Laudatum Oy - Sycamore Series components

SYCAMORE DN OPERATION AND DES/PROCESS

The core of Sycamore DN is what is called a DES/PROCESS. The operation of this program and DES/PROCESS are described next.

PICTURE: DES/PROCESS flow. First is needed a channel-key, with which the computer get an access to the files of the channel. In the D-stage, most of the scripts are (D)ownloaded. In the (E) and (S) stages the unnecessary HTML is extracted and the rest saved as data. Finally the data can be used to make reports or statistical analyses.

Maintenance of crucial program components. New versions downloaded if necessary
Channel script maintenance. New scripts downloaded if newer versions than the ones currently installed are available on the net.
DOWNLOADING = D-stage. New files which the channel script order, are downloaded if not already have not been downloaded before
EXTRACTING = E-stage. When the HTML code of such a file is wanted to be removed in order to save some actual information in the file, E-function is needed. Channel script orders in these cases the E-function on.
SYNCHRONIZING = S-stage. Synchronizing means new information to be zynchronized with old databases. One such database file could be called INTEL (stock), if the stock exchange rate of INTEL is wanted to be followed for a continual time span. Each time the program is run, this file is added with the current value of the stock, volume, day's low and day's high, or any such data that is available online. On top of this the current time or the time when the "data was out" to a minute is recorded. This time value is needed to make such databases into graphs. The amount of parameters that are used to guide this synchronizing process with the DES/script is large enough to handle very difficult situations. The script then finds the correct data from month to month with precision.

PICTURE: During the DES/PROCESS downloading, the necessary material is fetched from possible quite a many servers. First the script files are updated (phases 1-2) and then the actual data files are fetched (stages 3-X)

If synchronization does not succeed, nothing will be saved. Therefore wrongful data will not be saved to time-series files. Then the maintenance has to only change the script to suit the new situation. This is the job of the script maintenance, which runs daily the scripts to check whether everything goes as it should, if not, a new version of the script is made and put on the Net. The next time somebody uses the program anywhere in the world and has this particular channel installed, the new script is then immediately downloaded and everything works again. Need for script maintenance is evident, but also normally quite seldom script actually needs to be changed.

SYCAMORE VS-VISUALIZATION APPLICATIONS

Data visualization can be accomplished with different VS-applications. These can vary very much, since they are usually tailored programs to suit the customer.

PICTURE: a demo Sycamore VS application already exists for viewing economical information

In this example we are shown a demo of a stock exchange following program with graphing abilities. In this demo it is already possible to get information from multiple stock exchanges around the world, information about current stock prices, new titles, indexes, highest gainers/loosers type of information. All this utilizes publicly available information found on the Net.

AD/PLAYER-INFORMATION AND ADVERTISING STATIONS

Sycamore Series program family can in the future to be used as remote controlled and computerized advertising stations or infostands. Information and advertising pertaining to this system is centrally updated. Client computers around the the country can then run any kind of applications to show this information. Sycamore Series has it's own client software under construction for this purpose. It is called Sycamore AD/PLAYER. All kinds of chain advertising can then be run on the computer based screen.

CHAIN OF STORES REMOTE CONTROLLED ADVERTISING

- A script based advertising point-of-purchase forum can then be built for a chain of stores to each of it's stores. The system would show it's information on a large TV-screen or a plasma screen or a backprojector TV screen to people passing by. Otherwise for instance sports section of a department store would be ideal, or any such location where typically videobased terminals have been used. Sycamore DN application takes care of the downloading and updating of playerlists and files associated with it. AD/PLAYER then plays one after another the advertising media files according to preferences set with the individual media files. Advertising can be for instance MPEG videos, HTML with FLASH or just pictures with text or with music background or a speaker background or anything of the like� "This week in our stores we offer PRODUCT X shown here as a special offer� only 5.95 each." TV-commercials can also be run on the system, if the files are good quality enough.

- The screen can be located in the show window if the system is silent. Otherwise if it is to contain vocal product endorcements, it could be anywhere in the store, maybe sports section of a department store. AD/PLAYER can then run many types of computerized multimedia shows. Sycamore DN will provide daily the new advertising the system needs. Locally produced advertising can also be placed in the system's player list. Advertising can be for instance MPEG videos, HTML multimedia files, other multimedia, animations, text and so forth. "This week in our stores through-out Mid-West we offer...." TV-commercials can be run also as good quality digitized format.

PICTURE: Here is a mock-up of what AD/PLAYER hooked up to a Plasma-TV or a projection-TV or regular bigger size TV might look like in a window or hallway of a car sales facility. The pictures and other data about the car can be automatically retrieved from the homepages of the company. This gives us an opportunity to build continually updated and continually rotating automated car-sales stand.

SYCAMORE MT- SCRIPT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

Sycamore MT is the module that is used to maintain scripts. Script tools are not handed over to third parties to ensure security. Smaller Lite MT applications can be made for less complex script maintenance work done outside Laudatum Oy. Then script maintenance would be made by the channel manager of each channel application.

One such application could be to update files downloading lists by a drag-and-drop file lister. This application would then make the appropriate downloading scripts and upload or FTP the new script alongside with the to-be-sent multimediafiles to the dedicated server, from where client computers later fetch them.

PICTURE: DES/SCRIPT are maintained with Sycamore MT application. The program shows the source HTML alongside with the script.

SYCAMORE SE

Sycamore SE and timed time-series'

SE-program is a program that times when to run which scripts with the Sycamore DN. It reads the timing information set to each of the channels and then commands the DN application to run the DES-process.

DN-program can be instructed to start every time Windows� is run or at certain hour on certain weekdays providing the computer is on. When the downloading is needed to be done more than once a day, then clockable Sycamore SE comes to help. We can collect information for instance every half an hour to build time-series databases of that cycle. We cannot however be sure, that the data will then be exactly one half an hour apart from each other to the minute. This might be due to Network connection being slower than usual or the source server having extreme load or even being non-operable for some reason.

SYCAMORE FD JA FILE DISTRIBUTION

Sycamore FD is a simple Drag-and-Drop style application, that enables organizationwide file distribution via the Internet. The files to be sent are simply dragged and dropped to a list of files to be sent. Then the program creates a piece of protected script and uploads the files to a web server from where these files are downloaded by computers with the channel key. Only authorized personnel can use this software, since in the maintenance side it is password protected. On the other hand it is so simple to use, that no specials skills are required from the user of this software.

BUSINESSMODELS

The script language and it's maintenance will be property of Laudatum Oy. No manual of the language will appear for third party usage. Also channel keys will not be made available without the consent of the channel application owner. Sycamore Series programs are not meant to be distributed on their own, rather they are always tied to the applications that they use. Script maintenance, tailored services and distribution of these services alongside with the Sycamore Series programs are the business model of this program family.

ADVERTISING CHANNEL WITHIN THE SYCAMORE VS

Sycamore VS visualization program has been included with a channel to push small advertising gif banners or html or links to advertising material. Advertising viewing statistics can be returned for advertising statistics collection purposes via a POP EMAIL function to Laudatum Oy. User is prompted during this process and he can include his own feedback about the channels he is receiving or the program itself. No information how the sender could be recognized is transmitted, even though the serial number is stamped the advertising statistics.

The system is not suitable for real-time data return to maintenance center, but other kind of feedback via POP EMAIL can be facilitated.

PROBLEM SITUATIONS PREVENTION AND LONG DISTANCE CURE

The program has been built as fault-resistant as possible. If after all precautions anything would go wrong on some user terminal, can the terminal's basic scripts be returned to the software manufacturer for viewing and alteration. These situations more than likely are a result of such things as power shut down while reading or writing on the hard disk on the crucial files. The terminal's Sycamore DN serial number and consent of the owner is needed for this operation nevertheless. If anything needs to be corrected for one single user for any reason, we can place single user scripts on the net, which are run only by one single computer. Each time the DN is run, single user scripts are also checked for downloading.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND LANGUAGE MODULES

The language of the program modules can be changed on the run, if different modules are available. The programs themselves do not have any language in themselves. Every piece of communication with the user via language comes from a separate and changeable language module. This is in preparation of international versions of Sycamore Series.

Sycamore Series programs need Windows � based computers. Serverside applications can be built, for instance for portal automation purposes. But even then windows server operation system like 'Windows 2000 Server' is needed. In every case when copyrighted material of under some other's ownership, the copyright issues must be solved (i.e. permission to use the material is gained) before an application can be built.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MAINTENANCE SIDE:

continuous script maintenance with Sycamore MT or tailored Sycamore MT Lite program
MT program uploads the scripts and files-to-be-distributed to the right servers using built-in FTP

USER SIDE:

computer
Sycamore DN-program
Key to appropriate channels, which enables the channel information to be received
Internet connection of some kind
Sycamore VS-program or another kind of tailored application to use the distributed information

SYCAMORE SERIES PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Sycamore Series program components are:

1. Sycamore DN
The core of Sycamore DN-program is DES/PROCESS, which is in some detail discussed in this section.
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2. Sycamore VS-visualization software
Sycamore VS program can be used to graph and display the statistical information. The software of other producers can also be used in stead.
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3. Sycamore AD/PLAYER
AD/PLAYER project is providing a software to make an infostand/multimediaterminal for instance for shop windows, reception areas, point-of-purchase situations to display advertising and information centrally provided via the Internet.
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4. Sycamore MT
The channel script maintenance is handled by Sycamore MT application, a dedicated software tool to build DES/SCRIPTS. Laudatum Oy script maintenance uses this software to provide up-to-date scripts for changing situations and to make other requests by the channel users possible.
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5. Sycamore SE
Sycamore SE program is a setup program, that can be also set to start Sycamore DN periodically. This makes possible timed time-series building from constantly changing source information.
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6. Sycamore FD
FD is a simple program for distribution of files within an organization, using the Internet.
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Businessmodels
Laudatum Oy reserves a sole proprietorship to the script maintenance business. Therefore the Sycamore Series business for Laudatum Oy is connected to three areas: script maintenance, tailored applications development and software sales.
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Sycamore VS banner advertising channel
Sycamore VS has been included a possibility of a banner advertising or HTML advertising channel.
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Fault-resistance and remote assistance
The fault-resistance of the program is so high, that a single user terminal scripts can be uploaded to the maintenancecenter and be checked and returned to the single user as repaired. This kind of situation should at least in theory exists only if a dangerous hardware based or sudden Windows error on the hard drive takes place. This same feature can be used for other kinds of uses also, but can only take place, if the serial number of the program is given by the user.
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Systems requirements
Sycamore Series-program family requires Windows (TM) operating system to work
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