Digital data exchange system

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for exchanging digital data between two interlocutors brought together during a particular event such as a trade show.

PRIOR ART Currently, in trade shows for example, when two people meet and one of these people wishes to receive additional information from the other, and vice versa, such as a curriculum vitae, a company brochure, product documentation, audio or video demonstration files, or any other information not immediately available, they exchange their respective business cards mentioning their contact details, in particular an e-mail address, and specify orally or in writing these additional data that they wish to receive from each other. Back at their office or home, once the show is over, these people can then send the requested elements to their interlocutor by mail, fax or even better by electronic mail, if these elements are available in the form of digital data. As a variant, each person can also go himself or herself to retrieve these data from an Internet site whose contact person will have provided them with the URL address and possibly a confidential access code.

This essentially deferred process of providing information is restrictive and inappropriate in the event of multiple contacts which involve the exchange of a very large number of data to a large number of interlocutors.

Also, in recent years there has appeared what should be called a "CDROM business card" which is in fact a digital compact disc which can be read by a computer and having a credit card format. Thus, it becomes possible, during a meeting, to immediately transmit to his interlocutor digital data such as one or more of those defined previously. However, the storage memory of these cards is limited and once the compact disc has been burned, it cannot be changed. The information provided is therefore fixed at the date of manufacture without the possibility of subsequent updating. In addition, the cost of producing such CDROM cards is still relatively high.

More recently, portable computing devices called “personal digital assistants (PDA)” have appeared on the market which, by means of infrared or radio links, allow digital data to be exchanged with or between an external computer. However, here again, the volume of information that can be transmitted is limited by the memory capacity of these devices (difficulty in exchanging video files for example) and, in addition, the transmission between two of these devices requires perfect compatibility and compliance with a precise exchange protocol (in particular with regard to the positioning of the devices in the case of an infrared link).

Purpose and definition of the invention

The present invention proposes to overcome these drawbacks with a method and a system for exchanging digital data between two interlocutors which simply allow the communication of a large quantity of data to multiple parties as well as their automatic updating.

These goals are achieved by a method of exchanging digital data between a plurality of users, each of these users being provided with a portable device for transmitting and receiving digital data, characterized in that one enters at the level of a first computer assembly said digital data intended to be exchanged between the users, at least one determined identification code is assigned to each of the digital data entered, each of the determined identification codes thus assigned is transferred to the portable device of the user whose digital data associated with said determined identification codes have been entered beforehand, links are established two by two between the portable devices of different users during which they transmit to each other at least one determined identification code, the determined identification codes thus received are transferred from each of the portable devices and to said first computer assembly, and the digital data associated with these determined identification codes thus transferred are made available to each user of said portable devices.

The first step of entering digital data at said first computer assembly is performed through a user interface of this computer assembly. This user interface is preferably chosen from one of the following interfaces: Web, e-maii, terminal.

The second step of assigning said digital data identification code by said first computer assembly can be carried out according to a random creation process or even from a unique card number entered by the user at said first assembly. computer science.

The third step of transferring said determined identification code to said portable device can be carried out by means of a second local computer unit connected or not to said first computer unit through a communication network.

The fourth step of connecting two portable devices is carried out by a connection of the electrical, magnetic, acoustic, optical or radio-frequency type.

The fifth step of transferring said determined identification code to said first computer assembly can be performed by means of a second local computer assembly connected or not to said first computer assembly through a communication network.

According to the embodiment envisaged, the sixth step of making said digital data available to users can be carried out by sending these digital data to an electronic address of the user or else by consulting these digital data directly at said level. first computer assembly via a communication network.

The present invention also relates to the digital data exchange system implementing the aforementioned method.

Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge better from the following description, given by way of indication and without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a digital data exchange system according to the invention,

- Figures 2A, 2B, 2C show three examples of data structures exchanged in the system of Figure 1,

- Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the exchange method implemented in the system of Figure 1,

- Figure 4 illustrates a first embodiment of a computer assembly implemented in the system of the figure, and

- Figures 5A to 5C show three exemplary embodiments of a portable device implemented in the system of the figure.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates a digital data exchange system according to the present invention.

By digital data is meant any type of information that can be represented in digital form. In this case, this is information that may be held by a natural person, a group of people, a company or even an administration, for example. By way of example among others, we can cite personal (civil status, postal address, etc.) or professional data (curriculum vitae) relating to an individual, commercial data relating to a company (company brochures, product brochures). ) or financial data (company accounts). This different information can be present individually on different media (audio, video, text, graphics) or formats (Word, Excel, PDF, etc.) and accessible through various means of consultation.

When two people are brought together and therefore meet physically, they cannot always exchange the information they would like, either because one of them does not have the means to collect the information that is to him. offered (for example one person has a PDA and the other does not), either because this information is not immediately available (for example there is no longer a brochure of the desired product on the stand), or because they are too large (consolidated accounts of a group of companies for example).

Also, according to the invention, a digital data exchange system is created in which each person required to transmit information (available in digital form) to another person at the location of an event or a demonstration. data (trade fair, fair, conference, forum, festival, workshop, etc.), is provided with a portable device 10 self-powered (by batteries or rechargeable battery) of the size of a business or credit card which comprises at least on the one hand memory means capable of storing a plurality of codes of exchangeable identification and on the other hand any means of communication making it possible to transfer one or more of these identification codes to a portable device of another person during the physical meeting of these two persons. It will be noted that a transfer to several people each provided with a portable device is also possible.

The aforementioned means of communication are advantageously magnetic loop coupling means (in particular for two-to-two exchanges), but means of connection by infrared beams, sound waves (acoustic link) or radio-frequency waves can also be envisaged. The identification codes present in each portable device, and intended to be exchanged when connecting people, each correspond to clearly identified digital data of the person holding the portable device (or to whom it has been affected) and that this person wishes to communicate to third parties.

According to the invention, all of these digital data and the associated identification codes are stored in an assembly or computer server 12, generally remote from the place of the event, and accessible to all persons likely to be placed. in relation to the event concerned, either directly (by a user terminal 16) or through a communication network 14, for example the switched telephone network (PSTN) or any other similar communication network (GSM, LAN, Telephone, Internet, etc.). Likewise, the communication of the identification codes (referenced by the letters A, B, C) between this remote computer assembly 12 in which they are hosted and the portable devices 10 of each participant in the event is carried out through this communication network 14 either (A) directly (the portable devices then comprising additional means of access to the network), either (B) via the users' terminals 16 (the portable devices then comprising additional means of interface with these terminals), or again (C) preferably via a local computer unit 18 present at the location of the event (the means of communication of the portable devices can then advantageously also serve as means of interface with this local computer assembly). In a particular embodiment, this local computer assembly can be dissociated from the communication network 14, the transfer of the identification codes supplied to the user by the remote computer assembly 12 being able to be carried out by means of a keyboard or a bar code reader associated with the local computer assembly. At the end of the exchange process between the various participants of the event, the portable devices will have stored a set of identification codes that they will then have to return to the remote computer set possibly via the local computer unit connected or not to the communication network. In the latter case, the codes will then be transferred asynchronously by physically transferring the codes received, for example by means of a floppy disk or a CD-ROM.

Figures 2A, 2B, 2C show examples of data and associated codes stored at the remote computer assembly 12.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the type of information that can be exchanged between the different participants of a recruitment fair. FIG. 2A shows the information made available on the side of the person seeking employment, in this case a curriculum vitae. This datum 20 (generally in text and graphic form) carries an identification code 22 (for example 142) which thus constitutes a unique identifier for this person and which alone will be stored in the memory means of his portable device. The information available from the side of the company providing the service is shown in Figure 2B. This is generally a piece of data 24 representative of a company presentation brochure with the various positions to be filled and the managers to be contacted. It also carries a unique identification code 26 (for example 016) which will be stored in each of the portable devices of the persons representing this company on a stand or at any other defined location of the show. Each company present at the fair thus has a different identification code which is personally assigned to it for the duration of the fair, as does each visitor seeking employment.

Figure 2C is another example of digital data that can be exchanged at a trade show. These data 28 relate to a company of which three of the employees will be present at the show. For example, she may wish to make a brochure of her company, brochures of two of these products, a video of a third and an audio recording of a customer satisfaction survey available to visitors. Each of these data is assigned a specific identification code (including the business card containing certain personal data of each of the employees present at the show). As in the previous example, all of the identification codes 30 and data 28 associated with each code is stored in the computer assembly 12 and each exhibition participant, visitor or exhibitor, is provided with a portable device initially comprising in memory the identification codes corresponding to the data that it wishes to communicate to third parties. Thus, for example, Mr. REMI will include in the memory of his portable device the codes 120c (corresponding to his personal data) and 1201 to 1205 (corresponding to the available company data). It will be noted that these identification codes relating to the same company can all derive from a unique user code (in this case 120).

The method implemented to carry out the exchange of digital data between the various people present, for example in a trade show, is now described with reference to FIG. 3.

It involves first of all in a first step 50 entering and storing these various data in the computer assembly 12. The data entry is performed by each of the users of the system who will thus transfer the information to this computer assembly. of the aforementioned types (personal data; Word, Excel, PDF files, etc.; audio or video files; URL address; etc.) that they intend to communicate to interested third parties. Once this information has been recorded in the computer assembly 12, the latter will, in a second step 52, assign to each of the information entered a determined unique identification code which will then make it possible to find it. Preferably, this assignment is made very simply according to a random creation process.

However, it will be noted, in a possible alternative, that these identification codes can also be produced from a unique number provided to the computer assembly also by the user and uniquely identifying his portable device. For example, it is conceivable that the user buys in any shop (tobacco shop, post office, etc.) a portable device provided with such a card number as well as a personal access code, of the type "Scratch", which gives him access to the entire computer, and in particular to its user interface, from which he can enter his exchangeable digital data.

In a third step 54, the identification codes stored by the users in the computer assembly, and only these identification codes (for example 22, 26, 30), the associated digital data (for example 20, 24, 28 ) remaining stored in the computer assembly 12, will be transferred to the memory means of the portable devices, each portable device 10 being loaded by the identification code (s) entered beforehand by the user of this device. In an advantageous variant of the method, these identification codes can be transferred not directly at the level of each portable device, but in the local computer assembly 18 (step 56) which will ensure the interface with these devices. This local computer assembly may or may not be connected to the communication network 14. In the latter case, the transfer of the codes supplied to the user by the remote computer assembly 12 can be carried out by means of a keyboard or a bar code reader associated with the local computer assembly. Before any exchange, the only identification codes recorded in the memory means are therefore those relating to the person holding the portable device. The meeting of two participants and the first exchange of information which results from it is carried out in a following step 58 by the putting in relation of their two portable devices, their respective means of communication then exchanging their code (s). ) identification which is (are) stored in the memory means. This step is repeated for the following exchanges with other participants and remains possible as long as the memory means of the portable device are not full (memory full).

When the memory is full, or more generally at the end of the show, a step 60 is transferred to the identification codes collected to the computer assembly 12 which stores them. In an advantageous variant of the method, these identification codes can be transferred not directly from each portable device, but from the local computer assembly 18 (step 62) which then provides the interface with the remote computer assembly 12 through computer network 14. In another variant, this local computer assembly can be dissociated from the communication network and the codes transferred to the remote computer assembly asynchronously by a simple floppy disk or a CD-ROM. Once these codes have been memorized, the digital data associated with these codes become accessible for the users who can read them directly at the level of the remote computer assembly 12 (through its user interface and by specifying their own identification code) , or preferably, in a last step 64, have them automatically sent to their e-mail address or by any other means, for example by mail or fax for the possible few people not having such an electronic address (these contact details having of course been communicated beforehand during the first entry of step 50).

It can be noted that the centralization at the level of the entire computer of the identification codes exchanged between all the participants of a given event or of a particular event (trade fair, fair, conference, forum, festival, workshop, etc.) allows an automatic and very simple update of the digital data addressed to these participants. Indeed, the IT unit having precise knowledge of the users who have previously received such or such data, it is possible for it when one of these data is updated through its user interface to automatically communicate the new version of the document. corresponding to all users who received the previous version, this communication being done in the same way as before (except for a modification request of sending updated by a user).

The structure of the remote computer assembly 12 is described more precisely in FIG. 4 which shows the main interfaces and functions of this assembly (with the exception of the current administration and statistics functions on the data collected).

This computer assembly comprises first of all a user interface 70 for managing the digital data (and possibly card number) entered by the user, their visualization and their updating (addition, modification, deletion). This input interface can be of any known type: simple computer terminal, mobile telephone terminal, electronic mail, WEB page, etc. It also includes a communication interface 72 to ensure the management of exchanges directly with the portable devices or preferably with the local computer assembly. This interface is a network interface of known type, for example an PSTN interface, Numéris, etc. These two interfaces 70, 72 are connected to a processing module 74 with which is associated a storage memory 76 of RAM or similar type (an additional mass memory (not shown) is also provided to ensure long-term backup of the various data).

The processing module manages the memory as a function of the information and orders received through the interfaces as well as the management of dynamic updates of the digital data stored by the users. To do this, the processing module first detects whether a user modifies his digital data via the user interface, then it searches whether other users have received the previous data and, in the event of a positive response, transmits them to these users. updated data (unless, for example, these users have opted out of receiving them beforehand).

The memory of the remote computer assembly is preferably organized into two areas: a first area 76a for storing the digital data entered by the user (sender data) and a second area 76b for storing the digital data corresponding to the codes d. 'identification received from other participants (receiver data). These sender or receiver data are of course accessible through the user interface 70.

Three non-limiting exemplary embodiments of portable devices are illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C.

FIG. 5A shows a portable device of basic structure which is in the form of a small electronic object in the business card or credit card format comprising a data transmission / reception part (means of communication) consisting of a magnetic loop 100 , a processing part connected to an output of the magnetic loop and consisting of an encoding / decoding circuit 102, a memory 104 for storing identification codes connected to this circuit and a power supply circuit (for example a battery 106) connected both to the processing part and to the memory. In this configuration, the data transmission / reception part makes it possible to ensure both communication without electrical contacts with another portable device 10 and with the local computer assembly 18. As in the remote computer assembly 12, the memory of this portable device is preferably organized in two zones with a first zone 104a (transmitter zone) intended to receive the identification codes capable of being communicated to a portable device. another user and a second zone 104b (receiver zone) for storing the identification codes received during exchanges with other users. This communication process between two portable devices is of course reciprocal, the identification codes of the transmitter zone of the first device being copied into the receiver zone of the second device and vice versa.

A second exemplary embodiment of a portable device according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5B. This embodiment has a more elaborate structure than the previous one while keeping a similar reduced format.

This device in fact comprises, in addition to the elements already mentioned having the same references, a very simple display screen 108, preferably with one or two character lines, allowing, on the one hand, to view the different transmitter identification codes which can be selected individually by means of a scroll button 110 and a selection button 112 (the user can thus choose the codes to be transferred and therefore the data to communicate to the other party) and on the other hand to display certain pre-recorded messages of the empty memory type (blank card) or full or even low battery (to be changed). If the device is advantageously provided with a clock-calendar circuit 314, this screen can also display a date and a time which may or may not be stored together with the identification codes exchanged. This particularity is interesting when the portable device is also provided with a microphone 116 making it possible to digitally record a comment from the user and his interlocutor (this recording can be initiated and stopped via the screen and the control buttons. ). In this particular case, the memory is advantageously provided with a third memory area 104c (annotation area) for storing these comments. At the end of the day, at the end of the event (or when the corresponding memory area is full), these comments will be transmitted as the identification codes (and the dates and times of the exchange) to the remote IT unit 12 from which the user can later consult them or have them addressed.

FIG. 5C still shows a more elaborate version with the addition of a visual recording means such as a miniature camera 118 (and its associated processing circuit) in connection with a fourth memory area 104d. This portable device may also include a second data transmission / reception part 120 connected to the memory 104 to transfer the identification codes to the remote computer assembly 12 via the network 14 without going through the local computer assembly 18. This interface module can consist of a simple chip readable by a conventional smart card reader present in or connected to the user terminal 16, or else of a wireless link module with the communication network 14. In addition, an interface 122 with an external device (keyboard, graphics tablet, etc.) connected to the processing part 102 is preferably provided to further increase the functionalities of the portable device, in particular in terms of entering annotations.