Information display system

• US 6,082,500 A
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Captivate, LLC
• Original Assignee: Verticore Communications Ltd.
• Inventors: Lacheur, Neil S., Amo, Stephen D., Lacheur, Dean L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US09/154,633
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 187/248, 187/390, 187/396, 187/391
• US Class Current: 187/391
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/34 Details , e.g. call counting devices, data transmission from car to control system, devices giving information to the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/00 Applications of devices for indicating or signalling operating conditions of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/008 Displaying information not related to the elevator, e.g. weather, publicity, internet or TV
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels

Abstract

A display apparatus within elevator cabs or elevator waiting areas that facilitates the simultaneous display of advertising and general news information is described. Broadcast from a remote control center, advertising and general news information updates are transmitted to, and stored in a server located within a building and then forwarded to a display memory and subsequently displayed on a monitor according to a remotely modifiable program schedule. The display is updated such that it contains a copy of the latest broadcast schedule, as well as the advertisement and information programming, and automatically displays a days program according to the most current broadcast schedule. The display units as well as the building server are each individually addressable thus allowing groups of displays to be simultaneously updated from a remote centralized location with information such as news updates, customized advertising information and the like.

Claims

1. A device for displaying information in at least one elevator cab in each of a plurality of buildings, the device comprising:

(a) a display including a display screen located in each elevator cab said display being adapted to receive and display information on said screen;

(b) a plurality of building servers, one building server located in each of the plurality of buildings in which an elevator cab is located, each building server being adapted to continuously communicate said information to each display in each elevator cab within that building; and

(c) a central server remotely located from the plurality of building servers, wherein the information to be displayed is transmitted from the central server to the building servers where the information is simultaneously displayed in the elevator cabs within each building, whereby said displayed information is uninterrupted by elevator operation.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, said display means each having a unique address.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, said building servers having a unique address.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, said display screen being divided into areas for displaying advertising and general information thereon respectively.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, said display including means for independently updating each of said display areas.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, said information including scheduling information.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, said display being electrically connected to said building server for communication of information therebetween.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, said display and said building server being adapted for wireless communication therebetween.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, said building server and said central server being adapted for wireless communication therebetween.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, said display including a processor and mass storage device.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, said mass storage device being a hard disk.

12. A method of displaying information in one or more elevator cabs located in each of a plurality of buildings, said method comprising the steps of:

compiling information including advertising information to be displayed on a central computer remote from said plurality of buildings;

transmitting said information to a plurality of building server computers, one building server computer located in each of the plurality of buildings;

transmitting said information from each of said building server computers to a display located in each of said elevator cabs;

receiving said information at said display;

displaying said information on a display screen.

13. A method of displaying information in one or more elevator cabs located in a building, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) compiling information including scheduling information to be displayed on a central computer remote from said building;

(b) transmitting said information to a builder server computer located in said building;

(c) transmitting said information from said building server to display means located in each of said elevator cabs;

(d) receiving said information at said display means; and

(e) displaying said information on a display screen located at said display means according to said scheduling information.

14. In an information display system for a plurality of buildings or the like, an apparatus for displaying information in at least one elevator cab in each of the plurality of buildings, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a display including a screen, said display means being adapted to be installed in each elevator cab;

(b) a memory;

(c) a processing means, said memory means and processing means being associated with said display means;

(d) communication means, associated with said display means adapted to receive information according to a predetermined protocol, and having a predetermined address;

(e) a plurality of building servers, one building server located in each building in which an elevator cab is located for communication with said display; and

(f) a central server remotely located from the plurality of building servers, wherein said information to be display on said screens is compiled at said central server and transmitted from said central server to each of said building servers and then to said display means so as to provide said information simultaneously to each said display means located in said elevator cabs, and whereby information received via said communication means is stored in said memory and processed by said processing means to be displayed on said screen.

15. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein said information includes scheduling information.

16. A system as defined in claim 15, wherein said scheduling information is updated independently of said display information.