EP1357528A1 - System for providing at least one service to clients - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for providing at least one service to clientscomprises a server and a number of client devices. Eachclient device is adapted to communicate with the server andtheserver is programmed to support various services. At least apart of said services is provided by means of various servicedevices. The server is adapted to communicate with each of saidservice devices. Each client device is adapted to transmit atleast one service code with a client code to the server and theserver is programmed to select a service device by means of thereceived service and client codes and to transmit a service requestto the selected service device together with informationon the location of the client device.

Description

• The invention relates to a system for providing atleast one service to clients, comprising a server and a numberof client devices, each client device being adapted to communicatewith the server.
• Systems of this type are known in various embodiments.Such a system can be a computer network, wherein clients canorder a service by means of a client computer from a server. Inanother embodiment the system can be implemented as an alarmsystem in a hospital, for example, wherein patients are providedwith a button to send an alarm signal to a server. In theknown systems, a server is generally adapted to support oneservice only. If a client is interested to obtain various services,he either needs various client devices and/or has to communicatewith various servers. If the client device is a mobilephone for example, the client has to use different phone numbersto communicate with different servers and generally theclient needs to use different protocols to obtain the desiredservice.
• The invention aims to provide an improved system ofthe above-mentioned type.
• To this end the server is programmed to support variousservices, at least a part of said services being providedby means of various service devices, wherein the server isadapted to communicate with each of said service devices,wherein each client device is adapted to transmit at least oneservice code with a client code to the server and the server isprogrammed to select a service device by means of the receivedservice and client codes and to transmit a service request tothe selected service device together with information on thelocation of the client device.
• In this manner a uniform system is obtained, wherein aserver supports various services and the client device isadapted to communicate with this server to obtain any supported service by transmitting the corresponding service code to theserver. The system is user friendly as the clients can obtainvarious services using one and the same protocol. This significantlyreduces the risk of making errors, especially in emergencysituations.
• In a preferred embodiment at least a plurality of theclient devices each comprises a camera, wherein each client devicebelonging to said plurality is adapted to transmit imageinformation provided by the camera as or together with a servicecode, wherein the server is adapted to store the image informationtogether with additional information, such as time ofreceipt, client device location. In this embodiment the systemprovides a security system with a virtually unlimited area ofcoverage. As soon as a client experiences unsafe conditions, hecan use the client device to transmit a service code to theserver and the image information provided by the camera willautomatically be transmitted to the server for storage and furtheraction.
• The invention will be further explained by referenceto the drawing in which a diagram of an embodiment of the systemof the invention is shown.
• As shown aserver 1 and a number ofclient devices 2are connected to acommunication network 3. Theserver 1 maycomprise one or more computers and is provided with amemory 4.Further, a number ofservice devices 5 are connected to thecommunication network 3. Only twoclient devices 2 and twoservice devices 5 are shown. Various types of client and servicedevices, for example telephones, mobile phones, PDA's,GPS's and computers can be used in the system. The communicationnetwork can be any suitable communication network and maycomprise telephone communication networks, wireless communicationnetworks, LAN's, WAN's and the internet.
• Theserver 1 is programmed to support various services,which services may comprise services provided by theserver 1 or the company managing the server and services providedby means of theservice devices 5 or the company managingtheservice device 5. In order to obtain a service aclient device2 transmits a service code to theserver 1. Generally this transmission includes a client code, so that theserver 1 isable to identify theclient device 2 from which a server codeis received. To this end theserver 1 comprises aclient database6 in which data is stored on the service or services desiredby each client with corresponding service codes used bythe client. A client can obtain most of the services only if heis subscribed to the desires service(s). each client may subscribeto one or more services supported by theserver 1. Subscriptionscan easily be managed by means of thedatabase 6.
• Theserver 1 is programmed to select aservice device5 by means of the received service and client codes. If theclient has a subscription for the requested service, theserver1 transmits a service request to theselected service device 5together with information on the location of the client device.In this manner the management company managing theservice device5 can provide the requested service to the client whichdid transmit the service code. Theserver 1 is provided with aservice database 7 with data on theservice devices 5, so thattheserver 1 can send a service request to theservice device 5using the information from the database 7. Information onnewservice devices 5 can be added to the service database 7 in aneasy manner.
• Theserver 1 further comprises adatabase 8 for storingservice codes received from client devices together withadditional information, such as time of receipt, client devicelocation and transmitted service request. It will be understoodthat although separateddatabases 6, 7 and 8 are shown, the databasesmay be implemented as one database.
• The system described allows clients to obtain variousservices using one and the same client device, for example amobile phone, a PDA, a computer or other suitable terminal. Allservices can be obtained on the basis of the same protocol. Ifthe client device is a mobile phone for example, some of thenumeral keys may be programmed to initiate transmission of specificservice codes. In this manner a client can easily obtainthe desired service with a reduced risk of errors. This is especiallyimportant in emergency cases.
• According to a preferred embodiment some of theclient devices 2 are provided with acamera 9, such as a webcam or thelike. If theclient device 2 transmits an emergency servicecode to theserver 1, the image information provided by thecamera 9 is also transmitted to theserver 1 and stored in thedatabase 8. Depending on the type of emergency service codetransmitted by theclient device 2, theserver 1 can immediatelyforward an emergency service request to an alarm station,such as a police or fire station to ensure that immediate actionis taken. Further, theserver 1 can be programmed to analyzethe image information and to initiate an action dependingon the analysis result. If the image information indicates anemergency for example, an emergency request can be transmittedby theserver 1 to the alarm station.
• In this preferred embodiment the system of the inventionprovides a video security system with a virtually unlimitedcoverage as a client can always send an emergency servicecode in case he enters an unsafe area or unsafe situation. Forexample, if a client intends to withdraw cash from an automaticteller machine, he can use hisclient device 2 to send a servicecode to theserver 1 providing a connection with theserver1 so that image information is stored in thedatabase 8 duringthe use of the automatic teller machine. In this manner personsusing the system will feel more safe and the system has a preventiveeffect.
• Depending on the type of emergency service code transmittedby theclient device 2 to theserver 1, theserver 1 cantransmit a request to theclient device 2 to obtain more or updatedinformation on the emergency circumstances.
• It will be understood that the invention provides aflexible system allowing to support various services, wherein adesired service can be obtained by subscription and wherein aftersubscribing the desired service can be obtained in an easymanner using a fixed protocol for various services thereby reducingthe risk of errors. The type of service corresponding tothe service codes provided by a client device can be personalisedby storing corresponding data in thedatabase 6. Theserver 1 will initiate the process to obtain the desired serviceafter receipt of the service code in accordance with the details agreed upon with the client. The system can be used invarious service fields, for example for crime prevention or toobtain medical services, for example ordering medicines, emergencycalls for medical assistance and the like.
• The invention is not restricted to the above describedembodiments which can be varied in a number of ways within thescope of the attached claims.

Claims (8)

1. System for providing at least one service to clients,comprising a server and a number of client devices, eachclient device being adapted to communicate with the server,characterised in that the server is programmed to support variousservices, at least a part of said services being providedby means of various service devices, wherein the server isadapted to communicate with each of said service devices,wherein each client device is adapted to transmit at least oneservice code with a client code to the server and the server isprogrammed to select a service device by means of the receivedservice and client codes and to transmit a service request tothe selected service device together with information on thelocation of the client device.
2. System according to claim 1, wherein the server isprogrammed to transmit a confirmation message to the client devicethat the desired service has been requested.
3. System according to claim 2, wherein the servertransmits the confirmation message after receipt of an acknowledgementfrom the respective service device that the requestedservice will be provided.
4. System according to anyone of the precedingclaims, wherein the server comprises a client database withdata on the services desired by each client with correspondingservice codes used by the client, and a service database withdata on the service devices.
5. System according to anyone of the precedingclaims, wherein the server comprises a database for storingservice codes received from clients together with additionalinformation, such as time of receipt, client device location,transmitted service request.
6. System according to anyone of the precedingclaims, wherein at least a plurality of the client devices eachcomprises a camera, wherein each client device belonging tosaid plurality is adapted to transmit image information providedby the camera as or together with a service code, whereinthe server is adapted to store the image information together with additional information, such as time of receipt, clientdevice location.
7. System according to claim 6, wherein the server isprogrammed to analyse the image information and to initiate anaction depending on the analysis result.
8. System according to claim 6 or 7, wherein theserver is adapted to communicate with an alarm station, such asa police or fire station, wherein the server transmits an alarmmessage to the alarm station upon receipt of the image informationand an appropriate service code or as a result of theanalysis result.

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