Attention manager for occupying the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device
First Claim
1. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, comprising:
- a content display system associated with the display device, the content display system including;
means for receiving a set of content data and a set of instructions for enabling a display device to selectively display, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract a user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, an image or images generated from the set of content data, wherein the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display an image or images further comprises content data acquisition instructions, the set of content data acquisition instructions further comprising;
acquisition instructions for enabling acquisition of the set of content data; and
content data update instructions for enabling acquisition of an updated set of content data that corresponds to a previously acquired set of content data; and
means for using the display device to selectively display the image or images using the set of instructions;
a content providing system including means for providing the set of content data to the content display system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in the set of instructions, being remote from the content display system and comprising one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the content display system;
means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display the image or images generated from the set of content data;
first communication means for enabling communication between (1) the means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions and (2) the content display system; and
second communication means for enabling communication between the content providing system and the content display system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An attention manager presents information to a person in the vicinity of a display device in a manner that engages at least the peripheral attention of the person. The information is embodied by one or more sets of content data (e.g., video or audio data). Each set of content data is formulated by a content provider and made available for use by content display systems. Upon appropriate activation, each content display system displays images corresponding to the sets of content data in accordance with predetermined scheduling information. The attention manager makes use of “unused capacity” of the display device and the person'"'"'s attention, providing information to the person that the person might not otherwise expend adequate energy to obtain. The attention manager also affords an opportunity to content providers to disseminate their information to people that are interested in receiving such information, enabling the content providers to provide better directed information dissemination, as well as providing access to the previously unused attention capacity of those interested users.
49 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, comprising:
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a content display system associated with the display device, the content display system including;
means for receiving a set of content data and a set of instructions for enabling a display device to selectively display, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract a user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, an image or images generated from the set of content data, wherein the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display an image or images further comprises content data acquisition instructions, the set of content data acquisition instructions further comprising;
acquisition instructions for enabling acquisition of the set of content data; and
content data update instructions for enabling acquisition of an updated set of content data that corresponds to a previously acquired set of content data; and
means for using the display device to selectively display the image or images using the set of instructions;
a content providing system including means for providing the set of content data to the content display system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in the set of instructions, being remote from the content display system and comprising one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the content display system;
means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display the image or images generated from the set of content data;
first communication means for enabling communication between (1) the means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions and (2) the content display system; and
second communication means for enabling communication between the content providing system and the content display system. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, the system for use with a plurality of types of display devices, each display device having an associated content display system, comprising:
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a content display system associated with the display device, the content display system including means for receiving a set of content data and a set of instructions for enabling a display device to selectively display, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract a user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, an image or images generated from the set of content data, the content display system frirther including means for using the display device to selectively display the image or images using the set of instructions;
a content providing system including means for providing the set of content data to the content display system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in the set of instructions, being remote from the content display system and comprising one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the content display system;
means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system a set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display the image or images generated from the set of content data, wherein;
the means for providing can supply a plurality of sets of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display the image or images;
each of the plurality of sets of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display the image or images further comprises a set of display instructions, each set of display instructions being optimized for use by a particular type of display device;
first communication means for enabling communication between (1) the means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions and (2) the content display system; and
second communication means for enabling communication between the content providing system and the content display system.
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4. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, comprising:
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a content display system associated with the display device, the content display system including means for receiving a set of content data, the content data comprising video data, wherein display of the video data produces a moving image, and for receiving a set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract a user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, an image or images generated from the set of content data, the content display system further including means for using the display device to selectively display the image or images using the set of instructions;
a content providing system including means for providing the set of content data to the content display system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in the set of instructions, being remote from the content display system and comprising one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the content display system;
means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display the image or images generated from the set of content data;
first communication means for enabling communication between (1) the means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions and (2) the content display system; and
second communication means for enabling communication between the content providing system and the content display system.
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5. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, comprising:
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a content display system associated with the display device, the content display system including means for receiving a set of content data, wherein the content data comprises audio data, and for receiving a set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract a user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, an image or images generated from the set of content data, the content display system further including means for using the display device to selectively display the image or images using the set of instructions;
a content providing system including means for providing the set of content data to the content display system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in the set of instructions, being remote from the content display system and comprising one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the content display system;
means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display the image or images generated from the set of content data;
first communication means for enabling communication between (1) the means remote from the content display system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the content display system the set of instructions and (2) the content display system; and
second communication means for enabling communication between the content providing system and the content display system.
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6. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, comprising:
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means for acquiring a set of content data from a content providing system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in a set of instructions, being remote from the system for engaging the peripheral attention of the person and comprising one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the system for engaging the peripheral attention of the person;
means for receiving from an application manager system remote from the system for engaging the peripheral attention of the person and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display an image or images generated from the set of content data;
means for selectively displaying on the display device, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract a user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, the image or images generated from the set of content data; and
means for updating the set of content data, wherein the means for updating obtains the updated set of content data from the content providing system, and wherein the means for updating further comprises;
means for specifying the location of the content providing system; and
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means for specifying the time at which the updated set of content data is to be obtained from the content providing system.
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7. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, comprising:
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means for acquiring a set of content data from a content providing system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in a set of instructions, being remote from the display device and comprising one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person;
means for receiving from an application manager system remote from the display device and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display an image or images generated from the set of content data;
means for selectively displaying on the display device, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract a user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, the image or images generated from the set of content data;
means for interrupting a process being implemented by the apparatus at the time that the means for selectively displaying begins operating;
means for storing information representing the state of the process at the time of interruption; and
means for beginning operation of the process, using the stored state of the process, after the means for selectively displaying stops operating.
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8. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, comprising:
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an audio playback system associated with the display device, the audio playback system including;
means for receiving a set of content data and a set of instructions for enabling an audio playback device to selectively play, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract a user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, audio content generated from a set of audio data, wherein the set of instructions for enabling an audio playback device to selectively play audio content generated from the set of audio data further comprises audio data acquisition instructions, the set of audio data acquisition instructions further comprising;
acquisition instructions for enabling acquisition of the set of audio data; and
audio data update instructions for enabling acquisition of an updated set of audio data that corresponds to a previously acquired set of audio data; and
means for using the audio playback device to selectively play the audio content using the set of instructions;
a content providing system including means for providing the set of audio data to the audio playback system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the audio playback device to selectively play the audio content and sending the schedule in the set of instructions, being remote from the audio playback system and comprising one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide audio data to the audio playback system;
means remote from the audio playback system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the audio playback system the set of instructions for enabling the audio playback device to selectively play audio content generated from the set of audio data;
first communication means for enabling communication between (1) the means remote from the audio playback system and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems for providing to the audio playback system the set of instructions and (2) the audio playback system; and
second communication means for enabling communication between the content providing system and the audio playback system.
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9. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person in the vicinity of a display device of an apparatus, comprising:
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means for acquiring a set of content data from a content providing system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in a set of instructions, being remote from the display device and comprising a selected one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the system for engaging the peripheral attention of the person, the means for acquiring comprising;
a communications device for enabling communication with the selected content providing system; and
a processing device for effecting control of the communications device, in response to a request for acquisition of the set of content data from the selected content providing system, to request transmission of the requested set of content data from the selected content providing system and to receive the requested set of content data from the selected content providing system;
means for receiving from an application manager system remote from the display device and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display an image or images generated from the set of content data;
means for selectively displaying on the display device, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract the user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, the image or images generated from an acquired set of content data; and
means for enabling the person to request the acquisition of the set of content data from the content providing system, wherein the means for acquiring acquires the requested set of content data from the selected content providing system in response to the request, and wherein the means for selectively displaying generates a display of the image or images from the requested set of content data. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A system for engaging the peripheral attention of the person in the vicinity of the display device of the apparatus, comprising:
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means for acquiring a set of content data from a content providing system, the content providing system determining a schedule for enabling the display device to selectively display the set of content data and sending the schedule in a set of instructions, being remote from the display device and comprising a selected one of a plurality of content providing systems configured to provide content data to the system for engaging the peripheral attention of a person;
means for receiving from an application manager system remote from the display device and at least one of said plurality of content providing systems the set of instructions for enabling the display device to selectively display an image or images generated from the set of content data;
means for selectively displaying on the display device, in an unobtrusive manner that does not distract the user of the apparatus from a primary interaction with the apparatus, the image or images generated from an acquired set of content data; and
means for enabling a person to request the acquisition of the set of content data from the content providing system, comprising an input device for enabling the person to input one or more instructions to the system that specify a request for acquisition of a particular set of content data; and
a processing device for effecting control of the means for acquiring, in response to the one or more instructions, to acquire the requested set of content data;
wherein the means for acquiring acquires the requested set of content data from the content providing system in response to the request, and wherein the means for selectively displaying generates a display of the image or images from the requested set of content data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification