Method and apparatus for gathering statistical information about in-store content distribution

• US 20030182266A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: PRN Corp. (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Stern, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,944,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A digital department system is disclosed. The digital department system of the present invention includes a network management center, a network operating center that is coupled to the network management center, a multimedia server, a multicasting transmission medium coupling the network operating center and the multimedia server, a listening post coupled to the multimedia server by the network, and one or more audio/video display capable of displaying video and capable of playing audio, the audio video display coupled to the multimedia server by the network. The audio and video content are stored in digitized files on the multimedia server for distribution throughout the site via the network.

Claims

1. A method for distributing consumer informational content, comprising:

creating a distribution pack from a cataloging system;

packaging and assigning said distribution pack for transmission to a store or set of stores;

verifying the integrity of a distribution pack by scanning for the existence of referenced files;

transmitting distribution files via a specific file transfer protocol;

graphically displaying transmission information;

logging distribution transmissions; and

viewing distribution transmissions.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising gathering statistics on user usage and scanning in store systems for possible errors, including:

gathering and cataloging daily statistics files created by listening posts;

gathering and cataloging daily statistics files created by audio/video endcaps;

refreshing statistics directories;

scanning server disk for low disk space; and

pinging and scanning interactive endcaps for low disk space.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising scanning display media such as audio video endcaps and/or listening posts at regular intervals for diagnostic status.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

gathering “

.log”

files from listening post directories in an area on the multimedia server and removing them from the log area;

copying the log files to the statistics destination directory;

pinging listening posts and endcaps to ensure they are functioning; and

scanning endcaps and local drive space.