Method for distributing display information to a remote display device, a corresponding display device, a system for distributing display information and a signal comprising display information

• US 20090002322A1
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing Dtv
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing Dtv
• Inventors: Thebault, Cedric, Zwing, Rainer, Weitbruch, Sebastien
• Application Number:
  US12/156,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20090002322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A subject of the invention is to ensure that a remote display device is only useable for a specific application like advertising or public information.

According to the invention, this object is solved by a method for distributing display information to a remote display device, comprising the steps of:

• • providing the remote display device with a signal comprising an activation key and the display information,
  • providing the control unit of the remote display device with a locking function using a control key, and
  • comparing the activation key to the control key and authorizing the displaying of the display information by deactivating the locking function if the activation key is fitting with the control key.

Claims

1. Method for distributing display information to a remote display device, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

providing the remote display device with a signal comprising display activation key information and the display information,

providing the control unit of the remote display device with a locking function, which may be deactivated by using a control key of the display activation key information, and

comparing the display activation key information with the control key and displaying of the display information by deactivating the locking function if the display activation key is fitting with the control key.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the display activation key information and the display information are scrambled in the signal provided to the remote display device and descrambled before comparing the display activation key to the control key.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the display activation key and the control key being selected according to the subject of the display information.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the display information is advertisement information, public information or is entertainment information.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the control key and the activation key are generated by the company responsible for distributing said display information.

6. Display device for displaying information comprising:

an input for receiving a signal comprising display activation key information and the information to be displayed,

display means for displaying said information,

a control unit for controlling an activation of the display means,

characterized in that it further comprises a locking circuit coupled to the control unit for comparing the activation key of the display activation key information with a control key and displaying the information if the activation key is fitting with the control key.

7. Display device according to claim 6, wherein the locking circuit is included in the control unit.

8. Display device according to claim 6, wherein the control key is stored in the locking circuit.

9. Display device according to claim 6, wherein it further comprises means for descrambling the signal provided to the display device.

10. Display device according to claim 6, wherein the activation key and the control key depend on the subject of the information to be displayed.

11. Display device according to claim 6, wherein the control key is stored in the locking circuit or in a memory of the control unit by using a programming key.

12. Display device according to claim 11, wherein the programming key is delivered by the manufacturer of said display device.

13. System for distributing display information to at least one remote display device comprising a central server for transmitting the display information to said at least one remote display device via a network wherein the central server further transmits display activation key information together with said display information for activating a display device having means for controlling an activation of the display means by said display activation key information.

14. System according to claim 13, wherein it comprises a plurality of remote display devices and local servers connected between the network and said remote display devices, each local server being connected to remote display devices located in a same area.

15. Signal comprising display information to be displayed by a remote display device wherein it further comprises display activation key information used by the remote display device for displaying said display information by said remote display device.