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`Case: 1:16—cv—O4826 Document #2 1-2 Filed: 04/29/16 Page 1 of 14 Page|D #:34
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`
`
`EXHIBIT B
`
`EXHIBIT B
`
`

`

`Case: 1:16-cv-04826 Document #: 1-2 Filed: 04/29/16 Page 2 of 14 PageID #:35
`
`US007382334B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Hylin et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,382,334 B1
`*Jun. 3, 2008
`
`(54) DIGITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
`
`(75) Inventors: Mats Hylin, Danderyd (SE); Mats
`Dahlgrell, He1SiI1gbOrg($E);J0akim
`JOIIaSOII, Lidingo (SE)
`
`(73) Assignee: T-Rex Property AB, Danderyd (SE)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.2 09/135,549
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 18, 1998
`
`5,109,384 A *
`5,412,416 A
`5,443,263 A
`5,499,046 A
`5,508,713 A
`
`4/1992 Tseung ..................... .. 714/748
`5/1995 Nemirofsky
`9/1995 Martin
`3/1996 Schiller et a1.
`4/1996 Okouchi
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`AU
`
`A-48849/90
`
`8/1990
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Related US. Application Data
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/676,517,
`?led on Jul. 2, 1996, noW Pat. No. 6,005,534.
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/017,403, ?led on May
`14, 1996.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 26, 1996
`Jan. 29, 1997
`Apr. 23, 1997
`
`(SE) .................................. .. 9601603
`(SE)
`97222505
`(SE) .................................. .. 9741546
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G09G 5/00
`(2006.01)
`G06Q 10/00
`(52) US. Cl. .......................... .. 345/21; 345/22; 705/5;
`705/6
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ........ .. 345/1.1*1.3,
`345/2.1*2.3, 3.1; 705/5il4; 701/200, 213;
`455/419
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,099,319 A
`3/1992 Esch et al.
`
`IBM Digital Media Distributor, IBM brochure, date unknown.
`
`Primary ExamineriDavid L. LeWis
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or F irmiPierce AtWood LLP; Kevin
`M. Farrell; Katherine A. Wrobel
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The invention relates to a digital information system for
`displaying information on at least one display means With
`the aid of at least one television set or camera. The exposures
`are presented at places accessible to and frequented by a
`general public. The information system includes external
`information mediators and information is controlled
`dynamically through the medium of a communication inter
`face and through the medium of an exposure handler in a
`central computer. The inventive system also includes a
`communication interface against an elective number of
`cinema computers having connected television or camera
`computers Which control television sets or cameras for
`displaying pictures or exposures. The cinema computers and
`peripheral equipment are situated at mutually distanced
`places.
`
`42 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`

`

`Case: 1:16-cv-04826 Document #: 1-2 Filed: 04/29/16 Page 3 of 14 PageID #:36
`
`US 7,382,334 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,507,949 B1
`
`1/2003 Jonason et a1.
`
`5,565,911 A 10/1996 Ishikawa et a1.
`5,568,279 A 10/1996 Hinman 6131.
`5,612,741 A
`3/1997 Loban et a1.
`5,634,018 A
`5/1997 Tanikoshi et a1.
`5,642,484 A
`6/1997 Harrison et 31.
`5,675,637 A 10/1997 SZlam et a1.
`5,745,688 A
`4/1998 Oka
`5,848,397 A 12/1998 Marsh
`6,006,159 A * 12/1999 Schmier et a1. ........... .. 340/988
`6,144,848 A * 11/2000 Walsh et a1.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2634295
`1,1990
`FR
`2 288 474
`8/1985
`GB
`2233474
`10/1995
`GB
`4016985 A
`1/1992
`JP
`5-300563 A 11/1993
`JP
`8-030222 A
`2/1996
`JP
`WO93/16459
`8/1993
`W0
`WO96/08113
`“996
`W0
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`Case: 1:16-cv-04826 Document #: 1-2 Filed: 04/29/16 Page 4 of 14 PageID #:37
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3,2008
`
`US 7,382,334 B1
`
`Working stations
`
`“I
`
`Mr/m
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`Data
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`30
`
`it
`Radio link
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`

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`Case: 1:16-cv-04826 Document #: 1-2 Filed: 04/29/16 Page 5 of 14 PageID #:38
`
`US 7,382,334 B1
`
`1
`DIGITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application is a continuation-in-part of appli
`cation Ser. No. 08/676,517, ?led on Jul. 2, 1996 now US.
`Pat. No. 6,004,534, the disclosure of Which is expressly
`incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to a method and to an
`arrangement for controlling and coordinating television sets,
`With peripheral equipment, or cameras, With peripheral
`equipment, in a digital information system for displaying
`information on at least one display device through the
`medium of at least one television set or camera for each said
`device, said information being displayed in places such as
`cinemas, private homes, onboard air-crafts, onboard trains,
`onboard ships, main railWay stations, subWay stations, air
`port Waiting lounges etc, and generally every Were adver
`tisements, ?lms, movies and other information is displayed
`through the medium of television sets or cameras.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
`
`Systems that are used to shoW information in the form of
`advertisements, timetable messages or arrival and departure
`times in present-day public service infrastructures With
`regard to buses, trains, subWay traf?c, etc., is of a static
`nature. Such information is given on notice boards, posters,
`charts, tables, verbally through loudspeakers, and on digital
`displays, etc. A characteristic feature of such information
`media is that the information media is not coordinated, but
`is in the form of individual items Which are controlled and
`updated separately, often manually.
`Modern digital displays used, e.g., in conjunction With
`subWay railWay traf?c gives some of the aforesaid informa
`tion but is not controlled to display advertisements, Warning
`messages, etc. Furthermore, the information is often supple
`mented With verbal messages transmitted from traf?c control
`centers. The information channel cannot be subscribed to
`directly for the display of external information suppliers,
`such as advertising bureaux, the authorities, neWspapers,
`etc., but is processed administratively and fed manually into
`the information display systems.
`Although the administration of information is often pro
`cessed manually With the aid of modern computer technol
`ogy, the available display time Will nevertheless contain
`“dead time”, among other things due to back-logging caused
`by the manual infeed process.
`Thus, present-day systems do not enable information to
`be updated dynamically for display in real time. Neither do
`present-day systems enable external mediators to update
`information for display in a central control system, nor yet
`the administrator Who makes the display of information
`available, but that it is the administrator Who determines
`When, Where and hoW the information shall be displayed.
`The present-day static information display systems are
`therefore beset With a number of problems.
`Also knoWn to the art are systems for displaying or
`shoWing picture series in local public places, such as assem
`bly halls, lecture halls, and conference rooms in industry.
`The systems comprise diapositive television set or cameras
`Which are controlled to display pictures, images and sound
`in an attractive manner, often With rapid picture changes and
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`overlaps, so as to avoid the risk of boring vieWers, as With
`conventional display With diapositive television set or cam
`eras. The computer control of such systems may Well be both
`complicated and advanced.
`Unfortunately, these systems are nevertheless static inso
`far as they are used in one and the same locality and
`controlled and managed on the display site. The display
`must be planned carefully beforehand, this planning often
`being carried out by experts Within the technical ?eld in
`question, so as to obtain a ?nished display product. For
`instance, When a company Wishes to change its display and
`introduce a neW picture series combined With sound, the
`process again becomes static by virtue of the need to employ
`experts to program and arrange the neW display.
`The same problem as that mentioned above is also met
`When shoWing pictures through diapositive television set or
`cameras in one and the same locality, because the display
`subscriber has very little chance of in?uencing the display,
`especially in real time. The picture display is directed
`toWards a limited public and toWards scheduled display of
`one and the same information material to the public con
`cerned. The picture display is not directed to a large number
`of people, as in the case of a railWay station platform, a
`subWay platform or in airports. In places of this nature, it
`should be possible to spread the information and to display
`different information in different places Within said stations
`and it should be possible to update and change the infor
`mation quickly. When the information displayed on said
`stations is not effectively coordinated, the displays on Which
`information is presented Will often become static, for
`instance shoW the time of the next display or shoW a pause
`picture, i.e. dead time. This becomes nerve-Wracking to
`travelers, Who often Wait for long periods in Waiting halls or
`stand on platforms. Neither is the failure to utiliZe expensive
`information display equipment to the highest possible
`degree compatible With good economy.
`Further, It is a knoWn problem When neW ?lms or movies
`are to be released at different locations such as cinemas that
`there are pirate copies made When the movies or ?lms are
`distributed to the locations Where they are going to be
`displayed to the public.
`Still further, the advertisement sent at cinemas during the
`projection of a ?lm is static, i.e. not instantly changeable.
`Also, for advertisement on television the same draWbacks
`as for other systems are valid e.g. concerning changing of
`advertisement spots.
`Yet further, the neW standards for digital television Will in
`a near future revolutionary television vieWers demands on
`available services, such as pay per vieW, video on demand,
`interactive vieWing etc, not to say What Would be the case if
`it is combined With satellite transmission or cable carried
`broadband transmission.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention aims to provide a ?exible system in
`Which external information mediators are able to dynami
`cally control in real time the transmission of display instruc
`tions to a larger public in different places situated at any
`chosen distance apart through television sets or cameras
`Which project information onto displays intended herefor.
`An achievement of the invention is to alloW video on
`demand and pay per vieW on television sets and other
`medium intended for display of information.
`Another achievement is to make it possible to distribute,
`for example, movie ?lms to cinema locations from a remote
`central place.
`
`

`

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`US 7,382,334 B1
`
`3
`Yet another achievement of the invention is to enable
`pictures, images, messages and announcements to be con
`?gured in accordance With modern digital technology, there
`With providing rapid communication.
`A further achievement of the invention is to enable a
`picture, image or other information to be changed in practice
`as often as is desired, in real time, thereWith providing direct
`and immediate communication, and to enable similar or
`speci?c information to be displayed in places that are
`mutually far apart and to enable message information to be
`alternated With advertising spots, for instance.
`A still further achievement in part of the invention is to
`assign every television set and camera an address. In one
`embodiment a netWork address such as an Internet TCP/IP
`address.
`According to one aspect, the present invention relates to
`a method of coordinating and controlling television sets or
`cameras in a digital information system for exposing infor
`mation on at least one display device through the medium of
`at least one television set or camera.
`Said method comprising the folloWing steps:
`generating an exposure list comprising control instruc
`tions for coordinating and controlling television sets or
`cameras With regard to What shall be exposed, When it shall
`be exposed, Where it shall be exposed and for hoW long it
`shall be exposed;
`using a control center for coordinating and controlling
`television sets or cameras, Wherein the control center is able
`to create and update said exposure list in real time With
`control instruction ?elds via dynamic booking of informa
`tion in time for exposure from mediators; and
`Wherein the exposure list enables each television set or
`camera to be controlled, independently of other television
`sets or cameras, to receive the same or different information
`in accordance With the exposure list for exposure of respec
`tive television set or camera through the computerized
`devices.
`Information mediators are, in one embodiment of the
`present invention, connected to a computerized control
`center via interfaces for data and telecommunication for
`round-the clock transmission of information. The control
`center has communication interfaces against computerized
`devices, situated at speci?c places remote from the control
`center, for coordinating and controlling television sets or
`cameras. A control center is able to create and update an
`exposure list in real time With control instruction ?elds via
`dynamic booking of information in time for exposure from
`mediators having drive routine means. Said drive routine
`means may be transparent for transmission of information
`With the drive routine means of the control center for
`transmission of information in the system via interfaces. The
`exposure list With control instructions coordinates and con
`trols the television set or camera With regard to What shall be
`exposed, When it shall be exposed, Where it shall be exposed
`and for hoW long it shall be exposed. Also it enables each
`television set or camera to be controlled, independently of
`other television sets or cameras, to receive the same or
`different information in accordance With the exposure list for
`exposure of respective television set or camera through the
`computerized devices.
`In one embodiment, the system administrator is able to
`update the exposure list With elective information at any
`time Whatsoever, Wherein the dynamic booking can be
`changed or delayed.
`In another embodiment a server situated at said speci?c
`place and included in a computerized device includes data
`bases; and in that information in the databases relating to
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`exposures in the exposure list is copied in databases of
`servers in a selected number of computerized devices situ
`ated at some other place.
`A further embodiment comprises that the exposure list
`includes reserved instruction ?elds for updating control
`instructions via mediator interfaces.
`A still further embodiment includes that the control
`instructions are placed in a queue, or line, When the exposure
`list temporarily lacks instruction updating ?elds.
`In yet another embodiment a sWitch senses When one of
`said servers is out of function, Wherein the television set or
`cameras controlled by said server are controlled by another
`server situated at some other place.
`Also, a further embodiment ensures that every television
`set or camera is assigned an unique address, Whereby the
`addresses can be of the type TCP/IP. Addresses to television
`set or cameras, in one embodiment, respectively, are stored
`on a smart card Which can be read by computerised means
`via in these comprised smart card readers.
`The present invention also relates to an arrangement of
`apparatus for carrying out the aforesaid method, said
`apparatus including the aforesaid devices and an expo
`sure handler Which creates the exposure list. More
`speci?cally an arrangement for coordinating and con
`trolling television sets or cameras in a digital informa
`tion system for displaying information on at least one
`display device through the medium of at least one
`television set or camera, said information being sup
`plied by mediators of information, for exposure or
`display.
`It comprises:
`computerized control center means, Wherein the control
`center has communication interfaces against;
`computerized means for coordinating and controlling
`television sets or cameras;
`exposure handler means Whereby the control center func
`tions, in real time and through the medium of said exposure
`handler, to create and update an exposure list having control
`instruction ?elds, via dynamic booking of display informa
`tion from mediators; and
`Wherein said exposure list, containing control instruc
`tions, coordinates and controls the television sets or cameras
`in question With respect to What shall be exposed, Where it
`shall be exposed, When it shall be exposed, and for hoW long
`it shall be exposed, and enables each television set or
`camera, independently of other television sets or cameras, to
`receive the same or different information according to the
`exposure list for exposure, or display, by respective televi
`sion set or camera through the computerized devices.
`Mediators of information for exposure or display are
`connected to a computerized control center via interfaces for
`data and telecommunication for transmitting the information
`at any elected time Whatsoever, Wherein the control center
`has communication interfaces against computerized devices
`for coordinating and controlling television sets or cameras.
`The control center functions, in real time and through the
`medium of said exposure handler, to create and update an
`exposure list having control instruction ?elds via dynamic
`booking of display information from mediators having drive
`routine means. Said drive routine means possibly being
`transparent for transmission of information With the drive
`routine means of the control center for transmission of
`information in the system via interfaces. An exposure list
`containing control instructions coordinates and controls the
`television sets or cameras in question With respect to What
`shall be exposed, Where it shall be exposed, When it shall be
`exposed, and for hoW long it shall be exposed. This enables
`
`

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`US 7,382,334 B1
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`5
`that each television set or camera, independently of other
`television sets or cameras, to receive the same or different
`information according to the exposure list for exposure, or
`display, by respective television set or camera through the
`computerized devices.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The following description makes reference to the text in
`the accompanying draWing to provide a better understanding
`of the embodiments of the present invention, said draWing
`illustrating schematically a system for coordinating and
`controlling television sets or cameras in a digital information
`system for displaying information in accordance With the
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`20
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`The present invention relates to a method for the dynamic
`coordination and control of television sets or cameras, With
`possible peripheral equipment, in a digital information sys
`tem for displaying information on at least one display device
`via at least one television set or camera for each display
`device, Wherein the information is displayed in places that
`are accessible to and frequented by a general public. The
`invention also relates to an arrangement of apparatus for
`carrying out the method.
`It is to be understood that the television set or camera
`itself can comprise a digital display device or be incorpo
`rated in a digital display device such as an LCD display, PDP
`display (Plasma Display Panel), a digital television set etc.
`Although implementation of embodiments are limited in
`the folloWing to private homes or cinema locations, it Will be
`understood that the invention is not restricted to these
`embodiments. As before mentioned, the inventive system
`can be used in places Where large sections of the public are
`knoWn to visit or look at advertisement, looking at televi
`sion, looking at movies etc., such as railWay stations,
`subWay stations, airports, outdoor locations, onboard air
`crafts, onboard trains, onboard ships, airport Waiting lounges
`etc, in addition to cinemas and private homes, and generally
`every Were advertisements, ?lms, movies and other infor
`mation is displayed through the medium of television sets or
`cameras.
`It should be appreciated that the Word camera generally
`relates to any kind of apparatus able to project images on
`displays.
`Preferred embodiments of the invention Will noW be
`described in detail With reference to the accompanying
`single draWing, Which illustrates schematically a system 10
`for coordinating and controlling television sets or cameras in
`a digital information system for displaying information on
`display devices, such as free-standing picture screens, Wall
`mounted screens, Walls, and overhead screens or other
`means suitable for reproducing or exposing picture infor
`mation in the form of text, stills, movable pictures, images,
`etc.
`In the main, the system is comprised of a control center
`12 having a communication interface 14 Which connects an
`unlimited number of computerized devices 16, 18, 20 Which
`are placed at desired distances from one another for the
`control of television sets 40 or cameras 22.
`The illustrated system also includes an information
`mediator Which is connected to the control center 12 through
`the medium of a computer 24 and a modem 26. Although
`only one modem is shoWn connected to the central computer
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`28 of the control center, it Will be understood that modern
`poles, telephone sWitching centers and other similar devices
`may be used to this end in accordance With present-day
`techniques. Also, the connection betWeen the system 10 or
`control center 12 and information mediators is arbitrary by
`Wire or Wireless, preferably cable oriented and possibly a
`broadband netWork.
`As an example of a preferred embodiment, a system 10
`could be administrated by almost any company or by a major
`broadcasting company for movies or television. Altema
`tively, the information mediators could be broadcasting
`companies and the administrator of the system 10 an inde
`pendent distributor of media. In accordance, the computer
`iZed devices or station sites 16, 18, 20 are e.g. cable
`television delivers, satellite television distributors, locations
`Where movies are displayed etc.
`The central computer 28 in the control center 12 also
`includes databases 30, in the illustrated case tWo databases.
`The databases 30 may be externally connected to the central
`computer. The control center also includes Working stations
`32, Which are preferably connected to the central computer
`28 via a Local Area NetWork (LAN) in accordance With
`knoWn techniques. The Working stations 32 are used by the
`personnel serving the control center 12, in monitoring,
`checking, maintaining and updating functions in the central
`computer With its databases. The control center administra
`tor is able to insert television set or camera control instruc
`tions via the Working stations, for instance When information
`is directed speci?cally to travelers and passengers travelling
`by ship, train, subWay, aircraft or some other vehicular traf?c
`Who require speci?c information. The information may
`concern the arrival times and departure times of passenger
`carrying vehicles. The administrator controls internally hoW,
`What, When or Where the information shall be displayed by
`the television sets or cameras 22. An important feature in
`this context, hoWever, is that external information mediators
`24 are able to give control instructions to the television sets
`or cameras 22 With regard to the information that the
`external mediators 24 desire the system 10 to display via the
`television set or cameras 22, each on its oWn initiative and
`communication-Wise transparent via modems 26. This can
`be achieved in accordance With one embodiment of the
`invention Without involving the Working stations 32 in the
`procedure of transmitting the control instructions to the
`central computer 28.
`The term information mediator 24 used in the folloWing
`shall be interpreted in its Widest meaning, i.e. as not only
`referring to advertising agencies but to all companies and
`private persons Who Wish to utiliZe the system 10 for
`commercial reasons or for the display of information that
`concerns a general public. At present a mediator Which
`Wishes to display information in public places is normally
`forced to Wait about tWo Weeks, perhaps longer, before his
`order can be implemented and the information publicly
`displayed. With the inventive digital information system 10,
`the information can be displayed principally in real time, i.e.
`at the time of making the order, possibly With a short delay
`due to processing, fully-booked exposure lists and other
`quickly passing causes. Furthermore, an external informa
`tion mediator 24 is able to put through information to the
`system 12 tWenty-four hours a day, Whereupon the infor
`mation can be included instantaneously in an exposure list,
`as illustrated in more detail beloW.
`Those external information mediators Which connect to
`the control center 12 are, in one embodiment of the inven
`tion, connected to the control center via specially designed
`interfaces (drive routine means) for data and telecommuni
`
`

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`US 7,382,334 B1
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`7
`cation. In this Way, only external mediators 24 having the
`correct interface are able to connect transparently to the
`control center 12 for delivering control instructions to the
`television sets or cameras 22, Which avoids unauthorized
`access to the display of such information and misuse of the
`system. In this regard, the special interface, Which may be
`included in the computers of external mediators, also
`includes commercially available code keys or other codes
`sent betWeen the control center 12 and the computer 24 of
`the external mediator to verify the right to enter control
`instructions into the central computer 28, Without the admin
`istrator needing to supply through the Working stations 32
`further information or authority permitting access of the
`external information mediators 24 to the central computer
`for transmitting system transparent control instructions to
`the television set or cameras 22.
`In accordance With the invention, the control center 12 has
`a communication interface 14 against the computerized
`devices 16, 18, 20 situated on shifting positions or places for
`television set or camera coordination and control.
`The draWing shoWs speci?cally a radio link Which forms
`an interface betWeen the control center 12 and the comput
`erized devices 16, 18, 20, this interface being a preferred
`inter face, although not necessarily the sole possible inter
`face. Other interfaces for transmitting information betWeen
`the control center 12 and the computerized devices 16, 18,
`20 may consist of a cable-carried ISDN solution (Integrated
`Services Digital Network), satellite netWork, other Wireless
`netWork, or other ?xed lines that have the same capacity.
`In one embodiment of the invention relating to a cinema
`or a cable television distributor 1 (from noW on cinema 1),
`the computerized device 16 is comprised of a cinema
`computer (server) Which either includes or is connected
`externally to a hard disk 36, Wherein the cinema computer
`34 is connected to a plurality of television set or camera
`computers 38, three such television set or camera computers
`in the illustrated case, Which transmit control information to
`connected television sets 40 or cameras 22, only one of
`Which is shoWn. The television set or camera computers 38
`have the form of PC units With picture screens in the
`illustrated case. The information sent to television sets or
`cameras 22 can be monitored on the picture screens of the
`PC units 38 and edited by personnel stationed at different
`locations Within a cinema 16, or from a central location. In
`the illustrated embodiment, cinema 2, referenced 18, and
`cinema 3, referenced 20, comprise other cinemas that are
`equipped With devices similar to the devices of the cinema
`16, although Without shoWing the television set or camera
`computers 38 and the television set 40 or camera 22. It is
`assumed, hoWever, that these stations also include television
`set or camera computers 38 and at least one television set or
`camera 22.
`In an alternative embodiment of the device or devices 38,
`i.e. the television set or camera computers 38, included in
`the cinema computer 34, the television sets or cameras 22
`is/are controlled directly from the cinema computer 34.
`In yet another embodiment of the devices included in the
`computerized devices 16, 18, 20, the television set or camera
`22 is replaced With an electronic display (not shoWn), such
`as a large picture screen in LCD technology, PDP technol
`ogy or the like. The cinema computer 34 is then included in
`the large picture screen or is connected externally thereto.
`Preferably, the television set or camera computers 38 in the
`cinema computer 34 and the database 36 are also included.
`Information is transmitted from the control center 12 gen
`erally in the same manner as that before described. HoWever,
`each separate large picture screen may be addressed directly
`
`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`8
`through a radio netWork 14, Wherein the screens are con
`trolled from the control center 12 Which includes redun
`dancy. Thus, in the illustrated case, the computerized
`devices 16, 18, 20 form an electronic display With cinema
`control computer 34, said television set or camera 22 effect
`ing the display.
`According to one embodiment, the computerized devices
`16, 18, 20 may include redundancy by virtue of all databases
`36 or hard disks in the cinemas 16, 18, 20 including the same
`television set or camera control information or instructions
`for monitoring the system in a cinema 16, 18, 20. Thus, all
`information is copied betWeen the cinema computers 34 and
`their databases 36 via the communications interface 14 from
`the central computer 28. This means that a computerized
`device for displaying information in a cinema via television
`sets or cameras 22 Will not be disabled should one or tWo of
`the cinemas shoWn in the draWing suffer a computer or hard
`disk poWer doWn in a cinema computer 34. In the event of
`a poWer doWn in a cinema computer 34, the communications
`interface 14 can be coupled to a sWitch Which automatically
`bypasses the cinema computer and connects television sets
`or cameras 22 connected to the poWer doWn computer 34 to
`one of the cinema computers 34 that is still in function (the
`sWitch is not shoWn in the draWing).
`The digital information system 10 has been described in
`the aforegoing With regard to respective hardWare and
`interfaces. Implementation of the present invention in
`achieving the objects and purposes thereof Will noW be
`described more speci?cally.
`The illustrated central computer 28 is divided into three
`poWerful servers 1, 2, 3, of Which server 1 receives material
`from external information mediators 24, via modems 26,
`Wire or Wireless or combinations of them. Server 2 sends
`information material to the cinema computers 34. The same
`material can be sent to all cinema computers 34, even though
`the information is to be displayed solely on a given display
`or on given displays. What shall be exposed and Where it
`shall be exposed Will be explained in more detail beloW.
`Server 3 functions to process information and control
`instructions received from the information mediator 24, as
`described in more detail beloW.
`The server 3 of the central computer 28 functions partly
`as an exposure handler. The exposure handler 3 carries out
`the important object of the invention With regard to the
`possibility of an external mediator 24 to organize the infor
`mation delivered to the cinema 16, 18, 20 via an exposure
`list, this organizing of information being effected in real time
`via the modem 26 and the server 1 that receives television
`set or cam