Locally responsive kiosk signage from on-line source

• US 7,685,259 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Strand
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Strand
• Inventors: Strand, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): THAI, NAM N
• Application Number:
  US11/361,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20070204032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/224, 709/226, 709/228, 709/244, 709/229, 709/240, 709/200, 705/5, 705/10, 705/16, 705/20, 705/80, 705/411, 705/1, 725/1, 725/5, 725/37
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data

Abstract

Displayed content of signage at a distal location is at least partially controlled by a processor and database that directs signage display from a distal location. A central location processing system collects information on local, area wide, national or international conditions, events or changes in status and directs local signage to display appropriate information. The central location itself collects information, samples information, and evaluates general information to determine what specific information may be appropriately or desirably displayed at local signage. The display may be relevant to seasonal events such as holidays, sports events, actual changes in season, school year beginnings or endings, political events and the like, or independent events or conditions such as weather changes, severe weather, sales events, consumer alerts, public alerts, special event days. Information displayed locally can consider evaluation of local response to a range of potentially displayed information.

Claims

1. A method of providing signage information to a viewable display comprising:

a central processor system communicating with multiple information sources;

the multiple information sources providing information to the central processor system;

the central processor system distinguishing among information according to categories of information received;

the central processor forwarding information on a periodic or continuous basis to client processing systems; and

the client processing systems providing information to at least one display system for display;

wherein the information forwarded is less than all information provided from the multiple information sources and determination of the amount of information and type of information forwarded is determined by at least one software program agreed to by the central processor system and the client processor system;

wherein the central processor assigns priority classifications to information received;

wherein the priorities are based at least in part upon an evaluation of a relationship of received information to and from a client location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the client processor system specifies content of what is displayed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein information is forwarded on the basis of a priority format established between the central processor system and the client processor system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein software automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to providing information to the client processing system, content parameters for the information transmitted are formally agreed to between the central processor and the client processing system and information is provided according to parameters, conditions and/or terms of an agreement implemented in software in the central processor.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the agreement includes payment for information received, an amount of the payment based upon contract provisions between the central processor and the client processing system.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the client elects parameters of what is to be displayed on client displays.

8. A system for providing controlled information for display by a client comprising

an information communication network allowing transmission of information between processors;

multiple information sources that communicate information over the information communication network;

a central processor that receives communicated information from the multiple information sources;

the central processor having the capability of distributing tasks to other servers within a central processor group;

the central processor categorizing received information;

the central processor providing categorized information over the network; and

a client processor that receives categorized information and displays categorized information that is provided according to parameters established between the central processor system and the client processor system which limits the type and content of information that may be displayed according to software executed in the central processor or the client processor;

wherein the central processor assigns priority classifications to information received;

wherein the priorities are based at least in part upon an evaluation of a relationship of received information to and from a client location.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein at a single client location there are multiple display systems wherein information from the client processor is uniformly displayed on the multiple display systems.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein at a single client location there are multiple display systems wherein information from the client processor is differentially displayed among the multiple display systems based upon direction effected by the client processor.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein software in the client processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein software in the client processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein software in the client processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein software in the central processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein software in the central processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein software in the central processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed.