Virtual signs for improving information communicated to the automotive driver

• US 6,587,755 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Gordon James, Van Leeuwen, George Willard
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/614,835
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/24, 701/211, 340/928, 340/933, 705/13
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

A method and system for providing information to an individual using an electronic sign in which the sign displays information in response to the identity of the tag or an account associated with the tag. The information is displayed when the tag, which may be carried by the individual or in a vehicle, approaches the sign. A user can preselect from among various information types he wishes to receive, such as news, weather, sports and personal messages. The user can also select a priority for each information type.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to an individual with whom an electronic tag is associated using an electronic sign, said electronic sign having a dynamic display, comprising the steps of:

establishing an account associated with said tag;

receiving an information selection from said individual;

selecting information in response to an identity of said account and said information selection;

electronically detecting said tag being brought into proximity with said electronic sign;

electronically determining an identity of said tag being brought into proximity with said electronic sign;

retrieving said information selected in response to said identity of said account if said identity of said account matches said identity of said tag; and

displaying retrieved information on said dynamic display.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises travel information.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises road conditions.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises advertisements.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising selecting the advertisements to be displayed based on the individual in close proximity to the electronic sign.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a personal digital assistant having an identifier associated therewith.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a cellular telephone having an identifier associated therewith.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a pager having an identifier associated therewith.

2. A method for providing information to an occupant of a road vehicle using an electronic road sign, said electronic road sign having a dynamic display, comprising the steps of:

receiving from the occupant a prioritization of information types, said prioritization ranking information types in order of said occupant'"'"'s preference;

electronically detecting at least one vehicle approaching said electronic road sign;

electronically determining a respective identity of at least one identifier associated with said at least one vehicle;

selecting information in response to said respective identity of at least one identifier and said prioritization; and

displaying said selected information on said dynamic display.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said step of electronically detecting at least one vehicle approaching said electronic road sign comprises communicating a radio frequency signal between a respective device in said at least one vehicle and a device associated with said road sign; and

said step of electronically determining a respective identity of at least one identifier associated with said vehicle comprises communicating a radio frequency signal between a respective device in said at least one vehicle and a device associated with said road sign.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

prior to said steps of electronically detecting at least one vehicle and electronically determining said identity of at least one identifier, said occupant providing a base station computer located remotely from said road sign with said prioritization of information; and

communicating information from said base station computer to said road sign;

wherein said step of selecting information comprises selecting information of one of said information types.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of selecting information of one of said information types comprises the steps of:

determining an amount of time elapsed since previously selecting information of one of said information types; and

selecting information of a type not previously selected within a predetermined amount of time.

6. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of selecting information of one of said information types comprises the steps of:

determining whether information of one of said information types is not available; and

selecting information of a type that is available but of lower priority than information of a type that is not available.

7. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said step of selecting information in response to said identity comprises selecting said information at a base station computer located remotely from said road sign; and

said step of displaying information on said dynamic display comprises communicating selected information from said base station computer to said road sign.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of, prior to said steps of electronically detecting at least one vehicle and electronically determining an identity of at least one identifier, providing said base station computer with a textual message, wherein said information selected in response to said identity includes said message and said information displayed on said dynamic display includes said message.

9. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of providing said base station computer with a textual message comprises the step of entering said textual message into a computer in communication with said base station computer via a wide-area computer network and located remotely from said base station computer.

10. The method claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of, prior to said steps of electronically detecting a vehicle and electronically determining an identity of an identifier, establishing an account associated with said vehicle on said base station computer in exchange for a predetermined payment.

11. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of selecting information in response to the respective identity of at least one identifier comprises selecting information in response to at least one characteristic associated with a plurality of said identifiers.

13. The system claimed in claim 11, wherein a radio frequency signal is communicated between said receiver apparatus and said tag to electronically detect said tag.

15. The system claimed in claim 13 wherein said base station computer determines an amount of time elapsed since previously selecting information of one of said information types and selects information of a type not previously selected within a predetermined amount of time.

16. The system claimed in claim 13, wherein said base station computer determines whether information of one of said information types is not available and selects information of a type that is available but of lower priority than information of a type that is not available.

18. The system claimed in claim 16, wherein said base station computer is part of a computer system having an input device for receiving a textual message, wherein said information selected in response to said identity includes said message and said information displayed on said electronic road sign includes said message.

12. A system for providing information to an occupant of a road vehicle, comprising:

an electronic road sign having a dynamic display;

a receiver apparatus for receiving electronically detectable tags, each tag being borne by a respective vehicle approaching said electronic road sign; and

a programmable processor coupled to said receiver apparatus and to said electronic road sign, said processor being programmed to receive a prioritization of information types from said occupant, to select information in response to at least one said electronically detectable tags and said prioritization, and to cause said information to be displayed on said dynamic display when the at least one vehicle bearing the at least one said electronically detectable tags approaches said road sign.

14. The system claimed in claim 12, further comprising a base station computer located remotely from said road sign, wherein said occupant provides said base station computer with the prioritization of information types in order of said occupant'"'"'s preference, and wherein said information is selected from one of said information types and communicated from said base station computer to said road sign.

17. The system claimed in claim 12, further comprising a base station computer located remotely from said road sign, wherein selected information is communicated from said base station computer to said road sign.

19. The system claimed in claim 17, wherein said computer system includes a wide-area network, and said textual message is entered into a computer in communication with said base station computer via said wide-area computer network and located remotely from said base station computer.

20. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein said programmable processor is programmed to select information in response to at least one characteristic associated with a plurality of said tag.

28. A method for providing dynamic information, comprising:

associating a tag with an individual;

receiving a desired information selection from the individual;

detecting the tag as being in close proximity to an electronic sign, the electronic sign having a dynamic display; and

in response to detecting the tag;

determining the identity of the tag;

receiving the desired information associated with the identified tag; and

displaying the information on the dynamic display.