Online information retrieval system

0001The tele-inquiry system is a new method for the investigation of which the particular content is the possibility of remote inquiry Through continuous refill monitorisé system, autonomous or assisted remote and in which the information produced by the system can be saved at computer or sent through telecommunication systems.

0002The system is in the form of a type of structure cab, open or closed with one or more key positions or investigation, structure which is connected to a data center where the data are sent to analyze later.

0003This structure that we will call booth containing the set is equipped, inside, a series of components that will be explained and which allow its operation.

0004The purpose of the system is the ability to stop using the investigator as an intermediary between the data required in an investigation and respondents, or at least reduce the presence or remote assistance. For this, the cab is moved to a fixed point to enable a person of is autosonder, either independently or assisted remotely through new technologies.

0005In sum, the system object of the invention:<ul><li>Collects information from people who have themselves assisted or independently recorded or entered with tactile keyboard or monitor; they are assisted by all components multimedia, such as video conferencing, speakers, maps graphics, microphones, etc.</li><li>Transmits the information recorded by the modem or similar technology.</li><li>Allows interaction with the machine and with telephone operators. </li><li>Delivers subscriptions, tickets or money for encourage the achievement of the investigation or facilitate any later service.</li></ul>

0006Ultimately it allows the realization of investigations so visual, graphic and audio, while interactively assisted with machine or remotely with a teleoperator. These surveys and information are sent to a data center via telecommunications technologies (Modem, telephone, or optical fiber) for later computer processing.

0007To better understand the object of the present invention, represents in terms preferential practical embodiment, subject to accessory changes that do not dénatureront its foundation.

0008Figure 1 is a physical block diagram of components the object of the invention system.

0009Figure 2 is a block diagram of the functions to be performed by the components of Figure 1.

0010It then describes an example of practical, non limiting, this invention.

System Components

0011Among the components, we must distinguish the elements of terminals (3) tele-survey located in places accessible to the public (1) the central system (4) load now monitor remote terminals, collect and treat the investigation and create new surveys to achieve.

tele-inquiry terminals (3)

Description

0012by tele-inquiry terminal means (3) a telematic terminal which allows the user (1) conducting electronic surveys through its components. The remote terminal inquiry is physically present in a cabin type structure, open or closed, which is connected via a LAN or WAN host where information is sent for subsequent analysis.

0013There are three types of remote terminals according to survey connection to the central server (4) or the type of function they perform, the more current is the TT1 (3)<ul><li>TT1: tele-inquiry terminal connected via PSTN / ISDN / GSM to a local server (CEP) or to the central server (SENC).</li></ul>

0014The other two terminal TT2 and TT3 are only derived the TT1.<ul><li>TT2: Terminal TV investigation connected on a LAN main tele-inquiry terminal.</li><li>TT3: Main Terminal tele-survey that in addition functions TT2 makes the connection to the central system (SENC) for sending data and updating local databases.</li></ul>

Terminal TT1 TV survey (1)

0015In this case, the infrastructure is simplified not having to establish local area network between remote terminals investigation.

0016Is available for each terminal (1) a modem (5) to connect to the central system (4). It will also be a telephone line (6) and a CD-ROM drive (7).

0017We will now describe the function of the components:<ul><li>CPU or Central Process Unit (8) the computer core Staff who control all functions of the remote inquiry terminal (3).</li><li>Sound Card (9) with speakers (10) and microphone (11).</li></ul>It converts digital audio to analog and vice versa. It allows the user final (1) to have audio options. The user may listen to the voice the operator in case of online help or to show a fragment of his if we wants to conduct surveys with audio options.<ul><li>Map encoding / decoding video (12). Its function is to decode video files (13) registered to view them on the screen (14). The aim is to give the opportunity to the user (1) to view a video fragment associated with a defined investigation. The aim is to facilitate understanding or ability to correctly answer a response, publication of own products to be tested or other, for the own marketing or just to wait while the system processes information.</li><li>Keyboard and mouse (15). The keyboard and mouse are not systematically operational, the user (1) using only the touch panel (14) to interact with the system. The keyboard and mouse are in the cabin tele-inquiry. In this case, they serve as the interface between the service user (2) and the terminal (3). This allows him to make a back-up, to update versions, back media inquiries large capacity, etc.</li><li>Touch Screen (14). It allows the user (1) to achieve the Investigations by selecting the finger the different options that are displayed on the screen. The main feature of these screens is that they are sensitive to touch, facilitating the interface with the user and eliminating mechanisms intermediaries such as the keyboard and mouse (15).</li></ul>

0018As can be seen in Figure 2, the SW terminal TV survey (3) can be divided into two parts. This is due to that part processes, when using a plurality of terminals (3) tele-surveys location, will be common to all terminals and for that they will be executed in the main remote inquiry terminal while the other (Part less) will run on all terminals. Processes that are run on all terminals will act as client terminal process main.

0019Can be disposed in the terminal (3), a copy (24I) of the basis of identification data (24) the central system (4).

0020We will now define the different terminal functions TV survey (3):<ul><li>FT1: Identification Maintenance BD. This process will take charge gathering the new user identifications (1), storing the temporarily until they are sent to the central system (4). This also responsible for storing the information on investigations carried out by a user (1). It collects updates from the identification database (24) the central system (21).</li><li>FT2: Comparison of biometrics. It collects biometric information of the user (1) and it compares them with those stored on the database (24) or (24 ').</li><li>FT3: Local Maintenance answers. It stores, in a file (38), the answers to all investigations that were carried out between two communicating with the central system (4).</li><li>FT4: user capture cycle. This means media that are displayed when there is no user. Projection this presentation is interrupted when a new user arrives. This cycle starts automatically when a user completes its investigation.</li><li>FT5: Request identification. A new user can not immediately access the system when it is accessed for the first time, must go through the following steps: it is identified as a new user, the system asks a series of information on their profile, age, sex, place of residence or other and it also asks for a code or keyword access to identification; the system is graphically illustrated with a method of selection of easy codes to identify and remember. Then the system itself asked his biometric identification. This process starts when a New user arrives at the end of the investigations, or even randomly during conducting an investigation. It collects biometric data of a user and sends them to the comparison process (FT2). When one gets results negative recognition, that is to say, when we do not recognize the user, we ask the user's profile information if necessary and create a new entry in the basic identification data (24).</li><li>FT6: Viewfinder local surveys. This process is responsible for present the user with all investigations (33) and available at its option, he start that he has chosen. When viewing an investigation is complete, the Answers will be sent to the local FT3 maintenance process.</li></ul>

0021SW functions of the central system (4) are the following:<ul><li>FC1: Sending credentials. This charge to send to the terminal (3) tele-survey information from the database (24) identification that have been modified since the last connection. For This requires keeping a register of the changes produced on the database. This information contains both biometrics and profile users than the database met by a user.</li><li>FC2: Data Reliability Check. This process is the more complex the central system. It will check whether the data arrive are valid. That is to say, it will check when data on Investigations performed by a user are received, if these are met correctly, if they could be met by this user both its profile by the fact that he had not met before. Once these checks carried out, it will take care of storing this information in the two databases data (23), (24).</li><li>FC3: survey data reception and identifications. This load to update the different copies (241) database Identification in the remote inquiry terminals (3).</li></ul>

SW functions surveys creation system for system.

0022The investigations creation includes three main functions:<ul><li>FCE1: create tables of the survey data base (23). In these databases, corresponding tables stored in each investigation and the results of the investigation.</li><li>FC2: the presentation of multimedia surveys. Across the multimedia presentations, the user responds to the inquiry.</li><li>FCE3 SW storage. SW to store responses from a a user survey in the database (23).</li></ul>

System operation.

0023The tele-inquiry terminal (3) is always ready with a collection cycle (FT4) users. This cycle consists of a set of content mutlimédias succeeding, inviting the public (1) to use the terminal (3). This cycle could also include advertising.

0024When the system detects the presence of a possible user (1) either a presence sensor or because someone touched the touch screen (14) or uses the identification system, biometric example, the cycle of user uptake (FT4) is interrupted and the user's attention process begin. This process begins with the recognition of the user (FT5).

0025The first thing you must do the user (1) arriving on a tele-inquiry terminal (3) is to be identified. For this, collects his biometric parameters and are compared (FT2) with those stored in the basis of identification data (24) or (241).

0026In the basis of identification data (24), stored (1) the parametric data for each user, information on age, sex and address and code or keyword identification number chosen by the user (1). On the other hand, it stores information on investigations conducted previously by that person to prevent fraud.

0027If the user (1) is not found in the database (24), one create a new entry and asked him to introduce parameters needed to determine its profile. From the user's profile (1), the system will determine the population sector of the probed.

0028Once the particular profile, we check what investigations were performed by that person. Among the investigations that have not been fulfilled, it check those that require other public sector entries of the user to prevent a person to fill twice investigated.

0029The tele-inquiry terminal (3) has the investigations to the user (1) it can choose on a screen (14). If the user (1) selects one, the system presentation of Investigation (FT6) then put out with the investigation correspondingly.

0030The presentation system (FT6) investigation is a process that presents a series of questions and allows users to answer each one. The responses are stored in progressively in a temporary file (32) that will be sent before the investigation database (23) the central system (4).

0031At any time, the user (1) may drop the investigation in means of an option presented on the screen (14). If he waives the investigation file temporary and will clear the entire investigation will be canceled.

0032Once the investigation is completed by the user, it may receive a reward. You will be given the award by the printer (16), silver by Machine (18) or any other price; Then, the user (1) may apply to conduct another survey or to abandon the system. To check if the user (1) has not changed during the implementation of the survey, the system can check any time the identity of the user; we always check the identity of the user before to conclude the investigation. For this biometric data of the user are kept in a local copy (241). They are asked to the user (1) reuse the input device of the biometric data (20). the data introduced will be compared (FT2) with those introduced in the early to check if there was no fraud.

0033If during the investigation process, that is to say, during the operation of investigative presentation system (FT6), it takes a idle time interval, without the user signal (1), the presented interactively to the user and if there is no response, assume that the user has left the terminal (3), it will erase the investigation and recommence the user capture cycle (FT4).

0034The user always has the option to get help. There are three types of assistance:<ul><li>Help dependent on context. This assistance is provided to the user (1) for any problems; for example, when errors occur when identification, the user will receive an explanation of the error, the causes and possible solutions. If there is a telephone connection with an operator (27) the user (1) may be called to explain the problem.</li><li>Assistance during the investigation. During the performance of a survey details can be asked about the significance of the issue, thus avoiding misunderstandings. This support appears each presentation constituting the investigation.</li><li>General Help: This is a multimedia presentation in tutorielle form that explains the main features and instructions use of tele-survey system.</li></ul>

0035If the survey was conducted independently, using only Using power of the machine, we will proceed to send data via modem recorded in the spreadsheet or other central system for their aftertreatment; if there was support by telephone, data will already recorded simultaneously in the central system remotely.

0036There is a variant of the system. The system will send the biometric information of the user associated with the profile and characteristics the code number marked by the user with tactile or standard keyboard. The user will be registered after a certain time, for example twenty-four hours; Meanwhile, he will fill the investigations that the system itself will do; a subscription or a prize will be awarded for the new user of the first survey.

0037The system receives, at specified times, all biometric identifications or new users and codes; it will validate marks one by one, avoiding treacherous fraud and compare them with the existing databases of users already registered. If we do not find coincidences or fraud, we will record the user with this brand and this code; in the case Instead, or in case of repetition of brands in the quality control, we deny access until the next day. In this way, we obtain a validated system that avoids all fraud.

0038When once registered user then accesses the system, enter the code, the cabin will send the code and control code and not brand, which will accelerate the process. Then, once the system has found the code corresponding to a brand, it will send the scoring in the cabin; cabin is will control a brand with each other, increasing the system speed. When control will identify the brand sent by the station like corresponding to the user in the cabin, we accept access to surveys. The following system operation corresponds to what has been explained previously.