Abstract:
An interactive, enhanced brochure display stand is provided. The display stand includes both traditional printed brochures as well as multimedia content delivered through any number of communication devices providing multisensory stimulation to a consumer. The communication devices may also include input devices allowing the consumer to interact with the display stand by selecting content to be experienced as well as initiating and completing sales transactions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/680,713 filed on May 13, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present disclosure relates to brochure display stands. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to brochure display stands enhanced with multisensory communication devices.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Printed brochures are an effective method of marketing goods or services. Commonly, such printed brochures are displayed to a user via a stand. For example, brochure display stands can be found in many hotels, airports, train stations, highway rest areas, malls, cafeterias, stores (e.g., sporting goods stores), and the like.  
         [0006]     The display stand can provide any number of printed brochures that may be of interest to passersby. Thus, the display stands offer free, static printed brochures to the consumer. Brochure stands may typically house between 60 to 130 brochures, all competing for the attention of the consumer through the use of size, graphical design, color and position relative to viewing eye level.  
         [0007]     Unfortunately, the printed brochures in prior-art display stands must be changed periodically to ensure that the information they convey is not outdated. For example, such printed-brochure display stands have not proven effective for communicating “limited time offers” or “special events.” In addition, tourists are increasingly using web-based sources at home before traveling, potentially reducing their reliance on brochure stands during their trip.  
         [0008]     There is a continuing need for systems and methods to enhance consumers&#39; use of brochure display stands that address the problems associated with the prior art.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a brochure stand enhanced with one or more communication devices.  
         [0010]     It is another object to provide a print and digital brochure stand that adds multimedia, including audio, graphical, and video enhancements that are synergistic with the print media traditionally marketed via the brochure stand.  
         [0011]     It is a further object to provide a network connected stand enhanced with one or more multimedia communication devices. The communication devices can include video screens, input devices, output devices, speakers, printers, network connectivity devices, proximity sensors, brochure sensors, payment devices, and any combination thereof.  
         [0012]     It is a further object to provide a printed brochure stand enhanced with one or more brochure detection devices.  
         [0013]     The above described and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior-art display stand;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an enhanced display stand according to the present disclosure having a video communication device;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the enhanced display stand of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the enhanced display stand of  FIG. 2  having a scanner and printer; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a front view of another alternate exemplary embodiment of the enhanced display stand of  FIG. 2  having a network connectivity device; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of an enhanced display stand according to the present disclosure, generally referred to by reference number  10  is shown. Similar to the prior-art stand of  FIG. 1 , enhanced stand  10  includes a plurality of locations  12  for receiving printed brochures  14 . Advantageously, enhanced stand  10  includes one or more communication devices  16 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , enhanced stand  10  is illustrated having a single communication device  16 , namely a video screen  18 .  
         [0020]     It has been determined by the present disclosure that much of the value from printed brochure stands derives from the random nature of the material available; in that sense, they resemble checkout stands in retail stores, designed to entice the consumer into making an impulse buy. However, it has also been determined by the present disclosure that consumers are beginning to rely more heavily on electronically delivered media, and less on printed matter, making traditional brochure stands less effective as a selling tool.  
         [0021]     The synergistic combination of printed brochures  14  with other media delivered through communication devices  16  advantageously combines the familiarity of the prior-art brochure stands with the multimedia experience that current consumers demand. This combination enhances the impulse-buy characteristic of the prior-art brochure stands. With the present invention, consumers will more likely be drawn to the stand, and are more likely to initiate a transaction or purchase the advertised products or services.  
         [0022]     Video screen  18  can display ongoing visual communication (e.g., images and/or video) relating to the content of one or more brochures in the stand, to nearby attractions, or to media, news, or other content unrelated to the brochures in the stand.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , enhanced stand  10  can include an electronic controller  20 , such as a computer, which interfaces with communication device  16 . Controller  20  can control the hardware and software necessary for operation of communication device  16 . For example, controller  20  can include a processor plus a memory device and/or storage device such as, but not limited to, a CD drive, a DVD drive, a solid-state memory device (e.g., ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Compact Flash Memory), and any combination thereof. In this manner, controller  20  can display media resident on the controller or its storage devices to a user via screen  18 .  
         [0024]     Stand  10  can also include communication device  16  that operates as a payment device  22  in communication with controller  20 . Payment device  22  can be any known payment device such as, but not limited to, a currency operated device, a coin operated device, a credit/debit card device, a debit pin pad, a signature pad, and others. In this manner, a user can use stand  10  to pay for such products as specialized maps, books, newspapers, hotel reservations, rental-car reservations, and others.  
         [0025]     In an exemplary embodiment, communication device  16  can include an input device to allow the user to provide inputs to controller  20 . For example, video screen  18  can be a touch screen allowing the user to provide inputs to controller  20 . It should be recognized that stand  10  is described by way of example having an input device included as part of communication device  16 . Of course, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for stand  10  to include an input device (not shown) separate from communication device  16  or any combination thereof. The input device enables the consumer to select or browse through the visual media resident on controller  20  or its storage devices via screen  18 .  
         [0026]     In another embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , communication device  16  can be an input device in the form of a scanner  24  interfacing with controller  20 . Scanner  24  can allow a user to scan a code, such as a bar code, printed on brochure  14 . Controller  20  can detect which brochure  14  has been scanned by scanner  22 , can associate that brochure with one or more visual media resident on controller  20  or its storage devices, and can display the associated media on video screen  18 .  
         [0027]     Scanner  24  can be any known scanning device such as, but not limited to, passive devices (e.g., optical lens and code-recognition abilities) or active devices (e.g., active lasers that assists in scanning the relevant coded area of the brochures in adverse illumination). Scanner  24  can be affixed to enhanced stand  10  as depicted in  FIG. 4  or can be attached to the stand and in communication with controller  20  (e.g., a scanning wand or light-pen).  
         [0028]     Scanner  24  can also be used to authorize access to controller  20 . For example, scanner  24  can allow controller  20  to authenticate maintenance personnel having identity tags that can be read by the scanner to limit access to particular features of enhanced stand  10 .  
         [0029]     In some embodiments, communication device  16  can include an output device in the form of a printer  26  in communication with controller  20 . Printer  26  can provide a user with a printed coupon, a reservation confirmation, a receipt, a custom map (e.g., directions from stand  10  to an attraction), an insert for updating information in brochure  14 , and others. Printer  26  can be any known printing device such as, but not limited to, a thermal printer, an inkjet printer, laser printer, and others. In addition, printer  26  can be a monochrome printer, a color printer, or any combination thereof.  
         [0030]     In addition, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for communication device  16  to include other output devices. For example, communication device  16  can be an olfactory device  28  configured to communicate with a consumer&#39;s sense of smell. In this example, stand  10  could expose a user who scans brochure  14  advertising a beach vacation to a scent associated with the beach, such as coconut oil. In another example, communication device  16  can be a temperature-regulating output device  30  so that stand  10  can expose users scanning brochure  14  advertising a beach vacation to an increased temperature, while exposing users selecting a brochure advertising a ski vacation to a reduced temperature.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , communication device  16  is illustrated as one or more audio speakers  32 . In this manner, enhanced stand  10  can use speakers  32  to play audio content to attract attention and/or to provide information complementary to the content of brochures  14 .  
         [0032]     For purposes of clarity, stand  10  is illustrated having speakers  32  in addition to screen  18  and scanner  24 . Of course, it is contemplated by the present disclosure that enhanced stand  10  may include any combination of communication devices described herein. For example, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for enhanced stand  10  to include only speakers  32 . Preferably, speakers  32  interface with and are driven by controller  20 .  
         [0033]     In other embodiments, speakers  32  can be replaced by and/or enhanced by short-range wireless communications with the brochure-stand user. In one embodiment, a short-range FM transmitter is used instead of the speakers described above. The signals from the transmitter are received by appropriate user equipment such as radio receivers, MP3 players with built-in FM radios, and similarly equipped PDAs and/or cellphones. In another embodiment, interactive wireless communications (input and multimedia output) with appropriate user compatible equipment (for example a notebook, PDA, or cellphone) is enabled through such wireless media as Bluetooth, IEEE 820.11 (WiFi), Ultra Wide-Band (UWB) and the like.  
         [0034]     Communication device  16  is illustrated as a network connectivity device  34 . For purposes of clarity, network connectivity device  34  is illustrated as an antenna  36  for wireless communication. Of course, it is contemplated by the present disclosure that network connectivity device  34  may be any device capable of communicating via wireless and/or wired connections. For example, network connectivity device  34  can include a modem, a network card present in controller  20 , a wireless device, a blue-tooth enabled device, a cell phone, and any combination thereof.  
         [0035]     Advantageously, network connectivity device  34  can connect controller  20  via a network, such as the Internet, a LAN, WAN, or others, to another computer or server operated by, for example, the brochure servicing company, its agent, or any third party. Network connectivity device  34  can connect controller  20  to the server in real time or may be used for periodic synchronization of the controller to the remote server. In this manner, controller  20  can have access to media content stored on the controller itself, as well as media content stored on the remote server. In addition, the media content resident on controller  20  can be updated from a remote site.  
         [0036]     In addition, enhanced stand  10  having network connectivity device  34  provides the ability to add media content, transactions, associations, and software-updates by remote means. Network connectivity also allows for remote monitoring of the uptime/downtime of stand  10 , proximity user reports, advertising rotation counts for both video and brochures, and other standard monitoring metrics.  
         [0037]     Referring still to  FIG. 5 , additional embodiments of communication device  16  in the form of an input device are illustrated.  
         [0038]     In one embodiment, stand  10  can include communication device  16  that operates as a proximity sensor  38  in communication with controller  20 . Proximity sensor  38  detects the presence of a consumer within a predefined distance of stand  10  and inputs this information to controller  20 . In this manner, stand  10  can activate screen  18  when a consumer is sensed, but can deactivate the screen when no consumer is sensed. Proximity sensor  38  can include any known sensors such as, but not limited to, an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor, a floor-pad sensor, and an infrared sensor.  
         [0039]     Stand  10  can also include communication device  16  that operates as a brochure sensor  40  in communication with controller  20 . Brochure sensor  40  can detect the presence or absence of brochure  14  in a particular location  12  and inputs this information to controller  20 . For example, brochure sensor  40  can be a proximity sensor that detects the presence or absence of a brochure in a particular location  12 . In other embodiments, brochure sensor  40  can detect the number of brochures  14  present in a particular location  12  and can input this information to controller  20 . For example, brochure sensor  40  can detect the weight of brochures  14  present in a particular location  12 . In this manner, stand  10  can alert maintenance staff of the need for replenishment by, for example, communication via network connectivity device  34 .  
         [0040]     It should be noted that enhanced stand  10  can include any desired number of communication devices  16 . For example, the stand can include one or more: video screens, input devices, output devices, speakers, network connectivity devices, printers, proximity sensors, brochure sensors, payment devices, and any combination thereof.  
         [0041]     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.