Method and system for distributing art

• US 20070180476A1
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Gates
• Original Assignee: William Gates
• Inventors: Hasha, Richard, Cook, James, Muoio, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/449 Object-oriented method invocation or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

An art distribution system for distributing art to multiple display devices within an environment. The art distribution system provides a technique for specifying images to be displayed in an environment. The art distribution system provides a hierarchical representation of spaces within the environment. Each space may be further subdivided into subspaces. The art distribution system allows a user to select a space within the hierarchy and then to select an image that is to be displayed at the display devices within the selected space. The art distribution system then displays the selected image within the space including within all subspaces of the selected space. The art distribution system may allow a subsequent assignment of the image to a subspace to override within that subspace the previous selection of an image for the space.

Claims

1. A display distribution system, comprising:

a server computer storing a plurality of images and in network communication with a display device capable of displaying images; and

a client computer in network communication with the server computer and capable of selecting at least one image from the plurality of images and instructing the server computer to transmit the at least one image for display on the display device, said display device being in a space separated from the client computer wherein the client computer selects at least one of the plurality of images from the server computer and wherein the server computer transfers the at least one of the plurality of images to the display device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the client computer comprises a capability of instructing the server computer to transfer a subset of the plurality of images to the client computer for display.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein the subset of the plurality of images is associated with a play list.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein the play list comprises a time associated with the display of an image.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein the time is user specified.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the server computer is in network communication with a second display device and wherein the client computer instructs the server to transmit the at least one image to the second display device.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the server computer stores information associated with the at least one image and wherein the information associated with the at least one image is transmitted to the display device in association with the at least one image.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the information is capable of being displayed by the display device.

9. A method of displaying images over a network, comprising:

receiving a plurality of images for storage on a server computer storing;

receiving from a client computer in network communication with the server computer a selection of at least one image from the plurality of images; and

transmitting the at least one image over a network for display on a display device, said display device being in a space separated from the server computer and the client computer.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 comprising instructing the server computer to transfer a subset of the plurality of images to the client computer for display.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 comprising associating the subset of the plurality of images with a play list.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 comprising specifying a time associated with the display of an image.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the server computer is in network communication with a second display device and receiving from the client computer instructions to transmit the at least one image to the second display device.

14. A computer-readable medium bearing computer-readable instructions for carrying out a method of displaying images over a network, comprising:

classifying a plurality of images stored on a server computer into at least one play list;

receiving from a client computer in network communication with the server computer a selection of the at least one play list;

receiving from the client computer instructions to display the device on a display associated with a space; and

transmitting the at least one image over a network for display on a display device, said display device being in a space separated from the server computer and the client computer.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 comprising instructing the server computer to transfer a subset of the plurality of images to the client computer for display.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 comprising associating the subset of the plurality of images with a play list.

17. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 16 comprising specifying a time associated with the display of an image.

18. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein the server computer is in network communication with a second display device and receiving from the client computer instructions to transmit the at least one image to the second display device.

19. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 comprising selecting at least one of the plurality of images for inclusion in the at least one play list.

20. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein images are selected for inclusion in the play list based on at least on user defined criterion.