Business method for billboard advertising

• US 20030004805A1
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DHP Media AB
• Original Assignee: Novus Partners LLC
• Inventors: Vaitekunas, Jeffrey J., Wampler, Scott D., Wampler, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,098,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels

Abstract

A business method for billboard advertising is disclosed. An advertising billboard device for use with the present invention comprises a server and a display controller adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from the server. At least one content display unit is in communication with the display controller, wherein the content display unit visually displays the information from the dynamic-content. The advertising billboard display controller may also comprise a timing means, the display controller altering the visual display of the content display unit as a function of the time from the timing means. The display controller may be adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, wherein the display controller comprises a heirarchical control scheme, the heirarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one server of the plurality of servers for display on the content display unit. The advertising billboard device may also comprise a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from the plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each of the display controllers selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of the type identifier.

Claims

1. A business method for billboard advertising comprising the steps of:

A) providing a passive content display unit;

B) providing a display controller, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive, store, and provide dynamic-content for said passive content display unit;

C) providing a server, wherein said server is adapted to send dynamic-content to said display controller; and

D) displaying dynamic-content on said passive content display unit.

2. The business method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

E) providing a plurality of passive content display units, each having a display controller;

F) identifying each said passive content display units with at least one characteristic; and

G) displaying dynamic-content on each of said plurality of content display units, wherein said dynamic-content is different for each said characteristic.

3. The business method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

H) providing a clock indicating a time;

I) storing a plurality of dynamic-contents on said display controller; and

J) changing the dynamic-content displayed on one said content display unit from a first stored dynamic-content to a second stored dynamic-content at a first time.

4. The business method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

K) providing a plurality of servers; and

L) providing a heirarchy to at least one said display controller, said heirarchy used to select one server from said plurality of servers for dynamic-content to display by said display controller.

5. The business method of claim 2, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

6. The business method of claim 2, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

7. A business method for billboard advertising comprising the steps of:

A) providing a passive content display unit;

B) providing a display controller, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive dynamic-content for said passive content display unit; and

C) displaying dynamic-content on said passive content display unit.

8. The business method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

D) providing a plurality of passive content display units, each having a display controller;

E) identifying a plurality of said passive content display units with at least one characteristic; and

F) displaying dynamic-content on each of said plurality of content display units, wherein said dynamic-content is different for each said characteristic.

9. The business method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

G) providing a clock indicating a time;

H) storing a plurality of dynamic-contents on said display controller; and

I) changing the dynamic-content displayed on one said content display unit from a first stored dynamic-content to a second stored dynamic-content at a first time.

10. The business method of claim 9, wherein said passive content display unit comprises a display material selected from the group consisting of GYRICON and E-INK.

11. A business method for billboard advertising comprising the steps of:

A) providing an advertising system, wherein said advertising system comprises;

at least one server;

at least one display controller, wherein said at least one display controller is adapted to receive dynamic-content from said at least one server; and

at least one content display unit in communication with said at least one display controller, wherein said at least one content display unit visually displays the information from said dynamic-content;

B) receiving advertising information from an advertiser;

C) communicating said advertising information as dynamic-content from said at least one server to said at least one display controller; and

D) displaying said advertising information on said at least one content display unit.

12. The business method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

E) segmenting a plurality of content display units into a plurality of groups, each group from said plurality of groups identified with a characteristic.

13. The business method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

F) selecting a group from said plurality of groups to display dynamic-content on said plurality of content display units having said group characteristic.

14. The business method of claim 12 wherein in step D, said displaying step is divided into a plurality of time segments, wherein a first advertisement is displayed during a first time segment and a second advertisement is displayed during a second time segment.

15. The business method of claim 13 wherein in step D, said displaying step is divided into a plurality of time segments, wherein a first advertisement is displayed during a first time segment and a second advertisement is displayed during a second time segment.

16. The business method of claim 13 wherein in step A, a plurality of servers are provided, said business method further comprising the steps of:

G) selecting a heirarchy, said heirarchy defining a prioritization of said plurality of servers to at least one of said display controllers such that said at least one display controller selects one server from said plurality of servers.

17. The business method of claim 14 wherein in step A, a plurality of servers are provided, said business method further comprising the steps of:

G) selecting a heirarchy, said heirarchy defining a prioritization of said plurality of servers to at least one of said display controllers such that said at least one display controller selects one server from said plurality of servers.

18. The business method of claim 15 wherein in step A, a plurality of servers are provided, said business method further comprising the steps of:

G) selecting a heirarchy, said heirarchy defining a prioritization of said plurality of servers to at least one of said display controllers such that said at least one display controller selects one server from said plurality of servers.

19. The business method of claim 15, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

20. The business method of claim 15, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises E-INK.