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Description  |
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The present invention relates to a process for generating an entertainment
audio signal interrupted by advertising audio signals in which pilot
signals associated with the advertising audio signals cause switching
between the entertainment audio signals and the advertising audio signals,
and to a device for carrying out the process. Process and device according
to the invention may be utilized in commercial establishments, such as
department stores or supermarkets, for the pleasure of the customers
therein and for increasing sales of definite articles and services.
Known audio performances in shops include two components, an entertainment
or music program and different commercials which shortly interrupt or blot
out the entertainment program, and which announce e.g. special offers.
These different programs are not broadcasted by one central transmitter.
In each commercial establishment, the entertainment program and the
commercials are played by two different tape recorders. This includes the
disadvantage that a relatively expensive distribution system is necessary
to supply the commercial establishments with cassettes having the actual
entertainment and advertising programs.
Such a tape-reproduction device is described in the German Gebrauchsmuster
19 88 049 comprising a time switch arrangement which causes that a first
cassette comprising a music program is switched off and a second cassette
comprising the commercials is switched on. A switching back to the
starting condition is controlled by a distance marker on the tape of the
second Cassette, by means of modulation or timing pulses. For the user,
only the advertising program on the cassettes is available. Further, the
apparatuses cannot be programmed such that the reproduction of individual
stored commercials can be suppressed or not suppressed and the volume of
reproduction is not adjustable.
To broadcast a radio program for commercial establishments from a station
via satellite, radio or cable is only profitable due to the high costs for
renting a carrier frequency if at least 10 to 15 different chains of shops
can receive the program with the same frequency. On the other hand,
different chains of shops want to broadcast different programs, especially
to broadcast different commercials.
Further, it should be not advertised in an individual shop for an article
which is sold out. In the other shops of the chain, this specific
commercial should be further broadcasted. There is further a need for
special commercials such as advertising programs for proprietary articles
as known from radio which should be not suppressed since the companies pay
for broadcasting their commercials in supermarkets. These "industry
commercials" are alternatively broadcasted with so-called "special offer
commercials". It should be guaranteed that the industry commercials are
broadcasted in all shops having shop radio.
A simultaneously parallel broadcasting of different radio programs via one
carrier frequency would be possible with a modulation such as used by the
post office to transmit a plurality of telephone calls independently from
each other via a cable. That process, however, leads to a significant
reduction of the acoustic quality if 10 to 15 programs are transmitted.
The object of the invention is to provide a process and a device for
generating an entertainment audio signal interrupted by advertising audio
signals which allow broadcasting of different shop radio programs of the
desired acoustic quality by means of a carrier frequency. With that, it
should be possible to suppress broadcasting of different advertising
programs, whereas it should not be possible to switch off broadcasting of
preferable advertising programs.
The object is attained by an inventive process wherein a control signal is
generated from advertising audio signals of shorter period and pilot
signals which precede or follow the advertising audio signals, wherein the
control signal and preferably the continuous entertainment audio signals
are modulated to a high-frequency carrier signal, possibly with several
channels for the separate recovery of the signals, wherein the modulated
carrier signal is transmitted, wherein the transmitted carrier signal is
demodulated and, if necessary, the signals are separated from each other,
wherein the pilot signals of the transmitted control signal are monitored
for the presence of fading or flashback conditions, wherein if fading
conditions are present, an advertising audio signal forming part of the
control signal which follows the pilot signal is faded over the supplied
entertainment audio signal and the resultant signal is reproduced, and
wherein if a flashback condition is present or if the advertising audio
signal is interrupted for a certain time interval, the entertainment audio
signal is faded and the resultant signal is reproduced.
With the process according to the invention, a single or multi channel
control signal is at first generated from advertising audio signals and
pilot signals, with preceding pilot signals having identification data for
a following unified advertising program and following pilot signals
possibly indicating the end of the unified commercial. A continuous single
or multi-channel entertainment audio signal is simultaneously provided.
A high-frequency carrier signal is modulated with the control signal and
preferably the entertainment audio signal, and preferably divided in
several independent channels. This is possible without a significant
influence on the transmission quality of advertising and entertainment
audio signals. For example, a first channel only serves for the
transmission of the entertainment audio signal whereas the control signal
is associated with a second channel. All advertising programs, e.g. the
offers and industry commercials of about 10 to 15 different shops or
chains of shops, are sequentially supplied to the second channel.
Alternatively, the control signal can be transmitted via a high-frequent
carrier signal, and the entertainment audio signal can be available in the
receiver in any way. Additional channels of the carrier signal can be
added for multi-channel control signals and/or entertainment audio
signals. Channels for the pilot signals, the advertising audio signals and
different entertainment audio signals may be provided.
The following transmission of the modulated carrier signal may be carried
out via satellite, radio or cable. Afterwards, the signals are separated
from each other by demodulation of the carrier signal. This happens in the
shops having shop radio.
Dependently from the preceding pilot signals, it is decided in the
following if a preceding commercial is faded over the entertainment audio
signal and if the resultant signal is transmitted. With that, fading
conditions which can be complied with different pilot signals are
regularly associated with each of the shops or a chain of shops to be
supplied. Therewith, a specific shop radio program from the transmitted
program can be associated with a shop or a chain of shops. The
entertainment audio signal can be completely faded-out by the fade-over of
the advertising program.
After the reproduction of a complete commercial, the entertainment audio
signal is faded-in. Thereto, a pilot signal following the commercial can
be monitored for the presence of a flashback condition or the interruption
of the advertising audio signal for a certain time interval can be a
criterion for the fade-in. The flashback condition can be identical in all
shops or chain of shops to be supplied.
Fundamentally, the process is useful for the transmission of identical
radio programs in all shops, with a rapid replacement of the programs
being possible. However, it is especially advantageous that the pilot
signals according to the process can include information which only allow
the reproduction of following commercials in selected shops. The pilot
signals can comprise further advantageous information, especially with
respect to the possibility or non-possibility of switching off and/or the
non-adjustability or adjustability of the volume of following commercial.
Therewith, it is guaranteed that "industry commercials" can be neither
switched off nor adjusted in the volume.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the fading conditions
can be partly suppressed. The suppressable fading conditions are
associated with the pilot signals which precede the offer commercials (own
commercials of the chain of shops) whereby these can be switched off. It
is therefore possible to discriminate a predetermined commercial in a
single shop of a chain of shops, e.g. if this commercial relates to a sold
out article or service.
According to a further embodiment, the presence of pilot signals associated
with non-suppressable fading conditions is counted. These pilot signals
belong to industry commercials (radio programs of the advertising
companies) whereby a control possibility is created for broadcasting these
commercials in the individual shops.
For the technical realization of the process, it is especially advantageous
if the pilot signal is a pilot audio signal or a sequence of pilot audio
signals and if 10 to 15 different shop radio programs are transmitted. The
different shop radio programs are characterized by different pilot audio
signals or sequences of pilot audio signals which meet different
shop-specific fading conditions, possibly the additional possibility
exists for each shop to exclude predetermined parts of the program from
reproduction by suppressing the fading conditions.
According to a further embodiment, the pilot signals of the transmitted
control signal are monitored for the presence of storage conditions. If
storage conditions are present, an advertising audio signal forming part
of the control signal which follows the pilot signal is stored and
preferably faded over the entertainment audio signal, and the resultant
signal is reproduced. A stored advertising audio signal is faded over the
supplied entertainment audio signal either according to a pilot signal of
the control signal which meets the playing and fading conditions, or
according to stored playing and fading conditions, and the resultant
signal is reproduced. Playing and fading conditions are for example repeat
time, possibility of influencing the volume, identification of
commercials, possibility for switching-off, schedule for switching on. The
advertising audio signal is faded instead of entertainment audio signal
with the reproduction from the storage. With that, broadcasting time can
be saved with commercials being frequently reproduced. The storing of
playing and fading conditions cause an additional saving of broadcasting
time since the transmission of pilot signals comprising such conditions is
not necessary with each playing process.
A further embodiment provides, if further storage conditions are present,
that a pilot signal having playing and fading conditions is present and
stored. That allows a rapid and central replacement of the playing
conditions.
For the technical realization of the process, it is particularly
advantageous when the advertising audio signal to be stored is digitally
transmitted and/or stored. The transmission can effectively occur via one
or both channels, if separate channels are present for the advertising
audio signal and the pilot signal.
Finally, the process provides that the storing of the advertising audio
signal can be stopped according to a length information of the preceding
pilot signal, a following pilot signal, an interruption of the advertising
audio signal for a predetermined time interval and/or according to a
regular time interval. By this, the storage space is used at a maximum.
A device according to the invention has a fading controller which is
shifted from a passive mode in which the controller transmits an
entertainment audio signal to a reproduction unit, to an active mode in
which the controller transmits the advertising audio signal forming part
of a control signal, faded over the entertainment audio signal, by means
of a fading signal, and which is shifted back from the active mode to the
passive mode by means of a flashback signal, a decoder having a comparison
section which compares the pilot signal of the control signal with fading
conditions, and which if the fading conditions are present generates a
trigger signal, a fading signal unit which generates a fading signal
between a trigger signal and a reset signal, and a flashback signal
between a reset signal and a trigger signal, and a further comparison
section of the decoder, which compares the pilot signal with a flashback
condition, and which if a flashback condition is present, generates a
reset signal, and/or a signal indicator which if the control signal is not
present for a predetermined time interval generates a reset signal.
The functions of the device can be effected by the hardware or with the aid
of an electronic data processing unit, such as a microcontroller. That is
valid for all following embodiments.
An inventive device is especially characterized in that a fading controller
has two inputs for control signals and entertainment audio signals
separated from each other, and an output for coupling a reproduction unit
that the fading controller has a control input, the fading controller
being shifted from a passive mode in which the advertising audio signal is
applied to its output to an active mode in which the advertising audio
signal forming part of the control signal is faded over the entertainment
audio signal at its output, by means of a fading signal being connected to
the control input and the fading controller being shifted back from the
active mode to the passive mode by means of a flashback signal being
connected to the control input, that a decoder has an input for applying
the control signal, at least one comparison section for comparing the
pilot signal of the control signal with a fading condition, and an output
being connected to the comparison section and if the fading condition is
present carrying a trigger signal, that the output of the decoder is
connected with an input of a fading signal unit which has a further input
for a reset signal and which carries a fading signal between a trigger
signal and a reset signal, and a flashback signal between a reset signal
and a trigger signal, at an ouput being connected with the control input
of the fading controller, and that the further input of the fading signal
unit is connected with a further comparison section of the decoder to
compare the pilot signal with a flashback condition, the further
comparison section releasing a reset signal if a flashback condition is
present, and/or that the further input of the fading signal unit is
connected with an output of a signal indicator which has an input for the
control signal and releases the reset signal at its outlet side if the
control signal is not present for a predetermined time interval.
An inventive device is part of a shop radio system and e.g. is coupled with
the outlet side of a receiver which demodulates the received carrier
signal, and transmits the single or multi-channel control signals and
entertainment audio signals separated from each other to the device. An
amplifier and loudspeaker unit is connected to the device for reproducing
the shop radio. In the passive mode, the fading controller transmits the
applied entertainment audio signal to its output and therefore to the
amplifier and loudspeaker unit. However, if a fading signal is applied to
the control input of the fading controller, an advertising audio signal is
faded over the entertainment audio signal, and the resultant signal is
transmitted to the output. For that, the control signal is supplied to the
input of a decoder which monitors using a comparison section if a received
pilot signal meets the fading conditions and if the following advertising
program should be faded-over. When the pilot signal meets a regular
programmed code in the decoder, this decoder transmits a trigger signal on
an output. The trigger signal is applied to an input of a fading signal
unit which triggers the control input of the fading controller with a
fading signal in dependence from each trigger signal and which causes the
fading process. Since each device reacts on a plurality of pilot signals
in the above described way, it is possible to trigger all devices
individually or a plurality simultaneously via one pilot signal. Although
the control signal permanently carries commercials for different
addressees, the device only transmits such commercials to a reproduction
unit, which should be broadcasted in the predetermined shop due to the
individually associated fading conditions of the device. When the
commercial has been reproduced and a signal indicator has been monitored
the interruption of a control signal for a predetermined time interval,
causes a reset signal to be released. A following pilot signal also causes
a reset signal, to be released. Upon the generation of a release signal,
the entertainment audio signal is again faded-in, i.e. it is supplied to
the reproduction unit. For safety reasons, a following pilot signal can be
used together with a signal indicator because possible interfering noises
received by the signal channel may eventually prevent the shifting and,
therefore, the following commercial would be heard in non-desired manner.
According to a preferable embodiment of the device, the decoder has a first
comparison section for apparatus-specific fading conditions which allow
the identification and reproduction of shop-specific parts of the shop
radio program.
Additionally, the decoder may have a second comparison section for
regularly programmed fading conditions, preferably coupled to the outlet
side of the first comparison section. The comparison section always
transmits trigger signals to the fading signal unit if one of its fading
conditions is met so that associated industry commercials are always
transmitted. Advantageously, a counter is provided, preferably at an
output of the second comparison section which counts the trigger signals
of the second comparison section and provides a control possibility for
the reproduced industry commercials.
According to a further embodiment, the decoder has a third comparison
section, preferably coupled to the outlet side of the first comparison
section for freely selectable fading conditions, the third comparison
section transmitting only then a trigger signal to the fading signal unit
if a freely selectable fading condition is not suppressed. The decoder
receives the freely selectable fading conditions preferably from a
keyboard.
According to another embodiment, the decoder has a fourth comparison
section which compares the pilot signal of the control signal with storage
conditions and which, if the storage conditions are present, generates a
recording signal. A storage is provided which stores the advertising audio
signal which follows the pilot signal, in dependence on a recording
signal, and possibly the playing and fading conditions of the pilot signal
and which reads out a stored advertising audio signal to the fading
controller in dependence on a playing signal. Further, the decoder has a
fifth comparison section for monitoring a pilot signal or playing and
fading conditions being read out the storage on playing conditions, with
the fifth comparison section generating a playing signal according to the
playing conditions. Therefore, predetermined pilot signals can trigger the
storing of advertising audio signals and other pilot signals or stored
playing and fading conditions can trigger the readout of stored
advertising audio signals to the fading controller and the reproduction of
the advertising audio signals by the reproduction unit.
The storage is preferably a digital storage which reads out the digitally
stored advertising audio signal to the fading controller via a
digital-analog converter. The digital storage preferably receives the
digital advertising audio signal from an analog-digital converter
connected to a head.
Preferably, the decoder is connected to a clock for monitoring
time-dependent playing conditions.
The audio signal of the entertainment audio signal and/or the advertising
audio signal is advantageously transmitted to the reproduction unit via an
audio control which, if regularly programmed fading conditions are
present, adjusts a predetermined volume level.
Preferably, the supplied pilot audio signal is transformed in a binary
signal by a converter.
Finally, a filter can be connected before the reproduction unit, with the
filter preventing a reproduction of the flashback pilot audio.
Further singularities and advantages of the subject matter of the invention
are described according to the following description with reference to the
accompanying drawings which show block circuits of two preferred
embodiments of an inventive device. In the drawings
FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention which regards
apparatus-specific regularly programmed and freely selectable fading
conditions; and
FIG. 2 shows a device having an additional storage.
In the device according to FIG. 1, a control signal is applied to a first
channel 1 whereas a second channel 2 carries an entertainment signal. A
fading controller 3 is connected at its outlet side to a reproduction unit
comprising an amplifier and loudspeakers. The control signal of the first
channel 1 is applied to an input A of the fading controller 3 whereas the
entertainment audio signal of the second channel 2 is charged into an
input B of the fading controller.
The control signal of the first channel 1 is further applied to an input of
a decoder 4 which has a first comparison section 4a for apparatus-specific
fading conditions, with the output of the first comparison section being
connected to an input of a second comparison section 4b for regularly
programmed fading conditions. The output A of the second comparison
section 4b is in turn connected to the input B of a third comparison
section 4c for freely selectable fading conditions. A keyboard 5 for
setting fading conditions is attached to a further input A of the third
comparison section 4c. An output B of the second comparison section 4b is
connected with an input A of a fading signal unit 7 via a counter 6. An
output of the third comparison section 4c is connected to the input A of
the fading signal unit 7.
The fading signal unit 7 has further inputs B and C which are connected to
the output signals of a signal indicator 8 and a decoder 9, the output
signals being charged with the control signal at the inlet side. On the
outlet side, the fading signal unit 7 is coupled to a control input C of
the fading controller which in turn is connected with a reproduction unit
10 at its outlet side.
The device operates as follows: In the passive mode, the entertainment
audio signal transmitted from the second channel 2 to the input B of the
electronic fading controller 3 is connected with the output of the fading
controller and therefore transmitted to the reproduction unit 10. The
control signal transmitted from the first channel 1 to the input A of the
fading controller 3 is not connected to the output in the passive mode and
therefore not reproduced.
The control signal transmitted from the channel 1 also arrives at the data
decoder 4. The first section 4a compares the data of the pilot signal at
first with the code being regularly programmed in the section and monitors
if the following commercial is addressed to this definite device and with
that assigned for broadcasting in the definite shop. Only if this is the
case, the data block is transmitted to the second section 4b.
Now, the second section 4b monitors the received data block if the data are
to be transmitted to the third section 4c via its output A as a
disconnectable offer commercial follows or if a pulse is released via
output B as a nondisconnectable industry commercial follows.
If a disconnectable offer commercial is present, the pilot signal is
transmitted to the third section 4c via output A of the second section 4b.
The third section monitors if the commercial has been released from the
keyboard 5 or not. If the commercial has been released from keyboard 5,
the third section 4c transmits via its output a pulse-like trigger signal
to the fading signal unit 7 which shifts the device in the active mode.
The offer commercials can be therefore disconnected as they are numbered
for a specific shop or a chain of shops. The shop staff is informed in
writing if the numbering is changed in case of a change of the offers. A
user can switch on or off the individual numbers of the offer commercials
at the keyboard 5 of the device since the pilot audio preceding each
commercial includes also this number.
When the second section 4b recognizes from the preceding pilot audio that
the following commercial is an industry commercial, a pulse-like trigger
signal is directly released from output B without the roundabout way over
the third section 4c. This signal reaches the fading signal unit 7 via the
counter 6. In this case, the device is also shifted to the active mode
without a further verification and clearance by the third section 4c.
Simultaneously, the industry commercials are counted indepe | | |
