WO2005033989A1

WO2005033989A1 - Data communication system and method for automatic transfer of advertisement information

Info

Publication number: WO2005033989A1
Application number: PCT/HU2004/000086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Péter NAGY
Original assignee: Care Full Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2003-10-09
Filing date: 2004-08-11
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: CZ200469A3; HUP0600029A2; HU0303336D0; HUP0303336A2

Abstract

The invention is a data communication system and method, comprising a server (10) for storing advertisement information and user computer devices being (15) in communication connection with the server (10), wherein the user computer devices (15) comprise a display program and a downloading means for downloading the advertisement information from the server (10), and wherein the display program is designed to display the downloaded advertisement information. The user computer devices further comprise uploading means for uploading to the server (10) data relating to the displaying of advertisement information on the user computer device (15) and timing means for timing the start-up of the downloading means and the uploading means.

Description

DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSFER OF ADVERTISEMENT INFORMATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a data communication system and method, by which - among other things - it becomes possible to transfer advertisement information stored on a central server automatically to a computer device of an end-user, and to, display advertisement information in a dynamic way according to the advertiser's requirements by means of a display program, e.g. a screen saver program or a media player program running on the end-user computer device. In addition, the system and method according to the invention are suitable for the automatic transfer of other data as well. BACKGROUND ART

In prior art computer systems, it is a known to display advertisement information, for example pictures, videos or sounds by means of a screen saver program, which is activated when no operation occurs on the switched on computer for a specified period of time. In this case the screen saver program presents on the display, i.e. preferably on the screen of a computer device, advertisement information like a company logo or a product name. The problem with this prior art system is that the advertisement information is statically stored on the hard disc of a computer device, for example a PC, and it may not be dynamically altered in accordance with the advertiser's requirements. The same applies for displaying advertisement information on computers by means of media player programs.

In WO 00/73916 A1 , an advertising method is described, in which advertisement information stored on a central server can be retrieved selectively on the computer device of each user connected to the server, according to the requirements indicated by the user, and this advertisement information can be displayed for the user by means of a screen saver program of the computer device. The disadvantage of this prior art method and the system based thereon is that they are not suitable for the dynamic, selective and automatic distribution of the advertisement information in accordance with the advertisers' requirements, and for the automatic transfer of other required data. It is also a disadvantage that the downloading of advertisement information is exclusively triggered by user interaction, i.e. it is not automatic. A further problem is caused by the fact that it is not possible to collect data on the server about the displaying carried out.

Another advertising problem is also known, namely that the advertising of prescription medicines is only permitted to be shown to an expert, for example a family doctor. It is difficult to make sure that the advertising of prescription medicines is only presented to the family doctor, in the given case in a selective way, within a scope determined by geographical or other criteria.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a data communication system and method by which it is possible to eliminate the problems of prior art computerized advertising systems, which new solution provides an efficient approach to advertise for example prescription medicines automatically in a target-oriented way taking into consideration the advertiser's requirements as well, and which in the given case is also suitable for the automatic transfer of other data.

Thus, according to a first aspect, the invention is a data communication system, comprising a server for storing advertisement information and user computer devices being in communication connection with the server, wherein the user computer devices comprise a display program and downloading means for downloading the advertisement information from the server, and wherein the display program is designed to display the downloaded advertisement information. According to the invention, the user computer devices further comprise uploading means for uploading to the server data relating to the displaying of advertisement information on the user computer device and timing means for timing the start-up of the downloading means and the uploading means.

By means of the data communication system according to the invention, it becomes possible to implement dynamic advertising by means of a screen saver program, and on the basis of data relating to the displaying of advertisement information, the invention efficiently ensures monitoring, therefore making it easier for example to issue invoices in association with the advertising service. A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterised by comprising advertiser computer devices being in communication connection with the server, the advertiser computer devices comprising an advertiser computer program for uploading advertisement information to the server. Further preferred embodiments of the inventive system are defined in the respective dependent claims.

According to a second aspect, the invention is a data communication method, comprising the steps of storing advertisement information on a server, forwarding the advertisement information to user computer devices, the user computer devices being in communication connection with a server, and displaying the advertisement information by means of a display program in the user computer device. According to the invention, by means of a downloading means in the user computer device, the advertisement information is downloaded from the server, by means of an uploading means in the user computer device, data relating to displaying of the advertisement information on the user computer device are uploaded to the server and by means of a timing means in the user computer device, the downloading means and the uploading means are triggered in a timed manner.

Further preferred embodiments of the inventive method are defined in the respective dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, the invention will be described by means of preferred embodiments as shown in the drawings, where Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a system according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the server in Fig. 1, including a link to the

Internet and Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a user computer device, including a link to the Internet. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The system and method according to the invention will be described below in relation to the transfer of advertisement information and related statistical or other data. However, it is obvious that the system and method are suitable not only for the functions above, but also for the automatic transmission of other data, especially business activity related reports or other data collected by a server and the related computer device of the user, such as a retail point of sale. The system depicted by way of example and shown in Fig. 1 comprises a server 10, which is connected to the Internet 12 via an Internet provider 11. In a way to be described later, the server 10 comprises advertisement information to be displayed as well as data relating to the way how to carry out the displaying. Advertiser computer devices 13 are linked to the Internet 12 via Internet provider

11. The advertiser computer devices 13 comprise an advertiser computer program, preferably a web browser 14, which is preferably suitable for transferring the advertisers' advertising requirements and the information to be displayed to the server 10 in a way known per se, and furthermore for downloading the required data from the server 10.

Furthermore, via the Internet provider 11, user computer devices 15 are linked to the Internet 12.

The server 10 shown in Fig. 2 comprises a web interface 20 and a web server 24 known perse that makes the web interface 20 available on the Internet

12. The server 10 preferably also comprises a JAVA communication means 21, by which the server 10 communicates with the user computer devices 15. The web interface 20, the web server 24 and the communication means 21 are linked to a picture database 22a, a video database 22b and a central database 23. The pictures and/or video files uploaded to the server 10 by the advertisers via the web browser 14 in the advertiser computer devices 13 are stored as advertisement information in the picture database 22a and/or the video database 22b. The central database 23 may store as an example advertiser requirements given by the advertisers and assigned to the pictures and/or video files, identifiers thereof and statistical data of displaying collected from the user computer devices 15. The advertiser's requirements may include for example the place and target group of displaying the advertising, or the time of displaying the advertising. In case the required place or target group of displaying the advertising has been identified by the advertiser, the advertisement information from the server 10 is only made available for downloading for the user computer devices 15 in accordance with the desired destinations. When defining the display time of the advertising, the data relating to the required time of display are preferably transferred to the respective user computer devices 15, where a screen saver program or a media player program displays the advertising in accordance with these data.

The advertisers, who are preferably contracted advertising partners, are able to upload pictures and/or video files via the web interface 20 to the server 10, and they are also able to delete and modify these content. Furthermore, by means of the web interface 20, the advertisers may set the advertising requirements intended to be assigned to each uploaded picture and/or video file, for example the place of displaying the advertising according to geographical or other criteria. Again, by means of the web interface 20, the advertisers are able to display via the web browser 14 on their own computer devices 13 the statistical or other data related to the advertising display of the advertisement information. As an example, the communication means 21 can use a Postgres SQL database. By means of this program unit, the advertisement information and other data are sent to the user computer devices 15 and this is how the data from the computer devices 15 are collected. The server 10 further comprises a firewall 25, through which the communication is conducted between the web interface 20 and the advertiser computer devices 13 and furthermore between the communication means 21 and the user computer devices 15. The former communication is preferably implemented on a http port 27, and the latter is preferably executed via a communication port 26. Consequently, the advertisers are linked to the web interface 20 of the server 10 via the http port 27, and the user computer devices 15 are connected to the communication means 21 of the server 10 at the communication port 26. It can be seen that as a communication infrastructure, the Internet 12 is used between the computerised parts of the system, but it is obvious that in a system according to the invention, any other type of network may also be applied. When using the Internet, the firewall 25 checks all access from the Internet 12 to the server 10.

Fig. 3 shows by way of example a schematic view of a user computer device 15, including a link to the Internet 12. The user computer device 15 may be any kind of end-user device or unit on which it is intended to display advertisement information by means of e.g. a screen saver program 36 or a media player program 41. In accordance with the application example mentioned in the introduction, the user computer device 15 may be a family doctor's or a pharmacy's personal computer linked to the Internet 12. In the preferred embodiment shown by way of example, the user computer device 15 is connected with a dial-up link 31 implemented via modems 30 to the Internet provider 11 and through it to the Internet 12. Of course, a different type of Internet link, for example ADSL or a leased line connection may also be conceived.

The user computer device 15 preferably comprises a JAVA uploading means 32 and preferably also a JAVA downloading means 33. The uploading means 32 and the downloading means 33 are connected in the depicted way with a user picture database 34, a user video database and a local database 35. In the user picture database 34, the pictures downloaded from the server 10 and to be displayed by the screen saver program 36 are stored. In the user video database 40, the video files downloaded from the server 10 and to be displayed by the media player program 41 are stored. In the local database 35, the advertisement information assigned to each picture and/or video file is stored, and it comprises the identifiers of the pictures and/or videos, the logged data relating to the advertising method already carried out, and the statistical data in relation to the pictures and/or videos displayed. The screen saver program 36 is designed in a way that the pictures stored in the user picture database 34 are displayed on the screen - preferably a PC monitor - of the user computer device 15. When the screen saver program 36 is running, the logged information relating to the method of performed advertising procedures or in the given case statistical data relating to presenting the pictures are updated.

The media player program 41 presents the video files stored in the user video database 40 on a separate display device, preferably a TV set (not shown) connected to the user computer device 15. The TV set can be attached to the user computer device 15 by means of a video controller having a TV output. Preferably, at the start and the stop of the media player program, the logged information relating to the method of performed advertising procedures or in the given case statistical data relating to presenting the videos are updated.

By means of the uploading means 32, the logged or statistical data relating to displaying of pictures by means of the screen saver program 36 and/or to presenting videos by means of the media player program 41 are uploaded to the server 10. However, it is possible to use the uploading means 32 additionally to upload other data, for example user demands for advertisements or data related to retail trade business activities. By means of the downloading means 33, in the way mentioned above, the advertisement information to be displayed is downloaded from the server 10, which information in the depicted preferred embodiment comprises pictures and/or video files, but this information may also include sound files or other data. According to the invention, the uploading means 32 and the downloading means 33 are linked preferably to a JAVA timing means 37. Furthermore, the timing means 37 is linked with a connecting means 38 and a disconnecting means 39, and by means of these latter program units, the user computer device 15 is able to log on and log off the Internet 12. Consequently, when the connection means 38 is started up, the user computer device 15 establishes a dial-up link with the Internet provider 11 , or the disconnecting means 39 disconnects the user computer device 15 from the Internet provider 11. In a timed way, the timer means 37 triggers the connecting means 38, the uploading means 32, the downloading means 33 and the disconnecting means 39. In case of the user computer device 15 is connected to the Internet via a permanent leased line or ADSL, the timing means 37 triggers the uploading means 32 and the downloading means 33, only. It is advisable to choose the period or activation times of the timing in a way that they are suitable for implementing the required data communication, especially for the dynamic changing of the advertisement information to be displayed, in accordance with the advertiser's requirements.

Consequently, on the user computer device 15, the screen saver program 36 displays the advertisement information, e.g. pictures, one after the other. Each picture is displayed for a predetermined period of time, for example one minute, after the activation of the screen saver program 36. When this period is over, the next picture is displayed. The screen saver program 36 stores the log about the displayed pictures, i.e. the name of the picture, and the starting/closing times of presentation are stored. Alternatively, as an example, on the user computer device 15 the media player program 41 presents video files one after the other, wherein information displaying log is handled similarly as described above. Preferably, the media player program 41 is activated at the user computer device 15 start-up and it is stopped at shutdown, i.e. it is running continuously. The media player program 41 stores the log of its starting and closing times.

The history list or log so compiled is sent preferably to the server 10, and the statistical data of the display are preferably generated on the server 10 from this history list. For the appropriate operation of the system and the method according to the invention, deletion or modification of the advertisement information, e.g. pictures or video files, is preferably not allowed on the user computer device 15, for example in the family doctor's consultation room or at the pharmacy. The communication between the server 10 and the user computer device

15 is characterised in that the server 10 is continuously waiting for the communication initiated by the user computer device 15. Consequently, the communication is initiated at the user by means of the timer means 37 on the user computer device 15. When the communication is established, a TCT/IP internet contact is established from the computer device 15 to the server 10. Once the communication is set up, it is preferably controlled by the server 10, which first examines the central database 23, the picture database 22a and the video database 22b to determine whether data to be sent to the user computer device 15 are available. Such data can be for example the new or updated advertisement information, for example a picture or video file. The server 10 also examines whether there are data to be sent from the user computer device 15 to the central database 23 of the server 10, which data could represent the history list of displaying advertisements. Once all data have been transferred to the appropriate points, the user computer device 15 closes the communication with the server 10. In this way it can be achieved that the advertisement information displayed or presented with the end-users by the screen saver program 36 or by the media player program 41 is dynamically updated or modified according to the advertisers' advertisement requirements and furthermore that other desired data are automatically forwarded. It is shown that the data communication method according to the invention is automatic and does not require human intervention. The units referred to in the description above, such as the communication means 21, the uploading means 32, the downloading means 33, the timing means 37, the connection means 38 and the disconnecting means 39 are preferably computer program units, i.e. they are implemented on a software basis.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments depicted by way of example, but other embodiments may also be conceived within the scope of the invention. The server 10, the advertiser computer device 13 and the user computer device 15 may not only be set up in the way shown, but for example they may consist of several separate units or they may include other or further units. As a communication infrastructure, not only the Internet but a different appropriate communication channel may be used. As user computer device 15, not only a personal computer, but for example a notebook, a cash register or a mobile phone may also be used. The advertisement information may not only consist of pictures or videos, but also of any conceivable displayable or presentable information.

As two examples given above, the presentation or displaying of advertisement information can be carried out by means of a screen saver program and/or a media player program. Apart from that the screen saver program can of course present video files and the media player program can display pictures, the invention can be applied in the case of other types of display programs or presentation means as well.

Beyond the description above, the system and method according to the invention are suitable also for the automatic transfer of other data, especially business activity related reports or other data collected by a server and a user computer device connected thereto, the latter being preferably a retail point of sale.

Claims

1. A data communication system, comprising a server for storing advertisement information and user computer devices being in communication connection with the server, wherein the user computer devices comprise a display program and downloading means for downloading the advertisement information from the server, and wherein the display program is designed to display the downloaded advertisement information, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the user computer devices further comprise uploading means (32) for uploading to the server (10) data relating to the displaying of advertisement information on the user computer device (15) and timing means (37) for timing the start-up of the downloading means (33) and the uploading means (32).

2. The system according to claim 1, characterised by comprising advertiser computer devices (13) being in communication connection with the server (10), the advertiser computer devices (13) comprising an advertiser computer program for uploading advertisement information to the server (10).

3. The system according to claim 2, characterised in that by means of the advertiser computer program, the data relating to the displaying of advertisement information uploaded from the user computer devices (15) to the server (10) are downloaded from the server (10) and displayed, and/or data relating to desired destination and/or time of displaying the advertisement information is transferred to the server (10).

4. The system according to claim 3, characterised in that the display program is a screen saver program (36), or a media player program (41) displaying the advertisement information on a separate display device, preferably a TV set.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterised in that the advertisement information includes pictures and/or video files stored on the server (10), and that the pictures and/or video files downloaded to the user computer devices (15) are stored in a user picture database (34) and/or a user video database (40), respectively, and that the data relating to the displaying of advertisement information are statistical or other data associated with the displaying of the pictures and/or video files.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterised in that the server (10) is connected to the advertiser computer devices (13) and to the user computer devices (15) via the Internet (12), and that the advertiser computer program is a web browser (14).

7. The system according to claim 6, characterised in that the server (10) comprises a web interface (20) and a web server (24) making the web interface available on the Internet, wherein the web interface (20) enables the uploading of advertisement information from the advertiser computer devices (13), as well as the transfer to the server (10) of the data relating to the desired destination and/or time of displaying the advertisement information.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterised in that the server (10) comprises a communication means (21) for downloading the advertisement information to the user computer devices (15) and for transferring to the server (10) the statistical or other data relating to the displaying of the advertisement information.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterised in that the server (10) comprises a central database (23) storing the data relating to the desired destination and/or time of displaying the pictures and/or video files, data suitable for identifying the pictures and/or video files, and the statistical or other data relating to the displaying of the pictures and/or video files.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterised in that during the downloading and uploading operations and/or other data transfers, other data, preferably data stored in the user computer devices (15) and relating to business activities are also transferred.

11. A data communication method, comprising the steps of storing advertisement information on a server, forwarding the advertisement information to user computer devices, the user computer devices being in communication connection with a server, and displaying the advertisement information by means of a display program in the user computer device, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that by means of a downloading means (33) in the user computer device, the advertisement information is downloaded from the server (10), by means of an uploading means (32) in the user computer device, data relating to displaying of the advertisement information on the user computer device (15) are uploaded to the server (10) and by means of a timing means (37) in the user computer device, the downloading means (33) and the uploading means (32) are triggered in a timed manner.

12. The method according to claim 11 , characterised in that the advertisement information to be displayed is uploaded to the server (10) from advertiser computer devices (13) being in communication connection with the server (10).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterised in that the data uploaded from the user computer devices (15) to the server (10) and relating to the displaying of advertisement information are downloaded from the server (10) to the advertiser computer devices (13) and displayed.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterised in that data relating to the desired destination and/or time of displaying the advertisement information are transferred from the advertiser computer devices (13) to the server (10), from which the advertisement information is only made available for downloading for the user computer devices (15) corresponding to the desired destinations, and that the data relating to the desired time of displaying are forwarded to the relevant user computer devices (15).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterised in that during the downloading and uploading operations and/or other data transfers, other data, preferably data stored in the user computer devices (15) and relating to business activities are also transferred.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterised in that the display program is a screen saver program (36), or a media player program (41) displaying the advertisement information on a separate display means, preferably a TV set.