Smart interactive billboard device

• US 20050021393A1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agency For Science Technology and Research
• Original Assignee: Agency For Science Technology and Research
• Inventors: Bao, Xiaoming, Sitaram, Ranganatha, Padmanabhan, Ramanath
• Application Number:
  US10/479,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021393A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.640
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A smart interactive billboard for allowing or other devices implemented with the smart billboard to display electronic/computer-based information and become interactive includes a transceiver adapted to communicate interactively with a server and at least one or more client devices to allow users to be interactive with the implemented billboards or other devices. A CPU including software controls the implemented billboards or other devices. A memory stores information received or uploaded to the implemented billboards or other devices from the server and client devices, and a display unit displays the information on the implemented billboards or other devices.

Claims

1. A smart interactive billboard device, operable with stationary or mobile advertising platforms that display information to provide electronic/computer-based advertising, promotional and/or sales information, comprising:

a transceiver operative to communicate with at least one client device by at least transmitting advertising, promotional and/or sales information;

a CPU including software operative to control the transceiver and provide communication with the client device; and

a memory adapted to store advertising, promotional and/or sales information for transmission by the transceiver to said at least one client device.

2. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to allow the billboard device to perform at least one of self-testing, reprogramming, information uploading, fault diagnostic examining or repairing.

3. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 2, wherein the controller includes at least an operator input and an operator display.

4. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver is operative to communicate interactively with at least one client device by further receiving advertising, promotional and/or sales information;

said CPU including software operative to control the transceiver and provide interactive communication with the client device; and

said memory further adapted to store advertising promotional and/or sales information received by the transceiver from said at least one client device.

5. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, wherein the memory includes at least one of a flash memory, PROM or SRAM.

6. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, further comprising an interface that is at least one of USB or UART.

7. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, comprising means operable to enable a user via a client device to interactively download information from or upload information to the billboard device.

8. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, comprising means operable to enable a user via the client device to perform electronic commerce transactions with respect to the information provided to the billboard device.

9. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, comprising means operable to enable a user via the client device to exchange or transfer information amongst other users using the billboard device.

10. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed on the stationary or mobile platform are advertisements.

11. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 7, wherein the information uploaded to or download from the billboard device is at least one of electronic vouchers, electronic coupons, electronic tickets, electronic receipts, or electronic advertisements.

12. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, wherein the smart interactive billboard device is adapted to be located and installed on stationary or mobile platforms.

13. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, wherein the billboard device further comprises means for communicating interactively with a server through at least one of SMS, DVB, DAB, wireless modem or wireless dialup network.

14. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver is adapted to communicate interactively with the client device through at least one of SMS, Bluetooth, infrared or IrDA.

19. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 1S, wherein said transceiver is operative to communicate interactively with at least one client device by further receiving advertising, promotional and/or sales information;

said CPU including software operative to control the transceiver and provide interactive communication with the client device; and

said memory further adapted to store advertising, promotional and/or sales information received by the transceiver from said at least one client device.

15. A smart interactive billboard system, operable with stationary or mobile advertising platforms that display information to provide electronic/computer-based advertising, promotional and/or sales information, comprising:

an advertising platform;

a smart interactive billboard device mounted to said advertising platform and including;

a transceiver operative to communicate interactively with at least one client device by at least transmitting advertising, promotional and/or sales information;

a CPU including software operative to control the transceiver and enable interactive communication with the at least one client device; and

a memory adapted to store information for transmission by or received by the transceiver, and

a display unit, including a display screen, responsive to the smart interactive billboard device and operative to display on said screen advertising, promotional and/or sales information under control of said CPU.

16. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 15, wherein the CPU is operative to update and change the displayed advertising, promotional and/or sales information.

17. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 15, wherein the billboard device further comprises means for communicating interactively with a server through at least one of SMS, DVB, DAB, wireless modem or wireless dialup network.

18. The smart interactive billboard device according to claim 15, wherein the transceiver is adapted to communicate interactively with the client device through at least one of SMS, Bluetooth, infrared or IrDA.

20. A smart interactive billboard system for providing interactive communication with at least one client device comprising:

a server;

a plurality of advertising platforms;

a smart interactive billboard device mounted to each said advertising platform and including;

a transceiver means operative to communicate interactively with the client device and the server by at least one of transmitting and receiving information,

a CPU including software operative to control the transceiver and the interactive communication with the server, and

a memory adapted to store information for transmission by or received by the transceiver; and

wherein the server is in communication with said plurality of smart interactive billboard devices and wherein said server includes a communication interface operative to at least request information from and deliver information to the plurality of interactive billboard devices.

21. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 20, wherein at least one smart interactive billboard device is mounted to an advertising platform, wherein the platform further comprising a display unit operative to display advertising, promotional and/or sales information provided by the server.

22. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 20, wherein the server is adapted to selectively transmit information to one or more interactive billboard devices.

23. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 20, wherein the server and the smart interactive billboard devices are communicable through at least one of SMS, DVB, DAB, Wireless modem or wireless dialup network.

24. A smart interactive billboard system operative to enable interactive communication with a mobile user, comprising:

an advertising platform;

a smart interactive billboard device mounted to the advertising platform and including;

a transceiver operative to communicate interactively with at least one user-operated client device by at least one of transmitting and receiving information,

a CPU including software operative to control the transceiver and the interactive communication with the client device, and

a memory adapted to store information for transmission by or received by the transceiver; and

the at least one user-operated client device, including a client transceiver, operative to at least provide the user with the capability of at least one of uploading information to or receiving information from the smart interactive billboard device.

25. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 24, wherein the advertising platform further comprises a display unit, including a display screen responsive to the smart interactive billboard device and operative to display information provided by the device.

26. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 25, wherein the advertising platform is one of a stationary or a mobile platform.

27. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 24, wherein the client device is at least-one of a personal computer, personal digital assistant, cellular or mobile phone, interactive television or radio system.

28. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 24, wherein the client device is adapted to allow the user to perform electronic commerce transactions with respect to the information provided to the billboard device.

29. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 24, wherein the client device is adapted to allow the user to exchange or transfer information amongst other users with client devices via the advertising platform.

30. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 24, wherein the client device is a remote wired device.

31. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 24, wherein the client device is a remote wireless device.

32. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 24, wherein the client device and the smart interactive billboard device are responsive to at least one of SMS, Bluetooth, infrared or IrDA.

33. The smart interactive billboard system according to claim 25, wherein the advertising platform is a mobile platform and wherein the smart interactive billboard device includes a GSM receiver for receiving GSM signals containing GSM information;

and

the CPU is responsive to the received GSM signals and changes the display according to the GSM information.