Intelligent digital audiovisual playback system

CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 1 INTELLIGENT DIGITAL AUDIO-VISUAL REPRODUCTION SYSTEM.

The present invention relates to an audio-visual reproduction system triggered by payment of royalties.

Such audio-visual reproduction systems are generally found in cafes or pubs.

This type of system is in fact made up of a sound reproduction machine usually called a jukebox associated with a monitor ensuring the visualization of video images or video clips.

For this, the jukebox is equipped with a compact video disc player and a disco of video compact discs. and includes preselection buttons identifying the titles of the pieces of music that it is proposed to choose.

The payment of an adequate royalty followed by one or more presets authorizes the triggering of the system with the automatic loading, into the player, of the disc on which the chosen piece appears, the desired audiovisual reproduction then being able to begin.

These systems, although allowing a faithful reproduction and of good quality, nevertheless have serious drawbacks.

Thus, a first drawback relates to the volume necessary for the storage of the discotheque, which consequently implies that the system be of large dimensions and therefore cumbersome. Also, those systems which rely on mostly mechanical equipment using sophisticated techniques exhibit significant failure rates, which is another drawback.

Finally, it is very rare that all the pieces of a disc are regularly listened to, some even are hardly ever listened to but cannot however be eliminated.

In addition to CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 2 this drawback, the following drawback is presented owing to the fact that the companies managing and distributing these systems put in the circuit a limited number of identical disks and impose a a certain turnover among their customers, which sometimes implies an unpleasant wait for them when a disk is not available.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the various drawbacks presented by the systems of the prior art and proposes an intelligent digital audio-visual reproduction system, practical to implement, compact, reliable, allowing storage at the level of the title. as well as the easy deletion or insertion of titles not listened to or desired respectively, while maintaining high-level performance and reproduction quality.

For this, the audiovisual reproduction system mentioned in the preamble is remarkable in that it is developed around a microprocessor device, associated with a payment device, on the one hand mainly comprising storage means, for among others store, in digital form, the visual and sound information to be used, and on the other hand associated, through interfaces, visualization means and sound reproduction means making it possible to create a multimedia universe, the whole being managed by means of a multitasking operating system including a library of tools and services integrated in the storage means.

Thus, all the audio-visual information to be used is digitized and stored in memory and can then be read back with great fidelity allowing the audio-visual reproduction system according to the invention to present high performance.

CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96112255 PC "T / FR94 / 01185 3 A new title can easily be entered into memory, just as a little listened to title can just as easily be deleted from memory.

With the musical selections, the corresponding album covers can also be stored in digitized form, to be subsequently displayed. The storage means are provided for the storage of a minimum of 350 to 400 titles and can be extended without any difficulty.

The simplicity and the absence of mechanical elements in the system for the reproduction of audio-visual information means that the failure rate is considerably reduced resulting in low cost maintenance with the assurance of minimal intervention.

In addition, the multitasking operating system including a library containing a set of tools and services, makes it possible to very significantly facilitate operation due to its integration into the storage means and the great flexibility thus provided.

In particular, it is, thanks to this, possible to create a multimedia universe by managing in a simple and efficient manner simultaneously the reproduction of sounds, the display of images or graphics and the video animation.

In addition, since the audiovisual information is digitized and stored in the storage means, considerably less space is used than for a traditional audiovisual reproduction system and consequently the size of the system according to the invention is markedly less.

Under these conditions, the dimensions of the frame in which the system is placed are very small and the cost of the assembly is also significantly lowered. The exterior appearance of the building can, of course, be easily adapted to the character of the establishment.

CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 4 Advantageously, the audio-visual reproduction system is also associated, via an interface, with a telecommunications modem, said system then being connected to an audiovisual information distribution network by means of the telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, this telecommunications function also being managed by the multitasking operating system included in the library of tools and services integrated in the storage means.

Connection to the audio-visual information distribution network, of the proprietary type, then authorizes the repatriation and almost immediate insertion of the desired titles into the storage means of the present system, the telecommunications links preferably being of the high type. speed.

Of course, the multitasking operating system, while allowing the creation of a multimedia universe, allows simultaneous and conflict-free use of the telecommunications services included in the library of tools and services.

Remarkably, the system can be, without any difficulty, provided with a time delay for automatic and periodic triggering after a predetermined period of inactivity, this time delay function being registered in the storage means and managed by the operating system. multitasking.

Such automatic and periodic triggers for partial or complete audio-visual reproductions help to attract the attention of customers and stimulate them and therefore lead to increased revenue.

Characteristically, it is stored in the storage means a catalog of titles, CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 relating to the audio-visual information available, with the corresponding royalties, the selection of a title automatically resulting in an internal processing realizing the accumulation of the royalties relating to the selected title 5. This provides a rigorously accurate royalty calculation and verification system.

Likewise, each selection of a title is counted in order to produce a displayable usage statistic, the display being triggered by the call of a predetermined function.

According to this characteristic, the manager or the owner of the system is allowed to display, after calling the predetermined function, the statistical report of the various uses, which makes it possible to guide him in the choice of titles to keep or to delete. .

The revenues relating to the royalties paid and which are thus recorded in an exact way are recovered by the manager or the owner of the system by means of a key.

Preferably, but however in a non-limiting manner, the audio-visual reproduction system uses the hardware elements listed and referenced below.

The microprocessor device to be used is a high performance PC compatible system, the choice during implementation fell on a system of the Intel 80486 DX / 2 type which has storage means and the following characteristics:

- compatibility with the Vesa local bus, - processor cache memory: 256 k0, - random access memory: 32 MB R.AM - high performance serial and parallel ports, - graphics adapter type SVGA to microprocessor - bus controller type SCSI / 2 , CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 6 - self-powered static R.AM random access memory.

The visualization means mainly consist of:

- a 14-inch (35.56 cm) flat screen video monitor without interlace SVGA type with high resolution and low radiation, it is this monitor which is used for the reproduction of images (for example the covers of 'albums of musical selections), graphics or video clips, - a 14-inch (35.56 cm) "Intelli Touch" touchscreen from Elo Touch Systems Inc., which includes a window covering panel using "advanced surface wave technology" as well as an AT type bus controller.

This touch screen displays various selection information used by customers, as well as command and management control information used by the manager or owner of the system. It is also used for maintenance purposes in combination with an external keyboard which can be connected to the system which has for this a keyboard connector, controlled by a key lock.

Also forming part of the storage means, storage modules using high speed and high capacity SCSI type hard disks are associated with the storage means already present in the microprocessor device.

These modules are used for storing audiovisual information.

A 28.8 k / bps high-speed telecommunications modem adapter is integrated to allow connection to the audio-visual information distribution network.

For the reproduction of the sound information of the musical selections, the system comprises loudspeakers CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94I01185 7 integrated amplified speakers and is equipped with commercial electronic cards of the music synthesizer type designed to support a large number of input sources while providing an output with CD (compact disc) quality, in particular:

- microprocessor multimedia audio adapter, SBP32AWE "Sound Blaster" card type from Creative Labs Inc.

A thermally regulated 240 watt ventilated power supply provides power to the system.

This power supply is protected against over-currents and over-oscillations.

The audio-visual reproduction system and in particular the microprocessor device can also be configured by remote control, for this the following are used:

- an infrared remote control from Mind Path Technologies Inc., transmitter which has 15 control keys for the microprocessor system and 8 control keys for the projection device.

- an infrared receiver with serial adapter from Mind Path Technologies Inc.

A royalty payment device from National Rejectors Inc. is also integrated into the system. It is also possible to use any other device which allows the reception of any mode of payment by coins, banknotes, tokens, magnetic chip cards or a combination of means of payment To house the system, a frame or frame is also provided. made of steel with customizable exterior fittings.

In addition to these elements, a wireless microphone is incorporated into the system, which makes it possible to transform this last CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 8 into a powerful announcements and information system intended for the public or possibly in a karaoke machine.

Likewise a wireless speaker system can be used by the system.

Finally, a remote control allows, for example from behind the bar, to access and control various commands such as:

- the microphone on / off command, - the loudspeaker mute command, - the sound volume control command, - the command to cancel the music selection being listened to.

The choice of the software developed or used for the operation of the audio visual reproduction system was deliberately oriented towards an important user-friendliness.

In this perspective, all the characteristics of said system can be controlled by means of the graphic touch screen of simple and immediate use in cooperation with a speech synthesis assistance system.

For this, in a remarkable way, on the touch screen used for control and assistance can be selected at least four control panels, a first title selection table unfolding to help customers with research and selection. of a desired title, a second management control panel for adjusting the volume, bass, treble or pan control on the video monitor, a third scanning table of the titles database, for private use, to allow the manager or the owner of the system to explore the database containing the titles available through the distribution network CA 02201909 1997-04- 04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 9 of audio-visual information for ordering and repatriating said titles, a fourth table of statistics, for private use, for the estimates and statistical calculations relating to the titles.

The selections by customers of musical pieces are greatly simplified due to the presence of this graphical interface presenting facilities such as scanning through the titles available according to different selection criteria, for example title, author, category, etc. etc.

In addition, when a musical song is selected, the cover of the album to which it belongs can be displayed along with some statistical data such as song author, song length, album brand, etc.

For this purpose, the operating software of the system has been developed around a library of tools and services very broadly oriented towards the audio-visual field in a multimedia universe.

This library advantageously includes a powerful multitasking operating system which efficiently allows the simultaneous execution of multiple code fragments.

This operating software thus allows concurrent executions, in an orderly manner and avoiding any conflict, of operations carried out on the display means, the sound reproduction means as well as the management of the telecommunications links through the network. 30 distribution.

In addition, this software offers great flexibility as it allows the owner of the establishment to exploit options not previously available, options such as:

CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCTIFR94 / 01185 - automatic fallback to an auxiliary source, such as an FM tuner, when the main function is inactive, - the remote control of the sound volume control, 5 - canceling or skipping a piece of music, - superimposing a microphone on the existing sound to make announcements or transform the system into a karaoke machine, - control of the amplifier as to the output power , the balance of the right or left channels, the adjustment of low or high frequencies, - the automatic start of audio-visual reproduction at adjustable intervals when the system is inactive.

Advantageously, the audio-visual information distribution network is an integral part of the universe of the system according to the invention and it allows the manager or the owner of the system to benefit from new and powerful possibilities and amenities, such as: example:

- remote technical assistance: either for minor malfunction problems by assisting the manager or owner of the system, or for more important problems by helping technicians to locate the fault and defective components, - safety management: each system connects with a local control system according to a pre-established time schedule for the acquisition of an approval signal, in the form of a registration number, authorizing it to operate.

In addition, if a fraud is found or if the system can no longer communicate through the network, said system automatically stops functioning, - the acquisition of musical pieces with album covers: the manager or the owner of CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96112255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 11 system can select and acquire musical pieces by browsing the selection database.

The transfer of a musical piece with its album cover as well as the integration into the list of available titles are carried out in a very short period of time, - improvement of the system: corrective maintenance of major or minor problems relating to the operating software of the system, improvements or improvements are made possible by means of telecommunications links through the distribution network.

Only a few minutes are needed to transfer these modifications to any system on the network, - collection of statistics: all statistics and data internal to a system are quickly available to be compiled through the distribution network, these statistics make it possible to concretely and efficiently analyze any market situation, - invoicing: the distribution network automatically calls the system which recorded the sums collected by the system as a result of the payment made by the user, calculates the copyright royalties that the manager or the owner of the system must pay to the company of the distribution network and produces the appropriate accounting statements, - marketing and promotions: at the request of a securities supplier, for a purpose. Promotional, high-fidelity digital reproduction of a title is available to the manager or owner of the system within hours through the distribution network.

CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / F'R94 / 01185 12 The digitization of musical selections which are made available through the distribution network is carried out using various commercially available software tools by providing files formatted standard data.

Digitized audio-visual data is stored in a format using standard compression.

The system decompresses the musical selections stored in the storage means at the time when they are reproduced, which thus makes it possible to considerably reduce the memory space required to store them while optimizing the delays during transfers via the transmission links. telecommunications.

Each selection is available in two digitized formats: hi-fi quality or CD quality.

This allows an advantageous balance between the necessary memory space and the required reproduction quality which depends on the effective noise level in the establishment and on the quality requirement.

The following description, with reference to the appended drawing, all given by way of non-limiting example, will make it clear how the invention can be implemented.

The single figure represents a flowchart showing specific service modules of a task and managed by means of the multitasking operating system, all the modules being included in a library stored in the storage means.

Before describing and reading this flowchart, it is essential to note that, although all of these modules described separately appear to be used in a sequential manner, in reality the specific tasks of these modules are performed CA 02201909 1997- 04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 13 simultaneously in an environment using the multitasking operating system.

Consequently, the flowchart indicates specific operations that a module must perform and not a connection to this module which would invalidate all the operations performed by the other modules.

The first module, referenced SSM, is the system boot module.

This module provides only one service, therefore it loads automatically when the system is powered up.

If the system is started with a correct registration number, it then goes directly into the "in service" mode of the module referenced RN ~ I.

The REG module is the registration mode module which, when first activated or when approval for a new registration is required, indicates its software serial number and requests that the user enter their contact details. such as the name of the establishment, the address and the telephone number.

When a system is not registered, it functions only for registration, providing the manager with the appropriate information needed in order to activate it.

Once the user has finished entering the necessary information, the system proceeds to register itself for a predetermined registration period and then fully activates itself.

Before the registration period expires, the system attempts to establish a telecommunications link to a server through the distribution network.

If a connection is established, it renews its registration with its software serial number and provides the server with additional user information provided by the client.

When the registration period expires before the CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 14 system is able to establish a link and renew its registration, it becomes invalid after a configurable grace period has expired and sends an "out of service" message.

When the manager inserts his key, he is guided through the registration of the system. It is possible to register the system using a telephone in the event that a telecommunications link problem or telephone line failure occurs.

When a system is registered and activated through the telecommunications network or through a telephone call to the central distribution network, it becomes fully operational in both modes, "user" and "manager" (for system maintenance) for another registration period.

The RMM module is the "in service" mode module, which is the operating mode the system enters as soon as its registration number is validated.

In this mode, the system is ready to handle any request that can be triggered by various predefined events, such as:

- clients who touch the screen: when a client or a user touches the screen, the system transfers control of its foreground session to the CBSM module of the client selection and exploration mode, - requests for telecommunications network server call: when the system detects a loop on the telephone line, it issues an asynchronous background procedure: the telecom services mode of the TSM module, - requests concerning the key switch when the manager turns the key switch, the system gives control of its foreground session to the management mode MMM module, CA 02201909 1997-04 -04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 - reception of a remote control signal: when a command is received, it is processed in a background session by the system command SCM module while the foreground session remains available for other interventions, - the occurrence of an end of timeout showing system inactivity: when one of the different timers is activated, control is temporarily given to the inactivity routines 10 IRM module for processing.

The system remains in the "in service" mode until one of the events described above occurs.

The IRM module is the inactivity routine module.

This module contains routines performing predetermined functions which can be called upon when the system is inactive and a predefined but adjustable period of time, corresponding to a timeout, has elapsed.

The list of functions proposed below that the system can process is of course not exhaustive and can only increase. It should be noted, moreover, that the new functions which would be desired to add to any system of the distribution network, can be added very simply and this at any time and as soon as they are created using the advanced remote control services. software. Such functions can be offered and added, for example, when needs have been observed concerning the management of all the systems or quite simply for a given system.

Some of the functions offered with the system are described below:

- display of the cover of an album to announce its pr presence or its future integration into the system: the system displays a full screen of announcements CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94101185 16 presenting the covers of albums for a desired length of time. Various panoramic effects can be used, zooming in and out for example, on the covers of each album in order to attract the attention of customers, - transmission of parts of musical pieces present in the system: the manager can in this case control and sample the songs emitted for a specified duration and match said songs with the display of album covers on the screen, - reproductions of complete selections for internal promotional purposes: the manager can impose a determined period of inactivity after which a randomly chosen musical selection is fully reproduced. At the end of this period, a musical selection is therefore taken at random from the system and then played in its entirety without payment of royalties, - audio reproductions for external promotional purposes: this option works in the same way as the previous one except that it allows the system to accept to play promotional musical selections for which third parties have paid and which are distributed freely through the telecommunications network, - spoken promotional announcements new musical selections: According to this option, it is possible to verbally promote selections newly added or to be added in the near future in the system and this through the speakers integrated into the system, - fallback to an auxiliary source: the manager can request the system, when the latter is inactive, to fall back to an auxiliary source.

For example, when this option CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / F'R94 / 01185 17 is activated and an FM tuner is connected to the inputs of the system and the latter is inactive, said system needs to auxiliary source input to its main output after the specified period of inactivity has expired.

The SCM module is the system control module.

This module makes it possible to perform functions which command the system to accept an input requested by an infrared remote control device, these functions being instantly processed without the process in progress being stopped.

A very large number of such functions are possible, only a few are, without limitation, listed below:

- adjustment of the sound volume of the selections played, - adjustment of the sound volume of the auxiliary source played, - microphone on / off control, - microphone sound volume adjustment, - balance adjustment, right channel, left channel, - level control low frequencies, - control of the level of high frequencies, - control of canceling or skipping a range of a musical selection, - control of panoramic effects, zoom in, zoom out, - triggering of a software program reset.

The MMM module is the management mode module.

This module is triggered when the key switch is turned by the manager. The display of the ordinary screen is replaced by a display specific to systems management.

With this new display the manager is able to control all the settings that can be made with the remote control. CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 18 can also take control of additional low-level commands making it possible, for example, to define the commands to be validated or invalidated on the remote control. It is also able to define a maximum of high and low levels for each output source of the system, these limits defining the range available on the remote control. From this screen, the manager is able to access the mode for acquiring new selections by touching a button located on the touch screen.

When the manager has finished defining these commands as well as the system configuration, all he has to do is remove the key and the system automatically returns to "in service" mode.

The NSAM module is the mode module for acquiring new selections.

When this mode is activated, a new control screen appears.

This mode is intended to assist the manager with regard to the rental or the rapid and efficient acquisition of titles of musical selections.

For this, the screen offers various options such as:

- a search by title, - a search by artist, - a search by category (Pop, Rock, Country, etc.), - alphabetical sorting, - sorting by broadcast date.

The manager can perform a scan of all the titles available and select them, simply by touching their designation on the screen, to load them.

Once the selections have been made and the manager has exited the module, the system automatically sends the list of selections to return to the background to the telecommunications services mode module for processing, then CA 02201909 1997- 04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94101185 19 returns with the foreground control to the management mode.

The CBSM module is the customer selection and exploration mode module. Access to this module is triggered from "in service" mode by means of a button on the screen.

When the customer touches the screen, the screen display disappears to make way for a menu for powerful exploration assisted by digitized voice messages to guide the user in their choice of musical selections.

The TSM module is the telecommunications services mode module.

This module is used to manage all the management services available on the distribution network.

All telecommunications-specific tasks are managed as system background tasks.

These tasks always only use the portions of processing time remaining after the system has completed all of its foreground tasks.

Thus, when the system is busy with one of its highest priority tasks, the telecommunications tasks, automatically, will attempt to reduce the strain on system resources and recover any microprocessor processing time left available.

Some of the tasks handled by this module are listed below:

- transfer of audio or video information, - automated accounting of royalties for musical selections, - accounting for the use of musical selections, - collection of statistics, - system-related diagnostics, - system security (integrity), - control inventory of selections, - verification of configurations, CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 - improvements to the software program.

The SSC module is the system's security control module.

This module ensures security management, each system is put in touch with a local control system according to a pre-established time schedule for the acquisition of the approval signal, in the form of the registration number, authorizing it to operate. .

In addition, if a fraud is observed or if the system can no longer communicate through the network, said system automatically stops operating.

To conclude, the audiovisual reproduction system according to the invention has, as has just been seen, a large number of advantages relative to the systems of the prior art.

This powerful computer-based system is capable of storing and playing back any musical selection while maintaining its original quality. It makes it possible to replace in a simple and efficient manner all the sophisticated mechanical and electronic devices of the prior art which caused faults, such as the loading arms of the discs, the lasers, etc., thus very significantly reducing the costs of maintenance. It is simple and not very bulky.

The managers or owners of this system can effectively control the titles of the musical selections since they order only the desired titles, thus avoiding going through a distribution company which usually acquires only small quantities of unique titles and then imposes a rotation on the group. their clients.

Here it is possible to acquire only specific titles and this at a reduced price, rather than entire CD albums, which significantly reduces management costs.

With the integrated interactive video module, this system CA 02201909 1997-04-04 WO 96/12255 PCT / FR94 / 01185 21 can also be used for promotional purposes, market research or even used as a karaoke machine.

Finally, the use of a multitasking operating system allows simultaneous and conflict-free management of all the tasks performed, which represents a considerable advantage.