Electronic information display system

• US 7,091,933 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imagearray Limited
• Original Assignee: Imagearray Limited
• Inventors: King, James Reynell, McClintock, Dale Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US10/266,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 345 51- 56, 345/1.3, 345/1.1, 345/473, 345/723, 345/1.2, 345/2.1, 345/3.3, 345/903, 358335-343, 386/54, 348/563, 348/565, 348/567, 348/588, 349 58- 65
• US Class Current: 345/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• 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: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players

Abstract

Methods are provided for distributing a visual presentation. One described method includes storing show data and media referenced by the show data at a data center. The method also includes processing the show data and media to generate a set of visual presentation data files. The method further includes distributing each visual presentation data file to at least one digital playback device. Systems are also provided to implement the described methods.

Claims

1. A method for distributing an audio/visual presentation, comprising:

storing on a central server show data representing an audio/visual presentation, and a plurality of graphical objects associated with the show data;

processing the show data and the plurality of graphical objects to create a plurality of audio/visual presentation data files, each audio/visual presentation data file representing a segment of the audio/visual presentation;

transmitting the plurality of audio/visual presentation data files from the central server to a local controller;

transmitting each audio/visual presentation data file from the local controller to at least one associated digital playback device; and

processing the audio/visual presentation data files at the associated digital playback devices to render the audio/visual presentation.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

storing schedule data on the central server;

transmitting the schedule data from the central server to the local controller;

transmitting the schedule data from the local controller to the at least one digital playback unit; and

processing the audio/visual presentation data files based on the schedule data.

3. The method of claim 1, further including:

storing on the central server a local controller identifier associated with the show data; and

determining that the plurality of audio/visual data files are to be transmitted to the local controller based on the local controller identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

processing the show data includes determining synchronization data; and

processing the audio/visual presentation data files includes utilizing the synchronization data to synchronize the audio/visual presentation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the audio/visual presentation data files includes generating audit and performance data;

and the method further includes transmitting the audit and performance data from the digital playback unit to the local controller.

6. The method of claim 5, further including:

accumulating the received audit and performance data; and

transmitting accumulated audit and performance data from the local controller to the central server.

7. The method of claim 6, further including generating an audit report based on the accumulated data.

8. The method of claim 6, further including generating a performance report based on the accumulated data.

9. A method for distributing a visual presentation, comprising:

storing show data and media referenced by the show data at a data center;

processing the show data and media to generate a plurality of visual presentation data files;

distributing each visual presentation data file to at least one digital playback device, wherein distributing includes;

receiving the plurality of visual presentation data files at a local controller; and

transmitting each visual presentation data file from the local controller to at least one digital playback device.

10. A visual presentation distribution and control system, comprising:

a data center including stored show data representing a visual presentation and media referenced by the show data, the data center operative to process the show data and media to generate a plurality of visual presentation data files, each visual presentation data file representing a segment of the visual presentation;

a display array comprising a plurality of digital playback devices, each digital playback device configured to process a visual presentation data file; and

a local controller in communication with the data center and the plurality of digital playback devices, the local controller including control logic to receive and distribute each visual presentation data file to an associated digital playback device.