Network billboard system and method thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for reserving advertisement space for a customer in a network billboard system including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard and a storage device, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to reserve an advertising space via the network controller, the request including a desired one of the at least one electronic billboard a desired start date and a desired contract period;
locating a billboard schedule in the storage device for the desired billboard in accordance with the request;
determining whether the desired billboard has an available slot on the desired start date or finding an available slot on a date closest to the desired start date based on the request;
reserving the available slot corresponding to the desired start date or the date closest to the desired start date; and
committing the available slot for the desired contracted period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network billboard system supports an application program and a network of computing devices including a server, database, billboard computer and client computer. The system administers, delivers, and disseminates data files (eg., advertisements) manually and/or automatically via the network and a publically accessible schedule or other triggering event to display data on a public structure (e.g., electronic billboard, projection system) or personal electronic device.
89 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method for reserving advertisement space for a customer in a network billboard system including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard and a storage device, the method comprising:
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receiving a request to reserve an advertising space via the network controller, the request including a desired one of the at least one electronic billboard a desired start date and a desired contract period;
locating a billboard schedule in the storage device for the desired billboard in accordance with the request;
determining whether the desired billboard has an available slot on the desired start date or finding an available slot on a date closest to the desired start date based on the request;
reserving the available slot corresponding to the desired start date or the date closest to the desired start date; and
committing the available slot for the desired contracted period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for reserving advertisement space for a customer in a billboard network, the network including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard and a storage device, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a request to reserve an advertising space via the network controller, the request including a desired one of the at least one electronic billboard a desired start date and a desired contract period;
means for locating a billboard schedule in the storage device for the desired billboard in accordance with the request;
means for determining whether the desired billboard has an available slot on the desired start date or finding an available slot on a date closest to the desired start date based on the request;
means for reserving the available slot corresponding to the desired start date or the date closest to the desired start date; and
means for committing the available slot for the desired contracted period. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An executable program for reserving advertisement space for a customer in a network billboard system including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard and a storage device, the program comprising:
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a first source code segment for receiving a request to reserve an advertising space via the network controller, the request including a desired one of the at least one electronic billboard a desired start date and a desired contract period;
a second source code segment for locating a billboard schedule in the storage device for the desired billboard in accordance with the request;
a third source code segment for determining whether the desired billboard has an available slot on the desired start date or finding an available slot on a date closest to the desired start date based on the request;
a fourth source code segment for reserving the available slot corresponding to the desired start date or the date closest to the desired start date; and
a fifth source code segment for committing the available slot for the desired contracted period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer data signal for reserving advertisement space for a customer in a network billboard system including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard and a storage device, the data signal comprising:
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a first signal segment for receiving a request to reserve an advertising space via the network controller, the request including a desired one of the at least one electronic billboard a desired start date and a desired contract period;
a second signal segment for locating a billboard schedule in the storage device for the desired billboard in accordance with the request;
a third signal segment for determining whether the desired billboard has an available slot on the desired start date or finding an available slot on a date closest to the desired start date based on the request;
a fourth signal segment for reserving the available slot corresponding to the desired start date or the date closest to the desired start date; and
a fifth signal segment for committing the available slot for the desired contracted period. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A distributed programming method for placing advertisements in a network billboard system including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard, the method comprising;
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accessing a schedule table for at least one of the electronic billboards, the table having an identification of customers for time slots over a list of dates;
locating an advertisement file corresponding to the customer identified in a time slot;
transmitting an advertisement signal to the billboard, the advertisement signal indicating a media file for display at the billboard based on the advertisement file corresponding to the time slot; and
upon receipt of a request from a party, providing access to information of goods or services provided by the customer, the access provided to the requesting party. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A networked billboard system for displaying advertisements, the billboard system including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard and a storage device, the system comprising;
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means for accessing a schedule table for at least one of the electronic billboards, the table having an identification of customers for time slots over a list of dates;
means for locating an advertisement file corresponding to the customer identified in a time slot;
means for transmitting an advertisement signal to the billboard, the advertisement signal indicating a media file for display at the billboard based on the advertisement file corresponding to the time slot; and
upon receipt of a request from a party, means for providing access to information of goods or services provided by the customer, the access provided to the requesting party. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An executable program for placing advertisements in a network billboard system including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard and a storage device, the program comprising;
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a first source code segment for accessing a schedule table for at least one of the electronic billboards, the table having an identification of customers for time slots over a list of dates;
a second source code segment for locating an advertisement file corresponding to the customer identified in a time slot;
a third source code segment for transmitting an advertisement signal to the billboard, the advertisement signal indicating a media file for display at the billboard based on the advertisement file corresponding to the time slot; and
a fourth source code segment for providing access to information of goods or services provided by the customer upon receipt of a request from a party, the access provided to the requesting party. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer data signal for placing advertisements in a network billboard system including a network controller in communication with at least one electronic billboard and a storage device, the data signal comprising;
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a first signal segment for accessing a schedule table for at least one of the electronic billboards, the table having an identification of customers for time slots over a list of dates;
a second signal segment for locating an advertisement file corresponding to the customer identified in a time slot;
a third signal segment for transmitting an advertisement signal to the billboard, the advertisement signal indicating a media file for display at the billboard based on the advertisement file corresponding to the time slot; and
a fourth signal segment for providing access to information of goods or services provided by the customer upon receipt of a request from a party, the access provided to the requesting party. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A programming method for a dynamic schedule application, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing a schedule having scheduling information for an electronic billboard;
(b) accessing a storage folder of the billboard, the folder having media files that are scheduled to be displayed;
(c) in the schedule, selecting a row of the current date and receiving a customer identification from each cell in the selected row;
(d) locating the stored media files corresponding to the customer identification; and
(e) renaming the corresponding stored media files to reflect the scheduled sequence of the media files for display at the billboard. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A programming method for a dynamic schedule application, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing a database having scheduling information for at least one electronic billboard;
(b) identifying market data associated with a customer, the market data including information identifying a target group for an advertisement from the customer;
(c) searching the database for an unassigned time slot available for the target group that matches the market data associated with the customer, the unassigned time slot corresponding to one of the at least one billboard;
(d) assigning the unassigned time slot to the customer;
(e) locating a media file corresponding to the customer; and
(f) linking the media file to the assigned time slot for display at the one billboard according to the database.
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- 45. A network billboard system comprising a billboard computer in communication with at least one billboard and a network server, the billboard computer including a central processing unit that processes data and operations required to run the billboard computer, a communication conduit for communication with the at least one billboard, a memory to store and buffer data used by the central processing unit, and a network interface that provides the communication medium with the network server, the network interface providing means for the billboard computer to retrieve language files from the network server that embed or reference advertisement files or programs according to a schedule, the communication conduit providing means for transmitting the scheduled advertisement files or programs to the at least one billboard for displaying an advertisement.
- 51. A network billboard system, comprising a network server in communication with at least one billboard and a data source, the network server executing an application program that forwards advertising files to the at least one billboard, the network server retrieving language files from the data source, the language files embedding or referencing the advertisement files according to a schedule and providing the advertisement files for communication to the at least one billboard for display.
Specification