Transit vehicle multimedia broadcast system

• US 6,407,673 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CBS Broadcasting Incorporated (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Rail Network, Inc.
• Inventors: Lane, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/947,057
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/905, 340/903, 340/904, 340/933, 340/988, 340/991, 340/994, 340/928, 340/539, 455/517, 455/456, 701/1, 701/117
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62

Abstract

The transit vehicle multimedia broadcast system comprises a multimedia broadcast system for broadcasting stored audio, video, graphic and/or text messages to passengers on transit vehicles that travel a predetermined route in areas where traditional multimedia broadcast is not available, such as in subway tunnels. The system includes at least one storage device along the predetermined route that stores multimedia data and wirelessly transmits the data to at least one transit transceiver located on the transit vehicles while the vehicle are stationary at a location corresponding to the location of the storage device. The multimedia can be stored on the vehicle and transmitted using one of a plurality of transmission devices to a plurality of video graphic display devices located in the transit vehicles. The broadcast can also be wirelessly transmitted via predetermined FM or wireless frequencies for receipt via passenger radios, laptop computers including wireless connection, cell phones, or any other device capable of receiving the FM or wireless transmission of multimedia. The multimedia data can include graphics, text, audio, video, or any combination thereof. The multimedia data can be translated and stored into two or more languages for broadcast. Portions of the stored multimedia data can be updated or changed along the transit vehicle'"'"'s route.

Claims

1. A transit vehicle broadcast system for a transit vehicle that travels a predetermined route in a confined area where traditional broadcast signals are unavailable to passengers, the predetermined route having at least two terminus stations and a plurality of stations on the predetermined route between the at least two terminus stations comprising:

a multimedia program source, comprising;

a storage device, and

at least one transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the multimedia data to the transit vehicle for broadcast to passengers traveling on the transit vehicle,

at least one video graphic display means located on the transit vehicle,

a transit transceiver located on the transit vehicle to wirelessly receive the transmitted multimedia data from the storage device, and

a server including a means for processing, wherein the server is integral to the transit transceiver and connected to the at least one video graphic display means to store and manage the multimedia data received by the transit transceiver and to distribute the multimedia data to the at least one video graphic display means for broadcast on the transit vehicle.

2. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the storage device further comprises:

a means for compressing the multimedia data to allow a maximum amount of the multimedia data to be transmitted in a minimal time.

3. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 2, wherein the server further comprises:

a means for decompressing the compressed multimedia data received from the storage device.

4. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the transit vehicle includes two or more cars, each of the two or more cars having at least one of a plurality of video graphic display means for broadcasting to a plurality of passengers traveling in the two or more cars, further comprising:

two or more transit transceivers wherein one of the two or more transit transceivers is located on each of the two or more cars,

two or more servers, wherein one of the two or more servers is integral to the one of the two or more transit transceivers on each of the two or more cars,

a means for connecting the at least one of the plurality of video graphic display means on each of the two or more cars to the one of the two or more servers located on the corresponding one of the two or more cars.

5. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 4, further comprising:

a means for interconnecting the at least one of the plurality of video display means to the at least one of the plurality of video display means on the adjacent car, whereby one of the two or more transit transceivers receive the stored data from the storage device and the corresponding one of the two or more servers distributes the data to the at least one of the plurality of video graphic display means located on each of the two or more cars for broadcast to a plurality of passengers traveling in the transit vehicle.

6. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the multimedia data is stored in a plurality of blocks and the storage device further comprises:

a means for processing to index the plurality of blocks of multimedia data and selectively edit, delete, or add one or more blocks of the plurality of blocks of multimedia data and create a directory of edited, changed or added blocks of the plurality of blocks, and

whereby after the storage device has transmitted the multimedia data to the transit transceiver and the server has stored the multimedia data, subsequent transmissions include the directory and the edited, changed or added blocks of the plurality of blocks of multimedia data and the server distributes the plurality of blocks of multimedia data to the at least one video display means following the directory.

7. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of distribution transceivers that are individually addressable located at the plurality of stations along the predetermined route,

a means for connecting the plurality of distribution transceivers to the storage device to download the stored multimedia data from the storage device to the plurality of distribution transceivers, and

wherein the plurality of distribution transceivers wirelessly transmit the multimedia data to the transit transceiver while the transit vehicle is stationary at one of the plurality of stations corresponding to one of the plurality of distribution transceivers.

8. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the storage device further comprises:

a receiver integrally connected to the storage device for wirelessly receiving the data from a multimedia program source.

9. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the storage device is located at at least one of the at least two terminus stations and the multimedia data is wirelessly transmitted from the storage device to the transit transceiver while the transit vehicle is temporarily stationary at the at least one of the at least two terminus stations.

10. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter comprises:

a plurality of distribution transceivers located along the predetermined route, wherein each of the plurality of distribution transceivers wireless transmits the multimedia data within a corresponding predetermined range,

a means for connecting the plurality of distribution transceivers to the storage device to download the stored multimedia data from the storage device to the plurality of distribution transceivers,

a plurality of means for sensing when the transit vehicle is within range of each of the plurality of distribution transceivers, wherein each of the plurality of sensing means is integral to each of the plurality of distribution transceivers, and

whereby each of the plurality of sensing means senses when the transit vehicle is within the predetermined range corresponding to the plurality of distribution transceivers and the one of the plurality of distribution transceivers corresponding to the predetermined range wirelessly transmits the received multimedia data to the transit transceiver located on the transit vehicle.

11. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of successive distribution transceivers located along the predetermined route, wherein each of the plurality of successive distribution transceivers wireless transmits the multimedia data within a corresponding predetermined range,

a means for connecting the plurality of successive distribution transceivers to the storage device to download the stored multimedia data from the storage device to the plurality of successive distribution transceivers, and

whereby the plurality of successive distribution transceivers wirelessly transmit the received multimedia data simultaneously and the simultaneously transmitted multimedia data is received by the transit transceiver while the corresponding transit vehicle is traveling in the range corresponding to each of the successive distribution transceivers and the transit transceiver distributes the continuously received multimedia data to the at least one video graphic display means on the transit vehicle.

12. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the transit transceiver further comprises:

a means for converting the multimedia data stored on the server to at least one predetermined AM/FM frequency, and

a means for transmitting the at least one converted AM/FM frequency for receipt by AM/FM receiving devices that are in the possession of the passengers and tuned to the at least one predetermined AM/FM frequency.

13. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the transit transceiver further comprises:

a means for converting the multimedia data stored on the server to at least one predetermined AM/FM frequency,

at least one audio means located on the transit vehicle, and

a means for connecting the at least one audio means to the transit transceiver, wherein the transit transceiver distributes the at least one converted AM/FM frequency to the at least one audio means for broadcast on the transit vehicle.

14. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the transit transceiver further comprises:

a means for converting the multimedia data stored on the server to a predetermined wireless frequency, and

a means for transmitting the converted wireless frequency for receipt by passengers who are in possession of devices capable of receiving wireless transmission at the predetermined wireless frequency.

15. The transit vehicle broadcast system of claim 1, wherein the storage device further comprises:

a means for translating the stored multimedia data to two or more different languages, and

a means for selecting transmission of the stored data in one of the two or more different languages.

16. A transit vehicle broadcast system for a plurality of transit vehicles traveling a predetermined route in a confined area where traditional broadcast signals are unavailable to passengers, the predetermined route having at least two terminus stations and a plurality of stations between the at least two terminus stations comprising:

a multimedia program source, comprising;

at least one transceiver for wirelessly receiving multimedia data from a predetermined source and wirelessly transmitting the received multimedia data to the transit vehicle for broadcast to passengers traveling on the transit vehicle,

at least one distribution transceiver located along the predetermined route to wirelessly receive the multimedia data transmitted from the at least one transceiver,

a transit transceiver located on the transit vehicle to wirelessly receive the multimedia data from the at least one distribution transceiver, and

at least one video graphic display means located on the transit vehicle, wherein the at least one video graphic display means is connected to the transit transceiver and the transit transceiver distributes the multimedia data to the at least one video graphic display means for broadcast on the transit vehicle.

17. A transit vehicle broadcast system to broadcast multimedia data to a plurality of passengers on a plurality of transit vehicles in areas where traditional broadcast signals are unavailable to passengers, wherein the plurality of transit vehicles travel a predetermined route having at least two terminus stations and a plurality of stations along the predetermined route, comprising:

a storage device located at or near the at least two terminus stations to store the multimedia data for broadcast to the plurality of passengers on the plurality of transit vehicles,

a plurality of distribution transceivers to receive the stored multimedia data from the storage device, wherein the plurality of distribution transceivers are located at the plurality of stations,

a means for connecting the storage device to the plurality of distribution transceivers,

a plurality of transit transceivers to wirelessly receive the multimedia data from at least one of the plurality of distribution transceivers, wherein one of the plurality of transit transceivers is located on each of the plurality of transit vehicles,

a plurality of transit servers, wherein each of the plurality of transit servers is connected to one of the said plurality of transit transceivers,

a plurality of video graphic means, wherein at least one of the plurality of video graphic means is located within each of the plurality of transit vehicles, and

a means for connecting the at least one of the plurality of video graphic means to the corresponding one of the plurality of transit servers, wherein each of said transit servers distribute the multimedia data to the at least one of the plurality of video graphic means for broadcast to the plurality of passengers on the corresponding one of the said plurality of transit vehicles.

18. A method of broadcasting multimedia data to a plurality of passengers on a plurality of transit vehicles traveling a predetermined route in an area where traditional broadcast signals are unavailable, wherein the predetermined route includes at least two terminus stations and a plurality of stations between the at least two terminus stations comprising:

storing the multimedia data on a storage device within a multimedia program source,

wirelessly transmitting the stored multimedia data from the multimedia program source to a plurality of transit transceivers each having a means for storing the wirelessly received multimedia data, wherein one of the plurality of transit transceivers is located on each of the plurality of transit vehicles,

storing the wirelessly received multimedia data on each of the means for storing of the plurality of transit transceivers, and

distributing the stored multimedia data from at least one of the storage means of the plurality of transit transceivers to a plurality of video graphic display means located on the plurality of transit vehicles for viewing by the plurality of passengers, wherein the plurality of video graphic display means are interconnected to each of the storage means of the plurality of transit transceivers.

19. The method of broadcasting of claim 18, further comprising:

downloading the multimedia data from the multimedia storage source to a plurality of distribution transceivers each having a storage means and located at a plurality of locations along the predetermined route,

storing the downloaded multimedia data on each of the storage means of the plurality of distribution transceivers, and

wirelessly transmitting the stored multimedia data from at least one of the plurality of distribution transceivers to at least one of the plurality of transit transceivers.

20. The method of broadcasting of claim 18, further comprising:

editing the stored multimedia data at the multimedia program source, and

downloading the edited multimedia data to one of the plurality of transit transceivers whereby the edited multimedia data is distributed to at least one of the plurality of video graphic display means connected to the storage means of the one of the transit transceivers.

21. A transit vehicle broadcast system for a plurality of transit vehicles traveling a predetermined route in a confined area that lacks traditional broadcast reception, wherein the predetermined route includes at least two terminus stations and a plurality of stations between the at least two terminus stations comprising:

a means for transmitting multimedia data from a multimedia program source having a means for storing the multimedia data,

a plurality of means for distributing the multimedia data received from the storage device, wherein one of the plurality of distribution means is located on each of the plurality of transit vehicles,

a plurality of video graphic display means, wherein the plurality of transit vehicles each include at least one of the plurality of video graphic display means, and

a means for connecting the one of the plurality of distribution means to the at least one of the plurality of video graphic display means on each of the plurality of transit vehicles, whereby the plurality of distribution means distribute the multimedia data to the at least one video graphic display means corresponding to each of the plurality of distribution means for displaying the multimedia data to a plurality of passengers onboard the plurality of transit vehicles.

22. An AM/FM broadcast system for a transit vehicle that travels in a closed environment that does not receive traditional wireless AM/FM broadcast reception comprising:

a multimedia program source, comprising;

a storage device for storing multimedia data for broadcast to the transit vehicle,

at least one transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the multimedia data,

a plurality of distribution transceivers to wirelessly receive the multimedia data from the storage device,

a means for converting the stored multimedia data at each of the plurality of distribution transceivers to at least one predetermined AM/FM frequency,

a plurality of transmission antennas, wherein at least one of the plurality of transmission antennas is connected to each of the plurality of distribution transceivers to broadcast the at least one predetermined AM/FM frequency within the closed environment for receipt by AM/FM receiving devices that are in the possession of passengers traveling in the subway system.

23. The AM/FM broadcast system of claim 22, further comprising:

a means for translating the stored multimedia data to two or more different languages,

a means for storing the translated multimedia data,

a means for indexing the stored translated multimedia data, wherein the stored translated multimedia data in each of the two or more languages is selected from the indexing means and converted to two or more predetermined frequencies allowing transmission of the stored data in different languages on different frequencies.