(i9) United States
`(12) Reissued Patent
`Hylin et al.
`
`US00RE39470E
`
`US RE39,470 E
`(io) Patent Number:
`Jan. 16,2007
`(45) Date of Reissued Patent:
`
`(54) DIGITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
`Inventors: Mats Hylin, Danderyd (SE); Mats
`(75)
`Dahlgren, Helsingborg (SE); Joakim
`Jonason, Lidingo (SE)
`(73) Assignee: T-Rex Property AB, Danderyd (SE)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/821,969
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 30, 2001
`
`Related U.S. Patent Documents
`
`Reissue of:
`(64) Patent No.:
`Issued:
`Appl. No.:
`Filed:
`U.S. Applications:
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/017,403, filed on May 14,
`1996.
`
`6,005,534
`Dec. 21, 1999
`08/676,517
`Jul. 2, 1996
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 26, 1996
`
`(SE)
`
`9601603-5
`
`(51)
`
`Int. CI.
`G09F 27/00
`G09F 19/18
`G09F 15/00
`G09F 19/12
`G06F 13/04
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. CI
`
`345/2.1; 345/2.2; 705/5;
`705/6
`345/1.1,
`Field of Classification Search
`345/1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 7; 705/5, 6; 349/5-7
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1992 Esch et al.
`5,099,319 A
`5,404,185 A * 4/1995 Vogeley et al
`5/1995 Nemirofsky
`5,412,416 A
`5,448,263 A *
`9/1995 Martin
`3/1996 Schiller et al.
`5,499,046 A
`5,508,713 A * 4/1996 Okouchi
`5,565,911 A * 10/1996 Ishikawa et al.
`
`359/55
`
`345/173
`
`5,568,279 A * 10/1996 Hinman et al.
`5,634,018 A *
`5/1997 Tanikoshi et al.
`5,642,484 A *
`6/1997 Harrison et al.
`5,675,637 A * 10/1997 Szlam et al.
`5,745,688 A * 4/1998 Oka
`5,782,548 A *
`7/1998 Miyashita
`6,006,159 A * 12/1999 Schmier et al
`6,122,642 A *
`9/2000 Mehovic
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`353/42
`701/200
`707/104
`
`AU
`FR
`GB
`WO
`WO
`
`A-48849/90
`2634295
`2 288 474
`WO 93/16459
`WO 96/08113
`
`8/1990
`1/1990
`8/1985
`8/1993
`3/1996
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`IBM brochure, date
`
`IBM Digital Media Distributor,
`unknown.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—Bipin Shalwala
`Assistant Examiner—David L. Lewis
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Pierce Atwood LLP; Kevin
`M. Farrell
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The inventionrelates to a digital information system (10) for
`displaying information on at least one display means with
`the aid of at least one projector (22). The exposures are
`presented at places accessible to and frequented by a general
`public. The information system (10) includes external infor¬
`mationmediators (24) and informationis controlleddynami¬
`cally through the medium of a communication interface (26)
`and through the medium of an exposure handler in a central
`computer (28). The inventive system also include a com¬
`munication interface (14) against an elective number of
`station computers (34) having connected projector comput¬
`ers (38) which control projectors (22) for displaying pictures
`or exposures. The station computers (34) and peripheral
`equipment are situated at mutually distancedplaces. Accord¬
`ing to one particular field of use, the places mentioned are
`subway stations (16, 18, 20) and projectors (22) project
`exposures or pictures onto display means positioned at
`selected places in the stations (16, 18, 20).
`
`26 Claims, 1Drawing Sheet
`
`30. OATABA5C
`
`30. DATABASE
`
`WORKING
`STATIONS
`
`26. MODEM
`
`24. INFORMATION
`MEDIATORS
`
`SUBWAY
`STATION 1
`
`COMPUTER
`
`1 )
`
`{
`
`14.RADIO UNK
`
`36
`
`18
`
`36
`
`2D
`
`STATION 2
`
`STATION 3
`
`38. PROJECTOR
`
`\
`
`22. PROJECTOR
`
` IPR2016-01869 Ex. 1001
`Broadsign International, LLC Petitioner
` 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 16,2007
`
`US RE39,470 E
`
`30. database:
`
`30, DATABASE
`
`WORKING
`STATIONS
`32-
`
`26, CENTRAL—
`COMPUTER
`CONTROL CENTRAL
`
`SUBWAY
`STATION 1 34, STATION
`COMPUTER
`
`24. INFORMATION
`
`26, MODEM
`
`14, RADIO LINK
`
`STATION 2
`
`STATION 3
`
`38. PROJECTOR
`COMPUTERS
`
`22. PROJECTOR
`
`
` 2
`
`

`
`us
`
`39,470 E
`
`1
`DIGITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
`
`Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [ ] appears in the
`original patent but forms no part of this reissue specifi¬
`cation; matter printed in italics indicates the additions
`made by reissue.
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This application claims priority to the provisional U.S.
`patent application No. 60/017,403 entitled "Communication
`System", filed May 14, 1996.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The present invention relates to a method and [to] appa¬
`ratus for controlling and coordinating projectors in a digital
`information system for displaying information on at least
`one display device through the medium of at
`least one
`projector for each said device, said information being dis¬
`played in places that are accessible to and frequented by a
`general public. In one particular aspect, the invention is
`applied to control projectors for displaying information
`directed towards people in such places as main railway
`stations, subway stations, airport waiting lounges, etc.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
`
`Systems that are used to show information inthe form of
`advertisements, timetable messages or arrival and departure
`times in present-day public service infrastructures with
`regardto buses, trains, subway traffic, etc., [is] are 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.
`[Modem] Modern digital displays used, e.g., in conjunc¬
`tion with subway railway traffic [gives] give some of the
`aforesaid information but [is] are not controlled to display
`advertisements, warning messages, etc. Furthermore, the
`information is often supplemented with verbal messages
`transmitted from traffic control centres. 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 adminis¬
`tratively and fed manually into the information display
`systems.
`Although the administration of information is often pro¬
`cessed manually with the aid of modern computer
`technology,
`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 inreal 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 inlocal public places, such as assem¬
`bly halls, lecture halls, and conference rooms in industry.
`The systems comprise diapositive projectors which are
`controlled to display pictures,
`images and sound in an
`
`15
`
`2
`attractive manner, often with rapid picture changes and
`overlaps, so as to avoid the risk of boring viewers, as with
`conventional display with diapositive projectors. The com¬
`puter control of such systems may well be both complicated
`5 and advanced. Unfortunately, these systems are nevertheless
`static insofar 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 field in
`to question, so as to obtain a finished display product. For
`instance, when a company wishes to change its display and
`introduce a new picture series combined with sound, the
`process againbecomes static by virtue of the needto employ
`experts to program and arrange the new display.
`The same problem as that mentioned above is also met
`when showing pictures through diapositive projectors inone
`and the same locality, because the display subscriber has
`very little chance of influencing the display, especially in
`real time. The picture display is directed towards a limited
`20 public and towards scheduled display of one and the same
`information material to the public concerned. The picture
`display is not directed to a large number of people, as inthe
`case of a railway station platform, a subway platform or in
`airports. In places of this nature, it should be possible to
`25 spread the information and to display different information
`in different places within said stations and it should be
`possible to update and change the information quickly.
`When the information displayed on said station is not
`effectively coordinated, the displays on which informationis
`30 presented will often become static, for instance show the
`time of the next display or show a pause picture, i.g. dead
`time. This becomes nerve-wracking to travellers, who often
`wait for long periods inwaiting halls or stand on platforms.
`Neither is the failure to utilize expensive informationdisplay
`35 equipment to the highest possible degree compatible with
`good economy.
`
`50
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible
`40 system in which external information mediators are able to
`dynamically control inreal time the transmission of display
`instructions to a larger public in different places situated at
`any chosen distance apart through projectors which project
`information onto displays intended [herefor] therefor.
`Another object of the invention is to enable pictures,
`images, messages and announcements to be configured in
`accordance with modern digital technology, therewith pro¬
`viding rapid communication.
`A further object of the invention is to enable a picture,
`image or other informationto be changed inpractice as often
`as is desired, in real time, therewith providing direct and
`immediate communication, and to enable similar or specific
`information to be displayed in places that are mutually far
`55 apart and to enable message information to be alternated
`with advertising spots, for instance.
`According to one aspect, the present invention relates to
`a method of coordinating and controlling projectors in a
`digital information system for displaying information on at
`go least one display device through the medium of at least one
`projector for each such display device, said information
`being displayed inplaces that are generally available to and
`frequented by a general public.
`Information display subscribers are connected to a com-
`65 puterized control centre via computer and telecommunica¬
`tion interfaces for all-day-round transmission of
`information, wherein the control centre has a communica-
`
`
` 3
`
`

`
`US RE39.470 E
`
`10
`
`tion interface [against] with computerized devices situated in
`connection with said places for projector coordination and
`control.
`The control centre is able to create and update a display
`list in real time with control instruction fields via booking 5
`information for display dynamically intime from mediators
`having drive routine means which are connected to the
`subscription and which are transparent for the transmission
`of information to the drive routine means of the control
`centre for transmission of information in the system.
`The display list, which includes control
`instructions,
`coordinates and controls the projectors concerned with
`regardto what shall be displayed, when it shall be displayed,
`where it shall be displayed and for how long it shall be
`displayed, and causes each projector, independently of other 15
`projectors, to receive the same or different information for
`display through respective projectors and through the com¬
`puterized devices, in accordance with the display list.
`The administrator ofthe digital information system is able 2Q
`to update the display list with desired information at any
`time whatsoever, wherein the dynamic booking can be
`changed or delayed.
`The projector may also interrupt display of information
`when the allocated display devices, or the projector, is/are 2s
`visually obstructed in said public place. The projector lens
`can then be covered with a protective device when a dirty
`atmosphere is detected or anticipated and which is [imma-
`nently] imminently likely to dirty the lens.
`Inone embodiment, the [projectors]projector is provided 30
`with a projector computer which controls and delivers
`exposures to the projectors controlled by a server included
`inthe computerized device, wherein the projector computer
`has a buffer memory which is filled with subsequent expo¬
`sures as the exposure to be displayed at that moment via the 35
`projector is emptied from the buffer memory.
`Alternatively, a server included in said computerized
`device is providedwith a projector computer which controls
`and feeds exposures to the projectors, wherein the projector
`computer is connected to a buffer memory which is filled 40
`with subsequent exposures as the exposure current at that
`particular moment is displayed through the projector and
`emptied from the buffer memory.
`A server situated in a specific place and included in a
`computerized device further includes databases, and infor¬
`mation in the databases concerning exposures in the expo¬
`sure list is copied in databases of servers in a selected
`number of computerized devices situated in other places.
`In one embodiment,
`the exposure list may include 5Q
`reserved instruction fields for updating with control instruc¬
`tions via the mediator interface, wherein the control instruc¬
`tions can be placed in a waiting line, or queue, when the
`exposure list lacks instructionupdating fields at that moment
`in time.
`Inanother embodiment of the invention, a switch detects
`when a station computer is not functioning, wherein those
`projectors controlled by the station computer are controlled
`by another station computer situated at some other place.
`A further embodiment can also be used as "feedback" and 60
`monitoring in statistical analysis by a system administrator
`with respect to whether or not vehicles keep to the timetable,
`when the display of informationis interrupted either because
`the display device is obstructed or because the projector is
`obstructed. In one embodiment, the computerized devices 65
`comprise an electronic display with control computer,
`wherein projectors are comprised of electronic displays.
`
`45
`
`55
`
`The present invention also relates to an arrangement of
`apparatus for carrying out the aforesaid method, said appa¬
`ratus including the aforesaid devices and an exposure han¬
`dler which creates the exposure list.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The following description makes reference to the text in
`the accompanying drawings to provide a better understand¬
`invention, said
`ing of the embodiments of the present
`drawings illustrating schematically a system for coordinat¬
`ingand controlling projectors ina digital information system
`for displaying information inaccordance with the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present inventionrelates to a method for the dynamic
`coordination and control of projectors in a digital informa¬
`tion system for displaying information on at
`least one
`display device via at least one projector 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.
`Although implementation of embodiments are limited in
`the following to subway railway stations, it will be under¬
`stood that the invention is not restricted to these embodi¬
`ments. As before, mentioned, the inventive system can be
`used inplaces where large sections of the public are known
`to visit, such as railway stations, airports, outdoor locations,
`etc., in addition to subway stations.
`Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be
`described in detail with reference to the accompanying
`drawings, which illustrate schematically a system 10 for
`coordinating and controlling projectors in a digital informa¬
`tion 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 information in the form of
`text, stills, movable pictures, images, etc. (displays not
`shown in the drawing).
`In the main, the system is comprised of a control centre
`12 having a communication interface 14 which connects an
`unlimitednumber of computerized devices 16, 18, 20 which
`are placed at desired distances from one another for the
`control of projectors 22 whose projector images or pictures
`are displayed in the aforesaid public places.
`The illustrated system also includes an advertising agency
`which is connected to the control centre 12 through the
`medium of a computer 24 and a modem 26. Although only
`one modem is shown connected to the central computer 28
`of the control centre, it will be understood that modem
`[poles]pools, telephone switching centres and other similar
`devices may be used to this end in accordance with present-
`day techniques.
`The central computer 28 in the control centre 12 also
`includes databases 30, in the illustrated case two databases.
`The databases 30 may be externally connected to the central
`computer. The control centre 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 centre 12, in monitoring,
`checking, maintaining and updating functions inthe central
`computer with its databases. The control centre administra¬
`tor is able to insert projector control instructions via the
`
`
` 4
`
`

`
`US RE39.470 E
`
`working stations, for instance when information is directed
`specifically to travellers and passengers traveling by ship,
`train, subway, aircraft or some other vehicular traffic who
`require specific information. The information may concern
`the arrival times and departure times of passenger-carrying 5
`vehicles. The administrator controls internally how, what,
`when or where the information shall be displayed by the
`projectors 22. An important feature inthis context, however,
`is that external information mediators 24 are able to give
`control instructions to the projectors 22 with regard to the
`informationthat the external mediators 24 desire the system
`10 to display via the projectors 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 informationmediator (24) used inthe following
`shall be interpreted in its widest meaning, i.e. as not only
`referring to advertising agencies but to all companies and 20
`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 25
`order can be implemented and the information publicly
`displayed. With the inventive digital information system 10,
`the information can be displayed principly 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 30
`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 centre 12 via modems are, inone embodiment of
`the invention, connected to the control centre via specially
`designed interfaces (drive routine means) for data and
`telecommunication. Inthis way, only external mediators 24 40
`having the correct interface are able to connect transparently
`to the control centre 12 for delivering control instructions in
`the projectors 22, which avoids unauthorized access to the
`display of such informationand misuse ofthe system. Inthis
`regard, the special interface, which may be included in the 45
`computers of external mediators, also includes commer¬
`cially available code keys or other codes sent between the
`control centre 12 and the computer 24 of the external
`mediator to verify the right to enter control instructions into
`the central computer 28, without the administrator needing 50
`to supply through the working stations 32 further informa¬
`tion or authority permitting access of the external informa¬
`tion mediators 24 to the central computer for transmitting
`system transparent control instructions to the projectors 22.
`Inaccordance with the invention, the control centre 12has 55
`a communication interface 14 [against] with the computer¬
`ized devices 16, 18, 20 situated on shifting positions or
`places for projector coordination and control.
`The drawing shows specifically a radio link which forms
`an interface between the control centre 12 and the comput- 60
`erized devices 16, 18, 20, this interface being a preferred
`interface, although not necessarily the sole possible inter¬
`face. Other interfaces for transmitting information between
`the control centre 12 and the computerized devices 16, 18,
`20 may consist of a cable-carried ISDN solution (Integrated 65
`Services Digital Network) or other fixed lines that have the
`same capacity.
`
`35
`
`In one embodiment of the invention relating to subway
`station 1, the computerized device 16 is comprised of a
`station computer (server) which either includes or is con¬
`nected externally to a hard disk 36, wherein the station
`computer 34 is connected to a plurality of projector com¬
`puters 38, three such projector computers in the illustrated
`case, which transmit control information to connected pro¬
`jectors 22, only one of which is shown. The projector
`computers 38 have the form of PC units with picture screens
`inthe illustrated case. The information sent to projectors 22
`can be monitored on the picture screens of the PC units 35
`and edited by personnel stationed at different
`locations
`within the subway station 16, or from a central location. In
`the illustrated embodiment, station 2, referenced 18, and
`station 3, referenced 20, comprise other subway stations that
`are equipped with devices similar to the devices of the
`subway station 16, although without showing the projector
`computers 38 and the projector 22. It is assumed, however,
`that these stations also include projector computers 38 and
`at least one projector 22.
`Inan alternative embodiment of the device or devices 38,
`i.e. the projector computers 38, are included in the station
`computer 34, the projector or projectors 22 is/are controlled
`directly from the station computer 34.
`Inyet another embodiment of the devices included inthe
`computerized devices 16, 18,20, the projector 22 is replaced
`with an electronic display (not shown), such as a large
`picture screen in LCD technology,
`light-emitting diode
`technology (LED technology) or the like. The station com¬
`puter 34 is then included in the large picture screen or is
`connected externally thereto. Preferably, the projector com¬
`puter 38 in the station computer 34 and the database 36 are
`also included. Information is transmitted from the control
`centre 12 generally in the same manner as that before
`described. However, each separate laige picture screen may
`be addressed directly through a radio network 14, wherein
`the screens are controlled from the control centre 12 which
`includes redundancy. Thus, in the illustrated case, the com¬
`puterized devices 16, 18, 20 form an electronic display with
`control computer 34, said projector 22 effecting the display.
`According to one embodiment, the computerized devices
`16, 18, 20 may include redundancy by virtue of all databases
`36 ofharddisks onthe stations 16, 18, 20 including the same
`projector control information or instructions for monitoring
`the system in a subway station 16, 18, 20. Thus, all infor¬
`mation is copied between the station computers 34 and their
`databases 36 via the communications interface 14 from the
`central computer 28. This means that a computerized device
`for displaying informationina subway station via projectors
`22 will not be disabled should one or two of the stations
`shown inthe drawing suffer a computer or hard disk power
`down ina station computer 34. Inthe event of a power down
`in a station computer 34, the communications interface 14
`can be coupled to a switch which automatically bypasses the
`station computer and connect projectors 22 connected to the
`power down computer 34 to one of the station computers 34
`is still in function (the switch is not shown in the
`that
`drawing).
`The digital information system 10 has been described in
`the aforegoing with regard to respective hardware and
`Implementation of the present
`invention in
`interfaces.
`achieving the objects and purposes thereof will now be
`described more specifically.
`The illustrated central computer 28 is divided into three
`powerful servers 1, 2, 3, of which server 1receives material
`from external information mediators 24, via modems 26.
`
`
` 5
`
`

`
`US RE39.470 E
`
`Server 2 sends informationmaterial to the station computers
`34. The same material can be sent to all station 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 5
`detail below.
`Server 3 functions to process information and control
`instructions received from the information mediator 24, as
`described in more detail blow.
`The server 3 of the central computer 28 functions partly 10
`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 station 16, 18, 20 via an exposure
`list,this organizing of informationbeing effected inreal time 15
`via the modem 26 and the server 1that receives projector
`control information from the external mediator.
`In one [invention] embodiment of the invention, a queue,
`or line, is created from the informationmaterial received byJ 20
`the server 1,inaccordance with some knownline or queuing
`method, such as FIFO (First In First Out), LIFO (Last In
`First Out) or Round Robin, etc., wherein the server 3 or
`exposure handler 3 has set-up or created an exposure list
`which covers a twenty-four hour period for information
`exposure or display via projectors 22. The exposure handler
`3 collects and processes, i.e. allocates, information relating
`to projector control instructions, wherein mediator informa¬
`tion is sorted into the exposure list in accordance with the
`wishes of the mediator 24 or its instructions, when available
`space is found inthe exposure list or inalternative places in
`the exposure list given by the mediator. If the exposure list
`is completely filled with instructions, the mediator instruc¬
`tions to the control centre remain in the queue list in the
`servo 1in readiness for later inclusion in the exposure list,
`in accordance with a preferred embodiment.
`Inone embodiment of the invention, the exposure handler
`3 creates or allocates a data message (data field) including a
`header, a control character field, an address field, optionally
`least one CRC field (Cyclic Redundancy Code), and
`at
`optionally status flags which identify and are connected to
`the informationfrom an informationmediator 24 and filed in
`the exposure list in the time interval that the information
`shall be exposed or displayed through a projector 22. This
`constitutes an alternative to the insertion of the entire
`information bit from an external mediator 24 in a specific
`time interval in the exposure list, and enables the provision
`of an exposure list that contains much less information and
`which is thus easier to handle, andto accelerate transmission
`of the list between computers and databases included in the
`system.
`A data message in the exposure list can be understood
`here as being a control instruction in an instruction field for
`activating projectors 22 to project information.
`A data message of this kind connected to each individual
`information exposure enables known F1ASF1 or switching
`methods to find information included in the exposure time
`intervals inthe exposure list both effectively and quickly. A
`First Class® server can be used conveniently for commu¬
`nications transmission between external informationmedia¬
`tors 24 and the control centre 12. Each external information
`mediator is then able to send an e-mail with included
`information material in any chosen format, which provides
`the advantage of not needing to write in any new software
`for the communication transmission function. As before
`mentioned, the system also incorporates a safety aspect,
`whereby each external
`information mediator that has an
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`40
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`8
`office or when subscribes to the system must possess a coded
`drive means or a coded drive routine in order to connect to
`the control centre 12.
`Inorder for external information mediators 24 to be able
`to deliver complete pictures/films, the mediator will prefer¬
`ably have its own versions of the software that the exposure
`handler 3 uses for enabling pictures/films to be introduced
`transparently into the exposure list without processing via
`the working stations 32 in the control centre 12.
`Inone embodiment ofthe invention, there is thus included
`an alternative to the dynamic updating of the exposure list as
`mentioned in the aforegoing, i.e. the external information
`mediators 24 which do not have access to software in the
`exposure handler are providedwith the possibility of having
`their picture material or exposure material processed by
`personnel serving the working stations 32, wherein said
`personnel enter, via the working stations 32, the information
`that the external mediator 24 wishes to have exposed, or
`displayed, via projector control instructions in the exposure
`handler and via the exposure list created by the handler.
`Personnel at the working stations 32 are thus able to inter¬
`rupt any queue lists in the server 1to update the exposure
`list, via the exposure handler, with information generated
`centrally from the control centre 12 or with informationthat
`is insufficiently processed when received by the server 1
`from the external information mediator 24.
`In accordance with the aforegoing, external information
`mediators 24 that have access to the exposure program are
`able to deliver complete picture series/films which can be
`processed automatically and inserted into the exposure list,
`or optionally personnel administering the working stations
`32 are able to pick external mediator information from the
`queues, or lines, and process this information so that it can
`be inserted into the exposure list via the exposure handler 3.
`In order to be able to distinguish information that must be
`processed via the working stations, external mediators 24
`can mark or label such transmitted material with an appro¬
`priate code, so that the central computer 28 is able to identify
`this material and send it to working stations 32 for process¬
`is processed and registered as
`ing. Alternatively, e-mail
`information which must be processed.
`According to the invention, sensors may be placed inthe
`close vicinity of projectors 22, such as to detect any obstacle
`that may prevent projectors 22 from displaying information
`on screens (not shown). These sensors are connected to
`projector computers 38, so as to enable said signals to be
`transmitted to the station computer 34. Alternatively, the
`sensors may be connected directly to station computers 34.
`The sensors are of a typical kind which detect the presence
`of obstacles, for instance optical sensors which detect when
`a light beam is broken, microphones, electromagnetic trans¬
`mitters or ultrasonic transmitters having one or more
`receivers, etc.
`When a sensor (not shown) registers the presence of an
`obstacle between a projector 22 and a cloth screen or some
`other display surface, the projector is stopped from project¬
`ing pictures during the time that the obstacle is present.
`The sensor may also function to place a cover in front of
`the projector lens, so that dust, dirt