Dynamic device for billboard advertising

• US 7,015,875 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DHP Media AB
• Original Assignee: Novus Partners LLC
• Inventors: Wampler, James W., Vaitekunas, Jeffrey J., Wampler, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US10/175,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345 11- 33, 345/104, 345/105, 345 84- 86, 705/14, 705/26, 709/226, 709/223
• US Class Current: 345/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field

Abstract

A dynamic device for billboard advertising is disclosed. An advertising billboard device in accordance with the present invention comprises a server and a display controller adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from the server. At least one content display unit is in communication with the display controller, wherein the content display unit visually displays the information from the dynamic-content. The advertising billboard display controller may also comprise a timing means, the display controller altering the visual display of the content display unit as a function of the time from the timing means. The display controller may be adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, wherein the display controller comprises a heirarchical control scheme, the heirarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one server of the plurality of servers for display on the content display unit. The advertising billboard device may also comprise a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from the plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each of the display controllers selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of the type identifier.

Claims

1. An advertising billboard device comprising:

a plurality of servers;

a display controller, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive content from said servers and display said content on an advertising billboard; and

at least one passive display unit, provided by said advertising billboard, in communication with said display controller, wherein said passive display unit visually displays the information from said content, wherein said passive display unit is configured to retain a viewable image when not being actively written to or addressed;

wherein said display controller is adapted to receive, store, and display content from the plurality of servers, wherein said display controller comprises a hierarchical control scheme, wherein said display controller is operable to select at least one server from said plurality of servers in accordance with said hierarchical control scheme, wherein content is displayed from a server that is selected in accordance with said hierarchical control scheme.

2. The advertising billboard device of claim 1, wherein said passive display unit comprises GYRICON.

3. The advertising billboard device of claim 1, wherein said passive display unit comprises E-INK.

4. The advertising billboard device of claim 1, wherein said display controller comprises a timing means, said display controller altering the visual display of said passive display unit as a function of the time from said timing means.

5. The advertising billboard device of claim 4 comprising a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of display units, each display controller from said plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each said display controller selects content for display on its display unit as a function of said type identifier.

6. The advertising billboard device of claim 5, wherein at least one of said display units comprises GYRICON.

7. The advertising billboard device of claim 5, wherein at least one of said display units comprises E-INK.

8. An advertising billboard system comprising:

a plurality of servers;

a plurality of display controllers, wherein each of said plurality of display controllers is adapted to receive and display content from at least one of said plurality of servers;

at least one passive display unit in communication with each of said plurality of display controllers, wherein said at least one passive display unit visually displays the information from said content, wherein said passive display unit is configured to retain a viewable image when not being actively written to or addressed;

said advertising billboard system comprising a timing means, wherein at least one of said plurality of display controllers alters the visual display of said at least one passive display unit as a function of the time from said timing means; and

at least one of said plurality of display controllers is adapted to receive, store, and display content from at least two of said plurality of servers, wherein said at least one of said plurality of display controllers comprises a hierarchical control scheme, said hierarchical control scheme adapted to select content from one server of said at least two of said plurality of servers for display on said at least one of said plurality of display units.

9. The advertising billboard system of claim 8, wherein said at least one passive display unit comprises GYRICON.

10. The advertising billboard system of claim 8, wherein said at least one passive display unit comprises E-INK.