JP5288809B2 - Information distribution device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information distribution apparatus, and in particular, a screen displayed on a display unit with a simple configuration without requiring a major modification to a control unit provided inside an automatic ticket vending machine equipped with a display unit. The present invention relates to an information distribution apparatus capable of specifying a free area and combining and distributing information such as advertisements and news in the free area.

  Stations, leisure facilities, halls, etc. are often equipped with automatic ticket machines that sell tickets and admission tickets. Generally, automatic ticket vending machines are equipped with a display device such as a touch panel. The type and number of tickets are displayed on the touch panel, and the customer touches and selects the desired ticket type and number. Then you can purchase the desired ticket or admission ticket. Since many customers come to the place where such automatic ticket vending machines are installed, and the automatic ticket vending machine is in contact with a large number of customers, some information such as advertisements etc. are displayed on the automatic ticket vending machine. Can be used as a space to display. For this reason, systems and devices that can distribute various information including advertisements have been proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a dedicated display device is provided in an automatic ticket vending machine, and weather information, advertisement information, and the like of a user's destination are displayed on the display device based on information on a ticket purchased by the user. Thus, a weather information providing system capable of notifying users of various information in a short time is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, a user can press the guidance button provided on the automatic ticket vending machine to switch the display screen from a purchase ticket purchase screen to an advertisement display screen and provide an advertisement. A machine is disclosed. In this billing machine, the type of coupon or service ticket is displayed on the advertisement display screen, and the user selects these ticket types, so that not only the boarding ticket but also the coupon ticket or service ticket is selected for the user. Can be issued.

Further, in Patent Document 3, a video advertisement is displayed on the touch panel of a ticket vending machine, and if the user stays in the vicinity of the ticket vending machine for a certain period of time, the video advertisement is displayed on the mobile terminal owned by the customer from the ticket vending machine. A distribution terminal and a reception terminal capable of distributing the file are disclosed.
JP 2002-56415 A JP 2003-288614 A JP 2005-148964 A

  However, in the weather information providing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a server receives information on a ticket purchased by a user, identifies a destination based on the information, and weather information and advertising information of the destination There is a problem that a control device for acquiring the information is necessary, or a dedicated display device is required for distributing weather information and advertisement information, and the configuration of the device for distributing information is complicated.

  In addition, since the bidder disclosed in Patent Document 2 switches from the purchase screen to the advertisement display screen by pressing the guide button, if the user does not press the guide button, the user sees the advertisement information. I couldn't. In particular, there is a problem that the user cannot receive the service when the automatic ticket vending machine is busy or when the user is in a hurry.

  In addition, in the distribution terminal and the reception terminal disclosed in Patent Document 3, information is distributed together with the touch panel of the ticket vending machine and the portable terminal, but information cannot be obtained unless the user stays for a certain period of time. There was a problem. In addition, since a distribution facility for distributing information not only to the display but also to the terminal is required, there is a problem that the configuration of the apparatus is complicated.

  In view of the above-described problems, the object of the present invention is displayed on the display unit with a simple configuration without requiring major modifications to the control unit provided inside the automatic ticket vending machine or the like having the display unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information distribution apparatus capable of specifying an empty area on a screen and combining and distributing information such as advertisements and news in the empty area.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information distribution apparatus according to the present invention is configured as follows.

The first information distribution device (corresponding to claim 1)
A distribution image database for storing distribution image data, a distribution image attribute database for storing attribute information for specifying at least the size of distribution image data stored in the distribution image database, and an image signal of a screen displayed on the display means The distribution image display position determining means for determining at least one empty area in the screen and determining the distribution image display position for displaying the distribution image data based on the template image data information or the screen density information of the screen included in the screen If, distribution based on the signal image display position and the size of the distribution image data and a distribution image selection means for selecting the distribution image data to be displayed on the distribution image display position, combining and outputting the image signal and distributing the image data characterized in that it.

In the above information distribution apparatus acquires an image signal of a screen displayed on the Viewing means, distributing the image display position determining means, on the basis of template image data information or screen density information screen included in the image signal, The distribution image display position for specifying the at least one empty area in the screen and displaying the distribution image data is determined. The distribution image selection means selects image data to be displayed at the distribution image display position based on the distribution image display position determined by the distribution image display position determination means and the size of the distribution image data stored in the distribution image attribute database. To do. The distribution image selection means combines the image signal and the distribution image data and outputs them. Thereby, it is possible to display the distribution image data in an empty area of the screen displayed on the display means.

  In the second information distribution apparatus (corresponding to claim 2), in the above configuration, the distribution image display position determining means includes a template image database for storing template image data indicating a part of an image in the screen, and a template image Based on the template image data stored in the database, the display screen specifying means for specifying the screen, the free area database for storing free area information corresponding to the screen, and the free area information stored in the free area database And first free area specifying means for specifying the free area of the screen specified by the display screen specifying means.

The above information distribution apparatus employs a configuration that uses the template image data information of the screen included in the image signal. After the display screen specifying means specifies the type of the display screen based on the template image data, One free area specifying means reliably specifies a different free area for each type of display screen, and synthesizes the distribution image data in the free area. This makes it possible to display the distribution image data according to the type of screen displayed on the display means.

In the third information delivery apparatus (corresponding to claim 3), in the above configuration, the delivery image display position determination unit is detected by a screen density detection unit that detects a pixel density of the screen and a screen density detection unit. And a second empty area specifying means for specifying an area portion in which the amount of change in pixel density is a predetermined value or less as an empty area in the screen.

The above information distribution apparatus employs a configuration that uses screen density information included in an image signal, and displays a portion where the amount of change in pixel density on the display screen is a predetermined value or less, that is, a character or an image. A background area portion or the like that has a very small amount of change in pixel density compared to the area area is identified as an empty area, and the distribution image data is combined with the empty area. Accordingly, it is possible to display the distribution image data by making the best use of the free space for each screen displayed on the display means.

  In a fourth information distribution apparatus (corresponding to claim 4), in the above configuration, the number of distribution image data selected by the distribution image selection means is the size of distribution image data stored in the distribution image attribute database, It is determined based on the size of the empty area specified by the distribution image display position determining means.

  In the above information distribution apparatus, the distribution image selection means can select a plurality of distribution image data. As a result, a plurality of distribution image data can be displayed in an empty area of the screen displayed on the display means.

  A fifth information delivery apparatus (corresponding to claim 5) is characterized in that, in the above configuration, delivery image data size change processing means for changing the size of delivery image data is provided.

  In the above information distribution apparatus, the distribution image data size change processing means can enlarge or reduce the size of the distribution image data. As a result, as much distribution image data as possible can be displayed in a limited free area of the screen displayed on the display means.

  A sixth information distribution apparatus (corresponding to claim 6) is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the distribution image data is an advertisement image.

  In the above information distribution apparatus, an advertisement image can be displayed in an empty area of the screen displayed on the display means.

According to the present invention, the screen by Viewing acquires an image signal of a screen displayed on the unit, delivery image display position determining means utilizes a template image data information or screen density information screen included in the image signal A distribution image display position indicating a position at which distribution image data is displayed is determined by specifying at least one empty area. For this reason, it is possible to identify the empty area of the screen displayed on the display unit with a simple configuration and display it on the display means without requiring a large modification to the control unit provided inside the automatic ticket vending machine or the like. It is possible to synthesize and distribute information such as advertisements and news in the free area of the display screen.

  In addition, after specifying the type of display screen, a different free area is surely specified for each type of display screen, and the distribution image data is combined with the free area. Therefore, it is possible to display the distribution image data in the empty area corresponding to the type of screen displayed on the display means.

  Further, after specifying a portion having a small amount of change in density on each display screen as a free area, the distribution image data is combined with the free area. For this reason, it is possible to display the distribution image data by making the best use of the free space for each screen displayed on the display means.

  Further, the distribution image selection means can select a plurality of distribution image data. For this reason, a plurality of distribution image data can be efficiently displayed in an empty area of the screen displayed on the display means.

  Further, the distribution image data size change processing means can enlarge or reduce the size of the distribution image data. For this reason, it is possible to display as much distribution image data as possible within a limited free area of the screen displayed on the display means.

  Also, advertisements can be displayed in various forms by making full use of the free space on the display screen.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments (examples) of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the configuration of an automatic ticket vending machine including an information distribution apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic ticket vending machine including an information distribution apparatus according to the present invention.

  An automatic ticket vending machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 11, a display / input unit 12, a coin / banknote processing unit 13, a card processing unit 14, a ticketing processing unit 15, a sound generation unit 16, and an information distribution device 100. .

  The control unit 11 controls each unit of the automatic ticket vending machine 10 in an integrated manner. The display / input unit 12 is, for example, a touch panel, and displays the amount inserted by the customer, the type and number of tickets, and the customer selects the target ticket type and number.

  The coin / banknote processing unit 13 accepts coins and banknotes from the customer, counts the amount of money inserted, and returns fishing to the customer. The card processing unit 14 accepts a magnetic card or a traffic board card such as an IC card, and reads and writes information recorded on the card. The ticket issuing processing unit 15 prints a boarding section or the like on a ticket surface or writes magnetic information to issue a boarding ticket or the like.

  The information distribution apparatus 100 is connected between the control unit 11 and the display / input unit 12 and distributes image data (distributed image data) such as advertisements. In the conventional configuration, the image signal of the screen displayed on the display / input unit 12 is output from the control unit 11 and input to the display / input unit 12, but information distribution is performed as indicated by a dotted line in the figure. The apparatus 100 acquires the image signal output from the control unit 11, synthesizes distribution image data such as an advertisement with the image signal, and then outputs the image signal to the display / input unit 12.

  Next, the configuration of the information distribution apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information distribution apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The information distribution apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes an image signal acquisition unit 101, a distribution image display position determination unit 102, a distribution image attribute database 103, a distribution image database 104, a distribution image selection unit 105, and an image signal composition unit 106. Is done.

  The image signal acquisition unit 101 acquires an image signal such as an RGB signal of the display screen output from the control unit 11.

  The distribution image display position determination unit 102 specifies an empty area in the display screen based on the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101, operation information that informs advertisement, train delay, suspension, etc. A distribution image display position indicating a position for displaying distribution image data such as usage guidance and information, news / weather information, and earthquake early warning is determined. The distribution image display position determining unit 102 includes a template image database 102a, a display screen specifying unit 102b, a free area database 102c, and a free area specifying unit 102d.

  First, the template image database 102a stores in advance a part of the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101, that is, a part of the screen displayed by the display / input unit 12 as template image data. The template image data uses a fixed portion that is not a variable portion of the display screen. For example, a mark indicating a finger that prompts a customer to select a screen displayed each time on the display screen or a character “I welcome you” is displayed.

  The display screen specifying unit 102b determines whether template image data stored in the template image database 102a is included in the display screen based on the image signal acquired from the image signal acquisition unit 101, and the display screen The type of

  The free area database 102c stores free area information such as coordinate value data in order to specify the position and size of a free area where a distribution image can be displayed on each display screen. Also, the free area is not limited to one place for one screen, and when there are a plurality of free areas in one screen, coordinate value data of each free area may be stored.

  The free area specifying unit 102d specifies the free area of the display screen specified by the display screen specifying unit 102b based on the free area information acquired from the free area database 102c.

  The distribution image attribute database 103 stores at least information for specifying the size (size) of distribution image data as attribute information of distribution image data stored in the distribution image database 104. For example, the vertical and horizontal sizes for each distribution image data are stored in the distribution image attribute database 103 in advance. The distribution image attribute database 103 also stores attribute information for specifying the data format of the distribution image data. In addition to this, for example, a display priority indicating the frequency of displaying an advertisement, a time period for displaying an advertisement, and the like may be stored. Thereby, many specific advertisements can be displayed according to the advertisement fee, or specific advertisements can be displayed during commuting hours or holidays. Moreover, since it is necessary to alert | report urgently if it is operation information etc., a display priority can be set higher than an advertisement.

  The distribution image database 104 stores distribution image data to be displayed on the display screen. The distribution image database 104 can store distribution image data of various sizes in accordance with the size of the empty area of each display screen. The distribution image data is, for example, image data in a bitmap format or JPEG format, and is not limited to a still image but may be moving image data or the like. Further, the distribution image data may include text-only data (text data) as well as sound and voice data as long as it is operation information, news / weather information, and the like.

  Various attribute information such as the size of the distribution image data stored in the distribution image attribute database 103 and the distribution image data stored in the distribution image database 104 are not limited to regular updates by the administrator. It may be configured so that operation information, news / weather information, etc. can be updated in real time.

  The distribution image selection unit 105 is based on the distribution image display position determined by the distribution image display position determination unit 102 and attribute information such as the size of distribution image data stored in the distribution image attribute database 103. From 104, distribution image data having a size that can be displayed in an empty area of the display screen is selected.

  The image signal synthesis unit 106 synthesizes and outputs the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101 and the distribution image data selected by the distribution image selection unit 105.

  Next, template image data stored in the template image database 102a will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing template image data stored in the template image database.

  The template image data 121 and 122 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are part of each display screen as described above, and are used by the display screen specifying unit 102b to specify the type of display screen. Is. Since these template image data 121 and 122 are fixed portions of each display screen, they can be stored in advance in the template image database 102a. Further, a display screen can be specified if there is at least one template image data on each display screen, but a display screen may be specified using a plurality of template image data on one screen.

  Next, distribution image data stored in the distribution image database 104 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing distribution image data stored in the distribution image database.

  The delivery image data 131 to 133 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C are displayed in the empty area in the display screen specified by the empty area specifying unit 102d as described above. These distribution image data 131 to 133 are created in accordance with the size of the empty area in the display screen. Distribution image data of various sizes can be stored in the distribution image database 104 in accordance with the size of the empty area where the distribution image data of each display screen can be displayed. Further, if the distribution image data 132 and 133 have the same size, the distribution image data can be replaced and displayed in an empty area of the same size.

  Note that the size of the distribution image data may not be the same as the size of the empty area, but the size of the distribution image data may be appropriately increased or reduced when the distribution image data is combined with the empty area. . A range in which the size of the distribution image data can be enlarged or reduced can be held in the distribution image attribute database 103 as attribute information.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a display screen on which the information distribution apparatus 100 combines the distribution image data will be described. FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are first to third diagrams showing display screens in which the distribution image data is synthesized by the information distribution apparatus.

The display screen 140 shown in FIG. 5 includes image data 141 that is a fixed part of the display screen. This image data 141, for the template image data 121 shown in FIG. 3 (a) is the same, that the display screen specifying unit 102b based on the template image data 121, specifying that the display screen 140 it can.

  Subsequently, the free area specifying unit 102d can specify the free area 142 of the display screen 140 specified by the display screen specifying unit 102b based on the free area information stored in the free area database 102c. The distribution image selection unit 105 selects distribution image data that can be displayed in the empty area 142 based on the size of the distribution image data stored in the distribution image attribute database 103. The image signal synthesis unit 106 synthesizes the distribution image data 131 with the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101 and generates an image signal of the display screen 140 to be displayed on the display / input unit 12.

Further, the display screen 150 shown in FIG. 6 includes image data 151 that is a fixed portion of the display screen. This image data 151, for the template image data 12 2 shown in FIG. 3 (b) are the same, the display screen specifying unit 102b based on the template image data 122, identifying that it is a display screen 150 Can do. However, the size of the empty area differs between the empty area 152 of the display screen 150 and the empty area 142 of the display screen 140 shown in FIG. For this reason, the distribution image selection unit 105 selects the distribution image data 132 shown in FIG. 4B having the same size as the size of the empty area 152.

  Further, on the display screen 160 shown in FIG. 7, image data 161 of a fixed portion similar to the display screen 150 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. Each of the display screens shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a part of display content that is variable, but there is an empty area of the same size at the bottom of each display screen. For this reason, the display screen specifying unit 102 b specifies that the display screen 160 is based on the template image data 122. The distribution image selection unit 105 displays the distribution image data 133 having the same size but different image data as the distribution image data 132 because the types of the display screens shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are the same. be able to.

  Note that the distribution image data selected by the distribution image selection unit 105 is not limited to randomly selecting distribution image data having the same size as that of the empty area, but the distribution image data is selected according to the display priority and the time zone as described above. A distribution image data size change processing unit that changes the size of the distribution image data may be provided, and the size may be appropriately changed when the distribution image data is selected. Further, when there are a plurality of free areas on the display screen, it may be selected so that an advertisement effect can be obtained by combining various distribution image data.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a flow of processing in which the information distribution apparatus 100 generates an image signal obtained by synthesizing distribution image data will be described. FIG. 8 is a first flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the information distribution apparatus generates an image signal obtained by synthesizing distribution image data.

  First, the image signal acquisition unit 101 acquires an image signal output from the control unit 11 (step S101). The display screen specifying unit 102b acquires template image data from the template image database 102a (step S102), and determines whether or not the template image data is included in the display screen (step S103).

  When the template image data is not included in the display screen (NO in step S103), the process returns to step S102 and the same process is repeated until all the template image data is acquired (NO in step S104). When template image data is included in the display screen (YES in step S103), the free area specifying unit 102d acquires free area information from the free area database 102c and specifies a free area (step S105).

  The distribution image selection unit 105 acquires attribute information such as the size of distribution image data from the distribution image attribute database 103 (step S106), and distributes from the distribution image database 104 based on the free area information and the attribute information such as size. Image data is acquired (step S107). The image signal combining unit 106 combines the image signal acquired by the image signal acquiring unit 101 and the distribution image data (step S108), and outputs the image signal (step S109).

  If all the template image data is acquired in step S103 and there is no template image data corresponding to the display screen (YES in step S104), there is no empty area and the distribution image data is not displayed. The distribution image selection unit 105 does not select distribution image data, and the image signal synthesis unit 106 outputs the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101 as it is (step S109).

  After outputting the image signal in step S109, the process returns to step S101 again. If the image signal acquisition unit 101 acquires the image signal of the next screen, the above-described processing is repeated.

  Next, the configuration of the information distribution apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information distribution apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  9 that are the same as those of the information distribution apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Similarly to the information distribution apparatus 100, the information distribution apparatus 200 is also arranged in the automatic ticket vending machine 10.

  Similar to the distribution image display position determination unit 102, the distribution image display position determination unit 201 specifies an empty area in the display screen based on the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101, and distributes advertisements and the like. The distribution image display position indicating the position where the image data is displayed is determined. However, the distribution image display position determination unit 201 includes a screen density detection unit 201a and an empty area specification unit 201b.

  The screen density detection unit 201a detects the density (shading level) of each pixel on the display screen based on the luminance and chromaticity signal levels of the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101. The empty area specifying unit 201b specifies an empty area of the display screen based on the amount of change in pixel density detected by the screen density detecting unit 201a. For example, in a background area portion where patterns of the same color or the same pattern are continuous in the display screen, the amount of change in pixel density is extremely small compared to an area portion where characters, images, and the like are displayed. Therefore, the empty area specifying unit 201b specifies an area portion in which the amount of change in pixel density is a predetermined value or less as an empty area in the screen. The threshold value of the density change amount for determining the free area can be set to an arbitrary value according to the type and ratio of characters and images displayed on the display screen.

  The distribution image data size change processing unit 202 enlarges or reduces the size of the distribution image data acquired from the distribution image data 104 to an appropriate size according to the empty area determined by the distribution image display position determination unit 102. is there.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, a display screen in which the information distribution apparatus 200 combines the distribution image data will be described. FIGS. 10 and 11 are fourth and fifth diagrams showing display screens on which the distribution image data is synthesized by the information distribution apparatus.

  The advertisement display screen 220 shown in FIG. 10 is the same type of screen as the display screen 150 shown in FIG. However, the advertisement display screen 220 has a smaller amount of money / station name displayed than the display screen 150. For this reason, the size of the empty area 221 is larger than the empty area 152 of the display screen 150 shown in FIG. As described above, a range in which the size of the distribution image data can be enlarged or reduced is stored in the distribution image attribute database 103, and the distribution image selection unit 105 stores the distribution image data in the distribution image data size change processing unit 202. An instruction is output to change the standard size of 131 within a range that can be enlarged or reduced, and the distribution image data 222 whose size has been changed is acquired. By acquiring the distribution image data in this way, the distribution image data is not displayed in the empty area 221 as compared to displaying the distribution image data 132 displayed on the display screen 150 shown in FIG. The area can be reduced.

  Further, the advertisement display screen 230 shown in FIG. 11 is the same type of screen as the display screen 160 shown in FIG. 7, and the number of routes displayed on the screen is also the same. However, since the empty area specifying unit 201b specifies an area portion with a small amount of change in pixel density as the empty area 231, the size of the empty area 231 is larger than the empty area 162 of the display screen 160. In addition to displaying the distribution image data 133 in the empty area 162, the distribution image data 132 is also displayed. The distribution image selection unit 105 acquires another distribution image data if there is a free area after acquiring the first distribution image data. By acquiring the distribution image data in this way, it is possible to display more distribution image data in the empty area 231 than in the empty area 162 of the display screen 160.

  The distribution image selection unit 105 displays as much distribution image data as possible in the free area if the distribution image data size change processing unit 202 reduces the size of the distribution image data when selecting the distribution image data in the free area. On the contrary, if the size of the distribution image data is increased, the distribution image data can be displayed in the empty area with as little gap as possible. The number of distribution image data that can be selected for one empty area by the distribution image selection unit 105 may be set to an appropriate upper limit value in consideration of the appearance of the entire display screen.

  Also in the second embodiment, the distribution image data selected by the distribution image selection unit 105 is not limited to randomly selecting distribution image data having the same size as the empty area, but as described above, the display priority and the time zone are also selected. The distribution image data may be selected according to the above. Further, when there are a plurality of free areas on the display screen, it may be selected so that an advertisement effect can be obtained by combining various distribution image data.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 12, a flow of processing in which the information distribution apparatus 200 generates a display screen obtained by combining distribution image data will be described. FIG. 12 is a second flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the information distribution apparatus generates a display screen obtained by combining distribution image data.

  First, the image signal acquisition unit 101 acquires an image signal output from the control unit 11 (step S201). The screen density detection unit 201a detects the pixel density from the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101 (step S202). The empty area specifying unit 201b specifies an area part where the amount of change in density of the pixels detected by the screen density detecting unit 201a is equal to or less than a predetermined value as an empty area of the display screen (step S203).

  If there is no free area on the screen (NO in step S204), the screen is a screen in which there is no free area and no advertisement is displayed. Therefore, the distribution image selection unit 105 does not select distribution image data and does not select the distribution image data. 106 outputs the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101 as it is (step S211).

  If there is an empty area on the screen (YES in step S204), attribute information such as the size of distribution image data is acquired from the distribution image attribute database 103 (step S205). If there is no need to change the distribution image data acquired from the distribution image database 104 based on the free area information and the attribute information such as the size (NO in step S206), the target distribution image data from the distribution image database 104 The image signal synthesis unit 106 synthesizes the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101 and the distribution image data (step S209). If there is other distribution image data (NO in step S210), the process returns to step S204 and the same processing is repeated until acquisition of other distribution image data attribute information is completed.

  In step S206, it is necessary to change the size of the distribution image data (YES in step S206). If the distribution image data can be displayed if the size is changed (YES in step S207), the distribution image data size change processing unit 202 is changed. Changes the size of the distribution image data (step S208). The image signal synthesis unit 106 synthesizes the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101 and the distribution image data whose size has been changed (step S209). If there is other distribution image data (NO in step S210), the process returns to step S204 and the same processing is repeated until acquisition of other distribution image data attribute information is completed.

  If it is determined in step S207 that the distribution image data cannot be changed and displayed (NO in step S207), the distribution image data is not selected because the distribution image data cannot be displayed in the empty area. If there is any other distribution image data (NO in step S210), the process returns to step S204 and the same processing is repeated until acquisition of other distribution image data attribute information is completed.

  If all the distribution image data has been acquired in step S210 (YES in step S210), the image signal synthesis unit 106 outputs an image signal (step S211). If even one piece of distribution image data is combined in step S209, the distribution image data is displayed on the display screen. If a plurality of pieces are combined, a plurality of advertisement data is displayed. In other cases, a screen on which no advertisement data is displayed, that is, a screen represented by the image signal acquired by the image signal acquisition unit 101 is displayed as it is.

  After outputting the image signal in step S211, the process returns to step S201 again. When the image signal acquisition unit 101 acquires the image signal of the next screen, the above-described processing is repeated.

  In addition, after specifying the display screen based on the template image data described in the first embodiment, the distribution image data is displayed by specifying the vacant area in the area where the amount of change in the pixel density described in the second embodiment is small. You can also As a result, it is possible to accurately specify an empty area in which the distribution image data is displayed.

  Further, according to the contents of the display screen, the display image is specified by the template image data described in the first embodiment and the distribution image data is displayed, or the free area is determined by the change amount of the pixel density described in the second embodiment. The distribution image data may be displayed by specifying the image, or the display method may be switched.

  In the above-described embodiment, the information distribution device is included in the automatic ticket vending machine. However, the destination ticket display device provided in the train is not limited to the automatic ticket vending machine as long as the display unit is provided. It can also be installed in a guidance display device installed in a lobby of a building, an ATM (automated teller machine) installed in a financial institution, or the like. In these devices, not only advertisements but also various distribution image data such as operation information for notifying train delays, suspensions, etc., usage guidance and notifications, news / weather information, emergency earthquake warnings, and the like can be displayed.

  The configuration for performing the process of determining the free area in the screen described in the above embodiment and the position for displaying the distribution image data are only schematically shown to the extent that the present invention can be understood and implemented. For example, the number of distribution image data to be displayed, the size that can be enlarged or reduced, the display coordinates, and the like are merely examples. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

  The present invention is disposed inside an automatic ticket vending machine or the like having a display unit, and is used as an information distribution device that distributes distribution image data such as advertisements and news to the display unit.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the automatic ticket vending machine containing the information delivery apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information delivery apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the template image data which a template image database memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows the delivery image data which a delivery image database memorize | stores. It is a 1st figure which shows the display screen which the information delivery apparatus synthesize | combined delivery image data. It is a 2nd figure which shows the display screen which the information delivery apparatus synthesize | combined delivery image data. It is a 3rd figure which shows the display screen which the information delivery apparatus synthesize | combined delivery image data. It is a 1st flowchart which shows the flow of a process which the information delivery apparatus produces | generates the image signal which synthesize | combined delivery image data. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information delivery apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a 4th figure which shows the display screen which the information delivery apparatus synthesize | combined delivery image data. It is a 5th figure which shows the display screen which the information delivery apparatus synthesize | combined delivery image data. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows the flow of a process which the information delivery apparatus produces | generates the display screen which synthesize | combined delivery image data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100,200 Information delivery apparatus 101 Image signal acquisition part 102,201 Delivery image display position determination part 102a Template image database 102b Display screen specific part 102c Empty area database 102d Empty area identification part 103 Delivery image attribute database 104 Delivery image database 105 Delivery image Selection unit 106 Image signal synthesis unit 201a Screen density detection unit 201b Free space identification unit 202 Distribution image data size change processing unit

Claims (6)

A distribution image database for storing distribution image data;
A distribution image attribute database for storing attribute information for specifying at least the size of the distribution image data stored in the distribution image database;
Based on the template image data information or screen density information of the screen included in the image signal of the screen displayed on the display means, for displaying the distribution image data to identify at least one free space of the screen Distribution image display position determining means for determining a distribution image display position;
And a distribution image selection means for selecting the distribution image data to be displayed on the distribution image display position on the basis of the previous SL distribution image display position and size before Symbol distribution image data,
An information distribution apparatus characterized by combining and outputting the image signal and the distribution image data . The delivery image display position determining means includes
A template image database for storing template image data indicating a part of the image in the screen;
Display screen specifying means for specifying the screen based on the template image data stored in the template image database;
A free space database that stores the free space information corresponding to the screen;
First free area specifying means for specifying the free area of the screen specified by the display screen specifying means based on the free area information stored in the free area database;
The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The delivery image display position determining means includes
A screen density detector for detecting the density of pixels on the screen;
Second empty area specifying means for specifying an area portion in which the amount of change in the density of the pixel detected by the screen density detection unit is a predetermined value or less as the empty area in the screen;
The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The number of distribution image data selected by the distribution image selection means includes the size of the distribution image data stored in the distribution image attribute database and the size of the empty area specified by the distribution image display position determination means. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information distribution apparatus is determined based on:   The information distribution apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising distribution image data size change processing means for changing a size of the distribution image data.   The information distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distribution image data is an advertisement image.

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