DE102004006869A1 - Information terminal used in buildings comprises a display and a calculator unit to call up information relevant to the surroundings - Google Patents

Abstract

Information terminal (1) comprises a display (2) and a calculator unit (4). Information relevant to the surroundings can be called up by the user. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) Guiding system method using the information terminal; and (2) Process for preparing a guiding system using the information terminal.

Description

State of technology

The Invention is based on an information terminal, by type of claim 1, a control system method, according to the preamble of the claim 2, and a method of providing a guidance system Genus of claim 3.

information boards are widely used indoors. In buildings, they serve for example for Orientation of an ignorant visitor. In addition to the conventional ones Information panels is a document US 2002/0078459 A1 electronic information board known. For example, in business buildings these electronic information boards for quick retrieval an office. In addition will Through interaction, the visitor is in direct contact with his interlocutor allows. For this purpose, the electronic information board is also included a keyboard or a pressure-sensitive panel, a video camera and a microphone. The disadvantage is that this electronic information board only informs the user about one mediated special place.

in the Outdoor, for example on hiking trails, in cities and municipalities, are information boards also widely used. They serve, for example one Foreign tourists to the local Attractions respectively. As a rule, a city map or area plan is displayed on these information boards pictured on which the sights be highlighted. In addition, these information boards can combined with various sightseeing routes.

In Switzerland is a control system known that consists of steles, on which a city map is printed by screen printing. by virtue of recurrent changes and changes in the cityscape is However, it is necessary that these control systems be updated regularly. These But updating is expensive and expensive.

In the utility model DE 201 13 823 U1 a service station is described which consists of a plurality of modular elements. Through the service stations you can, for example, call up schedule information or buy tickets and tickets. Although the module elements facilitate replacement, which may be necessary for repair, the modular system is technically complex.

In the published patent application DE 100 00 468 A1 a digital communication column is described. This has an electronically controllable display unit, are displayed by the information, such as current theatrical events, traffic information or advertising on. The disadvantage, however, is that the digital communication column requires a lot of space due to its static and optical autonomy.

The invention and their benefits

Of the Information terminal according to the invention, with the characterizing features of claim 1, has over the The prior art has the advantage that it is due to the design in each case design is integrable. This makes it optimal for his respective Purpose and its environment adaptable. He is for example as a stand-alone element, as a building or used as a wall element. The information terminal according to the invention can indoors and outdoors For example, serve for information or as a control system. Particularly suitable is he for the city visualization on public Places. Here he can do city maps in showcases replace or extend.

Of the inventive information terminal has at least one display unit, a data input unit and a Computer unit (e.g., single board embedded computer).

To According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a touch-screen display (e.g. 15 or 20 inches) through which the data entry unit and the display unit are integrated with each other.

To one in this regard Embodiment of the invention, the display unit by a high brightness TFT display (1700 cd / m², contrast 450: 1, resolution 1024 × 768 pixels) formed. By the opposite a conventional one Display unit at least four times higher brightness and the increased Contrast range is a use in the public sector allows.

To a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the Display unit on a special coating. Through this coating will be Sunbeams reflected on the screen, so that an additional Warming of the Screen is effectively prevented.

To a further advantageous embodiment of the invention is the Display unit vandal-proof behind a plate made of glass, Plastic or other non-conductive material is, installable. Preferably, this plate is up to 20 mm thick.

The control system method according to the invention by means of an information terminal, with the kenn The drawing features of claim 2, over the prior art has the advantage that information relevant to the environment by a software can be retrieved by the user.

The inventive method for providing a guidance system, in particular using an information terminal, with the characterizing feature of Claim 3, opposite The prior art has the advantage that the information terminal a connection unit for the updating of the available information to be provided is present. The connection unit is preferred over USB, LAN, WAN, ISDN, SAT, GPSR, GSM, UMTS, or the like possible.

Further Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention are the Drawing, the description and the claims removable.

drawing

In The drawing shows an embodiment is shown that in the following closer is described. Show it:

1 a front perspective view of an information terminal according to the invention and

2 a perspective rear view of an information terminal according to the invention.

description of the embodiment

In 1 is an information terminal according to the invention 1 , which in a variety of applications (eg tourism, airports, stations, control and visualization system, urban visualization, entertainment, exhibition, exhibition companies, event industry, media technology, IT, consumer electronics, building services, security, fire, computer added facility management (CAFM ), Escape and rescue route signaling, help desk info, outdoor, indoor, mobile, stationary) in a wide temperature range (-25 - + 65 ° C) can be used actively and / or interactively. Here is the display unit 2 in the case 3 , which is preferably made of stainless steel (eg housing dimensions: HxWxD 753.0 × 415.0 × 90.6 mm), integrated. The display unit 2 is equipped as a touch panel so that the user enters data above the screen. The information terminal according to the invention 1 is with a computer unit 4 (eg fanless (cooling and heating depending on environmental requirements), equipped with 667MHz processor, RAM 512 MB, LAN 100 MB, sound-capable, USB, Ethernet, infrared, hardware monitoring). This preferably contains a memory unit (eg IDE flash memory 1 GB) on which the operating system (eg Linux, Windows CE), the necessary user software and the necessary data are stored. In addition, the connection of an integrated camera, a voice control, which is preferred (as well as the display unit 2 ) multilingual, a brightness sensor for brightness control of the TFT display to protect the life and ensure years of trouble-free operation, an information output unit (eg via infrared transmitter to PDA's or GPS-capable PDA's, printer) and / or a motion detector with a range up to 5 - 10 m with different detection angles, which allows a needs-based provision of the start page for the user, conceivable. The information terminal according to the invention 1 that via the mains, solar, fuel cells, or the like. is operable, with a power supply interruption is ready to work, is preferably onlinetauglich, has a telecommunications unit (GSM - mobile telephone network), for example, has an infrared interface, so that phone numbers of service providers as a so-called "business card" can be transferred directly to mobile phones and is as Emergency call column usable To meet all requirements, the information terminal according to the invention 1 preferably designed for disabled and / or child. This can be done, for example, by an additional, preferably at the information terminal according to the invention 1 more deeply arranged, interactive ad unit.

The information terminal according to the invention 1 may be equipped with an access control system, RFID reception, magnetic stripe reader and / or smart card reader. Also conceivable is a biometric recognition system (fingerprint, iris recognition) as access control. By PINs, passwords or the like. A pay-per-use (eg chargeable retrieval of information or entertainment, for example via a card or mobile phone) is made possible.

The information terminal according to the invention 1 is designed so that it can be replaced or serviced at any time by a low-skilled service technician. Preferably, no moving and thus interference-prone parts are used, so that high reliability in permanent use around the clock is possible. The updating of the information to be output is via USB, LAN, WAN, ISDN, SAT, GPSR, GSM, UMTS, or the like. possible, so that the information content can always be updated from anywhere. The status of the information terminal according to the invention can periodically be monitored via a GPRS return channel 1 queried and thus granted the operator a functional guarantee. This results in very low maintenance costs, so that the information terminal according to the invention 1 represents an excellent alternative to the print media.

Also conceivable is the management of the information terminals according to the invention 1 by a centrally located location, the software supported for example via USB, LAN, WAN, ISDN, SAT, GPSR, GMS or UMTS access to the individual information terminals according to the invention 1 has to maintain, maintain, check or update the information and software stored there. In addition, a seasonal or time-dependent adjustment via timetables and playlists could be done, which could be carried out, for example, automated. Through the management could also multi media content, TV ads, live flash, current headlines and top stories (eg from the Internet), news ticker, or the like. be transferable.

It is also conceivable that the management of the information terminals according to the invention 1 by an information terminal according to the invention 1 which acts as a master, which saves time and money.

The information terminal according to the invention 1 is CE tested and waterproof according to the standard IP54.

2 shows a perspective rear view of an information terminal according to the invention 1 , Here are the cooling fins 5 visible, by the all-weather suitable information terminal according to the invention 1 remains operational even at high temperatures.

All in the description, the following claims and the drawing Features can both individually and in any combination with each other invention essential be.

1

information terminal

2

display unit

3

casing

4

computer unit

5

cooling fins

Claims (3)

Information terminal, - with a display unit ( 2 ) and - a computer unit ( 4 ), characterized in that via an interface (display unit, data input unit, or the like.) Environmentally relevant information can be retrieved by the user. Control system method by means of an information terminal, in particular an information terminal according to claim 1, characterized characterized in that, by a software environment-relevant information are available by the user. Method for providing a guidance system, in particular using an information terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, at the information terminal ( 1 ) at least one connection unit for updating the information to be provided is present.