The present invention relates to a method and a system for providing information associated with an object. The

invention furthermore relates to an access point for use in the system for providing information.

In today's information age, an increasing urge for

information can be detected. The increasing number of information sites on the internet is a good example of this. The contents of some of these sites are provided by experts, whereas the content of some site are generated by a

community. The source of the information and thereby the reliability is usually difficult to determine.

To find information about a given object, for instance a product in a store, a search engine can be used on the internet. However, retrieving reliable information can be difficult due to the plurality of different sources with varying and even contradictive information.

Although by using for instance mobile internet practical all information is available at any given time at any given place, it is still considered difficult to retrieve reliable information about an object efficiently.

It is an objective of the present invention, among others, to provide an efficient, easy and/or fast method for

providing information associated with an object extending in a predetermined area. In order to accomplish that objective, a method is provided for providing information associated with an object

extending in a predetermined area, wherein the object is provided with an unique identifier, the method comprising: - providing a local area network accessible for clients using a wireless protocol, wherein said local area network is freely accessible from said predetermined area;

- associating information with said unique identifier; - receiving an unique identifier from a client connected to said local area network, and;

sending information associated with said unique

identifier to said client. In order to allow client to receive information about an object in the predetermined area, said object is provided with an unique identifier. Preferably the unique identifier comprises a number, a string of text or a combination thereof. Since a local area network is provided which is freely accessible from the predetermined area, the client can connect said network. By sending said unique identifier, for instance in the form a 6-digit number, information associated with said unique identifier can be sent back to said client. It should be remarked that the identifier should be unique in said local area network. However, it may for instance be possible to use the same identifier in different networks.

According to a preferred embodiment, the information

comprises video, audio, picture or textual data, or a combination thereof. Upon receipt of a unique identifier, for instance a video in combination with a text associated with said unique identifier can be sent to the client. The local area network uses a wireless protocol enabling easy access to said network. According to a further

preferred embodiment, providing the local area network comprises providing a network using a protocol chosen from the group of Wireless-LAN (IEEE 802.11) and Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), although it may also possible to use similar protocols enabling broad band connections. The local area network is freely accessible for a client. In other words, the method comprises the step of automatically accepting an incoming connection from a client. This allows all clients to connect to said network, creating a versatile information supplying method.

The client hereto preferably comprises customer electronics, for instance chosen from the group of a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant, a music player or a handheld. No dedicated hardware is therefore needed for a person to retrieve information about the object.

A preferred embodiment of the method further comprises the step of accepting a connection of a client to said network and providing an input form to said client upon connection, wherein receiving the unique identifier comprises receiving input from said input form. The connection of a client to the network is hereby automatically accepted and the client is presented a form for inputting a unique identifier. Preferably, the form is presented to the client in the form of a webpage . When the client is connected to the network and tries to open a webpage using the internal browser of the client, only the page containing the form is accessible to said client. Preferably, providing the input form

comprises redirecting all web based traffic to said web page comprising the form. This allows easy communication between the network and the client for the exchange of information without the need for extra software to be installed on the client. In case a client is already connected to the

network, redirecting the web based traffic to said web page comprising the form will also result in an efficient way of providing the identifier.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the range of said local area network is at least equal to the size of said predetermined area. Since the network is preferably only accessible from the predetermined area, a local information system is provided. The predetermined area can for instance comprise a store or a museum. It is however also possible to use the method according to the invention in larger areas, for instance a city, wherein for instance different buildings are provided with unique identifiers.

The object hereby extends in, or at least near, the

connection range of said network. It is then possible for a client located close to the object to connect to the network to receive information about the object.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of objects extends in the predetermined area. Each of these objects is hereby provided with an unique identifier. Since the network is accessible from the predetermined area, it is possible for a client extending near any of the objects to connect to the network for receiving information about said object. Preferably, the size of the predetermined area, and thereby the range of connection of the network, is

determined by the locations of said objects in order to allow connections from clients extending near any of the objects .

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, associating information

comprises providing a database comprising information associated with said unique identifier and wherein sending information further comprises retrieving the entry from said database associated with the received unique identifier. The database contains the information associated with the unique identifier. Upon receipt of a unique identifier, the

database is consulted and the information entry associated with said unique identifier is sent to the client.

Preferably associating the information with said unique identifier comprises connecting to said database from outside said local area network. This allows the database to be modified from outside the predetermined area. It is for instance possible to make the database accessible from the internet to allow remote access and modification of the database. Although the information system according to the invention is a local information system, it is hereby possible to modify the information remotely.

The invention furthermore relates to a system for providing information about an object in a predetermined area, the system comprising:

- at least one object provided with an unique identifier; at least one access point for providing access to a local area network by means of a wireless protocol, wherein said network is freely accessible from said area;

at least one client capable of connecting to said local area network using said wireless protocol,

wherein said access point is arranged to provide information associated with an unique identifier to a client upon receipt of said unique identifier sent by said client.

The access point is arranged to provide a wireless local area network which is freely accessible to clients extending in said predetermined area. If a client wants information about an object extending in said area, he connects to the network and sends the unique identifier associated with the object. The client can for instance be arranged to

automatically connect to an available network. The access point is hereby arranged to automatically accept all

incoming connections from clients. Upon receipt of the unique identifier, the access point retrieves information associated with said unique identifier and sends this information back to said client. A system is hereby provided wherein information is sent to the client only on request of said client.

The access point preferably comprises data storage means to store the information associated with the unique identifier. Upon receipt of a unique identifier, the access point is arranged to retrieve the information associated with said identifier and to send the information to the client. The information can comprise video, audio, picture or textual data, or a combination thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, said access point is arranged to provide an input form to said client upon connection, wherein said input form is arranged to provide said unique identifier from the client to the access point. Upon connection, the client is presented the form which can be used to provide the unique identifier to the access point.

In a preferred embodiment, said form comprises a web page, wherein said web page is presented to the client when the clients tries accessing any particular web page through the network. The access point is hereto provided with

redirecting means for redirecting traffic over the network to said web page comprising the input form.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of objects, each associated with an unique identifier, extends in the predetermined area. The network is hereby accessible for clients located near said objects. If a client wants information about an object in said area, he connects to the network and provides the unique identifier to the access point. The access point then sends information associated with said object.

The client preferably comprises customer electronics, for instance chosen from the group of a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant, music player or a handheld. These devices are well available nowadays and therefore a large part of the population is allowed to request and receive information about a given object according to the invention. More preferably the wireless protocol is chosen from the group of Wireless-LAN (IEEE 802.11) and Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1) . These are reliable protocols which furthermore allow broad band connections between the access point and the client for the transmittal of the information.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the system, the unique identifier comprises a number, a string of text or a combination thereof. Suitable tags can be provided containing the unique identifier to be placed on or near the objects associated with said identifiers. It will be appreciated that since a local area network is used, the unique identifier only needs to be unique in said network. This limits the length and thereby the complexity of said identifier, since only a limited amount of combinations needs to be provided. According to a further preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention the access point is remotely accessible for remotely adjusting the information associated with the object. Preferably the information associated with the unique identifier is accessible through the internet, allowing remote modifications to the information.

The invention furthermore relates to an access point for use in the system according to the invention. The present invention is further illustrated by the

following Figures, which show a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, wherein:

- Figure 1 schematically shows the system according to the invention; - Figure 2 schematically shows the access point of figure 1;

- Figure 3 schematically shows a client connecting to the access point, and;

- Figure 4 shows a plurality of systems according to the invention .

In figure 1 a system according to the invention is shown. The system comprises a wireless access point 1 which is arranged to provide a local area network. The network is schematically indicated with 2, wherein the border indicates the range of said network. The wireless access point 1 in this example comprises a W-Lan access point for creating a network using the IEEE 802.11-protocol .

In the proximity of the access point 1, a plurality of objects 3a-c is provided. In this example, the system is set up in a store, wherein the objects 3a-c are products for sale. The access point is hereby arranged to provide a network which is accessible throughout said store. Each of the products is associated with an unique identifier 4a-c, in this example a 6-digit number. The objects are provided with tags whereon the identification numbers are printed.

If a customer wants more information about for instance object 3a, he reads the unique identifier 4a which is printed on a tag. The customer then uses his mobile client, in this example a mobile phone 5, to connect to the local area network 2. The network 2 is freely accessible for clients 5 and the access point 1 is therefore arranged to accept al incoming connections, schematically indicated with 21, from clients 5.

When the client 5 is then connected to the network 2 and opens his web browser, he will automatically be directed to a web page comprising a form 51, which is schematically shown in figure 3. The form 51 comprises an input field 52 for inputting an unique identifier. Since the customer wants information about object 3a, he fills in the unique number 4a and presses the send button 53. The unique identifier is hereby sent to the access point 1.

Upon receipt of the unique identifier 4a from the client 5, the access point is arranged to send information associated with said unique identifier to the client, schematically indicated with 22.

In order for a client to communicate with the access point 1, the client must be in an area wherein he can connect to the network 2. The objects 3a-b hereto extend in the

connection range of the network, allowing clients in the proximity of the objects 3a and 3b to communicate with the access point 1. However, as can be seen in figure 1, object 3c is located outside the range of network 2. A client 5a in the proximity of the object which is able to read the unique identifier 4c is however in the range of the network 2 and is therefore still able to retrieve information about object 3c using the method according to the invention. It is however preferred to place all the objects and their tags provided with the identifiers within the range of access point 1 to prevent connection problems. In figure 2 the access point 1 according to the invention is shown schematically. The access point 1 comprises a wireless access point which is arranged to accept all incoming connections using a wireless protocol, in this example using Wi-Fi. The access point is hereto provided with receiving means in the form of an antenna 11. In order to send

information back to the clients, the access point 1 is provided with transmittal means in the form of a second antenna 12. However, it is also possible to form antennas 11 and 12 integrally.

Upon receiving a connection request from a client, the access point 1 is arranged to the grant the client access to the network 2. The access point is hereto provided with processing means 13. The processing means are furthermore arranged to send a form for inputting an unique identifier to the client. In this example the processing means are arranged to redirect all web based traffic to a web page comprising the form.

When the unique identifier is then inputted in the form and the form is submitted to the access point 1, the processing means 13 are arranged to retrieve the information associated with the unique identifier from storage means 15 comprising a database. The database contains the information associated with the different identifiers a-d. For instance, identifier a is associated with a piece of text and a picture, while the entry for b comprises audio data, for c video data and for entry c in the database comprises text in combination with audio data.

The processing means is arranged to send the information associated with the unique identifier which was received from the client back to the client using the transmittal means 12. The client can then output the information, for instance play the audio fragment and/or display the text. To be able to remotely modify the database, the access point is provided with a connection means 14 which is connected to the internet. The processing means hereby provide a web based content management system, allowing the information associated with the unique identifiers to be changed from a remote location, schematically indicated with 6 in figure 1.

In figure 4 three systems according to the invention are shown. The information system according to the invention is a local system. In the example of figure 4, two stores and a house on sale in the neighbourhood are each provided with a system for providing information.

The first store is provided with a plurality of access points Ia to provide a network 2a. In the store extends a plurality of objects, indicated with the triangles. Each of the objects is provided with a number which is unique in the range of the network 2a. By sending the number to the access points Ia, information about the object associated with said number can be requested.

The second store uses a single access point Ib to provide a network 2b which is accessible throughout the store. Using this network 2b, information about the objects, indicated with asterisks, can be requested.

As can be seen, the networks 2a and 2b slightly overlap, indicated with the shaded region. When the customer wants information about an object in this shaded area, it is possible for him to connect to two networks 2a and 2b. By selecting the proper network, for instance the network with the name of the store he is in, he connects to the right network and he can request information by submitting the unique number.

It is however possible that the client is arranged to automatically connect to a network and to stay connected while he is in range of said network. A client extending in the shaded area will therefore automatically send the identifier to the access point of the store he was in first when he request information. However, it may also be

possible to manually switch between networks. The third visible network 2c is provided by a single access point Ic which is placed in a house on sale, indicated with 3c. In this example, only one object extends in the network. If a potential buyer walks by said house and wants

information about the house, he must connect to the network and request information by sending the unique identifier associated with the house. The unique identifier can for instance be printed on a tag placed before a window of said house. The information which can be sent to the client can comprise a video tour of the house, the details and price and floor plans of said house.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but extends also to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.