Abstract:
An audio-visual presentation system delivering a presentation to a vehicle passenger compartment is provided that includes a video display mounted external to a vehicle passenger compartment and viewable from within the compartment. A controller provides a video signal to the display and an audio signal. The audio signal is broadcast by an antenna coupled to the controller as a radio frequency is received by a vehicle radio and discernable to a vehicle sound system. The audio-visual presentation system is particularly well suited as a method of education and sale regarding vehicle service products. Rather than providing a discernable audio signal through a vehicle sound system, it is appreciated that a portable radio set is readily placed within a vehicle passenger compartment or the audio signal delivered via a wireless network. A still further advantage is realized by providing a technician servicing the vehicle with a microphone operative to interrupt the audio signal of the presentation so as to convey vehicle service information regardless of whether the presentation is viewed within the vehicle compartment or in a remote waiting room. The audio-visual presentation is readily tailored to the past viewing and/or purchase history of a potential customer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/169,774 filed Jan. 31, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/016,719 filed Jan. 28, 2011 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/603,968 filed Oct. 22, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/555,360 filed Nov. 1, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,609,173; which in turn claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Ser. No. 60/732,105 filed Nov. 1, 2005 and Ser. No. 60/819,784 filed Jul. 10, 2006, which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention in general relates to a point-of-sale method and system, in particular to a point-of-sale method aimed at a vehicle occupant through external visual display in conjunction with an audio portion communicated via a vehicle radio. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    While it was once required that a vehicle oil change entailed placing a vehicle in the custody of a mechanic and either leaving the vehicle for later pickup or remaining in a garage waiting room until the oil change was completed, rapid service oil change establishments have greatly streamlined the oil change process. As currently practiced, a rapid oil change establishment provides a bay into which a driver maneuvers a vehicle. Rather than hoist the vehicle and thereby require vehicle occupants to exit, a rapid oil change establishment has a staircase-accessible dugout underneath the vehicle bay from which a technician has access to the vehicle oil pan and undercarriage. As a result, an oil change is readily performed in a matter of from five to fifteen minutes. Unfortunately, total time associated with a quick oil change is considerably longer owing to the need for a technician to explain various oil grade options and the relative merits of various ancillary maintenance products and services. An additional problem associated with car owner education about various oil change options and services is the turnover rate of technicians who are themselves well versed in the performance benefits of the various product and service options. 
         [0004]    Similar consumer education and sales problems are also encountered in drive-through sales settings such as carwashes, parking lots, food and beverage serving establishments, liquor stores, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners. The common features of these sales settings are that consumer education and sales requires considerable service-provider education and often a delay in service provision. 
         [0005]    Thus, there exists a need for a sales system delivering information to a vehicle occupant through an automated audio-visual system. Delivery of point-of-sales advertising to a vehicle occupant in such a manner overcomes the prior art limitations of continuing employee education, customer education, and service delays associated with providing such a presentation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An audio-visual presentation system delivering a presentation to a vehicle passenger compartment is provided that includes a video display mounted external to a vehicle passenger compartment and viewable from within the compartment. A controller provides a video signal to the display and an audio signal. The audio signal is broadcast by an antenna coupled to the controller as a radio frequency is received by a vehicle radio and discernable to a vehicle sound system. The audio-visual presentation system is particularly well suited as a method of education and sale regarding vehicle service products. Rather than providing a discernable audio signal through a vehicle sound system, it is appreciated that a portable radio set is readily placed within a vehicle passenger compartment or the audio signal delivered via a wireless network. A still further advantage is realized by providing a technician servicing the vehicle with a microphone operative to interrupt the audio signal of the presentation so as to convey vehicle service information regardless of whether the presentation is viewed within the vehicle compartment or in a remote waiting room. The audio-visual presentation is readily tailored to the past viewing and/or purchase history of a potential customer. 
         [0007]    A kiosk is also provided that delivers an audio-visual presentation in response to a product scan within a business establishment showroom, sales floor, or waiting room. The audio-visual presentation provides educational, usage or specification information. Information regarding the product or the presentation is available for transmission to a customer-designated email address. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of the components of an inventive audio-visual system; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of components used to practice the audio-visual system simultaneously with multiple vehicles; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of practicing an inventive method; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of practicing an alternative inventive method; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of components of an inventive kiosk. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    The present invention has utility in providing a point-of-sales method associated with services delivered to an occupant of a vehicle or a subject waiting remote from a vehicle maintenance event. Through a visual display external to the vehicle synchronized with an audio portion broadcast optionally to a vehicle passenger compartment occupant, sales, education, or pure entertainment content is provided to a vehicle passenger compartment occupant. In a particular embodiment, a vehicle occupant is prompted to tune the vehicle radio to a particular frequency and the vehicle&#39;s occupant selects a presentation of interest to them. The vehicle occupant would then observe a visual presentation provided on the screen while receiving a synchronized audio portion of the presentation via vehicle speakers. The present invention allows a vehicle occupant to receive point-of-sales information independent of the need for a service technician or service provider to delay the provision of service or be knowledgeable about the various purchase options available to the vehicle occupant. 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , system components for practice of an inventive point-of-sale method are shown generally at  10 . The system  10  includes a controller  12  operating a visual display  14  and a radio frequency antenna  16 . Optionally, a user interface  18  is provided to allow a vehicle occupant control over the presentation provided by way of the visual display  14  and the audio portion via radio frequency broadcast antenna  16 . The user interface  18  is illustratively a keypad  20 , a touch screen  22  incorporated into the display  14 , or an infrared signal remote control  24  as is conventional to operate a television. Each of these user interfaces  18  is shown in  FIG. 1 , even though it is appreciated that an actual system  10  typically does not incorporate all three types of interface. The controller  12  activates a presentation directed at a vehicle occupant in any one of a number of play modes. Illustrative play modes for a controller  12  illustratively include continuous loop, start and stop, and play mode selected through a user interface  18 . While presentation material is provided in a variety of formats illustratively including analog VHS tape and digital formats such as MPEG, MPEG 2 , HTML, XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, DHTML, XML, DOM, XSLT, ASP, ADO, SQL and AVI, in a preferred embodiment, inventive system  10  delivers a presentation from digital media. While an establishment having a single or a handful of systems practicing the point-of-sale method according to the present invention are well suited for the use of physically removable digital media such as a DVD or memory stick, establishments with a small number of systems having rapidly changing content, or a large number of systems is better suited to presentation storage, presentation modification, or a combination thereof by way of a network connection. The network connection is via an intranet or Internet with the communication within the network being either through a hardwired connection or wireless connection, such as via a satellite link. The controller  12  provides a video signal to the display  14 . The video display  14  is of a type conventional to the art and illustratively includes a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, or plasma-type display. The display  14  is mounted to a substrate illustratively including an establishment wall, ceiling, utility pole, structural pillar, or other structural member; or provided on a pedestal  26  such that a vehicle occupant can view the display  14  either through the windshield or a window. Optionally, a display  14  is mounted on an arm  28  that is capable of swinging and/or telescoping to bring the display  14  into a convenient orientation relative to a vehicle passenger compartment. 
         [0015]    The controller  12  feeds an audio signal associated with the visual portion of the presentation provided on the display  14  to a radio frequency antenna  16 . The radio antenna  16 , while operative in either radio frequency modulation mode of amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM) transmission modes, is preferably operative in amplitude modulation mode. As an antenna of a system  10  is typically located local to a vehicle radio reception antenna A, such as within tens or hundreds of meters, broadcast power by an inventive system  10  can have almost any power able to reach antenna A and typically ranges from 0.5 to 50 watts to lessen FCC regulatory requirements. 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment a technician servicing the vehicle is provided with a microphone  19  preferably mounted in a headset  21  operative to interrupt the audio portion of the presentation. A vehicle occupant is able to respond to technician communications verbally, or via user interface  18 , or via a remote control  24 , or through a microphone  29  provided to the vehicle occupant for such a purpose. In the instance where the vehicle occupant has a microphone  29 , the technician is equipped with a complementary speaker  31  in the headset. In this way, service is expedited in concert with a vehicle occupant receiving a presentation relevant to vehicle service products and services. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , where like numerals correspond to the description of those numerals with respect to  FIG. 1 , a multiple presentation system is shown generally at  50 . The system  50  includes multiple displays  14  and  14 ′ and multiple antennas  16  and  16 ′. A centralized controller  52  provides for independent presentation delivery via display  14 —antenna  16  relative to display  14 ′—antenna  16 ′. Optionally, each of the multiple displays  14 ,  14 ′ is provided with a user interface  18  to allow a vehicle occupant control over the presentation provided by way of the visual display  14  and the audio portion via radio frequency broadcast antenna  16 . The user interface  18  is illustratively a keypad  20 , a touch screen  22  incorporated into the display  14 , or an infrared signal remote control  24  as is conventional to operate a television. Each of these user interfaces  18  is shown in  FIG. 1 , even though it is appreciated that an actual system  10  typically does not incorporate all three types of interface. The controller  52  activates a presentation directed at a vehicle occupant in any one of a number of play modes. Illustrative play modes for a controller  52  illustratively include continuous loop, start and stop, and play mode selected through a user interface  18 . The interface  18  is operated by the vehicle occupant and/or the provider of a given good or service. In a preferred embodiment, a technician servicing a vehicle is provided with a microphone  19  preferably mounted within a headset  21  operative to interrupt the audio portion of only a particular vehicle being serviced. A vehicle occupant is able to respond to technician communications verbally, or via user interface  18 , or via a remote control  24 , or through a microphone  29  provided to the vehicle occupant for such a purpose. In the instance where the vehicle occupant has a microphone  29 , the technician is equipped with a complementary speaker  31  in the headset. In this way, service is expedited in concert with a vehicle occupant receiving a presentation relevant to vehicle service products and services. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an inventive point-of-sales methodology is disclosed in the form of a schematic diagram. A vehicle drives into proximity to a display and is prompted by audio, written or some other form of communication to set the vehicle radio to a particular radio frequency  60 . It is appreciated that additional instructions as to the use of the system are provided through the vehicle radio playing through the vehicle sound system. In the event the inventive system embodiment includes a user interface, the user is prompted to select a presentation title, start a presentation, or enter information illustratively including answers to a battery of questions that a control algorithm then evaluates to propose a presentation to a vehicle occupant  62 . In response to a presentation activation command, whether automatic or provided via user input, a video input signal is provided to a display and a corresponding audio signal is conveyed via an antenna from the controller  64 . The signal originates from storage media internal to the controller or streams from a network source remote from the controller while being monitored by a central processing unit (CPU). If a vehicle radio station is tuned to receive a radio frequency signal emanating from the system antenna, a vehicle occupant experiences the audio-visual presentation through observing the display and listening to the audio portion broadcast via the vehicle radio  66 . It is appreciated that the inventive methodology is not only practiced within the confines of a building housing a business, rather with reliance on an integrated active signage system (IASS) operating in a billboard or drive-through placard, the present invention is readily practiced in locales illustratively including drive-through businesses; event venues such as amphitheaters; and amusement park and sports venue parking facilities. The vehicle occupant is optionally prompted during or after the presentation as to how to purchase the product or service that is the subject of the presentation  68 . Possible modes of indicating a desire to purchase a good or service illustratively include information entry via a user interface, if present; verbal communication to an establishment service provider; and completion of a written or digital order form. 
         [0019]    Optionally, vehicle occupant purchases are compiled for marketing analysis  70 . Marketing analysis derived from this analysis illustratively includes presentation effectiveness, assembly of a customer profile for targeted offers, and storage of customer data for periodic service reminders. Vehicle occupant preferences or vehicle information are also optionally noted such that upon a return visit, the customer preferences are weighed in providing presentation materials likely to be of interest to the specific customer based on customer history. It is appreciated vehicle service information and/or customer preference data is associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN), vehicle license number, or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, associated with the vehicle or an occupant credit, debit or identification card. Vehicle VIN or license plate information is collected through a variety of conventional techniques such as manual keying, barcode scanning, or optical scan with alphanumeric recognition capabilities to provide a vehicle coding source. Preferably, a passive RFID tag is provided and read by a radio frequency active transponder within, or in proximity to the service center. A barcode scanner and, in particular, a cordless barcode scanner provides an alternative mode of reading VIN information relative to manual keying of such information. In the event that customer information is read from a VIN, license plate, RFID, or satellite uplink, black box, or ONSTAR system prior to a customer ordering a good or service, a special sale offer is optionally customized and presented to the customer. 
         [0020]    In another inventive embodiment of the present invention, a radio set is provided to a vehicle occupant in lieu of the use of the vehicle radio. With reference to  FIG. 4 , the radio set  72  is provided to the vehicle occupant. The radio set is appreciated to be of a variety of forms illustratively including a handheld radio with an optional temporary securement fixture for securing to a vehicle portion during usage, a headset, or other form of conventional transducer speaker. The remainder of process steps performed according to  FIG. 4  correspond to process steps  62 - 70  as detailed with respect to  FIG. 3  with the additional optional step of a technician equipped with a microphone interrupting the audio portion of the presentation to provide vehicle service information  74 . In one particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, a speaker is provided within the vehicle in a side-mounted screen mounted to the vehicle exterior. Specifically, a DVD or other comparable audio-visual digital presentation format player is secured to a vehicle at an exterior place therein to provide a vehicle occupant with the option to experience an audio-visual presentation. 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment, the audio-visual presentation is transmitted to a vehicle occupant with a laptop computer, cell phone, IPOD or personal digital assistant (PDA). Communicating via existing wireless communication networks such as WIFI supports the ability to transmit only a portion of a presentation, or a complete audio-visual presentation to a vehicle occupant. Additionally, the use of an existing wireless network also is well suited for interruption of the presentation audio portion by a technician servicing the vehicle, as well as serving as a user interface. 
         [0022]    An audio-video presentation system delivering a presentation to a vehicle passenger compartment includes a video display and a controller having an antenna to provide an audio output via a wireless network to a wireless receiver located within a vehicle passenger compartment. The controller is able to receive prompts from the wireless receiver in response to the presentation. It is appreciated that when the wireless receiver has integrated therewith a video display, both the audio and visual signals are readily transmitted and displayed by the wireless receiver. The wireless receiver is highly mobile, and it is appreciated that an inventive presentation is provided to a vehicle occupant while within the vehicle passenger compartment or alternatively while the vehicle occupant waits for vehicle service within a waiting room. A service technician having a microphone is preferably able to interrupt the audio signal to provide servicing information regarding vehicle service and to solicit vehicle maintenance instructions. A user receiving a presentation on a wireless receiver is capable of providing vehicle maintenance instructions to the technician orally, or via keypad, or touch screen entry. 
         [0023]    In a waiting room setting, in which a vehicle occupant awaits while their vehicle is being serviced, an audio-visual display is located within the waiting room. A controller provides a video signal and an audio signal to the display, the audio-visual display typically being wall mounted or freestanding on the floor or within a cabinet. A technician having a microphone operative to interrupt the audio signal of the presentation provides a viewer with updates as to the service of their vehicle and directs them to provide instructions as to additional maintenance procedures based on the technician&#39;s findings. Multiple technicians simultaneously servicing multiple vehicle service bays each provided with a microphone are able to gain the attention of individuals so as to provide service updates and seek maintenance instructions. 
         [0024]    In a business setting remote from a vehicle, an inventive kiosk depicted generally at  100  in  FIG. 5  is provided where like numerals correspond to those detailed with respect to the aforementioned figures. Scanner  102  reading a barcode or RFID tag associated with a product is provided and coupled to a controller  12 . With the scanning of product information, product information such as price, manufacturer or the like is provided on a visual display  14 . The display  14  also provides a prompt as to whether a potential customer would like to experience an audio-visual presentation related to the product. The subject of such presentation illustratively includes manufacturing method, product usage, product benefits or the like. A controller  12  feeds audio-visual content to the display  14  and a speaker  104 . Presentation materials are stored within the controller  12  or alternatively accessed through the Internet. The display  14  is fixtured to a substrate S by way of an arm  28 . Optionally, a keypad  106  is provided to allow for customer input. Optionally, a potential customer is provided with the ability to email information relating to the product scan or the audio-visual presentation to an email address. By way of example, a potential customer in a grocery store approaches an inventive kiosk  100  and scans a barcode associated with a loaf of bread. In response to the scan the potential customer is offered the option to watch an audio-visual presentation with respect to how the loaf of bread is manufactured, nutritional information or the like. During or after the presentation, the potential customer is given the option to email information to an address. Alternatively, the potential customer scans a second loaf of bread and is thereafter prompted if a side-by-side comparison as to nutritional value is desired on the display  14 , and whether it is desired to email the displayed information to an address. 
         [0025]    One skilled in the art should appreciate from the inventive description that the broad teachings of the present invention are readily implemented in a variety of forms and venues. It should be appreciated that while the present invention has been described with respect to particular examples, other modifications will become apparent to one of skill in the art upon consideration of the instant specification. Such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.