Location-based content management method for outputting digital content to a user, and location-based content management system

Abstract

The invention relates to a location-based, preferably decentralised, content management method at least for outputting digital content (Content, 10) to a user (12), comprising at least the method steps (82, 84, 86) of: - determining a location of the user (12); - ascertaining a virtually prescribed digital content (10) in the region (14) of the location of the user (12); - providing the digital content (10) for retrieval by the user (12). It is proposed that the digital content (10) is provided by at least one smart contract (18) based on a, preferably decentralised, digital ledger technology (DLT, 16), such as a blockchain or a tangle.

Description

[0001] Location-based content management method for outputting digital content to a user and location-based content management system

[0002] State of the art

[0003] The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1, a method according to claim 15 and a system according to the preamble of claim 19.

[0004] Augmented reality systems have already been proposed that are based on interaction with a central server or a cloud.

[0005] The object of the invention is, in particular, to provide a generic device with advantageous properties regarding versatility and / or user-friendliness. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claims 1, 15, and 19, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0006] Advantages of the invention

[0007] The invention is based on a, in particular computer-implemented, location-based, preferably decentralized, content management method at least for outputting digital content to a user, comprising at least the method steps: a) determining a localization of the user; b) determining a digital content virtually prescribed in the area of ​​the user's localization; and c) making the digital content, in particular virtually prescribed in the area of ​​the user's localization, available for retrieval to the user, in particular at least for the period in which the digital content is located in the area of ​​the user's localization.

[0008] It is proposed that the digital content is provided via at least one smart contract based on a preferably decentralized digital ledger technology (DLT), such as a blockchain or a Tangle. This advantageously makes it possible to achieve a particularly high level of versatility, in particular by allowing the use of a large number of individually adapted smart contracts. In addition, a high level of user-friendliness can be advantageously achieved, in particular by achieving a particularly high level of transparency with regard to the origin of content and / or with regard to remuneration flows, in particular when the smart contract is based on a public, preferably distributed, DLT. In addition, decentralization can advantageously be achieved, which can advantageously reduce vulnerability to system failures.Advantageously, a direct implementation of a content management process can be achieved that is free of intermediaries, particularly in the payment for services and / or in the sharing of content. This can advantageously achieve high levels of efficiency, particularly cost-effectiveness and / or energy efficiency. Advantageously, the use of smart contracts, in particular, can enable secure direct interactions / transactions between parties who do not know each other and therefore have not yet established trust. This advantageously eliminates the need for an intermediary, such as a bank or database administrator. Advantageously, no contracts or associated contractual obligations are required between the participants in the content management process.

[0009] In a location-based content management method, in particular, content is managed, i.e., provided, which is linked, in particular virtually, to a location coordinate. The content management method is preferably also provided for the inclusion of digital content in a content management system (CMS). Digital content can be embodied as a digital image file, a digital video file, a digital sound file, a digital character string, a digital key, a digital computer program (app), or the like. In particular, the content management method is provided to provide the digital content in such a way that it can be played back by a playback device of the user. The user's location can be determined by means of a location function of the user's playback device or another device of the user, e.g., an interface device of the user. Conceivable, for example,Global positioning using navigation satellite systems, such as GPS, etc., or local positioning using positioning methods independent of navigation satellite systems, such as local triangulation with anchor stations, e.g., via ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, or similar, or local time-of-flight measurements, etc. The determination of the digital content virtually prescribed in the area of ​​the user's location can be achieved by comparing the location / location coordinate currently determined for the user with the respective location coordinates assigned to the digital content, in particular the CMS. The area can be defined variably. Useful area sizes can be formed, for example, by circles with diameters between 0.5 m and 10 m (e.g. 0.5 m, 1 m, 1.5 m, 2 m, 2.5 m, 3 m, 4 m, 5 m, 6 m, 7 m, 8 m, 9 m, 10 m) around the currently determined location of the user. For certain applications, such asCity tours, much larger areas of several 10 m or even 100 m are also conceivable. If one or more digital content items are found in the defined area, these can be displayed to the user for selection, e.g. in a dropdown menu on data glasses. Digital content that is displayed to the user for selection can be played by the user at the location where the user is currently located. It is conceivable that the digital content is removed from the selection made available to the user when the user moves away from the location coordinates of the digital content, in particular when the digital content is no longer in the changed area of ​​the user's location. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the user "collects" all digital content that was once in the user's location and makes it available for later, possibly time-limited, retrieval.It is also conceivable that the digital content is ranked or displayed in a ranked manner. For example, the digital content could be displayed sorted based on user ratings, e.g., the number of "likes" or a score awarded by users. In particular, higher-ranked digital content could be given priority, displayed larger, or specially marked.

[0010] The fact that the digital content is provided via a smart contract should be understood in particular to mean that the user interacts with a smart contract before the digital content is accessed or played. A smart contract can organize / manage the provision of several pieces of digital content, or each piece of digital content or subset of all digital content can be assigned its own, in particular individual, smart contract. In particular, the result of the interaction with the smart contract decides whether the digital content is made available to the user for use or not. The smart contract is preferably set up on a DLT that is based on a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) architecture, such as IOTA™. The smart contract is advantageously set up on a DLT that is free or almost free of transaction costs.It is advantageous for the smart contract to be implemented on a DLT that is at least essentially free of transaction throughput limitations. However, other DLTs are also conceivable, e.g., smart contract-capable blockchains such as Ethereum, EOS, Stellar, Solana, Avalanche, Fantom, Cronos, Polygon, Algorand, Chainlink, Binance Smart Chain, and many more. The advantage of being implemented on a DLT is that the smart contract is publicly visible and immutable.

[0011] A "smart contract" is understood in particular to be a contract based on the DLT, which comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of if / then conditions as pre-programmed functions that can be called. For this purpose, "if" conditions are provided to the smart contract as input, and the smart contract reacts by outputting / non-outputting "then" results. In particular, the smart contract is designed as software code based on the DLT. In particular, the smart contract is immutable due to its DLT implementation. In particular, a DLT address in the DLT is assigned to the smart contract. In particular, the smart contract can be called by sending transactions to the DLT address of the smart contract ("write").In particular, execution of the smart contract may require payment of a fee, which is added in the form of DLT tokens to the transactions that call the smart contract. In particular, the smart contract is executed after more than one DLT node (“quorum”) of the DLT has been called, with the result only being output if all members of the quorum reach the same result. Preferably, after receiving a DLT transaction triggered by the user, the smart contract carries out the following steps: a) Verifying the existence of the functions to be called in the smart contract according to the information received with the DLT transaction, if necessary with a plausibility check of the parameters, b) Verifying whether sufficient fees in the form of DLT tokens have been received, if necessary.Excess fees are returned, c) preparing a transaction to one or more DLT addresses of the DLT network, in particular at least to the DLT address from which the smart contract was called, whereby the transaction includes access permission to the digital content or the digital content (possibly as a non-fungible token, NFT) itself, and d) executing the transaction. If the digital content is in the form of an NFT, then the DLT address to which the transaction was directed is the DLT owner address of the new NFT. The DLT owner address is assigned to the entity (here: the user) that has the key associated with the DLT address (usually a public key of the DLT itself, e.g.

[0012] 0xEfcA6C6981 a448388780cbfefA72dc77C3F73e6b). This enables the entity to forward all DLT tokens, NFTs, etc., associated with the DLT owner address, within the DLT. "Intended" is understood to mean, in particular, specifically programmed, designed, and / or equipped. The fact that an object is intended for a specific function is understood to mean, in particular, that the object fulfills and / or executes this specific function in at least one application and / or operating state.

[0013] It is further proposed that, particularly in a request step, a desire to retrieve the digital content is expressed by sending a DLT transaction to an input function (“write function”) of the smart contract, particularly by means of the interface device assigned to the user. This can advantageously enable a direct provision of the digital content, essentially free of intermediaries. For example, in the request step, a device assigned to the user, e.g., the interface unit, sends a request to the smart contract to send a specific, previously selected digital content (e.g., Content #2145) to the owner of a specific DLT address (e.g.,

[0014] 0xEfcA6C6981 a448388780cbfefA72dc77C3F73e6b). The DLT transaction is sent directly from the device assigned to the user to the smart contract in the DLT. The DLT transaction preferably includes several input parameters / call parameters / digital assets, e.g. the identifier of the desired digital content and the DLT addresses for which the digital content is requested, or additional information about restrictions on playback / specifications for the playback of the digital content, such as language, age of the user, advertising permission, advertising preference, consent to terms of use, level of detail of the released digital content, etc. If the DLT is not free of transaction costs, the DLT transaction also includes a so-called "gas fee" or the DLT transaction sent to the input function of the smart contract is signed by the user who wishes to retrieve the digital content.This advantageously makes it possible to achieve a high level of transaction security. Furthermore, it is proposed that at least one digital asset, such as a message, information, or a DLT token, be attached to the DLT transaction for the input function, in particular in addition to the call parameters for the input function. This advantageously makes it possible to specify and / or optimize interaction between the partners of the smart contract. For example, released content can advantageously be adapted to the framework parameters desired by the user. For example, digital content can be released in different languages, with different levels of detail, for different age groups, with different advertising inserts, etc. The user can advantageously make a corresponding selection when calling the input function(s) of the smart contract.It is also conceivable that different outputs of the digital content are associated with different fees. The user can add the corresponding fees in the form of DLT tokens to the transaction to the input function, which are then distributed by the smart contract to the corresponding authorized recipients. The DLT tokens can be cryptocurrency tokens assigned a monetary value, NFTs, incentive tokens / rating points of a rating and / or reputation system, voucher tokens, or other types of DLT tokens.

[0015] It is further proposed that a release of the digital content be at least triggered by a DLT response transaction of the smart contract. This can advantageously enable direct provision of the digital content, essentially free of intermediaries. For example, the DLT response transaction can include a key for decrypting the digital content. For example, the DLT response transaction can contain a find and / or download address for the digital content. For example, the DLT response transaction can contain the digital content directly. For example, the DLT response transaction can be sent to the DLT or to an entity that stores the digital content and allows the owner of a specific DLT address (e.g., the user's DLT address) access to the digital content.Other types of release known to those skilled in the art, which may in particular be specifically restricted to owners of certain DLT addresses, are of course conceivable. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the DLT response transaction includes a time limit for the release of the digital content. The time limit could be implemented as a kind of countdown until the release expires, as a fixed end time for the release, or as a dynamic limitation dependent on at least one other external condition (e.g., the presence of digital assets on a crypto wallet associated with the DLT address to which the release also applies).

[0016] However, it is preferably proposed that the digital content be released specifically for at least one interface device, to which a DLT receiving address of the DLT response transaction is assigned, or to which a DLT address specified in the DLT response transaction is assigned. This advantageously allows for secure, direct, and targeted provision of the digital content. It is conceivable that multiple addresses of different interface devices are specified in the DLT response transaction, or that multiple DLT response transactions are sent to different interface devices in response to the input function being called.The interface device can be designed as a playback device for digital content, such as a smartphone or data glasses, but preferably the playback device is designed differently from a, in particular conventional, playback device for digital content, which in particular, however, has a communication interface for communication of the digital content and / or release to one or more playback devices.

[0017] Furthermore, it is proposed that the DLT response transaction be accompanied by at least one, in particular automatic, DLT response accompanying transaction, in particular of the smart contract, which comprises at least sending and / or forwarding at least one digital asset, such as a message, information, or a DLT token, to at least one DLT third-party address, in particular one not assigned to the user with the retrieval intent. This can enable particularly advantageous, in particular simple, flexible, and / or secure, administration for content management systems. In particular, the smart contract specifies when which DLT response accompanying transaction with which content is sent. For example, one or more of the DLT accompanying transactions can forward at least some of the digital assets, e.g., the DLT tokens, that were attached to the DLT transaction originally sent to the input function.This can advantageously enable a reliable, tamper-proof, and traceable distribution of digital assets. Alternatively, the accompanying DLT response transactions could not be carried out automatically, but only at the request of the recipient of the release. For example, the recipient could manually trigger one or more accompanying DLT response transactions depending on satisfaction with the transmission service and / or with the received digital content. For example, a accompanying DLT response transaction could be triggered by a "like" for the digital content or depending on a rating of the digital content by the recipient (the better the rating, the more DLT tokens are sent). In particular, the accompanying DLT response transactions are triggered by the smart contract.Alternatively or additionally, an optional direct triggering of the accompanying DLT response transactions by the user, e.g., when assigning a "Like," is also conceivable. The forwarded digital asset is part of the digital asset originally transmitted to the input function.

[0018] If at least one DLT third-party address, which is the target of at least one DLT response accompanying transaction, is assigned to an originator of at least part of the digital content, an advantageous (secure, reliable, uncomplicated and / or direct), especially permanent, involvement of the originator, preferably all originators, in the distribution and management of digital content can be enabled. In particular, it is conceivable that the originator must provide confirmation, e.g., by means of a signature registered in the DLT, before granting release. In this way, a user group can be easily defined. In particular, a digital content can have multiple originators, each of whom can be the target of different DLT response accompanying transactions. The smart contract can advantageously be used to specify to which originator, i.e., to which DLT third-party address, what and how much of it is forwarded.

[0019] If, alternatively or additionally, at least one DLT third-party address, which is the target of at least one DLT response accompanying transaction, is assigned to a manager and / or provider of the digital content, an advantageous (secure, reliable, uncomplicated and / or direct), in particular permanent, involvement of the manager and / or provider in the distribution and management of digital content can be enabled. In particular, it is conceivable that the manager and / or provider thereby receives feedback on the popularity / frequency of use of digital content. In particular, it is conceivable that the manager and / or provider thereby receives a share of the total amount of DLT tokens sent by the user. The smart contract can advantageously be used to specify to which manager and / or provider, i.e. to which DLT third-party address, what and how much of it is forwarded.

[0020] If, alternatively or additionally, at least one DLT third-party address, which is the target of at least one DLT response accompanying transaction, is assigned to an owner and / or producer of the devices attributable to users, in particular the interface devices, this can enable advantageous (secure, reliable, uncomplicated, and / or direct), in particular permanent, involvement of the owner and / or producer of the devices attributable to users in the distribution and management of digital content. In particular, it is conceivable that the owner and / or producer of the devices attributable to users thereby receives feedback on the popularity / frequency of use of the devices, in particular the interface devices. In particular, it is conceivable that the owner and / or producer of the devices attributable to users thereby receives a share of the total amount of DLT tokens sent by the user.The smart contract can be used to advantageously determine to which owner and / or producer of the devices attributable to the users, i.e. to which DLT third-party address, what and how much of it is forwarded.

[0021] Furthermore, it is proposed that at least one DLT third-party address, which is the target of at least one DLT response accompanying transaction, be assigned to at least one further smart contract. This allows a particularly high degree of flexibility and / or extensibility of the content management system to be achieved, in particular despite the static immutability of smart contracts embedded in the DLT. This can advantageously achieve a linking of smart contracts. The further smart contract could, for example, be the smart contract for an original digital content that was used in the creation of the currently requested digital content. This further smart contract can then again provide for distribution, e.g., to the originator of the aforementioned original digital content.The distribution of digital assets performed by the additional smart contract could be modified depending on the origin of the DLT response accompanying transaction or depending on the popularity of a reused digital asset, etc. For example, the additional smart contract could be designed so that a positive response from the additional smart contract to the smart contract requires a higher share of the digital assets available when calling the smart contract's input function with each reuse of a digital asset in another digital asset.

[0022] In particular, the smart contract could be designed in such a way that in order to grant the release, all other smart contracts for reused digital content must first have sent a release to the smart contract.

[0023] If the accompanying DLT response transaction executes an input function of the further smart contract, an extensible chain of smart contracts for managing the release of digital content can be advantageously obtained. This can advantageously achieve a particularly high level of flexibility.

[0024] Additionally, it is proposed that, particularly in a setting step, the intention to set up digital content, particularly one made available for retrieval after setting up, is expressed by sending a DLT transaction to a further input function ("write function") of the smart contract or another smart contract also based on digital ledger technology (DLT), particularly by means of an interface device assigned to an originator and / or setter, in particular a further interface device. This can advantageously enable a direct provision of the digital content between the originator / setter and the consumer / user, essentially free of intermediaries. In particular, the same smart contract is used for setting up and retrieving the digital content. Alternatively, however, different smart contracts can also be provided for setting up and retrieving the digital content.For example, in the setting step, a device assigned to the originator / setter, e.g., another interface unit, which can be configured identically to the interface unit, sends a request to the smart contract to register a specific, previously selected digital content in the DLT or to send it to the DLT. The content is then assigned a content number, in particular by the smart contract (e.g., Content #2145). The digital content can later be requested by a user under this content number. The DLT transaction is sent directly from the device assigned to the originator / setter to the smart contract in the DLT. The DLT transaction preferably includes several input parameters / call parameters / digital assets, e.g.,the type and / or scope of the desired digital asset that is to be forwarded to the creator / author when the digital content is accessed and the DLT addresses to which the digital asset is to be forwarded or further additional information about restrictions on the release / specifications for the release of the digital content, such as language, age of the permitted users, terms of use, etc.

[0025] Linking the provided digital content to a DLT non-fungible token (NFT) can advantageously achieve a high level of forgery security. Furthermore, controlled distribution of the digital content from users to other users can be advantageously enabled. If the digital content is distributed as NFTs, it can advantageously be permanently linked to specific DLT addresses. The distribution of such NFTs could also be organized via the smart contract or another smart contract. For example, royalties in the form of digital assets can be diverted via the smart contract each time the NFT is distributed and distributed to the author and / or creator of the digital content or to previous owners of the NFT.

[0026] If at least some of the provided digital content is stored decentrally, e.g., in the DLT, a particularly tamper-proof, direct, intermediary-free, and / or lean organization can be achieved. Alternatively, the digital content can be stored at least partially centrally on a server or in a cloud. In particular, the storage location could be made dependent on the file size of the digital content. Everything above a certain file size limit would then be stored centrally, while everything below the file size limit would be stored decentrally on the DLT.

[0027] In addition, a (further) location-based, preferably decentralized, content management method is proposed, at least for a spatially organized recording of digital content made available by authors (20) and / or creators, into a location-based, in particular decentralized, content management system (CMS), wherein a real three-dimensional recording space for the digital content is virtually divided into a plurality of volume segments arranged next to one another and one above the other, wherein each of the volume segments is assigned a unique DLT address of a DLT, and wherein each of the digital contents is linked to at least one of the DLT addresses assigned to one of the volume segments during the setting. This advantageously allows a digital content, e.g. information, to be linked to a spatial component. The digital contents can advantageously be spatially positioned in three dimensions.A decentralized, three-dimensional knowledge space can be advantageously created, which can be filled, in particular, with free knowledge created by anyone. This can advantageously refine and / or improve searches using spatial information. For example, the three-dimensional knowledge space comprising spatial information could be more specifically searchable by intelligent Web 4.0 search bots, since information is linked to spaces. For example, if one searches the internet for church lighting today, an unmanageable number of search results for real, non-existent, or previously existing lighting will result.If a cl-search bot is given the task of displaying all currently viewable chandeliers in church naves, which may also have similarities with a specific description, the cl-search bot requires spatial information about the respective descriptions (digital content). Such searches could also be limited spatially or otherwise ("show me similar chandeliers in churches within a 10 km radius", "show me chandeliers from specific eras, by specific artists", "show me chandeliers discussed by specific authors / creators of digital content", etc.). In particular, the volume segments can have various shapes, such as a cube, a six-sided prism, a pyramid, or another solid shape that can fill a space seamlessly. In particular, a, e.g.Digital content associated with a particularly large object, such as a church window, can also be assigned to multiple volume segments, and thus, in particular, to multiple DLT addresses. These DLT addresses can then be more easily incorporated into a smart contract, ultimately making it easier to find the smart contract when smart contract search bots search for similar smart contracts.

[0028] Furthermore, it is proposed that each of the digital content items be linked to at least one smart contract based on the DLT, with the digital content being provided to users via the at least one smart contract, preferably by means of the location-based content management method for outputting the digital content to the user. This advantageously allows for a high level of user-friendliness, in particular by achieving a particularly high level of transparency regarding the origin of content and / or remuneration flows. Advantageously, a direct implementation of a content management method can be achieved, which is free of intermediaries, particularly in the remuneration of services and / or in the sharing of content.

[0029] If the real three-dimensional recording space is designed to span the entire globe, a particularly wealth of information can be advantageously achieved. For example, the three-dimensional recording space could be composed / structured as follows. First, the globe plus approximately 10 km in height is inserted into a cube. This cube is then divided into, for example, 1 m x 1 m x 1 m subcubes. With a globe diameter of approximately 12,756 km, the cube would then have a diameter of approximately 12,800 km and would have approximately 12,800 x 12,800 x 1,000 = 2,097,152,000,000,000 subcubes. Subcubes located in inaccessible locations below the Earth's surface, for example, subcubes within a globe diameter minus 10 km depth (to include underwater objects, caves, etc.), would then be disregarded, and all other subcubes would then be assigned a unique DLT address. This would give us approximately 2,097,152,000,000,000 - 12.700 x 12,700 x 12,700 x 1,000 = 48,769,000,000,000 subcubes with DLT addresses. These subcubes with DLT addresses then form the individual volume segments in this example. The totality of all subcubes with DLT addresses then forms the three-dimensional recording space in this example. Of course, more limited three-dimensional recording spaces (e.g., limited to only one building, such as a church) or outside the Earth (e.g., spanning the moon, etc.) are also conceivable. Finer or coarser resolutions of the three-dimensional recording space into volume segments than the 1-cubic-meter cube are also conceivable. The volume segments of the three-dimensional recording space advantageously form a clean spatial search grid for AI search bots.

[0030] Furthermore, it is proposed that the DLT addresses assigned to the volume segments be additionally assigned to, in particular, definable time intervals. This advantageously adds an additional time component to the three-dimensional recording space. This advantageously also allows search queries to be made more precise in terms of time (e.g., “what kind of chandelier hung here 10, 20, and 50 years ago?”, “what kind of building used to stand here?”). In particular, the DLT addresses assigned to the volume segments can be replaced by new DLT addresses at definable time intervals, or time intervals in the past, present, and / or future can be assigned to all volume segments right from the start. This could, for example, allow suggestions for the future to be stored in the CMS. If, for example, something is broken in one place, a question could be: “what will go here in the future?”.For example, an architect might have already stored a proposal in an audio file or an image file. The address space for DLT addresses of known DLTs is large enough for almost any temporal resolution (e.g., address space of Ethereum addresses: 2. 256 > 1 ,1 e+77).

[0031] Furthermore, a location-based, in particular decentralized, content management system (CMS) is proposed, comprising at least one localization device for determining a current position of the user of the localization device, in particular for the localization of the user, and at least one interface device for communication with the DLT. This advantageously makes it possible to achieve a high level of user-friendliness, in particular by achieving a particularly high level of transparency with regard to the origin of content and / or with regard to remuneration flows. Furthermore, decentralization can advantageously be achieved, whereby susceptibility to system failures can be advantageously reduced. Advantageously, a direct implementation of a content management method can be achieved, which is free of intermediaries, in particular with regard to the remuneration of services and / or the sharing of content.This advantageously enables high levels of efficiency, particularly cost-effectiveness and / or energy efficiency. Secure direct interactions / transactions between parties who do not know each other and therefore have not yet established trust can be advantageously enabled, particularly through the use of smart contracts. The interface device can be designed as a standalone electronic (computer) device, which is preferably equipped with, in particular pre-installed, software intended at least for executing at least the query step and / or the setting step of the above-described, in particular computer-implemented, location-based, preferably decentralized, content management method. In particular, the interface device is described in a German patent application with application number 10 2021 112 613.4, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety into the present patent application, is described in detail.

[0032] It is also proposed that the CMS comprise a content creation device that is configured differently from the localization device and the interface device. The content creation device can be configured as a smartphone, a tablet, data glasses, a personal computer, or another computer device, which is preferably equipped with, in particular pre-installed, software that is provided at least for communicating digital content with the interface device. Optionally, the content creation device can also be configured to execute at least the setting step of the above-described, in particular computer-implemented, location-based, preferably decentralized, content management method.

[0033] It is further proposed that the CMS comprise a content playback device that is configured differently from the localization device and differently from the interface device. The content playback device can be configured as a smartphone, a tablet, data glasses, a personal computer, an audio playback device, or another computer device, which is preferably equipped with, in particular pre-installed, software that is provided at least for communicating digital content with the interface device. Optionally, the content playback device can also be configured to execute at least the query step of the above-described, in particular computer-implemented, location-based, preferably decentralized, content management method.

[0034] If the content creation device is identical to the content player, simple operation and / or high user-friendliness can be advantageously achieved. Alternatively, the content creation device and the content player could also be designed as separate devices.

[0035] Furthermore, if the localization device is identical to the interface device, simple operation and / or high user-friendliness can be advantageously achieved. Alternatively, the localization device and the interface device could also be designed as separate devices. Alternatively, the localization device could also be integrated into a smartphone, i.e., be designed at least identically to the content player.

[0036] Furthermore, it is proposed that the CMS include one or more anchor stations, which enable the determination of the user's location and / or the virtually prescribed digital content independently of navigation satellite systems, e.g., through local triangulation or local time-of-flight measurements. This advantageously enables precise localization of the user within enclosed buildings and / or within areas where no navigation satellite systems are available (e.g., caves). A description of the functionality of localization using anchor stations is described in the German patent application with application number 10 2021 112 613.4.

[0037] The method and system according to the invention are not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the method and system according to the invention may comprise a number of individual elements, components, and units that differs from the number stated herein to fulfill a functionality described herein.

[0038] Drawings

[0039] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0040] They show:

[0041] Fig. 1 A schematic diagram of a location-based Content Management System (CMS),

[0042] Fig. 2 shows an example indoor use case of the CMS,

[0043] Fig. 3 a schematic flow diagram of a location-based content management process and

[0044] Fig. 4 shows an exemplary three-dimensional recording space divided into volume segments. Description of the embodiment

[0045] Fig. 1 shows a very simplified schematic diagram of a content management system (CMS) 48. The CMS 48 is intended for the management of digital content 10. The CMS 48 is intended for the receipt and output of the digital content 10 to a user 12 (see also Fig. 2). The CMS 48 is designed as a location-based CMS 48. The digital content 10 of the location-based CMS 48 is each linked to location coordinates (see also Fig. 2). The CMS 48 is designed to be decentralized. The management of the digital content 10 of the decentralized CMS 48 is carried out decentralized via a digital ledger technology (DLT) 16. The receipt and output of the digital content 10 of the decentralized CMS 48 is carried out decentralized via the DLT 16. The DLT 16 is designed as a decentralized DLT 16. The DLT 16 is designed as a public DLT 16. Alternatively, the DLT 16 can also be private, at least partially decentralized, and / or non-public.The DLT 16 is preferably embodied as an IOTA™ Tangle. In Fig. 1, however, the DLT 16 is depicted as a blockchain by way of example. The digital content 10 of the decentralized CMS 48 can be stored decentrally, e.g., on the DLT 16, such as a blockchain or a Tangle. Alternatively, the digital content 10 can also be stored centrally on a server or in a cloud, and only the management can be carried out decentrally (not shown). The CMS 48 comprises a smart contract 18. The smart contract 18 is based on the DLT 16. The smart contract 18 is intended to manage the digital content 10, in particular the recording and output of the digital content 10. The smart contract 18 is intended to control playback authorizations for the digital content 10. The smart contract 18 is intended to control the integration of new digital content 10 into the CMS 48.Smart contract 18 has one or more input functions ("write functions"). Smart contract 18 has one or more output functions. Smart contract 18 is assigned a DLT address of DLT 16. Smart contract 18 can receive DLT transactions 20. Smart contract 18 can send DLT response transactions 26 to additional DLT addresses of DLT 16. Additional smart contracts 42 can be set up on top of DLT 16. The additional smart contracts 42 can be linked to smart contract 18.

[0046] The CMS 48 has an interface device 22. The interface device 22 is intended for communication with the DLT 16. The interface device 22 is intended to form an interface between the DLT 16 and a content playback device 54 of the CMS 48, in particular one that can be assigned to a user 12, and / or a content creation device 52 that can be assigned to an author 30 of digital content 10. In principle, it would also be conceivable for the content playback devices 54 and the content creation devices 52 to communicate directly and independently of interface devices 22, 46 with the DLT 16. The interface device 22 is permanently assigned to a user 12. The interface device 22 can be designed, for example, as an electronic tag or as a wearable. The interface device 22 is intended to be carried by the user 12. The CMS 48 has a localization device 50.The localization device 50 is intended to determine a current position of the user 12. The localization device 50 is intended to determine the location coordinates at which the user 12 is located. The localization device 50 is identical to the interface device 22. Alternatively, however, a separate design is also conceivable. For example, the interface device 22 could receive user locations from a third-party device, e.g., from a smartphone assigned to the user 12. The interface device 22 is intended to compare the determined locations of the user 12, particularly in real time, with virtual locations of digital content 10 within the CMS 48. The digital content 10 can be designed as augmented reality objects or as virtual reality objects.The interface device 22 is intended to inform the user 12 about digital content 10 located within a range 14 of the user's 12 location. Alternatively or additionally, the content playback devices 54 can also be provided for this task. The CMS 48 has the content playback device 52. The content playback device 52 is configured differently from the localization device 50. The content playback device 52 is configured differently from the interface device 22. The content playback device 52 is configured, for example, as headphones / VR glasses. The content playback device 52 is intended to output the digital content 10 to the user 12.

[0047] The CMS 48 has the content creation device 52. The content creation device 52 is designed differently from the localization device 50. The content creation device 52 is designed differently from the interface device 22. The content creation device 52 can be identical to the content playback device 54. In the exemplary illustration in Fig. 1, however, the content creation device 52 and the content playback device 54 are designed differently and separately from one another and, in particular, are assigned to different users 12, 30. The CMS 48 has a further interface device 46. In the case illustrated in Fig. 1, the further interface device 46 is assigned to an author 30 of digital content 10. The further interface device 46 is designed at least substantially identically to the interface device 22. The further interface device 22 forms the localization device 50.

[0048] Alternatively, however, a separate design is also conceivable. The additional interface device 46 is provided for communication with the DLT 16. The additional interface device 46 is provided for forming an interface between the DLT 16 and the content creation device 52, which can in particular be assigned to the originator 30. The additional interface device 46 is permanently assigned to the originator 30. The additional interface device 22 is provided for linking the determined locations of the originator 30, in particular in real time, with virtual locations of digital content 10 created and left behind by the originator 30. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable for the originator 30 to manually assign location coordinates to the digital content 10 created by them, at which these are then virtually located.

[0049] The CMS 48 may be intended to communicate with other parties, such as a

[0050] To communicate and / or connect with the administrator 32 of the CMS 48 and / or a producer 38 of the interface devices 22 and / or other smart contracts 42 and / or other authors 66 involved in a digital content 10. See in particular the explanations for Fig. 3.

[0051] Fig. 2 shows an example indoor application of the CMS 48. In this case, the CMS 48 is used for visitor guidance in the interior 62 of a church (Überlingen Minster). Comparable uses at other locations, both indoors (museums, exhibition centers, conference venues, hospital buildings, university buildings, airport buildings, etc.) and outdoors (city tours, amusement parks, hiking trails, etc.), are of course also conceivable. The CMS 48 has several anchor stations 56. The anchor stations 56 are distributed within the interior 62. The anchor stations 56 are provided for locating interface devices 22 in interior spaces 62. The anchor stations 56 are provided for determining the location of the user 12, in particular of the interface devices 22 assigned to the user 12, independently of navigation satellite systems.The anchor stations 56 are provided for determining the location of the virtually prescribed digital content 10 independently of navigation satellite systems. The anchor stations 56 are provided to enable localization by local triangulation and / or local time-of-flight measurements. Several digital content items 10 are virtually located in the interior space 62. Each located digital content item 10 represents, for example, an audio and / or video explanation of an object to be viewed at that location. The digital content items 10 and their positions are communicated to the user 12 via the interface devices 22. An area 14 is defined around the user 12 (e.g., a circle with a radius of 2 m). The interface devices 22 continuously determine whether a digital content item 10 is located within the area 14 of the user 12.If this is the case, the digital content 10 is made available for retrieval by the user 12, in particular for a content playback device 54 of the user 12, preferably via the interface device 22. Fig. 3 shows a schematic flow diagram of a location-based content management method for outputting the digital content 10 to the user 12. The method is designed as a decentralized content management method. The method also comprises a location-based, preferably decentralized, content management method for spatially organized recording of digital content 10, which is made available by the authors 30 and / or creators, into the CMS 48. In at least one method step 110, a real three-dimensional recording space 104 for digital content 10 is virtually divided into a plurality of volume segments 106, 108 arranged next to one another and one above the other (see also Fig. 4).The real three-dimensional recording space 104 shown as an example in Fig. 4 is designed to span the globe. In at least one further method step 112, a bundle of unique DLT addresses of the DLT 16 is assigned to each of the volume segments 106, 108. Each of the DLT addresses assigned to the volume segments 106, 108 is assigned to exactly one time interval. In at least one further method step 64, a digital content 10 is generated by the originator 30. The originator 30 can use material (e.g. background music, an animation, an image, etc.) that originates from other originators 66 (cf. Fig. 1). The originator 30 creates the digital content 10 using the content creation device 52 (e.g. with their smartphone). In at least one method step 76, the originator 30 assigns a location coordinate to the digital content 10.This can be done by locating the location of the location coordinate and performing the following method step 68 at that location, or by manually adding a location coordinate to the digital content 10 from another location. Any participant in the CMS 48 can be an originator 30 or become active as an originator 30. In the further method step 68, which forms a setting step 60, the originator 30 announces their intention to post the created digital content 10. To do so, the originator 30 sends a DLT transaction 44 to an input function of the smart contract 18. The originator 30 uses the interface device 46 assigned to them for this purpose. Each of the digital content 10 items added to the CMS 48 in this way is linked to at least one of the DLT addresses assigned to one of the volume segments 106, 108 during the posting process. In at least one further method step 70, the smart contract 18 registers the digital content 10 in the CMS 48.For example, the smart contract 18 assigns a registration number to the digital content 10. Each of the digital content 10 is linked to the smart contract 18. Furthermore, the smart contract 18 assigns the author 30, or the DLT address of the author 30, to the digital content 10. When calling the input function of the smart contract 18, the author 30 optionally specifies the additional digital content used to create their digital content 10, or at least the DLT addresses of the authors 66 of these additional digital content.

[0052] In at least one further method step 72, the provided digital content 10 is stored decentrally in the DLT 16. Alternatively, central storage or cloud storage is also conceivable. In at least one further method step 74, the provided digital content 10 is linked by the smart contract 18 to a non-fungible token (NFT) of the DLT 16. This can be done, for example, by incorporating a hash value of the digital content 10 into an NFT of the DLT 16. There can be multiple NFTs for each digital content 10, so that each user 12 receives an individual, unique, and non-replicable NFT of the digital content 10. In at least one further method step 80, the digital content 10 is made available for location-based retrieval at the linked coordinates after being uploaded to the CMS 48.

[0053] In at least one further method step 82, the location of the user 12 is determined. For this purpose, the localization device 50 of the user 12 determines the continuously changing position of the mobile user 12 in the interior space 62. The position is determined via interaction with the anchor stations 56. The interface devices 22 exchange signals with the anchor stations 56 or receive signals from the anchor stations 56, on the basis of which the position can be determined. In at least one further method step 84, it is determined whether a digital content 10 is virtually prescribed in the area 14 around the location of the user 12. If a digital content 10 is determined in the area 14, it is made available for retrieval to the user 12 in a further method step 86. The provision of the digital content 10 takes place in the method step 86 via the smart contract 18.The user 12 can also use the localization device 50 to compile and / or navigate a guided tour. It is conceivable that a selection can be made between different tours that include different digital content 10. If multiple digital content 10 items are detected in the area 14 around the location of the user 12, a drop-down menu can be provided within the content player 54, for example, by means of which a digital content 10 item can be easily selected from among multiple items.

[0054] In at least one sub-step 88 of method step 86, forming a request step 58, the user 12 expresses a desire to retrieve the digital content 10. To do so, the user 12 sends a DLT transaction 20 to an input function of the smart contract 18. For a further illustration of all DLT transactions described below, reference is also made to Fig. 1. This is done using the interface device 22 assigned to the user 12. The DLT transaction 20 includes call parameters for the input function of the smart contract 18. At least one digital asset, such as a DLT token, is also attached to the DLT transaction 20 to the input function.It is conceivable that the interface devices 22 can be connected to a crypto wallet of a user 12 or that the interface devices 22 are assigned their own crypto wallets, which can be loaded with digital assets by the user 12, for example, by a fiat payment to the administrator 32 upon acquisition of the respective interface devices 22. In at least one further sub-step 90 of method step 86, the smart contract 18 is executed by at least one DLT node of the DLT 16. In at least one further sub-step 92 of method step 86, a release of the digital content 10 is at least triggered by a DLT response transaction 26 of the smart contract 18.The release of the digital content 10 is carried out specifically for at least one interface device 22, which is assigned a DLT receiving address of the DLT response transaction 26 or which is assigned a DLT address that is specified in the DLT response transaction 26.

[0055] In at least one further sub-step 94 of method step 86, the DLT response transaction 26 is flanked by a first DLT response accompanying transaction 28. The DLT response accompanying transaction 28 is sent by the smart contract 18 in temporal connection (simultaneously, shortly before, or shortly after) with the DLT response transaction 26. The DLT response accompanying transaction 28 comprises sending at least one digital asset / forwarding at least a portion of the digital asset that was attached to the DLT transaction 20 by the user 12 (in sub-step 88). The DLT response accompanying transaction 28 is sent by the smart contract 18 to a DLT third-party address not assigned to the user 12 with the retrieval intent. The DLT third-party address to which the DLT response accompanying transaction 28 is directed is assigned to the originator 30 of the digital content 10.For example, 75% of the digital assets attached to the DLT transaction 20 by the user 12 are assigned to the originator 30. In at least one further sub-step 96 of method step 86, the DLT response transaction 26 is flanked by a second DLT response accompanying transaction 34. The second DLT response accompanying transaction 34 is sent by the smart contract 18 in temporal connection (simultaneously or shortly before or shortly after) with the DLT response transaction 26. The second DLT response accompanying transaction 34 comprises sending at least one digital asset / forwarding at least a portion of the digital asset that was attached to the DLT transaction 20 by the user 12 (in sub-step 88). The second DLT response accompanying transaction 34 is sent by the smart contract 18 to a DLT third-party address not assigned to the user 12 with the retrieval intention.The DLT third-party address to which the second DLT response accompanying transaction 34 is directed is assigned to the administrator 32 and / or a provider of the digital content 10. For example, 10% of the digital assets attached to the DLT transaction 20 by the user 12 are assigned to the administrator 32 and / or the provider of the digital content 10. In at least one further sub-step 24 of method step 86, the DLT response transaction 26 is flanked by a third DLT response accompanying transaction 36. The third DLT response accompanying transaction 36 is sent by the smart contract 18 in temporal connection (simultaneously, shortly before, or shortly after) with the DLT response transaction 26. The third DLT response accompanying transaction 36 comprises sending at least one digital asset / forwarding at least a portion of the digital asset that was attached to the DLT transaction 20 by the user 12 (in sub-step 88).The third DLT response accompanying transaction 36 is sent by the smart contract 18 to a DLT third-party address not associated with the user 12 with the retrieval intent. The DLT third-party address to which the third DLT response accompanying transaction 36 is directed is associated with a holder and / or the producer 38 of the interface device 22 associated with the user 12. For example, 15% of the digital assets attached to the DLT transaction 20 by the user 12 are allocated to the holder and / or the producer 38 of the interface device 22 associated with the user 12.

[0056] In at least one further sub-step 98 of method step 86, the DLT response transaction 26 is flanked by a fourth DLT response accompanying transaction 40. The fourth DLT response accompanying transaction 40 is sent by the smart contract 18 in temporal connection (simultaneously, shortly before, or shortly after) with the DLT response transaction 26. The fourth DLT response accompanying transaction 40 comprises sending at least one digital asset / forwarding at least a portion of the digital asset that was attached to the DLT transaction 20 by the user 12 (in sub-step 88). The fourth DLT response accompanying transaction 40 is sent by the smart contract 18 to a DLT third-party address not assigned to the user 12 with the retrieval intent. The DLT third-party address to which the fourth DLT response accompanying transaction 36 is sent is assigned to the additional smart contract 42. This links the smart contract 18 to the additional smart contract 42.The further smart contract 42 can be intended for the organization / management of further digital content. The further smart contract 42 can be intended for the awarding of royalties. In at least one further sub-step 100 of method step 86, an input function of the further smart contract 42 is executed, triggered by the fourth DLT response accompanying transaction 40. In response to the execution of the input function, the further smart contract 42 triggers further DLT response accompanying transactions 102. Attached to the further DLT response accompanying transactions 102 are each at least portions of the digital asset that were sent to the further smart contract 42 with the fourth DLT response accompanying transaction 40. For example, one of the recipients of the further DLT response accompanying transactions 102 is the further originator 66, whose material was used in the originally requested digital content 10.For example, one of the recipients of the additional DLT response accompanying transactions 102 is the administrator 32 through which the additional digital content was provided, which was reused in the creation of the originally requested digital content 10. For example, 10% of the 75% of the author 30 is allocated to the additional originator 66. For example, 5% of the 75% of the author 30 is allocated to the administrator 32 through which the additional digital content was provided. In general, the number of DLT response accompanying transactions 28, 34, 36, 40, 102 that flank a DLT response transaction 26 or that are triggered by a DLT response transaction 26 can be changed as desired. Linking several additional smart contracts 42 to the smart contract, or even a chain of linked smart contracts 18, 42, is also conceivable.

[0057] In at least one further method step 78, the released digital

[0058] Content 10 is played by the user 12 using the content player 54. For this purpose, only the release or the entire digital content 10 can be forwarded from the interface device 22 to the content player 54.

[0059] Reference symbol

[0060] 10 Digital Content

[0061] 12 users

[0062] 14 Area

[0063] 16 DLT

[0064] 18 Smart Contract

[0065] 20 DLT transactions

[0066] 22 Interface device

[0067] 24 sub-steps

[0068] 26 DLT response transaction

[0069] 28 DLT response accompanying transaction

[0070] 30 authors

[0071] 32 administrators

[0072] 34 DLT response accompanying transaction

[0073] 36 DLT response accompanying transaction

[0074] 38 Producer

[0075] 40 DLT response accompanying transaction

[0076] 42 Additional Smart Contract

[0077] 44 DLT transaction

[0078] 46 Interface device

[0079] 48 Content Management Systems

[0080] 50 localization device

[0081] 52 Content creation device

[0082] 54 Content player

[0083] 56 anchor station

[0084] 58 Query step

[0085] 60 setting steps

[0086] 62 Interior

[0087] 64 process steps

[0088] 66 Author procedural step

[0089] Process step

[0090] Process step

[0091] Process step

[0092] Process step

[0093] Process step

[0094] Process step

[0095] Process step

[0096] Process step

[0097] Process step

[0098] Substep

[0099] Substep

[0100] Substep

[0101] Substep

[0102] Substep

[0103] Substep

[0104] Substep

[0105] Additional DLT response accompanying transaction

[0106] Three-dimensional recording space

[0107] Volume segment

[0108] Volume segment

[0109] Process step

[0110] Process step

Claims

Claims 1. Location-based, preferably decentralized, content management procedure at least for the output of digital content (Content, 10) to a user (12), comprising at least the procedure steps (82, 84, 86) - Determining a user's location (12) - Determining a digital content virtually prescribed in the area (14) of the user's location (12) (10) - Providing the digital content (10) for retrieval by the user (12), characterized in that the provision of the digital content (10) is carried out via at least one smart contract (18) based on a, preferably decentralized, digital ledger technology (DLT, 16), such as a blockchain or a Tangle.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a will to retrieve the digital content (10) is made known by sending a DLT transaction (20) to an input function (“write function”) of the smart contract (18), in particular by means of an interface device (22) assigned to the user (12).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the DLT transaction (20) is accompanied by at least one digital asset, such as a message, information or a DLT token, in particular in addition to the call parameters for the input function. A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the release of the digital content (10) is triggered at least by a DLT response transaction (26) of the smart contract (18). A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the release of the digital content (10) is specific to at least one interface device (22) to which a DLT receive address of the DLT response transaction (26) is assigned, or to which a DLT address is assigned that is specified in the DLT response transaction (26). A method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the DLT response transaction (26) is accompanied by at least one DLT response accompanying transaction (28, 34, 36, 40), in particular of the smart contract (18), which at least enables the sending of at least one digital asset, such as, for example, a data file.a message, information, or DLT token, to at least one third-party DLT address, in particular not associated with the user (12) with the retrieval intent. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one third-party DLT address, which is the target of at least one DLT response accompanying transaction (28), is assigned to an author (30) of at least part of the digital content (10). A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that at least one third-party DLT address, which is the target of at least one DLT response accompanying transaction (34), is assigned to a manager (32) and / or sharer of the digital content (10).

9. Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that at least one DLT third-party address, which is the target of at least one DLT response accompanying transaction (36), is assigned to an owner and / or producer (38) of the interface devices (22) attributable to the users (12).

10. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that at least one DLT third-party address, which is the target of at least one DLT response accompanying transaction (40), is assigned to at least one further smart contract (42).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that an input function of the further smart contract (42) is executed by the DLT response accompanying transaction (40).

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a will to post a digital content (10), in particular made available for retrieval after posting, is communicated by sending a DLT transaction (44) to a further input function of the smart contract (18), in particular by means of an interface device (46) assigned to an author (30) and / or poster.

13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the provided digital content (10) is linked to a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) of the DLT (16).

14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the provided digital content (10) is stored decentrally, e.g. in the DLT (16).

15. A location-based, preferably decentralized, content management method for at least a spatially organized recording of digital content (Content, 10) provided by authors (30) and / or creators into a location-based, in particular decentralized, content management system (CMS, 48), wherein a real three-dimensional recording space (104) for digital content (10) is virtually subdivided into a plurality of volume segments (106, 108) arranged side by side and one above the other, wherein each of the volume segments (106, 108) is assigned a unique DLT address of a, preferably decentralized, digital ledger technology (DLT, 16), such as a blockchain or a Tangle, and wherein each of the digital content (10) is linked to at least one of the DLT addresses assigned to one of the volume segments (106, 108) when uploaded.

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that each of the digital contents (10) is linked to at least one smart contract (18) based on the DLT (16), wherein the provision of the digital content (10) to users (12) takes place via the at least one smart contract (18), preferably by means of a method according to one of claims 1 to 14.

17. Method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the real three-dimensional recording space (104) is designed to span the globe.

18. Method according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the DLT addresses assigned to the volume segments (106, 108) are additionally assigned to time intervals. Location-based, in particular decentralized, content management system (CMS, 48), at least for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims. CMS (48) according to claim 19, comprising at least one localization device (50) for determining the instantaneous position of the user (12) of the localization device (50) and at least one interface device (22, 46) for communication with the DLT (16). CMS (48) according to claim 20, characterized by a content creation device (52) which is configured differently from the localization device (50) and differently from the interface device (22, 46). CMS (48) according to claim 20 or 21, characterized by a content playback device (54) which is configured differently from the localization device (50) and differently from the interface device (22, 46). CMS (48) according to claims 21 and 22, characterized in that the content creation device (52) is identical to the content playback device (54).CMS (48) according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the localization device (50) is identical to the interface device (22). CMS (48) according to one of claims 20 to 24, characterized by one or more anchor stations (56) which enable a determination of the localization of the user (12) and / or the virtually prescribed digital content (10) independent of navigation satellite systems, e.g. by local triangulation or by local time-of-flight measurements.

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