Digital signage and gaming services to comply with federal and state alcohol and beverage laws and regulations

Methods and systems providing digital signage and interactive gaming services in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations are described. A service fee is collected from a retailer, and a service fee may or may not be collected from a retailer (e.g., a bar). An advertising fee is collected from a first advertising provider. The first advertising provider is involved in alcohol distribution/wholesaling or manufacturing. A second advertising fee from a second advertising provider is collected. The second advertising provider is involved in a non-alcohol related industry. A portion of a subscription fee is collected based on a separate source of fees (e.g., text message or jukebox fee) received from a patron. The message may contain information indicating that the patron wishes to pay a service fee. Revenue sharing is implemented by distributing a portion of the service fee to the retailer and distributing a portion of the advertising fee from the second advertising provider to the retailer in compliance with federal and state laws.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Certain exemplary embodiments of this invention relate to digital signage and interactive gaming. More particularly, certain exemplary embodiments relate to methods and systems for implementing a business model for digital signage and interactive gaming services in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations related to alcohol distribution.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

It is desirable to provide entertainment content such as interactive gaming services and digital signage to certain businesses. Businesses requiring these services may be involved with retail establishments in the restaurant and bar business sector that typically serve alcoholic beverages. However, federal and state laws and regulations restrict the amount of interaction between alcohol retailers, alcohol distributors/wholesalers, and alcohol manufacturers. Indeed, such laws and regulations prohibit vertical integration between the various tiers of the system for alcohol distribution. Because of the numerous restrictive laws and regulations that often vary from state-to-state and with the federal government, it has not been possible to provide entertainment content such as interactive gaming services and digital signage to businesses when such entertainment content involves interactions between alcohol retailers, alcohol distributors/wholesalers, and alcohol manufacturers on the one hand, and alcohol retail establishments on the other. Indeed, such restrictive laws and regulations make it difficult even to advertise alcohol-related promotions.

A provider of aggregated content including interactive gaming services and digital signage may implement a revenue sharing model to create incentives for the retail establishment to display such content. Digital signage provides a way for displaying advertisements in a relatively low-cost manner without the typical costs associated with traditional advertising. Advertisements at the national level provided by an advertising provider (e.g., a party not involved with the manufacturing or distribution/wholesaling of alcohol) may then be distributed to retailers to increase advertisement penetration at a local level. The fees collected from these advertising providers (e.g., a party not involved with the manufacturing or distribution/wholesaling of alcohol) may then be shared with retailers to provide incentives for displaying the aggregated content.

The above-noted laws and regulations have presented numerous legal (e.g., compliance) and technical issues that have prevented advertisers, retailers, and alcohol retailers, distributors/wholesalers, and alcohol manufacturers from realizing the full benefits of advertising. For example, the above-noted laws and regulations make it illegal for revenue sharing to be implemented between the parties, for promotions to be run at the retailers on behalf of the alcohol providers, etc. Thus, it will be appreciated that there is a need in the art for techniques that comply with the various applicable federal and state requirements, while also providing some or all of the benefits of advertising, where legal. For example, there is a need in the art for techniques that comply with the various applicable federal and state requirements, while also providing aggregated content. In light of the above-noted federal and state laws related to alcohol distribution, the inventor of the instant invention has discovered that it is possible for aggregated content providers to ensure that revenues from fees collected from alcohol advertisers are not shared with any retailer involved with selling alcoholic beverages as a means of providing advertising and enabling revenue sharing, while also complying with the various applicable federal and state laws. Accordingly, certain exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for ensuring compliance with these federal and state laws and regulations related to alcohol distribution when using digital signage, in a manner that provides some or all of the benefits associated with the same, where legal.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a method and system for providing digital signage are described. In certain exemplary embodiments, the method comprises: receiving advertisements at a data center, where the advertisements to be displayed are based on receipt of advertising fees, wherein at least one of the advertisements is a alcoholic beverage advertisement; sending at least one advertisement from the data center to a display processor via a packet data network; integrating the advertisement in a display window with video using the display processor such that the advertisement appears on a portion of a display in a retail establishment of a retailer while the video is playing and the retail establishment is selling alcoholic beverages and while complying with legal regulations relating to alcoholic beverages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to a method and system for displaying advertising and/or other content using digital signage in establishments that sell and serve alcoholic beverages while complying with federal and state alcohol laws and regulations. For example, these laws may be Tied House Laws dealing with on-premises consumption. In certain exemplary embodiments, the system includes a data center to aggregate messages received from retailers and advertising providers to push content in an aggregated form to be displayed at the retailers. A display server hosted by the retailer is then used to overlay the aggregated messages from the data center with a video feed provided by a cable/satellite box. The patrons may then send messages to the data center based on the aggregated content displayed at the retailer to log-in and play to interactive gaming services provided by the data center.

Overview

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate similar components throughout the several views,FIG. 1is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a process for providing content (e.g., advertisements) to be displayed using digital signage in compliance with federal and state alcohol and beverage laws and regulations. In certain exemplary embodiments, retailer120subscribes to a service provided by data center100. Retailer120may comprise a bar establishment that serves alcoholic beverages and may provide entertainment to clientele including patron150. Data center100may provide interactive gaming and digital signage services for retailer120. Data center100then collects fees via, for example, electronic money transfer from patrons for a collection of services provided by data center100. For example, data center100may provide content including interactive games, messages, and/or advertisements for patrons in the retail establishment of retailer120. Retailer120may then offer these services to customers (e.g., patrons of the bar establishment). For example, retailer120may offer an interactive trivia game for a predetermined fee by displaying digital signage to a patron (e.g., patron150, at the retail establishment of retailer120). In this manner, the patron may subscribe to the offered service by sending a message153to data center100.

In certain exemplary implementations, patron150sends message153including subscription information to be received by data center100. Patron150may be a user using a mobile device with SMS capability. Message153may be, for example, an SMS message including subscription information sent from the mobile device. The subscription information in message153may represent data for indicating that patron150is subscribing to the service provided by data center100. To receive message153, data center100may be a subscriber of services provided by service providers155and159. Message153may be sent over a network provided, in part, by service provider155.

In certain exemplary embodiments, service provider155comprises a telecommunications provider that provides a wireless network for transmitting SMS messages. Patron150is charged a fee based on the content of the subscription information in message153. For example, patron150may subscribe to an interactive game provided by data center100for a predetermined fee103. Data center100sends information to service provider155indicating the predetermined fee103to be charged and collected from patron150. Service provider155may then collect a portion of the predetermined fee103to be distributed to service provider155in exchange for transmitting message153.

In certain exemplary embodiments, service provider159may receive message153from service provider155. Service provider159may be an SMS aggregator service that functions as an intermediary for service provider155and data center100. In certain exemplary embodiments, service provider159aggregates SMS messages sent by patron150and other patrons using one or more cell phone providers and forwards the messages to data center100. Service provider159may then collect a portion of a remaining predetermined fee157(e.g., a remaining portion of the predetermined fee103less the portion distributed to service provider155) to be distributed to service provider159in exchange for aggregating message153and messages from other patrons.

In certain exemplary embodiments, data center100then receives message153forwarded from service provider159. A remaining predetermined fee163(e.g., a remaining portion of the predetermined fee less the portion distributed to service provider155and less the portion distributed to service provider159) then may be collected by and distributed to data center100. Remaining predetermined fee163comprises revenue that data center100collects from patron150. Under the business model, data center100may then distribute a portion117of the remaining predetermined fee163to retailer120. In this manner, data center100may implement revenue sharing with retailer120based on fees collected from patrons.

In certain exemplary embodiments, data center100receives advertising fee108collected from alcohol advertiser130. Alcohol advertiser130comprises, for example, an alcohol beverage manufacturer or an alcohol beverage distributor/wholesaler. In certain exemplary embodiments, data center100receives advertising fee112collected from non-alcohol advertiser140. Non-alcohol advertiser140may comprise any advertiser that does not include a type of alcohol beverage manufacturer or alcohol beverage distributor/wholesaler. In certain exemplary embodiments, data center100shares revenue with retailer120taken from a portion of the collected fees from patrons and advertisers. However, revenue sharing is restricted by federal and state laws and regulations when it relates with alcohol distribution. To help ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, data center100does not share and/or prevents the sharing of revenue from advertising fee108collected from alcohol advertiser130with retailer120. In other words, using data center100, the business model of certain exemplary embodiments prevents the commingling of revenue from fees collected from alcohol advertisers to be shared with retailers. In contrast, data center100may share revenue with retailer120collected from the fees from patron150and non-alcohol advertiser140. In addition, data center100collects a fee from retailer120to comply with these federal and state laws and regulations. In certain exemplary embodiments, data center100collects a service fee105from retailer120. Without collecting the service fee105from retailer120under the revenue sharing business model, in effect, alcohol advertiser130would be providing a service to retailer120that may be considered of value in certain states in violation of state laws and regulations for alcohol distribution.

In certain exemplary embodiments, data center100distributes a portion122of the revenue from advertising fee112collected from non-alcohol advertiser140to retailer120. Data center100may also distribute a portion117of the revenue from collected from subscriber150to retailer120. In certain exemplary embodiments, data center100distributes non-monetary compensation127to employee133of retailer120. Employee133may include a bartender or a member of the wait staff employed by retailer120. Monetary and non-monetary compensation127may comprise merchandise, tips, and other benefits distributed to employee133(as long as the compensation is not in violation of other laws).

System for Digital Signage and Interactive Gaming Services

FIG. 2is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system for digital signage and interactive gaming services. In certain exemplary embodiments, data center200provides digital signage content and interactive gaming services for patrons. Data center200typically comprises at least one computer system. Data center200is coupled to communicate over a network, such as Internet205. Internet205as used herein refers to a network of networks which uses certain protocols, such as the TCP/IP protocol, and possibly other protocols such as the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) for hypertext markup language (HTML) documents that make up the World Wide Web (web). The physical connections of the Internet and the protocols and communication procedures of the Internet are well known to those of skill in the art.

In certain exemplary embodiments, a retailer120(e.g., a bar establishment) uses remote client220for sending message223to data center200for processing. Remote client220may be a computer system configured to communicate over Internet205with data center200. Message223may include content to be displayed on display217. Display217may be a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) or any other known display technology in the art. In certain exemplary embodiment, display217is a conventional television that accepts a video signal from display server210. Display server210is typically a computer system located at the retailer's site and is coupled to communicate over Internet205with data center200. Display server210also is communicably coupled to cable/satellite box212or other video source for accepting a video feed provided by cable/satellite box212. Cable/satellite box212is typically a set-top box operable to transmit video feed from a television provider or cable operator that provides content and programming for television video. Display server210may transmit a video signal comprising aggregated content to be displayed on display217. The aggregated content to be displayed may include a video signal comprising digital signage played on the same screen at the same time the video feed provided by cable/satellite box212is displayed, where the simultaneous display is done in a manner well-known in the art. In this manner, display server210may transmit aggregated content combined from various content providers to be displayed on display217.

In certain exemplary embodiments, advertising provider260sends advertising message263to data center200. Advertising provider260may comprise an alcohol manufacturer or alcohol distributor/wholesaler that subscribes to services provided by data center200. For example, data center200may provide a service to display advertising messages from advertising provider260in local retail establishments. In this manner, advertising content from a national level may be distributed to the local level with relative ease. In certain exemplary embodiments, advertising provider270sends advertising message273to data center200. Advertising provider270may comprise a non-alcohol related business that also subscribes to services provided by data center200. For example, advertising provider270may include a clothes manufacturer, a retail chain, sports memorabilia manufacturer, or sports franchise. In this manner, data center200may have patrons involved in alcohol distribution and patrons not involved with alcohol distribution.

In certain exemplary embodiments, subscriber230may send message232over a network provided by service provider240. Subscriber230may be using a mobile device with SMS capability for sending messages over the network. Service provider240may be a telecommunications provider that provides communications services for subscriber230. In certain exemplary embodiments, service provider240may then forward message232to SMS aggregator250. SMS aggregator250typically provides a service to receive SMS messages from various different service providers and forwards the messages to a subscriber of the SMS aggregator service, which is data center200in this case. SMS aggregator250may then forward message232to data center200for processing. Data center200may provide a service to subscriber230based on the information in message232. Data center200may then transmit response message213to subscriber230in response to message232. Response message213may comprise a confirmation message acknowledging that subscriber230has successfully subscribed to the service provided by data center200.

In certain exemplary embodiments, data center200may combine advertising message263, advertising message273, and message223to be transmitted as an aggregated message207to display server210. Data center200acts as a “hub” for the “spokes” including the various providers of content. Data center200may then segregate and process the messages received from these various providers of content in a manner compliant with federal and state laws and regulations related to alcohol distribution. After receiving aggregated message207, display server210processes aggregated message207to display the content in aggregated message207on the same screen at the same time as the video feed received from cable/satellite box212. In this manner, aggregated content comprised of the video feed from cable/satellite box212and aggregated message207is displayed on display217.

Method for Displaying Aggregated Content for Digital Signage

FIG. 3is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a process for aggregating content for digital signage and interactive gaming services performed by the system. Referring toFIG. 3, processing logic in the system receives a first advertisement message from a first advertising provider (processing block310). First advertising provider may comprise an alcohol related advertiser. At processing block320, processing logic in the system receives a second advertisement message from a second advertising provider. The second advertising provider may comprise a non-alcohol related advertiser. Next, at processing block330, processing logic receives a second message from a remote client located at a retailer. The retailer may be a patron of services provided by the system. Then, processing logic in the system combines the second message with the first advertising message and the second advertisement message to produce an aggregated message (processing block340). In this manner, the system produces aggregated content that may be displayed. At processing block350, processing logic in the system transfers the aggregated message to a remote server for displaying the aggregated message. In certain exemplary embodiments, the remote server is located at the retailer.

An Exemplary Computer System

FIG. 4is a block diagram of a computer system that may perform one or more of the operations described herein according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 4, computer system400may comprise an exemplary client or server computer system. Computer system400comprises a communication mechanism or bus411for communicating information, and a processor412coupled with bus411for processing information. Processor412includes a microprocessor, but is not limited to a microprocessor, such as, for example, Pentium™, PowerPC™, Alpha™, etc.

System400further comprises a random access memory (RAM), or other dynamic storage device404(referred to as main memory) coupled to bus411for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor412. Main memory404also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by processor412.

Computer system400also comprises a read only memory (ROM) and/or other static storage device406coupled to bus411for storing static information and instructions for processor412, and a data storage device407, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk and its corresponding disk drive. Data storage device407is coupled to bus411for storing information and instructions.

Computer system400may further be coupled to a display device421, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD), coupled to bus411for displaying information to a computer user. An alphanumeric input device422, including alphanumeric and other keys, may also be coupled to bus411for communicating information and command selections to processor412. An additional user input device is cursor control423, such as a mouse, trackball, trackpad, stylus, or cursor direction keys, coupled to bus411for communicating direction information and command selections to processor412, and for controlling cursor movement on display421.

Another device that may be coupled to bus411is hard copy device424, which may be used for marking information on a medium such as paper, film, or similar types of media. Another device that may be coupled to bus411is a wired/wireless communication capability425to communication to a phone or handheld palm device.

Note that any or all of the components of system800and associated hardware may be used in connection with certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be appreciated that other configurations of the computer system may include some or all of the devices.

The processes described herein may be a machine-readable medium having stored thereon data and instructions to cause a programmable processor to perform operations as described above. In certain exemplary embodiments, the operations might be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic. Those operations might alternatively be performed by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components. As such, the exemplary embodiments described herein may be implemented in connection with any suitable combination of programmed logic circuitry (e.g., hardware, software, firmware, and/or the like).

Instructions for a programmable processor may be stored in a form that is directly executable by the processor (“object” or “executable” form), or the instructions may be stored in a human-readable text form called “source code” that can be automatically processed by a development tool commonly known as a “compiler” to produce executable code. Instructions may also be specified as a difference or “delta” from a predetermined version of a basic source code. The delta (also called a “patch”) can be used to prepare instructions to implement an embodiment of the invention, starting with a commonly-available source code package that does not contain an embodiment.

The present invention also relates to apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, compact disc read-only memory (“CD-ROM”), and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (“ROMs”), random access memories (“RAMs”), erasable, programmable read-only memories (“EPROMs”), electrically-erasable read-only memories (“EEPROMs”), Flash memories, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.

The applications of the present invention have been described largely by reference to specific examples and in terms of particular allocations of functionality to certain hardware and/or software components. However, those of skill in the art will recognize that improved keystroke dynamic authentication can also be achieved by software and hardware that distribute the functions of embodiments of this invention differently than herein described. Such variations and implementations are understood to be captured according to the following claims. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the features, aspects, advantages, and exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in any combination or sub-combination to yield yet further exemplary embodiments.

It will be appreciated that the fees described above may or may not be charged in certain exemplary embodiments. It also will be appreciated that the same or different fee may be charged to each of the parties that is charged a fee. Indeed, the exemplary embodiments described herein may be extended such to any scheme in which money is taken from patrons and given to retailers, while any money taken from alcohol retailers or manufacturers/distributors does not go to the retailer directly or indirectly (e.g., is not directly or indirectly tied to an alcoholic brand or product).

Also, although certain exemplary embodiments have been described in relation to taking a percentage of the cost of sending a message such as a text message, the present invention is not so limited. For example, the fees that fund the various parties may be generated in whole or in part from any combination of acceptable non-alcohol producing or distributing agent or apparatus such as, for example, a jukebox (e.g., as a portion of the fee charged for playing music), a bar-top device (e.g., as a portion of the fee charged for playing a game), a handheld gaming device, and/or the like. Additionally, the advertisements may be displayed on any acceptable display device including, for example, overhead displays, large televisions, jukeboxes, bar-top devices, handheld gaming devices, etc.

While the preferred aspects of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and/or modifications can be made. Thus, the specific description herein is meant to be exemplary only and is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of appended claims.