FR2792147A1 - Data transmission system for allowing handwritten messages during conversation has time or frequency multiplexer e.g. switch that allows simultaneous voice signal transmission by telephone and data provided by communication tablet - Google Patents

Abstract

A time or frequency multiplexer e.g. switch (8) allows simultaneous voice signal transmission by a telephone and data provided by a communication tablet. It allows preparation, transmission, reception and management other messages under handwritten messages, under telephone conversation, or other of applications generated by IC cards.

Description

A system for exchanging handwritten messages by a

  telecommunication network, composed of a plurality of communicating slates each allowing to prepare, transmit to a distant slate, receive, visualize and manage data of text or graphic types such as diagrams or drawings generated by hand using a stylus on the communicating slate, possibly during a telephone conversation, as well

  than a multitude of other additional applications.

  The prior document PCT 97/0097 already describes a communicating slate comprising a touch screen addressable pixel by pixel under the effect of the pressure of a stylus, a microprocessor capable of managing data associated with ROM and RAM memories, said stylus allowing the creation of messages intended to be transmitted by the carrier current for local use and by the telephone network for use between distant slates, and this via a suitable modem. This complex device uses a combination of carrier current and telephone lines and has a fixed functionality by design because it is not open to various applications, which makes it rather suitable for professional uses. Furthermore, it does not describe the functionality consisting in the real-time exchange of messages.

  manuscripts while continuing telephone communication.

  The current evolution of technologies in the field of telecommunications has led to various devices whose functionalities are often oversized in relation to certain public needs, with the corollary a

  cost of acquisition and use often unnecessarily high.

  For example, the use of the Internet allows communication between people to exchange messages or data, but requires the acquisition of a computer, with the associated disadvantages of high cost, complexity of use and rapid obsolescence, and unsuitable implementation times

  to meet the need to simply exchange handwritten messages.

  The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by providing a system comprising a communication device of the communicating slate type of reduced dimensions at very low cost and very simple to use, allowing people, whatever the distance separating them, exchanging handwritten messages in deferred time, or working in real time on the same

  handwritten content during a telephone call.

  The present invention therefore relates to a data transmission system allowing data exchange between a first device consisting of a telephone set and a communicating slate, both connected to the telephone network, and a second device also consisting of a set telephone and a communicating slate, the communicating slates being of the touch screen type addressable by a stylus. Each slate is of reduced format of the "passport" type and includes a smart card reader making it possible to receive a multitude of smart cards, each of which making it possible to create a specific application by means of a memorized application software. in said card, to manage data and configure the touch screen of the communicating slate, the software being able to be updated by downloading via the telephone network or the Internet or by a pluggable modular memory, and means time or frequency multiplexing for the simultaneous transmission of voice signals supplied by the telephone set and data supplied by the communicating slate. The invention allows two interlocutors during a telephone call, each equipped with a communicating slate according to the invention.

  prepare and modify a handwritten text or graphic together.

  Figure 1 shows the invention associated with a telephone set, both

  connected to the telephone network.

  FIG. 2 shows the constituent sub-assemblies of the system which is the subject of the invention. FIG. 3 shows the architecture of the module allowing the simultaneous transmission of data and voice, according to one of the two embodiments of

this function defined below.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, this is in the form of a small box (1), in "passport" format a few millimeters thick, intended to be placed next to any telephone set and preferably connects to the latter by means of a pull-out socket, like a computer modem. According to another embodiment the invention is integrated

  directly in a telephone set.

  Preferably the screen (2) of the communicating slate makes it possible to display virtual keys which makes it possible to minimize the number of physical keys in order to reduce the manufacturing costs of the invention and optimize its surface useful. These virtual keys can be optionally configurable according to choices made by the user or according to the

smart card introduced.

  According to one of the embodiments of the invention, the flat box (1) integrates on one side a graphic touch screen (2) capable of being addressed at the level of the elementary pixels by means of any stylus. The screen of the communicating slate is produced according to one of the techniques known from the state of the art making it possible to cause, under the effect of the pressure of a stylus, the stimulation and the addressing of the pixels on the screen (2) of the communicating slate The set of coordinates (x, y) of the pixels addressed by pressing the stylus is stored in a RAM memory (5) integrated in the invention and displayed on the screen of

  the communicating slate in real time.

  The electronics of the slate consists essentially of a microprocessor (3) managing a set of memories ROM (4), RAM (5), a screen (2) and the communication of the data by the telephone network (6) via the modem (7)

  possibly simultaneously with the voice.

  A set of application software stored in ROM (4) enables the functionality of the invention to be ensured. Said software can be stored as needed, either in RAM memory (5) or in plug-in memory modules (14). A set of plug-in modules can significantly increase the memory capacity of the invention or can store software corresponding to heavier applications from a card to

  chip inserted in a smart card reader (17).

  Each smart card has the ability to define a new slate functionality. Such a smart card can perform security operations, such as restricting access, such another card will memorize the coordinates of the

  usual correspondents, such other will allow to play the lotto or a lottery.

  In this case, software stored in said card will configure the screen (2) of the communicating slate to display the elements or images making it possible to play said games. Other cards will allow authentication or identification, these latter cards can possibly be used in combination with a confidential code entered either on the telephone keypad or on a keyboard.

  appearing on the screen of the communicating slate.

  Among the many uses of security achievable by the invention, we can cite: secure electronic payment by the use of a credit or bank card with a chip, authorization to send or view received messages, authorization to 'saving messages on the card,

  30. development and transmission of an electronic graphic signature.

  For this latter use, a dedicated memory card is allocated to a single user. The introduction of said card in the reader invites the user to trace his signature on the screen of the communicating slate and to enter a confidential code previously chosen. The correspondence between the reference of the card, associated with the name of the holder, and the code entered makes it possible to authorize the transmission of the signature previously drawn. In addition to the electronic graphic signature, other information may also be transmitted, the analysis of which will enable the recipient to have authentication elements

  additional, for example by correlation between the name and said information.

  A single database can also act as a trusted third party, the allocation of cards being the subject of a procedure making it possible to guarantee

the identity of the bearer.

  One of the functionalities of the invention allows two distant interlocutors to simultaneously speak on the telephone and exchange graphics, or create a common graphic, by means of their communicating slates. Everything then happens as if the two distant interlocutors were side by side writing on

the same communicating slate.

  This feature represents a new revolution in the world of

0o communications for the general public.

  To achieve this function of simultaneous transmission of voice and data, several solutions are known from the state of the art, but these often use algorithms requiring high computing power. To remain in the spirit of the invention, namely a reduced size, a low cost and a consumer product, we will develop below two simple methods, sufficient and compatible with the objectives of the invention: 1 / The first technique consists in exploiting the presence of intervening silences

during any conversation.

  It has been shown that the share of silences during any telephone conversation generally represents more than fifty percent of the total duration of the call. It is possible to use these rests to transmit the coordinates (x, y) of the pixels addressed by a stylus and memorized in RAM (5) of a

slate to distant slate.

  The use of rests for data transmission can be carried out for example in the following way: knowing that in a very large majority of cases (more than 90% /) a silence lasts more than 200 milliseconds, the microprocessor of a slate communicating having new pixels addressed to transmit will reserve 150 milliseconds for data transmission each time it has detected a silence exceeding 50 milliseconds. During the 150 milliseconds reserved for data transmission, voice transmission is cut in both directions of communication. The logic circuit ensuring the data voice multiplexing is represented in FIG. 1. Any detection of silence, of the voice and of listening, greater than 50 milliseconds cuts the transmission of the voice by a two-position switch (8) and actuates a monostable (9) whose "timer" is programmed at 150 milliseconds, the so-called monostable actuates a door (10) for 150 milliseconds at each aforementioned silence, allowing the data stored in RAM (5) to be transferred via the modem ( 7) to the telephone network (6). This operation is repeated as long as there is silence and data is to be transmitted. At the end of a period of 150 milliseconds reserved for the data and in the absence of additional data to be transmitted, the switch (8) re-establishes the phonic link. When receiving a signal from the remote slate characteristic of the start of data transmission, the receiving slate mutes the speech for 150 milliseconds

and receives the data.

  Such a procedure will allow in a simple manner to carry out an almost simultaneous transmission of the voice and the data without affecting the quality of the voice communication, or by affecting it in a possibly marginal way in

  very long distance communications.

  So as soon as a slate connected to a station during communication has in RAM memory (5) a set of coordinates (x, y) addressed thanks to the pressure of the stylus not yet transmitted to the remote slate, the microprocessor will wait for the next 50 milliseconds of silence to transmit a blanking command signal for a duration of 150 milliseconds of listening level

  and voice for the two interlocutors, signal followed by the data to be transmitted.

  i5 The coordinates (x, y) received by the remote slate are then stored in the

RAM memory thereof.

  Only the new couples (x, y) addressed by the stylus, and stored in the

RAM memory (5), will be transmitted.

  Once a silence of 50 milliseconds is detected, priority is given

  during the next 150 milliseconds to data transfer, not voice.

  The duration of 150 milliseconds is more than sufficient to transmit all the data pending transmission. Indeed, if we consider the following major hypotheses: a handwritten drawing speed of 5 centimeters per second on average, 25. a step between pixels of 0.3 millimeters, a coding of the coordinates of the pixels on a total of 16 bits, a total absence of data compression function, a rate of silence in the conversation equal to 50%, the average bit rate to be transmitted reaches around 2.4 Kbits / s. Given the time that can be allocated to this transmission, consisting of periods of 150 milliseconds that can cover up to 37% of the total time (50% x 150ms / 200ms), the need for bit rate during a data transmission period is 6.4Kbits / s. Such a flow is largely compatible with the state of the art which today makes it possible to

  transmit up to 56Kbits / s in a conventional 3KHz telephone band.

  The use of this first technique of simultaneous transmission of voice and data makes it possible to ensure in a simple way a transfer of the data almost in real time in good phonic conditions. Only a very slight deterioration in speech and listening can occasionally occur during a telephone conversation that would go through satellite, due to the untimely concealment of the first milliseconds or tens of milliseconds of a voice signal. 2 / The second simple technique presented consists in reserving part of the

  bandwidth from transmission to data transfer.

  Data transfer can for example be provided at one of the high or low ends of the bandwidth. The small amount of data to be transmitted per unit of time makes it possible to cut only a small part of the total bandwidth, which induces a marginal deterioration in the quality of the

voice communication.

  The data signals transmitted as said above from slate A to slate B and vice versa, in the bandwidth for example greater than 3 kHz, could somewhat disturb the simultaneous voice communication by generating audible parasitic signals . To overcome this discomfort, a filter is provided which greatly attenuates, for example by 20 decibels, the voice and listening located in this part of the bandwidth lying above 3KHz, this high part of the bandwidth being devoted to data transmission. The level and cutoff frequency of said attenuation can be adjusted according to the

  effective quality of communication.

  According to a variant of this second technique, a procedure will make it possible to define the cut-off frequency of the filter in the band. For this, a continuous or discontinuous series of frequencies is sent with the characteristic signal defined above by the slate which emits first, said frequency series covering part of the passband in the treble, for example above 2, 5 kHz and up to 3.4 kHz. The slate microprocessor (3) which receives said characteristic signal and the associated frequency series will determine the cutoff frequency where the reception level of said signal attenuates by 10 dB for example. The same procedure is performed reciprocally, the quality of the transmission not always being symmetrical. Each of the slates having thus determined the optimum cutoff threshold of the audio tape will communicate to the other said cutoff threshold during the initial protocol. This simple procedure optimizes the quality of the voice while making the data transmitted simultaneously over the telephone network inaudible. The state of the art making it possible to transmit more than 56Kbits / s in a band of 3KHz, the estimates of bit rates indicated above demonstrate that it is advisable to allocate less than 10% of the width of the passband to the transmission Datas. The presentation of these two techniques is given as examples, other techniques of simultaneous communication of voice and data on the same

  transmission channel are possible and known from the state of the art.

  All the means presented in this description can be transposed into

  version integrated into a fixed telephone set incorporating a slate

  communicating permanently visible or removable or protected by a shutter.

  The invention can be perfectly integrated into a mobile telephone, or into an accessory for a mobile telephone, using the GSM network, a satellite network or equivalent or even more locally using the standard "DECT", said portable then having a communicating slate performing the functions described above. According to a configuration of the invention, the device can connect to any type of network and in particular to the Internet, via a computer or not. To do this, the invention will have connectors for parallel and / or serial links and / or USB. The connection via a computer can make it possible to ensure the function of authorizing payments by bank card using the bank card reader to pay for various purchases, or even to affix one's signature accompanied by the identification elements at the bottom of a contract displayed on

  the screen of said computer and intended to be sent to a contracting party.

  The invention being particularly oriented towards ease of use, and being able in particular to connect to the Internet without a computer, a plug-in memory module (14) integrating the connection procedure on said network, stores the addresses usually used in order to obtain a quick connection to suitable sites. This module also incorporates analog / digital voice conversion software. Such a configuration will make it possible to exchange messages of large size, appearing both in handwritten forms on the communicating slates and voice on the corresponding connected telephones, and

  this for the cost of local communication.

  The invention makes it possible to market a new product to the general public.

  very low cost, on the order of that of a simple telephone set, real "Post-

  it "electronic" trademark ", allowing: to prepare messages in the form of handwritten texts and / or graphics by means of a stylus on the screen of the touch slate, to transmit the messages thus prepared to any other slate located remotely using the telephone network, to receive, view and manage (erase or keep in memory) messages previously prepared or received from distant slates, 35. to two interlocutors each equipped with a slate to prepare and modify together, in real time and during a telephone call, a handwritten text and / or graphic appearing simultaneously on the slates of the two interlocutors. Among the uses of this last functionality we can cite: the possibility for two distant people to draw a plan of while chatting on the phone, the possibility of working on the same scheme at the same time; everything then happens as if the dis tances did not exist,

  5. the possibility of communicating between distant mute and / or deaf people.

  To transmit a handwritten message from one slate to another slate, the duration required is very short, typically less than the duration corresponding to the basic charging of a telecommunications operator. The invention therefore makes it possible to send a handwritten mail type message instantly, and this to the end of the world, for the cost of a local communication, or, more generally, for the cost of a communication including the duration is only a few seconds. The decisive interests of the invention lie in: the fact that the corresponding product is very simple in terms of functionality and achievable with conventional technologies and low costs, which makes it compatible with wide distribution to the general public, qu 'it will not suffer in principle from fashion or obsolescence, the need to exchange handwritten messages being permanent, which gives the invention every chance of becoming, like the

telephone, a new switchboard.

  In addition, the basic operating system stored in ROM memory will be enriched by smart card inserted in the invention, or by optional pluggable memory modules, each smart card being able to reconfigure the invention for a new application. Thus said invention can be infinitely declined both for applications already identified to date and for other applications still to be imagined. In addition, the invention can also receive software or data via the

  classic download in RAM memory from a dedicated server.

  The smart card can also provide security functions, for example authentication functions or authorization functions such as: authorization to send a message to a given number,

  permission to display received messages on the slate.

  The card's security functions can be reinforced by the combination of the presence of the card and the entry of a confidential code either on the keypad of the telephone associated with the invention, or on a numeric or alphanumeric keyboard depicted on the communicating slate thanks to software integrated or stored in the smart card. The level of security reached can be of a good level if one uses smart cards integrating a microprocessor managing a set of own memories such as EPROM EEPROM, said microprocessor being

  programmed to cooperate with the microprocessor of the invention.

  The smart card also provides a multitude of applications, for example

example:

  5. provide standard greeting formulas intended to be transmitted to distant slates, provide useful data such as the contact details of traders participating in a promotional operation, to play public games such as the lotto, the trike, the crab louse, games with scratching boxes etc. In the case of the lotto, the introduction of a dedicated card, for example prepaid, brings up the traditional lotto grid by means of which the player is invited to tick boxes using the stylus , the player's choices are then automatically transmitted to a server center whose number is stored in the chip card, the value of the latter being decremented by the amount corresponding to the game. In the case of a scratch card game, the zones to be scratched appear on the screen of the tactile slate, the action of the stylus on them revealing virtually hidden information, making it possible to carry out surveys near the large public, the latter being invited to answer the questions appearing on the screen of the communicating slate following the introduction of the smart card, allowing multiple promotional operations, the card serving as a support for

  the dissemination of various advertisements or games.

  allow a group of patients to be followed in a hospital environment, allow information to be collected by means of an interactive questionnaire distributed to a sample of the population testing a new drug or a new molecule, allow quality procedures to be applied in the field , also thanks to a

interactive questionnaire.

  The shapes, dimensions and arrangements of the various elements and sub-assemblies, as well as the functionalities may vary within the limit of the equivalents, without thereby changing the general conception of the invention which comes

to be written.

Claims (11)

  1. Data transmission system comprising a first device consisting of a telephone set and a communicating slate, both connected to the telephone network, and a second device also consisting of a telephone set and a communicating slate, said communicating slates being of the touch screen type addressable by a stylus, said system being characterized in that each slate is of reduced format of the "passport" type and comprises: a smart card reader (17) making it possible to receive a multitude of cards io chip (15), each of which makes it possible to create an application specific to the application software stored in said card, to manage data and to configure the touch screen (2) of the communicating slate, said means can be updated by downloading via the telephone network or the Internet or via a plug-in modular memory (14), 15. multiple means time or frequency setting for the simultaneous transmission of the voice signals supplied by the telephone set and the data supplied by the communicating slate, making it possible to prepare, transmit, receive and manage messages in handwritten form, possibly during a telephone conversation, as well as setting   implementing a multitude of applications generated by smart cards (15).   2. Data transmission system according to claim 1, characterized in that said smart card reader (17) allows the use of smart cards (15) intended for security operations, access restriction, d 'authentication, storage, and identification, especially if said card is used in   combination with a confidential code.   3. Data transmission system according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that a plug-in memory module (14) stores the connection procedure on the Internet and has a means of analog / digital conversions of voice, in order to '' get a quick connection to suitable sites for exchanging handwritten messages and making telephone conversations possibly simultaneously.   4. Data transmission system according to claim 1 characterized in that any detection of silence greater than a given period of time cuts the transmission of the voice by a two-position switch (8) and activates a monostable (9) which activates a door (10) during another defined period of time, allowing the digital data stored in RAM (5) to be transferred to   a remote slate via a modem (7) to the telephone network (6).   5. Data transmission system according to claim 1 characterized in that all of the data is transmitted in the part of the bandwidth greater than a certain so-called cut-off frequency, a filter greatly attenuating the   voice and listening in this part of the bandwidth.   6. Data transmission system according to claim 5 characterized in that a continuous or discontinuous series of frequencies is emitted by any slate having data to transmit and during an initial protocol, covering part of the bandwidth in the 'acute above 2.5 KHz and up to 3.4 KHz, the slate microprocessor (3) which receives said signal defining the cutoff frequency where the reception level of said signal attenuates a determined level, said cutoff frequency being the threshold from which data will be transmitted, each communicating slate having thus defined the cutoff frequency of the audio tape communicates said cutoff frequency to the other slate of an initial protocol.   7. Data transmission system according to any one of   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the communicating slate (1) is integrated   directly in a telephone set.   8. Data transmission system according to any one of   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the communicating slate is integrated in   a portable telephone, or a portable telephone accessory, using a GSM network, a satellite network or equivalent, or a DECT link, the   transmission taking place over the air.   9. Data transmission system according to any one of   claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the introduction of a smart card (15)   invites the user to trace his signature on the screen (2) of the communicating slate, and to enter a confidential code, the correspondence between the reference of the card, associated with the name of the bearer, and the code entered allows authorize the transmission of signature previously drawn.   10. Data transmission system according to claim 9 characterized in that in addition to the transmitted signature can also be transmitted other information whose analysis will allow the recipient to have additional authentication elements, for example by correlation between the name and said information.   11. Data transmission system according to any one of   claims 1 to 8 characterized in that, when using said system for a   game with scratching, the areas to be scratched appear on the screen (2) of the touch slate, the action of the stylus on them revealing virtually hidden information.