Dynamic device and method for dispensing machines

• US 20030234777A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DHP Media AB
• Original Assignee: Novus Partners LLC
• Inventors: Wampler, Scott D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,088,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field

Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to dispensing machines and methods and, more particularly, to dispensing machines capable of dynamic-content presentation and methods of using dispensing machines capable of dynamic-content presentation. The dispensing machine includes a content display unit that communicates with a display controller, visually displaying dynamic-content. The controller may comprise a timing means, altering the visual display as a function of the timing means. The display controller adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, comprising a hierarchical control scheme to select dynamic-content from one server of the plurality of servers for display. The device may comprise a plurality of display controllers, each display controller having a type identifier, wherein each selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of the type identifier.

Claims

1. A dispensing machine device comprising:

a server;

a display controller, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive and display dynamic-content from said server; and

at least one passive content display unit in communication with said display controller, wherein said at least one passive content display unit visually displays the information from said dynamic-content.

2. The dispensing machine device of claim 1, wherein said passive content-display unit comprises GYRICON.

3. The dispensing machine device of claim 1, wherein said passive content-display unit comprises E-INK.

4. The dispensing machine device of claim 1, wherein said display controller comprises a timing means, said display controller altering the visual display of said at least one passive content display unit as a function of the time from said timing means.

5. The dispensing machine device of claim 1, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, wherein said display controller comprises a hierarchical control scheme, said hierarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one server of said plurality of servers for display on said content display unit.

6. The dispensing machine device of claim 4, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, wherein said display controller comprises a hierarchical control scheme, said hierarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one server of said plurality of servers for display on said content display unit.

7. The dispensing machine device of claim 4 comprising a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from said plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each said display controller selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of said type identifier.

8. The dispensing machine device of claim 6 comprising a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from said plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each said display controller selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of said type identifier.

9. The dispensing machine device of claim 6, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

10. The dispensing machine device of claim 6, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

11. The dispensing machine device of claim 7, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

12. The dispensing machine device of claim 7, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

13. The dispensing machine device of claim 8, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

14. The dispensing machine device of claim 8, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

15. A dispensing machine device comprising:

a display controller, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive and display dynamic-content; and

at least one passive content display unit in communication with said display controller, wherein said at least one passive content display unit visually displays the information from said dynamic-content.

16. The dispensing machine device of claim 15, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of sources, wherein said display controller comprises a hierarchical control scheme, said hierarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one source of said plurality of sources for display on said content display unit.

17. The dispensing machine device of claim 15 comprising a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from said plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each said display controller selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of said type identifier.

18. The dispensing machine device of claim 16 comprising a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from said plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each said display controller selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of said type identifier.

19. The dispensing machine device of claim 16, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

20. The dispensing machine device of claim 16, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

21. The dispensing machine device of claim 17, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

22. The dispensing machine device of claim 17, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

23. The dispensing machine device of claim 18, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

24. The dispensing machine device of claim 18, wherein at least one of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

25. The dispensing machine device of claim 19, wherein said display controller comprises a timing means, said display controller altering the visual display of said at least one passive content display unit as a function of the time from said timing means.

26. The dispensing machine device of claim 20, wherein said display controller comprises a timing means, said display controller altering the visual display of said at least one passive content display unit as a function of the time from said timing means.

27. The dispensing machine device of claim 21, wherein said display controller comprises a timing means, said display controller altering the visual display of said at least one passive content display unit as a function of the time from said timing means.

28. The dispensing machine device of claim 22, wherein said display controller comprises a timing means, said display controller altering the visual display of said at least one passive content display unit as a function of the time from said timing means.

29. The dispensing machine device of claim 23, wherein said display controller comprises a timing means, said display controller altering the visual display of said at least one passive content display unit as a function of the time from said timing means.

30. The dispensing machine device of claim 24, wherein said display controller comprises a timing means, said display controller altering the visual display of said at least one passive content display unit as a function of the time from said timing means.

31. A method for dispensing machine advertising comprising the steps of:

A) providing a dispensing machine comprising a content-display unit;

B) providing a display controller, wherein said display controller is adapted to receive, store, and provide dynamic-content for said content-display unit;

C) receiving information from a source; and

D) displaying said information on said content-display unit.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

E) providing a plurality of content-display units, each having a display controller;

F) identifying each content-display unit of said plurality of content-display units with at least one type identifier; and

G) displaying said information on each of said plurality of content-display units having one of said at least one type identifier.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the steps of:

H) providing a clock indicating a time; and

J) changing the dynamic-content-displayed on at least one said content-display units from a first dynamic-content to a second dynamic-content at a first time.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising the steps of:

K) providing a plurality of servers; and

L) providing a hierarchy to at least one said display controller, said hierarchy used to select one server from said plurality of servers for dynamic-content to display by said display controller.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein said type identifier is an area.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein said type identifier is a unique location.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein in step G, information is displayed on each of said plurality of content-display units having a plurality of type identifiers.