Method of displaying information by a network kiosk

• US 7,675,503 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: De Greef's Wagen-, Carrosserie- En Machinebouw B.V., NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Francis, John Brian, Goodwin, John C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdulselam; Abbas I
• Application Number:
  US09/727,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,387 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/473, 345/474, 345/80, 345/100, 345/905, 463/20, 705/14.37, 705/14.4, 700/238, 235/379, 715/700, 340/5.91
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A method of displaying information by a network kiosk which causes different information to be displayed when someone passes within a predetermined distance of the kiosk. The method includes the steps of sensing a person within a predetermined distance of the kiosk, displaying first information, timing a time period, and displaying second information if the person did not begin use of the kiosk within the time period.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information by a network kiosk comprising the steps of:

sensing a person passing within a predetermined distance of the kiosk by a proximity sensor of the kiosk;

displaying first information in response to said sensing step by a display of the kiosk to attract attention of the person to the first information of the display and to attempt to persuade the person to approach and use the kiosk;

timing a time period;

displaying the first information until an end of the time period by the display if the person does not begin use of the kiosk within the time period; and

displaying second information which is less distinctive than the first information by the display following the end of the time period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

resetting the time period as long as the person is using the kiosk.

3. A method of displaying information by a network kiosk comprising the steps of:

sensing a person passing within a predetermined distance of the kiosk by a proximity sensor of the kiosk;

displaying first information in response to said sensing step by a display of the kiosk to attract attention of the person to the first information of the display and to persuade the person to approach and use the kiosk;

timing a time period;

displaying the first information until an end of the time period by the display if the person does not begin use of the kiosk within the time period; and

displaying second information which is less distinctive than the first information by the display if the person is no longer within the predetermined distance of the kiosk and the time period has expired.

4. A method of displaying information by a network kiosk comprising the steps of:

displaying first information by a display of the kiosk;

sensing a person passing within a predetermined distance of the kiosk by a proximity sensor of the kiosk;

displaying second information which is more distinctive than the first information by the display in response to said sensing step to attract attention of the person to the second information of the display and to persuade the person to approach and use the kiosk;

timing a time period;

displaying the second information until an end of the time period by the display if the person does not begin use of the kiosk within the time period; and

displaying third information by the display if the person is no longer within the predetermined distance of the kiosk and the time period has expired.

5. A method of displaying information by a network kiosk comprising the steps of:

displaying first information by a display of the kiosk;

sensing a person passing within a predetermined distance of the kiosk by a proximity sensor of the kiosk;

determining second information for display by the display which is more distinctive than the first information in response to said sensing step;

wherein the second information attracts attention of the person to the second information of the display and to persuade the person to approach and use the kiosk;

displaying the second information by the display;

timing a time period of displaying the second information to wait for the person to operate the kiosk;

displaying the second information until an end of the time period by the display if the person does not begin use of the kiosk within the time period;

determining third information for display which is less distinctive than the second information when the person is no longer within the predetermined distance of the kiosk and the time period has expired; and

displaying the third information by the display.

6. A network kiosk comprising:

a display for displaying information;

a proximity sensor; and

a computer which senses a person passing within a predetermined distance of the kiosk, displays first information in response to sensing the person to attract attention of the person to the first information of the display and to persuade the person to approach and use the kiosk, times a time period of displaying the first information, displays the first information until an end of the time period if the person does not begin use of the kiosk within the time period, and displays second information which is less distinctive than the first information following the end of the time period.

7. A network kiosk comprising:

a display for displaying information;

a proximity sensor; and

a computer which senses a person passing within a predetermined distance of the kiosk, displays first information in response to sensing the person to attract attention of the person to the first information of the display and to persuade the person to approach and use the kiosk, times a time period, displays the first information until an end of the time period if the person does not begin use of the kiosk within the time period, and displays second information which is less distinctive than the first information if the person is no longer within the predetermined distance of the kiosk and the time period has expired.

8. The network kiosk as recited in claim 7, wherein the proximity sensor comprises an ambient light sensor which senses a drop in ambient light when the person is within the predetermined distance.

9. A method of attracting a person to a network kiosk comprising the steps of:

sensing a person passing within a predetermined distance of the kiosk by a proximity sensor of the kiosk;

displaying first information and playing a sound in response to said sensing step to attract attention of the person to the first information of the display and to persuade the person to approach and use the kiosk;

timing a time period;

displaying the first information and playing the sound until an end of the time period by the kiosk if the person does not begin use of the kiosk within the time period; and

displaying second information which is less distinctive than the first information and stopping the sound following the end of the time period.