System and method for interactive advertising

• US 6,708,176 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Strunk, David D., Kephart, Aaron D., Liseski, Steven J., Fields, Robin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mofiz, Apu M
• Application Number:
  US10/120,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 707/4, 707/101, 707/102, 235/379, 379/93.17, 463/42, 700/83, 705/1, 705/14, 705/26, 709/203, 709/218, 713/186, 713/201, 725/6, 725/22, 725/23, 725/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

An interactive advertising and public announcement system having storage and processing capabilities, as well as a display device, configured to store, process and/or display a media presentation. The media presentation proceeds according to a Playlist that may incorporate links to web-based content. The display device includes input devices allowing a user to interact with the media presentation and customer recognition devices for detecting the presence of and identifying the user. The system may also include video-conferencing capabilities, and the ability to detect, upload and respond to information obtained from and regarding the user. The system may also be linked and configured to retrieve and respond to user information collected from the user while the user interacts with the system, as well as user information previously-collected and stored in local or remote databases.

Claims

1. An interactive advertising system, comprising;

a Group Display Device;

a Distributed Storage Array comprising at least one Storage Device;

a Distributed Processor Array coupled to the Distributed Storage Array, the Distributed Processor Array comprising at least one Processor, and the Distributed Storage Array storing a Program for controlling the Distributed Processor Array; and

a Remote Identification Sensing Device;

wherein the Remote Identification Sensing Device comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with a transponder using electromagnetic transmission signals, whereby the Remote Identification Sensing Device is capable of communicating with the transponder without direct physical contact between the transceiver and the transponder;

wherein the Distributed Processor Array is operative with the Program to generate at least one Interactive Poster on the Group Display Device; and

to configure the at least one Interactive Poster responsive to the Remote Identification Sensing Device.

2. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, wherein the at least one Interactive Poster is contained in a Playlist, and wherein the at least one Interactive Poster is generated in response to the Playlist.

3. The interactive advertising system of claim 2, wherein the Playlist comprises display parameters for the at least one Interactive Poster.

4. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, wherein the Distributed Processor Array is flanker operative with the Program to collect statistics responsive to the generation of the at least one Interactive Poster.

5. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, wherein the Distributed Processor Array is further operative with the Program to collect statistics responsive to the configuration of the at least one Interactive Poster.

6. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, wherein the Group Display Device comprises an Input Device and wherein the Input Device is responsive to touch.

7. The interactive advertising system of claim 6, wherein the Input Device is responsive to a voice.

8. The interactive advertising system of claim 7, wherein the Input Device is configured to respond only to a voice containing a recognized voice pattern.

9. The interactive advertising system of claim 6, wherein the Input Device is responsive to motion.

10. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, wherein the Group Display Device further comprises a Focused Audio Device.

11. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, further comprising a Customer Identification Device;

and wherein the Distributed Processor Array generates the at least one Interactive Poster on the Group Display Device responsive to the Customer identification Device.

12. The interactive advertising system of claim 11, wherein the Customer Identification Device comprises a magnetic:

stripe reader.

13. The interactive advertising system of claim 11, wherein the Customer Identification Device comprises a card having a readable computer chip.

14. The interactive advertising system of claim 11, wherein the Customer Identification device comprises a Customer Biometrics Sensing Device.

15. The interactive advertising system of claim 14, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s appearance.

16. The interactive advertising system of claim 14, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s voice.

17. The interactive advertising system of claim 14, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s iris.

18. The interactive advertising system of claim 14, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s retina.

19. The interactive advertising system of claim 14, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s fingerprint.

20. The interactive advertising system of claim 14, wherein the Distributed Processor Array is operative with the Program to store information responsive to the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device.

21. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, wherein the transponder is positioned on a card.

22. The interactive advertising system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is configured to send and receive wireless signals.

23. The interactive advertising system of claim 22, wherein the transceiver sends and receives wireless signals to and from the transponder thereby uniquely identifying a user.

24. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, wherein the Remote Identification Sensing Device comprises a Crowd Evaluation Device.

25. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, further comprising a Hardcopy Output Device, and wherein the Distributed Processor Array is operative with the Program to provide output information on the Hardcopy Output Device responsive to the at least one Interactive Poster.

26. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, further comprising an Imaging Device.

27. The interactive advertising system of claim 26, wherein the Distributed Processor Array is operative with the Program to store images captured by the Imaging Device.

28. The interactive advertising system of claim 1, further comprising a Video Conferencing System.

29. The interactive advertising system of claim 28, wherein the Distributed Processor Array is operative with the Program to control the Video Conferencing System.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an Input Device; and

a fulfillment device operative to fulfill a fulfillment request inputted into the Input Device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the fulfillment request comprises an indication of a type of fulfillment.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the fulfillment request comprises a request for a product.

33. A method for presenting announcements to a user, comprising:

providing a Group Display Device, a Remote Identification Sensing Device, wherein the Remote Identification Sensing Device comprises a transceiver configured to Communicate with a transponder using electromagnetic transmission signals, whereby the Remote Identification Sensing Device is capable of communicating with the transponder without direct physical contact between the transceiver and the transponder, a first memory storage area containing a plurality of media elements, and a second memory storage area containing personal information about the user; and

in response to the activation of the Remote Identification Sensing Device, displaying on the Group Display Device a subset of the plurality of media elements;

wherein the subset of the plurality of media elements displayed on the Group Display Device is determined by reference to the personal information.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the secondary memory storage area comprises a component of a customer information management infrastructure.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the secondary memory storage area comprises a component of a customer relationship management system.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the plurality of media elements comprises advertisements.

37. The interactive advertising system of Claim 33 wherein the transponder is positioned an a card.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the transceiver is configured to send and receive wireless signals.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the transceiver sends and receives wireless signals to and from the transponder thereby uniquely identifying the user.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the Remote Identification Sensing Device comprises a Crowd Evaluation Device.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

providing a Customer Biometrics Sensing Device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s appearance.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s voice.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s iris.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s retina.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s fingerprint.

47. The method of claim 33, wherein the subset of the plurality of media elements displayed on the Group Display Device is responsive to an Input Device.

48. A The method of claim 47, wherein the Input Device comprises a keyboard.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the Input Device comprises a mouse.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the Input Device comprises a touch-sensitive interface.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the input Device comprises a microphone.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the Input Device comprises a button.

53. The method of claim 33, further comprising ordering the subset prior to the step of displaying the subset on the Group Display Device.

54. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing an Input Device;

and

in response to a fulfillment request obtained from the Input Device, fulfilling the fulfillment request.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the fulfillment request comprises an indication of fulfillment.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the fulfillment request comprises a request for a product.

57. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

prior to fulfilling the fulfillment request, presenting the user with an alternative fulfillment request.

58. A public announcement system, comprising:

means for accessing a plurality of media elements;

means for identifying a user in proximity to the public announcement system, wherein said means for identifying comprises a Remote Identification Sensing Device, wherein the Remote Identification Sensing Device comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with a transponder using electromagnetic transmission signals, whereby the Remote identification Sensing Device is capable of communicating with the transponder without direct physical contact between the transceiver end the transponder; and

means, responsive to the means for identifying, for retrieving personal information about the user and for displaying a subset of the plurality of media elements;

wherein the subset of the plurality of media elements displayed is determined by reference to the personal information.

59. The public announcement system of claim 58, wherein the subset of the plurality of media elements displayed is responsive to an input means.

60. The public announcement system of claim 59, wherein the input means comprises a keyboard.

61. The public announcement system of claim 59, wherein the input means comprises a mouse.

62. The public announcement system of claim 59 wherein the input means comprises a touch-sensitive interface.

63. The public announcement system of claim 59 wherein the input means comprises a microphone.

64. The public announcement system of claim 63, wherein the microphone is configured to capture sounds emanating substantially from a single direction.

65. The public announcement system of claim 63, wherein the microphone is configured to capture sounds emanating from sources that are located within a specified range.

66. The public announcement system of claim 59, wherein the input means comprises a button.

67. The public announcement system of claim 58, further comprising means for ordering the subset prior to displaying the subset.

68. The public announcement system of claim 58, farther comprising means for recording an image of the user.

69. The public announcement system of claim 68, further comprising means for transmitting the image to a remote location.

70. The public announcement system of claim 58, further comprising means for recording the voice of the user.

71. The public announcement system of claim 70, further comprising means for transmitting the voice to a remote location.

72. A method for presenting announcements to a user, comprising:

providing a Group Display Device, a Remote Identification Sensing Device wherein the Remote Identification Sensing Device comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with a transponder using electromagnetic transmission signals, whereby the Remote Identification Sensing Device is capable of communicating with the transponder without direct physical contact between the transceiver and the transponder, and a memory storage area containing a plurality of media elements; and

in response to the activation of the Remote identification Sensing Device, displaying on the Group Display Device a subset of the plurality of media elements;

wherein the subset of the plurality of media elements displayed on the Group Display Device is determined by reference to personal information obtained front the user.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising obtaining the personal information via a Customer Biometric Sensing Device.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein the personal information is obtained from the user contemporaneously with the activation of the Remote Identification Sensing Device.

75. The method at claim 72, wherein the personal information is obtained via a contemporaneous interaction with the user.

76. A method for generating a customer order, comprising:

providing a Group Display Device, a Remote Identification Sensing Device, wherein the Remote Identification Sensing Device comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with a transponder using electromagnetic transmission signals, whereby the Remote Identification Sensing Device is capable of communicating with the transponder without direct physical contact between the transceiver and the transponder, a first memory storage area containing one or more media elements, and a second memory storage area containing a multiplicity of personal information data sets;

in response to an activation of the Remote identification Sensing Device by a user, associating one or more personal information data sets within the multiplicity of personal information data sets with the user;

displaying a subset the one or more media elements to the user on the Group Display Device; and

in response to a single input action by the user, generating a set of transaction details;

wherein the set of transaction details is determined by reference to the one or more personal information data sets associated with the user.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the single action comprises swiping a magnetic card through a card reader.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the single action comprises selecting a button an a keyboard.

79. The method of claim 76, wherein the single action comprises activating a button on a mouse.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein the single action comprises activating a button on a control panel.

81. The method of claim 76, wherein the single action comprises touching a predefined area on the Group Display Device.

82. The method of claim 76, wherein the single action comprises speaking into a microphone.

83. The method of claim 76, wherein the subset of the one or more media elements displayed on the Group Display Device are determined by reference to the one or more personal information data sets.

84. The method of claim 76, wherein the secondary memory storage area comprises a component of a customer information management infrastructure.

85. The method of claim 76, wherein the secondary memory storage area comprises a component of a customer relationship management system.

86. The method of claim 76, wherein the set of transaction details comprises a customer name;

a customer mailing address; and

a payment method.

87. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

providing a magnetic stripe reader.

88. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

providing a card having a readable computer chip.

89. The method of claim 76, wherein the transponder is positioned on a card.

90. The method of claim 76, wherein the transceiver is configured to send and receive wireless signals.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the transceiver sends and receives wireless signals to and from transponder thereby uniquely identifying the user.

92. The method of claim 76, wherein the Remote Identification Sensing Device comprises a Crowd Evaluation Device.

93. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

providing a Customer Biometrics Sensing Device.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s appearance.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s voice.

96. The method of claim 93, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s iris.

97. The method of claim 93, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s retina.

98. The method of claim 93, wherein the Customer Biometrics Sensing Device is responsive to a customer'"'"'s fingerprint.