Remote sensor management

• US 9,424,586 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmZetta Technologies, LLC (American Megatrends International, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Sivertsen, Clas Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US14/030,826
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.25, 345/158, 709/203, 709/219, 709/218, 709/14.4, 315/152, 750/14.58, 750/14.72
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for remote management of sensors and other functionalities in a digital signage device through a remote management server. In particular, a Digital Signage Control System (“DSCS”) facilitates delivery of sensor command parameters to particular signage devices or a network of signage devices as specified in a Sensor Command Deployment Plan. After receiving various sensor commands from a user at a user interface, a Sensor Command Deployment Module generates a Sensor Command Deployment Plan (“SCDP”), which specifies which sensors or controls should be adjusted on signage device(s) and when the adjustments should be made. Subsequently, a Signage Communication Module (“SCM”) waits for a request for sensor instructions from a signage device specified in the plan. Once the request is received, the SCM deploys specific instructions or commands (parameters) to a particular signage device wherein the command is executed at the signage device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a management server configured to

receive a user input from a remote computing device, wherein the user input includes information relating to a management function at a sensor of a digital signage device;

construct an instruction comprising parameters for performing the management function;

upon receipt of a request for instruction, transmit the instruction to the digital signage device;

the digital signage device comprising a processor, a controller in accordance with a control protocol, the sensor in communication with the controller, and a non-volatile memory storing a computer-executable program that, when executed by the processor, is configured to

request the instruction from the management server;

receive the instruction from the management server;

construct a command corresponding to the management function in accordance with the control protocol;

transmit the command to the sensor via the controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the management function includes managing signage device functionalities.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the device functionalities include adjusting picture-related properties from a group consisting of hue, contrast, brightness, sharpness, or gamma.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the device functionalities include adjusting the volume of the signage device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor conditions internal to the signage device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein conditions internal to the signage device are selected from a group including temperature and LCD life expectancy.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor conditions external to the signage device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein conditions external to the signage device are selected from a group including temperature and environment brightness.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured as a motion detector.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameters for performing the management function include a specific date and time for performing the management function.

11. In a computer system comprising a management server and a digital signage device, wherein the digital signage device comprises a controller in accordance with a control protocol, a sensor in communication with the controller, and a non-volatile memory storing a computer-executable program, a method comprising:

receiving at the management server a user input from a remote computing device, wherein the user input includes information relating to a management function at the sensor;

constructing at the management server an instruction comprising parameters for performing the management function;

transmitting from the digital signage device to the management server a request for the instruction;

upon receipt of the request, transmitting from the management server to the digital signage device the instruction;

receiving at the digital signage device the instruction from the management server;

constructing via the processor a command corresponding to the management function in accordance with the control protocol; and

transmitting the command to the sensor via the controller.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the management function includes managing signage device functionalities.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the device functionalities include adjusting picture-related properties from a group consisting of hue, contrast, brightness, sharpness, or gamma.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the device functionalities include adjusting the volume of the signage device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor conditions internal to the signage device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein conditions internal to the signage device include at least one of temperature and LCD life expectancy.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor conditions external to the signage device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein conditions external to the signage device include at least one of temperature and environment brightness.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured as a motion detector.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the parameters for performing the management function include a specific data and time for performing the management function.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions configured to cause a computer system to execute a method comprising:

receiving at a management server a user input from a remote computing device, wherein the user input includes information relating to a management function at a sensor in a digital signage device, wherein the digital signage device comprises a controller in accordance with a control protocol, and the sensor is in communication with the controller;

constructing at the management server an instruction comprising parameters for performing the management function;

transmitting from the digital signage device to the management server a request for the instruction;

upon receipt of the request, transmitting from the management server to the digital signage device the instruction;

receiving at the digital signage device the instruction from the management server;

constructing via the processor a command corresponding to the management function in accordance with the control protocol; and

transmitting the command to the sensor via the controller.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the management function includes managing signage device functionalities.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the device functionalities include adjusting picture-related properties from a group consisting of hue, contrast, brightness, sharpness, or gamma.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the device functionalities include adjusting the volume of the signage device.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor conditions internal to the signage device.