Digital communication system with security features

• US 7,956,723 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onestop Media Group Inc. (The Jim Pattison Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Onestop Media Group Inc. (The Jim Pattison Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Girgis, Michael, Gagnon, Stephane Y., Fraser, Daniel Joseph, Kilpatrick, Andrew James, Neiman, Jake, Melamed, Dmitri, Gadsby, Ian Robert, Findlay, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US12/760,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20100199302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.01, 340/541, 340/577, 340/7.1, 340/7.2, 340/7.58, 340/7.59, 340/7.61, 340/7.62, 340/311.2, 340/7.46, 340/7.48, 340/7.5, 340/7.51, 340/7.53, 340/7.54, 340/7.55, 340/7.56, 340/7.57
• US Class Current: 340/7.48
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• 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 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics

Abstract

A digital communication system is disclosed, that allows a display of override content to interrupt a display of ongoing content on one or more display units. Ongoing content, such as advertisements, news, entertainment, or other relevant information, is provided on the display units until an urgent or security-related alert is required, and display of override content becomes necessary. Override content can include information relevant to the security of a passenger or passer-by viewing the display. Override content can relate to security threats such as accidents, major delays, fire, missing children, terrorist activity, or other content deemed adequately pertinent to warrant interrupting the display of ongoing content.

Claims

1. An electronic communication system for distributing ongoing content and override content to a plurality of display units, the system comprising:

a display controller for logically dividing a display area of said display units into a plurality of regions, with at least a first region displaying ongoing content, and at least a second region displaying advertising content;

an override controller for receiving an override control signal and for retrieving override content from an override media source; and

a content distribution controller for controlling ongoing content for dissemination to the display units; and

, on receipt of the override control signal from the override controller, overriding the ongoing content displayed in at least the first region of at least one of said display units by displaying the override content in at least the first region.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the override controller is configured to receive the override control signal from an override source located at a different location than the location of the source of the ongoing content or advertising.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the ongoing content and advertising originate from at least one central location which provides ongoing content and advertising which are transmitted to a plurality of display units in different locations, and wherein only display units located at a location relevant to said override content display said override content.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the override source is a user that has authorized access to the system.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the override source is a security authority.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the security authority comprises a police department;

a fire department;

a weather authority;

an anti-terrorism authority;

a building manager;

or a transit authority.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the override source is a security device and wherein the ongoing content and advertising originate from at least one central location which provides ongoing content and advertising which are transmitted to a plurality of display units in different locations, and wherein only display units located proximate to said security device display said override content.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the security device comprises a fire alarm, a motion detector, a proximity detector, a surveillance camera, or an intrusion alarm.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the security device is an integrated security device.

10. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a plurality of inputs; and

wherein said display controller is configured to display said ongoing content originating from a first of said plurality of inputs on said first region, and to display said advertising content from a second of said plurality of inputs on said second region.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein at least some of said plurality of display units change their location, and wherein said override controller receives an input signal determining the current location of a particular display unit to determine whether said override content should be displayed on said particular display unit.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a GPS unit associated with said particular unit for determining the location of said particular display unit.

13. A communication system for distributing ongoing content and override content to a plurality of display units, the system comprising:

at least one display unit logically divided into two or more regions, each of said regions being capable of displaying a different input signal or stream carrying ongoing or override content;

an override controller for receiving an override control signal and for retrieving override content from an override media source; and

a content distribution controller for controlling ongoing content for dissemination to the display units, wherein the content distribution controller is configured such that at least one region of the at least one display unit is for displaying ongoing content directed primarily to advertising, while at least a second region is for displaying ongoing content not directed primarily to advertising; and

for overriding, on receipt of the override control signal from the override controller, the content displayed in said at least a second region with an input signal or stream carrying override content.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the override controller is configured to receive the override control signal from an override source located at a different location than the location of the source of the ongoing content or advertising.

15. A method of displaying different types of information in a communication system for distribution to a plurality of display units, the method comprising:

receiving at least a first input signal carrying primarily information and/or entertainment content;

receiving at least a second input signal carrying primarily advertising content, the at least a first and second input signals originating from at least one central location which provides the at least a first and second input signals which are transmitted to a plurality of display units in different locations, and wherein only display units located at a location relevant to said override content display said override content;

displaying said at least a first and second input signals on at least a first and second regions respectively of a plurality of display units;

receiving an override control signal from an override source located at a different location than the location of the sources of the at least a first and second input signals;

retrieving override content containing security alert information in response to the override control signal; and

formatting and transmitting override content to said at least a first region of at least some of the display units.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the override source is a user that has authorized access to the system.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the override source is a security authority.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least a first and second input signals are encapsulated in a single data file, the data file containing instructions for formatting and displaying the at least a first and second input signals.