Method and apparatus for connecting a network of electronic signs

• US 8,209,261 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anuvu IP Holdings LLC, Anuvu Operations LLC (Marlin Holding Ltd. (Hong Kong))
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee Ellis
• Inventors: Liu, David Wanqian
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan, James A
• Application Number:
  US12/845,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20110035590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure

Abstract

A method and apparatus allows owners of electronic signs, such as retailers, real estate owners, other space owners, and content providers, such as advertisers, entertainment producers, event promoters, visual artists, and the general community to participate in an open content network, in which electronic signs are universally uniquely identified and then added to a network in a distributed fashion, after which content is selectively downloaded to the electronic signs. The times at which the content is presented are determined collaboratively by the owners of the electronic signs and the content providers. A mechanism that verifies whether the content is actually presented on the electronic signs is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A content distribution method, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electronic signs distributed among a plurality of locations;

providing each electronic sign with a universal, unique identifier, wherein each electronic sign is associated with an owning entity;

associating said electronic signs with a distributed electronic network;

selectively downloading content published by any of a plurality of content providers to said electronic signs;

said owners of said electronic signs and said content providers collaboratively determining what content is downloaded to said electronic signs and times at which said content is presented on said electronic signs; and

providing a set of functions for managing at least electronic sign from among said plurality of electronic signs and content presented on said electronic signs, wherein said set of functions is presented via a web interface which is provided to owners of electronic signs and content providers to access said set of functions, wherein said web interface configured to perform the steps of;

registering and managing at least electronic sign from among said plurality of electronic signs in a content network, wherein each electronic sign is registered using its unique identifier along with other identifying information in the form of viewer demographics; and

uploading electronic visual and audio content from content sources to a server, wherein content uploaded to said server is targeted to one or more electronic signs based on any or all of said registration information for the electronic signs; and

said owners of said electronic signs selecting and approving content to be presented on their electronic signs.

2. The method of claim 1, said step of providing each electronic sign with a universal, unique identifier comprising the step of:

using a MAC address of a network interface card for at least one electronic sign as a unique identifier for said electronic sign.

3. The method of claim 1, said step of recording a history of content further comprising the step of:

encrypting said history file using a public key encryption algorithm to provide authenticity that establishes that said history file is not falsely constructed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a server configured to store registration information for electronic signs, content files, information on how content files should be targeted to electronic signs, content selection and approval information, and histories of content presentation on electronic signs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

recording a history of content presented on each electronic sign; and

verifying whether said content is actually presented on said electronic signs with said recorded history.

6. The method of claim 1, said other identifying information further comprising any of:

type and size of the electronic sign,

physical address where the electronic sign is located,

business type to which the electronic sign belongs, and

other rating information of the electronic sign.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a first communication network that provides network access to said set of functions to manage said network of electronic signs; and

providing a second communication network that provides network connections for electronic signs to communication with a server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

providing a proxy server to synchronize content between said electronic signs and said server, using a network or a portable data transportation medium.

9. A content distribution method, comprising the steps of:

owners of electronic signs joining a content network by registering their electronic signs on a server through a Web interface;

wherein each electronic sign is registered using a unique identifier, along with other identifying information in the form of viewer demographics of said electronic sign,

owners of said electronic signs managing their electronic signs through said Web interface;

content providers comprising content sources registering on said server through said Web interface;

said content providers uploading electronic visual and audio content to said server;

said content providers specifying which electronic signs said content is to be presented on by listing criteria that electronic signs need to meet, said criteria in the form of viewer demographics of electronic signs,

content targeted to an electronic sign waiting for approval by an owner of an electronic sign before it is presented on an electronic sign;

listing all content waiting for approval when an owner of an electronic sign logs onto said network through said Web interface;

wherein if said content approved by said owner of said electronic sign, said content is presented on said electronic sign; and

wherein if said content is rejected by said owner of said electronic sign, said content is not presented on said electronic sign.

said owner of an electronic sign arranging an order and timing of content presented on said electronic sign through said Web interface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said criteria further comprising any of type and size of electronic sign, physical address where said electronic sign is located, business type to which said electronic sign belongs, and other rating information of said electronic sign.

11. The method of claim 9,wherein all registered electronic signs are listed, registration information of electronic signs can be updated, electronic signs can be removed from said network, and statistics on which electronic signs can be and have been viewed are provided.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said other identifying information comprises any of:

types and sizes of electronic signs,

physical addresses where electronic signs are located,

business types to which electronic signs belong,

unique identifications of electronic signs, and

other information to describe targeted electronic signs.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

connecting an electronic sign to said content network via any of a communication network and through a proxy server;

wherein, when connected through a communication network, said electronic sign communicates and exchanges data with said server directly via said network; and

wherein, when connected through a proxy server, said electronic sign first exchanges data with said proxy server through at least one physical storage device, said proxy server then exchanging said data with said server via said proxy server.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

providing a data transportation module that uses said unique identifier to determine and download appropriate content either to said server or via said proxy server;

wherein content is downloaded in the form of content files and a play list that describes how content should be presented; and

collecting a presentation history at said electronic sign;

uploading said presentation history from said electronic sign to said server;

providing a content presentation module that receives said play list and content files and that provides said content for presentation; and

writing an encrypted record into said presentation history after each play of a content file.

15. A content distribution apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of electronic signs distributed among a plurality of locations;

each electronic sign comprising a universal, unique identifier, wherein each electronic sign is associated with an owning entity;

means for associating said electronic signs with a distributed electronic network;

means for selectively downloading content published by any of a plurality of content providers to said electronic signs;

means for said owners of said electronic signs and said content providers collaboratively determining what content is downloaded to said electronic signs and times at which said content is presented on said electronic signs;

means for recording a history of content presented on each electronic sign; and

means for verifying whether said content is actually presented on said electronic signs with said recorded history; and

a set of functions for managing a network of electronic signs and content presented on said electronic signs, wherein said set of functions is presented via a web interface which is provided to owners of electronic signs and content providers to access said set of functions, wherein said web interface further comprises;

means for registering and managing a plurality of electronic signs in a content network, wherein each electronic sign is registered using its unique identifier along with other identifying information in the form of viewer demographics of the electronic sign;

means for uploading electronic visual and audio content from content sources to a server, wherein content uploaded to said server is targeted to one or more electronic signs based on any or all of said registration information for the electronic signs; and

means for said owners of said electronic signs to selecting and approving content to be presented on their electronic signs.

16. The content distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein said other identifying information comprises any of type and size of the electronic sign, physical address where the electronic sign is located, business type to which the electronic sign belongs, viewer demographics of the electronic sign, and other rating information of the electronic sign.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a first communication network that provides network access to said set of functions to manage said network of electronic signs;

a second communication network that provides network connections for electronic signs to communication with a server; and

a proxy server to synchronize content between said electronic signs and said server, using a network or a portable data transportation medium.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, said universal, unique identifier comprising:

a MAC address of a network interface card for at least one electronic sign as a unique identifier for said electronic sign.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, said history of content further comprising:

means for encrypting said history file using a public key encryption algorithm to provide authenticity that establishes that said history file is not falsely constructed.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a server configured to store registration information for electronic signs, content files, information on how content files should be targeted to electronic signs, content selection and approval information, and histories of content presentation on electronic signs.

21. A content distribution apparatus, comprising:

a Web interface for owners of electronic signs joining a content network by registering their electronic signs on a server;

wherein each electronic sign is registered using a unique identifier, along with other identifying information comprising any of type and size of electronic sign, physical address where said electronic sign is located, business type to which said electronic sign belongs, viewer demographics of said electronic sign, and other rating information of said electronic sign;

said Web interface further comprising means for owners of said electronic signs managing their electronic signs;

wherein all registered electronic signs are listed, registration information of electronic signs can be updated, electronic signs can be removed from said network, and statistics on which electronic signs can be and have been viewed are provided;

a plurality content providers comprising content sources registered on said server through said Web interface;

said Web interface further comprising means for said content providers uploading electronic visual and audio content to said server;

means for said content providers specifying which electronic signs said content is to be presented on by listing criteria that electronic signs need to meet, said criteria comprising viewer demographics of electronic signs, unique identifications of electronic signs, and other information to describe targeted electronic signs;

means for content targeted to an electronic sign waiting for approval by an owner of an electronic sign before it is presented on an electronic sign;

aid Web interface further comprising means for listing all content waiting for approval when an owner of an electronic sign logs onto said network;

wherein if said content approved by said owner of said electronic sign, said content is presented on said electronic sign; and

wherein if said content is rejected by said owner of said electronic sign, said content is not presented on said electronic sign;

said Web interface further comprising means for said owner of an electronic sign arranging an order and timing of content presented on said electronic sign.