DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH SECURITY FEATURES

• US 20070226762A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onestop Media Group Inc. (The Jim Pattison Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Onestop Media Group Inc. (The Jim Pattison Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: FINDLAY, Jeffrey David, GIRGIS, Michael, KILPATRICK, Andrew James, FRASER, Daniel Joseph, GADSBY, Ian Robert, MELAMED, Dmitri, GAGNON, Stephane Yvan, NEIMAN, Jake
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics

Abstract

A digital communication system is disclosed, that allows a display of override content to interrupt a display of ongoing content on one or more display units. Ongoing content, such as advertisements, news, entertainment, or other relevant information, is provided on the display units until an urgent or security-related alert is required, and display of override content becomes necessary. Override content can include information relevant to the security of a passenger or passer-by viewing the display. Override content can relate to security threats such as accidents, major delays, fire, missing children, terrorist activity, or other content deemed adequately pertinent to warrant interrupting the display of ongoing content.

Claims

1. A digital communication system for distributing ongoing content and override content to a plurality of display units, the system comprising:

an override controller for receiving an override control signal and for retrieving override content from an override media source; and

a content distribution controller for controlling ongoing content for dissemination to the display units; and

for overriding, on receipt of the override control signal from the override controller, the ongoing content in preference to the override content.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the override controller is configured to receive the override control signal from a security authority.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the security authority comprises a police department;

a fire department;

a weather authority;

an anti-terrorism authority;

a building manager;

or a transit authority.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the override controller receives the override control signal from a security device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the security device comprises a fire alarm, a motion detector, a proximity detector, a surveillance camera, or an intrusion alarm.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the ongoing content comprises advertisements, news, entertainment, location information, or transit-related information.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the override content comprises security information.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein ongoing content comprise static visual content, animated visual content, audio content, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of providing security alert information in a digital communication system for distribution to a plurality of display units displaying ongoing content, the method comprising:

receiving an override control signal;

retrieving override content in response to the override control signal;

formatting and transmitting override content to the display units to interrupt ongoing content.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving an override control signal comprises receiving a signal from a security authority.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving an override control signal comprises receiving a signal from a security device.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the override control signal is received from a building administrator, an external security authority or a security device.

12. A method of providing security alert information to passengers in a transit network, the network having a digital communication system for distribution of ongoing content to a plurality of display units mounted within the network, the method comprising:

receiving an override control signal from a transit authority;

retrieving override content containing security alert information in response to the override control signal;

formatting and transmitting override content to the display units to interrupt ongoing content.

13. A method of providing security alert information to passengers in an elevator of a building, the building having a digital communication system for distribution of ongoing content to a display unit mounted in the elevator, the method comprising:

receiving an override control signal;

retrieving override content containing security alert information in response to the override control signal;

formatting and transmitting override content to the display unit to interrupt ongoing content.