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WO1989007374A1 - Apparatus for transmitting information - Google Patents

Apparatus for transmitting information Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1989007374A1
WO1989007374A1 PCT/AU1989/000049 AU8900049W WO8907374A1 WO 1989007374 A1 WO1989007374 A1 WO 1989007374A1 AU 8900049 W AU8900049 W AU 8900049W WO 8907374 A1 WO8907374 A1 WO 8907374A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
information
town
carrier signal
store
electrical signal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1989/000049
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert John Suffern
Richard Wilson
Original Assignee
Robert John Suffern
Richard Wilson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Robert John Suffern, Richard Wilson filed Critical Robert John Suffern
Publication of WO1989007374A1 publication Critical patent/WO1989007374A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/53—Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers
    • H04H20/61—Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F25/00—Audible advertising
    • G09F2025/005—Message recorded in a memory device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F25/00—Audible advertising

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for transmitting information.
  • the present invention relates to apparatus for transmitting information relating to a town or the surrounding district which is likely to be of interest to tourists travelling into the town or through the district that can be received by a car radio or like receiver- It is often the case that tourists travelling by motor car have only limited information concerning the towns or the surrounding district through which they are travelling.
  • the tourists may not even be aware that a town has any points of interest from the tourist view point and thus pass through the town without stopping. This is particularly the case with relatively small towns that are located between major tourist centres.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient means by which tourists can obtain information concerning a town- or the surrounding district.
  • apparatus for repetitively transmitting information concerning a town or the surrounding district that is of interest from the tourist viewpoint comprising:
  • (c) means to superimpose the electrical signal onto a carrier signal and to transmit the carrier signal and the information
  • information is understood herein to mean any information or advice that may be of interest from the tourist viewpoint, such as historical background, statistics concerning a town or the surrounding district, tourist attractions to visit, and information concerning particular aspects or features of the tourist attractions.
  • the apparatus may be located on the outskirts of a town on a suitable support structure such as a post or pole positioned adjacent the main road entry into the town and the arial of the transmitter arranged to concentrate the transmitted signal in the general direction of the road.
  • a suitable support structure such as a post or pole positioned adjacent the main road entry into the town and the arial of the transmitter arranged to concentrate the transmitted signal in the general direction of the road.
  • the apparatus may be located on a post or pole outside the tourist centre or other convenient location within the town.
  • the apparatus may be located for use at a specific tourist attraction, such as a museum, an art gallery or an exhibition.
  • tourists can receive the transmitted information on portable receivers with earphones which can conveniently be carried by the tourists as they move around the museum, art gallery or exhibition.
  • the means to store the information may comprise any suitable means, such as an endless or standard magnetic tape; an endless magnetic wire; an electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM); a static random access memory (static RAM); a dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM); bubble memory; computer diskettes, tapes, cassettes, cartridges or hard disks; optical (compact) disks; and record disks.
  • EPROM electrically programmable read-only memory
  • static RAM static random access memory
  • dynamic RAM dynamic random access memory
  • bubble memory computer diskettes, tapes, cassettes, cartridges or hard disks
  • optical (compact) disks and record disks.
  • the means to store the information comprises a printed circuit board located within a housing and having a plug-in edge connector.
  • the printed circuit board contains EPROM's.
  • the EPROM' ⁇ have a combined storage capacity of between 125K bytes and 16M bytes .
  • control means comprises a microprocessor coupled to the means to store the information and operable to repetitively read the stored information for transmission with the carrier signal.
  • the apparatus shown in the block diagram is operable to transmit information with a carrier signal.
  • the main components of the apparatus comprise: means to store the information; means to convert the stored information into an electrical signal; means to superimpose the electrical signal onto a carrier signal and to transmit the carrier signal and the information; and control means to control the apparatus to repetitively transmit the information.
  • the means to store the information comprises a data storage module 3.
  • the data storage module 3 comprises an encased printed circuit board with a plug-in edge connector which contains EPROM's, typically having a storage capacity of between 125K bytes and 16M bytes.
  • the information may be inputted into the data storage module 3 by any suitable means .
  • the means to convert the information stored in the data storage module 3 into an electrical signal comprises a digital to analog converter 5.
  • the digital to analog converter 5 may be of any suitable form.
  • the means to convert the stored information into an electrical signal further comprises, a band pass filter 7 to attenuate unwanted low and high frequencies which may have been generated by the digital to analog converter 5 and which may cause audio distortion, and an audio amplifier 9 to amplify the filtered electrical signal from the digital to analog converter 5 to a level necessary to modulate the carrier signal of a radio transmitter.
  • the means to superimpose the electrical signal on to a carrier signal and to transmit the carrier signal and the information comprises a radio transmitter 11. It is preferred that the electrical signal is superimposed onto a carrier signal by means of frequency modulation.
  • the radio transmitter 11 need only be a low power device to limit the range of reception. Typically, the power output of the transmitter is 0.5 watt.
  • the control means comprises a microcomputer 13 which operates to transfer information from the data storage module 3 for transmission on a repetitive basis.
  • the microcomputer 13 comprises a power up reset facility 15 to automatically reset and restart the apparatus on power up after power has been interrupted or the apparatus turned off.
  • the microcomputer 13 further comprises a keyboard 17.
  • the keyboard 17 may be a single key or a multifunction keyboard depending on the requirements of a particular situation.
  • the multifunction keyboard could be used to control the microcomputer 13 to output a test signal transmission for radio range and antenna alignment and evaluation and for reset function, whilst a single key may have only a reset function.
  • the apparatus is powered by a power supply, generally identified by the numeral 21.
  • the preferred option for outdoor units is to use a solar panel 23 as the primary power source in conjunction with a voltage regulator 25, a 12 volt battery 26, and a battery charger 27 designed to maintain the battery in a charged state.
  • a mains operated power supply 29 may be provided for indoor applications, and where practicable in outdoor applications.
  • the apparatus of the present invention has significant benefits in terms of promoting the tourist attractions of a town or the surrounding district.
  • the apparatus is relatively inexpensive and requires minimal maintenance.
  • the information can conveniently by updated as required, without the expenses that would be incurred in printing new brochures and the like.
  • the information is provided in a readily accessible form, i.e. on a car or other radio receivers, and thus only minimal effort by the tourist is necessary in order to gain access to the information.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus to broadcast repetitively information relating to tourists attractions in an area such as a town. The apparatus has a data storage (3) on which the information in digital form is stored. A controller (13) connected between the storage and a digital to analogue converter (5) is used to controllably retrieve information from the storage for conversion to analogue form by the converter. A radio transmitter (11) at which the converted information signal is modulated with a carrier signal, is used to broadcast the modulated signal for reception by radio receivers.

Description

APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION
The present invention relates to apparatus for transmitting information.
In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus for transmitting information relating to a town or the surrounding district which is likely to be of interest to tourists travelling into the town or through the district that can be received by a car radio or like receiver- It is often the case that tourists travelling by motor car have only limited information concerning the towns or the surrounding district through which they are travelling.
In many instances, the tourists may not even be aware that a town has any points of interest from the tourist view point and thus pass through the town without stopping. This is particularly the case with relatively small towns that are located between major tourist centres.
While efforts are made to promote the tourist attractions of towns and the surrounding districts by making available advertising brochures highlighting the tourist attractions, there is a limit to the information that can be included in brochures, and thus generally only the major tourist attractions in a district are covered. Moreover, invariably such printed material is not readily accessible to tourists during the time a trip is being planned or during the course of the trip. For example, if a town has a tourist centre it may be that the tourist will visit the centre outside office hours or may not even be aware that the tourist centre exists.
An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient means by which tourists can obtain information concerning a town- or the surrounding district.
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for repetitively transmitting information concerning a town or the surrounding district that is of interest from the tourist viewpoint, comprising:
(a) means to store the information;
(b) means to convert the stored information into an electrical signal;
(c) means to superimpose the electrical signal onto a carrier signal and to transmit the carrier signal and the information; and
(d) means to control the apparatus to repetitively transmit the information.
The term "information" is understood herein to mean any information or advice that may be of interest from the tourist viewpoint, such as historical background, statistics concerning a town or the surrounding district, tourist attractions to visit, and information concerning particular aspects or features of the tourist attractions.
Conveniently, the apparatus may be located on the outskirts of a town on a suitable support structure such as a post or pole positioned adjacent the main road entry into the town and the arial of the transmitter arranged to concentrate the transmitted signal in the general direction of the road. With such an arrangement, tourists travelling by motor car towards the town can receive the transmitted signal on the car radio and thereby can be advised of the tourist attractions and other points of interest of the town or the surrounding district.
Alternatively, the apparatus may be located on a post or pole outside the tourist centre or other convenient location within the town. Alternatively, the apparatus may be located for use at a specific tourist attraction, such as a museum, an art gallery or an exhibition. In this case, tourists can receive the transmitted information on portable receivers with earphones which can conveniently be carried by the tourists as they move around the museum, art gallery or exhibition.
The means to store the information may comprise any suitable means, such as an endless or standard magnetic tape; an endless magnetic wire; an electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM); a static random access memory (static RAM); a dynamic random access memory (dynamic RAM); bubble memory; computer diskettes, tapes, cassettes, cartridges or hard disks; optical (compact) disks; and record disks.
It is particularly preferred that the means to store the information comprises a printed circuit board located within a housing and having a plug-in edge connector.
It is preferred particularly that the printed circuit board contains EPROM's. Typically, the EPROM'ε have a combined storage capacity of between 125K bytes and 16M bytes .
It is preferred that the control means comprises a microprocessor coupled to the means to store the information and operable to repetitively read the stored information for transmission with the carrier signal.
The present invention is described further with reference to the attached block diagram which illustrates the main components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The apparatus shown in the block diagram is operable to transmit information with a carrier signal. The main components of the apparatus comprise: means to store the information; means to convert the stored information into an electrical signal; means to superimpose the electrical signal onto a carrier signal and to transmit the carrier signal and the information; and control means to control the apparatus to repetitively transmit the information. The means to store the information comprises a data storage module 3. The data storage module 3 comprises an encased printed circuit board with a plug-in edge connector which contains EPROM's, typically having a storage capacity of between 125K bytes and 16M bytes.
The information may be inputted into the data storage module 3 by any suitable means .
The means to convert the information stored in the data storage module 3 into an electrical signal comprises a digital to analog converter 5. The digital to analog converter 5 may be of any suitable form.
The means to convert the stored information into an electrical signal further comprises, a band pass filter 7 to attenuate unwanted low and high frequencies which may have been generated by the digital to analog converter 5 and which may cause audio distortion, and an audio amplifier 9 to amplify the filtered electrical signal from the digital to analog converter 5 to a level necessary to modulate the carrier signal of a radio transmitter.
The means to superimpose the electrical signal on to a carrier signal and to transmit the carrier signal and the information comprises a radio transmitter 11. It is preferred that the electrical signal is superimposed onto a carrier signal by means of frequency modulation.
The radio transmitter 11 need only be a low power device to limit the range of reception. Typically, the power output of the transmitter is 0.5 watt.
The control means comprises a microcomputer 13 which operates to transfer information from the data storage module 3 for transmission on a repetitive basis.
The microcomputer 13 comprises a power up reset facility 15 to automatically reset and restart the apparatus on power up after power has been interrupted or the apparatus turned off.
The microcomputer 13 further comprises a keyboard 17. The keyboard 17 may be a single key or a multifunction keyboard depending on the requirements of a particular situation. For example, the multifunction keyboard could be used to control the microcomputer 13 to output a test signal transmission for radio range and antenna alignment and evaluation and for reset function, whilst a single key may have only a reset function.
The apparatus is powered by a power supply, generally identified by the numeral 21.
The preferred option for outdoor units is to use a solar panel 23 as the primary power source in conjunction with a voltage regulator 25, a 12 volt battery 26, and a battery charger 27 designed to maintain the battery in a charged state. For indoor applications, and where practicable in outdoor applications, a mains operated power supply 29 may be provided.
The apparatus of the present invention has significant benefits in terms of promoting the tourist attractions of a town or the surrounding district. The apparatus is relatively inexpensive and requires minimal maintenance. The information can conveniently by updated as required, without the expenses that would be incurred in printing new brochures and the like. The information is provided in a readily accessible form, i.e. on a car or other radio receivers, and thus only minimal effort by the tourist is necessary in order to gain access to the information.
Many modifications may be made to the disclosed apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for transmitting information concerning a town or the surrounding district that is of interest from the tourist viewpoint, comprising
(a) means to store the information;
(b) means to convert the stored information into an electrical signal;
(c) means to superimpose the electrical signal onto a carrier signal and to transmit the carrier signal and the information; and
(d) control means to operate the apparatus to repetitively transmit the information.
2. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein the means to store the information comprises an endless or standard magnetic tape; an endless magnetic wire; an electrically programmable read only memory; a static random access memory; a dynamic random access memory; a bubble memory; computer diskettes, tapes, cassettes, cartridges or hard disks; optical disks or record disks.
3. The apparatus defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the means to store the information comprises, a printed circuit board located within a housing and having a plug-in connection.
4. The apparatus defined in Claim 3, wherein the printed circuit board contains an electrically programmable read only memory having between 125 bytes and 16M bytes storage capacity.
5. The apparatus defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means comprises a microcomputer.
6. An apparatus for transmitting information concerning a town or the surrounding district that is of interest from the tourist viewpoint, comprising
(a) a storage module to store the information in a digital form;
(b) a digital to analog convertor to convert the stored information into an electrical signal; (c) a radio transmitter to superimpose the electrical signal onto a carrier signal and to transmit the carrier signal and the information; and
(d) a microprocessor to control the apparatus such that the information is transmitted repetitively.
7. An apparatus for transmitting information concerning a town or the surrounding district substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
PCT/AU1989/000049 1988-02-08 1989-02-08 Apparatus for transmitting information WO1989007374A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPI664688 1988-02-08
AUPI6646 1988-02-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1989007374A1 true WO1989007374A1 (en) 1989-08-10

Family

ID=3772793

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1989/000049 WO1989007374A1 (en) 1988-02-08 1989-02-08 Apparatus for transmitting information

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1989007374A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991006158A1 (en) * 1989-10-18 1991-05-02 Neil Poch Recorded message delivery system
WO1996001032A1 (en) * 1994-06-28 1996-01-11 Twinklestar Investments N.V. A communication system for supplying information on objects on display by means of hand-held devices
NL9401076A (en) * 1994-06-28 1996-02-01 Twinklestar Investments Nv Method and device for providing information relating to exhibited objects
FR2849979A1 (en) * 2003-01-13 2004-07-16 Boulakia David Cohen Information e.g. menu, distributing system for use in public place e.g. restaurant door step, has communication box units located in public place for receiving, reading, and transmitting data to pocket digital assistant
CN105530063A (en) * 2014-09-29 2016-04-27 深圳市赛格导航科技股份有限公司 Vehicle radio playing method based on GPS and vehicle radio playing system on GPS

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3534266A (en) * 1967-09-28 1970-10-13 Newsrad Inc System for automatic transmission and reception of repetitive programs
US4097809A (en) * 1976-09-01 1978-06-27 Engineering Systems Corporation Local event broadcast system
JPS5745800A (en) * 1980-09-01 1982-03-15 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Automatic guide broadcasting system for bus
EP0172095A1 (en) * 1984-07-30 1986-02-19 Dimitri Baranoff-Rossine Method and arrangement for transmitting coded information by radio channel in superposition on a traditional frequency modulation transmission
FR2590093A1 (en) * 1985-11-14 1987-05-15 Baudart Patrick Multi-frequency radio broadcasting system for use in a confined environment
JPS62151044A (en) * 1985-12-25 1987-07-06 Toshiba Corp Communication system of voice program in road side communication system
AU7526787A (en) * 1986-07-15 1988-01-21 Horst Sonnendorfer Method of supplying the various departments of shopping centers with department-specific information
JPS6384212A (en) * 1986-09-29 1988-04-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Road-side communication equipment
JPS63158920A (en) * 1986-12-23 1988-07-01 Kazuo Yamagishi Local information transmission method
AU2068788A (en) * 1987-08-14 1989-02-16 Assmann Australia Pty. Ltd. Data transmission arrangement

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3534266A (en) * 1967-09-28 1970-10-13 Newsrad Inc System for automatic transmission and reception of repetitive programs
US4097809A (en) * 1976-09-01 1978-06-27 Engineering Systems Corporation Local event broadcast system
JPS5745800A (en) * 1980-09-01 1982-03-15 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Automatic guide broadcasting system for bus
EP0172095A1 (en) * 1984-07-30 1986-02-19 Dimitri Baranoff-Rossine Method and arrangement for transmitting coded information by radio channel in superposition on a traditional frequency modulation transmission
FR2590093A1 (en) * 1985-11-14 1987-05-15 Baudart Patrick Multi-frequency radio broadcasting system for use in a confined environment
JPS62151044A (en) * 1985-12-25 1987-07-06 Toshiba Corp Communication system of voice program in road side communication system
AU7526787A (en) * 1986-07-15 1988-01-21 Horst Sonnendorfer Method of supplying the various departments of shopping centers with department-specific information
JPS6384212A (en) * 1986-09-29 1988-04-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Road-side communication equipment
JPS63158920A (en) * 1986-12-23 1988-07-01 Kazuo Yamagishi Local information transmission method
AU2068788A (en) * 1987-08-14 1989-02-16 Assmann Australia Pty. Ltd. Data transmission arrangement

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, E-116, page 4; & JP,A,57 045 800 (MATSUSHITA DENKI SANGYO K.K.), 15 March 1982 (15.03.82). *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, E-566, page 34; & JP,A,62 151 044 (TOSHIBA CORP), 6 July 1987 (06.07.87). *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, E-651, page 60; & JP,A,63 084 212 (MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD), 14 April 1988 (14.04.88). *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, E-680, page 3; & JP,A,63 158 920 (YAMAGISHI K.), 1 July 1988 (01.07.88). *

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991006158A1 (en) * 1989-10-18 1991-05-02 Neil Poch Recorded message delivery system
WO1996001032A1 (en) * 1994-06-28 1996-01-11 Twinklestar Investments N.V. A communication system for supplying information on objects on display by means of hand-held devices
NL9401076A (en) * 1994-06-28 1996-02-01 Twinklestar Investments Nv Method and device for providing information relating to exhibited objects
FR2849979A1 (en) * 2003-01-13 2004-07-16 Boulakia David Cohen Information e.g. menu, distributing system for use in public place e.g. restaurant door step, has communication box units located in public place for receiving, reading, and transmitting data to pocket digital assistant
CN105530063A (en) * 2014-09-29 2016-04-27 深圳市赛格导航科技股份有限公司 Vehicle radio playing method based on GPS and vehicle radio playing system on GPS

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