FR2688912A1 - Premises for self-service use of information sources - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to premises intended for the self-service use of information sources (2) placed inside the premises, characterised in that it includes means (4) for protecting the information sources (2) and means (9, 11) for prior identification of each user, in that it is closed and includes means (6, 10) for monitoring the exit of each user from the premises, and that it includes means (12, 13) for detecting the active state during use by an identified user of each information source (2), and in that it includes a device for centralised local management (8). The exit of a user is prohibited as long as the detection means (12, 13) detect the active state of an information source used by the said user and when the means (6, 10) detect an attempt to exit with an information source.

Description

LOCAL OF FREE USE - SOURCE SERVICE
INFORMATION8
The invention relates to a room intended for the temporary use by one or more users, in self-service of multimedia information sources such as printed works or publications, magnetic, electronic, or optical recordings of data, sounds. , or images ..., and operating devices necessary for the use of such information media.

 Known media libraries are places where a set of multimedia information sources are gathered and temporarily made available to a plurality of users. The information is at least partly printed or recorded on information carriers which must be moved for use and which are small (books, brochures, discs, tapes, ...), and these information carriers are temporarily rented or loaned to users under the supervision of staff whose presence is considered essential to ensure the climate of trust, avoid vandalism or theft and ensure the proper storage and maintenance of information media and devices required for these media. In addition, media libraries are generally places with a scientific, cultural or leisure vocation. We therefore seek to ensure that these known media libraries have a maximum of documents and information supports, and we limit the number of media libraries available of the public in a given territory.

 Numerous types of automatic distributors of self-service products or self-service stores are also known where the supply or sale of goods, information or objects can be carried out completely independently.

 Compared to this general state of the art, the invention poses the problem of designing a room in which the public can use temporary, self-service, sources of information, no permanent staff being necessary to monitor the room.

 In particular, the invention aims to design such a room which is of low manufacturing and operating cost and which allows, by being scattered over the geographical territory, to make available to the public a large volume of information, in taking advantage of modern means of high-capacity information storage.

 Since these premises are planned to be relatively small and of low implementation cost, it is almost essential for viable economic exploitation to be envisaged, to provide that these premises can operate without permanent staff present on site. , and therefore automatically self-service. However, the technical difficulty in this case stems from the fact that it is necessary to ensure that the room is in perfect state of storage, all the sources of information being stored after each use. It is also necessary to provide all security and prevention against vandalism, theft, ... The safety of users must also be ensured.

 Another object of the invention is to design such a room intended to serve as a self-service media library offering permanent and flexible access, but which makes it possible to receive means of payment from users with reliability.

 Another object of the invention is to design such a room which is simple to use and user-friendly.

 Another object of the invention is to design such a room which can be used simultaneously by several people - in particular by a number of people between 1 and 20-.

 The invention also aims to provide such a room whose structure and organization are of modular type, that is to say which is reproducible in large number of copies.

 To do this, the invention relates to a room intended for the self-service use of information sources placed inside the room, characterized in that it includes means for protecting information sources and means of prior identification of each user, in that it is closed and includes means for controlling the exit of each user from the room, in that it comprises means for detecting the active state during use by an identified user of each source of information, and in that it comprises a centralized local management device connected to the output control means and to the detection means, this management device supplying control signals to the means of output control such that the output of a user is prohibited as long as the detection means detect the active state of an information source used by said user.

 According to the invention, the means for protecting information sources include means for controlling the entry of each user into the room, and the prior identification means include means placed outside the room which allow '' identify anyone entering the premises. According to the invention, the prior identification means comprise means placed in the vicinity of each source of information making it possible to identify any person accessing each source of information.

 The room according to the invention comprises an airlock with two doors comprising a device for counting people passing through the airlock and means preventing the simultaneous opening of the two doors. And the external prior identification means are placed outside the airlock and make it possible to receive a method of payment from a user and to assign in return a key to a user who has communicated a method of payment, the key allowing d 'enter the room. The room according to the invention comprises means for reading the key outside the airlock, inside the room near the airlock and in the vicinity of the sources of information. The identification means therefore include means for assigning a key to a user who has provided a payment method, and key reading means which control the release of the protection means, and therefore access to sources of information.

The key reading means also control the means for controlling exit from the room.

 According to the invention, the management device comprises means for calculating the invoicing allocated to each user, as a function of the time spent inside the premises and / or of the nature and / or of the number of sources of information used. and / or the time of use of each source of information by the user.

 According to the invention, the information sources are at least partly made up of recorded or printed information carriers, these information carriers having to be moved in order to be used. And the room according to the invention comprises means for storing these information carriers, the detection means assigning the active state to each information carrier which is moved and which is not stored in a storage means.

 According to the invention, the storage means are filing means which include locations, one and only one location that can receive one and only one information carrier. According to the invention, the detection means assign the active state to each information medium, as soon as this information medium is removed and extracted from a location and as long as this information medium is not stored and classified again in a location. According to the invention, each medium of recorded or printed information comprises a standardized format box, and each location consists of a locker of a corresponding format. The detection means comprise at least one sign rigidly and irremovably associated with each information medium, and at least one detector which is associated with each locker and which is intended to cooperate with such a sign to detect by reading at least the presence of an information carrier, and the movement of the information carrier during its extraction from the locker. The sign and the detector can cooperate by optical, and / or magnetic and / or electronic and / or electromagnetic or other reading.

 According to the invention, the sign includes information storage means making it possible to determine certain characteristics of the information medium, and the detector is able to read the information stored on the sign.

In one embodiment and according to the invention, the sign includes a bar code and the detector includes an optical bar code reader. In another embodiment, and according to the invention, the sign includes a permanent electronic memory accessible in read only, and the detector includes a reader of such electronic memory. Reading can operate by contact or remotely or by radio waves.

 Two alternative embodiments of the invention are possible. In the first variant, the means for storing the information carriers have a specific location dedicated to each information carrier, and the detection means are means for detecting the absence of the information carrier from its location. The sign can then be identical for several information carriers, but placed on the information carrier in a place specific to the information carrier, the detection of the absence of the information carrier being carried out by the detection of the absence of sign in the corresponding place of the information carrier. Thus, each detector is associated with the locker at a location corresponding to the proper location of the sign on the information carrier. For example, the sign consists of a reflective patch rigidly and immovably associated with the information carrier, and the detector consists of a means of optical detection of such a reflecting patch.

 In the second variant, each location can receive any one of the various information carriers of format compatible with that of the location and the detection means comprise means for recognizing the information carrier inserted in each location.

The signs of several information carriers of the same format are placed in the same place on the information carrier, the detectors of the corresponding lockers being placed in the same place of the lockers and being able to read the information stored in the sign of one. any of these information carriers which is recognized by its characteristics thus determined, the signs and detectors therefore constituting means of recognition of the information carriers.

 The two variants can be combined, and for example used respectively for different types of information carriers.

 According to the invention, the information sources are at least partly made up of apparatuses for operating information carriers and / or at least one interactive terminal for consulting stored information and / or at least a device for remote connection to computer databases via a transmission network. Also, the room of the invention comprises means of reproducing documents and / or means of printing and / or microcomputer stations and / or office work means, managed by the management device like the sources of information.

 The management device according to the invention is a computer device made inaccessible to users. According to the invention, the management device is connected by a data transmission network to a remote monitoring center. And it is programmed to transmit to the remote monitoring center sounds and images coming from microphones and cameras arranged inside the room and with automatic operation and / or with operation controlled by the remote monitoring center and / or made available to users; alarm signals with corresponding data; statistical and / or billing data. Conversely, the management device of the invention is programmed to receive from the remote monitoring center and transmit to the various means of the room which are connected to it: sounds and images; control orders for the output control means, information sources, the management device and various security devices.

 Furthermore, all of the information carriers of a room according to the invention are indelibly marked by a mark - in particular a magnetic mark - which can be detected remotely, and the output control means also include a device remote detection of these marks. In this way, a user who would like to leave the room with an information carrier could not do so since the management device would prohibit the opening of the exit control means.

This is an additional check so that exit is only possible if all sources of information are stored and no attempt to exit with an information source is detected.

 Finally, in a room according to the invention, the storage means, the apparatus and furniture, are rigidly associated immobile and irremovable with the fixed structure (floor, wall on the ceiling) of the room. Thus, the room according to the invention does not include any movable movable element.

 The invention also relates to a room incorporating in combination all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of one of its preferred embodiments which refers to the appended figures in which
- Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a room according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

 - Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage media storage module of a room according to the invention.

 - Figures 3a and 3b are schematic perspective and side views of a printed information medium of a room according to the invention.

 - Figure 4 and a schematic perspective view of a location and an information carrier according to a first variant usable in a room according to the invention.

 - Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a location and an information carrier according to a second variant usable in a room according to the invention.

 - Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a location and an information carrier according to a third variant usable in a room according to the invention.

 - Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a location and an information carrier according to a fourth variant usable in a room according to the invention.

 - Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of locations and an information carrier according to a fifth variant usable in a room according to the invention.

 - Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the identification means of a storage module of a room according to the invention.

 - Figure 10 is a block view illustrating the connections to the device for managing a room according to the invention.

 - Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating the main functions of the room management device according to the invention.

 Room 1 shown in Figure 1 is intended for the self-service use of information sources 2 placed inside room 1. Room 1 is closed and is closed by walls 3, the number, shape, and the dimensions do not matter since these walls 3 are able to contain the elements constituting the room 1 by closing it.

 Room 1 includes means 4 for protecting information sources 2. The function of these means 4 of protection is to prevent a user from having free access to the sources of information 2. In practice, these means 4 of protection are at least partly made up, in the embodiment shown, of means for controlling the entry and / or the exit of the room 1. The protection means are also at least partly made up of an alarm system described below, or even means of controlling access to the sources of information themselves. Such means of controlling access to the information sources themselves are not shown in the figures and are not necessary in the context of the preferred embodiment shown.

 The room 1 according to the invention also includes means 9, 11 for prior identification of each user whose function is to allow the identification of a user before he actually accesses a source of information whatever 'she is. Again, the identification means 9, 11 can be placed at the entrance to the room and / or in the vicinity of the information sources 2 themselves. Thanks to these means 9, 11 d of prior identification, according to the invention, a user cannot access an information source 2 without having been previously identified.

 Room 1 is closed by walls 3 and includes means 6, 10 for controlling the exit of each user from room 1, comprising an exit door 6 with electronic lock.

 Room 1 according to the invention also includes means 12, 13 for detecting the active state in use by a user previously identified from each information source 2. Also, room 1 according to the invention comprises a centralized local management device 8 connected to means 6, 10 for controlling the output and to means 12, 13 for detection. This management device 8 provides control signals to the means 6, 10 for controlling the output, comprising for example an electronic lock, so that the output of a user is prohibited as long as the detection means 12, 13 detect the active state of at least one information source 2 used by said user.

 The exit control means 6, 10 comprise, in addition to the exit door 6 with electronic lock, means 10 for identifying the user who wishes to exit. These identification means 10 are located inside the room and are also connected to the management device 8. Thus, when the user wishes to leave, he identifies himself by means 10 and the management device 8 checks whether the detection means 12, 13 detect or not an active state of an information source 2 used by said user who has identified himself with a view to leaving room 1.

 Thus, no user can leave room 1 without having returned to the inactive state (filed and classified, extinct, ...) the sources of information 2 which he has possibly used. This ensures self-management of the sources of information 2 made available by self-service inside room 1.

 According to the invention, the means 4 for protecting information sources 2 comprise means 4 for controlling the entry of each user into the room 1.

And the means 9, 11 for prior identification comprise means 9 placed outside the room 1 which make it possible to identify any person entering the room 1.

 Furthermore, the means 9, 11 for prior identification also comprise means 11 placed in the vicinity of each source of information 2 making it possible to identify any person accessing each source of information 2. And the management device 8 does not authorizes the use of an information source 2 only after identification of the user by the prior identification means 11 placed near the information source 2. The authorization issued by the management device 8 can be in the form of a release of any means of controlled access to information sources 2 and / or in the form of the emission of an audible and / or visual signal, and / or in the form of the absence of emission of an alarm corresponding to a ban.

 The room 1 according to the invention comprises an airlock 4 with two doors 5, 6, namely an external entry door 5 and an internal exit door 6. The airlock 4 comprises a device for counting people passing through this airlock 4 and means which prevent the simultaneous opening of the two doors 5, 6. This airlock 4 constitutes both the means 4 for protecting information sources 2 by control of the entry of room 1, and in part the means 6, 10 of control of the exit of each user of room 1.

 According to the invention, the device for counting people passing through the airlock 4 is for example a weighing device. This counting device is programmed to allow only two people to pass through the airlock 4 simultaneously. Thus, the operation of the airlock 4 is determined by the management device 8 by means of the external prior identification means 9 during the entry of a user and identification means 10 placed inside the room 1 during the exit. These identification means 9, 10 controlling the airlock 4 allow the opening of the first door 5 or 6 depending on the direction of passage through the airlock 4. The second door 6 or 5 of the airlock 4 does not open until the first door 5 or 6 is closed, and when the counting device sends a validation signal to the management device 8, that is to say when a maximum of two people is present inside the airlock 4. The airlock 4 is therefore consisting of an external entry door 5 with electronic lock, an internal exit door 6 also with electronic lock, and an electronic weighing device.

These various elements are known to those skilled in the art.

The management device 8 controls the operation of the electronic locks and prevents the simultaneous opening of the two locks corresponding respectively to the two doors 5, 6 of the airlock 4.

 The external means 9 for prior identification are placed outside the airlock 4 and make it possible to receive a method of payment from a user and to assign in return a key to a user who has communicated a method of payment, the key allowing to enter the room 1 free of charge with the external means 9 for prior identification which include means for reading the key.

 Such a key can be in any possible and known form: mechanical, magnetic, electrical, optical or other key. It consists, for example, of a punch card or a magnetic card supplied by the external prior identification means 9. The corresponding reading means are suitable for reading the code of the key, transmitting it to the management device 8 to which they are connected, which controls the opening of the entry door 5 after having carried out various checks on the code. It can even be envisaged that the assigned key is not physically provided by the prior identification means 9 external to the user, but is an immaterial key assigned in logical form to the user.

Thus, for example, the external prior identification means 9 can communicate a confidential code allowing the opening of the entry door 5 or simply consider the user's bank card as a key.

Also the communication of a confidential code can be provided in addition to the supply of a hardware key.

The key can also consist of a badge 55 comprising a chip memory 56 and a radioelectric transmitter cooperating remotely with an antenna arranged around an entry gantry.

 In any event, the external prior identification means 9 assign a key to a user, a key which makes it possible to enter room 1 then to the user to identify himself when using the sources of information. 2 and, above all, when he wishes to leave room 1.

 In practice, a key can consist of a perforated plastic plate or a cardboard or plastic ticket comprising a magnetic stripe, or a cardboard or plastic ticket comprising a barcode, or another card & chip, a confidential code communicated to the user, or even the bank card with magnetic stripe and / or chip of the user.

 The external prior identification means 9 consist of a magnetic card or smart card reader, an information screen for the user, a reduced keyboard allowing the user to enter certain information and an appropriately shaped key distributor. This electronic identification counter is made up of elements known in themselves. According to the invention, this counter is connected to and controlled by the management device 8. And the management device 8 is programmed to invite the user to set up a deferred payment method such as a bank card or a smart card in the card reader, and enter their confidential code. After the usual verifications between the code and the card, the key is assigned and communicated to the user. Preferably, the management device 8 is programmed so that the user can modify using the keyboard certain characteristics of the key supplied to it (period of validity, which, according to the invention, is limited to a specific period, for example two weeks, maximum amount accepted by the user for invoicing, etc.).

 The room according to the invention therefore comprises key reading means outside the airlock 4 (included in the external means 9 for prior identification), key reading means inside the room 1 near the airlock 4 (included in the identification means 10 located in the vicinity of the exit door 6), and key reading means in the vicinity of the information sources 2 (included in the prior identification means 11 provided in the vicinity from each source of information 2).

 The management device 8 according to the invention comprises means for calculating the invoicing allocated to each identified user, and this in particular as a function of the time spent inside the room 1 and / or of the nature and / or of the number of information sources 2 used and / or the time of use of each information source 2 by the user. Indeed, the management device 8 can determine and memorize the nature, the number and the time of use by each user of the information sources 2 and of the room 1. The management device 8 is therefore programmed to take into account these parameters and issue an invoice as well as a debit order for the deferred payment method provided beforehand by the user upon entry.

 The information sources 2 are at least partly made up of supports 2a of recorded or printed information which have to be moved in order to be used.

 Such information carriers 2a are, for example, books, periodicals, printed matter, magnetic cassettes, discs with optical, magnetic or electromechanical reading, photographs, etc. One thus names information carriers, the sources used and the arrangement inside the room which are relatively small and which must be handled and moved for use, either by direct reading, or by means of a specific reading device.

 Obviously, other sources of information 2 can be made available in self-service inside a room 1 according to the invention, namely: the operating and reading devices 2b of the media 2a d information and / or one or more interactive terminals of stored information 2c and / or one or more devices 2d for remote connection to computer databases via a transmission network.

 Furthermore, the room 1 according to the invention may also include means 14 for reproducing documents (photocopier), and / or means 15 for printing and / or microcomputer stations 16 and / or means 17 for office work (word processing, fax, ...). These means 14, 15, 16, 17 are all managed by the management device as information sources 2 and therefore require the prior identification of the user before they are put into the active state.

 The room 1 according to the invention comprises means 7 for storing the information supports 2a. The detection means 12, 13 assign the active state to each information medium 2a which is moved and which is not stored in the storage means 7. Thus, the detection means 12, 13 carry out a detection of the fact that an information medium 2a is used or not, by detecting whether this information medium 2a is stored or is not stored.

 The storage means 7 comprise locations 18, each location 18 being able to receive one and only one information support 2a, that is to say that the number of locations 18 corresponds to the number of information supports 2a. The detection means 12, 13 assign the active state to each information medium 2a as long as it is not stored in a location 18. As will be seen, one-to-one correspondence can be provided between each location 18 and each information medium 2a so that a given information medium 2a can only be stored in one location 18 and not in the others, or on the contrary that the locations 18 are standard and common to a type of medium 2a d 'information, each location 18 can receive any of these media 2a information.

 The storage means 7 can be, according to the invention, means for classifying the information supports 2a. The classification is made according to the format and / or according to the type and / or the nature of the media 2a of information, even even on the content of the information (for example in alphabetical order of the authors ...). The means 7 for storing a room 1 according to the invention consist of media library modules 7 arranged in the room 1 to be easily accessible to users.

 In an alternative embodiment of such a storage module 7, each support 2a of recorded or printed information comprises a box 19 of predetermined standardized format, and each location 18 consists of a fixed rack of a format corresponding to the minus a removable housing 19, so that the rack 18 forming a location can receive the removable housing 19. For example, each box 19 is of parallelepiped shape and each rack 18 is also of parallelepiped shape with an open face through which a box 19 is inserted.

 The detection means 12, 13 comprise a sign 12 which is associated rigidly and irremovable with each information support 2a, and at least one detector 13 which is rigidly associated and irremovable with each rack 18, and which is intended to cooperate with such a sign 12 to detect by reading at least the presence of an information support 2a and the movement of the information support 2a when it is extracted from the rack 18.

 Thus, the information medium 2a consists of a housing 19 in which is placed a reading element 21 which can be read and which contains the information (printed work, disc, cassette, etc.). The sign 12 is associated with the information medium 2a, that is to say either with the box 19 itself, for example integrated into the external face 20 of the box 19 in a non-destructive manner, or with the reading element 21 itself -same, in which case the box 19 is made of a transparent material with respect to the reading method provided between the sign 12 and the detector 13. In practice, it is expected that when the reading element 21 is associated rigidly and so irremovable to the housing 19, the sign 12 can be associated with the external face 20 of the housing 19. This is the case, for example, for printed works such as books or periodicals which are permanently fixed by gluing, binding ... in a case 19 made of rigid material in case 19 format of a printed work is designed to open so as to allow reading and opening of the reading element 21 itself. On the other hand, when the reading element 21 must be dissociated from its housing 19 in order to be used (which is the case for example with magnetic cassettes or certain discs), the sign 12 is then associated with the reading element 21 himself. The box 19 then only serves to facilitate the storage of the information support 2a in a location 18, and the operation of the detection means 12, 13.

 The boxes 19 and the boxes 18 have standard formats which can vary within a discrete predefined range of dimensions. For example, a standard format is provided for each type of support, the dimensions of which do not vary (cassettes, optical compact discs, etc.). And for the reading elements 21, the dimensions of which can vary (printed works for example), several standard dimensions are provided, for example three formats of boxes 19. Each reading element 21 is then associated with a box 19 whose format is smaller that can hold it.

 Thus, in the case of reading elements made up of books, each book is fixed to a cardboard or plasticized binding constituting the case 19. Three or four binding sizes are therefore provided, making it possible to adapt to all the dimensions of books generally encountered. . According to the invention, each book 21 is fixed by its last page to the binding 19. The book is aligned with respect to the lower and central edge of the binding 19, and a foam pad 22 is provided between the first page of the book and the binding so that the binding 19, once closed, does form a parallelepipedic case.

 The sign 12 according to the invention may include means 23 for storing information making it possible to determine characteristics of the information medium 2a. In this case, the detector 13 is able to read the information stored on the sign 12. For example, the sign 12 includes a bar code, and the detector 13 includes an optical bar code reader. As a variant, the sign 12 can also include a permanent electronic memory accessible in read only, and the detector 13 then includes a reader of such an electronic memory.

 Other variant embodiments are possible, in particular with other modes of reading the sign (magnetic, electromagnetic, etc.). For example, the detector 13 can include a transmitter of radio waves supplying energy to an electronic device integrated into the sign 12. This device is then activated and transmits in the form of radio waves the contents of an electronic memory permanent 60 also contained in the sign 12. This emission is picked up by the detector 13. The detector 13 includes a device 58 acting as an antenna necessary for the emission and reception of radio waves. This antenna 58 consists of at least one turn 58 of conductors forming a closed curve, the virtual surface delimited by this closed curve being crossed by the sign 12.

 An exemplary embodiment includes at least one such device 58 acting as an antenna per rack and is shown in FIG. 6.

 In another exemplary embodiment, such a device 58 acting as an antenna for the detector 13 is associated with several lockers 18, each locker being associated with two antenna devices 58a, 58b of this nature. One of the detectors 13a comprises an antenna formed of turns 58a extending horizontally around several compartments 18 of the same stage of compartments 18, and the other detector 13b extends perpendicularly and comprises an antenna formed of turns 58b s extending vertically around several compartments 18 of the same column of compartments 18. In this case, the simultaneous operation of the two antenna devices 58a, 58b is necessary to activate and read the sign 12. This last example of embodiment has for aim of reducing the number of devices 58a, 58b acting as an antenna and is shown in FIG. 7.

 In another exemplary embodiment, the device acting as an antenna for the detector 13 is associated with several compartments 18 and comprises two separate antennas 58c and 58d arranged in such a way that an information medium 2a passes necessarily and sequentially through the field of the two antennas 58c, 58d during its storage or extraction in / from the rack. In addition, the order in which the sign 12 of the information support 2a is activated by the two antennas makes it possible to determine the direction of movement of the information support 2a (storage or extraction). In order to identify the locker 18 used, the detector 13 in this case comprises at least one device 13c per locker 18 making it possible to detect a presence and / or an absence of the information medium 2a in the locker 18.

This device 13c can for example be an optical barrier integrated into the rack 18. This exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 8.

 Thus, each location 18 can receive any one of the various information supports 2a which have a format compatible with that of location 18, and the detection means 12, 13 comprise means for recognizing the information support 2a inserted in each location 18. These recognition means may consist of the sign 12 and of the detector 13 previously described in the case where the sign 12 includes information storage means. In a variant, however, it would be possible to provide specific recognition means distinct from the sign 12 and the detector 13 which would then have the function only of detecting the presence, absence, or movement of an information medium 2a.

 When the signs 12 include information storage means, provision may be made for the signs 12 of several information supports 2a of the same format to be placed in the same place on the information support 2a, the detectors 13 of the lockers 18 correspondents of the same format being placed in the same location of the lockers 18 and being able to read the information stored in the sign 12 of any one of these information carriers 2a which is recognized by these characteristics thus determined, the signs 12 and the detectors 13 then constituting the means of recognition of the information carriers 2a. Such is the case of the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 5 where it can be seen that the detection means 12, 13 constitute not only detection means of the active state of the support 2a, but also means of recognition and identification of the support 2a inserted in a location 18. Thus, for storing such a support 2a information, the user does not necessarily have to find the exact location 18 corresponding to this information medium 2a. It suffices for it to find any free location of the corresponding format and to insert the information medium 2a in this free location 18.

 Similarly, in the variant embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the detector 13 does not need to be in contact with or facing the sign 12 to read the information relating to this sign 12, not only can the user choose a location 18 any free to insert the information carrier 2a but in addition it is not necessary that this information carrier 2a be adjusted in the rack 18. In these two variants, and in any variant where the reading of the sign 12 by the detector 13 can be done remotely, the lockers 18 can have any shape and format as well as the information carriers 2a. In addition, the box 19 is not necessary and the sign 12 is fixed on the information carrier 2a itself in an irremovable manner. In the case of a book for example, the sign 12 can be fixed on the second page on call.

 However, another alternative embodiment may prove to be advantageous in certain cases. In this other variant, the storage means 7 comprise a clean location 18 dedicated to each information carrier 2a, and the detection means 12, 13 are means for detecting the absence of the information carrier 2a from its location 18. In this case, provision can then be made for the sign 12 to be identical for several information carriers 2a but is placed on this information carrier 2a at a location specific to the information carrier 2a. Thus, the recognition of the information medium 2a is carried out by position coding of the sign 12 on the information medium 2a. The detection of the absence of the information support 2a is then carried out by the detection of the absence of sign 12 at the corresponding location of the information support 2a. And each detector 13 is associated with the rack 18 of the location corresponding to a location corresponding to the proper location of the sign 12 on the information medium 2a dedicated to this location 18. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the identification and recognition of an information medium 2a is therefore produced for example by the coordinates x and y of the detector 13 on one side 24 of the rack 18, and of the sign 12 on a corresponding side 25 of the information carrier 2a. It can then be seen that it is not necessary for the sign 12 to include information storage means, and this sign 12 can then consist of a reflecting patch rigidly and irremovably associated with the information medium 2a, the detector 13 consisting of an optical detection means of this reflecting patch. Of course, the detectors 13 can also be common to all the locations and able to read on the entire face 25 of the information carriers 2a by detecting the coordinates x, y of a sign 12.

 In this latter variant, each information support 2a must be stored classified in the location which corresponds to it on the storage module 7. This variant is generally less expensive than the previous one and also makes it possible to verify by rapid visual control the state of the corresponding storage module 7. Indeed, the faces 26 of the boxes 19 facing outward and which are normally visible when the box 19 is stored in its locker 18 can be provided with visual cues (drawings, colors, ...) making it possible to detect immediately by control visual the presence or absence of one or more information carriers 2a. For example, the set of external faces 26 of a storage module 7 can constitute a complex figure such that each face 26 forms a part of the figure, different from all the other faces 26 corresponding to the other information carriers 2a. In addition, it is advantageously provided that the bottom 27 of the racks 18 are of a color in strong contrast with the outer faces 26 of the corresponding supports 2a.

 According to the invention, the storage means 7 therefore consist of a plurality of media library modules 7 as shown in FIG. 2. According to the invention, each media library module 7 is rigidly permanently associated with the fixed structure of the room 1 -in particular on the floor and walls 3-. Each media library module 7 includes means 11 for identifying the user. The identification means 11 are common for the same module 7, for a plurality of compartments 18, and therefore for information supports 2a, and even for different formats and / or types and / or types of information supports 2a. These identification means 11 consist, for example, of a screen 28, a loudspeaker 29, and a key reader 30. The screen allows communication with the user by inviting him to put his key in the reader 30, and in particular indicating to it the characteristics of the medium 2a of information which it has possibly extracted from its location 18. The loudspeaker 29 allows the emission of an audible alarm signal in the event of false manipulation, that is to say for example when a user extracts an information medium 2a without having previously identified himself by placing his key in the reader 30. In an alternative embodiment (FIG. 9), the key can be a badge 55 worn by the user and comprising a chip memory 56 and a radioelectric transmitter. The key reader 30 may include an antenna 57 included in a gantry 59 that the user is forced to pass through to access the storage module 7. The key reader 30 emits by this antenna 57 radio waves providing energy to an electronic device integrated into the chip memory 56. This device is then activated and in turn transmits in the form of radio waves the content of the chip memory 56 which is picked up by the antenna 57 associated with the reader key 30, thus identifying the badge 55 worn by the user.

 This antenna device 57, gantry 56 and badge 55 with memory 56 can be used to produce the means 9 of prior identification placed outside the premises and / or the means 11 of prior identification placed in the vicinity of each information source 2 and / or the means 10 for identifying the output control means. The general operation of the premises is greatly simplified.

 Each storage module 7 can include compartments 18 of several formats. All the detectors 13, as well as the identification means 11 are connected to an electronic card specific to each storage module 7 which allows the connection with the management device 8.

Each detector 13 of a rack 18 consists of a transducer which transforms the reading carried out on the sign into an analog or digital signal. A detector 13 for example consists of a photoelectric cell, a laser reader, a magnetic reader, an electronic reader ...

 In the embodiment shown, the storage module 7 itself does not include protection specific to each locker 18. In fact, the means of protection of information sources 2a are in fact made up of the airlock 4 controlling the entry and the exit from room 1 closed.

 However, provision can be made for a storage module 7 to further comprise specific protection means for the information carriers 2a, consisting for example of a door with electronic lock. One can provide either a door common to all the different lockers 18 of the same storage module 7, or even a door with electronic lock for each locker 18.

 In such a case, a storage module 7 according to the invention can be used as automatic locker with dynamic allocation or to integrate into room 1 a teleshopping system. Thus, a user can order an object or a good, for example by means of a 2d device for remote connection to a database, and the delivery is carried out subsequently via a storage module, the good being placed by the supplier in any locker 18, the user retrieving this item after identifying himself with his key, the corresponding door of the locker opening automatically after identification of the user who ordered the object.

 According to the invention, provision can be made for the management device 8 to authorize access only to an information medium 2a per identified user. Indeed, it is generally considered that a given user cannot simultaneously use two information media 2a.

However, obviously, each user must be able to use simultaneously both a medium 2a of information and possibly another source 2a of information which is not a medium (for example operating device 2b of the medium 2a of information corresponding).

 According to the invention, all of the information carriers 2a are indelibly marked by a mark which can be detected remotely (for example a magnetic mark), and the means 6, 10 for controlling the output comprise a device 31 for remote detection of these marks. In the embodiment shown, this device 31 consists of a magnetic gantry detecting magnetic marks placed on the supports.

Thus, a user cannot leave the closed room 1 with an information medium 2a.

 Furthermore, the storage means 7, the devices 2b, 2c, 2d and the various pieces of furniture are rigidly associated in a fixed and immovable manner with the fixed structure of the room (floor, wall, ceiling, etc.). Thus, the room 1 according to the invention does not include any movable movable element.

 The room 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises an access area essentially consisting of the airlock 4; a reception area 32 placed near the access area, and consisting for example of an interactive terminal 2c of stored information comprising a dialog member such as a keyboard and a screen and the function of which is to guide the user according to the information he wishes to find inside room 1; a storage area 33 consisting of storage modules 7 generally arranged along the walls 3 or in spikes 34; a printing area 35 comprising the photocopier 14 and the printer 15; and a seated work area 36 comprising work stations making it possible to use information carriers 2a and comprising operating devices 2b information carriers 2a and / or office work devices 17 and / or workstations microcomputer 16. This work area 36 is, according to the invention, placed around a technical area 37 incorporating the management device 8. This technical area 37 is closed and inaccessible to users.

It is nevertheless accessible via a door 38 closed by a lock for maintenance personnel.

 An assistance area 39 is also provided, preferably near the exit door 6. This assistance area 39 includes communication devices such as a screen, a telephone, a loudspeaker, a dial pad. .. which allow an audio and / or visual dialogue with an assistant outside the room 1.

 There is also a reading, resting or writing area 40 comprising seats and a table. According to the invention, provision can be made for one or more storage modules 7 also to constitute a zone 41 of automatic deposit with dynamic allocation allowing teleshopping. A terminal 2d for remote connection to a computer database via a transmission network is then preferably placed near the setpoint area 41.

 Finally, the room 1 according to the invention comprises an emergency exit 42 controlled by the management device 8 which immediately detects its operation. This emergency exit 42 can be preceded by a zone 42a prohibited to the user except in the event of danger, the crossing of this prohibited zone 42a being detected and triggering an alarm.

 Various microphones 43 and cameras 44 are arranged inside the room 1 in order to carry out remote monitoring. Speakers 45 are also provided for broadcasting alarms inside room 1.

 Each work station in the work area 36 consists of an operating device 2b and includes means 11 for prior identification of the user.

Thus, a user, in order to be able to use a workstation, inserts his key into the key reader located on this workstation. The key remains trapped in this reader during the entire time of use.

 The management device 8 is a computer device made inaccessible to users. This management device 8 is connected by suitable connections to all the devices and information sources 2 provided inside or outside the room 1. In practice, these links are simply serial links by cables. .Thus, the management device 8 is connected to the different key readers of the identification means 9, 10, 11, to the various storage modules 7, to the gantry 31 of magnetic output detection, to the airlock 4, to the means 46 readers bank cards and key distributors of the means 9 for external prior identification, to the photocopier 14 and to the printer 15, to the remote monitoring means 43, 44, 45 and to the assistance zone 39, at the various work stations from the work area 36 and to the information sources 2b, 2c, 2d other than the information media 2a, to the assistance area 39 and to the various communication devices that compose it, and to the emergency exit 42.

 The management device 8 is also connected by a data transmission network 47, for example a digital network with service integration, to a remote monitoring center 48.

 It is understood that several premises 1 can be simultaneously connected by the transmission network 47 to the same monitoring center 48.

 According to the invention, the management device 8 is programmed to transmit to the remote monitoring center 48: sounds and images from microphones 43 and cameras 44 arranged inside the room 1 and with automatic operation and / or controlled by the remote monitoring center 48 and / or made available to users; alarm signals with the corresponding data; statistical and / or billing data.

 Conversely, the management device 8 is programmed to receive from the monitoring center 48 and transmit to the different means of the room 1 which are connected to it: sounds and images; control orders for the means 6, 10 for controlling the exit, information sources 2, management devices 8, and various security devices such as the emergency exit or anti-fire devices, magnetic gantry 31. ..

 The management device 8 is programmed to issue two types of alarms, namely soft alarms and strong alarms. Soft alarms are emitted when the management device 8 detects an a priori involuntary manipulation error of a user. This soft alarm consists of a message communicated to the user, audible and / or visual, in a pleasant and moderate way. The soft alarm disappears as soon as the user has been able to correct his error. It can also be provided that the electronic devices necessary for the operation of the different sources of information 2 themselves are designed to generate soft alarms in a transparent manner for the management device 8.

 For example, soft alarms are generated when using an information medium 2a without prior identification, when using an invalid key, when trying to exit without all information carriers 2a have been stored ...

 On the other hand, the strong alarms are all generated by the management device 8 after detection of an abnormal operation. Strong alarms are transmitted by the management device 8 to the remote monitoring center 48. Such strong alarms are generated for example when an attempt is made to leave room 1 with an information medium 2a, during a malfunction airlock 4, or a means 9, 10, 11 of identification, during a call by a user to the operator of the monitoring center 48 via the assistance zone 39, when using the emergency exit 42 ...

 The management device 8 can be produced simply by a microcomputer comprising a central unit, a mass memory, and connection cards, in particular asynchronous serial connection cards with the various elements of room 1.

 FIG. 11 illustrates the general principle of an operating program of the management device 8.

In its normal state corresponding to step 49, the management device 8 is awaiting an event.

When it receives an event during step 50, it first of all stores this event 51 and generally generates a local action destined for an element of room 1 via an asynchronous serial link during step 52 I1 then performs a test on the nature of the event during step 53 and either returns to the standby position for event 49 or triggers a step of dialogue with the monitoring center 48 remotely during a step 54.

 This program makes it possible to constantly check the consistency of operation of room 1, of the alarms and of the events received.

 Each action of a user in room 1 is perfectly identified by the management device 8 and serves as the basis for invoicing. The data corresponding to this billing is formatted by the management device 8 and transmitted to the monitoring center 48 which will generate the issuance of a debit order for the user previously identified. Furthermore, this data centralized by the remote monitoring center 48 makes it possible to carry out extremely precise statistics on the use of the room 1 and of the different sources of information 2.

 The invention therefore makes it possible to make local sources of information available for temporary consultation by several people simultaneously. It therefore allows the dissemination to the public by simple and inexpensive means of a large amount of information such as practical information, and this in a user-friendly manner. The information themes can be many and varied and in particular relate to health, law, culture, economy, leisure, ....

Claims (27)

 1. Room intended for the self-service use of information sources (2) placed inside the room, characterized in that it comprises means (4) for protecting information sources (2) and means (9, 11) for prior identification of each user, in that it is closed and includes means (6, 10) for controlling the exit of each user from the room, in that it includes means (12, 13) for detecting the active state in use by an identified user of each information source (2), and in that it comprises a centralized local management device (8) connected to the output control means (6, 10) and the detection means (12, 13), this management device (8) supplying control signals to the output control means (6, 10) so that the output of a user is prohibited as long as the detection means (12, 13) detect the active state of an information source (2) used by the edit user.  2. Room according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (4) for protecting information sources comprise means (4) for controlling the entry of each user into the room, and in that the means ( 9, 11) of prior identification include means (9) placed outside the room which identify any person entering the room.  3. Room according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means (9, 11) of prior identification comprise means (11) placed in the vicinity of each information source (2) allowing to identify any person accessing each source of information (2), and in that the management device (8) authorizes the use of a source of information (2) only after identification of the user by the means (11) for prior identification placed in the vicinity of the information source (2).  4. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises an airlock (4) with two doors (5, 6) comprising a device for counting people passing through the airlock (4) and means preventing the simultaneous opening of the two doors (5, 6).  5. Room according to Claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the external prior identification means (9) are placed outside the airlock (4) and make it possible to receive a method of payment from a user and from in return assign a key to a user who has communicated a method of payment, the key allowing access to the room.  6. Room according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises means for reading the key outside the airlock (4), inside the room near the airlock (4) and in the vicinity of the sources d 'information (2).  7. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the management device (8) comprises means for calculating the billing allocated to each user, as a function of the time spent inside the room and / or the nature and / or number of information sources (2) used and / or the time of use of each information source (2) by the user.  8. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the information sources (2) are at least for parts made up of supports (2a) of recorded or printed information which have to be moved in order to be used, in that it comprises means (7) for storing these information carriers (2a), and in that the detection means (12, 13) affect the active state on each information carrier (2a) moved and not stored.  9. Room according to claim 8, characterized in that the storage means (7) are filing means, comprising locations (18), each location (18) being able to receive one and only one information carrier (2a) , and in that the detection means (12, 13) assign the active state to each information medium (2a) as long as it is not stored classified in a location (18).  10. Room according to claim 9, characterized in that each support (2a) of recorded or printed information comprises a housing (19) of standardized format, in that each location (18) consists of a rack (18) of a corresponding format, and in that the detection means (12, 13) comprise at least one sign (12) rigidly and irremovably associated with each information medium (2a), and at least one detector (13 ) which is associated with each rack (18) and which is intended to cooperate with the sign (12) to detect by reading at least the presence of an information medium (2a), and the movement of the medium (2a) d information during its extraction from the locker (18).  11. Room according to claim 10, characterized in that the sign (12) comprises means (23) for storing information making it possible to determine characteristics of the information medium (2a) and in that the detector (13) is able to read the information stored on the sign (12).  12. Room according to claim 11, characterized in that the sign (12) includes a bar code and in that the detector (13) includes an optical bar code reader.  13. Room according to claim 11, characterized in that the sign (12) includes a permanent electronic memory accessible in read only and in that the detector (13) includes a reader of such electronic memories.  14. Room according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that each location (18) can receive any one of the various media (2a) of information format compatible with that of the location (18) and in that the detection means (12, 13) comprise means for recognizing the information medium (2a) inserted in each location (18).  15. Room according to claim 14, characterized in that the signs (12) of several information carriers (2a) of the same format are placed in the same place on the information carrier (2a), the detectors (13 ) corresponding lockers (18) being placed in the same place on lockers (18) and being able to read the information stored in the sign (12) of any of these information carriers (2a) which is recognized by its characteristics thus determined, the signs (12) and the detectors (13) constituting means for recognizing information carriers (2a).  16. Room according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the storage means (7) comprise a location (18) clean and dedicated to each information support (2a) and in that the means ( 12, 13) of detection are means for detecting the absence of the information carrier (2a) from its location (18).  17. Room according to claim 16, characterized in that the sign (12) is identical for several information carriers (2a), but placed on the information carrier (2a) at a location specific to the carrier (2a) d information, the detection of the absence of the information carrier (2a) being carried out by the detection of the absence of sign (12) at the corresponding location of the information carrier (2a).  18. Room according to claim 17, characterized in that each detector (13) is associated with the rack (18) at a location corresponding to the proper location of the sign (12) on the information medium (2a).  19. Room according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the sign (12) consists of a reflecting patch rigidly and irremovably associated with the information medium (2a), and in that the detector (13) consists of a means for optical detection of the patch.  20. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the information sources (2) are at least partly constituted  - operating devices (2b) for information media (2a)  and or  - at least one interactive terminal for consulting stored information (2c)  and or  - at least one device (2d) for remote connection to computer databases via a transmission network.  21. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it comprises means (14) for reproducing documents and / or means (15) for printing and / or microcomputer stations (16) and / or means (17) of office work managed by the management device (8) as the sources of information (2).  22. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the management device (8) is a computer device made inaccessible to users.  23. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the management device (8) is connected by a data transmission network (47) to a remote monitoring center (48).  24. Room according to claim 23, characterized in that the management device (8) is programmed to transmit to the remote monitoring center (48)  - sounds and images from microphones and cameras arranged inside the room and operating automatically and / or controlled by the remote monitoring center (48) and / or made available to users,  - alarm signals with the corresponding data,  - statistical and / or billing data.  25. Room according to any one of claims 23 and 24, characterized in that the management device (8) is programmed to receive from the remote monitoring center (48) and transmit to the various means of the room which are connected to it  - sounds and images  - control orders for the means (6, 10) of output control, information sources (2), the management device (8) and security devices.  26. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that all the information carriers (2a) are indelibly marked by a mark which can be detected remotely, and in that the means (6 , 10) for output control comprise a device (31) for remote detection of marks.  27. Room according to any one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the storage means (7), the devices (2b, 2c, 2d) and furniture are rigidly associated immobile and irremovable with the fixed structure ( floor, wall or ceiling) of the room which does not include any movable furniture element.