System and method for selling advertising space on electronic displays digital television using spectrum

• US 20020116717A1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novus Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Novus Partners LLC
• Inventors: Yaniv, Zvi, Eller, Marc
• Application Number:
  US09/784,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

Electronic billboards, which may be indoor or outdoor are located in various geographical areas. Associated with each billboard is a web address. A client desiring to display information, such as an advertisement, on any selected electronic billboard can upload the information over a digital television broadcast network to the server implementing the billboard website. The client can select the time and duration for the information to be displayed, and can even purchase the display time using a credit card or through the use of some other type of account.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

an electronic display;

an information handling system coupled to the electronic display and operable for controlling what is displayed on the electronic display;

a digital television broadcast network coupled to the information handling system; and

a computer remotely located relative to the information handling system and coupled to the information handling system via the digital television broadcast network, the computer operable for receiving input for sending information over the digital television broadcast network to the information handling system for display on the electronic display.

2. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic billboard is located so that it can be viewed by a plurality of people.

3. The display system as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic display is an outdoor billboard.

4. The display system as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic display is an indoor billboard.

5. The display system as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital television broadcast network includes a digital television broadcast transmitter for transmitting a digital television signal in a wireless manner, wherein a portion of spectrum of the digital television signal is carrying the information, and wherein the digital television broadcast network further includes a receiver antenna coupled to the information handling system for receiving the digital television signal, wherein the information handling system decodes the digital television signal to extract the information therefrom for display on the electronic display.

6. The display system as recited in claim 5, wherein the digital television broadcast transmitter includes a transmitting antenna coupled to a broadcast multiplexor that combines a signal carrying the information with the digital television signal.

7. The display system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second electronic display;

a second information handling system coupled to the second electronic display and operable for controlling what is displayed on the second electronic display, wherein the digital television broadcast network is also coupled to the second information handling system so that the computer can upload information to be displayed to either or both of the electronic displays.

8. A method for displaying information on an electronic billboard, comprising the steps of:

creating the information;

uploading the information to a first information handling system from a second information handling system over a digital television broadcast network; and

controlling a display of the information on the electronic billboard by the second information handling system.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the digital television broadcast network includes a digital television broadcast transmitter for transmitting a digital television signal in a wireless manner, wherein a portion of spectrum of the digital television signal is carrying the information, and wherein the digital television broadcast network further includes a receiver antenna coupled to the information handling system for receiving the digital television signal, wherein the information handling system decodes the digital television signal to extract the information therefrom for display on the electronic display.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the digital television broadcast transmitter includes a transmitting antenna coupled to a broadcast multiplexor that combines a signal carrying the information with the digital television signal.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the electronic billboard is mounted for outdoor display of the information.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the electronic billboard is mounted for indoor display of the information.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of mounting the electronic display for public viewing of the information to be displayed.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

selecting, via the third information handling system, a time period for displaying the information on the selected electronic billboard; and

displaying the information on the selected electronic billboard during the selected time period.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the selected electronic billboard is selected from a list of available electronic billboards which includes the first and second electronic billboards.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the list includes a map of the first and second locations.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

charging an amount of money for the display of the information on the selected electronic billboard.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

means for selecting, via the third information handling system, a time period for displaying the information on the selected electronic billboard; and

means for displaying the information on the selected electronic billboard during the selected time period.

14. A method for displaying information on an electronic billboard, comprising the steps of:

providing a first electronic billboard at a first location;

coupling a first information handling system to the first electronic billboard so that the first information handling system can control information to be displayed on the first electronic billboard;

providing a second electronic billboard at a second location;

coupling a second information handling system to the second electronic billboard so that the second information handling system can control information to be displayed on the second electronic billboard;

coupling the first and second information handling systems to a third information handling system over a digital television broadcast network;

selecting, via the third information handling system, which of the first and second electronic billboards will display the information;

uploading the information from the third information handling system over the Internet to the information handling system controlling the selected electronic billboard; and

displaying the information on the selected electronic billboard.

19. A system for displaying information on an electronic billboard, comprising:

means for providing a first electronic billboard at a first location;

means for coupling a first information handling system to the first electronic billboard so that the first information handling system can control information to be displayed on the first electronic billboard;

means for providing a second electronic billboard at a second location;

means for coupling a second information handling system to the second electronic billboard so that the second information handling system can control information to be displayed on the second electronic billboard;

means for coupling the first and second information handling systems to a third information handling system over a digital television broadcast network;

means for selecting, via the third information handling system, which of the first and second electronic billboards will display the information;

means for uploading the information from the third information handling system over the Internet to the information handling system controlling the selected electronic billboard; and

means for displaying the information on the selected electronic billboard.