Method and system for rendering content on the exterior of a vehicle

• US 10,836,307 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2019
• Issued: 11/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frederick Hayle Parkes, Neville Boston
• Original Assignee: Frederick Hayle Parkes, Neville Boston
• Inventors: Parkes, Frederick Hayle, Boston, Neville
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US16/537,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20190359126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/509 specific to unauthorised use, e.g. for indicating stolen vehicles or infringements of traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/005 Signs associated with a sensor

Abstract

A display system for use on the exterior of a vehicle having a display and a processor. The processor is configured to determine when the vehicle is stopped or in motion, such that the processor directs the display system to display an image based on that determination.

Claims

1. A method of rendering content on an exterior of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a display configured to mount on a front and/or back exterior of the vehicle in a location configured for a license plate;

obtaining vehicle registration and/or identification information from a government agency, said vehicle registration and/or identification information being unique to said vehicle;

displaying a first content on the display based on the vehicle registration and/or identification information obtained from the government agency, said first content being displayed in a prominent manner on the display;

the vehicle receiving a status message from another entity;

in response to receiving the status message, displaying both said first content and newly displaying a second content on the display based on the status message, wherein said first content is displayed on said display differently than in the prominent manner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second content is displayed for a limited time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, after expiration of said limited time, said first content is again rendered on said display in the prominent manner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to receiving the status message, said second content is displayed in a more prominent manner than said first content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said other entity is a government source.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second content is an official message from the government source.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said second content refers to an Amber alert.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said second content refers to criminal activity.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said government source is a safety officer.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said government source is a safety agency.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said status message is a trigger signal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said status message is an advertisement.

13. A method of rendering content on an exterior of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a display configured to mount on a front and/or back exterior of the vehicle in a location configured for a license plate;

obtaining vehicle registration and/or identification information from a government agency, said vehicle registration and/or identification information being unique to said vehicle;

storing said vehicle registration and/or identification information in a storage device on said vehicle;

displaying a first content on the display based on the vehicle registration and/or identification information stored in the storage device, said first content being displayed in a prominent manner on the display;

the vehicle receiving a status message from a government source; and

in response to receiving the status message, for a limited time displaying both said first content in a different manner and newly displaying a second content on the display based on the status message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, after expiration of a time period, said first content is again rendered on said display in the prominent manner without display of said second content.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said second content is an official message from the government source.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said second content refers to an Amber alert.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said second content refers to criminal activity.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said government source is a safety officer.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said government source is a safety agency.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein in response to receiving the status message said second content is displayed on the display in a more prominent manner than said first content is displayed on the display.

21. A method of rendering content on an exterior of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a display configured to mount on a front and/or back exterior of the vehicle in a location configured for a license plate;

obtaining vehicle registration and/or identification information from a government agency, said vehicle registration and/or identification information being unique to said vehicle;

storing said vehicle registration and/or identification information in a storage device on said vehicle;

displaying a first content on the display based on the vehicle registration and/or identification information stored in the storage device, said first content being displayed in a prominent manner on the display;

the vehicle receiving a status message from a government source;

in response to receiving the status message, displaying both said first content and newly displaying a second content on the display based on the status message; and

after expiration of a time period, said first content is again rendered on said display in the prominent manner without display of said second content.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, in response to receiving the status message, said second content is displayed in a more prominent manner than said first content.