Business method for billboard advertising

• US 7,098,869 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DHP Media AB
• Original Assignee: Novus Partners LLC
• Inventors: Wampler, Scott D., Wampler, James W., Vaitekunas, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): LESPERANCE, JEAN E
• Application Number:
  US10/174,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/3.4, 345/204, 345/205, 345/2.1, 715/735, 715/739, 715/744
• US Class Current: 345/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• 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 business method for billboard advertising is disclosed. An advertising billboard device for use with the present invention comprises a server and a display controller adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from the server. At least one content display unit is in communication with the display controller, wherein the content display unit visually displays the information from the dynamic-content. The advertising billboard display controller may also comprise a timing means, the display controller altering the visual display of the content display unit as a function of the time from the timing means. The display controller may be adapted to receive, store, and display dynamic-content from a plurality of servers, wherein the display controller comprises a heirarchical control scheme, the heirarchical control scheme adapted to select dynamic-content from one server of the plurality of servers for display on the content display unit. The advertising billboard device may also comprise a plurality of display controllers in communication with a plurality of content display units, each display controller from the plurality of display controllers having a type identifier, wherein each of the display controllers selects dynamic-content for display on its content display unit as a function of the type identifier.

Claims

1. A business method for billboard advertising comprising the steps of:

A) providing a plurality of content display units, wherein each content display unit of said plurality of content display units is incorporated into a particular type of display device;

B) providing a plurality of display controllers, wherein each display controller of said plurality of display controllers is in communication with a content display unit of said plurality of content display units, wherein each of said display controllers is adapted to provide dynamic-content for its content display unit;

C) providing a plurality of servers in communication with said plurality of display controllers, wherein each server of said plurality of servers is adapted to send dynamic-content to said display controllers, wherein said plurality of servers comprises a first server and a second server;

D) associating each of said content display units with a geographic location;

E) associating each of said content display units with one or more type identifiers, wherein at least one of the one or more type identifiers indicates the particular type of display device into which the respective content display unit is incorporated;

F) using a hierarchy to select one server from said plurality of servers for providing dynamic-content from the selected server by a display controller to one or more of the content display units, wherein the hierarchy provides a higher priority to the first server than the second server, wherein the display controller is configured to select dynamic-content sent from the first server over dynamic-content sent from the second server in accordance with the hierarchy when the first server and second server send content that is to be displayed at a same certain time; and

G) displaying dynamic-content from the selected server on a particular content display unit of said plurality of content display units based on both of the geographic location associated with the particular content display unit and the one or more type identifiers associated with the particular content display unit.

2. The business method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

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

I) identifying each said content display units with one or more characteristics; and

J) displaying dynamic-content on each of said plurality of content display units, wherein said dynamic-content is different for each said characteristic.

3. The business method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

K) providing a clock indicating a time;

L) storing a plurality of dynamic-contents on said display controller; and

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

4. The business method of claim 2, wherein one or more of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

5. The business method of claim 2, wherein one or more of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

6. The business method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of content display units comprises one or more of a highway billboard, a moveable vehicle, and a kiosk.

7. A business method for billboard advertising comprising the steps of:

A) providing a plurality of content display units, wherein each content display unit of said plurality of content display units is incorporated into a particular type of display device;

B) providing a plurality of display controllers, wherein each display controller of said plurality of display controllers is in communication with a content display unit of said plurality of content display units, wherein each display controller is adapted to provide dynamic-content for its content display unit;

C) providing a plurality of servers, wherein each server of said plurality of servers is operable to transmit dynamic-content to each of said display controllers, wherein said plurality of servers comprises a first server and a second server;

D) using a hierarchy to select one server from said plurality of servers for providing dynamic-content from the selected server by a display controller to one or more of the content display units, wherein the hierarchy provides a higher priority to the first server than the second server, wherein the display controller is configured to select dynamic-content transmitted from the first server over dynamic-content transmitted from the second server in accordance with the hierarchy when the first server and second server transmit different dynamic-content;

E) associating a first portion of said plurality of content display units with one or more geographic locations;

F) associating a second portion of said plurality of content display units with one or more type identifiers, wherein at least one of the one or more type identifiers indicates the particular type of display device into which the respective content display unit is incorporated;

G) selecting a third portion of said plurality of content display units based on both of the geographic locations and the one or more type identifiers; and

H) displaying dynamic-content on the selected third portion of said plurality of content display units.

8. The business method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

I) providing a clock indicating a time;

J) storing a plurality of dynamic-contents on said plurality of display controllers; and

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

9. The business method of claim 8, wherein one or more of said content display units comprises a display material selected from the group consisting of GYRICON and E-INK.

10. A business method for billboard advertising comprising the steps of:

A) providing an advertising system, wherein said advertising system comprises;

a plurality of servers, wherein each server of said plurality of servers is configured to transmit dynamic-content, wherein the plurality of servers comprises a first server and a second server,

one or more display controllers, wherein said one or more display controllers is adapted to receive dynamic-content from one or more servers of said plurality of servers,

a hierarchy associated with said plurality of servers, wherein the hierarchy defines a prioritization of said plurality of servers, wherein the hierarchy provides a higher priority to the first server than the second server, wherein the one or more display controllers are configured to select dynamic-content transmitted from the first server over dynamic-content transmitted from the second server in accordance with the hierarchy when the first server and second server transmit dynamic-content simultaneously, and

one or more content display units in communication with said one or more display controllers, wherein said one or more content display units visually displays the information from said dynamic-content;

B) receiving advertising information from an advertiser;

C) selecting one or more servers from said plurality of servers in accordance with said hierarchy;

D) communicating said advertising information as dynamic-content from said or more selected servers to said one or more display controllers;

E) associating said one or more content display units with a geographic location; and

F) displaying dynamic-content on said one or more content display units based on said geographic location.

11. The business method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

G) segmenting a plurality of content display units into a plurality of groups, each group from said plurality of groups identified with one or more type identifiers.

12. The business method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

H) selecting a group from said plurality of groups to display dynamic-content on said plurality of content display units.

13. The business method of claim 11 wherein in step F, said displaying step is divided into a plurality of time segments, wherein a first advertisement is displayed during a first time segment and a second advertisement is displayed during a second time segment.

14. The business method of claim 12 wherein in step F, said displaying step is divided into a plurality of time segments, wherein a first advertisement is displayed during a first time segment and a second advertisement is displayed during a second time segment.

15. The business method of claim 14, said business method further comprising the steps of:

I) providing a plurality of hierarchies; and

J) selecting said hierarchy from said plurality of hierarchies.

16. The business method of claim 14, wherein one or more of said content-display units comprises GYRICON.

17. The business method of claim 14, wherein one or more of said content-display units comprises E-INK.

18. The business method of claim 10, said business method further comprising the steps of:

G) providing a plurality of hierarchies; and

H) selecting said hierarchy from said plurality of hierarchies.

19. The business method of claim 10, wherein the hierarchy comprises a heuristic hierarchical control scheme.