Digital guide system

• US 20050066358A1
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Stephanie Black, Tolva, John Nathan, Martin, Jennifer, Dolph, Blaine H., Blanchard, John A. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234336 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A Digital Guide System (DGS) assembles and delivers contextual, narrative content information to an end-user requiring a guided or self-guided tour of a physical space. DGS consists of a Content Management System application (CMS), a Channel Administration application (CA), a Content Repository (CR) and a Channel Device application (CDA). CMS allows developers to build content information in discrete narratives using a modular story-building methodology. The CMS stores all information relevant to editorial control and content development in the CR. The CA is a browser-based registration and device management application that delivers content information to devices in channels designated for that content information by the CMS. The CDA allows the user to navigate through the content information using the modular story based organization and collects usage information in a user log for transmittal to the CA.

Claims

1. A digital guide system comprising:

a content repository containing a content information;

wherein, a channel device application receives the content information from the content repository and transmits the content information to a channel device.

2. The digital guide system of claim 1 further comprising:

a server computer having a first memory and a first processor connected to the content repository by a network; and

a content management system application in the first memory for creating and assembling the content information.

3. The digital guide system of claim 2 further comprising:

a channel administration application in the first memory having instructions for delivering the content information to the channel device application via the network.

4. The digital guide system of claim 1 further comprising:

a channel device having a second memory and a second processor;

wherein the channel device application is in the second memory and contains instructions for receiving and navigating the content information.

5. The digital guide system of claim 3 further comprising a statistics database connected to the channel administration application by the network.

6. The digital guide system of claim 2 further comprising a custom pronunciation database containing a plurality of custom pronunciations connected to the content management system application by the network.

7. The digital guide system of claim 2 further comprising a text-to-speech application connected to the content management system application by the network.

8. The digital guide system of claim 2 further comprising a text-to-speech application connected to the content management system application and to a custom pronunciation database by the network.

9. The digital guide system of claim 2 wherein the content management system application provides custom pronunciations to the custom pronunciation database.

10. The digital guide system of claim 6 wherein a text-to-speech application accesses the custom pronunciation database via the network.

11. The digital guide system of claim 3 wherein the channel administration application is connected to a content extract database having a second content information.

12. The digital guide system of claim 11 wherein the second content information is provided to a stand alone guide device by a channel administration application.

13. The digital guide system of claim 1 further comprising a published database connected to the content repository.

14. The digital guide system of claim 13 wherein the published database contains content information completed and approved by a content management system.

15. The digital guide system of claim 2 further comprising:

a text-to-speech application in the first memory; and

a graphical user interface having a first area for assigning access rights in the content management system application by a user.

16. The digital guide system of claim 15 wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a second area for assigning a role based upon a grouping of access rights.

17. The digital guide system of claim 3 further wherein the channel administration application further comprises:

a first program in a third memory of a client computer;

a second program in the first memory;

a third program in the first memory;

wherein the first program connects to the third program and transmits a user log data to the third program; and

wherein the third program receives the user log data, uses the user log data to generate a statistic, and stores the statistic in a statistics database.

18. The digital guide system of claim 17 wherein the user log data comprises:

a record of the choices made by a user in navigating a content information.

19. The digital guide system of claim 17 wherein the first program records user demographic information and transmits the user demographic information to the third program.

20. The digital guide system of claim 17 wherein the second program further comprises:

instructions for receiving a request for a content information from a channel device application; and

responsive to receiving a request for a content information, determining whether a content information relevant to the channel application can be obtained from the content repository.

21. The digital guide system of claim 20 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to determining that content relevant to the channel application can be obtained from the content repository, connecting to the content repository; and

responsive to connecting to the content repository, determining whether the latest version of the content information is available.

22. The digital guide system of claim 21 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the latest version of the content information is available, or responsive to obtaining the latest version of the content information from the content repository, delivering the content information to the channel device application

23. The digital guide system of claim 22 wherein the second program further comprises:

instructions for receiving a request for a content information from a channel device application; and

responsive to receiving a request for a content information, determining whether content relevant to the channel application can(be obtained from a published database.

24. The digital guide system of claim 23 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to determining that content relevant to the channel application can be obtained from a published database, connecting to the published database; and

responsive to connecting to the published database, determining whether the latest version of the content information is available.

25. The digital guide system of claim 24 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the latest version of the content information is available, or responsive to obtaining the latest version of the content information from the published database, delivering the content information to the channel device application.

26. The digital guide system of claim 17 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to generating a statistic, determining whether a user requested a summary by e-mail; and

responsive to determining that the user requested a summary by e-mail, transmitting the summary by e-mail.

27. The digital guide system of claim 17 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to generating a statistic, determining whether a user requested a summary by printout; and

responsive to determining that the user requested a summary by printout, printing a summary.

28. The digital guide system of claim 4 wherein the channel device application further comprises:

a first program in the second memory for creating a user log;

a second program in the second memory for navigating a content information based on a plurality of tours;

a third program in the second memory for locating a specific item of content information.

29. The digital guide system of claim 28 wherein the first program further comprises:

instructions for monitoring a plurality of user selections during a tour, and for recording a plurality of statistical data regarding the user selections in a user log file in the memory; and

responsive to being connected to a client computer at the physical location of the tour, transferring the plurality of statistical data from the user log to a channel administration application.

30. The digital guide system of claim 29 wherein the second program further comprises:

instructions for navigating the content information based upon a selection by a user of the channel device.

31. The digital guide system of claim 30 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to the user selecting a tour, displaying a first module for the tour.

32. The digital guide system of claim 31 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to the user clicking a “

next”

button, determining whether the next item on the tour is a module.

33. The digital guide system of claim 31 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the next item on the tour is a module, displaying the next module.

34. The digital guide system of claim 32 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the next item on the tour is a not a module, displaying a map showing a location of a next object in the module.

35. The digital guide system of claim 32 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to the user clicking “

next,”

displaying the next object.

36. The digital guide system of claim 35 wherein the second program further comprises:

determining whether the user has selected “

read more.”

37. The digital guide system of claim 36 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to a determination that the user has clicked “

read more,”

displaying a related text.

38. The digital guide system of claim 36 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to a determination that the user has not clicked “

read more,”

determining whether the user has selected “

see more.”

39. The digital guide system of claim 38 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to a determination that the user has clicked “

see more,”

displaying a related picture.

40. The digital guide system of claim 38 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to a determination that the user has not clicked “

see more,”

determining whether the next item on the tour is an object.

41. The digital guide system of claim 40 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to a determination that the next item on the tour is an object, displaying a map showing the location of the next object in the module.

42. The digital guide system of claim 41 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to a determination that the next item on the tour is not an object, determining whether the present module is the last module.

43. The digital guide system of claim 42 wherein the second program further comprises:

responsive to a determination that the present module is not the last module, setting a first module equal to a next module in sequence.

44. The digital guide system of claim 28 wherein the third program comprises:

responsive to a user clicking “

locate an object,”

displaying a “

locate”

page.

45. The digital guide system of claim 44 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to displaying a “

locate”

page, determining whether the user has clicked “

locate by picture,” and

responsive to determining that the user has clicked, “

locate by picture,”

displaying a picture and query the user to select a theme.

46. The digital guide system of claim 45 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to the user selecting a theme, determining whether there is one matching result; and

responsive to a determination that there is one matching result, displaying the object.

47. The digital guide system of claim 46 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to displaying a “

locate”

page, determining whether the user has clicked “

locate by picture,” and

responsive to determining that the user has not clicked, “

locate by picture,”

determining whether the user has clicked “

locate by ID.”

48. The digital guide system of claim 47 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the user has clicked “

locate by ID,”

displaying a “

locate by object number”

page; and

responsive to the user entering an object ID, determining whether the object ID is valid.

49. The digital guide system of claim 48 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the object ID is valid, displaying the object.

50. The digital guide system of claim 49 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the user did not click “

locate by ID,”

determining whether the user clicked “

locate by location”

; and

responsive to determining that the user clicked “

locate by location,”

displaying a main map.

51. The digital guide system of claim 50 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the user did not click “

locate by ID,”

determining whether the user clicked “

locate by location”

; and

responsive to determining that the user clicked “

locate by location,”

displaying a main map.

52. The digital guide system of claim 51 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the user did not click “

locate by location,”

determining whether the user clicked “

may we suggest”

; and

responsive to a determination that the user has clicked “

may we suggest,”

displaying a random object.

53. The digital guide system of claim 52 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the user did not click “

may we suggest”

, or responsive to displaying a random object, determining whether the user has clicked “

read more”

; and

responsive to a determination that the user has clicked “

read more,”

displaying related text.

54. The digital guide system of claim 53 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the user did not click “

may we suggest,”

or responsive to displaying a random object, determining whether the user has clicked “

read more”

; and

responsive to a determination that the user has not clicked “

read more,”

determining whether the user has clicked “

see more”

; and

responsive to a determination that the user has clicked “

see more,”

displaying a related picture.

55. The digital guide system of claim 54 wherein the third program further comprises:

responsive to determining that the user did not click “

may we suggest,”

or responsive to displaying a random object, determining whether the user has clicked “

read more”

;

responsive to a determination that the user has not clicked “

read more,” and

a determination that the user has not clicked “

see more,”

determining whether there is a related location to display; and

responsive to a determination that there is a related location to display, displaying the “

locate page.”

56. A method for providing a digital guide for a tour of a physical space comprising:

using a content management system application, creating a content information in a content repository;

publishing an approved content information from the content repository to a published database; and

using a channel device having a channel device application, receiving and displaying the approved content information.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

using a text-to-speech application, creating an audio file from an approved content information.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

using a custom pronunciation database, obtaining a custom pronunciation and using the custom pronunciation to create the audio file.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

creating custom pronunciation; and

storing the custom pronunciation in a custom pronunciation database connected to the text-to-speech application.

60. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

using a client computer connected to a server computer;

recording usage data in a channel device application;

using a server computer;

receiving a usage data from the client computer;

using the usage data to generate a statistic;

providing a report of the statistic to a user; and

using the server computer;

delivering a content information to the channel device application, wherein the content information has been assigned to the channel device application by the content management system application.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

using the client computer;

recording user demographic information; and

transmiting the user demographic information to the second program.

62. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

using the server computer;

responsive to determining that the latest version of the content information is available, or responsive to obtaining the latest version of the content information from the content repository, delivering the content information to the channel device application.

63. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

using the server computer;

responsive to determining that content relevant to the channel application can be obtained from a published database, connecting to the published database; and

responsive to determining that the latest version of the content information is available, or responsive to obtaining the latest version of the content information from the published database, delivering the content information to the channel device application.

64. An application product operable on a computer, the application product comprising:

a first computer-usable medium comprising;

instructions for recording user demographic information from input by a person at a physical location to be toured;

instructions for receiving a user log data from a channel device application;

instructions for transmitting the user log data to a third computer usable medium;

a second computer-usable medium comprising;

instructions for receiving a request for a content information from a channel device application;

instructions for, responsive to receiving a request for a content information, determining whether a content relevant to the channel application can be obtained from a content repository; and

the third computer usable medium comprising;

instructions for receiving the user log data;

instructions for using the user log data to generate a statistic; and

instructions for storing the user log data in statistics database.

65. The application product of claim 64 wherein the second computer usable medium comprises:

responsive to determining that content information relevant to the channel application can be obtained from a content repository, connecting to the content repository; and

responsive to connecting to the content repository, determining whether the latest version of the content information is available.

66. The application product of claim 65 wherein the second computer usable medium further comprises:

responsive to determining that the latest version of the content information is available, or responsive to obtaining the latest version of the content information from the content repository, delivering the content information to the channel device application.

67. The application product of claim 66 wherein the second computer-usable medium further comprises:

instructions for receiving a request for a content information from a channel device application; and

responsive to receiving a request for a content information, determining whether content relevant to the channel application can be obtained from a published database.

68. The application product of claim 66 wherein the second computer-usable medium further comprises:

responsive to determining that content relevant to the channel application can be obtained from a published database, connecting to the published database; and

responsive to connecting to the published database, determining whether the latest version of the content information is available.

69. The application product of claim 68 wherein the second computer-usable medium further comprises:

responsive to determining that the latest version of the content information is available, or responsive to obtaining the latest version of the content information from the published database, delivering the content information to the channel device application.

70. The application product of claim 64 wherein the third computer usable medium comprises:

responsive to generating a statistic, determining whether a user requested a summary by e-mail; and

responsive to determining that the user requested a summary by e-mail, transmitting a summary by e-mail

71. The application product of claim 64 wherein the third computer usable medium further comprises:

responsive to generating a statistic, determining whether a user requested a summary by printout; and

responsive to determining that the user requested a summary by printout, printing a summary.

72. A digital guide system comprising:

a channel for carrying a content information in digital form and presenting the content information in an audio, visual or audio visual display;

a channel administration application that delivers the content information through the channel to a channel device having a channel device application where the channel device application has been assigned to the content information by a content management system;

a channel device application that receives the content information from the channel administration application; and

a content management system application that manages the production of the content information by assigning access rights, assembling the content information in a plurality of elements, modules and stories, assigning channels to the content information, translating approved content information into audio files using a text-to-speech application, and when requested, providing the content information to the channel administration application for distribution to the channel device application.