METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MESSAGES

Abstract: Method for delivering messages, where at least one message is first recorded on the storage member of a sound recorder and reproducer, whereafter the message is replayed by means of the reproducer each time as a detection pulse is received from the detector placed in the vicinity of a predetermined location and the sound reproducer is switched on on the basis of the said detection pulse and the message recorded on the storage member is replayed and made audible through a loudspeaker. The invention is characterized in that the recording stage, immediately before each message (S1, S2, S3), on the storage member (N) there is recorded a short sound signal (A, B, C) and that after the message there is arranged a pause (T1, T2, T3) of a defined duration and that at the replay stage, when a detection pulse is received from the detector, the sound reproducer is switched on and the message replay is started, the volume of the signal recorded on the storage member is supervised and the sound reproducer is switched off immediately after the short sound signal (A, B, C) is detected after the said pause (T1, T2, T3), in which case the apparatus is ready to replay the message (S1, S2, S3) immediately after another detection pulse is received from the detector, whereafter the above described stages for replaying the message are repeated. The invention also relates to an apparatus for realizing the method.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MESSAGES The present invention relates to a method for delivering messages, in which method at least one message is first recorded on the storage member of a sound recorder and reproducer, whereafter the message is played by means of the reproducer each time as the detector, placed in the vicinity of a predetermined location, transmits a detection pulse; after receiving the detection pulse, the sound reproducer is switched on and the message recorded on the storage member is replayed through a , loudspeaker so that it becomes audible. The invention also relates to an apparatus for realizing the said method. The apparatus comprises a detector, a switch which is controlled via the detector and a sound reproducer, on the storage member whereof there is recorded at least one message and which, sound reproducer is switched on and off by means of the said switch. In the prior art there are known apparatuses where the tape recorder is switched on by means of a suitable detector, and thus the recorded message is delivered to anybody who enters the detection field. This kind of apparatuses have several drawbacks; for instance, the message can be reliably replayed only once, whereafter, for example after a certain period of time after the start-up, the tape recorder stops. The apparatus as such does not have any kind of synchronized arrangements, and the recording and playing of short messages of various lengths cannot be carried out neither quickly, naturally nor economically as regards tape consumption . In the prior art there are also known tape recorders where the message proper is recorded on the first sound track and the control signals for the external equipment are recorded on the second sound track. Such tape recorders are always custom-built and therefore expensive. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, among others, and to realize a method and apparatus in connection with which ordinary sound recording and reproduction equipment can be used. This achieved so that at the recording stage a short sound signal is recorded on the storage member immediately before each message and on the same sound track or groove as the message, and that after the message there is arranged a pause of a given duration and that at the replay stage, after a detection pulse is received from the detector and the sound reproducer is switched on and the message replay is started, the volume of the signal recorded on the said track or the like of the storage member is supervised and the sound reproducer is switched off immediately after a short sound signal is detected after the said pause; now the apparatus is ready to replay the message immediately after receiving a detection pulse from the detector, where"after the above explained stages are repeated in order to deliver the message. It is profitable that the replay volume level of the sound reproducer is dropped at least to one tenth immediately after the said pause in connection with the message is observed. As for the apparatus, the novel features of the invention are apparent from the appended patent claims 3-6. Among the advantages of the invention, the following are pointed out. By recording the sound signal, the message and the pause on the same track or the like of the storage member, the message can be replayed so that it starts exactly at the desired moment because the system is self-synchronizing irrespective of the duration of the message or of the pause. There is no need for any separate synchronizing. The method of the invention is particularly well suited to be used in connection with ordinary cassette tape recorders; the recordings, provided with control information, can be produced by using an ordinary tape recorder without audiovisual heads or special tape recorders. The simplicity and reliability of the method ensures that it can be applied to all-round advertizing and information equipment. On standby, when the apparatus is waiting for the detection pulse from the detector, the message recorded on the tape is set at the exact starting point. Thus the apparatus quickly and effectively helps to get into close contact with the customer, for instance inside a shop near a bargain or outside in the vicinity of the display window. In the following the invention is explained in detail with reference to the appended drawings, where Figure 1 is a schematical illustration of an endless storage member such as a tape where messages are recorded according to the method of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the method and apparatus of the invention it is profitable to utilize an ordinary tape recorder, such as a cassette tape recorder. The message, which is generally a verbal and/or musical performance or the like and is intended to be delivered to any person detected in a certain area, is recorded beforehand on the tape either on one track (mono recording) or on two tracks (stereo recording). This is carried out so that an endless tape N of a desired length (Figure 1) is installed in the tape recorder; several different messages S1, S2, S3 can be recorded on the tape in succession. Immediately before each message, on the same track or groove as the message itself, there is recorded a short sound signal A, B, C. This signal can be for instance a tap on the microphone, the word 'stop' uttered by somebody or clapping of the hands, whereafter the message proper is recorded. When the message has ended, silence is recorded on the tape - or the tape is left unrecorded. In other words, a pause T1 , T2, T3 with a defined minimum duration is arranged on the tape. This minimum duration is preferably longer than ordinary pauses in normal speech, for instance 5...10 seconds. Thereafter the same procedure can be repeated and a second, third etc. message can be recorded on the same tape in case there is room left. The tape which is recorded in the aforementioned fashion is replayed by means of a tape recorder which forms part of the apparatus according to the present invention. In Figure 2 the tape recorder 7 which is used for replaying the messages recorded in the aforementioned fashion is surrounded with dotted lines. The apparatus of the invention comprises a detector which is realized as the ultrasound radar 1 provided with the transmitter 1a, the receiver 1b and the amplifier 1c. The output of the radar 1 is connected to the input of the pulse sensor 3 via the poles of the control switch 2. The output of the pulse sensor 3 in turn is connected to the on-poles of the control switches 4, 5 and 6. The poles of the switches 4, 5 and 6 are respectively connected to the sound amplifier 71 of the tape recorder 7 and the control circuit 72 of the tape winding motor (play) of the tape recorder, as well as to the control circuit 8 of any possible external equipment such as a slide projector, a videotape recorder, lights, neon signs etc. The detection circuit 73 of the tape signal is connected to the input of the reference and timer circuit 9. The first output on1 of this circuit is connected to the off-poles of the switches 4 and 6, and the second output on2 is connected, via the time delay circuit 10, to the off-pole of the switch 5 and to the on-pole of the switch 2. The ultrasound radar 1 is positioned in a desired place for instance in the vicinity of the advertized product. The radar 1 transmits ultrasound pulses around it. When a person appears within the range of for instance 0...3 meters from the radar 1, he is detected by means of the reflected pulses. In the amplifier member 1c the pulses are shaped and amplified, whereafter they are transmitted via the switch 2 onto the pulse sensor 3. If the amplitude of the detection pulses surpasses a predetermined level, the pulse sensor 3 starts operation and sends a signal to the control poles of the switches 2, 4, 5 and 6. Now the switch 2 cuts off the contact to the radar 1 and thus new detection pulses are prevented from entering the pulse sensor 3. The switches 4 and 5 switch on the control circuit of the tape recorder sound amplifier 71 and of the tape winding motor 72, so that the tape recorder starts operation. The switch 6 switches on the desired external equipment via its control circuit 8. The message S1 which is recorded on the tape is immediately played out through the loudspeaker 11 so that the person entering the radar detection field can hear it. The signal recorded on the tape is supervised by means of the reference and timer circuit 9 via the detection circuit 73. As the volume level of the message drops below a predetermined e'oel , i.e. as the message contains or is followed by the pause T1 , the reference circuit sends a signal of the change to the timer circuit which starts measuring the length of the pause. When this length surpasses the predetermined value, T1 > 5...10 seconds, the reference and timer circuit 9 sends a signal via the output on1 to the off-poles of the switches 4 and 6, so that the switches are switched off. The tape recorder sound amplifier and the external equipment are both switched off by their control circuits 71 and 8 respectively. As the sound amplifier is switched off or adjusted to minimum, the expected short sound signals are not heard through the loudspeaker. The tape winding motor of the recorder, however, continues running, and the tape signal is continuously supervised by means of the reference and timer circuit 9. When the recorded short sound signal B is detected, a signal is sent from the output on2 via the time delay circuit 10 to the off-pole of the switch 5 and to the on-pole of switch 2. Now the switch 5 is switched off and it stops the tape winding motor via the control circuit 72 thereof, and the tape stops winding. The time delay caused by the time delay circuit 10 to the control signal of the switch 5 is roughly 1...2 seconds, i.e. prefeable equal in duration to the sound signal recorded on the tape. This can be suitably adjusted when necessary. Now the switch 2 is switched on, and the ultrasound radar 1 is again connected to the pulse sensor 3. Thus the tape recorder 7 is again ready to play the following message S2 in the above explained fashion, or possibly to repeat the same message as before. This takes place immediately after the next person enters the detection field of the ultrasound radar 1 and the received ultrasound pulse surpasses the detection treshold of the pulse sensor. An apparatus according to the invention has been explained above by means of block diagrams. It will be understood that each block can be composted in various different ways of prior art electronic and/or electromechanical components, and that the detailed structure of each block as such is not important with respect to the invention. Moreover, the blocks can be combined or divided while the different functions remain. For instance the switch 4 which is connected to the control circuit 71 of the amplifier of the sound reproducer 7 can also be connected to some other suitable place in the sound reproduction chain, for instanc directly to the loudspeaker circuit. In the above specification, the invention has been explaine mainly with reference to one preferred embodiment only, but it is naturally clear that the invention can be modified in many ways within the range of the appended patent claims. Thus for example the sound recorder and reproducer can represent any type of generally known device suited for this purpose. The essential point is that the message or messages S1, S2 and S3, as well as the system control information, i.e. the sound signals A, B and C and the pauses T1, T2, T3 are recorded on the same sound track or groove and preferably all at the same time. Instead of the ultrasound radar, there can naturally be employed any type of a detector and/or transmitter-receiver, such as an infrared radar or a photocell arrangement, which is sensitive enough for detecting the passing by or through or the presence of a person .

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A method for delivering messages, in which method at least one message is first recorded on the storage member of a sound recorder and reproducer and thereafter the message is replayed by means of the sound reproducer each time as a detection pulse is received from a detector placed in the vicinity of a predetermined location, and the sound reproducter is switched on on the basis of the said detection pulse and the message recorded on the said storage member is replayed and made audible through a loudspeaker, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at the recording stage a short sound signal (A, B, C) is recorded immediately before each message (S1 , S2, S3) and that after each message there is arranged a pause (T1, T2, T3) of a given duration and that at the replay stage, after the detection pulse has been received from the detector, the sound reproducer is switched on and the message replay is started, the volume of the signal recorded on the storage member is supervised and the sound reproducer is switched off immediately after the short sound signal (A, B, C) has been detected after the said pause (T1, T2, T3) in connection with the message, in which case the apparatus is ready to repeat the message (S1 , S2, S3) immediately after receiving another detection pulse from the detector, whereafter the above explained stages for replaying the message are repeated. 2. The method of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the replay volume of the sound reproducer is dropped to at least one tenth immediately after the said pause (T1, T2, T3) has been observed after the message. 3. An apparatus for realizing the method of claim 1, the said apparatus comprising a detector (1), a switch which is controlled via the detector and a sound reproducer (7) on the storage member whereof at least one message is recorded and which sound reproducer is switched on and off by means of the said switch, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the apparatus also comprises a control circuit (73) for supervising the volume of the signal and a reference and timer circuit (9) by means of which circuits the volume of the signal recorded on the storage member is supervised; an a switch (5) for switching off the sound reproducer (72) immediately after a short sound signal (A, B, C) has been observed after a pause (T1, T2, T3) of a defined duration i connection with the message (S1, S2, S3). 4. The apparatus of claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i that the apparatus also comprises another switch (4) which is connected to the control circuit (71) of the amplifier o the sound reproducer (7), or to some other suitable place i the sound reproduction chain, and which switch is employed for dropping the replay volume to at least one tenth immediately after the short sound signal (A, B, C) has been observed in connection with the message (S1, S2, S3) after the pause (T1, T2, T3) of a defined duration. 5. The apparatus of claim 3 or 4, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the detector (1) is provided with a third switch (2) which is employed for disconnecting the detector (1) from the rest of the apparatus immediately after the detection pulse has been received from the pulse sensor (3) and for connecting the detector back again after the sound signal (A, B, C) recorded on the storage member (N) has bee observed by means of the reference and timer circuit (9). 6. The apparatus of claim 3, 4 or 5, c h a r a c e r i¬ z e d in that the output (on2) of the reference and timer circuit (9) is connected to the time delay circuit (10) so that at least the stopping of the sound reproducer (7; 72) is delayed as much as is determined by the time delay circuit. 7. The apparatus of any of the previous claims 3-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the apparatus comprises a fourth switch (6) which is employed for switching on the desired external equipment via its control circuit (8) immediately after the detection pulse is received from the pulse sensor (3) and for switching the said equipment off immediately after the said pause (T1, T2, T3) in connection with the message (S1, S2, S3).

Inventors: KAIVOLA ILKKA, KAIVOLA, ILKKA
Applicants: SUOMEN INVENTOR OY
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G11B15
IPC codes: G09B5, G11B15, G11B19, G11B27