Abstract
Disclosed is to an electronic display board to enable a plurality of people to take cognizance of at least one displayable item of information available in digital form in places open to the public. The electronic board includes a box having a flat shape suitable for use as a display board, at least one information processing subassembly including at least one microprocessor, at least one memory able to store at least temporarily an application program, at least one memory able to store data connected with at least one digital content to be displayed, at least one display subassembly, and at least one electrical power source. Also disclosed is a system including at least one electronic display board and a method using at least one electronic display board.
Claims
1-38. (canceled)
39. Electronic display board (1) to enable a plurality of people to take cognizance of at least one displayable item of information (2) available in digital form in order to meet legal display obligations, or regulations in places open to an audience in private companies, in administrations and in all types of public or private buildings, the display board comprising: A casing (3) having a flat shape suitable for use as a display board and configured to i) be used in vertical position, and ii) to receive functional components; at least one information processing subassembly (4) comprising i) at least one microprocessor (5), and ii) at least one memory (6) able to store at least temporarily an application program operatively connected with the display of at least one digital content, and iii) at least one memory (7) able to store data operatively connected with at least one digital content to be displayed, and iv) at least one functional block consisting of software or hardware, or combination of hardware and software configured to manage rights associated with all or part of the information displayed or to be displayed; at least one electronic display subassembly (8); and at least one electrical power source (9) used at least temporarily.
40. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein the at least one electrical power source captures the energy (28) required to operate said board in its environment (29) in order to allow for operation that is disconnected from any wired network.
41. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein, the at least one information processing subassembly further comprises at least one of the group of functional blocks consisting of software or hardware, or combination of hardware and software configured to i) provide time information, ii) receive rights data associated with all or part of the information displayed or to be displayed, iii) store rights data associated with all or part of the information displayed or to be displayed, iv) force the reinitialization of the at least one information processing subassembly, v) allow the user to interact with the board without touching the display surface, vi) choose the language in which at least one portion of the information displayed is presented to the reader, vii) orally restore at least one portion of the information displayed in the display language, viii) orally restore at least one portion of the information displayed in a different language, ix) receive data, x) transmit data, xi) form a meshed network, xii) decrypt the information transmitted by a remote source of information, xiii) authenticate the source of the information received, xiv) manage the working time of the personnel, xv) selectively display information according to the identity or the category of the reader, xvi) cooperate with a technical management system of the building, xvii) cooperate with an external information system, xviii) detect the presence of persons in a situation to view at least one item of information displayed, xix) recognize at least one characteristic of persons in a situation to view at least one item of information displayed, xx) identify persons who are viewing a content, xxi) geo-locate the electronic display board, xxii) address the electronic display board according to the location where it is physically installed, xxiii) produce statistics or audience measurements, xxiv) detect violations to the physical integrity of the electronic display board, xxv) detect intrusions in the premises where the electronic display board is installed, xxvi) generate a local acoustical alarm, xxvii) transmit an alarm to a remote system, xxviii) provide at least one web server function associated with at least one determined web address, xxix) allow remote users to view all or part of the information displayed on the electronic display board, xxx) allow remote users to view printed information displayed on the electronic display board by using a camera turned towards a face of the board.
42. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein, the at least one information processing subassembly is one of the group consisting of a digital tablet, a phablet, a smartphone, an e-reader, a modular computer or an essential technical subassembly of such a device.
43. Electronic display board of claim 39, further comprising at least one of the group consisting of i) a surface for displaying printed documents, ii) a tactile restitution interface of at least one portion of the information displayed, iii) a sensor, iv) a video camera, v) a digital camera.
44. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein the at least one display subassembly is comprised of at least two basic display subassemblies juxtaposed edge to edge over at least one of their respective sides forming a global display subassembly with a surface equal to the sum of the surfaces of the at least two basic display subassemblies.
45. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein the at least one electronic display subassembly is tactile.
46. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein the at least one electronic display makes it possible to display all or a portion of said information in a persistent manner in the absence of a supply of electrical energy.
47. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein the display board is arranged to display information coming from separate sources in dedicated display zones.
48. Electronic display board of claim 47, wherein each display zone dedicated to a given source of information is managed as a standard display for the remote information system that sends the information to it.
49. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein said rights associated with all or part of the information displayed or to be displayed comprise at least one information of the group consisting of i) the date of publication of an item of information, ii) the duration for which an item of information must remain displayed, iii) the date on which the display of an item of information must stop. iv) a categorizing of the information to be displayed according to its content, v) a categorizing of the information to be displayed according to the issuer thereof.
50. Electronic display board of claim 39, further comprising at least one display surface on its rear face able to allow for the use of the two main surfaces of the board.
51. Electronic display board of claim 39, wherein said casing is arranged to i) obtain several functional combinations for a given board dimension by combining standardized basic technical subassemblies, ii) obtain several board dimensions by combining standardized basic technical subassemblies.
52. System for displaying dematerialized information on an electronic display board in order to meet legal display obligations, or regulations in places open to an audience in private companies, in administrations and in all types of public or private buildings, the system comprising: at least one electronic display board comprising at least one functional block consisting of software or hardware, or combination of hardware and software configured to i) connect operatively to a data communication network, ii) manage rights associated with all or part of the information displayed or to be displayed. at least one server configured to i) connect operatively to a data communication network, ii) manage dematerialized information to be displayed, iii) manage rights associated with the publication of dematerialized information on at least one electronic display board. at least one network able to allow for data communication between the components of the system.
53. System of claim 52 further comprising at least one terminal executing a software being one of the group consisting of i) a standard web browser, ii) a plugin installed in a standard web browser, iii) a dedicated application. for at least one purpose of the group consisting of i) managing the dematerialized information to be displayed, ii) managing the rights associated with their publication thereof, iii) administrating the operation of at least one electronic display board, iv) viewing remotely all or part of the information displayed on the electronic display board.
54. Method for making written information available to an audience in order to meet legal display obligations, or regulations in places open to an audience in private companies, in administrations and in all types of public or private buildings, the method comprising steps of: i) selecting at least one digital document proposed in a set of at least one displayable digital document, ii) displaying the at least one selected digital document on at least one electronic display board which contains means for managing rights associated with all or part of the information displayed or to be displayed.
55. Method of claim 54 further comprising at least one step of the group consisting of i) determining all or part of the at least one digital document that is displayed by default, ii) determining all or part of the functional state by default of the electronic display board, iii) printing at least one hard copy of the at least one selected digital document, iv) transmitting a dematerialized version of the at least one selected digital document, v) requesting the sending of the at least one selected digital document via mail after it is printed in a centralized remote printing site.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0075] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention shall appear when examining the detailed description of embodiments that are in no way limiting, and of the annexed drawings wherein:
[0076] FIG. 1 shows a first alternative of the board according to the invention.
[0077] FIG. 2 shows a second alternative of the board according to the invention.
[0078] FIG. 3 shows a first alternative of a composite electronic screen.
[0079] FIG. 4 shows a second alternative of a composite electronic screen.
[0080] FIG. 5 shows an alternative of a composite display surface.
[0081] FIG. 6 shows an alternative ergonomics for the management of documents.
[0082] FIG. 7 shows an alternative board that uses light exclusively.
[0083] FIG. 8 shows an alternative board with a double-sided display.
[0084] FIG. 9 shows a first alternative of the system according to the invention.
[0085] FIG. 10 shows a second alternative of the system according to the invention.
[0086] FIG. 11 shows a first alternative of a modular board.
[0087] FIG. 12 shows a second alternative of a modular board.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND EMBODIMENTS
[0088] Other particularities and advantages of the invention shall further appear in the description hereinafter. In the annexed drawings provided by way of non-limiting examples:
[0089] FIG. 1 shows a first minimalistic alternative of the board according to the invention. Here there are the essential technical characteristics of the invention in the form of functional blocks separated for clarity of the description. As such there is in a casing 3 having a flat shape suited for a use of the board in vertical position, an information processing subassembly 4. This subassembly comprises a microprocessor 5, a memory 6 that can store at least temporarily an application program connected with the display of at least one digital content, a memory 7 able to store data connected with at least one digital content to be displayed. The board without this simplified alternative comprises a single display subassembly 8 and an electrical power source 9. It is provided to have the digital content to be displayed entered via a memory medium such as a memory card or a USB key 10 connected to the information processing subassembly via a suitable connector, for example a standard connector for a memory card or a USB base. In a first sub-alternative embodiment, the memory 10 that contains the digital content to be displayed remains connected as long as the digital content that it contains is rendered displayable or as long as it is effectively displayed on the board. In another sub-alternative, the content of the memory 10 is copied to an internal memory of the at least one information processing subassembly 4 before it is used by the board in such a way that the removable memory 10 is used only as a temporary means for transferring at least one displayable digital content from a computer or from a tablet to the electric board according to the invention. According to the sub-alternatives, it is provided that the content of the memory 10 is directly and automatically used by the board right from the connection thereof in the connector 11. It is also provided to offer choices to the user via a menu displayed temporarily by the board and by suitable means of selection. This example of a minimalist embodiment of the invention does not provide a clock of the real-time type in that it requires a setting of the time and of the date of the location and of the means in order to ensure the correctness of this information. It is provided that possible management of the display time for documents, whether for measuring the exposure time to the public of documents or for programming the duration thereof, is carried out by simply counting the relative time, and where applicable by comparing with instructions for the relative durations of display.
[0090] The scope of the invention is not left if all or part of the functional blocks identified hereinabove are integrated into the same electronic component and do not appear in the form of dedicated components that can be seen by the unaided eye on a printed circuit. It is indeed conventional in electronics to attempt to integrate a maximum of functions into the same component in order to reduce the costs of producing the device. The functional blocks integrated, which can no longer be identified by the unaided eye, are nevertheless present in the resulting highly integrated chip where applicable.
[0091] FIG. 2 shows a second alternative of the board according to the invention 1 which differs from that in FIG. 1 in that it comprises a real-time clock 12 and at least one communication channel 13. It is provided that the setting of the time and of the date is done via any pertinent means from a manual setting carried out by a user from a menu and suitable input means to an automatic setting via the capturing of radio time information, or transmitted via a network, or by a device external to the board to which it can be connected to at least occasionally such as for example a tablet, a smartphone or a computer. It is provided to ensure the permanence of the knowledge of the absolute time in the board via any means such as for example a power supply via battery, via a storage battery or super-capacitor of an electronic component dedicated to the function within the board, or via the automatic obtaining of the absolute time information from an outside source. The at least one communication channel 13 is at least one-way in that the at least one information processing subassembly concerned to receive the at least one digital content to be displayed. The means for receiving and/or for transmitting data of which it is a question are wired means such as an Ethernet connection which advantageously is also a source of energy of the so-called PoE type, for example according to the standard IEEE 802.3af, able to relieve the board from a source of energy connected to the electrical network. Of course any other means of wireless data transmission, one- or two-way, via electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or by light rays is provided. Current means such as for example the connecting to a local network via WiFi and/or occasional connections via Bluetooth to a portable terminal are particularly suited for the use of the board according to the invention. A portable terminal of the smartphone, tablet or portable computer type can indeed not only be a source of digital content to be displayed on the board but also an excellent means to allow the users to interact with the electronic board via a standard web browser, with or without an additional plugin, or via an application that is specific to the board which is run by the terminal.
[0092] FIG. 3 shows a first alternative of a composite electronic screen realized using two basic screens 14 juxtaposed on their respective edges 15 where the columns or the lines of active pixels arrive the closest. This alternative is suitable for display modules that include at least one privileged edge in the routing of the electrodes so that the last row of pixels is located as close as possible to the edge so as to reduce the width of the strip without pixels that separates the first rows of pixels of two display modules placed edge to edge. In such a case, it is provided that the software that manages the display of the composite screen formed as such distributes the information transmitted to each basic display module in order to produce a display over the entire surface comprised of two basic display surfaces as if it were a single screen that has the total display surface.
[0093] FIG. 4 shows a second alternative of a composite electronic screen realized using four basic screens 14 which are not optimized to offer at least one edge close to a first row of active pixels. As such there is a space between the basic screens (the hashed surface 16) which is too large to be able to be distributed without losing readability of the display of the same graphic element forming a whole such as a document, over several basic screens. In such a case, it is provided that the software that manages the display of the composite screen formed as such distributes the information transmitted to each basic display module to fully display the same graphic element forming a whole on one of the basic display surfaces in such a way that the surface without pixels does not form a hindrance to readability and be in the end invisible.
[0094] FIG. 5 shows an alternative of a composite display surface that comprises display subassemblies of a different nature forming the display surface of the board according to the invention. For example a display banner 17 using an emissive technology for example LCD with backlighting or OLED that can be seen from afar in order for example to display the time and the date and/or scrolling information, an electronic display surface for documents 18 with high, even very high, resolution that can be monochrome, of an emissive or passive nature, more preferably passive and bistable in order to reduce the electrical consumption. A tactile display surface 19 is dedicated to interactions with the users, it is advantageously supplemented by a zone 20 for the reading of a contactless smart badge, for example in order to meet the needs of managing work hours. This alternative also includes a printed display surface 21, for example by silkscreen on a support, for example a plastic material. The ink and the substrate can advantageously be sustainable and UV-resistant in order to display information that is not intended to change frequently during the operation of the board, for example safety instructions. A surface 22 dedicated to the display of documents printed on paper medium is also provided in order to offer a display solution for documents that are not available in digital form or in order to increase the global display surface of the board at a low marginal cost. As disclosed hereinabove it is provided that advantageously from a technical and/or economic standpoint, all of the specialized zones from a functional standpoint or all of the subassemblies mentioned hereinabove are manufactured in the form of dedicated modules that have a standard format in order to allow for easy composition and boards according to the invention that satisfy many functional or dimensional needs.
[0095] FIG. 6 shows an alternative ergonomics suited for the management of documents on a display surface comprised for example of two A4, B4 or C4 format screens or of a single screen respectively with the A3, B3 or C3 format. This alternative, which is in no way limiting, uses half of the display surface for the browsing in the space of displayable documents. The other half of the display surface is used for displaying the facsimile of the selected document 2. In this example, the choices of the user are made via buttons 23 located in the frame of the board. After having where applicable chosen the language of the interaction with the user and possibly the language in which the selected document is restored, choosing a document category is done by browsing in a first list 24 using dedicated buttons, for example in the case of a town hall, this involves choosing from building permits, civil status, the environment, decisions of the mayor etc. In each category, the available documents are displayed in a second list 25 within which the user can browse with dedicated buttons, the current document 26 of the current selection in the category 27 that was retained beforehand is displayed in the expected format 2 in the dedicated portion of the display surface. If the documents are comprised of several pages, dedicated buttons make it possible to browse through the pages.
[0096] Many other alternatives are provided for operating a tactile screen, allowing for searching and selecting documents on a smartphone or on a tablet connected to the board, the temporary display of browsing information superimposed or inserted into the image of the document, according to the possibilities of the screen technology used, in order to be able to reduce the display surface if necessary or in order to be able to display two pages at the same time.
[0097] FIG. 7 shows an alternative board 1 that is physically disconnected from any wired network and which uses light exclusively for its supply with energy and for the communication with a data communication network. A banner located in the upper portion of the board comprises a surface covered with photovoltaic cells 28 which is dimensioned according to the lighting power density that can be received from the light emitter 29 and the electrical power needed to operate the board 1. A receiver 30 comprising for example a photodiode that is sensitive to the wavelengths emitted by the light emitter 29 captures the modulation of the light which is carried out using very short interruption times in order to not decrease the average lighting power emitted and with a recurrence of controlled interruptions so that the modulation is not perceptible by the human eye thanks to the persistence of vision. In certain alternatives, a two-way data connection is implemented by adding a signal emitter 31 in the board, for example based on at least one infrared LED, and a receiver 32 in the light emitter, with the emitter 31 and the receiver 32 being compatible in terms of wavelength and modulation.
[0098] The light emitter also provides the function of a gateway between a conventional wired or wireless network 33 and one- or two-way data transmission means that use light, whether or not visible, which allow for the connection with the board. The light emitter is also connected to a source of electrical energy 34 that powers the light sources 35 and the internal resources of the emitter 29. Of course the scope of the invention is not left if the data is not transmitted to the board by modulation of the lighting light but via an infrared emitter or via a low-power radio connection such as Bluetooth for example.
[0099] FIG. 8 shows an alternative double-face display board. This entails in this alternative using the two faces of the electronic board according to the invention by physically positioning it in locations where it is installed so that the public can see its two faces. Typically the board is installed between the floor and the ceiling in such a way that the fastening is safe and rigid so that the board does not move and that the safety of the users is ensured. The scope of the invention however is not left if the board is only suspended from the ceiling, from a beam or a post or only fixed to the floor on suitable legs. Any physical connections 36 to the electrical power supply network and/or to a wired communication network advantageously pass in at least one of the fastening means 37. According to the alternatives, the second face of the board according to the invention is of the same nature, even an exact copy of the main face. In other alternatives, the second face implements for example different display means such as at least one screen allowing for the viewing of videos in color.
[0100] FIG. 9 shows a first alternative of the system according to the invention. In this example, the electronic display board 1 is the place of convergence where the targeted public can become aware of the information produced by the various independent entities and possibly separated from one another. The invention gives technical means to each one of the entities involved for publishing their documents entirely independently. It is also planned in certain alternatives that a third party entity validates a proposed document so that it be effectively published on the board. As such for example, each department responsible for producing documents 2, 2a, 2b belonging to given categories 24, of which the name is displayed for the comprehension of the reader, directly publishes in the space that is allocated to it on the board 1 its documents from its workstation, respectively 38, 38a, 38b. For example, via a web address dedicated to each space of the board, the contributor concerned accesses the space of the board that is allocated to it using a standard web browser on his workstation, from his residence or while travelling. An administrator is in charge of configuring the board that he manages also remotely from his workstation 39, or using a tablet or a smartphone that can connect directly to the board via Bluetooth or WiFi for example. The administrator of the board defines for example the general information displayed 40, the spaces allocated on the board to each authorized contributor, the identifiers and the passwords, the web addresses for access and the information of the category 24 type displayed etc. The administrator also has access to setting the time and the date, to statistics on for example the duration of exposure to the public of each document, the numbers and the timestamps of the consulting etc. This example also implements a web server function that consolidates all of the displayed and/or displayable information on the board 1 and makes it available remotely to users on a standard terminal 41 via a web address that is dedicated to the board 42 which the public involved is made aware of. According to the alternatives, the web address of the board is displayed on the at least one display surface and thanks to this can be easily modified by the administrator but this constant information occupies the display surface which may be more useful for other information which is why certain alternatives opt for example for mentioning the web address on a label affixed to the frame of the board or on a panel, or on another printed display zone, or on a dedicated low-cost alphanumeric display which is integrated into the frame of the board. In certain alternatives of the invention, the web server function, preferably of which multiple instances can exist, is built into the board. It is however preferred to offset the running of web servers intended for users on remote machines in order to increase the number of simultaneous consultations at least cost and with the least energy consumption for the board according to the invention.
[0101] FIG. 10 shows a second alternative of the system according to the invention involving a plurality of electronic display boards 1, 1a, 1b. This embodiment of the invention represents a case of use in a company where several sites have the obligation to make boards available to the personnel in order to inform them of legal or regulatory information. Advantageously these boards are placed in locations of buildings where they can be consulted easily, typically in required areas of passage such as access points, entrance halls etc. The exposure frequency of the personnel to the information displayed is further increased when the board integrates functions and/or information that is required or of particular interest such as access control and/or working time 43, the company cafeteria menus, information proposing privileged conditions to the personnel for accessing goods and services etc. In this example, the personnel department directly manages the functions and the services that concern it. For example a person in charge of payroll administers the working time management functions 43 built into the boards via a suitable connection between the board and the information system concerned 44. Another person, from the legal department, publishes the information 2 that they are responsible for from their workstation 38. Another person responsible for another area, publishes and administers the documents 2a that concern them on their workstation 38a, a labor union publishes and administers its documents 2b via one of its terminals 38b from its premises etc.
[0102] FIG. 11 shows a first alternative of a modular board comprised using the following modules: a module 45 with C3 format that is ideal for displaying A4 documents on a scale of 1, comprising a high-resolution bistable tactile electronic display subassembly; two modules 46, 47 with C3 format which are appropriate for displaying printed A4 format papers; a module 48 with C4 format for displaying a silkscreen print; a module 49 with C4 format for managing work times, two display modules 50, 51 that can be seen from a long distance in the format of a banner of which the length is equal to that of a C3 module in landscape format and of which the height is specific; a frame 52 for the lateral mechanical protection of the modules of the board, for the hardware support for the aesthetics of the product and for displaying the commercial brand 53.
[0103] FIG. 12 shows a second alternative of a modular board comprised using the following modules: three modules 54, 55, 56 with A4 format with a portrait orientation comprising a high-resolution bistable tactile electronic display subassembly; a photovoltaic power supply module 28 of which the length is equal to three widths of the A4 module with portrait orientation and for which the height is specific.
[0104] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and many arrangements can be made without leaving the scope of the invention, in particular by combining several alternatives or by combining elements taken in several examples differently.
