Method for distributing data by an organism to one or a plurality of receivers, and system for carrying out this method.

The invention relates to a method for distributing data such as written information, numerical or alphanumerical data or software, by a diffuser body to one or more destination terminals and system for carrying out this method.

The methods and systèmesconnus designed for this purpose are the telematic kind. They have many significant drawbacks. There are heavy, expensive and require a voluntary act that the recipient must complete before receiving data because it has to connect to the host, that is to say the body, via the network. Also, if a large number of recipients stations or receivers simultaneously launch a request for sending data or during peak hours of the transmitter network, these applications can not be satisfied immediately, due to congestion and product .

The present invention aims to propose a method and system of the type mentioned above, which do not have the aforementioned drawbacks.

To achieve this goal, the process according to the invention is characterized in that the release of data is simultaneously EFFEC killed recipients stations by radio, via a radio transmitter such as a local radio station, local or regional television station or a private network that encrypts data before release, according to an encryption key, clean the body, and makes available to the destination terminals subscribers said encryption key body to allow them to decrypt the data disseminated.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention, that agency organizes data broadcasting services in various fields of information such as weather or stock quotes, links to each service a selection code that is broadcast with the data for this service and provides recipients Postal service selection codes they specify.

According to yet another feature of the invention, each series of data relating to a service is segmented into a number of data blocks, each block is provided with a sequential identification number and a key check the validity of the block data, while processing data before release, each block is broadcast several times during the broadcast data from the service, to which he belongs, and is carried in the recipient stations or receivers individual control of the validity of each block, using the key control, determines each receiving a block, with the sequential identification number, if this block has been received correctly and ignores the block at its reception following his first proper reception.

According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the method according to the invention, the data is shaped prior to release so that they are compatible with the characteristics of the radio transmitter apparatus and can be recorded on a suitable medium such as a cassette and plays audio and data distribution later at a propitious moment, preferably during the night.

The system for implementing the method according to the invention is characterized in that the body comprises a processor adapted to create the device data to be broadcast, means encryptors encoders for processing data according to an own organization criteria, a modulator adapted to transform the data into compatible electrical signals with the transmitting device and a device for recording data processed on a suitable support, the transmitter device comprises a reader of data recorded on said medium and a wireless transmitter, and in that a receiving station for broadcast data includes a radio receiver, demodulator, decoder means-descramblers-memories adapted to register and keep in memory only data committed and for which the coding criteria and own encryption to the body have been previously introduced in the means decoders and descramblers.

According to an advantageous feature of the system according to the invention, the encoder means the segment of a service data into a number of data blocks depending on the desired or necessary protection against transmission errors, and associates with each block a number sequential identification and a block of data validity check key, and encryptors means are adapted to encrypt data according to its own encryption key to the body.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the recording device advantageously Magnemite type is adapted to record the service data encoded and encrypted several times successively on the aforementioned recording medium.

The system according to the invention is also advantageous in that the modulator is adapted to transform the data in electro-acoustic signals and the recording medium is advantageously an audio cassette.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, features, details and advantages thereof will emerge more clearly in the explanatory description made with reference to the single figure given only as an example illustrating in the form of a block diagram one embodiment of the invention.

As schématiqument figure indicates, the system proposed by the invention is a digital radio broadcast system which allows an organization To disseminate information to a plurality of recipients B, only one of which is represented by the via a transmitter to broadcast C. the information may be eg written information, that is to say text, numeric or alphanumeric data or software. The diffuser A body organizes the information to be transmitted to recipients, each service on a domain information, such as meteorology, stock quotes etc. The same body may well implement dozens of services. To receive broadcast data, each receiving station or receiver B comprises electronic equipment and specific computer securing the receipt of information disseminated to prior authorization from the body. And a receiving station can receive as information services to which he subscribes.

The diffuser A body shall make the information dissemination in form, transforms them into digital data and processes so as to be compatible with the characteristics of the issuer C, while taking measures to protect against information dissemination transmission errors and to ensure exclusive receiving predetermined information to predetermined receivers, that is to say allowed.

To this end, the equipment of the body includes a processor 1 for creation of data dissemination, which is adapted to allow the composition of the information to pages using a telephone keypad and display 2 and / or data acquisition and software connection symbolized by the reference 3, to a computer. This processor combines the data series, that is to say the message assigned to a service, a selection code, such as a number. The data processed by the CPU 1 is then transmitted to an encoder-encrypting device 4. The encoding means are adapted to organizing, that is to say, each segment data set service, forming a message, into a number of data blocks each of which contains a sequence identification number and a control key of the validity of the data block. These keys can be of any suitable known kind. The encryption means is operable to encrypt the message data by a key to the body A.

The data encoded and encrypted reach a modulator 5 which converts electrical signals into data compatible with the characteristics of operation of the transmitter. In the context of the present invention, it is advantageous to transform the data in electro-acoustic signals. A recorder 6, preferably a magnetic recorder records data processed on a suitable support, for example, as in the system shown, on an audio cassette 7. During this recording, each broadcast message, organized in blocks is recorded successively several time. The number of repetitions of the recording of a single message as does the number and length of the blocks of a message is a function of the quality of protection against transmission errors than it is desired to ensure. Of course, other criteria may be used to determine the blocks, such as for example the complexity of the encoder means and the place should be reserved for data relating to training and the identification of blocks.

The audio cassette is then returned to the issuing station C could be a local radio-broadcasting or television station or a private network. It is apparent from the figure, the equipment of the station C, which is necessary to the implementation of the invention comprises a drive 8 that reads audio-cassette 7 or more generally of the recording medium data to broadcast, and microwave transmitter device 9 itself from the station. The contents of the tape is broadcast on the radio network, during peak hours, usually in the course of the night.

A post recipient B adapted to receive the data broadcast by the station C and previously organized by the body A includes a radio receiver 10, a demodulator 11 for converting audio signals, low frequency data and electronic and computer equipment specific. This equipment includes a decoder-descrambler device 12 and a memory 13. The decoder-descrambler 12 is not able to decrypt the received data only when he knows the own encryption key to the body A. In addition, it only processes data relating to the message of the services it has the selection of numbers, that is to say the data services to which the receiving station is subscribed. In other words, to a receiving station or receiver B can benefit from the services of the organization A, it has to last it has previously communicated the encryption key and the service selection numbers. This information allowing the reception of data may be indicated by descrambler decoder device via a keyboard 14 associated with the device 12.

After decrypting the received data, based on the own key to the body, the device 12 individually controls the validity of each data block through the control key contained therein. This control can be of any suitable type known and for example be based on a calculation of the block data. Blocks whose validity was found are transferred into the memory 13.

However, as noted above, the same series of data assigned to a service is broadcast several times in succession, in order to ensure that the receiver is always in possession of the correct information. The decoder means of the device 12 check whether an incoming block of data has already been transferred to the memory 13 after being validated. This is the sequential identification number contained in the block, which allows decoding means to perform this verification operation. If during the repeated dissemination of data blocks, the decoder determines that a block has been correctly received and stored, the block is ignored during broadcasts following the first correct reception. And a block having undergone a disturbance during transmission is not selected and extracted the following data series in which it was received properly for the first time.

The specific equipment 12, 13 may be adapted so that the only data corresponding to the selection of services are retained in memory and others to be deleted from it.

The memory 13 can be connected via an interface 15, to 16 or to an external computer printer whose connection line is indicated diagrammatically by the reference 17. Thus the validated data can be printed or remain in the queue the external computer connection, to be transferred therein. In addition, the interface 15 is adapted so that the printer 16 is accessed locally by the external computer via the connection 17 and / or by MINITEL connection device which is symbolized by 18.

Regarding the practical implementation of different means and devices the system proposed by the invention, it should be noted that these can be of any suitable kind. It is only important that they are able to perform the functions just described. For example the processor 1 and the encoder-encrypting device 4 may be configured as hardwired logic or as a programmed logic. It is the same for the assembly formed by the descrambler-decoder device 12 and the memory 13.

The operation of the system according to the invention is clear from the description of the system which has just been made. This description also shows clearly the different process operations. It is not necessary to repeat expressemment.

The description of the invention referring to the drawing exemplary showing an embodiment of the invention, highlights the benefits that it provides compared to the prior art. The equi ment center of the diffuser is a very low cost, irrespective of the number of recipients to whom the data should be transmitted. The specific equipment to the destination terminals is also relatively simple and therefore inexpensive. The device that the recipient team allows it to select the service or services it wishes to receive, without the recipient is obliged to establish its own initiative of a connection with the broadcasting organization, through the network , to request transmission of desired data. He no longer has to perform a voluntary act. In addition, the invention frees the recipient of the bulk of the transmitter network such as the public or private telephone network. Indeed, data dissemination, the present invention is simultaneously to all recipients, over the air. Each recipient can receive the data properly and immediately, regardless of the number of recipients subscribers to the body.

Finally, according to a variant embodiment of the system of the invention, it is possible to use an M modulator device sub-carrier ultrasonic frequency between the reader 8 and transmitter 9, and having two inputs, the a connected to the output of the player, the other receiving the usual programs of the transmitter. This variant allows to distribute the data simultaneously with the usual programs of the issuer.