Passive display unit and system and method of use

• US 20040192399A1
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Modcart Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: Modstream, Inc.
• Inventors: Miffitt, Donald C., Keller, Scott, MacDonald, Frederic, Hladecek, Joel, DeCost, Norman
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A device for displaying messages includes a passive display unit having a display screen, a receiver that receives downloaded information and a processor for processing and storing the downloaded information and providing control to the passive display unit. The display system may include a computer which stores information and a transceiver which downloads and stores the information received from the computer. A method of transmitting and displaying information on the passive display unit is also provided.

Claims

1. A device for displaying information, comprising a passive, mobile display unit having a display screen, a receiver that receives downloaded information and a processor for processing and storing the downloaded information and providing control to the passive, mobile display unit to display the information on the display screen.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the display screen is a single line, multiple line or graphic display.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor includes memory for storing the information.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes at least one infrared data port, a radio frequency (RF) port and cellular port to receive the downloaded information.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein during the download of information, the processor ceases display operations and activates the display screen when the download is completed.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein during the download of information, the display screen continues to display the information.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein during the download of information, the display screen displays default information loaded within memory of the display unit until the download is completed.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising one of a motion sensor and a timer to activate the display screen.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein after a successful download is received the passive display unit ignores any erroneous data input and begins displaying the information on the display screen.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an anti-theft device.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the anti-theft device is a global positioning system or RF triangulation.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the anti-theft device includes a sound or light alarm or circuitry for activating a wheel-locking mechanism which is activated when the passive display unit is moved beyond a determined range from a central location.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the display screen is one of a plasma display, an organic light emitting diode (LED) display and active matrix LCD display.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is an infrared or radio frequency (RF) receiver.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the infrared receiver communicates at an effective data rate of about 115,200 bits per second and is sensitive to establish an error-free transmission at a distance of about 18 inches, and

the RF receiver communicates at an effective data rate of about 5,000 to 10,000 bits per second and is sensitive to establish an error-free transmission at a distance of about up to at least 300 yards.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power module to power the display screen, processor and receiver.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the power module includes a sleep command to conserve energy and battery life.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the passive display unit includes a transmitter for message verification and is absent of any user controls.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the passive display unit is void of user inputs.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the passive display unit is not activated via a trigger signal.

21. A passive display system, comprising:

a computer which downloads and stores information;

a transceiver which downloads and stores the information received from the computer; and

a passive, mobile display unit which receives the information stored in the transceiver, at any location, and displays the information on a display screen.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the passive, mobile display unit is programmed by the transceiver independent of any location of the passive, mobile display.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the transceiver is one of a mobile and a fixed transceiver.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the mobile transceiver includes:

an internal receiver that receives the information from the computer;

an infrared transmitter for transmitting the information to the passive display unit;

a processing unit controls functions of the internal paging receiver and the infrared transmitter; and

a protected port connector to allow initial parameters to be entered, and allow various message buffers to be downloaded into the mobile transceiver.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the internal receiver is field programmable and is capable of receiving a minimum of four (4) cap codes.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the infrared transmitter communicates at an effective data rate of approximately 115,200 bits per second and at an intensity or signal strength to establish an error free transmission at a distance of about 18 inches.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is pre-programmed to at least one of:

(i) separate data and commands structure packets buffering each for proper inclusion and execution;

(ii) assemble the data in form and sequence for download;

(iii) save the information in event of a power loss or failure;

(iv) store at least two complete unique downloads;

(v) receive, load, and change to alternate operational software on command;

(vi) switch between transmitted message downloads on a time-based command;

(vii) continuous transmit of the data on external command;

(viii) adjust the clock time with a received command;

(ix) store and load cap codes with the time-based command; and

(x) store and change frequency with the time-based command.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the passive, mobile display unit includes a RF receiver, and

the transceiver includes;

an RF receiver for receiving information from the computer; and

an RF transmitter for transmitting the information to the passive, mobile display unit,

wherein the transceiver is one of a fixed and mobile transceiver.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the passive, mobile display unit includes:

an infrared receiving unit for receiving the information from the transceiver; and

a processing unit for processing the information from the transceiver.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the processing unit includes a motion sensor and an anti-theft unit.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit includes a motion sensor and an anti-theft unit.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the display screen is one of (i) a single or multiple line LCD display screen, (ii) a plasma display screen, (iii) a graphical display, (iv) organic light emitting diode (LED) display and (iv) active matrix LCD display.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein the passive, mobile display unit includes one of a motion sensor and a timer to activate the display screen.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein:

during the download of the information, the processor ceases display operations and activates the display screen when the download is completed; and

after a successful download is received the passive display unit ignores any erroneous data input and begins displaying the information.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein during the download of information, the display screen continues to display the information.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein during the download of information, the display screen displays default information loaded within memory of the display unit until the download is completed.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein the passive display unit transmits message verification.

38. A passive display system, comprising:

a computer which stores and transmits information;

a remote off-site transceiver receiving and transmitting the information received from the computer; and

a passive, mobile display unit which receives the information from the transceiver, and displays the information on a display screen.

39. A method of transmitting and displaying information on a passive display unit, comprising the steps of:

downloading information from a computer system to a mobile transceiver unit;

locating at least one passive display unit;

placing the mobile transceiver unit in proximity to the passive display unit; and

transmitting the information from the mobile transceiver unit to a receiver in the at least one passive display unit.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of ceasing display operations during the download of the information.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein during the download of information, the display screen continues to display the information.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein during the download of information, the display screen displays default information loaded within memory of the display unit until the download is completed.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising activating the display screen when the download is completed and ignoring any erroneous data input.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the downloaded information may be downloaded from one of (i) internet, (ii) intranet, (iii) telephone, (iv) email and (vi) wireless.

45. A method of transmitting and displaying information on a passive display unit, comprising the steps of:

downloading information to a computer system;

transmitting the downloaded information to a single transceiver unit;

locating at least one passive display unit; and

transmitting the information from the single transceiver unit to a receiver in the at least one passive display unit regardless of a location of the at least one passive display unit within a retail environment.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of ceasing display operations during the download of the information.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the downloaded information may be downloaded from one of (i) internet, (ii) intranet, (iii) telephone, (iv) email and (vi) wireless.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the transmitting information to the receiver and transceiver is accomplished by RF signals.