Abstract:
A display apparatus within elevator cabs or elevator waiting areas that facilitates the simultaneous display of advertising and general news information is described. Broadcast from a remote control center, advertising and general news information updates are transmitted to, and stored in a server located within a building and then forwarded to a display memory and subsequently displayed on a monitor according to a remotely modifiable program schedule. The display is updated such that it contains a copy of tile latest broadcast schedule, as well as the advertisement and information programming, and automatically displays a days program according to the most current broadcast schedule. The display units as well as the building server are each individually addressable thus allowing groups of displays to be simultaneously updated from a remote centralized location with information such as news updates, customized advertising information and the like.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/220,000, filed Aug. 31, 2005, and issued on Sep. 18, 2007 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,219, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/950,216, filed on Sep. 24, 2004, and issued on Jan. 3, 2006 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,576, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/669,060, filed on Sep. 23, 2003, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/885,532, filed on Jun. 21, 2001, and issued on Sep. 23, 2003 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,826, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/457,867, filed on Dec. 10, 1999, and issued on Jun. 26, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,428, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/154,633, filed on Sep. 17, 1998 and issued on Jul. 4, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,500, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/834,876 filed on Apr. 10, 1997, and issued on Dec. 1, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,181, which claims the benefit of the priority date of Canadian Patent No. 2,199,757, which was filed on Mar. 12, 1997. The contents of all the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to an information transmission and display system and in particular to an information display system for displaying advertising and general news information in elevators and the like.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     In most urban centers, exposure to information such as advertising information and current news information has become an accepted part of everyday life. Apart from newspapers, magazines and television, mass advertising information is presented by way of billboards and more recently pixelboards™, which are capable of displaying relatively simple animated pictures and textual information. However as with most information, and in particular with respect to advertising information, it is more effective to have both a captive audience and a well-targeted group in order to maximize the effectiveness and impact of the information conveyed. Most urban centers have a large number of major office complexes. These office complexes include multi-storied buildings serviced by elevators and large common areas providing a heretofore unexploited environment for presentation of advertising and news information. Display systems for these environments should have the ability to target specific audiences with the information they present, respond quickly and easily to information changes, and provide a consistent high quality image and information content.  
         [0004]     To date, information display systems for elevators are capable of presenting at most the floor number, a floor directory of tenants and in some cases simple text based news information. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,479 to Fujiwara, describes a display apparatus for an elevator in which information regarding the operating conditions of the elevator is displayed along with “general” information, such as news and weather. A display unit provided within the elevator cab and includes a display area for displaying text alongside a picture display area for displaying predetermined graphic images. Predetermined pieces of information are assembled, and each piece is assigned a number indicative of a priority for that piece of information. The information is selected to be displayed according to the priorities assigned. Limitations of this system are that the messages are not easily updateable and information is restricted to basic text and primitive graphic data. Furthermore, the system does not provide for an easily updateable real time information delivery and display system.  
         [0005]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,629 to Tsuji, et al., a display apparatus for an elevator is described, in which information concerning news, weather, etc., is displayed on a display screen located within the elevator cab. The information is selected to be displayed at predetermined times. The device described in this patent allows for the information displayed to be corrected (i.e. other information displayed) through inputs made remotely from the elevator cab, for example, from a caretakers room or a portable computer. Once again this patent discloses a simple scrolling message display system, which although updateable via a remote computer, requires extensive user intervention to constantly update the displayed messages. Furthermore, the display of the information is dependent to some extent on the operational parameters of the elevator.  
         [0006]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,897 to Matsumoto, et al., an elevator display system is disclosed in which the operational information of the elevator, in particular a floor indicator, is superimposed on a background image on a display screen. The background image is described as being a plurality of still pictures assigned to the different floors at which the elevator stops or different kinds of animations assigned to the different floors. Once again, this patent does not disclose a method of simultaneously altering the information in a series of elevators independent of a particular elevator operational state.  
         [0007]     Thus, based on the current state of the art regarding elevator and foyer display systems, there is a need for a system for displaying real time information content targeted to a specific audience and which provides that the information is centrally coordinated and disseminated. Furthermore, currently available systems do not provide a system that is completely site addressable with the potential for a building, including multiple elevator banks within a building, to have its own unique daily program. Furthermore, there is a need for a system that is capable of communicating on a daily basis new information relevant to tenants or users of the building and which is capable of replacing the relatively ineffective paper and poster notification methods currently in use along with the associated manpower costs. Furthermore there is a need for a system that makes use of display technology that offers highly legible, easily understandable stills, animated graphics, pictures and videos.  
         [0008]     There is also a need for a display system that is both flexible that can be installed in existing elevator banks and can provide an advertiser impact close to the point of purchase and can effectively target an extremely attractive market place and which does not necessarily require extensive government regulatory approval.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     This invention seeks to provide in an information display system an information display apparatus and a method for easily updating displays in the system such that information composed at a centralized location may be easily presented at the displays.  
         [0010]     It is an object of the present invention to provide general information display units which may be located in elevator cabs and waiting areas.  
         [0011]     A further object of the invention is to facilitate remote control and automated information updates, simultaneously, to a number of display units located in elevator cabs and waiting areas.  
         [0012]     A further object of the invention is to provide time sensitive information to the display units, and to provide such information independent of elevator operation.  
         [0013]     A further object of the invention is to provide an information and advertising presentation in a relatively easily understandable manner utilizing a relatively high-resolution display capable of displaying amongst others, picture quality advertising and information graphics and all manner of information display including still images, 2-D and 3-D computer animations and full motion video and which may be easily integrated into existing elevator cabs and waiting areas.  
         [0014]     In accordance with this invention there is provided a device for displaying information in at least one elevator cab, the device comprising:  
         [0015]     a display means including a display screen located in each elevator cab said display adapted to receive and display information on said screen;  
         [0016]     a building server located in the building in which each elevator cab is located, the building server being adapted to communicate information to each display means; and  
         [0017]     a central server remotely located from the building servers,  
         [0018]     wherein the information to be displayed is transmitted from the central server to the building servers and then to the display means. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     These and other advantages o the present invention will become more apparent from the following discussion of preferred embodiments of the invention and which are described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like elements have been assigned like numerals and wherein:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a network configuration of an information display system according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a network configuration for a specific aspect of the general network configuration;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of a display unit;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the information flow from a central control to a display;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing the operation including updated and control of the display;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of an information display monitor;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram showing the update of advertising information to the display; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a further flow diagram showing the update of information to the display.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic network architecture is shown generally by numeral  100 . The network includes a centralized control center or system server  110  which communicates via suitable communication links  112 , with city control center servers  114 . Each city may include one or more servers  114 , however each server  114  has associated, therewith, a number of buildings in a given city. The group of buildings serviced by the city server  114  is identified by reference numeral  116 . Although a single city server  114  is shown per city group, this may include more than one city server within a given city.  
         [0029]     Each city server  114  then communicate in turn with individual buildings within its group  116  via communication links, for example via a telephone line, a wireless communication, infrared or any suitable communication link. Within each building, for convenience, is a further server, denoted a building server  120 , which is then responsible for communicating with the individual elevator banks within the building. A display unit  210  is located within each elevator bank for displaying the information communicated thereto. In a further embodiment of the invention, the central server may be configured to communicate directly with the building servers and not necessarily via the city servers. For clarity, buildings may include a group of buildings, such as for example; an office tower cluster comprising several distinct office towers.  
         [0030]     The architecture of the network within a building is shown in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , an office complex, includes one or more buildings  200 . The buildings  200  are serviced by one or more elevator cabs  210 . Within each elevator cab is located a display means  212 , which is a self contained unit including a flat screen display  310 , typically a liquid crystal display, a microprocessor  312 , a mass storage device  314 , a memory (RAM)  315  and a power supply  316  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The building server  220  is connected to each display means  212  within each elevator cab via a cable  230 , which may be included within the bundle of cables already provided to the elevator cab. In a further embodiment, however, the display and the building may include wireless communication devices. As it is anticipated that the present system will be retrofitted into existing elevators, the use of a wireless communication link between the display and the building server is desirable, as the existing wiring to the elevator may be difficult to access. Furthermore, providing a display which is separate from the existing elevator control system obviates the need to obtain authorization from elevator service companies before performing maintenance or updates on the information display system.  
         [0031]     By providing individual servers  220  within a building which are individually and uniquely addressable allows, in addition to enabling common information to be received by all other buildings, the ability to add additional individualized information pertaining to a specific building to the general information content. For example, a building landlord might include with the regular programming information, information on interruptions due to maintenance, emergency procedures, vacancies, etc. Also, with the proliferation of shops within building complexes, advertising information for these businesses may also be easily included with the building specific information. However, it may be seen that because the buildings are serviced by centralized city server  114 , the bulk of the information displayed is synchronized with each building and the building specific information will not interrupt the information transmitted to other buildings within the network, while still maintaining centralized control and delivery of generalized information to the other elevator display units within the city. Furthermore, although the system is capable of displaying information without interfering with the elevator control system, floor numbers and floor specific tenant information may also be displayed on the screens. This information may be derived from the elevator control system without interfering with the display of advertising or other news information which is displayed simultaneously in the elevator cabs.  
         [0032]     In  FIG. 3 , a detailed block diagram of the display device is shown generally by numeral  300 . The display device includes an electronic communication means  318  such as an Ethernet card or other suitable network protocol card. The communication means  318  may also support RF, or infrared signals. The display also includes a computer  312 , memory  315 , mass storage device  314  (such as a hard disk drive) and a suitable power supply  316 . A display screen  310  is also provided for displaying relevant information. Most typically, this display screen is a color liquid crystal display as used for example in laptops. The display unit components are encased in a suitable housing (not shown) which may be customized to be esthetically integrated with the elevator cab interior.  
         [0033]     In a further embodiment of the invention, information to be displayed on the display screen is transmitted to the building servers  220  and then transmitted in real time according to a schedule stored on the building servers  220  to the displays. This embodiment provides for a relatively less expensive display within each elevator cab, as it does not require that the displays include a processor or storage device. Furthermore, in some instances, where space in a elevator cab is at a premium, it is more advantageous to implement this embodiment.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the flow of information from the centralized control center  110  to the individual displays within the elevator cab is shown generally by numeral  400 . The control center referred to previously in  FIG. 4  includes a system server computer  410 , which gathers information pages for transmission to the various building servers. These information pages may include, for example, traffic reports, subway or train schedule updates, news clippings such as business and financial news, stock market updates, sports, weather and any other information of relevance to all or specific cities. In addition, the information may include building updates, i.e. information specific to a specific building or groups of buildings within a city or across cities.  
         [0035]     For example, in North America, it is not unusual for a single real estate company to own various office complexes in different cities. Should it be desired that building information be provided to all of a real estate company&#39;s buildings, this information may be compiled at the system server site and appended to the existing general information. Because all building servers are individually addressable from the system server, the specific information destined for the requisite buildings may be communicated to their respective displays without affecting the information being displayed in other buildings. Once delivered to the building server, the information is relayed to the appropriate displays via the internal communication links of the building that, as mentioned earlier, may include wired, wireless or infrared links. In this manner, a display unit in any location can be reached from a central control point and information provided thereto in a consistent and timely manner. Furthermore, since the displays are individually addressable, advertising, information and scheduling updates are addressed to specific displays only when and where appropriate.  
         [0036]     Once the relevant information has been communicated to the appropriate display apparatus in the elevator cabs, the information is processed by the computer within the display apparatus and then forwarded to the display screen. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the display screen may be divided into two general areas, namely an information display area and an advertisement display area. Thus, both types of information may be simultaneously displayed. A different number of display areas within a given screen may also be implemented.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , information to be displayed on the screen is transmitted to the display apparatus as described earlier along with a broadcast schedule. The broadcast schedule determines when the next information or advertisement information is to be displayed and in what sequence they are to be displayed. As may be seen in  FIG. 8 , the processor within the display apparatus checks the broadcast schedule and based thereon, directs the appropriate information from the mass storage device to the display screen, which then displays the information in the appropriate area of the screen. While the appropriate information is being displayed on the screen, the processor performs a constant check of the date and time and then performs a check for any changes in the broadcast schedule. Changes in the broadcast schedule may include changes in content of information to be displayed or times at which the information is to be displayed or both. If there has been a change in any of the information content or the scheduled times of display of the information, the appropriate information is loaded as per the revised schedule and displayed on the screen with reference to the sequence in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0038]     A similar check for changes in the content and time sequence display of the advertising information is performed as indicated in  FIG. 7 . Thus, it may be seen that concurrent to the display of current advertising and current information, the display apparatus checks for updates to the advertising or the information content and schedule and loads the next appropriate advertising or information content for display. When the currently displayed advertisement or general information content has completed displaying, the next scheduled advertisement or information is thus displayed. This sequence of events thus provides for seamless change of information and advertising.  
         [0039]     Further, there can be an unlimited number of information screens scheduled for display which may be further displayed in any combination and for any predetermined length of time. The information displayed may include high quality computer generated graphics or picture quality static images displayed for a predetermined period of time, videos, animations or any combination of information. Furthermore, there is also provided, in an alternative embodiment, the facility for including sound with the images.  
         [0040]     In the above embodiment, the information to be displayed on the screens is uploaded from the building server computer to the individual display units in the elevator cab where the information is then processed according to the schedule included with the information. In another embodiment, the information may be fed in real time from the building server to the display unit, in which case the display apparatus does not store any significant amount of information thereon. Furthermore, the display apparatus may also provide for the return of diagnostic or maintenance information to the server in order that the display unit may be monitored remotely without the need for maintenance personnel intervention, thus further reducing the overall cost of the system. In a still further embodiment, the building server may receive information for display not only from the central server, but from other information sources such as CNN, sports or direct internet access.  
         [0041]     Thus, it may be seen that the information display system of the subject invention may be implemented in various forms. Although the embodiments are shown with reference to specific examples, other modifications may be possible. For example, an embodiment of the present invention may equally well be utilized in subway cars, hospitals, trains or other similar places. The individual buildings may also include several servers. These and other modifications to the variations upon the preferred embodiments are provided for by the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the following claims.