Audio-visual point-of-sale presentation system and method directed toward vehicle occupant

• US 7,609,173 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vesco Oil Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vesco Oil Corporation
• Inventors: Epstein, Lillian, Vanderwall, Mark T., Epstein, Lena
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/555,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20070116299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/901, 340/905, 340/539.25, 455/424, 455/152.1, 455/345, 455/3.06, 455/74, 455/575.9, 455/93, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, D20/35, 705 16- 27
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/049 giving information to passengers inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An audio-visual presentation system delivering a presentation to a vehicle passenger compartment is provided that includes a video display mounted external to a vehicle passenger compartment and viewable from within the compartment. A controller provides a video signal to the display and an audio signal. The audio signal is broadcast by an antenna coupled to the controller as a radio frequency is received by a vehicle radio and discernable to a vehicle sound system. The audio-visual presentation system is particularly well suited as a method of education and sale regarding vehicle service products. Rather than providing a discernable audio signal through a vehicle sound system, it is appreciated that a portable radio set is readily placed within a vehicle passenger compartment or the audio signal delivered via a wireless network. A still further advantage is realized by providing a technician servicing the vehicle with a microphone operative to interrupt the audio signal of the presentation so as to convey vehicle service information regardless of whether the presentation is viewed within the vehicle compartment or in a remote waiting room. The audio-visual presentation is readily tailored to the past viewing and/or purchase history of a potential customer.

Claims

1. An audio-visual point of sale presentation system delivering a presentation to a vehicle passenger compartment comprising:

a video display mounted external to a vehicle passenger compartment and viewable therefrom at a point of sale and playing a video input signal of the point-of-sale presentation;

a controller providing the video signal to said display and a corresponding audio signal; and

an antenna coupled to said controller broadcasting the audio signal as an amplitude modulation or frequency modulation radio frequency representing the audio signal of the presentation, the radio frequency audio signal received by an existing vehicle radio tuned to receive the radio frequency audio signal and discernable through a vehicle sound system to deliver the presentation to the vehicle passenger compartment wherein the controller recalls information about a vehicle or a vehicle occupant wherein upon subsequent return of the vehicle or the vehicle occupant to the point-of-sale to provide a subsequent presentation based on a customer history.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency carrying the audio signal is an amplitude modulation waveform.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said user interface is a remote infrared controller.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said user interface is a keypad.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said user interface is a touch screen within said display.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a repositionable arm from which said display extends.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a network connection for loading a digital file to said controller, said file containing a controller readable format of the presentation.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second display and a second antenna, said second display and said second antenna operable independent of said video display and said antenna wherein said controller provides the video signal to said second display and the audio signal to the second antenna.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a technician microphone operative to interrupt the radio frequency.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a scanner or radio frequency reader external to the vehicle passenger compartment operative to read a vehicle-unique code.

12. A method of a point-of sale presentation for purchase of a good or service at a vehicle comprising:

providing a sales presentation through a visual display external to a vehicle passenger compartment at a point of sale and playing a video input signal of the point-of-sale presentation, the visual display being viewable from the vehicle passenger compartment;

transmitting a radio frequency audio signal at a predetermined frequency in concert with the visual display;

playing said radio frequency audio signal through an existing vehicle radio tuned to receive the radio frequency in concert with the visual display to induce the purchase of the good or the service; and

providing a vehicle occupant with an opportunity for the purchase of the good or the service associated with the sales presentation; and

recalling information about the vehicle or a vehicle occupant upon subsequent return of the vehicle or the vehicle occupant to the point-of-sale to provide a subsequent sales presentation based on customer history.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising allowing the vehicle occupant to select said presentation.

14. The method of any claim 12 further comprising querying the vehicle occupant to provide information.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the vehicle occupant enters responses to the querying step through a user interface in electronic communication with said visual display.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising conducting marketing analysis based on purchasing said good or service relative to said presentation.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing information about a vehicle or the vehicle occupant.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein vehicle information is collected from a source selected from the group consisting of:

a barcode, license plate number, vehicle identification number, and radio frequency identification tag.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said visual display is an integrated active signage system operative as a billboard or drive-through placard.

20. An audio-video presentation system delivering a point-of-sale presentation to a vehicle passenger compartment comprising:

a video display mounted external to a vehicle passenger compartment and viewable therefrom at a point of sale and playing a video input signal of the point-of-sale presentation;

a controller providing the video signal to said display and a corresponding audio signal; and

an antenna coupled to said controller broadcasting the audio signal as an amplitude modulation or frequency audio signal modulation radio frequency representing the audio signal of the presentation, the radio frequency audio signal received by a portable radio set placed within the vehicle passenger compartment tuned to receive the radio frequency audio signal to deliver the presentation to the vehicle passenger compartment wherein upon subsequent return of the vehicle or the vehicle occupant to the point-of-sale to provide a subsequent presentation based on a customer history.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said radio set is selected from the group consisting of:

a handheld radio and a headset.

22. The system of claim 20 further comprising a user interface.

23. The system of claim 20 further comprising a technician microphone operative to interrupt the radio frequency audio signal.