Apparatus and method for generating a message based on traffic flow

• US 8,164,488 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Shmuel, Jagadeesan, Ramanathan T., Nguyen, Bich Tu, Pelton, Gregory D., Patel, Labhesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US12/017,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.13, 340/995.1, 340/691.6, 340/7.55, 340/525, 345/1.1, 705/13, 705/14.45
• US Class Current: 340/995.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A method includes determining a first flow characteristic of a flow, the flow comprising at least one targeted user. The method also includes generating for display a first message based on the first flow characteristic of the flow.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining at a message selector remote from a display a first flow characteristic of a flow based on information provided by a flow detector proximate to the display, the flow comprising a plurality of users able to view the display that is stationary with respect to the flow, the flow comprising at least one targeted user;

generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow, the subject matter not indicative of the first flow characteristic of the flow;

transmitting to the remote display the first message to be displayed on the display that is stationary with respect to the flow and that is viewable by the at least one targeted user;

detecting a change in the first flow characteristic of the flow; and

changing at the message selector the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message, the second content based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow and related to the same subject matter as the first content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message comprises changing an amount of information displayed by the display based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message comprises changing the number and physical size of at least one element of the first message based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

changing the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message, the second content based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises changing a media format of the first message without changing the subject matter of the content, the change in the displayed first message based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message comprises changing the type of information displayed by the first message based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining a first flow characteristic of a flow comprising at least one targeted user comprises determining the first flow characteristic of a flow comprising at least one targeted user in a motor vehicle; and

generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprising at least one targeted user comprises generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprising the at least one targeted user in the motor vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining a first flow characteristic of a flow comprising at least one targeted user comprises determining the first flow characteristic of a flow comprising at least one targeted user in a line; and

generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprising at least one targeted user comprises generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the at least one targeted user in the line.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining the first flow characteristic of a flow comprises determining a speed of the flow; and

generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the speed of the flow.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises determining a user density of the flow; and

generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the user density of the flow.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, wherein the first message and the first content comprise more information the greater the amount of time the first user is able to view the first message, the amount of time the first user is able to view the first message is based on the first flow characteristic of the flow.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein changing at the message selector the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message comprises changing the first message from a still image to an animated image based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic, the still image and the animated image related to the same subject matter as the first content.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor operable to;

determine a first flow characteristic of a flow, the flow comprising a plurality of users comprising at least one targeted user; and

generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow, the subject matter not indicative of the first flow characteristic of the flow; and

an interface coupled to the processor and operable to transmit the first message to a display device that is stationary with respect to the plurality of users and that is viewable by the at least one targeted user;

wherein the processor is further operable to;

detect a change in the first flow characteristic of the flow; and

change the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message, the second content based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow and related to the same subject matter as the first content.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor operable to:

change the first content of the first message for display to a second content of the first message is further operable to change an amount of information displayed by the display based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor operable to change the first content of the first message for display to a second content of the first message comprises a processor operable to change the number and physical size of at least one element of the first message based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

change the first content of the first message for display to a second content of the displayed first message, the second content based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises a processor operable to change a media format of the first message for display without changing the subject matter of the first message for display, the change in the displayed first message based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor operable to change the first content of the first message for display to a second content of the first message for display comprises a processor operable to change the first message for display based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the processor operable to determine a first flow characteristic of a flow comprising at least one targeted user comprises a processor operable to determine the first flow characteristic of a flow comprising at least one targeted user in a motor vehicle; and

the processor operable to generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprising at least one targeted user comprises a processor operable to generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprising the at least one targeted user in the motor vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the processor operable to determine a first flow characteristic of a flow comprising at least one targeted user comprises a processor operable to determine a first flow characteristic of a flow comprising at least one targeted user in a line; and

the processor operable to generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the at least one targeted user comprises a processor operable to generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the at least one targeted user in the line.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the processor operable to determine the first flow characteristic of a flow comprises a processor operable to determine a speed of the flow; and

the processor operable to generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises a processor operable to generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the speed of the flow.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the processor operable to determine the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises a processor operable to determine a user density of the flow; and

the processor operable to generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises a processor operable to generate for display a first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the user density of the flow.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor operable to generate at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow comprises a processor operable to generate at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, wherein the first message and the first content comprise more information the greater the amount of time the first user is able to view the first message, the amount of time the first user is able to view the first message is based on the first flow characteristic of the flow of targeted users.

22. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining at a message selector remote from a display a first flow characteristic of a flow based on information provided by a flow detector proximate to the display, the flow comprising a plurality of users comprising at least one targeted user;

means for generating at the message selector remote from the display a first message, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the first message and the first content based on the first flow characteristic of the flow, the subject matter not indicative of the first flow characteristic of the flow;

means for transmitting to the display the first message to be displayed on the display that is stationary with respect to the plurality of users and that is viewable by the at least one targeted user;

means for detecting a change in the first flow characteristic of the flow; and

means for changing at the message selector the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message, the second content based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow and related to the same subject matter as the first content.

23. A method comprising:

determining a first flow characteristic of a flow, the flow comprising at least one targeted user able to view the display that is stationary with respect to the flow;

generating, based on the first flow characteristic, an advertisement to be displayed on a display, the advertisement comprising a first message advertising a product and not indicative of the first flow characteristic of the flow, the first message and the product based on the first flow characteristic and not indicative of the first flow characteristic;

displaying the first message on a display that is viewable by the at least one targeted user within the flow;

detecting a change in the first flow characteristic of the flow; and

changing the displayed first message of the advertisement to a second message, the second message based on the detected change in the first flow characteristic of the flow, the second message advertising the same product advertised in the first message.

24. A method comprising:

determining at a message selector remote from a stationary display a flow characteristic indicative of a density of a flow comprising a plurality of users based on information provided by a flow detector proximate to the stationary display;

selecting at the message selector remote from the stationary display a first message to be displayed on the stationary display that is viewable by the flow of users, the first message comprising a first content related to a subject matter, the message and the first content selected based on the density of the flow, the subject matter not indicative of the density of the flow;

transmitting to the stationary display remote from the message selector the first message to be displayed on the stationary display;

detecting a change in the density of the flow; and

changing at the message selector the first content of the displayed first message to a second content of the displayed first message, the second content based on the detected change in the density of the flow and related to the same subject matter as the first content.

25. A method comprising:

detecting, at a first time, a first rate of travel of at least a first user of a flow of users, the flow of users comprising a plurality of users passing within a first range of a remote stationary display;

determining a first flow characteristic indicative of a first range of speeds associated with the flow of users, the first flow characteristic determined based on the rate of travel of the first user within the flow of users;

generating for display to the flow of users a first message, the first message comprising a first level of detail related to a subject matter, the first message and the first level of detail based on the first flow characteristic;

transmitting the first message to the remote stationary display to be displayed on the remote stationary display, the remote stationary display viewable by the flow of users as the flow of users passes by the remote stationary display;

detecting, at a second time, a second rate of travel of at least a second user within the flow of users;

determining a second flow characteristic indicative of a second range of speeds associated with the flow of users, the second flow characteristic determined based on the second rate of travel of the second user within the flow of users;

generating for display to the flow of users a second message based on the second flow characteristic, the second message comprising a second level of detail different than the first level of detail and related to the same subject matter as the first message, the second level of detail based on the first flow characteristic; and

transmitting the second message to the remote stationary display to be displayed on the remote stationary display.