Real time navigation and advertising platform for public transportation

• US 7,595,740 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allegro S.A.R.L.
• Original Assignee: TransSpot Ltd.
• Inventors: Pechenick, Pini, Morad, Tomer Yosef, Chen, Tomer
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/163,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/905, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.13, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/531, 340/5.64, 340/539.11, 340/994, 235/380, 235/383, 701/200, 701/204, 725/75, 725/76
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0249 based upon budgets or funds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops

Abstract

Invention is provided for navigation and orientation for all types of passengers traveling in public transportation. Segmentation methods for digital advertising based on location and number of passengers. Method for delivering audio and visual advertisements in real time into public transportation vehicles. Method for delivering public transportation positioning information, including arrival times, remaining times, past and future stops, stop numbers, current position, street and neighborhood names, waypoints, connections with other public transportation means, and news headlines. Method for embedding advertisements in any form, including banners, skins, pop-ups, video, audio, text and animation, in information screens inside public transportation.

Claims

1. A method of advertisement, comprising:

determining location information on a plurality of public transportation vehicles in real time;

estimating arrival times of the vehicles;

acquiring real time information on the passengers inside one of the vehicles;

selecting advertisements responsive to the acquired real time information on the passengers inside one of the vehicles; and

displaying the estimated arrival times along with the selected advertisements within the one of the vehicles.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining the location information comprises determining based on GPS readings from within the vehicles.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring the real time information comprises acquiring images from within one of the vehicles.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the estimated arrival times comprises displaying on wireless personal mobile devices.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein estimating the arrival times and selecting the advertisements are performed in a first unit and the data to be displayed is transmitted to the wireless personal mobile devices using a short range wireless protocol.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the data to be displayed is transmitted to the mobile devices using the Bluetooth protocol.

7. A method according to claim 1, comprising displaying weather information along with the estimated arrival times.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein selecting the advertisements comprises selecting at least partially responsive to the number of passengers in the vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein selecting the advertisements comprises selecting responsive to biddings placed by advertisers.

10. A method according to claim 1, comprising providing personal alerts to passengers on the vehicle based on the determined location information.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein providing the personal alerts comprises providing alerts in an SMS message.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein providing the personal alerts comprises providing using a short range wireless protocol.

13. An advertisement aiding system, comprising:

a plurality of location determination units adapted for mounting on public transport vehicles;

apparatus for acquiring real time information on the passengers inside one of the vehicles;

a display adapted to display advertisements within the one of the vehicles;

a first processor adapted to estimate arrival times of the vehicles responsive to information from the location determination units;

a second processor adapted to select advertisements responsive to real time information on the passengers acquired by the apparatus for acquiring real time information; and

a display controller adapted to present estimated arrival times from the first processor along with advertisements selected by the second processor, on the display.

14. An advertisement aiding system according to claim 13, wherein the second processor is configured to determine the cost of advertising on the vehicle responsive to real time data on the number of passengers on the vehicle.

15. An advertisement aiding system according to claim 13, wherein the second processor is configured to receive a budget and to allow advertisers to select advertisement opportunities responsive to the budget and the determined costs.

16. An advertisement aiding system according to claim 13, wherein the second processor is configured to manage a bidding system for selecting the advertisements for specific times.

17. An advertisement aiding system according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus for acquiring real time information on the passengers comprises a camera.