Variable message sign control system

• US 20080104871A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Skyline Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skyline Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Stadjuhar, Robert Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/593,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104871A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/584
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/00 Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols vehicle registration number plates B60R13/10; Panels or boards show-cards G09F1/00; indicating arrangements for variable information G09F9/00, G09F11/00; illuminated signs G09F13/00; boards for notices or posters G09F15/00

Abstract

A variable message sign control system has a number of variable message signs. The variable messages signs are coupled by local communication links to a sign controller. This single sign controller takes the place of multiple sign controllers in previous designs.

Claims

1. A variable message sign control system, comprising:

a sign controller;

a plurality of variable message signs receiving a message for display from the sign controller.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of wireless communication links between the sign controller and the plurality of variable message signs.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of variable message signs has a sign driver.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sign driver includes a display driver and an environmental driver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sign controller has a central controller communication link.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sign controller polls each of the variable message signs for status information.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sign control transmits the status information to a central controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the status information includes display status.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the status information includes environmental status.

10. A variable message sign control system, comprising:

a plurality of variable message signs;

a sign controller; and

a plurality of local communication links connecting the plurality of variable message signs to the sign controller.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of variable message signs has a sign driver.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the driver includes a display driver and an environmental driver.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of local communication links is a wireless communication link.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the sign controller polls each of the plurality of variable message signs for status information.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the sign controller includes a central office communication link.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sign controller transmits the status information over the central office communication link to a central office.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of variable message signs has a display driver that reads the display output.

18. A variable message sign control system, comprising:

a plurality of variable message signs; and

a sign controller receiving a status report from the plurality of variable message signs.

19. The system of claim 18, further including plurality of local communication links between the sign controller and the plurality of variable message signs.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of communication links are wireless.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein each of the variable message signs has a sign driver.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the sign driver includes a display driver and an environmental driver.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the display driver transmits the status report over one of the plurality of communication links.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the sign controller has a central office communication link.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the sign controller transmits the status report over the central office communication link to a central office.