Apparatus and method for broadcasting multimedia contents

Abstract

 Apparatus, and relative method for using the same, for broadcasting multimedia content, said apparatus comprising:
means for broadcasting multimedia (2);
means for receiving data from satellite positioning systems (3);
one processing unit (1) for controlling said displaying means (2) and for generating data relative to the projection in association with data received by said mean for receiving data from positioning satellite systems (3).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention is relative to an apparatus for broadcasting multimedia contents and, in particular for the displaying or the projection of multimedia contents like images or video clip.

State of the art

[0002] The display of images or multimedia video clip is a common practice, for example in the advertisement field. In order to permit the vision of these multimedia contents is necessary to project them in public area. One possibility is to use the space available by private entities, for example on building vertical surface, by the payment of a remuneration. However it can be difficult to control that the display operation has really occurred in a certain area, at a certain time and according to the negotiated procedures. It would be advisable to perform the display on mobile structures like, for example, vehicles. In this case the control is even more difficult or even impossible. Furthermore it would be proper to permit to the person in charge to the display to manage autonomously the operations, for example either contacting the customer by a telematic way, or to get displaying content or to supply the proves of the actual displaying operation as well as for others needs, without any temporal bonds.

Summary

[0003] The above problems are now solved with a multimedia contents broadcasting apparatus comprising:

multimedia contents broadcasting means;

means suitable to receive data from satellite positioning systems

one processing unit for controlling said above display means and for generating data relative to the projection in association with data received by said means for receiving data from positioning satellite systems.

[0004] According to a possible embodiment, said unit, is able to generate data as above indicated in association with data concerning time and/or date.

[0005] Preferably the unit comprises one memory able to storage data and said unit is able to storage data which are generated.

[0006] Said broadcasting means are preferably means for displaying images or video clip or audio broadcasting means. These two types of devices can be also provided together to broadcast video clip with audio.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is provided with interconnecting means with electronics equipments or with telematic nets. These means can be, for example, one USB port able to connect portable memories, or a serial or parallel port, or connection devices with telematic nets like cellular connection ports, Bluetooth devices, LAN printed board, Wimax, WiFi, infra-red and others.

[0008] The invention is also relative to a method for broadcasting multimedia contents comprising:

• broadcasting said contents with proper means;
• acquiring, by a processing unit, data relative to the position provided by a positioning satellite system;
• generating, by said unit, data relative to said broadcasting of said contents in association with data relative to the position.

[0009] What included in the enclosed claims is a particular object of the invention.

List of drawings

[0010] The invention will be now illustrated by means of the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, but not exclusive, provided only for example, with the aid of enclosed figure 1 that shows schematically an apparatus according to the present invention.

Detailed description of one embodiment

[0011] The apparatus according to the present invention is suitable to be installed as a fix equipment, for example for the display on stationary locations, or as a mobile equipment, for example installed on vehicles or carried in a nomadic way by an user. It comprises the processing unit 1, and the displaying means 2, preferably controlled by the same control unit that is basically an electronic processing unit provided with one memory for storing data including the contents to be displayed. Said displaying means 2 can be anyone considered proper for this task, like dot matrix display, preferably high display type (LED, LCD OR EQUIVALENT), or can be also a video-projector. In this case a shield can be provided, or the video-projector can be suitable to project the images on a proper surface like a building wall. In the case the apparatus is installed on a vehicle, a window can be used, for example the car windscreen or the rear window, with an appropriate treatment like a semi-transparent film if necessary . Also in the case of stationary location can be used a window. In this case the projector, located inside the vehicle or stationary location, will be able to project the over-turned images so that they are visible from the outside of the vehicle in the correct way as occurs in case of rear-projection shield. If requested, the apparatus can comprise loudspeakers or similar for broadcasting audio contents contextually to the images or video clip displayed.

[0012] The memory is used to store the material to be broadcasted. Moreover it is used to store the general data about the broadcasting. The means for receiving the data from the satellite positioning system 3 (GPS or others systems), allow the processing unit to acquire and store data concerning the actual positions of the apparatus. In particular, it is possible storing data of the position wherein the displays occurs, and these data can be stored with others, like the contents of the displays, the time and the date which can be obtained by a clock located inside the processing unit or from outside sources, if preferred, as for example radio signals. In this case the skilled person in the field is able to provided the apparatus with the necessary devices for this purpose. In this way is possible to have a continuous association, or if preferred a sample association, between broadcasting data and positioning data.

[0013] The apparatus is suitable to be supplied by a suitable energy source 4. In case of stationary installations it can be a electrical source of a commercial net, or a generator or appropriate capacitor. In the case of mobile installation it can be either provided by a generator or appropriate capacitor, or for example, in the case of installation on a vehicle, by the same generator on board or by the battery of the vehicle eventually appropriately improved in power. This and others solutions can be easily processed by the skilled person in the field. The unit comprises interconnection means able to allow the processing unit to connect itself to devices or external nets. For example, it can be provided a USB port 5 by which a connection with a USB memory can be performed. By this way it can be loaded in the memory the contents to be displayed and the operative programs for the operation of the apparatus and can be downloaded from the memory the data regarding the performed displays, in a proper association with the positioning data acquired from the satellite system and others possible data as above indicated. Data relative to the running operation can be also downloaded, for example for the failure diagnostic, if a similar function is useful. The connection with computers or printers, or others equipments it is also possible as well as the direct connection with telematic nets as for example internet.

[0014] In alternative or in addition, other interconnection means can be provided, as other type of port 6, like serial ports, connections with mobile telephone apparatus, wireless connection (as Bluetooth, or others standard) 7, for a direct download and load of data.

[0015] As indicated the unit can be provided with an internal memory. In alternative it is possible that the data are stored directly on USB memory or electronic device that is connected full time during the operation process.

[0016] For exchanging data between the client and the person in charge to the display a proper internet website can be provided. The person in charge will connect to the website in order to make also others operation like payments and others. An apparatus able to display images or video clips has been exemplified, optionally integrated with audio contents. Nevertheless it is also possible, with proper modifications, to provide an equipment to broadcast only audio contents. It is clear that the apparatus, according to the present invention can be used for displaying video clip in public on commission, as above mentioned, but others uses are also possible, for example for automatic broadcasting equipments, especially if installed on vehicles, ships or other, whose precise data, about the automatic operation, are requested.

[0017] The apparatus can be installed on vehicles, stationary locations or it can be also of the portable kind. It can be also performed as integrated in a cellular telephone or computer or GPS unit, provided it with of the displaying or broadcasting means.

[0018] Other devices can integrate the apparatus. A brightness sensor 8, for example, can be provided to permit the processing unit to work in independent way, for example starting the displaying process when the brightness conditions are proper.

[0019] Dedicate programs can be developed for the processing unit operation and the correct data management. If necessary, the data can be codified so as to prevent operator alterations data. The invention concerns also a vehicle furnished with the apparatus as above indicated.

Claims

1. Apparatus for broadcasting multimedia contents comprising:

- multimedia contents broadcasting means (2);

- means for receiving data from satellite positioning systems (3);

- one processing unit (1) able to control said display means and to generate data relative to the projection in association with data received by said means able to receive data from positioning satellite systems.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, suitable to display images or video clips.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said broadcasting means comprise a projector or a display, preferably a dot Matrix display with LED, LCD technology or equivalent.

4. Apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein said unit comprises a memory and is able to store the data generated on said memory.

5. Apparatus according to any of the previous claims, comprising interconnection means with electronics apparatus or with telematic nets (5,6,7).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said interconnection means comprise a USB PORT.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said interconnection means comprise connections devices on LAN net like a ethernet port or equivalent.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said interconnection means comprise wireless connections devices.

9. Portable apparatus according to any of the previous claims.

10. Method to broadcast multimedia contents comprising:

- broadcasting said multimedia contents with proper means;

- acquiring, by a processing unit, data relative to the position provided by a positioning satellite system;

- generating, by said unit, data relative to said broadcasting multimedia contents in association with data relative to the position.

11. Method according to claim 10, comprising the storing of the generated data.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said generated data are in association with data about the date/time.

13. Vehicle provided with an apparatus according to any of the claims from 1 to 9.

Drawing