System for Providing Multimedia Content to Customers and Method Thereof

• US 20080172296A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pixads LLC
• Original Assignee: Pixads LLC
• Inventors: Calamari, Alan P., Masucci, Jeffrey A., Masucci, Agnes
• Application Number:
  US12/018,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172296A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and a method for providing multimedia content to customers at a vendor location. A control server and a plurality of patron devices are provided at the vendor location. The control server receives the multimedia content from at least one multimedia content source. Each patron device of the plurality of patron devices communicates with the control server over a communication network for receiving the multimedia content from the control server. The each patron device displays the multimedia content received from the control server for providing the multimedia content to a customer. The each patron device is configured to receive customer input and communicate multimedia content information to the control server based on the customer input. The control server may provide the multimedia content to the each patron device based on the multimedia content information received from the each patron device.

Claims

1. A method for providing multimedia content to customers at a vendor location, the method comprising:

transmitting the multimedia content from a control server to a mobile handheld patron device of a plurality of patron devices, the patron device provided to a customer at the vendor location, wherein the multimedia content is transmitted by the control server to the patron device over a communication network; and

displaying the multimedia content on the patron device for providing the multimedia content to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising configuring one of said plurality of patron devices as a master patron device for managing the others of said plurality of patron devices.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the multimedia content from the control server from at least one multimedia content source.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving customer input from the customer through the patron device and communicating multimedia content information based on the customer input to the control server from the patron device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing the multimedia content from the control server to the patron device based on the multimedia content information received from the patron device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a global positioning system (GPS) in the patron device to locate the patron device when the patron device drifts out of a coverage area of a wireless access point of the communication network.

7. A method according to claim 1, said method further comprising providing at least one charging dock;

and coupling at least one of said plurality of patron devices to said charging dock for charging a battery within said at least one patron device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said multimedia content comprises an advertisement for goods or services.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said multimedia content comprises information concerning a special event at said vendor location.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said multimedia content comprises a menu of goods or services available at said vendor location.

11. A method for providing multimedia content to customers at a vendor location, the method comprising:

transmitting the multimedia content from a control server to a mobile handheld patron device of a plurality of patron devices, the patron device provided to a customer at the vendor location, wherein the multimedia content is transmitted by the control server to the patron device over a communication network;

displaying the multimedia content on the patron device for providing the multimedia content to the customer;

configuring one of said plurality of patron devices as a master patron device for managing the others of said plurality of patron devices;

providing at least one charging dock; and

coupling the patron device to said charging dock for charging a battery within the patron device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving the multimedia content from the control server from at least one multimedia content source.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving customer input from the customer through the patron device and communicating multimedia content information based on the customer input to the control server from the patron device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing the multimedia content from the control server to the patron device based on the multimedia content information received from the patron device.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating a global positioning system (GPS) in the patron device to locate the patron device when the patron device drifts out of a coverage area of a wireless access point of the communication network.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein said multimedia content comprises an advertisement for goods or services.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein said multimedia content comprises information concerning a special event at said vendor location.

18. A method according to claim 11, wherein said multimedia content comprises a menu of goods or services available at said vendor location.