Patent Description:
In general, due to the continuous development of information and communication technology, financial transactions that were made through face-to-face authentication have recently been transferred to a non-face-to-face financial transaction method using non-face-to-face authentication based on a wired or wireless communication network, and currently, among the above non-face-to-face financial transactions, only the amount of financial transactions through internet banking reaches <NUM> trillion won per day.

A counselor working at a bank may vacate the seat due to going to a restroom, going to vacation, or going out for lunch. Accordingly, there is a problem that it is difficult to utilize the seat having been occupied by the counselor. <CIT> discloses a display device including a screen, first and second projectors, a detector, and a controller. The screen has first and second surfaces. The first projector projects a first horizontally non-inverted image as viewed from the first surface. The second projector projects a second horizontally non-inverted image as viewed from the second surface. The detector detects a person viewing the first surface and a person viewing the second surface. The controller controls switching of an operation between the first and second projectors and also performs control, when the detector has detected a person viewing the first surface and a person viewing the second surface, so that the person viewing the first surface and the person viewing the second surface are able to see each other through the screen. <CIT> discloses an apparatus including a display controller configured to control a display state of a transparent display based on a sensor output that contains information regarding an object separated from the apparatus. <CIT> discloses a transparent display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: Detecting an object located proximate to the transparent image display apparatus; determining a position of the detected object relative to the transparent image display apparatus; selecting, from among multiple, different augmented object displays associated with the detected object, an augmented object display based on the determined position of the detected object relative to the transparent image display apparatus. The selecting comprises the steps of: Selecting a first augmented object display associated with the detected object based on the determined position being a first position relative to the transparent image display apparatus, and selecting a second augmented object display associated with the detected object based on the determined position being a second position relative to the transparent image display apparatus that is different than the first position relative to the display, the second augmented object display including different information or menu data than the first augmented object display; Further the method comprises the step of controlling display of the selected augmented object display on the transparent image display apparatus. <CIT> discloses facilities for hiding sensitive content visible through a transparent display. An example method includes identifying sensitive content adjacent to a first side of a transparent display device, detecting a viewing direction to the sensitive content through the transparent display device from a position adjacent to a second side of the transparent display device, determining, based at least in part on the detected viewing direction, a display area of the transparent display device through which at least a portion of the sensitive content is visible from the position adjacent to the second side of the transparent display device, and presenting, in the display area, digital content at least partially blocking the sensitive content from view from the position adjacent to the second side of the transparent display device.

In view of the above, the present disclosure provides a digital desk that enables banking by utilizing an empty space for a counselor, and an image control method using the same.

In detail, the digital desk comprises a transparent display unit provided between a counselor and a customer, a touch panel unit configured to receive an input of touch information from the customer, a sensor unit configured to detect at least one of positions of the counselor and the customer, and a control unit configured to control an image displayed on the transparent display unit based on information on presence or absence of the counselor.

The control unit may control the transparent display unit to be transparent when information on the presence of the counselor exists, and may control an image of a first virtual counselor to be displayed on the transparent display unit when the information on the presence of the counselor does not exist.

The sensor unit may include at least one of a camera, an infrared sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

The control unit may control an operation of the transparent display unit to display a first virtual counselor on an area at which the customer gazes.

A second virtual counselor or financial information may be displayed on an area other than the area at which the customer gazes.

The sensor unit may be provided in chairs where the counselor and the customer are seated.

The digital desk may further include: a voice input unit configured to receive a voice of the counselor; and a voice output unit configured to output the voice of the counselor to the customer.

When the counselor exist, the control unit may control a point of time when the voice of the counselor is transmitted through the voice output unit.

The digital desk may further include: a voice transfer unit configured to receive a voice of the customer or to transfer a voice of at least one of the first virtual counselor and the second virtual counselor, wherein the voice transfer unit is disposed in the transparent display unit, and wherein the control unit controls a point of time when a voice of the first virtual counselor is transmitted through the voice transfer unit when the counselor does not exist.

The digital desk may further include a voice transfer unit configured to receive a voice of the customer or to transfer a voice of at least one of the first virtual counselor and the second virtual counselor, wherein the voice transfer unit is disposed in the transparent display unit, and wherein, when the counselor exist, the control unit controls a point of time when the voice of the counselor is transmitted through the voice output unit and a point of time when a voice of the second virtual counselor is transmitted through the voice transfer unit.

The control unit may control the touch panel unit to display the customer's personal information.

Further, there is provided a method for controlling an image using the digital desk as described herein, the method including: collecting position information of a counselor; and operating the transparent display unit to be transparent when position information of the counselor exists, or operating the transparent display unit to display an image of a virtual counselor when the position information of the counselor does not exist.

According to an embodiment, a digital desk enabling financial affairs to be performed is provided, thereby enabling banking even without a counselor.

In addition, according to an embodiment, by controlling the operation of a transparent display unit according to the position of a customer, convenient banking can be performed.

In addition, according to an embodiment, the accuracy on the position of a customer can be enhanced by measuring the position of the customer's body part and detecting the position.

In addition, according to an embodiment, a customer's participation can be induced at times outside of financial business by providing advertisements using the customer's motion.

Hereinafter, configurations and operations of embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is one of various patentable aspects of the disclosure and may form a part of the detailed description of the disclosure.

In describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, the detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations will be omitted if it is determined that the detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations may unnecessarily make obscure the spirit of the present disclosure.

The terms used herein, including ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" may be used to describe, and not to limit, various components. The terms simply distinguish the components from one another.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing a digital desk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a side view showing the digital desk according to the embodiment, <FIG> is a front view of a transparent display unit of the digital desk according to the embodiment, and <FIG> and <FIG> are views showing a state in which a transparent display unit is operated according to a customer's position.

Referring to <FIG>, a digital desk <NUM> according to the present disclosure includes a transparent display unit <NUM>.

The transparent display unit <NUM> may be operated to display a counselor or a virtual counselor in charge of financial affairs to a customer. Here, the virtual counselor may be a first virtual counselor formed by computer graphics or a real counselor who has been away, but it is not limited thereto.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the transparent display unit <NUM> may be disposed between a counselor <NUM> and a customer <NUM>. The transparent display unit <NUM> may include a transparent light emitting diode (LED), a transparent liquid crystal display (LCD), a transparent organic light emitting diode (OLED), a head-up display (HUD), or the like, but it is not limited thereto.

The transparent display unit <NUM> is disposed in a desk <NUM>. The desk <NUM> includes a lower plate <NUM> and an upper plate <NUM>. The lower plate <NUM> is formed in the shape of a table, and the upper plate <NUM> may be disposed on the lower plate <NUM> to be disposed between the counselor <NUM> and the customer <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the upper plate <NUM> of the desk <NUM> may be formed of a transparent acrylic plate, and supports the transparent display unit <NUM>. The transparent display unit <NUM> may be disposed in a center area of the upper plate <NUM>, but the position thereof is not limited thereto. In addition, it has been described that there is only one transparent display unit <NUM>, but without being limited thereto, a plurality of transparent display units <NUM> may be disposed on the upper plate <NUM>. In addition, although it is illustrated that the transparent display unit <NUM> is formed in a square shape, the shape thereof is not limited thereto.

Returning to <FIG>, the digital desk <NUM> according to the present disclosure includes a control unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> controls the operation of the transparent display unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> operates the transparent display unit <NUM> according to the presence or absence of the counselor <NUM>. For example, if the counselor <NUM> is seated at a seat, the control unit <NUM> may control an operation of the transparent display unit <NUM> so that the transparent display unit <NUM> is transparent. On the other hand, when the counselor <NUM> is away from the seat, the control unit <NUM> may control to display an image of the virtual counselor on the transparent display unit <NUM>.

Alternatively, the control unit <NUM> may operate the transparent display unit <NUM> based on the presence or absence of a customer. For example, the control unit <NUM> may control the transparent display unit <NUM> to be transparent so that the counselor <NUM> can be seen when the customer <NUM> is seated at the seat, or may control the transparent display unit <NUM> so that the virtual counselor is displayed as an image. On the other hand, the control unit <NUM> may not operate the transparent display unit <NUM> when the customer <NUM> is not present.

In this way, the control unit <NUM> may control an operation of the transparent display unit <NUM> in various ways according to the presence or absence of the counselor <NUM>, the presence or absence of the customer <NUM>, or the presence or absence of the counselor <NUM> and the customer <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the control unit <NUM> may be disposed below the transparent display unit <NUM>, but the position thereof is not limited. Alternatively, the control unit <NUM> may be disposed in the transparent display unit <NUM>. Alternatively, the control unit <NUM> may be disposed in a separate space other than the desk <NUM>, but it is not limited thereto.

Returning to <FIG>, the digital desk <NUM> according to the present disclosure includes a sensor unit <NUM>.

The sensor unit <NUM> senses a position of the counselor <NUM> or a position of the customer <NUM>. The sensor unit <NUM> may include a camera, an image sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, and the like, but it is not limited thereto. Two or more types of sensors may be used as the sensor unit <NUM>.

The sensor unit <NUM> may detect the position of the counselor <NUM> or the customer <NUM> by sensing any one of the body parts of the counselor <NUM> or the customer <NUM>. For example, the sensor unit <NUM> may detect the position of the counselor <NUM> or the customer <NUM> by sensing the direction of the face of the counselor <NUM> or the customer <NUM>. The sensor unit <NUM> may detect the position of the counselor <NUM> or the customer <NUM> by sensing the gaze direction of the counselor <NUM> or the customer <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sensor unit <NUM> may be disposed upward of the transparent display unit <NUM>, but the position thereof is not limited thereto. As illustrated in <FIG>, the sensor unit <NUM> may include a first sensor <NUM> facing the counselor <NUM> and a second sensor <NUM> facing the customer <NUM>. The first sensor <NUM> may be disposed on a front surface of the upper plate <NUM> of the desk <NUM>. The second sensor <NUM> may be disposed on a rear surface of the upper plate <NUM> of the desk <NUM>. The number of sensors is not limited thereto.

It is illustrated above that the sensor unit <NUM> is formed in the desk <NUM>, but the sensor unit <NUM> may also be installed on a chair <NUM> where the counselor <NUM> or the customer <NUM> is seated. Accordingly, the positions of the counselor <NUM> and the customer <NUM> may be detected from the position of the chair <NUM>.

Accordingly, the control unit <NUM> may control an operation of the transparent display unit <NUM> based on the detected positions of the counselor <NUM> and the customer <NUM> from the sensor unit <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, the digital desk <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a voice input unit <NUM> and a voice output unit <NUM>.

The voice output unit <NUM> may output a voice of the counselor <NUM> or a voice of the virtual counselor to the customer <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the voice output unit <NUM> may be disposed on the lower plate <NUM> of the desk <NUM>. When the counselor <NUM> transmits a voice through the voice input unit <NUM>, the voice output unit <NUM> may output the voice to the customer <NUM>.

Alternatively, in order to transmit the voice of the customer <NUM> to the counselor <NUM>, an additional voice output unit and an additional voice input unit may be further provided. In other words, the voice input unit <NUM> and the voice output unit <NUM> provided for the counselor <NUM> can be used as a voice output unit and a voice input unit for the customer, respectively.

A voice transfer unit <NUM> for outputting the voice of the customer or the voice of the virtual counselor or receiving the voice of the customer may be further included in the transparent display unit <NUM>.

When the counselor <NUM> is present, the control unit <NUM> may receive the voice of the counselor <NUM> from the voice input unit <NUM> and transmit the voice of the counselor <NUM> to the customer <NUM> through the voice output unit <NUM>. On the other hand, when the virtual counselor is displayed as an image on the transparent display unit <NUM> due to the absence of the counselor <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> may control to output the voice of the virtual counselor or receive the voice of the customer through the voice transfer unit <NUM> disposed in the transparent display unit <NUM>. Further, when the counselor <NUM> exists, the control unit <NUM> may control a point of time when the voice of the counselor <NUM> is transmitted through the voice output unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may control the voice output through a switching operation.

Returning to <FIG>, the digital desk <NUM> according to the present disclosure includes a touch panel unit <NUM>.

The touch panel unit <NUM> may receive an input of touch information of the customer <NUM>. The touch panel unit <NUM> may receive an input of touch information selected based on a screen on which financial information presented by the counselor <NUM> is displayed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the touch panel unit <NUM> is disposed on the lower plate <NUM> of the desk <NUM>. The touch panel unit <NUM> may be disposed in front of the customer <NUM> at a distance such that a hand is reachable.

The touch panel unit <NUM> may include a touchable tablet, but it is not limited thereto.

The control unit <NUM> controls the touch panel unit <NUM> so that an area in which information for input is displayed is determined according to the position of the customer <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may receive the position of the customer <NUM> and control an operation of the touch panel unit <NUM> so that information for input is displayed in an area corresponding to the position of the customer <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may control to display financial information or a second counselor in addition to the image of the counselor <NUM> or the virtual counselor on the transparent display unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may control the transparent display unit <NUM> based on the position of the customer <NUM>. Here, the second counselor may be a fund manager, a counselor such as a tax accountant, or a second virtual counselor.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when it is detected that the customer <NUM> is in a position corresponding to a first area A of the transparent display unit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> may control the transparent display unit <NUM> to induce the counselor <NUM> to be located in a position corresponding to the first area A of the transparent display unit <NUM> or to display a first virtual counselor in the first area A of the transparent display unit <NUM>. Further, the control unit <NUM> may control a point of time when the voice of the first virtual counselor is transmitted through the voice transfer unit <NUM> when the counselor <NUM> does not exist.

In addition, the control unit <NUM> may control an operation of the transparent display unit <NUM> to display financial information or an image of the second virtual counselor in a second area B of the transparent display unit <NUM>.

On the other hand, as illustrated in <FIG>, when it is detected that the customer <NUM> is in a position corresponding to the second area B of the transparent display unit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> may control the transparent display unit <NUM> to induce the counselor <NUM> to be located in a position corresponding to the second area B of the transparent display unit <NUM> or to display the first virtual counselor in the second area B of the transparent display unit <NUM>.

In addition, the control unit <NUM> may control the transparent display unit <NUM> to display financial information or an image of the second virtual counselor on the first area A of the transparent display unit <NUM>.

Further, when the counselor <NUM> exists, the control unit <NUM> may controls a point of time when the voice of the counselor <NUM> is transmitted through the voice output unit <NUM> and a point of time when a voice of the second virtual counselor is transmitted through the voice transfer unit <NUM>.

When the personal information of the customer <NUM> is displayed on the transparent display unit <NUM>, the personal information of the customer <NUM> may be exposed to the outside. Accordingly, the control unit <NUM> may control the personal information of the customer <NUM> to be displayed through the touch panel unit <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, the digital desk <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a motion detection sensor <NUM> for detecting a motion of a customer.

The motion detection sensor <NUM> may be formed to face a customer. The motion detection sensor <NUM> may be disposed on the rear surface of the upper plate <NUM> of the desk <NUM>. The position and number of the motion detection sensors may be appropriately determined.

The motion detection sensor <NUM> may detect various motions such as a hand motion of the customer <NUM>. During a financial transaction, the control unit <NUM> may receive hand motion information of the customer <NUM> from the motion detection sensor <NUM> and make the customer <NUM> select a menu or another menu based on the hand motion information.

In addition, even when a financial transaction is not conducted, the participation of the customer <NUM> may be induced by using an advertisement output on the transparent display unit <NUM>, and an advertisement and a next advertisement may be selected by the hand motion of the customer <NUM>.

A method of controlling an image using the digital desk as described above is as follows.

The image control method using the digital desk includes: collecting position information of a counselor; and operating a transparent display unit according to the position information of the counselor. Here, the method of controlling an image using the digital desk may be performed by the control unit of the digital desk.

In the collecting of the position information of the counselor, the collected information may be provided from the sensor unit. The sensor unit may obtain the customer's position information by detecting a specific body part of the customer.

In the operating of the transparent display unit according to the position information of the counselor, when the control unit determines that the position information of the counselor exists, the transparent display unit is operated to be transparent. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position information of the counselor does not exist, the control unit controls the virtual counselor's image to be displayed on the transparent display unit.

Each of these steps may include operations of the digital desk which are described with reference to <FIG>.

The present disclosure can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the steps of the flowchart.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer usable or computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatuses to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer usable or computer readable medium can produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function specified in the blocks of the flowcharts.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatuses to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatuses to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatuses provide processes for implementing the functions specified in the blocks of the flowcharts.

Claim 1:
A digital desk (<NUM>) comprising:
an upper plate (<NUM>);
a lower plate (<NUM>) having a table shape;
a transparent display unit (<NUM>) provided between a counselor and a customer;
a touch panel unit (<NUM>) configured to receive an input of touch information from the customer;
a sensor unit (<NUM>) configured to detect at least one of positions of the counselor and the customer; and
a control unit (<NUM>) configured to control an image displayed on the transparent display unit (<NUM>) based on information on presence or absence of the counselor,
wherein the transparent display unit (<NUM>) is disposed in the upper plate, (<NUM>) and the touch panel unit (<NUM>) is disposed on the lower plate (<NUM>), and
wherein the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to receive the position of the customer and control an operation of the touch panel unit (<NUM>) so that information for input is displayed in an area corresponding to the position of the customer.