Advertising method and system with use of multi-screened computer monitor units

• US 8,589,232 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-See 2 Limited
• Original Assignee: U-See 2 Limited
• Inventors: Sitbon, David Eduard
• Primary Examiner(s): Bekerman, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/519,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20100094705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,164 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.65, 705/14.4
• US Class Current: 705/14.65
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements

Abstract

An advertising method and system with use of multi-screened computer monitor units is disclosed. A server having a database in which is stored a plurality of advertisement software packages is in data communication with a network of interconnected computers, each of which is associated with a multi-screened monitor unit having an agent side and at least one oppositely facing client side. After a request for an advertisement is initiated, an advertisement software package is retrieved from the database according to predetermined selection rules and transmitted to a target computer. A corresponding advertisement image is displayed on a client side of the monitor unit while the agent is able to view other images on the agent side of the monitor unit. In one embodiment, the multi-screened monitor unit receives VGA data and USB video data from the target computer and transmits the same to the agent and client sides, respectively.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing an existing network of interconnected computers at an establishment for advertising, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an existing network of interconnected computers in data communication with a server for supplying establishment-specific information;

b) coupling a multi-screened monitor unit to a corresponding computer of said network, said monitor unit having an agent side screen and at least one oppositely facing client side screen disposed on a common surface, a single video input port from a video graphics array (VGA) data port of said coupled computer, and a single input port from a universal serial bus (USB) data port of said coupled computer;

c) installing a dedicated software module in each of said one or more of said computers, for generating advertisement images, for allowing interfacing operations with said coupled monitor unit, and for selectively directing information received from said server;

d) enabling said server to access a database in which is stored a plurality of advertisement software packages;

e) retrieving an advertisement software package from said database according to predetermined establishment related selection rules;

f) transmitting said selected software package, together with said establishment specific information, to a target computer;

g) generating an advertisement image from said selected software package; and

h) displaying, said advertisement image during a dual mode on a client side screen of the monitor unit associated with said target computer via said single USB input port while the agent interfaces with, and views other images on the agent side screen of said monitor unit associated with said establishment-specific information via said single VGA input port,

wherein the agent selects a desired mode of said multi-screened monitor unit, including said dual mode, in an agent only mode whereby images are viewable on the agent side screen but not on the at least one client side screen, and a uniform mode whereby the agent side screen and the at least one client side screen display the same images associated with said establishment-specific information.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a request for an advertisement is carried out by the target computer by transmitting a request signal to the server.

3. The method according, to claim 2, wherein the request signal is generated by providing a proximity sensor in data communication with the target computer, detecting the presence of a client in the vicinity of an agent desk corresponding to the target computer, and transmitting a detection signal to the target computer.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the proximity sensor transmits the detection signal to the target computer after the client exits the agent desk and the target computer transmits a disable signal to the server whereby to terminate transmission of the selected software package to the target computer.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the request signal is generated by interacting with a pointing device coupled to the target computer.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein an advertisement software package is retrieved from the database by an internal command of the server which is generated at a predetermined time.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined selection rules are defined by a representative of an establishment in which the network of computers are located.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined selection rules are changed by the agent after entering a code indicative of the nature of a meeting between the agent and a client.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generated advertisement image is constantly viewed by the client on a selected region of a client side screen of the monitor unit.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the generated advertisement image is suppressed by the agent during a meeting, and is displayed only when the agent is engaged in another activity in which the client is not involved and requests by means of a pointing device that the generated advertisement image be displayed on the client side screen of the monitor unit.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein each monitor unit of the network displays a different advertisement.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein clients who are sitting in a waiting area view advertisement images displayed on the client side screen of a desired monitor unit.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the displayed advertisement images change after a client approaches an agent desk corresponding to the desired monitor unit.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a local area network or a wide area network.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitor unit comprises two or three screens.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the agent side screen and the at least one oppositely facing client side screen are mounted in a common housing.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitor unit is operable in an agent only mode whereby images are not displayed on the at least one client side screen, a uniform mode whereby the agent side screen and the client side screen both display the same images, or in a dual mode, whereby the agent side screen displays images corresponding to received VGA data and the client side screen displays images corresponding to received USB data.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the agent selects whether the monitor unit operates in the agent only mode, in the uniform mode, or in the dual mode.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the USB data includes control and video data.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the monitor unit comprises:

i. a control module for controlling the flow of the USB data received from the target computer;

ii. a video splitter for receiving the VGA data from the target computer and for splitting the received VGA data into a first portion transmitted through a first line to the agent side screen and into a second portion transmitted through a second line; and

iii. a switch module for selectively delivering video data received from said control module or from said video splitter via said second line to the at least one client side screen in response to the control data generated by said control module.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein corresponding USB control data is transmitted to the control module following selection by the agent of a desired mode of operation.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein a first USB segment extends from the control module to the switch module, and a second USB segment extends from the switch module to the at least one client side screen.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the control module generates a disable signal and transmits the same to the switch module during the agent only mode to suppress the transmission of the VGA data via the second line.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the control module generates the disable signal and transmits the same to the switch module during the dual mode, the USB video data being transmittable via the first and second USB bus segments to the client side screen.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the control module generates an enable signal and transmits the same to the switch module during the uniform mode to enable the transmission of the VGA data via the first and second lines simultaneously.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more computers is provided with a network card and the software module of the target computer is operable to convert the retrieved software package into an advertisement image for display on the client side screen of the target computer.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one client side screen is displaced with respect to the agent side screen.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the at least one client side screen is angularly displaced with respect to the agent side screen.

29. An advertising system utilizing an existing network of interconnected computers at an establishment, comprising:

a) a server for supplying establishment-specific information via an existing network of interconnected computers at an establishment and further having access to a database in which is stored a plurality of advertisement software packages;

b) said network of interconnected computers in data communication with said server, each of said computers being provided with a network card and with a dedicated software module for interfacing with a monitor unit; and

c) a corresponding multi-screened monitor unit coupled to each of said computers, said multi-screened monitor unit having an agent side screen and at least one oppositely facing client side screen disposed on a common surface, a single video input port from a video graphics array (VGA) data port of said coupled computer, and a single input port from a universal serial bus (USB) data port of said coupled computer,

wherein said server is configured to retrieve an advertisement software package from said database according to predetermined establishment related selection rules and to transmit said retrieved software package to the network card of a target computer, the dedicated software module of said target computer being configured to convert said retrieved software package into an advertisement image for display of said advertisement image on a client side screen of the monitor unit associated with said target computer,

wherein said multi-screened monitor unit further comprises a control module for controlling the flow of USB control and video data received from said target computer, a video splitter receiving VGA data from said target computer and for splitting said received VGA data into a first portion transmuted through a first line to said agent side screen and into a second portion transmitted through a second line, a switch module for selectively delivering video data received from said control module or from said video splitter via said second line to said at least one client side screen in response to the control data generated by said control module, a first USB segment extending from said control module to said switch module, and a second USB segment extending from said switch module to the at least one client side screen,

wherein said monitor unit is operable, upon selection by the agent, in an agent only mode whereby images are viewable on the agent side screen but not on the at least one client side screen, in a uniform mode whereby the agent side screen and the at least one client side screen display the same images associated with said received VGA data, or in a dual mode whereby the agent side screen displays images associated with said received VGA data and the at least one client side screen displays images associated with said received USB video data.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the multi-screened monitor unit further comprises means for selecting a desired mode of operation, corresponding USB control data being transmittable to the control module upon selection of the desired mode of operation.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein the control module generates a disable signal and transmits the same to the switch module during the agent only mode to suppress the transmission of the VGA data via the second line.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein the control module generates an enable signal and transmits the same to the switch module during the uniform mode to enable the transmission of the VGA data via the first and second lines simultaneously.

33. The system according to claim 29, wherein the control module generates a disable signal and transmits the same to the switch module during the dual mode, the USB video data being transmittable via the first and second USB bus segments to the client side screen.