Patent Publication Number: US-2003225767-A1

Title: Computerized information kiosk network

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a computerized information kiosk network.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Computerized information kiosks are found in a variety of locations such as airports and shopping malls. They provide a medium to place information before the public. Included in the information that the kiosks provide is commercial information in the form of advertisements.  
       [0003] Information, including advertisements, is generally updated with update disks by service personnel who attend each individual kiosk location. However, kiosks are now being provided with communications links which enable the information to be updated by service personnel from a remote location. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] What is required is an computerized information kiosk network which will further reduce the need for intervention by service personnel.  
       [0005] According to the present invention there is provided a computerized information kiosk network which includes a database containing information files provided by a multiplicity of information providers. A server is accessible through communications links. A plurality of computerized information kiosk stations are linked via the communications links and the server to the database. Each of the kiosk stations have a satellite memory in which selected information files from the database are stored. The kiosk stations are capable of displaying any of the information files from the database which are stored in the satellite memory. The server includes an information provider interface through which any one of the multiplicity of information providers can, upon entering a security access code, enter and change information in the information files in the database which originated from said information provider identified by the security access code thereby creating a changed information file.  
       [0006] With the computerized information kiosk network, as described above, all routine placement and updates of information are handled by the information provider clients themselves through the network. Intervention is only required by service personnel for situations not contemplated when the computerized information kiosk network is established. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007] These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a computerized information kiosk network in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0009] The preferred embodiment, a computerized information kiosk network generally identified by reference numeral  10 , will now be described with reference to FIG. 1.  
     [0010] Structure and Relationship of Parts:  
     [0011] Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a computerized information kiosk network  10  which includes a database  12  which contains information files provided by a multiplicity of information providers, including advertisers. A server  14  is also provided that is accessible through communications links  16 . A plurality of computerized information kiosk stations  18  are linked via communications links  16  and server  14  to database  12 . Communications links  16  are made through the internet at kiosk interface  20 . Although communications links through the world wide web are preferred, communications links can be made through one or more of any number of media, including, but not limited to modem connections, POTS, and satellite. Each kiosk station  18  has a satellite memory in which selected information files from database  12  are stored. Kiosk stations  18  are capable of displaying any of information files from database  12  which are stored in their satellite memory. Information files can include display advertisements, scrolling text advertisements, classified advertisements or promotion coupon advertisements. Furthermore, kiosk stations  18  have printing capabilities, thereby permitting information to be printed. Server  14  includes an information provider interface  22  through which any one of multiplicity of information providers can, upon entering a security access code, enter and change information in information files in database  12  which originated from said information provider as identified by the security access code thereby creating a changed information file.  
     [0012] The use and operation of computerized information kiosk network  10  will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, with computerized information kiosk network  10 , as described above, all routine placement and updates of information files are handled by information provider clients themselves via the computerized information kiosk network  10 . Intervention is only required by service personnel for situations not contemplated when computerized information kiosk network  10  is established.  
     [0013] In order to use computerized information kiosk network  10 , any one of multiplicity of information providers, using a computer  24  for example, can access information provider interface  22  of server  14 , and upon enter a security access code, enter and change information in information files in database  12  which originated from said information provider as identified by the security access code thereby creating a changed information file. The changed information file may be downloaded to any ones of the kiosk stations  18  that the information provider directs.  
     [0014] Each of kiosk stations  18  are capable of displaying any  10  of information files from database  12  which are stored in their satellite memory. Kiosk stations  18  have printing capabilities, selected information such as coupons, can be printed out from kiosk station  18 .  
     [0015] In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.  
     [0016] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims.