs, and said DBMS- system is adapted to control the display on said specific screen area in response to input from local software settings or input from local queue systems. In this way the system comprises a semi-intelligent pre-set central behaviour rules in a DBMS driven, direct web-channel, as well as a media channel which is triggered, where appropriate, by local events or queuing statistics. Said specific area appears on the screen or monitor only when the central specified surveillance DBMS-criteria are met, or only when a local interactive event occurs, or, where appropriate, only when local queue statistics levels are met. Control of "when to show" and "what to show" is performed via said central DBMS-system as soon as a local system ap- pears online, i.e. connections to Internet are triggered by a user click or by predetermined software settings, or, while a local system is off-line, controls are performed via input from local software settings or from input of local queue systems. In this way it is indicated what predominant interest group of consumers is now present. Such a channel control can be achieved by the local system sending sig- nals, e.g. in the form encrypted pulses "based on e.g. UDP transmission protocol, indicating current universal resource location, URL, of the main information display area to the DBMS-system as soon as a change of URL occurs. To do this over Internet it must be possible to trap the physical Internet terminal locations and instantaneous destinations or locations URLs, for all public terminals being part of controlled installations, whether such URLs are triggered by a local user (interactively) or by a local Internet TV^'s content scrip (passively). The information shown in said specific area on the screen or monitor is thus depending on the current URL, and is instantly broadcast, using Internet protocols, back to customers viewing said specific area, as long as the main information display area is connected to said URL.

According to still another advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention, wherein said system being associated with a queuing system having a means for identifying a user, said control unit is adapted to control the information displayed on said specific screen area depending on said iden- tification. When the system according to the invention comprises e.g. public outdoor teller machines the main information display area js used as "money and transaction" area, and is then operationally separated from the Internet based media channel to said specific screen area. This specific screen area can still be used for display of for instance campaigns, which then are depending on the user iden- tification, i.e. triggered by e.g. a magnetic or smart card of the user, from the separate main information area. After the user identification, display of messages in said specific screen area adapted to the identification, is triggered from the DBMS- system. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention said specific areas on parts or all of a plurality of screens are commonly controllable from said DBMS-system. All currently Internet-connected or selected groups or screens can in this way be remotely controlled, e.g. set to a slave mode, and unconditionally be provided with a predetermined information on said specific area, e.g. information regarding public security, campaigns etc.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention said control unit comprises shaping and sizing means provided to determine the free space outside said main information display area on said screen and adapt the shape and size of said specific area to the determined free space on the screen. Thus available screen area is determined and its boundaries are transferred to and stored in the DBMS-system. Said specific area can be of any geometric form which can be calculated.

According other advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine if there is a "pure" pixel colour is within a pixel matrix of predetermined size, in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine, in an iterative procedure, if pixel lines of predetermined size around said pixel matrix of pure pixel colour comprise only said pure pixel colour, and in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determined if diagonal line of pixels across an area of a pixel matrix surrounded by lines of pure pixel colour comprises only said pure pixel colour, alternatively, said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine if there is a recurring pattern within a pixel matrix of predetermined size, in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine, in an iterative procedure, if pixel lines of predetermined size around said pixel matrix of recurring pattern comprise only said re- curring pattern, and in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine if a diagonal line of pixels across an area of a pixel matrix having said recurring pattern surrounded by lines of said recurring pattern comprises only said recurring pattern. In this way pure free space and free space with a recurring background pattern are determined. According to still other advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention a screen filter equipment is provided to vary the viewing angle of the screen. Preferably the DBMS-system is adapted to control said screen filter equipment to vary the viewing angle in response to the current URL of the screen. In this way the viewing angle can be increased to full angle - wide screen viewing - or reduced to a minimum angle - narrow screen viewing - or any value in between. This is a very important advantage of the invention when the screen has a public location. As an example, when a user visits his bank site to pay bills the system will instantly reduce the viewing angle to a minimum when the desired URL is trapped. As soon as the system enters public sites or when a screen is not actively used the screen viewing angle return to "wide", thus allowing an operator to send messages to the clientele at a public location.

To explain the invention in more detail embodiments of the system according to the invention, chosen as examples, will now be described with refer- ence to the drawings on which

Figure 1 shows one example of the principal layout of a system according to the invention intended for a public location, Figure 2 shows the principal layout of an example of an embodiment of the system according to the invention intended for home use, Figure 3 shows the basic elements of a system according to the invention in its simplest form, Figures 4 and 5 illustrate different ways of controlling "when and what to show" on the screen in the system according to the invention, Figures 6 and 7 illustrate techniques for determining "free space" on the screen in the system according to the invention,

Figure 8 shows still another embodiment of the system according to the invention, Figure 9 illustrates the possibility to vary the viewing angle on the screen in the system according to the invention, and Figure 10 shows an example of information displayed on a screen in the system according to the invention. Figure 1 shows the principal layout of an embodiment of the system according to the invention intended for public location. Thus this embodiment is designed for a local public office, like e.g. a local bank branch office. The system comprises a number of terminal screens 2, so called e-kiosks, connected to Internet, schematically shown at 4. The e-kiosks can be interactively accessed by consumers in a public location. They can for instance be associated with a queue number system 6 similar to the one described in the above mentioned publication WO 97/03418. They can also be connected to Internet TV screens 8, which are passively viewed by people in a public location.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the system according to the invention comprising a flat Internet TV screen 10 with built-in technology for interactive home use vis-a-vis Internet . For both the above embodiments any global Internet network connection 4 can be used.

The control and channel management function, e.g. for point of sale installations or home subscribers, is handled by channel operators via control units 12, preferably data base management systems (DBMS). These channel operators or operation units are located at a third location. Thus the system according to the invention allows the channel operators to manage public installations of Internet screen areas in an on-screen channel.

A system according to the invention also includes a unique media channel which controls an additional specific dynamic active area on the main screens 2,8, 10. This media channel is a specific information and possibly marketing channel as will be described in greater detail below. By using standard Internet as a bidirectional carrier of information remote system operators are able to manage this specific area 14 remotely on a world-wide basis, that is from a third location with respect to the location of the user and the current destination of the Internet web browser used. To make this possible over Internet it must be possible to trap the physical Internet terminal locations (dynamic IP) and instantaneous destinations or URLs for all public terminals being part of a controlled system, whether such URLs are triggered by a local user, i.e. interactively, or by a local Internet TV^'s content script, i.e. passively. The system according to the invention therefore comprises a semi- intelligent predetermined set of central behaviour rules in a DBMS-driven direct web-channel, as well as a media channel which in its turn can be triggered by e.g. "local events" and "queuing statistics". This media channel appears on an Internet terminal screen 2, 10 or TV-set 8, as a dynamically resizing specific area 14, but only when the central specified surveillance DBMS-criteria are met, or only when local queue statistics levels are met when used in a system of the kind defined in above mentioned publication WO 97/03418. Semi-intelligent means in this connection that free space on an interactive, Internet-based screen, like a computer display, TV-monitor, flat screen, billboard screen, etc, outside the main information display area which is typically a website area or a TV presentation area, is determined and the media channel will automatically resize the specific area within predetermined maximum and minimum boundaries in order not to cover anything on the web-services display area. This function of the system according to the inven- tion will be further described below.

Figure 3 shows on a larger scale an Internet-connected 4 user terminal screen 16 having a main information display area 18 and a specific media channel area 20 outside the main information display area 18. The information displayed on the screen 16 is controlled by a remotely located control unit 22, in a form of a DBMS-system.

Thus the control of "when to show" and "what to show" is performed via a central DBMS-system when a local system appear online, i.e. connections to Internet are triggered by a user click or by pre-set software settings, or when local systems are off-line, controls are performed via inputs from local software settings or where appropriate from local queue systems, as indicated above. When the system according to the invention is used for marketing an indication is thus obtained of what predominant interest group of consumers is present. To achieve such a channel control the local system 2a, see figure 4, sends signals in the form of encrypted pulses based on e.g. UDP transmission protocol to make the current universal resource location (URL) 2a of the main web services area 18 visible to the DBMS 22, at 2b, when a change of URL occurs.

"Live" inputs to the media channel, which is depending on the received URL traps, can be instantly broadcast using Internet protocols, at 2c in figure 5. This input is directed back to the customer viewing the specific area or window 20 on the ser terminal screen 16 as long as the main web services display area 18 is still on that URL. The media channel runs intelligently on available screen space 20 not covering the main web services display area 18.

The system according to the invention also comprises means for determining the free area 20 outside the main information display area 18. The deter- mination of the free area is performed by a mathematical calculation illustrated in figure 6. Thus it is first determined if there is a "pure" pixel colour within an XY- matrix of pre-determined size, e.g. 5 x 5 pixels. The first level for the specific area 20 is set by an upper left point X1 , Y1 and a lower right point X2, Y2 to determine a square. If this matrix contains a pure colour, step i) in figure 6, a pixel line of predetermined size, e.g. 1 x 1 pixel with the same screen colour is looked for around this square, step ii) in figure 6. If a pure colour line is detected then a diagonal line with the same screen colour is looked for through this square, step iii) in figure 6. If any of these pixel lines fail said means are adapted to automatically look for a square with a different size starting positions and the procedure is repeated.

Boundaries are stored in the control unite DBMS and only when all boundaries fail the media channel is not shown.

If the above described process to determine a pure pixel colour matrix fails said determining means automatically performs a background pattern recognition algorithm to determine a possible recurring pattern. Also this process can start with a matrix of predetermined size, like 5 x 5 pixel, to determine a possible recurring pattern, and a free space on the user terminal screen 16 is determined in a similar manner as the above described procedure. Figure 7 discloses an example of such a recurring pattern. As an alternative to the above method of determining the free screen area, the background can be studied along a rotating pixel radius, as illustrated in figure 7. In the left part of figure 7 it shown at 30, that the rotating radius r1 reaches a screen portion already used, i.e. something else than the recurring pattern 24 is detected. The radius is then reduced to the length r2, cf the right part of figure 7. As a final step a geometric algorithm is performed by said determining means to determine an actual content window shape within said free space, see figure 7. This shape can be any calculable form, like square, round, elliptic etc.

The whole described procedure for determining the specific area can be realised by using native operating system program interface commands. The boundaries of the specific area 20 do preferably not appear as distinct boundary lines on the screen but this area should be integrated with the rest of the screen display.

A media channel window or specific area is created by a transparent Internet browser(s). Only the content area is displayed and it is automatically sized and re-sized as described above. When a media channel is created the Internet browser can be directed to a local DBMS-source or a central DBMS for its input or have a local file system with Internet browser compatible source as its local input.

By using the described remote control unit 22 an operator can set all me- dia channel areas of the system to "instant on" to force special information to be displayed on the media channel area 20. All such currently Internet-connected specific areas, or only selected groups thereof in the DBMS 22, see figure 8, can be remotely controlled, e.g. set to a slave mode, and unconditionally set to such a "live stream" defined information, like information related to public security, cam- paigns, etc.

At a live connection as described above the media channel content management services can also manage the update of the media channel content, 5a in a local file structure at 26 in figure 8, which can then be used for display only when the system goes off-line, i.e. no connection to the Internet, or, where appropriate, when local queue statistics levels are met.

By the very nature of a public location and since the above described e- kiosks are Internet based, controlling the viewing angle of the screen is of great importance. Therefore, in the system according to the invention the remote control unit also has a possibility to control a screen filter equipment for varying the view- ing angle of the screen, depending on the current URL of an e-kiosk. Such screen filter equipment can be realised by e.g. polarising filters. Thus the viewing angle of the screen can be varied from full angle - wide screen viewing, 5d, - or reduced to minimum angle - narrow screen viewing, 5e, see figure 9, or any value in between. As an example when a user visits his bank-site to pay bills, the system in- stantly reduces the viewing angle to minimum by trap of define URL-structure, i.e. https://.... As soon as the e-kiosk enters public sites, i.e. https://www or when the e-kiosk is not actively used, the screen viewing angle returns to wide, thus allowing an operator to send messages to people at a public location.

Thus when the system include e.g. public outdoor teller machines, the main information display area 18, which then is the money and transaction area, is operationally split from the Internet-based media channel to the specific area 20. This channel can consequently still be used for display for e.g. campaigns. These campaigns can then depend on the user identification from the separate main information display-area 18, triggered by e.g. a magnetic or smart card of the user. After identification a suitable message is triggered into the media channel area 20 from the DBMS 22. Depending on the user^'s possible choices inside a media channel window or area 20 an instantaneous message can be automatically sent by the media channel via the operators Internet channel to a back-office unit 28 of the queuing system inside the bank, allowing back-office bank personnel to chose customers standing in front of an outdoor teller machine and selectively call customers into the bank via the separate media channel 5c to the specific screen area 20, see figure 8.

At live connection the media channel management services will also con- trol, over Internet, screen viewing angles as described above by "privacy filters", which dynamically change when URL address traps are met. Thus by filters the viewing angle is varied based on current URL destinations. An illustration on this is given in figure 9 where the viewing angle changes from a wide angle 5d for public sites like http://www....to a narrow privacy angle for specific URL destinations like https://secure... , https://login... ,https:/ftp...

Figure 10 shows an example of a screen display with a separate specific media channel, which can assume various shapes within defined boundaries. This specific area is interactive or active depending on DBMS-settings. A user can click on the production in a media channel 32 and/or on media channel "buttons" 34, which can lead the web services display area into a certain Internet web URL.

Claims

1. A just-in-time information control and operator system comprising at least one electronic screen for information display, characterized in that a control unit is disposed to determine a specific free area outside a main information display area on said screen and control the information display on said specific free area on said screen depending on main information displayed.

2. A system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said screen is adapted to display information received over Internet in accordance with instantaneous URLs of current web-browser, determined by a local user or by Internet TV^'s content script.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said control unit is remotely located in respect of said screen and in respect of said web browser and adapted to communicate with said screen over Internet.

4. A system according to Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said control unit comprises a DBMS-system controlling the display on said specific screen area in response to a local system in connection with said screen appearing online to said DBMS-system.

5. A system according to Claim 4, characterized in that said local system sends signals over Internet informing said DBMS-system when a change of URL occurs.

6. A system according to Claim 4, characterized in that said DBMS-system is adapted to control the display on said specific screen area in response to input from local software settings or input from local queue systems.

7. A system according to anyone of the Claims 4 - 6, characterized in that said specific areas on parts or all of a plurality of screens are commonly controllable from said DBMS-system.

8. A system according to Claim 1 , said system being associated with a queuing system having a means for identifying a user characterized in that said control unit is adapted to control the information displayed on said specific screen area depending on said identification.

9. A system according to any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said control unit comprises shaping and sizing means provided to determine free space outside the main information display area on said screen and adapt the shape and size of said specific area to the determined free space on the screen.

10. A system according to Claim 9, characterized in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to shape and size said specific area within predetermined maximum and minimum boundaries.

11. A system according to Claims 9 or 10, characterized in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine if there is a "pure" pixel colour within a pixel matrix of predetermined size, in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine, in an iterative procedure, if pixel lines of predetermined size around said pixel matrix of pure pixel colour comprise only said pure pixel colour, and in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine if a diagonal line of pixels across an area of a pixel matrix surrounded by lines of pure pixel colour comprises only said pure pixel colour.

12. A system according to any of the Claims 9 - 11, characterized in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine if there is a recurring pattern within a pixel matrix of predetermined size, in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine, in an iterative procedure, if pixel lines of predetermined size around said pixel matrix of the recurring pattern comprise only said recurring pattern, and in that said shaping and sizing means are adapted to determine if a diagonal line of pixels across an area of a pixel matrix having said recurring pattern and surrounded by lines of said recurring pattern comprises only said recurring pattern.

13. A system according to any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that a screen filter equipment is provided to vary the viewing angle of the screen.

14. A system according to Claim 13, characterized in that said DBMS-system is adapted to control said screen filter equipment to vary the viewing angle in response to the current URL of the screen.

15. A system according to any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said screen comprises a computer screen, a TV-monitor, a flat screen or a bill- board.