PORTABLE DATA SYSTEM

Abstract: A portable data system (32) having a body (10), substantially in the form of a wristwatch, and bearing a liquid crystal display screen (20) and a loudspeaker (28), is operative to receive informational data signals from a transmitter (30) and to display images on the screen (20) and provide sounds from the loudspeaker (28). The intensity of sound or display increases in sympathy with the received signal strength. A predetermined or user selectable threshold selects the range of operation. A store button (24) allows the user to store currently received data in a random access memory (42) for later re-display or transfer to another unit (32, 58). The receiver (32) doubles as a transmitter to provide copies of stored information to another unit such as another receiver (32) or a computer (58). Multi-channel operation is provided.

Description: PORTABLE DATA SYSTEM Technical Field The present invention relates to portable data system for acquisition and use of informational data. The invention particularly relates such a system whereby a user is able to acquire data using a receiving device attached to the user's body. The invention particularly relates to a system whereby the provision of informational data is localised Background Art One area of provision of information to a mobile user is to be found in museums or art galleries where a local transmitter emits a low power signal for receipt by receivers in the vicinity of the transmitter. In this manner, a museum visitor can receive an audible commentary relating to the exhibit being viewed Another area of use involves a visually impaired user being provided with audible geographical cues when in the vicinity of an appropπately sited transmitter, thus allowing the user to navigate or re-oπentate. The present invention seeks to provide a greater πchness, utility and flexibility to user-accessible information compared to these applications French Patent Application No. 004674 of 15th April 1996 shows a portable radio receiver where service data is extracted from the radio signal for user selectable display on a screen Such data is provided in a non-localised manner, being disseminated over a wide area, and requires the active co-operation of the user The present invention seeks to provide that a user requires no intervention whatsoever to acquire localised information French Patent Application No. 015064 of 15th December 1992 shows a portable data monitor inclusive of bulky non-volatile memory The data is non-transferable. The present invention seeks to provide means for acquisition, transfer and long term storage of informational data where no non-volatile memory is required in the receiver, thereby enhancing portability, both of the receiver and of the informational data. When accessing localised informational data, the user has a problem knowing whether he is approaching, departing or proximate to the source The present invention seeks to overcome these problems. In the increasingly efficient use of staff in retail premises, there is an ever growing need for more and more information to be provided to a shopper with fewer and fewer staff present The modem supermarket is a pnme example, but many other examples are to be found Even the layout of a store may be confusing. The present invention seeks to provide means whereby a shopper can be advised and guided in such circumstances In modern buildings, with their increasing dimensions, and in elevators or lifts, the individual may need advice as to his present location, the facilities available on a particular floor, and the individual's position on a particular floor The present invention seeks to provide means whereby navigation in a strange environment is facilitated In the workplace, particular areas may have particular restπctions of which the individual must be advised. The advise may change from time to time. For example, a machine may not be functional, or the machine may have been repaired A new machine may require new instructions the individual must follow. An area restπcted because of peculiar hazard, or be off-limits to non permitted personnel The present invention seeks to provide means whereby such information can readily be disseminated in the locations where it is required In the emergency services, firefighters and ambulance staff receive alarms and are required to take instant action The provision of the necessary data to the staff is time costly and diverting The present invention seeks to provide means whereby necessary data is delivered to the individual members of staff even as they begin to react. In the retail and promotion of audiovisual products, it is advantageous for the potential customer to view or hear a sample of the promoted product The present invention provides means for achieving this end Disclosure of Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a portable data system as specified in claims 1 to 16. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a receiver as specified in claims 17 to 27. Brief Descπption of Drawings The present invention is further descnbed, by way of an example, by the following descπption, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the receiver of the present invention as an example of the manner in which the phvsical realisation can be achieved, Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the receiver of figure 1, together with an associated transmitter, Figure 3 is a block diagram of the radio frequency link shown in figure 2; Figure 4 is a more detailed block diagram of the receiver radio frequency portion of the radio link, shown in figure 3, being part of the receiver shown in figures 1 and 2, illustrating how the receiver can download stored data to another unit, and Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating how a simplified radio frequency portion from that shown in figure 4 can be used to download stored information into a computer Detailed Descπption of Preferred Embodiment Refemng to Figure 1, there is shown the basic receiving unit of the preferred embodiment of the present invention The unit compπses a body (10), constructed much after the style of a wπst watch, and housing the radio receiver (later descnbed) and controls. The body (10) is held on a user's wπst by a strap (12). A liquid crystal display (LCD) screen mount (14) is mounted on the body (10) to rotate about an axis (16) as indicated by bidirectional rotary arrow (18) A liquid crystal display (LCD) screen (20) is held within the mount (14) The mount (14) can be adjusted about its axis (16) for convenience of viewing of the screen (20) by a user The body (10) further comprises a display (22), much after the style used in contemporary wrist watches, which can be used, to secondary purpose, as the display for a normal watch function, or to display frequencies (channels) being used by the receiver. A store button (24) permits the receiver to store information, currently shown upon the screen (20), for later retrieval or later viewing. Control buttons (26), similar to those found on a contemporary wrist watch, control the activity of the receiver unit in a manner later to be described. Finally, a small loudspeaker (28), in the body (10), permits a user to hear received sounds. The screen (20) can display alphanumeric characters, predetermined graphics, whole images, or any combination thereof. The screen (20) is shown as a liquid crystal display only by way of example, the present invention encompassing the use of any type of display device capable of use in the manner shown. The screen could be, for example, an XGA screen having two modes: a high power mode, and a low power mode. This would enable the data system to be run in a lower power mode for displaying low resolution images in order to save power, or using the high power mode for displaying high resolution images. The screen (20) is shown in a mount (14) only for preference, and could equally be provided in, for example, a pair of spectacles. Equally, the screen (20) could be monochrome or colour. The physical form of the receiver unit is only by way of example, and the present invention encompasses other manners of construction. For example, the loudspeaker (28) might be incorporated in the screen mount (14), the body (10) placed elsewhere on the user's being, the control buttons (24,26) placed on the screen mount (14), and so on. Attention is next drawn to figure 2 showing the overall system, by way of a block diagram. The system is divided into a transmitter (30) and a receiver (32), as indicated by broken line (34). The receiver (32) corresponds to the apparatus shown and described with reference to Figure 1. The transmitter (30) comprises a display generator (36) which creates the image to be shown on the screen (20) of the receiver (32) and any sounds to be emitted by the loudspeaker (28). The output of the display generator (36), in the form of encoded signals for use by the receiver (32), is passed to the receiver (32) by a radio frequency link (38), whose more detailed description is given hereafter. In the receiver (32), the radio frequency link (38) sends its signal to a receiver controller (40), which could be in the form of a pre-programmed microprocessor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or in any other form, capable of performing the functions ascπbed to the receiver controller (40). The receiver controller (40) decodes the encoded signals, received from the radio frequency link (38). The control buttons (24,26) govern the mode of activity of the receiver controller (40) according to the wishes of the user. The receiver controller (40) has access to a Random Access Memory (RAM) (42) wherein currently displayed images may be stored, and wherefrom stored images may be retrieved. The receiver controller (40) sends command, control and data signals to a driver (44) which drives both the screen (20) and the loudspeaker (28). Attention is drawn to Figure 3, showing, in more detail, a block diagram of the radio frequency link (38) of Figure 2. A power module (46) accepts the encoded signals from the display generator (36) and modulates them onto a radio frequency carrier. The radio frequency carrier is boosted in power and provided to a transmission antenna (48). The transmission antenna (48) can be of any suitable form. For example, the transmission antenna (48) can be a local induction antenna ( a loop), a short wire, a directional structure, a resonant structure (for more efficiency), and so on according to the application and the wish of the designer. The physical form of the transmitter (30) can take various styles. In the simplest form, the display generator (36) is a pre-programmed, locally or battery-powered small box, comprising a constantly re-cycling memory whose contents are continuously and repetitively provided for transmission. A more sophisticated form can modulate more than one radio frequency carrier, each earner beaπng separate information. The memory or memoπes can be pre-programmed from a computer, can be provided with data on a tape, disc or ROM (read-only-memory), or in any way whereby the informational data can enter for transmission. Where non-repetitive or up datable data is required, the transmitter (30) can be directly connected to a data source, such as a computer or telephone link, and in this manner a plurality of transmitters (30) can be run from one source, each transmitter (30) optionally having more than one channel. In this way, for example, current stock levels of an item can be relayed to a potential customer, The broken line (34) indicates a spatial separation between the transmission antenna (48) and a receiver antenna (50) The receiver antenna (50) receives the modulated radio frequency earner from the transmission antenna (48) and provides it to a receiver radio module (52), part of whose function is to amplify the signal from the receiver antenna (50) (if necessary), to demodulate the signal from the receiver antenna (50), and pass the demodulated signal to the receiver controller (40). The receiver antenna (50) is, for preference, integral with the apparatus of Figure 1, and can compπse a pπnted circuit structure within the body ( 10) or the mount (14), or a dedicated loop, dipole or monopole, Equally, the receiver antenna (50) can be made to extend into the strap (12) The present invention is not limited by the style of the receiver antenna (50), and simply requires that the receiver antenna (50) exists and functions as descnbed Figure 4 shows a detailed block diagram of the receiver radio module (52) of figure 3. An amplifier-demodulator (54), as earlier descnbed, provides, to the receiver controller (40), a demodulated version of the modulated signal received from the receiver antenna (50) A modulator-transmitter (56) can be selected to receive encoded signals from the receiver controller (40), modulate them onto a radio frequency earner, boost the power of the now modulated radio frequency carrier, and provided the boosted signal to the receiver antenna (50) for transmission. The transmission can be to another receiver (32), placed in the vicinity of the first receiver (32), or to a computer (58), shown in Figure 5, where a receiver antenna (50) and an amplifier-demodulator (54) are simply provided as input to a port. The amplifier-demodulator (54) can vary in its preferred embodiment dependently upon the type of service required of the system (Figure 2). Where transmitter (30) power is adequate, and ranges short, the amplifier-demodulator can comprises simple TRF (Tuned Radio Frequency) circuitry and a simple demodulator. Where signals are weak, either because transmitter (30) power is low or ranges are large, the amplifier-demodulator (54) can comprise anything up to the full complement of a sophisticated radio receiver. Equally, by use of the control buttons (26), the user, in those situations where more than one channel of informational data is provided, can tune the amplifier-demodulator (54) to select the desired channel. This latter feature could be of use, for example, where more than one level of information is present, or where a menu on a first channel points to selectable options on others. The mode of operation of the invention will now be described. A user, wearing the apparatus shown in Figure 1 , and with the receiver (32) switched on, will move about in his or her environment. A transmitter (30) is placed by the provider of informational data in the vicinity of the place, goods or object about which informational data is to be provided. It is intended, for the sake of this example, that the spatial separation (34) over which the receiver (32) will receive and decode the signals from the transmitter (30) is of the order of a few metres. The invention is not restricted to this range, and encompasses higher power embodiments for use in applications where higher range is required, such as warning of toxic hazard areas, battlefield information, and so on. However, for this example, a simple tourist or retail situation is described. As the user approaches the transmitter (30), the receiver (32) decodes the signal and the image and sounds, generated by the display generator (36), begin to appear on the screen (20) and to be heard from the loudspeaker (28), once a predetermined signal strength has been exceeded. The receiver (30) responds to the received signal strength from the transmitter (30) by inhibiting any data presentation until the signal is strong enough for reliable decoding, or according to a higher level set by the user via the control buttons (26), and, thereafter. presenting the data, either by sound or intensity of image on the screen, in sympathy with the received signal strength. In this manner, by selecting the predetermined signal strength, the user can negotiate an environment where a plurality of proximate receivers are situated, only one transmitter at a time being decoded. Equally, because the intensity of data provision depends upon received signal strength, the user can know whether he or she is approaching or departing from the transmitter (30) and the goods, place or object about which the informational data is provided. As the user departs, the display (20) intensity and the sound strength simply fade away until they disappear completely. The receiver (32) thus acts as a constantly self-updating mentor for the user, and can be used to locate objects, good or places of interest. If, at any time, the user decides that informational data is worth keeping, the user simply depresses the store button (24). The receiver controller (40) responds by placing the currently provided data into the random access memory (42) for later retrieval. The user can, thereafter, by using the control buttons (26), re-display and re-hear the data, or can transfer the data to another unit (32,58). The user can transfer the data to another unit (32,58) by use of the control buttons (26). The receiver (32) is simply placed near to another unit (32,58), and the modulator-transmitter (52) activated and fed with a data signal, encoded by the receiver controller (40), representative of informational data stored in the random access memory (42). The another unit (32,58) simply decodes and displays the data being sent by the receiver (32), and can store that data if so desired. The exact method of encoding and transmission of informational data is, for preference, using RS232 at around 12 Kilobits per second, frequency modulation, and a frequency or range of frequencies in one of the non-licensed low power bands, such as 49 MHZ or 1.6 MHZ . This allows for narrow bandwidth, good signal-to-noise ratio, freedom from interfering signals, and ease of protocol handling. It is to be appreciated that the present invention is not limited thereby, and can encompass any signalling protocol, form of modulation, data transfer rate, bandwidth and frequency allocation. For example, low frequency induction loop technology could be used. Alternatively, the bluetooth communication protocol (and associated systems) could be used.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A portable data system compπsing: a receiver (32) to receive informational data from a transmitter (30) in the vicinity of the receiver, and a screen (20) for display of informational data, said system being charactensed by said receiver being operative to present said informational data for use by a user dependently upon the received signal strength from said transmitter. 2. A portable data system according to claim 1 wherein the intensity of display of informational data is an increasing function of said received signal strength. 3 A portable data system according to claim 1 herein informational data is displayed if and only if said received signal strength is greater than a predetermined limit 4. A portable data system according to claim 2 wherein informational data is displayed if and only if said received signal strength is above a predetermined limit 5. A portable data system according to any preceding claim wherein said informational data includes audio data. 6 A portable data system according to claim 5 further including a loudspeaker (28). 7. A portable data system according to any preceding claim wherein the system includes mounting means (12) for mounting on the wnst of a user. 8 A portable data system according to any preceding claim further including memory means (42) for stonng informational data currently displayed. 9. A portable data system according to claim 8 wherein the system is selectably operable to transfer stored informational data to another unit. 10. A portable data system according to claim 9 wherein said another unit is another, like receiver (32). 11. A portable data system according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said another unit is a computer. 12. A portable data system according to any preceding claim wherein the receiver (32) includes a radio receiver. 13. A portable data system according to any preceding claim wherein the transmitter (30) is a radio transmitter. 14. A portable data system according to claims 1 to 11 wherein the receiver (32) includes a pick-up coil. 15. A portable data system according to claim 14 wherein the transmitter (30) includes an induction loop. 16. A portable data system according to any preceding claim wherein the system includes a further screen (22). 17. A receiver (32) for use in a message system wherein said receiver is operative to receive informational data from a transmitter (30), in the vicinity of said receiver, for use by a user, said receiver being characterised by being operative to present said informational data for use by said user dependently upon the received signal strength from said transmitter. 18. A receiver (32) according to claim 17, comprising a screen (20) for display of informational data, and wherein the intensity of display of informational data is an increasing function of said received signal strength. 19. A receiver (32) according to claim 17, comprising a screen (20) for display of informational data, and operative to display informational data if and only if said received signal strength is greater than a predetermined limit. 20. A receiver (32) according to claim 18, operative to display informational data if and only if said received signal strength is above a predetermined limit. 21. A receiver (32) according to any of claims 17 to 20 wherein said informational data includes audio data, and wherein said receiver is operative to provide an audio output to a user. 22. A receiver (32) according to any of claims 17 to 21, attachable to the body of a user. 23. A receiver (32) according to claim 22, wherein at least said display (20) is mountable on the wrist of a user. 24. A receiver (32) according to any of claims 17 to 23, selectably operable to store informational data currently displayed. 25. A receiver (32) according to claim 20, selectably operable to transfer stored informational data to another unit. 26. A receiver (32) according to claim 25, for use where said another unit is another, like receiver. 27. A receiver (32) according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein said another unit is a computer.

Inventors: SAWDON-SMITH JOHN, VERNALL ANDREW, VERNALL CHRISTOPHER JOHN, SAWDON-SMITH, JOHN, VERNALL, ANDREW, VERNALL, CHRISTOPHER, JOHN
Applicants: CENTRAL RESEARCH LAB LTD, SAWDON SMITH JOHN, VERNALL ANDREW, VERNALL CHRISTOPHER JOHN, CENTRAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES LIMITED, SAWDON-SMITH, JOHN, VERNALL, ANDREW, VERNALL, CHRISTOPHER, JOHN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04Q7
IPC codes: G06F1, G06F3, G08B3, G08B5, G08B7, H04B7, H04Q7