Variable signing system and method thereof

• US 20060119535A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark Van Fossan
• Original Assignee: Mark Van Fossan
• Inventors: Van Fossan, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/044,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119535A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

A variable signing system and method thereof are provided. The variable signing system includes a variable sign including a first display for displaying commercial information and a second display for displaying non-commercial information; and at least one server for providing at least the non-commercial information to the variable sign.

Claims

1. A variable sign comprising:

a first display for displaying commercial information; and

a second display for dynamically displaying non-commercial information.

2. The variable sign of claim 1, wherein both the first and second displays are dynamic displays, further comprising a processor for generating the commercial and non-commercial information to be displayed.

3. The variable sign of claim 2, wherein the first and second displays are presented on a single display panel, and wherein the processor includes a switch for displaying only one of the commercial or non-commercial information at any given time.

4. The variable sign of claim 1, wherein at least the second display is a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a matrix LED panel, or a liquid crystal light valve projector.

5. The variable sign of claim 1, wherein the second display is located remotely from the first display.

6. A variable signing system comprising:

a variable sign including a first display for displaying commercial information and a second display for dynamically displaying non-commercial information; and

at least one server for providing at least the non-commercial information to at least the second display.

7. The variable signing system of claim 6, further comprising a receiver for receiving at least the non-commercial information to be displayed by the second display via hardwired transmission or wirelessly.

8. The variable signing system of claim 7, further comprising a database including a plurality of predefined messages, wherein at least one of the predefined messages is displayed on the second display upon receipt of data.

9. The variable signing system of claim 6, wherein both the first and second displays are dynamic displays and wherein the variable signing system further includes a receiver for receiving the commercial and non-commercial information from the at least one server and a processor for decoding the received information and sending the received information to the first and second displays.

10. The variable signing system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server includes a transmitter for transmitting the commercial and non-commercial information to the receiver.

11. The variable signing system of claim 9, further comprising a database including a plurality of predefined messages, wherein at least one of the predefined messages is displayed on the first or second display upon receipt of the commercial or non-commercial data.

12. The variable signing system of claim 9, wherein the second display is located remotely from the first display.

13. The variable signing system of claim 9, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting data collected at a site of the second display to the at least one server.

14. The variable signing system of claim 6, wherein the at least one server is coupled to a plurality of servers via a network for receiving the non-commercial information from a plurality of sources.

15. The variable signing system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of sources is a municipality and the non-commercial information is an Amber Alert message, a traffic warning, or a public service message.

16. A method for establishing a variable signing system for displaying information, the variable signing system including at least one variable sign including a first display for displaying commercial information and a second display for displaying non-commercial information, at least the second display being a dynamic display, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a geographic area for the variable signing system based on analysis of data for the geographic area;

submitting to a responsible authority an application for approval of the variable signing system;

receiving approval for the variable signing system first and second displays;

selecting at least one specific location in the geographic area for the variable sign of the variable signing system;

submitting a specific proposal for the variable sign to a second responsible authority;

receiving approval for the variable sign; and

installing both the first and second displays of the variable sign at the at least one specific location.

17. The method as in claim 16, wherein the first display is a dynamic display, and the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving the commercial information for the first display at a location remote from the desired location; and

transmitting the commercial information electronically to the first display.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the transmitting step is performed by hardwired transmission or wirelessly.

19. The method as in claim 16, further comprising receiving non-commercial information indicative of an abnormal condition, and transmitting non-commercial information indicative of the abnormal condition to the second display.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first display is a dynamic display and wherein the first and second displays are displayed on a single variable sign, the method further comprising allocating times for displaying the commercial information as the first display and the non-commercial information as the second display on the single variable sign.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving information indicative of an abnormal condition and interrupting the display of either one of the commercial and non-commercial information to display information indicative of the abnormal condition.