Patent Application
20060092150
Embodiments of the present invention relate to electronic display devices, and more particularly to electronic display devices configured to be used on a floor of commercial establishments.
Advertising and messaging using displays mounted to walls or ceilings is common. On the other hand, one kind of space that has great potential for advertising and messaging, but has been largely overlooked, is floor space.
There have been efforts to exploit floor space for advertising. Adhesive (i.e., “stick-on”) floor decals are known. Such decals may include a colorful image and convey some kind of advertising message, such as “Drink Coke”. Such an advertising medium is limited, however, by the fact that the message is static and not easily changed. On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 6,417,778, which is fully incorporated herein by reference, describes a modifiable electronic display associated with a floor that enables images and text to be easily changed, allowing an advertising message to be quickly adaptable and efficiently targeted toward desired customers.
The foregoing modifiable electronic display, however, like static floor decals, is configured to be substantially co-planar with the floor, and as such necessarily occupies a certain amount of floor “real estate”. In commercial establishments where floor space may be at a premium, merchants seeking to garner the benefits of floor advertising may be faced with an unwelcome choice between using floor space for shelving or for advertising/messaging.
In consideration of this, the present inventors have recognized that there exists, in many commercial establishments, floor space that is not utilized in any meaningful way, and for the most part simply collects dust. This is a space under the shelving but typically open to view, often known as “kick space”. More specifically, the present inventors have observed that in most commercial shelving there is a clearance or kick space between the floor and a bottom surface of the shelving, for example the underside of a bottom shelf, that is largely unutilized. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a novel system and method for effectively exploiting this unused space for dynamic electronic advertising and messaging.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic display device configured for use at the base of commercial shelving: i.e., shelving used in commercial establishments, such as grocery stores or other retail stores, to store goods and products for public display and sale. More specifically, the electronic display device may be configured to be at least partly received within a kick space of commercial shelving, and to display electronically modifiable arbitrary content, including at least graphics and alphanumeric information. It is contemplated that typically the content will be advertising content or promotional content, and relate to the goods and products on the shelves above or near the electronic display device, or elsewhere in the commercial establishment. For example, the display could announce sales and prices, provide product descriptions, direct customers to specific locations within a commercial establishment, and the like.
According to the present embodiments, the electronic display device could be associated with an audio device. The audio device could be incorporated into the electronic display device, or could be arranged in the vicinity. The audio device could be configured to output audio content related to the content of an associated display.
According to further embodiments, there may be a plurality of electronic display devices and associated audio devices arranged within a commercial establishment. The electronic display devices and associated audio devices could be individually configurable with desired content, either locally or remotely. For example, an electronic display device could be configured by some operation on the device itself locally, for example by manually connecting an I/O port of the device to a storage device containing digital data for downloading to the display device. Alternatively, the plurality of electronic display devices and associated audio devices could be networked together, and content could be downloaded from a central control location to the display devices and audio devices.
The concept of “kick space” is not limited to shelves.
Accordingly, to effectively utilize the space 202, the electronic display device comprises a housing 101 and an elongated display area 110 associated with the housing. Here, “housing” means any structure or material used in framing, supporting, or providing a physical medium for the display area 110. The display area 110 may be smaller than the area of a front face 111 of the housing. Alternatively, the display area 110 may be co-extensive with (i.e., occupy substantially the entire surface area of) the front face 111 of the housing. The display area 110 comprises an upper edge 102 and a lower edge 103. The housing further has a base or bottom surface 104. A length L of the housing and corresponding display area may be at least twice a height H of the housing and corresponding display area.
At least a portion of the base 104 of the housing 101 may be no more than three inches from the lower edge 103 of the display area 110. Thus, when the electronic display device 100 is placed directly on a floor, at least a portion of the lower edge 103 may be no more than three (3) inches from the floor. At least a portion of the upper edge 102 of the display area may be no more than eight (8) inches from the lower edge 103. The electronic display device 100 is portable and free-standing, but this does not preclude its being affixed to the floor or to the shelving in some fashion.
The electronic display device may be configured to display arbitrary content. As noted above, it is expected that in the most common application, the content will be advertising or promotional, but any desired content is possible. For example, the content could include product descriptions and prices.
The electronics 111 may further comprise an I/O port 318, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, which may be coupled to external sources of video and/or audio content 315 via a wired or wireless connection 317. According to embodiments, the video/audio content 315 will advantageously be in digital form, allowing it to be readily downloaded to the storage medium 313 and displayed on the display area 110 under the control of the control device 312 as configured by a user. The video/audio content 315 could include control software, or the control software could be provided from a different source. The control software could be loaded into the storage medium 313 and executed by the control device 312, for example, in order to implement a schedule of changing display content. For example, the control device 312 could be programmed to execute a scheduling algorithm that accessed stored video/audio files in a predetermined order according to a list of identifiers in a look-up table. To change displayed content, a given video/audio file accessed by a particular identifier could be replaced with new content, without needing to update the scheduling algorithm. Conversely, the order the files are displayed can be changed by only modifying the look-up table, without modifying the scheduling algorithm or file content. Of course, both the look-up table and the video/audio files could be modified to change the schedule of what is displayed without modifying the scheduling algorithm.
If in digital form, the video/audio content 315 could be stored on, for example, disk or CD-ROM. However, the video/audio content 315 could take any form. For example, the video/audio content 315 could be stored on videotape. Accordingly, the control electronics 311 may further be coupled to an I/O device 319 adapted to input the video/audio content in whatever form it might take. Thus I/O device 319 could include a tape player, disk drive/reader, CD-ROM drive/reader, or similar device, and receive video/audio content 315 for display in the display area 110. It is further possible that the I/O device 319 could include a capability of handling video/audio content in the form of a TV signal, either broadcast or through a closed circuit system. The electronics 311 may further be coupled to an audio device 314 for outputting audio content.
A user interface 320 may be coupled to the electronics 311 to enable a user to configure the electronics 311 as desired. The user interface could include, for example, a keyboard, mouse and video monitor, a manually operated control panel (e.g., a pushbutton panel), or both. For example, a user could configure the electronics 311 using interface 320 by causing control software to be loaded into the storage medium 313 via I/O device 319 and executed by the control device 312, and/or by using a manually operated control panel with inputs such as ON/OFF, display mode options and the like. Depending on input entered by a user via user interface 320, arbitrary video/audio content 315 may be displayed on display area 110. The display area 110 of the electronic display device 100 may be implemented using any known technique or system. For example, the display area could utilize liquid crystal (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), plasma or cathode ray tube (CRT) technologies, light emitting polymer, electronic ink, electronic paper, either solely or in any combination, to generate displays. It has been observed by the inventors that space 202 is typically darkened somewhat, due to the lower surface 201 blocking light from above. This darkened region provides good contrast for the display area 110.
The display area 110 is capable of displaying at least alphanumeric data and graphic images. The content may include alphanumeric data alone, graphic images (e.g., pictures) alone, or combinations of the two, either static, moving, or both static and moving, in accordance with selected video content. Moving alphanumeric data and images may, for example, be scrolled. The alphanumeric data and graphic images could be black and white or in full color. Further, the display area 110 may include more than one distinct display: that is, the display area could be partitioned with respect to content. For example, the display area could include two or more different “windows,” each displaying different content. Such a partitioning of displays is well known, for example, in “split-screen” TV and through the widespread use of various graphics software applications, including the ubiquitous “Windows” software by Microsoft®.
The electronics 311 and associated devices, including the audio device 314, user interface 320 and I/O device 319, could be completely or partly contained with the housing 101 of the electronic display device 100, or could be completely external thereto. Further, while the description of
More specifically, the second portion 603 may have a height H1 that is greater than a height H2 of the first portion 602, and a width W2 that is greater than a width W1 of the first portion 602. On the other hand, the first portion 602 may have a length L2 that is greater than a length L3 of the second portion 603. The third portion 604 may have a height H2 and width W3 that is less than a height H1 and width W2 of the second portion 603, and a length L4 that is greater than a length L3 of the second portion 603. The third portion 604 may have substantially the same dimensions as the first portion 602. The electronic display device may further include a separately articulated base 714.
Referring now to
The display areas 706, 708 and 712 show one example of possible content, specifically, advertising or promotional content wherein alphanumeric information “Buy $100 of groceries and you could win this car” relates to, complements or supplements a graphic image of a car.
The floor covering 1005 could be movable or affixed to a floor. The electronic display device 1000 may be rotatably coupled to the floor covering 1003 at a pivot point 1004, so as to have an incline that is adjustable relative to the floor, or to a vertical at substantially right angles to the floor. The pivot point 1004 could be implemented, for example, by a hinge.
As noted earlier, the electronic display device 1000 may be associated with a floor covering 1005. In embodiments, the floor covering 1005 includes graphic and/or alphanumeric information, presented in either a static or dynamic (e.g., scrolling or otherwise moving or changing) format. For example, the floor covering could be formed as a “decal” that adheres to the floor and conveys some kind of illustrated advertising or other message. Alternatively, the floor covering could itself include a modifiable electronic display that was substantially flat and co-planar with the floor, and configured for being walked over as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,417,778 incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
When in use in a commercial establishment, for example, the floor covering 1005 may be unattached to the electronic display device 1000, but abutting, adjacent or in close proximity thereto. Content, e.g., alphanumeric information and/or images, displayed on the floor covering 1005 may be related to or complementary or supplemental to content displayed on an associated electronic display device 1000. Thus, the scope of “associated with a floor covering” with reference to the electronic display device 1000 includes not only embodiments in which the electronic display device and floor covering are physically connected to each other, but also embodiments in which the electronic display and floor covering are not physically connected to each other, but are abutting, adjacent or in close proximity to each other, or their respective displays have related content, or both. Any of the various possible embodiments of electronic display devices described herein (i.e, electronic display devices 100, 400, 600), or within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims, may be associated with a floor covering in the foregoing sense.
Similarly,
The floor covering 1005 may be formed as any kind of structure or include any material or materials suitable for use in places where there is foot traffic. In embodiments, the floor covering could be formed as a “blotter” similar to devices that are used on desktops to create a working surface, but in this case, to place a static decal or advertisement thereupon. The blotter could be constructed from such materials as, by way of example only, leather, vinyl, plastic, rubber or other similar materials. In other embodiments, the floor covering 1005 could function at least partly as a shoe-cleaning device, and include water and dirt removing or absorbing surfaces, and slip-preventing surfaces. However, the floor covering 1005 need not include such surfaces.
It should be understood that the above-described embodiments of an electronic display device according to the invention are only illustrative and do not represent all possible configurations. For example, the elongated housing of the electronic display device, as noted earlier, need not be monolithic or uniform as in embodiments 100, 400 or 1000, nor need it be configured as an approximately centrally located module with two substantially similar lateral modules as in embodiment 600. Instead, any portion of the elongated housing or the display area could be differently dimensioned from another portion of the elongated housing or display area. The elongated housing or display area could, for example, comprise curved or streamlined portions. Moreover, any portion of the display areas in the various embodiments as explicitly described herein or within the scope of the claims could be inclined relative to a vertical, where “vertical” means an orientation offset substantially 90° with respect to the floor surface (i.e., at a right angle to the floor surface). Put in other terms, any portion of the display area of the electronic display device could have an angular displacement or angle of inclination relative to the floor between substantially zero and substantially 90°. According to embodiments, the angle of inclination is between 10 and 80 degrees from the vertical, with a preferred range of 10 to 40 degrees, and a still more preferred range of 10 to 20 degrees from the vertical. It should further be understood that the shelving 200 as shown in several of the figures is only one illustrative example of such shelving, and that the present invention may be advantageously utilized in association with different kinds and configurations of shelving.
As described earlier with reference to
Advantageously, according to embodiments, the audio device 1611 could be a directional speaker, such as a dual parabolic speaker manufactured by Soundtube™, or the Hypersonic Sound™ system now available from American Technology Corporation, which utilizes hypersonic sound technology or ultra-sonic side bands to produce directional audio. Such a directional speaker could create a confined sound area near the electronic display device 600. A confined sound area is advantageous because a plurality of audio devices could be arranged within a store, along with corresponding electronic display devices. In an environment that contains multiple audio devices as well as other sources of noise, providing a confined sound area using a directional speaker enables audio content from a particular speaker to be more easily understood. While the directional speaker is illustrated on the outside of the device 600, it may also be place on either side of the device 600, or placed within the housing in such a manner that sound is directed from the front of the device through a perforated area on the front surface of the device near the display area. In this case, an array of small speakers may be preferred for creating directional sound.
According to embodiments, the electronic display device could include or be associated with an interactive feature. The interactive feature would cause the display area and or the audio device to become active (i.e., to display video content or output audio content following a dormant or inactive period during which no video or audio content was output) upon detection of the approach or proximity of a person. For example, the electronic display device could include or be coupled to a motion detector configured for this purpose.
Audio device 1611.1 may be, as described above, a directional speaker, so that sound from speaker 1611.1 will be mostly focused directly over the head of a person standing near electronic display device 1611.1. For example, the person may be standing in front of electronic display device 1611.1 and viewing a display thereon. Speaker 1611.1 will provide clear focused sound to a person standing mostly directly below it, but the sound will drop off quickly as the person moves away from a focused area or radius below the speaker. Thus, speaker 1611.1 can provide a first confined sound area to deliver a first kind of content to a person standing in front of electronic display device 1611.1, while speaker 1611.2 can provide a second confined sound area to provide a second kind of content, either the same or different from the first, to a person standing in front of electronic display device 600.
As further shown in
As discussed above, it is envisioned that to utilize the electronic display device to good effect, it will be deployed in numbers throughout a commercial establishment, and output video and audio content related to nearby goods and products. Accordingly, there will be a need to efficiently configure such a plurality of electronic display devices, each, potentially, with different content. Several techniques are contemplated for doing this. In one technique, the configuring may be done locally. Referring now to
The downloading may be effected using any of various known I/O techniques. For example, the CSD could be coupled to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) of an onboard computer of the electronic display device. The onboard computer could also be configured with other I/O ports to receive the data.
In other embodiments, the configuring of the content of the plurality of electronic display devices could be done remotely from a central control location. For example, as shown in
The user may then download video and audio content 315 either locally, or from a remote location via its network connection, to the central controller. The video and/or audio content 315 may include software for controlling the display content. The central controller in turn may download the content, via a network connection, to the electronics of each connected electronic display device. Alternatively, the user could simply direct the central controller to retrieve video/audio content and associated control software from the database 1917. In accordance with either method, the central controller may then distribute different content to different electronic display devices and associated audio devices in accordance with a software program that it executes. The program could, for example, implement a schedule of various advertisements or promotions to be displayed on various electronic display devices distributed throughout the commercial establishment. The electronics of each electronic display device could then transmit the received audio content to an associated audio device, either housed within the electronic display device or arranged in the vicinity thereof, as described above in connection with
In still other embodiments, a user does not need to log onto a network, but need only be in the vicinity of the establishment in which the plurality of electronic display devices are located, and configure the electronic display devices wirelessly from as much as 100 feet away or more. As shown in
In other embodiments, remote communication with and configuring of a plurality of electronic display devices in multiple different commercial establishments is possible. This may be accomplished, for example, with a WAN (wide area network) configuration. More specifically, as shown in
As a variation of the WAN download technique described above, satellite network download can used where the WAN is provided via satellite constellation. Here, the satellite broadcasts content in a point-to-multi-point configuration. The broadcast content is received by receivers, for example dish receivers, associated with each establishment. The received content may then be disseminated to various electronic display devices by a LAN configuration as described above. Satellite systems such as Motorola's Iridium, Hughes' direct TV, and Boeing Digital Cinema have already demonstrated capabilities as described in the foregoing in other unrelated industries.
In embodiments, the electronic display device may be linked to a POS (point of sale) system of an establishment. A POS system is used to gather information about consumer preferences. Information about the effectiveness of specific advertising content in generating sales could be gathered, for example, by correlating sales of a given item in an establishment with the timing of given content displayed on an electronic display device. This could be accomplished, for example, by electronically cross-referencing sales transactions, at the time they occur, with the scheduling of particular advertising for display on the electronic display device. To provide this scheduling information to the POS system, the electronic display device could be connected directly to computers or servers of the POS system. Alternatively, a server of the electronic display device could control the scheduling of content on the various electronic display devices of an establishment, and provide the scheduling information to a server of the POS system so that it could be correlated in “real time,” i.e., contemporaneously, with sales transactions. Alternatively, the scheduling information could be correlated with sales records “offline” at a later time.
Several embodiments of the present invention are specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/413,219, filed Apr. 15, 2003. Application Ser. No. 10/413,219 claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional application 60/448,598, filed Feb. 20, 2003.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60448598 | Feb 2003 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10413219 | Apr 2003 | US |
| Child | 11298668 | Dec 2005 | US |
