INFORMATION ACCESS BOOTH

Abstract: An information access booth (1) has a display unit (9) for displaying information and an input device (11, 12, 13) for inputting information. The booth (1) has an entrance, the orientation of the entrance, the display unit (9) and the input device (11, 12, 13) being such that a user (A, A') can at least partially enter the booth (1) sideways and use the input device (11, 12, 13) and view the display unit (9) whilst standing or sitting at least partially sideways in the booth (1). The booth (1) has a door (8) for closing the entrance. The door (8) has a concave portion (17) which is adjacent to the display unit (9) when the door (8) is open thereby to facilitate the user's view of the display unit (9). The booth (1) can be used to provide secure and private access for the public to a computer network, for example.

Description: INFORMATION ACCESS BOOTH The present invention relates to an information access booth. With the growing use of on-line services, for example to access computer databases and services and information available through the Internet, there has grown a demand for public access points where members of the public can use a computer to access the on-line services. Such public access points have been set up in cafeterias in some cities, for example. However, the presently available public access points do not offer much privacy to the user as they usually consist of a computer set out on a desk and which is visible to bystanders. Vandalism at such public access points is not normally a concern as members of staff of the premises in which the public access points are installed there will usually be present. It is foreseen, however, that there will be a demand for public access points for on-line services which members of the public can use at any time. Automatic teller machines of the "hole-in-the-wall" type are known in which a user will face a machine and will therefore have his/her back to any bystanders. This means that bystanders may be able to see past the user and view the user's authorisation code as it is entered by the user, for example. It also means that the user is generally unable to see a potential attacker approaching, for example. Various telephone kiosks and telephone booths are also known. However, these generally require the user to enter the kiosk or booth fully or to stand facing directly into the kiosk as with an automatic teller machine. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information access booth, the booth comprising: a display unit for displaying information an input device for inputting information; the booth having an entrance, the orientation of the entrance, the display unit and the input device being such that a user can at least partially enter the booth sideways and use the input device and view the display unit whilst standing or sitting at least partially sideways in the booth. Because the user can enter the booth sideways, a measure of privacy and safety is provided by the booth. The user can be seated or can stand "half in" and "half out" of the booth. The entrance can be along a first side, the display unit along a second side adjacent to the first side, the input device being generally along or supported by a third side opposite to the first side. In the "half in/half out" position, the user can rest his or her arm on a work surface/arm rest provided for the input device. Preferably a door is provided for closing the entrance. The door may have a concave portion which is adjacent to the display unit when the door is open thereby to facilitate the user's view of the display unit. The door can be opened and closed by sliding. In this case, preferably the booth has a plurality of door mounts and the door has a channel for receiving said door mounts for slidably supporting the door on the booth. At least one of the door mounts is preferably eccentrically rotatably mounted on the booth so that the door mounts can be aligned to allow removal of the door mounts from the channel for mounting and demounting of the door, said eccentrically mounted door mount being eccentrically rotated to bring it out of line with the other or others of said door mounts thereby to lock the door mounts in said channel. This system allows the door to be removed and replaced very easily and quickly. As the door can be used to contain advertising material, which may be embedded in the door, it is advantageous to make the door readily replaceable so that a new door with different advertising material can be mounted as and when desired. Making the door readily replaceable is also preferred if it becomes necessary to replace the door if it becomes vandalised. The door may have a display portion which allows the display unit to be visible when the door is closed and the booth is not in use. The display unit can be used to display advertising material or instructions on how to use the booth 1 when the booth is not in use. The present invention therefore provides for the first time means by which the public can access a network, such as the Internet, which means is not required to be staffed (unlike a so-called "cybercafe") and is thus potentially available all of the time and which provides the user with a measure of safety and privacy. The booth may include vending means for vending physical objects (such as floppy disks or printouts of data) and/or software. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door mounting mechanism for mounting a door having a channel, the mechanism comprising a plurality of door mounts received by a channel in a door for slidably mounting the door, at least one of the door mounts being eccentrically rotatably mounted so that the door mounts can be aligned to allow removal of the door mounts from the channel for mounting and demounting of the door, said eccentrically mounted door mount being eccentrically rotated to bring it out of line with the other or others of said door mounts thereby to lock the door mounts in said channel. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of a booth with a door opened; Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned plan view of a booth showing a right-handed user; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a left- handed user; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a variant of the door of Figure 1; Fig. 5 is an elevation of an edge of the door; Fig. 6(a) to (c) are perspective views showing a mechanism used for supporting the door; and, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a door mount fixed in a track on the door. As shown in the drawings, an example of an information access booth 1 is generally rectangular in plan, though other shapes such as semi-circular could be used. The booth 1 has a long side wall 2 and two short end walls 3, 4. The booth 1 is primarily intended for fixing in a wall 5 adjacent a public street 6, for example, in much the same way as automatic teller machines of the "hole-in-the-wall" • ζype. Of course, the booth 1 can be mounted in an internal wall of a building, for example in hotel foyers, cafeterias or the like. The booth 1 could be mounted in a shop window or it could be free-standing. The long side wall 2 may have a step 7 under which is mounted the various electronics components (not shown) required for the booth. The booth 1 is open along the side opposite the long side wall 2 and a door 8 is provided for closing the opening or entrance. In the example shown, the door 8 is slidably opened and closed. Inside the booth, a display unit 9 such as a computer monitor of the cathode ray tube type or flat screen type (e.g. liquid crystal) is provided on one of the short side walls 4. The display unit 9 is orientated at a relatively shallow angle of say 10° to the short side wall 4 so that the front of the display unit 9 is angled slightly towards the opening or entrance to the booth 1. A work surface 10 is provided along the long side wall 2 and is positioned below the display unit 9. The work surface 10 may be hinged at its connection to the long side wall 2 so that it can be folded out of the way to gain access to the electronics under the step 7. The work surface 10 is preferably shaped by having a cut-out 10 ' towards its rear to allow easier and more comfortable access by the user as shown. The work surface 10 may have a padded portion on which the user's arm can rest and thus the work surface may be regarded as an arm rest for use when the user has entered the booth at least partially sideways and is "half in/half out" of the booth 1. The work surface 10 supports an input device or input devices 11 such as a touchpad, trackpad or keyboard 12 and trackball 13. The input devices 11, 12, 13 are arranged so that the user A can input information in order to access required information to be displayed on the display unit 9. Accordingly, the input devices 11, 12, 13 are connected to a computer (not shown) in or associated with the booth 1. Data connections for the booth 1 are also provided in the form of a fixed line such as a leased digital line or wireless connection such as a data cellular line (not shown) . The booth 1 has a seat 14 along and supported by the long side wall 2. The seat 14 is preferably hinged or otherwise connected to the long side wall 2 so that it can be folded out of the way when desired. The seat 14 may be shaped by having a cut-out 14' towards its front to allow easier and more comfortable access by the user A as shown. The seat 14 may be padded. A padded back rest 15 may be provided. The orientation of the entrance to the booth 1, the display unit 9 and the input devices 11, 12, 13 on the work surface 10 are all such that a user A can partially enter the booth 1 sideways as shown particularly clearly in Figure 2. A right-handed user A as shown in Figure 2 can sit sideways on the seat 14, or stand sideways in the booth 1, whilst resting his or her right arm 16 on the work surface 10 with the input devices ll, 12, 13 falling easily to hand. In this position, as shown in Figure 2, the user A has a good view of the display unit 9. In this position, the user A also has a good view down at least one part of the street 6. At the same time, the user's back, head and shoulders will generally prevent bystanders from seeing the display unit 9 and/or the input devices 11, 12, 13, thus increasing the security and privacy of the booth 1. Furthermore, the door 8 is of a size and shape and positioned such that when the door 8 is fully opened, an upper portion 8a of the door obscures the display unit 9. This prevents bystanders from being able to see the display unit 9 and also helps to prevent glare from sunlight falling on the display unit 9. In order to increase the visibility of the display unit 9 for the user A, the door 9 may have a concave portion 17 at or towards its upper portion 8a adjacent the display unit 9. This concave portion 17 provides a recess past which the user A can see the display unit 9. Opening and closing of the door 8 is preferably assisted or provided by an electric motor or by a pneumatic drive system for example or it may be simply manually openable and closable. A locking mechanism for the door 8 may be provided so that users can only open the door 8 on insertion of an identity card, digital cash card or credit card for example, or by entering an appropriate access code such as a personal identity number for example. Usage of the booth 1 may be charged to the user through the credit card or identity card or debited from the digital cash card for example. As shown in Figure 3, the booth 1 is constructed so that it can be used by a left-handed user A'. A left- handed user A' may stand at the booth 1 as shown, or may sit sideways in the booth 1, and can still readily see the display unit 9 and access the input devices 11, 12, 13 with his or her left arm 16'. The booth 1 can include an earpiece or loudspeaker and/or a microphone or suitable sockets for such equipment to allow output/input of audio. A video input device may be provided. A printer and a printer input socket may be provided so that a user can print out data for example, whether from the user's own portable computer or from data received by the user using the booth 1. An interface for a (portable) computer may be provided in the booth to allow the user to connect his or her own computer to the booth. Similarly, removable storage media drives (for "floppy" disks or compact disks for example) might be provided to allow a user to read data from or write data to a disk in the booth 1. The booth 1 can include a computer (not shown) under the step 7. This computer contains the necessary software to operate the booth 1 as a whole, for example checking the access code entered by the user, causing display of appropriate information on the display unit, checking and operating on information input by the user through the input devices, etc. Alternatively, the booth 1 may be "dumb" and simply contain an appropriate communications device so that the booth 1 can be connected to some remote central computer system which controls the booth 1 and its use in a network with other similar booths 1. With reference to Figures 4, 6 and 7, the door 8 can be slidably mounted by means of a pair of longitudinal tracks 18 on the inner face of the door 8. The tracks 18 each have a generally C-shape cross-section. Each track 18 has a channel 19 along its length. Each channel 19 has an opening 20 along its length which faces inwardly of the booth 1 when the door 8 is mounted on the booth 1. The opening 20 to each channel 19 is narrower than the channel 19 itself. Three adjacent door mounts 21a, 21b, 21c each having a T-shape head are fixed to the booth 1 for each channel 18. In the example shown, the door mounts 21 are effectively rollers 21 each of which is mounted for rotation about its central longitudinal axis in a respective support 22. As shown in Figure 7, bearings 23 are provided between the roller door mounts 21 and the door mount supports 22 so that the door 8 can be opened and closed more easily. Whilst rotating door mounts (or "rollers") 21 are preferred, the door mounts 21 could instead be fixed against rotation. Sliding of the door 8 can instead be achieved by making either or both of the contacting surfaces of the door mounts 21 and door tracks 18 of a low friction material such as PTFE. At least one of the mounts (the central mount 21b in the example shown in the Figures) is eccentrically mounted in its support 22 which itself is pivotally or rotatably mounted in the booth 1. In order to mount the door 8, the support 22 for the central door mount 21b is rotated so that the centres of the mounts 21 are aligned as shown in Figure 6(a). With the mounts 21 aligned, the door 8 can be mounted on the door mounts 21 by passing the mounts 21 through the openings 20 into the channels 19 of the respective tracks 18. The support 22 for the central mount 21b is then rotated so that the centre of the mount 21b is displaced from the line joining the centres of the other two mounts 21a, 21c as shown in Figure 6(b) in order to lock the door 8 onto the door mounts 21. This makes mounting and removal of the door 8 very straightforward. The door 8 can therefore be replaced very easily and quickly when necessary, for example to replace a door 8 with one having different advertising material or to replace a vandalised door. The locking mechanism for the door 8 will help to prevent unauthorised tampering with the door 8. It may be desirable in some circumstances for each of the door mounts 21 to be eccentrically mounted in its support 22 and each of the supports 22 may be rotatable about its longitudinal axis in the booth 1. In the example shown in the drawings, the tracks 18 are moulded integrally with the door 8. As an alternative, distinct tracks 18 may be provided and fixed to the door 8. The door 8 may be a single moulding of a suitable material such as translucent or transparent polycarbonate. This would allow advertising material, such as sheet advertisements or posters or objects as samples of products, to be embedded in the door 8. Such advertisements would be constantly visible regardless of whether the door 8 is open or closed. As the door 8 is easily replaced, it may be that the door space could be rented out for advertising purposes with the advertisers having objects of their choice embedded in a door 8 mounted on the booth 1 for a period of a week or a month at a time for example. A power supply may be provided to the door 8 so that electrically powered dynamic display items (lighting effects, moving objects, additional display screens, etc.) can be provided in or supported by the door 8. As indicated in Figure 4, the door 8 may include a portion which allows the display unit 9 to be visible when the door 8 is closed and the booth 1 is not in use. Thus, the display unit 9 could be used to display advertising material when the booth is not in use. To facilitate this, the display unit 9 may be moved electrically or by some mechanical linkage when the door is closed so as to present the screen of the display unit 9 to the display portion of the door 8. Alternatively, images on the display unit 9 could be redirected optically to the display portion on the door 8 when the door 8 is closed and the booth 1 is not in use. Such optical redirection may be provided by the optical qualities of the door itself provided by its shape and the material from which it is constructed. An embodiment of the present invention has been described with particular reference to the example illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the example described within the scope of the present invention. The booth 1 may be used as a vending machine. For example, the door 8 or another part of the booth 1 could be used as a floppy disk dispenser. Other physical objects such as printed data could be vended by the booth 1, again perhaps using a portion of the door 8 as a vending dispenser. The booth 1 could be used for selling of data such as short computer programs, computer games, digitally stored music, etc., after downloading of the data using the booth 1.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An information access booth (1), the booth (1) comprising: a display unit (9) for displaying information; an input device (11,12,13) for inputting information; the booth (1) having an entrance, the orientation of the entrance, the display unit (9) and the input device (11,12,13) being such that a user (A,A') can at least partially enter the booth (1) sideways and use the input device (11,12,13) and view the display unit (9) whilst standing or sitting at least partially sideways in the booth (1) . 2. A booth (1) according to claim 1, wherein the entrance is along a first side, the display unit (9) is along a second side (4) adjacent to the first side, the input device (11,12,13) being generally along or supported by a third side ( 2 ) opposite to the first side. 3. A booth (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the booth (1) is substantially rectangular in plan. 4. A booth (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3 , comprising a door (8) for closing the entrance. 5. A booth (1) according to claim 4, wherein the door (8) has a concave portion (17) which is adjacent to the display unit (9) when the door (8) is open thereby to facilitate the user's view of the display unit (9). 6. A booth (1) according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the door (8) is opened and closed by sliding. 7. A booth (1) according to claim 6, wherein the booth (1) has a plurality of door mounts (21) and the door (8) has a channel (19) for receiving said door mounts (21) for slidably supporting the door (8) on the booth (1) . 8. A booth (1) according to claim 7, wherein at least one (21b) of the door mounts is eccentrically rotatably mounted on the booth (1) so that the door mounts (21) can be aligned to allow removal of the door mounts (21) from the channel for mounting and demounting of the door (8) , said eccentrically mounted door mount (21b) being eccentrically rotated to bring it out of line with the other or others of said door mounts (21a,c) thereby to lock the door mounts (21) in εaid channel (19) . 9. A booth (1) according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein each of the door mounts (21) is rotatable about its central longitudinal axis. 10. A booth (1) according to any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the door (8) is translucent/transparent. 11. A booth (1) according to any of claims 4 to 10, wherein the door (8) contains advertising material. 12. A booth (1) according to any of claims 4 to 11, wherein the door (8) has an electrical power supply for powering components provided in or supported by the door (8) . 13. A booth (1) according to any of claims 4 to 12, wherein the door (8) has a display portion which allows the display unit (9) to be visible when the door (8) is closed and the booth (1) is not in use. 14. A booth (1) according to claim 13, wherein the display unit (9) is arranged to move when the door (8) is opened and closed so as to present the display unit (9) to the display portion of the door (8) when the door (8) is closed and the booth (1) is not in use. 15. A booth (1) according to claim 13 or claim 14, comprising means for redirecting images on the display unit (9) to the display portion on the door (8) when the door (8) is closed and the booth (1) is not in use. 16. A booth (1) according to any of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a seat (14) . 17. A booth (1) according to claim 16, wherein the seat (14) is retractably mounted on a wall (2) of the booth (1) . 18. A booth (1) according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the input device (11,12,13) is supported by a work surface/arm rest (10) . 19. A booth (1) according to claim 18, wherein the work surface (10) is retractably mounted on a wall (2) of the booth (1) . 20. A booth (1) according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the input device includes a keyboard (12) , and/or a trackpad and/or a trackball (13). 21. A booth (1) according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the booth (1) includes vending means for vending physical objects and/or software. 22. A booth (1) according to any of claims 1 to 21, wherein the booth (1) is mounted in a wall. 23. A booth (1) according to any of claims 1 to 21, wherein the booth (1) is free-standing. 24. A door mounting mechanism for mounting a door (8) having a channel (19) , the mechanism comprising a plurality of door mounts (21) received by a channel (19) in a door (8) for slidably mounting the door (8) , at least one (21b) of the door mounts being eccentrically rotatably mounted so that the door mounts (21) can be aligned to allow removal of the door mounts (21) from the channel (19) for mounting and demounting of the door (8) , said eccentrically mounted door mount (21b) being eccentrically rotated to bring it out of line with the other or others of said door mounts (21a,c) thereby to lock the door mounts (21) in said channel (19) . 25. A mechanism according to claim 24, wherein each of the door mounts (21) is rotatable about its central longitudinal axis. 26. A mechanism according to claim 24 or claim 25, further comprising a door (8) having a channel (19) in which the door mounts (21) are received. 27. A mechanism according to claim 26, wherein the door (8) is translucent/transparent. 28. A mechanism according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the door (8) contains advertising material. 29. A mechanism according to any of claims 26 to 28, wherein the door (8) has an electrical power supply for powering components provided in or supported by the door (8) . 30. A mechanism according to any of claims 26 to 29, wherein the door (8) includes vending means for vending physical objects and/or software. 31. A publicly-accessible information access booth usable by a member of the public for connection to a remote computer network, and having means (11,12,13) for accepting input by a user and delivering signals to the remote computer network, and means (9) for displaying information provided by the computer network as requested by the user.

Inventors: MARINESCU JOSEPH SEVER, MARINESCU, JOSEPH, SEVER
Applicants: MARINESCU JOSEPH SEVER, TONG ANDREW MING WEI, MARINESCU, JOSEPH, SEVER, TONG, ANDREW, MING, WEI
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G07F7
IPC codes: E05G5, G06F1, G07F19