System and method for distributing and controlling the output of media in public spaces

• US 20010053996A1
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HD Media Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HD Media Incorporated
• Inventors: Atkinson, Paul D.
• Application Number:
  US09/757,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053996A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for selecting and controlling the output of media in a public space. General programming media elements are selected for output in a public space based upon a source indicating available media elements, and upon transient variables especially pertinent to the public space, which are provided independently of user inputs. Metadata media related to but distinct from an output programming media element may be independently selected for output to different devices, via different signal paths and protocols.

Claims

1. A system for controlling local output of media elements in a public space, comprising:

a play list module configured to provide information pertaining to available media elements to be output in the public space;

a transient state variable interface module configured to receive, independent of user inputs, data reflecting transient conditions relevant to the public space; and

a logic controller module configured to dynamically select between available media element options based at least in part on the state of the transient state variables, and to control output of the selected media element.

2. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the information pertaining to available media elements in the Play List module includes attributes associated with at least some of the media elements, and the logic controller is further configured to select a media element for output based at least in part on the attributes provided regarding media elements.

3. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the logic controller module is further configured to independently control outputs to a plurality of distinct devices via a plurality of distinct signal paths based at least in part upon the transient state variables.

4. The system of

claim 1

, further comprising an output interface module configured to direct media elements selected by the logic controller to particular output devices in the public space.

5. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the play list provides information pertaining to a location and time for outputting media elements.

6. The system of

claim 1

, further comprising a replenishment interface module configured to obtain media elements.

7. The system of

claim 6

, wherein the replenishment interface module is configured to obtain media elements via the Internet.

8. The system of

claim 6

, wherein the replenishment interface module is configured to selectively receive broadcast media elements.

9. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the transient state variables affecting which media elements are output within a particular public space include a variable reflecting local weather conditions.

10. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the transient state variables include a variable reflecting local consumer actions.

11. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the transient state variables affecting which media elements are output within a particular public space include a variable supplied by a data service.

12. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the transient state variables affecting which media elements are output within a particular public space include a variable provided by a sales inventory processing system.

13. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the transient state variables affecting which media elements are output within a particular public space include a variable reflecting local consumer actions.

14. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the Logic Controller module is implemented at least partly in a personal computer.

15. The system of

claim 8

, wherein the transient state variables affecting which media elements are output to a particular public space include a variable reflecting local weather conditions and a variable reflecting local consumer actions.

16. The system of

claim 5

, wherein the location indicated by the Play List for a particular media element is one or more particular output devices within the public space.

17. The system of

claim 5

, wherein the location indicated by the Play List for a particular media element is the location of the public space.

52. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the logic controller module is further configured to modify content of a received media element based at least in part on transient state variables.

18. A method of controlling local output of media elements in a public space, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one Play List which provides information related to media elements available from local or remote sources for output in the public space;

receiving, independent of user inputs, transient state variables which are particularly relevant to users of the public space;

identifying one of a plurality of media elements for output at a particular time on the basis of both the received transient state variables and the Play List; and

causing the identified media element to be output at the particular time.

19. The method of

claim 18

further comprising using the received transient state variables to select between alternative media elements provided by the one or more Play Lists.

20. The method of

claim 18

further comprising modifying information provided by the one or more Play Lists in accordance with values of the received transient state variables to identify a media element for output in the public space, and causing the identified media element to be output in the public space.

21. The method of

claim 18

further comprising changing an identification of a media element provided by the one or more Play Lists so as to identify a different media element and selecting the different media element for output at the particular time.

22. The method of

claim 18

further comprising using the received transient state variables to ignore the information regarding the media elements provided by the one or more Play Lists, selecting instead a media element obtained from a source other than a Play List, and controlling output of the selected media element to an output device in the public space.

23. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising receiving media elements from the Internet.

24. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising receiving media elements via wireless broadcast.

25. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising receiving media elements on a physical medium.

26. The method of

claim 18

wherein the one or more Play Lists identifies a media element for output at a particular time.

27. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the one or more Play Lists includes information reflecting attributes of a plurality of media elements, and the Logic Controller chooses between media elements having different attributes on the basis of the locally relevant information.

28. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the transient state variables which are particularly relevant to users of the public space include transient state data reflecting local environmental conditions.

29. The method of

claim 18

, wherein the transient state variables which are particularly relevant to users of the public space include transient state data associated with local consumer actions.

30. The method of

claim 18

, wherein transient state variables which are particularly relevant to users of the public space include transient state data provided by a data service.

31. The method of

claim 18

, wherein transient state variables which are particularly relevant to users of the public space include transient state data provided by a system which processes local sales or inventory information.

32. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising providing a Local Media Manager at the public space, wherein the Local Media Manager controls output of the selected media element to the output device in the public space.

33. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising providing a wireless broadcast device for broadcast to personal data receivers primarily within the public space.

34. The method of

claim 18

, further comprising transmitting metadata related to the selected media elements and local content data related to the public space to users located in the public space.

35. The method of

claim 34

, wherein the transmission is via a wireless local broadcast device having a range of less than two kilometers.

36. The method of

claim 34

, wherein the transmission is substantially restricted to the public space.

37. The method of

claim 36

, wherein the transmission is via a local area network.

38. The method of

claim 36

, wherein the transmission uses infrared spectrum.

39. The method of

claim 36

, wherein the transmission contains coding intended to restrict receipt to users within the public space.

40. Apparatus for controlling the output of media elements in a public space, comprising:

first means for conveying media elements to output devices within the public space;

distinct second means for transmitting data to personal devices within the public space;

means for receiving sensor data reflecting local environmental conditions;

means for receiving the media elements; and

logic controller means for identifying, at least in part on the basis of the received sensor data reflecting local environmental conditions, which of a plurality of media elements is to be output to an output device in the public space.

41. The apparatus of

claim 40

further comprising means for receiving information reflecting local sales or inventory, wherein the logic controller means identifies media elements to be output at least partly on the basis of the local sales or inventory information.

42. The apparatus of

claim 40

wherein the means for transmitting data to personal devices within the public space includes a local area wireless broadcast device.

43. The apparatus of

claim 42

wherein the wireless broadcast device is located within 100 meters of the public space to which it is broadcasting.

44. The apparatus of

claim 40

further comprising means for receiving data from personal devices within the public space.

45. The apparatus of

claim 40

wherein the means for transmitting data to personal devices within the public space includes a local area network connection.

46. The apparatus of

claim 45

wherein the local area network is connected without wires.

47. The apparatus of

claim 40

, further comprising an interactive interface which includes the means for transmitting data to personal devices within the public space and also includes means for receiving information from users.

48. The apparatus of

claim 47

, wherein the interactive interface includes a communication controller for communicating data related to information received from a user to a commerce center.

49. A method of controlling local output of media elements in a public space, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one Play List which provides information related to media elements available for output in the public space;

receiving, independent of user inputs, transient state variables reflecting conditions of the public space;

modifying information in a media element selected for output at a particular time on the basis of both the received transient state variables and the Play List; and

causing the identified media element to be output at the particular time.

50. The method of

claim 49

, wherein the received transient state variables include data reflecting sales, inventory and time.

51. The method of

claim 50

, wherein a product price included in a media element is modified on the basis, at least in part, of the received transient state variables reflecting sales, inventory and time.