Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Method Of Distributing Printed Publications
NAME ( S ) OF INVENTOR ( S )
Gordon Gill
Ken Heurter
John Zinn
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of distributing
printed publications, such as newspapers, magazines, event
programs and, in particular, horse racing programs used for
simulcast betting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Printed publications are currently distributed through a
vast network of newsstands, retail stores, and coin operated
dispensers. A fundamental problem with this distribution
network is that it is impossible to predict what consumer
demand there may be for a particular printed publication. This
results in frequent shortages and surpluses. Every shortage
represents a lost sale for the distribution network; additional
printed publications could have been sold had they been
available to meet the unexpected strong demand. Every surplus
represents wastage within the distribution network; monies
expended in having the surplus publications printed, and
distributing them through the distribution network, which are
not recoverable. There is frequently a further cost associated
with disposal of the surplus publications.
With weekly and monthly publications there is a time
"window" during which there is a demand for the publications.
After that time window has passed, consumers no longer want the
publication. The information in the publication becomes stale
dated and, consequently, they would prefer to have a more
current issue of the publication. The problem is exacerbated
for daily publications. The time "window" for printing,
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distribution and sale is much narrower. There are also
publications that are published to coincide with an event. An
example of such a publication is a racing program relating to
horse racing, greyhound racing, and the like. With event
programs, once the event has passed there is no longer any
market for the publication. As a consequence, if a delay is
experienced in distributing an event publication through the
distribution network it becomes unsalable.
SiJMMP~RY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a method of distributing printed
publications that is better able to match distribution with
demand.
According to the present invention there is provided a
method of distributing printed publications. A central
processor is provided along with a plurality of remote
satellite processors having a communication device adapted to
permit the satellite processor to communicate with the central
processor. There is at least one and, preferably, several,
dispensing units provided for each of the plurality of remote
satellite processors. Each dispensing unit includes a
display adapted to display menu selections, an input device
adapted to receive consumer selections made from the display
menu, a payment processing unit adapted to receive payment from
the consumer based upon the selections made, and a printer
adapted for printing out a printed publication in response to
selections made by the consumer. Data is transmitted from the
central processor to the plurality of satellite processors on
periodic basis, preferably on a daily basis, via the
communication device. The printer associated with one of the
dispensing units prints out the printed publication on demand
from a consumer who makes a selection from the display menu
using the input device and makes the applicable payment using
the payment processing unit.
With the method, as described above, the printing of the
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printed publications is governed solely by demand from the
consumer. This eliminates the problems of shortages and
surpluses. The publications are kept current through electronic
data transfer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is block diagram illustrating a distribution
network in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
FIGURE 2 is a block diagram illustrating the central
processor for the distribution network illustrated in FIGURE
1.
FIGURE 3 is a block diagram illustrating the satellite
dispensing units for the distribution network illustrated in
FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 4 is a block diagram illustrating a display menu
for the satellite dispensing units for the distribution network
illustrated in FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred method of distributing printed publications
will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 4.
The printed publications selected for purpose of
illustration are horse racing programs required in any program
of simulcast betting. These are event programs for which there
is no demand after the event has occurred. In order to
increase their revenues, horse racing tracks throughout North
America have entered into simulcast agreements. A person
visiting a race track, has the option of betting on horse races
taking place at a dozen or more affiliated race tracks in major
cities across North America. Of course, in order to bet the
person must receive a horse racing program for the track
involved informing him as to which horses are running in the
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races at that race track. It is traditional, for the racing
program to provide performance histories for the horses and
jockeys involved in order that the consumer will have some
objective basis from which to determine a wager. Due to the
number of race tracks involved, problems of shortages and
surpluses have been exacerbated. When a surplus occurs, the
loss of revenue is not a critical problem. However, when
programs are delayed or when there is a shortage of programs
the race track experiences a marked decrease in betting
revenues, as most consumers will not place a wager without
having first reviewed the information provided by the racing
program.
The equipment required for the method of distributing
racing program information will now be described. Referring
to FIGURE 1, a distribution network 10 for distributing
information includes a central processor 12 and a plurality of
satellite processors 14. One or more dispensing units 16 are
served by each satellite processor 14.
Referring to FIGURE 2, central processor 12 has a power
distribution unit 18 that receives electrical power via an
outside line 20 from a power source and distributes the
electrical power required to operate components of central
processor 12. Central processor 12 includes a data storage
device 22, accessible memory 24 for storage of data, a cpu with
bus link 26 and a data communication device 28. Central
processor 12 has a keyboard 30 and a mouse 32 by which central
processor 12 is operated, and a monitor 34 to display
information. Data communication device 28 enables central
processor 12 to be in communication with a plurality of
electronic information sources 36 via first lines of
communication 38, and with remote satellite processors 14 via
a data communication device 40 and second lines of
communication 42.
Referring to FIGURE 3, each of satellite processors 14 has
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a data communication device 44 by which data is communicated
via second line of communication 42 between central processor
12 and satellite processor 14, a cpu with bus link 46, a data
storage device 48, accessible memory 50, and an electrical
5 power receiving and distributing unit 52. In FIGURE 3
satellite processor 14 is shown serving one dispensing unit 16.
It will be recognized that several dispensing units can be
served by each of satellite processors 14, as illustrated in
FIGURE 1.
Referring again to FIGURE 3, each of dispensing units 16
has a touch screen monitor 52. Monitor 52 provides a display
62 adapted to display menu selections 64, as illustrated in
FIGURE 4. Due to the nature of the technology, touch screen
monitor 52 also serves as an input device adapted to receive
consumer selections made from display menu 62. It will be
recognized that a keyboard, a series of buttons or other
alternative means could be used as an input device for
receiving consumer selections may be substituted for touch
screen monitor 52. The dispensing unit 16 has two alternative
means for receiving payment. A first payment processing unit
is in the form of reader 54 is provided for reading bar codes,
"smart" cards, credit cards, debit cards, other means of
identification of users and other means by which a consumer
pays for the services provided through dispensing unit 16.
Alternatively, payment may be made for the racing program at
the point entry into the facility with the consumer given a
card evidencing his or her proof of purchase for use with
reader 54. A second payment processing unit 56 is provided for
receiving coins and bills in payment. Alternatively, payment
may be made for the racing program at the point entry into the
facility with the consumer given a coin-like token evidencing
his or her proof of purchase for use in payment processing unit
56. Dispensing unit 16 also has a printer 58, and an
electrical power receiving and distributing unit 60.
The method of distributing racing program information
comprises the following steps. Referring to FIGURE 1,
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distribution network 10 comprising central processor 12,
several satellite processors 14 and a plurality of dispensing
units 16 is provided. Referring to FIGURE 2, current program
data is input into central processor 12 from a plurality of
race tracks and other sources 36 via first lines of
communication 38. When new data is received by central
processor 12, the current data is substituted for out-dated
data in data storage device 22. Current data is distributed
from data communication device 28 of central processor 12 to
data communication device 44 of remote satellite processors 14
via data communication device 40 and second lines of
communication 42, and is stored in memory 50 of satellite
processor 14, illustrated in FIGURE 3. Referring to FIGURE 3,
the consumer activates monitor 52 to display menu selections
64 from memory 44 of satellite processor 14 as display 62. The
consumer uses the menu selections 64 shown as display 62 to
make selections. The consumer pays for the selections made by
using either reader 54 or payment processing unit 56, thereby
activating dispensing unit 16 to provide the selection made by
the consumer. Satellite processor 14 communicates the
selections made to central processor 12, and central processor
12 updates the current data on selections made in memory 24.
When distribution network 10 is serving consumers interested
in racing, the menu selections available include printing, as
a printed publication, a selected racing program by printer 58
in accordance with selection 64 from menu display 62.
Although racing programs have been used as an example, it
will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the same
teachings are applicable to other publications. Menu display
62 could provide a consumer with selections of various
magazines, such as: TIME, LIFE, VOGUE, PLAYBOY, TEEN, etc.
Menu display 62 could provide a consumer with selections of
various daily newspapers, such as: NEW YORK TIMES, CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, etc. Menu display 62 could provide a consumer with
selections of various portions of daily newspapers, such as:
classified advertisement, business section, entertainment
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section, city section, world news, etc. Menu display 62 could
display trade lists and competitive information for business.
Regardless of what is displayed on menu display 62, the
consumer receives the publication he or she wants upon demand.
A payment is levied for most printed publications in order
to recover costs and make a sufficient to financially support
the publication. Payment processing units have, therefore,
been incorporated into dispensing unit 16 as illustrated and
described. There are, however, some publications that are
supported solely by advertising revenues and given without
charge to consumers. It will be appreciated to one skilled in
the art that in such applications, a payment processing unit
becomes redundant. It will also be apparent to one skilled
in the art that other modifications may be made to the
illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.
