Audiovisual distribution system

Translation of description of equivalent WO 9612260 A1

VISUAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a broadcasting distribution system to perform an audiovisual piece on at least one audiovisual equipment from a plurality of AV devices networked to a central server.

It is known networks for delivering music from a jukebox type device by multiplexing frequency a musical selection on a wired network type coaxial cable for distribution of TV channels. Such a device is known in particular from EP 0140593. It has 1'inconvénient to require conversion boxes for demultiplexing the signals using a coaxial network to a channel involving the distribution of the same selection on all positions .

A first object of the invention is 1 to allow the network to distribute the choice is the same selection on all devices or on each machine a different selection this selection can be both kind of audio than video.

It is also known as the British Patent 2193420 and PCT Patent WO 9415416, selecting distribution networks requiring audio telephone lines. Due to the use of such telephone lines to the network rates are limited and such a network can be used for the distribution of video selection requiring a high information rate to allow for good quality video reproductions.

PCT WO 9415416 teaches the use of a telephone line of the ISDN type, but even this type of line, the flow rate is limited to 18 megabit / second is not enough to distribute quality video information on a sufficient number of devices.

Finally • 1 invention also aims to provide a network in which the elements are expensive deported at the server to reduce the cost of each audiovisual reproduction device without penalizing the performance of each. Such items are expensive high-capacity hard drives for the storage of a sufficient number of selections of information, including video and telecom modems with speeds allows the network connection to a central system serving a plurality of networks.

This object is achieved by the fact that the audiovisual distribution system to perform an audiovisual piece on at least one audiovisual equipment from a plurality of AV devices each comprising audio means or time video from one room and connected to a server central computer containing means to magnetic memory or optical mass storage of a plurality of selectable audiovisual pieces from each device is characterized in that each of the AV devices (8) comprises interactive means of communication with the user to select a room or a menu, payment means, a computer network card, a permanent memory semiconductor containing a multitasking operating system having at least one hard drive access management task in which the order of execution of a part resulting from selection is treated as a sequential access task hard drive and return the hard drive as a device corresponding to the machine's network card, ready to send through a network request to the server (9) for processing, the server comprising a multitasking operating system, permanent mass storage magnetic or optical type, a network card which queries different devices (8) are received, the operating system processing these disk access requests generated by devices such as clean disk access requests .

According to another feature in the operating system of each AV device's statement telecommunications modem belonging to a telecommunications access task as device matches that of the network card and when telecommunication access request is performed at a unit of the NIC this device transmits this request to the server which has him at least a telecommunication modem.

In another feature, audiovisual unit will first ensure that a request by the server's modem card is available.

In another feature the throughput of every network card and video and control circuits buffers are sized to allow the exchange of information with a rate sufficient to achieve the video animation on a network containing at least eight audiovisual equipment. In another feature, each audiovisual device has a touch screen and its associated interface software as an interactive means of communication with the user.

In another feature, the network includes many servers each associated with a hard drive that the number of servers corresponding to the multiple of eight of AV equipment.

In another feature, the operating system of each server is associated with switching means for deciding whether the information provided in response to the request of a network device are served to all network devices or each device that issued a request.

In another feature, the server is equipped with audio or video of a piece execution means, a means of payment and an interactive means of communication with a user that the manager of the network.

Other advantages and features of 1 • invention appear on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as an illustrative but not limiting to one embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG 1 shows schematically a network according to the invention; 2 shows the circuit diagram constituting an AV network device;

3 shows the circuit diagram constituting a network server;

Figure 4 shows the organization of the multitask system managing the hardware and software for devices or servers on the network means;

Figure 5 shows a flowchart describing the operation of multi-tasking operating system;

Figure 6 shows the flowchart verification tasks of the activities within the multitasking system;

Figure 7 shows the flowchart of setting queue tasks.

Preferably, yet without limitation, the audiovisual reproduction system uses listed hardware and referenced below in conjunction with Figure 1.

The system consists of a plurality of AV devices (8ι, 82, 8i, 81₆) .reliés Between them and via a computer network to at least one server (9χ, 92). There are two types of servers (9ι_, 9₂) Which can be connected to the local network (10), the master servers (9χ) and mirror servers (9₂). Master servers ((9ι) are those who are actively involved in the local network. It is they who take requests from jukeboxes (8) and doing the work.

The mirroring server (92) is to clone the master servers (9χ). They need to be synchronized to perfection with their masters and for any changes. When they detect that the master server (9_) no longer meets the demands of jukeboxes (8), they must place distress calls to network administrators to take over until they work normally again. Each server (9_, 92) consists of a central unit (1, 3) with microprocessor which is, for example, a compatible system of high-performance PCs. The choice, when implemented, has focused on a system of the type Intel 80486 DX / 2 system which has storage means and the following characteristics:

- Compatibility with the local Vesa bus,

- Processor cache: 256 kB,

- Card (71) 100 Mbit network

- Serial and parallel high-performance ports - bus controller SCSI / 2WIDE 32 bits,

- Static RAM RAM self-ali entée 32MB. The operating system of the network adapters must be a local network server such as NOVELL, OS / 2 LAN SERVER, UNIX, or similar operating system.

This network server software allows access, exchange and sharing of data and equipment resources in an orderly manner by applying priorities and access rules for each client connected to the LAN. Any other central unit with equivalent or superior performance can be used in the invention.

The central unit (1, 3) of the control server and manages a network of the control circuit (7), a circuit (4) for controlling the telecommunications, a circuit (3) for controlling the input, a circuit (2) of the mass storage control. In the case where the server (9) is to function as a jukebox, it is possible to add a sound control circuit (5) and a circuit (6) for controlling the display means of the same type as those of appliances (8). The display means mainly consist of a video monitor (62) 14-inch flat panel display (35.56 cm) without interleaving of the SVGA type with high resolution and low radiation, it is this monitor which is used for reproduction image (eg album covers of musical selections), graphics or video clips.

The server (9) used for maintenance purposes an external keyboard (34) which can be connected to the server that it has to a keyboard connector, controlled by the interface circuit (3).

Mass storage means (21) using hard drives SCSI high speed and high capacity type, are associated with the storage means already present in the microprocessor device server (9). These means are used to store digitized and compressed audiovisual information.

A telecommunications modem circuit (41) high speed of at least 28.8 Kbps is integrated to the server (9) to allow connection to a distribution network of audiovisual information controlled by a central system serving multiple servers.

Each audiovisual apparatus (8) comprises a central unit (1, 2) with microprocessor which is, for example, a compatible system of high-performance PCs. The choice, when implemented, has focused on a system of the type Intel 80486 DX / 2 system which has storage means and the following characteristics:

- Compatibility with the local Vesa bus - processor cache: 256 kB,

- Card (71) 100 Mbit

- SRAM self-powered RAM 32 MB

- Serial and parallel ports of high-performance, Any other central unit with equivalent or superior performance can be used in the invention.

This CPU controls and manages a sound control circuit (5), a circuit (3) for controlling the input, a circuit (7) for controlling the computer network, a circuit (6) for controlling the display means. The display means mainly consist of a video monitor (62) flat screen 14 or 15 inches (35.56 cm) without interleaving of the SVGA type with high resolution and low radiation, it is this monitor which is used to the reproduction of images (such as album covers of musical selections), graphics or video clips.

To reproduce the audio data of the musical selections, devices and optionally the servers have speakers (54) receiving the signal of a -tuner amplifier (53) connected to the electronic circuit (5) music synthesizer intended to support a large number of input while providing an output sources with a CD like quality (CD), as for example the multimedia audio adapter microprocessor card-type "Sound Blaster" SBP32AWE from Creative Labs Inc to which two memory buffers (56, 57) are added to the purpose to be explained. This circuit (5) is to decompress the digital information arriving via the network. Likewise the control circuit of the display means also comprises two buffer memories (66, 67) in purpose to be explained.

A thermally controlled 240 watt ventilated power supply provides power to each device or server. This power supply is protected against overload and overshoot.

Each audiovisual apparatus (8) and optionally the server or servers (9) manages, via the input controller circuit (3), a touch screen (33) "Intelli Touch" of 14 inches (35.56 cm) Elo Touch Systems Inc. which includes a glass coating panel using "advanced surface wave technology" and an aT type bus controller. This touch screen allows after displaying on the monitor (62) or a TV Screen (61) various selection data used by customers, as well as control information and management control used by the manager or the system owner. It can also be used on each device (8) for maintenance purposes in combination with an external keyboard (34) which can be connected to the apparatus having a keyboard for that connector, controlled by a key lock (32) through the interface circuit (3).

The input circuit (3) at least one of the devices (8) of the network may also interface with a remote control assembly (31) consisting, for example:

- An infrared remote control from Mind Path Technologies Inc., an emitter 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. Every network device has a royalty payment device (35) at National Rejectors Inc. is likewise connected to the input interface circuit (3). It is also possible to use any other device which allows receipt of any payment by coins, bills, tokens, magnetic chip cards or a combination of means of payment

To house the circuits, it is further provided for each device or a chassis built with customizable exterior trim. Besides these components, a microphone (55) and wireless can be connected to the controller (5) for each device, which transforms it into a powerful system of announcements and information to the public or possibly a karaoke machine. Similarly, a wireless speaker system can be used by the system.

The assembly (31) remote control allows the manager to access and remotely control various commands such as: - the on / off control of the microphone, the control muting the speakers,

- The control volume control,

- Ordering cancel the musical selection being played.

Two buffers (56, 57) are associated with each sound controller circuit (5) for storing each alternatively information corresponding to a quarter second of sound. Likewise two buffers (66, 67) are associated with each video controller circuit (6) and each capable of alternately storing a tenth of a second image. Finally a buffer (36) input interface is associated with each input interface (3) of each device (8) or server (9). On each device operating software (8) or server (9) of the system was developed around a library of tools and services largely oriented to the audiovisual field in a multimedia universe. This library advantageously includes a powerful multitasking operating system which effectively allows the simultaneous execution of multiple code fragments. This operating software thus allows concurrent execution, in an orderly manner and avoiding any conflict of transactions on the display means, sound reproduction means as well as management of telecommunications lines via the distribution network . Moreover, this software has high flexibility

The digitized and compressed audiovisual data is stored in the storage means (21) of the server (9).

Each selection is available according to two digitized formats: with hi-fi quality or CD quality.

On each device operating software (8) is placed in RAM static RAM self-fed each device (8) while the server operating system (9) can be saved to the hard disk (21) and charged to operations in the server RAM

It is essential to note that the specific tasks of the operating system component modules are executed simultaneously in an environment using the multitask operating system. Therefore, organizational charts indicate specific operations which the module must perform and not a branch toward this module which would invalidate all the operations performed by the other modules.

The first module, labeled SSM, is the starter. This module does only one thing, so it loads automatically when the power of the device or server and returns then directly in the way "on" the module labeled RRM.

The RMM module is the mode "service", which is the mode in which the device or between server when its registration number is validated. In this mode, the device (8) or server (9) are ready to handle any request which can be triggered by various predefined events such as: - Users that affect a device screen (8) transferring the foreground session control in CBSM module selection mode and customer browsing,

- Telecommunications call requests by the TSM telecom service module

The apparatus (8) or the server (9) remain in the mode "on" until one of the above described events occur.

The CBSM module is the selection mode module and customer browsing. Access to this module is triggered from the mode "on" when the customer touches the screen. The display allows the user to view a menu provided for powerful exploration assisted by digitized voice messages to guide him in his choice of musical selections.

The TSM module is the mode module for telecommunications services between the network server and a central system serving multiple servers belonging to different networks. This module manages all management services available on the distribution network. All tasks specific to telecommunications are run as background tasks. These tasks always use the processing time remaining once that 1'appareil or server has completed all its foreground tasks. Thus, when the device is busy one of its highest priority tasks, telecommunications tasks automatically will try to reduce the limitations on system resources and recover all the microprocessor processing time left available.

The SPMM module allows managing selections of songs or music video updates queued by the system for execution in the order of selection. The multitasking operating system is the essential element to allow the simultaneous execution of multiple code fragments and for managing priorities between the various tasks that wake

The multitask operating system is organized as shown in Figure 4, around a core comprising a module (11) for resolving priorities between tasks, a module (12) supervisor task, module ( 13) serialization of the material used and a module (14) of the communication process. Each module communicates with interfaces (15) of application programming and database (16). There are as many programming interfaces as there are applications. And the module (15) comprises a first interface (153) for programming the touch panel (33), a second interface (154) for programming the key (34) a third interface (155) for programming the device of payment (35), a fourth interface (156) programming for sound control circuit (5), a fifth interface (157) programming for the circuit (6) controls the video and a final interface (158) for the circuit (7) to control the computer network.

It is import to note that the programming interface of the network adapter is supplied with the card when you buy a network kit and map network is declared to the operating system as the device constituting the hard drive or modem card, telecommunication each AV device (8). So each operating system of each device (8), following the call of a telecommunications procedure or consecutive hard disk access to a selection triggers a network communication session in which the server's network card will make available each audiovisual apparatus (8) resource called. Five tasks with a decreasing order of priority are managed by the kernel (kernel) operating system, the first (76) for input video outputs has the highest priority, the second (75) of level two relates to audio the third (74) of level three telecommunications, fourth (73) to level four interfaces and the fifth (70) of level five management. These orders of priority will be considered by the module (11) for resolving priorities As the appearance or disappearance of a task. So as soon as a video task appears, the other running tasks are suspended, priority is given to this task and all resources are allocated to the video task. The video task (76) output is designed to unload the video files of the mass memory (21) alternately to one of two buffers (66, 67) of the device (8) that made the request while the other buffer (67, 66 respectively) is used by the circuit (6) video controller device (8) that made the request to produce the display after data decompression. Input, video task (76) of the server (9) is designed to transfer data received in telecommunications buffer (46) of the server (9) to the mass memory (21) Server (9). It is the same for its task (75), on the one hand at the input between telecommunications buffer (46) and the buffer (26) of the memory mass (21) and secondly between the output buffer (26) of the mass memory (21) of the server (9) and one of two buffers (56, 57) of the circuit (5) sound controller of the device (8) that made the request. Task scheduling module (12) of each device (8) or server (9) is described below in conjunction with Figure 5. This module performs in the order of priority first test (761) to determine if the task video is active, ie if one of the video buffers (66, 67) is empty. In case the answer is negative the task scheduling module next test is a second test (751) to determine if the audio task is active, ie if one of the buffers (56, 57) is empty . In case of a negative response third test (741) determines whether the communication task is active, ie if the buffer (46) is empty. After an affirmative answer to one of the tests, task scheduling module (12) filled in step (131) the request queue (13) and memory accesses at stage (132) this request reading or writing between mass storage (21) due server (9) and the buffer corresponding to the active task of the unit (8), then loops back to the first test. When the test (741) on communications activity is affirmative, scheduler (12) performs a test (742) to determine whether it is to read or write the information in memory. Whether the read or write request is queued in step (131). Otherwise, the scheduler determines in step (743) if there is a transmission or reception and in the case of a transmission sent by a procedure of a communication network, in step (744) the information block to the server (9) for transmission by the latter to the central system serving multiple servers. In the case of a reception, the supervisor checks in step (746) that buffer the server are free access and if so sends a message to the central server to accept the reception of a data block in step (747). After receiving a block, an error check (748) is made of the type of cyclic redundancy CRC (cyclic redundant check). The block is rejected at stage (740) in case of error, or agreed otherwise in step (749) by sending a corresponding message to the central system indicating that the block bearing a number determined is rejected or accepted, then loops back to the starting tests, in case no higher level task active supervisor at stage (731 or 701) the processes interface or management tasks.

Detection of an active task or ready is as shown in Figure 6 by a test respectively (721-761) on each of the hardware or software respective pads (26) of the hard drive (36) interface (46 ) telecommunication (56 and 57) thereof, (66 and 67) of the video that are associated with each respective controller circuits (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of each of the hardware devices associated with the CPU (1).

The test (721) shows whether data is present in the input buffer memory and output disc, the test (731) lets see if data is present in the hardware or software buffers the device client interface, the test (741) shows whether data is present in the software memory buffers or hardware of the telecommunication device, the test (751) determines whether data is present in the hardware buffer in memory or software to meaning, the test (761) lets see if data is present in the hardware or software buffers of the video device.

If one or more of these buffers are filled with data, scheduler (12) positions the respective status or buffers (821) for the hard disk (831) to the interface (841) for telecommunications, (851) for audio, (861) for video corresponding to the hardware to an illustrative logic of the activity. Otherwise the supervisor status buffers are returned to the step (800) to an illustrative value of inactivity.

The operation status of the server (9) or respectively of the device (8) is held on the hard disk (21) Server (9) or respectively in the memory of self-powered device (8).

Whenever a significant event is initiated, the operating system immediately records the permanent storage resource.

Thus, in the event that occur a power outage or equipment failure, the system will be able to restart exactly the same place where it was interrupted.

The events that generate backup operation status are: - entry money (adding credits);

- The addition of a selection to the queue; the end of a selection (change from the selection currently listening). The file is in a machine readable format only by the unit and does not take more than 64 bytes.

The number and type of active tasks is indicated to scheduler (12) by executing the SPMM selection management module whose flowchart is shown in Figure 7. The management by this module begins with a test (61) whether the selections are waiting in the queue.

Thereafter if the test (61) on the queue determines that selections are waiting, when a customer selects a title he wishes to hear, the latter is automatically written in a queue file system on the hard drive. Thus, each selection made will never be lost in case of power failure. The system plays (reproduces) the entire selection before removing it from the queue file. When the selection has been reproduced in full, it is removed from the queue file and is written to the statistics file with the date and time of purchase, and the date and time it was executed. Immediately after the transfer of the file statistics of your selection, the device checks if there are other selection in the suspense file. If there is another one, it immediately starts to play the selection. The processing continues by testing (65) to determine if the selection contains an audio scenario. If so, this scenario is written in step (651) in the queue of scheduler (12). If not, or after this entry, processing is continued by test (66) to determine if the selection contains moving images. If so the video scenario is written in step (661) in the queue of scheduler (12). If no or if yes after this entry, processing is continued by test (64) to determine if the selection contains still graphics. If so the scenario of the graphic presentation is registered in step (641) in the queue of scheduler (12). If no or if yes after this entry, processing is continued by test (63) to determine if the selection contains an advertising scenario. If so the scenario is written in step (631) in the queue of scheduler (12). Thus scheduler (12) notified of uncompleted tasks can manage the workflows simultaneously. Because, first of task management mode assigning highest priority orders to the applicant more resources video tasks, on the other hand the presence of hardware or software buffers assigned to each task to store temporarily data, the presence of the status buffers relative to each task and the communication between each device and a server over the computer network, it is possible to shift the expensive resources necessary for certain devices tasks (8) on one central unit (9) also having a multitasking operating system.

A server (9) of base is capable of serving a local network having up to eight jukeboxes customers. With appropriate device additions such as extra hard drives, a server is able to serve up to 8 additional jukeboxes. To add more jukeboxes, you can create local network environments with multiple servers sharing the tasks. Thus it is possible to create environments capable of serving any need.

A fully equipped server has sufficient resources to administer 16 jukeboxes. A server can support up to 7 disks can contain as many selections of free space required for the type of selection audio selection and knowing that its graphic part require 3.4125 Mbits of available disk space, an audio selection and video requires 39.568 Mbits of available disk space.

To overcome these limitations and meet the needs of establishments such as resorts sometimes with several hundred rooms it is possible to use mass storage technologies such as RAID to back selections and / or network configurations with multiple servers to service the jukeboxes.

It is also possible to add additional telecommunications devices (41) such as modems to meet the additional needs of the telecommunications network to the outside.

The network allows the server to take responsibility to undertake several tasks common to each jukebox to avoid duplication of work, computer operations and equipment.

The local network also serves as an important link between all the jukeboxes making possible linkages to maintain all data common to all jukeboxes and making them accessible to everyone.

Common data maintained on a server are either audio / video selections or purchases of usage statistics of each jukebox or statistics on the audio / video selections. The jukebox or audiovisual equipment (8) firstly does not have telecommunication devices since they are centralized at server (9), but instead requests to the server (9) that processes a priority, and the other does not have the disk space required to store audio / video selections, since they are centralized at server (9) to be shareable with all jukeboxes LAN.

The jukebox (8) network needs very little permanent storage since all information is now centralized to produce units without hard drive and thus reducing maintenance by eliminating the most likely to break down parts . In the jukebox (8) without a hard drive, a permanent memory partition contains all the information and the necessary operating program to establish links with the server and start the operating system of the jukebox.

This permanent memory can be in the form of EEPROM memory, static memory banks protected by batteries or even cards called HARD CARD which are static memory banks protected battery with features for cloning tasks of a hard disk.

The exploitaiion system of the jukebox (8) module ensures that it has the necessary resources before performing work. To do this, it must manage the status of links with centralized device and, if necessary, makes requests to the server asking to establish appropriate links between the jukebox and the required device. If resources such telecommunications are not in use by a jukebox, the server (9) will provide exclusive links jukebox.

Once the link is established, the jukebox (8) can perform his work as if the resource it was clean. Once the jukebox (8) has completed its work, it sends a request to the server to be disconnected from the resource, making it available for other jukeboxes (8) of the network. The order and logic used to pay distribution and access to resources ordained privileges are controlled by the network operating system that resides on the server (9).

And a switch device such as a hardware or software key enables the network operator to decide to distribute the server (9) the same selection on all devices (8) of the network or to let broadcast on each device (8) a different selection. In the latter case, access to disk resources will be shared between each time an appliance (8), buffers (56, 57; 66, 67) of each unit (8) having the capacity to wait for the next access without discontinuity in the audio or visual representation.

In addition, the multitasking operating system includes a library containing a set of tools and services, enables very significantly facilitate 1'exploitation due to its integration in the storage means and the resulting high flexibility. In particular, it is thanks to this, can create a multimedia environment by managing simple and efficient manner simultaneously reproducing sound, displaying images or graphics and video animation. Furthermore, since the audiovisual information is digitized and stored only in the server storage means, the network cost is greatly reduced.

Similarly, the hardware necessary to offset the telecommunications function of each device (8) on the network server significantly reduces the cost and allows the use of a computer network having a bit rate of 100 Mbit / s to be used simultaneously least eight devices that can all simultaneously reproduce a different video animation on each device, knowing that each video animation requires a throughput of 10 Mbit / s.

This would not have been possible with the ISDN network of patent WO 94/15416 with a throughput of about 1 MBbit / s, which is already insufficient for video animation. It is the same with any other remote data transmission line.

All changes to the scope of the art is also part of the invention. So when it comes to buffers, it is recalled that these may be present either physically on the circuit to which they are assigned or directed by software by reserving storage locations in the system memory.