The present invention relates to the classification for systems for selective content distribution; and to one or more sub-classifications for scheduling content for creating a personalized stream. The present invention also relates to the classification for data processing methods specifically adapted for commercial purposes; and to one or more sub-classifications related to commerce and marketing. Specifically, the present invention is a message display system and method that allows for on-demand messaging to be displayed on vehicles in a user-defined local area.
As society continues to be more immersed in social media, it has become one of the most, if not the most important form of communication. Its applications have been very wide and to a very large extent, very successful. From personal communication to advertising, to business and all other spheres of life, social media has redefined the way we interact and indeed live our lives.
However, while social media has largely taken place in the spheres of the internet, cell phones and other interpersonal domains, it has not yet been applied to direct location-based messaging. This domain is still occupied primarily by large media organizations, advertising agencies, and government and civil authorities. As a result, large sectors of business are still reserved for large corporations, who still dominate dissemination of information such as news, advertising, and public broadcasting. The market is seeking a way to democratize the dissemination of location-based messages. By location-based messages, this application means messages that are broadcast to a certain geography through means other than a cellphone or computer.
For example, one of the ubiquitous forms of location-based messaging is the billboard. Billboards are controlled by large media companies. Advertising on them is still prohibitively expensive. Moreover, the messaging is stagnant. Billboards typically remain in situ for at least one month. Individuals and small businesses are left with trying to break into markets with largely ineffective methods such as portable visual displays, stickers, storefront signage, and Internet advertising. If they desire to advertise in a more effective manner, they are forced to invest large sums of money with the advertising companies to use media such as billboards.
What the market needs is the democratization of location-based advertising, meaning advertising performed at a specific physical location. What the market needs is a system and method that will provide moving displays on which an end user can broadcast a message, such as an advertisement, within a certain geographic region.
This summary is intended to disclose the present invention, a message display system and method that allows for on-demand messaging to be displayed on vehicles in a user-defined local area. The embodiment and description are used to illustrate the invention and its utility and are not intended to limit the invention or its use. The following presents a simplified summary of the primary embodiment of the invention to provide a basic understanding of the invention. Additional concepts that can be added or varied with the primary embodiment are also disclosed. The present invention is novel with respect to the prior art, and can be distinguished from the prior art.
In general, the present invention, a message display system and method that allows for on-demand messaging on vehicles in user defined local area, provides targeted on-vehicle messaging in a known local area. The system comprises a plurality of in-vehicle mountable displays, a plurality of end-user electronic devices, a communications network, and a server connected with a database. The in-vehicle mountable displays are comprised of a flexible screen, a flexible border, a USB port, a communications chipset, a memory, a graphics driver, and a global positioning system chipset. The end-user electronic device has a memory element, a processor, and a display. A computer-readable instruction set called a user application is stored on the memory element of the end-user electronic device. A computer-readable instruction set called a display application is stored on the memory of the in-vehicle mountable display.
The server intermediates the method of the present invention, by executing a computer-readable instruction set that interoperates with the display application and the user application. The end-user creates a message using the user application on their cellphone or other end-user electronic device. The end-user can select message options, such as animation, text wrapping, color, and added graphics such as a picture. The end user identifies an area of interest to the method, by setting the border around the end user's preferred area of interest on a map. This information is communicated by the communication chip set of the cellphone to the server using the communication network. The server communicates the available vehicles to the user, who reviews them. The end user is able to set a criterion to sort the vehicles by the average time (“Time”) the vehicle is within the area of interest during an average day; or by the average distance (“Distance”) traveled by the vehicle within the area of interest during an average day. If the end user chooses Distance, he or she selects the appropriate vehicles. If the end user chooses Time, he or she selects the appropriate vehicles. The end user then selects the duration and repetition of their intended message. This information is communicated to the server which supplies pricing information. The end user may say the price is okay or the price is not okay. If the price is okay, the advertising campaign is executed and the end user is charged. If the price is not okay, the end user may exit or iterate to select new parameters.
The display of the flexible screen has three mark-off areas that can be reserved for additional information such as battery life, signal strength, and display ID. In one embodiment, the flexible border can be covered with a pressure sensitive adhesive (“PSA”), so that the in-vehicle mountable display can be directly mounted to the rear window of a vehicle. Alternately, the in-vehicle mountable display can be mounted with suction cups.
The in-vehicle mountable display is attached to the rear window of a vehicle. The message displayed on the flexible screen is easily visible to those outside the vehicle. An end-user can put an in-vehicle mountable display in their own vehicle in order to use the in-vehicle mountable display as an electronic messaging board—the equivalent of a new-age bumper sticker. An end-user can also access other vehicles that have made their in-vehicle mountable displays available for advertising or messaging.
In one embodiment, the end-user electronic device has a touch screen that acts as both a display and an input device. The touch screen shows a graphic user interface (“GUI”). The GUI displays a proposed message. The proposed message is transmitted to one of a plurality of in-vehicle mountable displays, where the message is displayed on the flexible screen. The GUI includes options for the display of the message, including things like animation, text wrapping, color, and added graphics such as a picture.
After an end-user has selected a message, they choose an area of interest. The end user is presented with a map. The end user sets an area of interest by placing a border around it. The area of interest is where the end-user wants to display their message. The area of interest has a plurality of roads. The end-user is presented with the map through a menu on the GUI. The end-user is able to see a plurality of vehicles that are recurrently in the area of interest. The end user is able to access graphic information through the GUI showing the daily average amount of time (“Time”) and the daily average mileage (“Distance”) for each of a plurality of vehicles that are recurrently in the area of interest.
The present invention is illustrated with 8 drawings on 9 sheets.
The following descriptions are not meant to limit the invention, but rather to add to the summary of invention, and illustrate the present invention, a message display system and method that allows for on-demand messaging on vehicles in a user-defined local area. The present invention is illustrated with a variety of drawings showing the primary embodiment of the present invention, with examples presented of the various form-factors that the present invention can take.
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The article “a” is intended to include one or more items, and where only one item is intended the term “one” or similar language is used. Additionally, to assist in the description of the present invention, words such as top, bottom, side, upper, lower, front, rear, inner, outer, right and left are used to describe the accompanying figures. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
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The server 303 intermediates the method of the present invention, by executing a computer-readable instruction set that interoperates with the display application and the user application.