Patent Application
20220188874
Any and all applications, if any, for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet of the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.
This invention generally relates to portable media platforms and, more particularly, to systems and methods for tracking the presentation of media presented on portable billboards.
Market research shows that outdoor billboard marketing space has increasingly become harder to find and, hence, more valuable. At the same time, automotive vehicles are one of the most costly expenses incurred by the average consumer. Ironically, most automobiles sit idle for a large portion of the day. U.S. Pat. No. 10,796,340, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TARGETING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MEDIA FROM A MOBILE PLATFORM, invented by Peter Ta et al., and filed on Oct. 14, 2019, addresses to problem of finding more outdoor advertising space by providing an automotive targeted parking system that adds to an automobile the additional feature of a media display subsystem, and which may also include a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) access point (hotspot).
While the above-described system addresses the provision of additional outdoor advertising through the “gig economy” use of automobiles, the act of parking remains a potential issue. Parking in many desirable advertising locations in metropolitan areas is often limited to one or two hours only. Further, the necessity of frequently changing parking spots can become a burden and may make the use of their automobile as a mobile media center impractical for some owners.
Parent application Ser. No. 17/023,546, entitled AERIAL BILLBOARD, invented by Peter Ta et al, and filed on Sep. 17, 2020, provides for the use of aircraft, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as another type of media platform. However, battery operated devices have time limitations due to the need for recharging, and potential air space legal restrictions may exist in some regions.
It would be advantageous if additional real estate could be found for communications and for the presentation of media, beyond requirement of using just mobile platforms.
A system and method are disclosed herein for a portable billboard, for use in providing a media subsystem including a media projection subsystem and/or a publically accessible access point, such as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) IEEE 802.11 (e.g., WiFi hotspot) or Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) (e.g., Bluetooth) access point (AP). Advantageously, the systems can be hung from balconies, windows, walls, and roofs, to name a few examples. The portable billboards can be distinguished from conventional signage in their ability the measure the efficacy of the projected media and/or AP communications. One measurement is location, as some locations attract more attention than others. Another measurement is actual enablement, meaning the times and duration that the media is actually seen by the public. To encourage efficient deployment, the entities owning or managing the portable billboards are rewarded based upon these efficacy measurements. Being portable, the billboards may act as an advertising platform that seeks to expand and capture market share within the outdoor advertising market segment by directing the selective deployment of media and WLAN/WPAN services to preferred target locations. The system may transmit the following information: (i) a unique identifier for the device in use (for example, radio-frequency identification), (ii) the time, date, duration, and location (using global positioning satellite (GPS) or cellular triangulation systems), (iii) an indication that the media projection subsystem has been deployed, and (iv) an indication that the WLAN/WPAN access point is in use. Graphic information system (GIS) mapping technology may be used to compensate a person or business entity associated with the system for operating in specified locations.
Accordingly, a portable billboard system is presented including a portable media projection subsystem to selectively project media and to supply an enablement signal in response to the media being projected. Generally, the media projection subsystem is able to display an image and/or broadcast an audio message. Some specific examples of a media projection subsystem include an image projector, a retractable screen, a liquid crystal display, holographic display, a light emitting diode display, a wallscape, switchable glass displays, and combinations thereof. An identifier or identification code is associated with the media projection subsystem and/or an entity associated with the media projection subsystem. A location device supplies the geographic location of the media projection subsystem. A verifier receives the enablement signal, the identification code, and the geographic location, and supplies verification information responsive to the enablement signal, the identification code, and the geographic location. The verifier also supplies an indication that the media has been projected from a stationary location for a predetermined minimum duration of time. A communications subsystem receives verification information and either stores the information for subsequent downloads, or transmits the information to a central controlling server. A targeting subsystem permits an entity to select a target stationary location from a plurality of value weighted target stationary locations. Typically, the target stationary location has a weighted value responsive to factors such as proximate vehicular traffic, line of sight, proximate pedestrian traffic, proximity to cultural events, proximity to cultural facilities, the position of the media (e.g., visibility or height), the type of media being projected, the time of day, the day of the week, the date, the length of time the media is projected, and combinations thereof. The targeting application may provide a reward to the media projection subsystem associated entity in response to a value of the selected target stationary location.
In one aspect, the communications subsystem receives media uploads from the server, which are provided to the media projection subsystem for presentation. In another aspect, a camera supplies images of the geographic location proximate to the media projection subsystem. A monitoring subsystem may measure public exposure to projected media and a handicap subsystem may offset a media value associated with the enablement of the media projection subsystem, calculated in response to the exposure measurements. For example, the monitoring subsystem may include a camera and a facial direction detection subsystem that accepts images from a camera, selects faces from camera images, and measures the duration of time the faces are directed towards the media projection subsystem.
The system may further include a publically accessible access point, configured for attachment to the media projection subsystem, such as a WLAN, e.g., a WiFi hotspot, a WPAN, e.g., Bluetooth AP, or both a WLAN and WPAN access point. In this case the system may include a communication gauge to measure communication subsystem communication statistics, and the above-mentioned handicap subsystem may offset a communication value associated with the access point in response to the communication statistics.
In one aspect, the system may include a plurality of portable media projection subsystems, so that the combination of media projection subsystems supplies a coordinated mobile media integrated display, with a first portion of the coordinated media being linked to a second portion of the coordinated media. In one variation, at least one of the media projection subsystems is mounted on a ground-based, water-based, or airborne mobile platform.
Additional details of the above-described system and an associated method for monitoring the provision of media distributed from a portable billboard are provided below.
The media projection subsystem 102 may be an image projector enabled as a liquid crystal (LC) or LED display similar to a home theater type video projector. Alternatively, high performance (e.g., mercury arc or xenon arc) lamps, cathode ray tube (CRT), digital light processing (DLP), plasma, silicon X-tal reflective display (SXRD), or red-green-blue (RGB) lasers may be used. The media projection subsystem 102 may also be a persistent image fan or an electroluminescent (EL) display. In other words, the media projection subsystem 102 may be a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional image, which may or may not be transitory. Transitory images include a series of still images, videos, or combinations thereof.
The media projection subsystem 102 may also include an internal battery and/or cables for attachment to an external power source. The media projection subsystem 102 typically includes miscellaneous electronic circuitry required to support the major components described below, as would well understood in the art. The media projection subsystem 102, or media projection subsystem chassis, may include components for attachment to a wall, window, or balcony, or a stand for mounting on a sidewalk or lawn.
The system 100 further comprises a location subsystem 110 having an output on line 104 to supply a geographic location of the media projection subsystem. Examples of a location subsystem 110 include a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system receiver, assisted GPS taking advantage of cell tower data, a Wireless Local Area Network IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) positioning system, cell-site multilateration, satellite multilateration, or a hybrid positioning system. Hybrid positioning systems find locations using several different positioning technologies, such as GPS, combined with cell tower signals, wireless internet signals, Bluetooth sensors, IP addresses, and network environment data. Cell tower signals have the advantage of not being hindered by buildings or bad weather, but usually provide less precise positioning. WiFi positioning systems may give very exact positioning in urban areas with high WiFi density, depending on a comprehensive database of WiFi access points. Further, a LORAN type system or LoJack® type system might be adapted for the purpose of location determination. As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 10,796,340, which is incorporated herein by reference, camera images and the location data of proximate smartphones, laptops, and personal communication devices can also be used to determine location.
A verifier, or verification subsystem, 112 has an interface on line 104. Here, the verifier 112 is enabled as a software application stored in local non-transitory memory 114, including processor executable instructions to receive the enablement signal, an identification code, the geographic location, to supply verification information responsive to the enablement signal, the identification code, the geographic location, and the media being projected from a stationary location for a predetermined minimum duration of time. The predetermined minimum duration of time may be a fixed value, such as 5 minutes. Alternatively, the predetermined duration of time may vary due to location, time of day, and the type of media, to name a few examples. Alternatively, some components of the verifier may be enabled in hardware. As another alternative, some software modules of the verifier may be stored in the non-transitory memory 116 of server 118.
The system 100 includes a communications subsystem 120 having an interface on line 104 to accept verification information and an interface to communicate the verification information. As shown, the communications subsystem 120 is a wireless transceiver with antenna 122. The most typical examples of a wireless communication subsystem 116 are cellular systems (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)-time division duplexing (TDD), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), 4th Generation (4G), or 5th Generation (5G)), and the like. Less typically, the communications subsystem 120 may be enabled with WLAN IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), or even Long Range Wireless transceiver. Some examples of a Long Range Wireless system include Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Evolution-data Optimized (EVDO), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), IEEE 802.20 (iBurst), Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS), Muni WiFi, commercial satellite, and IEEE 802.16 Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX (WiBro)). As another alternative, the communication subsystem may store verification information and other communication messages in the system local memory 114 as data 124, which may be periodically downloaded using a wireless or hardwire connection. The system 100 is not limited to any particular type of communication subsystem. In one aspect, the communications subsystem 120 receives media uploads from the server 118, which it provides to the media projection subsystem 102, via line 104, for presentation.
A targeting subsystem 126 is used for selecting a media projection subsystem target stationary location from a plurality of potential target stationary locations having corresponding location values. As shown, the targeting subsystem is enabled as software application stored in server memory 116, and includes a sequence of processor executable steps for selecting the target location. The target location can be selected from the media projection subsystem or from the server. Alternatively, the targeting subsystem can be stored in the media projection subsystem local memory 114, as shown in phantom. In one aspect of the system 100, a rewards subsystem 128, which may alternatively be considered a sub-module of the targeting subsystem, provides a reward to an entity in response to the selected target stationary location. The entities receiving rewards may include the entity managing the media projection subsystem, an entity managing the server, an entity owning the property upon which the media projection subsystem is located, or combinations of the above-mentioned entities. As such, the rewards subsystem 128 is typically enabled as software application stored in server memory 116, and includes a sequence of processor executable steps. Alternatively as shown in phantom, the rewards subsystem may be stored in local memory 114.
In another aspect, the system 100 further comprises a publically accessible access point (AP) 130. The AP 130 may be an IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as a WiFi hotspot, an IEEE 802.15 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), such as Bluetooth access point, or both a WLAN and WPAN access point, connected to antenna 132. Alternatively, but less common, the access point 130 may an IEEE 802.15.4 Zigbee, WPAN IEEE 802.15 Li-Fi or wireless USB device. Even more unlikely as an access point are Long Range Wireless systems. In the case of the WiFi or Bluetooth access point being a component of the communications subsystem 120 (e.g., communicating with server 118), items 130 and 120 may be collocated. As used herein, a “publically accessible” AP is an AP that can be accessed by the general public without a password or similar security measures, or where the password is publically distributed. One example of a publically accessible AP is the WiFi hotspot service provided by a typical Starbucks coffee shop. In the case of a password being required for access, the password may be printed on the mobile platform, displayed by the media projection subsystem, or made available through a media projection phone application or website. In one aspect, a communication gauge 134 has an output on line 104 to supply a measurement of communication subsystem communication statistics. In one aspect not shown, components of the communication gauge may be enabled at least partially as a software application stored in either local memory or the server memory. A handicap subsystem 136 has an interface to offset a communication value associated with the access point 130, or with communications subsystem 120, in response to the communication statistics. Typically, the handicap subsystem 136 is enabled as a software application stored in either local memory 114 (as shown in phantom) or server memory 116.
A number of ways are known in the art for measuring the effectiveness of radio frequency (RF) communications, which can be used to enable the measurement communication statistics. Some examples include the measurement of bit error rate (BER) and signal strength. Some components of the communication gauge may be enabled in software. The rewards application 128 may provide a reward to an entity in response to the communication value offset by the communication statistics. The reward may be calculated in combination with the value of the target location, efficacy, and presentation times and durations.
There are two basic links involving the AP 130. One link is between the AP enabled media projection subsystem 102 and the central controller server 118, via communications subsystem 120. This linkage, and thus the communication statistics, should remain relatively consistent as long as the media projection subsystem remains stationary in one particular location. The other linkage is between the AP 130 and user devices 138, such as smartphones, laptops, and personal communication devices. These communication statistics are more likely to vary in that users may only be connected to the AP 130 for short periods of time, and the users may be changing their locations while they are connected.
In one aspect, the access point 130 and/or communications subsystem 120 can be used to collect data from entities passing by, or engaging with the access point or using the communications subsystem 120. This data can be stored in local memory 114 for subsequent recovery or transmitted to server 118.
The system 100 may include a camera 138 to record images of the geographic location proximate to the media projection subsystem 102. The camera images may be stored in local memory 114, or the communications subsystem 120 may transmit the images to server 118. In one aspect, the camera may also be used to modify the value of the target location. For example, the recorded traffic in a location may be greater than anticipated, and the target value adjusted accordingly. That is, images recording higher pedestrian or vehicular traffic may have greater value. The data may be used to help determine the efficacy of the media or location. Alternatively or in addition, the camera images my act to verify that the media projector subsystem has been enabled, the media projection subsystem 102 is stationary, or the media projection subsystem is located in a particular location. In one aspect, simply recording a change in images, and thus proximate traffic, can be used as a means for proving media projector subsystem enablement. As an alternative, or in addition to the camera, the system may further comprise a proximity detector subsystem to sense nearby motion, or to measure the density of proximate vehicular or foot traffic, which data is transmitted by the communications subsystem or recorded in local memory.
As noted above, the system 100 may further comprise a server 118 having an interface, represented as antenna 140, to accept the verification information from the communication subsystem 120, and having a server memory 116 to store the verification information. The server 118 may be associated with an entity that manages the server and media, and/or a client entity benefiting from the media presentation. If the media projection subsystem is managed by a different entity than the one(s) associated with the server, this different entity may be the one that selectively enables the media projection subsystem and selects the location.
The system may further comprise a monitoring subsystem 142 having an interface represented by reference designator 144 to measure public exposure to projected media and an output on line 104 to supply exposure measurements. The monitoring subsystem 142 may be enabled through the use of a component such as a camera, sonar, LIDAR, a photodetector ranging subsystem, and combinations thereof. Typically, these components are mounted with media projection subsystem 102 or the media projection subsystem chassis.
In one form, the monitoring subsystem 142 measures an actual media projection subsystem viewing angle, as shown in
The handicap subsystem 136 can also be used to offset a media value associated with the enablement of the media projection subsystem, calculated in response to the exposure measurements. In other words, each type of media presented by the media projection subsystem 102 need not necessarily have the same value. For example, in the case of an advertisement, some clients may be willing to pay more for the presentation of their media than other clients. Thus, the differences in payment represent differences in nominal media values. Regardless of whether the media values have different nominal values, these media values can be adjusted based upon the quality of the presentation. For example, the media values may be based on a presentation with a maximum viewing angle, and if the monitoring subsystem 142 measures a degradation in viewing angle, the media value can be adjusted downward. In the case of advertising media, an offset in media value may result in reduced cost for the advertising client and/or reduced rewards for entities associated with the media presentation.
In one aspect, a facial direction detection subsystem 146 has an interface to accept images from the camera 138, and is able to select faces from camera images and measure the duration of time the faces are directed to the media projection subsystem. This “face-time” measurement is another means of measuring media exposure. The facial direction detection subsystem 146 may be enabled as a software application stored in server memory 116, with processor executable steps for measuring face direction duration. Less likely due to memory and processor constraints, the facial direction detection application may be embedded in local memory 114, as shown in phantom.
Facial recognition systems have become well known in the art. Further, variations on these systems have been used to adjust camera position, to optimize facial recognition, such as described in US 2021/0034843. The detection of facial direction, which is the direction in which a human's eyes are directed, is a substantially simpler task than recognizing facial characteristics that permit an individual to be identified.
As noted above, the rewards subsystem 128 may provide a reward to an entity in response to the media value, offset by the exposure measurement. As used herein, an “entity” may be a person, a business, a corporation, or any type of social organization or business unit able to claim ownership of, or association with, the identification code, media projection subsystem 102, system 100, a central control server 118, a land owner on which the media projection subsystem is positioned, or server clients. Typically, the rewards subsystem 128 would be embedded as a software application in server memory 116 because the server 118 is likely to have greater storage and processing capacity, but alternatively, it may be stored in local memory 114, as shown in phantom.
As would be understood in the art, the media projection subsystem 102 would comprise a processor 148 cooperating with software applications in non-transitory local memory 114. The non-transitory memories described herein may be any type or form of non-volatile storage device or medium capable of storing data and/or other computer-readable instructions. Examples of memories include, without limitation, Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, or any other suitable memory device. Although not required, in certain embodiments, the system described herein may include both a volatile memory unit and a non-volatile storage device. The memory may be implemented as shared memory and/or distributed memory in a network device.
As is common in many computer systems, processor 148, which may include a peripheral interface, is connected to the bus line 104 to pull operating instructions from operating system (OS) 150 and software applications in memory 114, and manage communications between the various components of system 100. Likewise, server 118 would be enabled through the use of processor 152 and OS 154. For ease of understanding, the above-described functions have been described as individual components. However, it should be understood that in practice, multiple functions may be performed by a single device, subsystem, or software application.
As shown in
A second interface on line 304, also referred to as a customer portal, receives client goals such target market, deployment hours, deployment rate, and positions to name a few examples. The customer portal on line 304 may also receive explicit destination and/or media selection instructions from an entity (e.g., a client or server provider). Alternatively, a destination application 306 is embedded in memory 126, including processor instructions for automatically (without direct human intervention) determining the destination instructions in response to client goals. In one aspect, the destination application is a machine learning (ML) model that is trained by sampling a plurality of manual instructions previously supplied by the second entity, and which infers destinations from the model. Destination instructions may also be responsive to the targeting 126 and rewards application 128. The client goals and targeting may be responsive to factors such as location, local demographics, traffic, population density, length of deployment, and combinations thereof. An operating system 154 works in cooperation with the processor 152 to enable software applications in memory 116 and to process information to-and-from communications device 302.
Considering
The systems described above can be adapted for use in a model where an advertiser or commercial entity pays for service based upon performance. For example, an advertising (server) client may contract with a system provider stipulating a target market and deployment hours/rate. The system provider (intermediary organization) determines geo-fenced locations that meet or exceed the advertiser's target market based on location, demographics, traffic, population density, and other variables. Platform deployment time, location, quality code, and user information are recorded by the server. A system provider algorithm determines platform performance based on length of deployment, contracted rate, maintenance cost reimbursement, and location quality code.
The systems described above support a targeted location system, where the portable billboard or access point may be selectively deployed. In cooperation with the deployment of the display and/or access point, an organization or associated user is directed to preferred locations. For example, the deployment of the sign along a busy urban thoroughfare is likely to have a greater value than deployment on a suburban side-street. Other factors that may be used to calculate target value may include the time of day and the length of deployment. Thus, some key features to the system are determining that the display and/or access point have actually been deployed, and once deployed, the location of the system.
Step 502 provides a portable media projection subsystem capable of being stationarily mounted. Typically, an identifier is associated with the media projection subsystem and/or a first entity. In Step 504 an entity selects a target stationary location from a plurality of value weighted target stationary locations. In one aspect, an entity managing the billboard or mounting the billboard selects the location. In Step 506 the portable media projection subsystem is mounted in the selected stationary location. Subsequent to mounting the media projection subsystem, Step 508 selectively enables the media projection subsystem. In one aspect, Step 507 receives media uploads from a server and in Step 508 the media projection subsystem projects the media uploads.
Step 510 determines the geographic location of the media projection subsystem. Step 512 verifies the enablement of the media projection system, the identifier (if supplied), the geographic location, and the maintenance of the stationary location for a predetermined minimum duration of time. Step 514 communicates verification information by transmission to a server or by storing the information in local memory for subsequent downloading. In one aspect, in Step 516 a server accepts the communicated verification information, and in Step 518 stores the verification information in a server non-transitory memory. In another aspect, the server is associated with a second entity, such as a server provider or server client, and in Step 508 a first entity associated with the billboard selectively enables the media projection subsystem. In some aspects, either the first or second entity selects the target stationary location, and either the first or second entity may enable the media projection subsystem. Optionally, Step 520 supplies a reward responsive to the value of the selected target stationary location.
In one variation, Step 502 provides a publically accessible access point, which may be WLAN, WPAN, and both a WLAN and WPAN access point. In that case, Step 509 may measure communication subsystem communication statistics and Step 520 may offset a communication value associated with the access point in response to the communication statistics. In another variation, Step 511a records photographic images of the geographic location proximate to the media projection subsystem. Alternatively or in addition, Step 511b may measure public exposure to projected media and supply exposure measurements, and Step 520 may offset a media value associated with the enablement of the media projection subsystem, calculated in response to the exposure measurements. In one variation, measuring public exposure includes recording photographic images of the geographic location proximate to the media projection subsystem in Step 511a, and Step 511b1 selects faces from photographic images and measures the duration of time the faces are directed to the media projection subsystem.
In one aspect, Step 502 provides a plurality of portable media projection subsystems, and enabling the media projection subsystem in Step 508 includes the combination of media projection subsystems supplying a coordinated media integrated display, with a first portion of the coordinated media being linked to a second portion of the coordinated media. In one variation, at least one of the media projection subsystems is mounted on a ground-based, water-based, or airborne mobile platform.
Systems and methods have been provided for a portable billboard and portable access point. Examples of particular message structures, schematic block linkages, and hardware units have been presented to illustrate the invention. However, the invention is not limited to merely these examples. Other variations and embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art.
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