Intelligent display screen which interactively selects content to be displayed based on surroundings

• US 20090097712A1
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Losch, Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics

Abstract

A display screen with a camera senses an image, detects characteristics of the image, and selects an item to be displayed based on the automatically detected characteristics.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

A display screen that is capable of displaying contents including an image or video, said display screen receiving an applied signal that includes information indicative of said contents, said display screen defining a viewing area from which said contents can be viewed;

A camera, associated with the display screen, and located to image said viewing area and to produce an output signal indicative of said imaging of said viewing area;

A media storing device that stores multiple items that can be displayed on said display screen, and where said multiple items can be selected for display on said display screen; and

An image processing part that processes image contents within said output signal from said camera, to determine automatically whether said image contents match at least one criteria, and based on said matching said one criteria, to select one of said multiple items for display based on said criteria, said select comprising selecting a first item from said media storing device when a first criteria is determined by said image processing part, and selecting a second item, different than said first item, from said media storing device, when a second criteria, different than said first criteria, is determined by said image processing part.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said criteria determined by said image processing part includes a color within the image obtained in said viewing area.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said criteria is a probable age of a person within the image obtained in said viewing area.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said criteria is information indicative of a brand name of items within the image.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said criteria includes a sex of a person within the image obtained in said viewing area

6. A method comprising:

Displaying on an electronic display screen;

Obtaining an electronic file indicative of image content in a viewing area, from which said electronic display screen can be viewed;

Using a processor to analyze said electronic file;

First based on said analyzing by said processor, finding a first aspect within said image content, and responsive to finding said first aspect, selecting first display content and causing said first display content to be displayed on said display screen; and

Second based on said analyzing by said processor, finding a second aspect within said image content, and responsive to finding said second aspect, selecting second display content different than said first display content and terminating said display of said first display content and causing said second display content to be displayed on said display screen based on finding said second aspect.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said aspect is an aspect related to an age of a person, and wherein said first and second analyzing comprises determining a first age person in an area of said display at a first time, and responsive to said determining, causing said first display content to be displayed, and second determining a second age person at a second time, and responsive to said second determining, terminating the first display and causing display of a second item.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein said obtaining and said analyze comprises analyzing only an area corresponding to said viewing area.

9. A method as in claim 6, wherein said aspect is an aspect related to an sex of a person, and wherein said first and second analyzing comprises determining a first sex person in an area of said display at a first time, and responsive to said determining, causing said first display content to be displayed, and second determining a second sex person at a second time, and responsive to said second determining, terminating the first display and causing displaying of a second item.

10. A method as in claim 6, wherein said first and second selecting are carried out according to rules that define a priority between aspects, with a higher priority aspect causing an item associated therewith to be displayed, and terminates display of the lower priority aspect, when both said higher priority aspect and said lower priority aspect are simultaneously detected.

11. A method as in claim 6, wherein said aspect is an aspect related to an color within the image, and wherein said first and second analyzing comprises determining a first color in an area of said display at a first time, and responsive to said determining, causing said first display content to be displayed, and second determining a second color within the image at a second time, and responsive to said second determining, terminating the first display and causing displaying of a second item.

12. A method as in claim 6, wherein said aspect is an aspect related to an brand name of an item and wherein said first and second analyzing comprises determining a first brand in an area of said display at a first time, and responsive to said determining, causing said first display content to be displayed, and second determining a second brand name at a second time, and responsive to said second determining, terminating the first display and causing displaying of a second item.

13. A method comprising:

Obtaining an image of an area of a display device;

Storing plural items that can be displayed on the display device;

analyzing a content of said image;

based on said analyzing, selecting one of said plural items for display on said display device.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said storing comprises storing multiple items along with information about specified content that should be found in the image in order to display each item, and said analyzing comprises determining content within the image, and finding information indicative of said content in said image, and displaying an item associated with said content.

15. A method as in claim 14, further comprising storing a priority associated with said content, and displaying an item with a higher priority.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein said specified content is at least one of age of a person in the image, color in the image or a brand name of an item in the image.

17. A method as in claim 13, wherein said storing plural items, comprises storing multiple different advertisements.

18. A method as in claim 13, wherein said obtaining an image images only an area from which the display device can be seen.