Abstract:
A method of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle comprising the steps of detecting a user&#39;s wireless transmission, receiving information pertaining to an advertisement from a user via a wireless interface, activating an electronic paper screen by supplying power to the screen, displaying the advertisement on the electronic paper screen and removing the power to the electronic paper screen such that the advertisement may still be displayed on the electronic paper screen after the power is removed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Display technologies using encapsulated electrophoretic particles, multichromal beads and liquid crystals are commonly referred to as electronic paper. A group of encapsulated bichromal beads, cylinders, crystals or other bichromal or multichromal particles can be dispersed in an elastomeric sheet swollen by a fluid and positioned atop a conductive substrate. The particles, fluid and substrate are covered with a transparent layer such as glass or plastic and a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide, and are sealed to form a display material. The particles in the display material rotate in response to an electric or magnetic field that is applied to the conductive substrate. Such materials have been described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,126,854 to Sheridon and 4,143,103 to Sheridon, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     Bichromal displays have numerous advantages over conventional electrically addressable visual displays, such as LCD and CRT displays. In particular, they are suitable for viewing in ambient light, they retain an image indefinitely in the absence of an applied electric field, and they can be made lightweight, flexible, foldable, and with many other familiar and useful characteristics of ordinary writing paper. Thus, at least in principle, they are suitable both for display applications and for so-called electric paper or interactive paper applications, in which they serve as an electrically addressable, reusable substitute for ordinary paper. 
     Outdoor advertising displays are common. Conventional outdoor advertisements on public transportation systems are typically displayed in a static form, such as painted on the exterior of a bus or the interior of a subway. As such, these advertisements cannot be dynamically modified or updated. Moreover, the cost of replacing such advertisements is high. In addition, such advertisements cannot be dynamically updated based on proximity to an advertiser. 
     The disclosure contained herein describes the methods of resolving one or more of the problems discussed above. 
     SUMMARY 
     Before the present methods are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular systems, methodologies or protocols described, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure which will be limited only by the appended claims. 
     It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “code” is a reference to one or more codes and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. As used herein, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.” 
     In an embodiment, a method of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle may include detecting, at the vehicle, a user&#39;s wireless transmission, receiving information pertaining to an advertisement from a user via a wireless interface, activating an electronic paper screen by supplying power to the screen, displaying the advertisement on an electronic paper screen and removing power from the screen. The advertisement may remain on the screen after the power is removed. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a method of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle may include receiving information pertaining to an advertisement from an advertising agency, storing the information in memory, detecting, at the vehicle, a user&#39;s wireless transmission, receiving an advertisement identifier from the user that corresponds to the advertisement information, activating an electronic paper screen by supplying power to the screen, displaying the advertisement on the electronic paper screen and removing power from the screen. The advertisement may remain on the screen after the power is removed. 
     In another embodiment, a system for displaying an advertisement on a vehicle may include a vehicle, a wireless receiver, a processor in communication with the receivers an electronic paper screen located on the exterior of the vehicle and a processor readable storage medium. The processor readable storage medium may contain programming instructions for displaying an advertisement on the vehicle by detecting a user&#39;s wireless transmission, receiving advertisement information from the user, activating the electronic paper screen, displaying the advertisement on the electronic paper screen and removing power from the electronic paper screen such that the advertisement remains on the screen even after the power is removed. 
     In another embodiment, a system for displaying an advertisement on a vehicle may include a vehicle, a wireless receiver, a processor in communication with the receiver, an electronic paper screen located on the exterior of the vehicle and a processor readable storage medium. The processor readable storage medium may contain programming instructions for displaying an advertisement on the vehicle by receiving advertisement information from an advertising agency, storing the advertisement informant in memory, detecting a user&#39;s wireless transmission, receiving an advertisement identifier that corresponds to the advertisement information from the user, activating the electronic paper screen, such that the advertisement remains on the screen even after the power the removed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts exemplary elements of a mobile advertisement system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary system of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary method of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary system of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle by transmitting advertisement information in advance according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary method of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle by downloading the information pertaining to the advertisement to one or more processors in communication with a receiver and one or more electronic screens according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary method of displaying advertisements from multiple users on the same electronic paper screen according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary method of displaying advertisements from multiple users on the same electronic paper screen based on the user&#39;s advertising bids according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary elements of a mobile advertisement system, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , may include an electronic paper screen  100  located on the exterior of a vehicle  105 , such as a bus, taxi cab, train or billboard vehicle. The electronic paper screen  100  may include a flat panel display capable of displaying electronic text and graphics. Unlike a conventional electronic billboard that may include a fixed-pattern display for displaying advertisements only as fixed patterns, the electronic paper screen may include an arbitrary pattern display for displaying advertisements as arbitrary patterns. The dimensions of the electronic paper screen  100  may be sufficiently large to operate as an effective display medium and sufficiently durable to endure outdoor conditions such as wind, rain, snow and the like. In an embodiment, the electronic paper screen  100  may include a weather resistant, translucent covering to protect it from such outdoor conditions. 
     In an embodiment, a user&#39;s location  110  may be equipped with a wireless transmitter  115 . User locations  110  may include, but are not limited to, stores, commercial establishments, malls, entertainment venues, universities, landmarks, movie theaters, athletic stadiums and the like. When a vehicle  105  with an electronic paper screen  100  travels within range of a user&#39;s wireless transmitter  115 , the transmitter  115  may send a wireless transmission  125  which may be detected by a receiver  120 . The transmitter  115  may be a wireless terminal, a computer with wireless capability, a Bluetooth enabled device or any other device capable of transmitting wirelessly. The receiver may be located on or in the vehicle  105 , and may be a computer with wireless capability, a Bluetooth enabled device, or any other wireless device. The receiver  120  may transmit the advertisement information to a processor  130 , which may be located in the vehicle  105  or at a remote central location. The processor  130  may activate the electronic paper screen  100  by supplying power to the screen  100 . The processor  130  may then communicate the advertising information to the electronic paper screen  100  and instruct the electronic paper screen  100  to display the user&#39;s advertisement, thus providing interactive, localized and customized advertising. The advertisement may include text and/or images. Once the advertisement is displayed, the processor  130  may remove power from the electronic paper screen  100 , but the advertisement may remain displayed on the screen  100 . In an embodiment, the advertisement may still be displayed on the electronic paper screen after power is removed. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a system for displaying an advertisement on a vehicle may comprise a wireless receiver  210  located on or in the vehicle, a processor  215  in communication with the receiver  210 , an electronic paper screen  220  in communication with the processor  215  and a processor readable storage medium  225  in communication with the processor  215 . When the receiver  210  detects a user&#39;s wireless transmission  205 , the receiver  210  may receive information pertaining to an advertisement. The receiver  210  may then communicate the advertisement information to the processor  215  which may activate the electronic paper screen  220  and instruct the electronic paper screen  220  to display the user&#39;s advertisement. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a vehicle with an electronic paper screen may enter the range of a user&#39;s wireless transmitter  300 . When a receiver detects  305  a user&#39;s wireless transmission, information pertaining to the advertisement may be received  310  by the receiver, which is in communication with the processor. The advertisement information may include, among other things, text and/or images to be displayed, the dimensions of the advertisement, a position at which to place the advertisement and/or other information associated with the advertisement. In an embodiment, the processor may convert  320  the advertising information into a proper display format so that the user&#39;s advertisement may be displayed on the electronic paper screen. In another embodiment, the advertisement information may be received in the proper display format, so no conversion may be required. When the advertisement information is received  315 , the processor may activate  325  the electronic paper screen by supplying power to the screen. The processor may then instruct  330  the electronic paper screen to automatically display  335  the user&#39;s advertisement. After the advertisement is displayed, the processor may remove  340  power to the electronic paper screen. In an embodiment, the advertisement may still be displayed on the electronic paper screen after the power is removed. Wireless transmission of the advertisement information may enable a user to dynamically personalize, customize and update its advertising content. For example, if one hour remains for a Shoe Store user&#39;s sale, the Shoe Store user may transmit advertising content such as “Shoe Spectacular—One Hour Left—Best Shoes in Town are Behind You!” This advertisement may be displayed on the electronic paper screen of the vehicles that pass by, thus quickly informing passerbys that the sale is almost over. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a system for displaying an advertisement on a vehicle  430  may comprise a plurality of users  400 , an advertising agency  405 , at least one processor  410  in communication with a receiver  415 , an electronic paper screen  420  and a processor readable storage medium  425 , A user may transmit advertising information to an advertising agency  405 . The advertising agency  405  may download the advertising information to one or more processors  410 . When a user&#39;s signal is detected, the advertising information may be retrieved and displayed. 
     In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a user&#39;s advertisement information may be pre-stored on a processor readable storage medium in communication with the processor. A user may transmit  500  information pertaining to an advertisement to an advertising agency. The advertisement information may be transmitted to the advertising agency by email, by fax, or by mail, among other ways. The advertising agency, in turn, may download  505  the information to one or more processors in communication with one or more electronic paper screens. A vehicle with an electronic paper screen may enter  510  the range of a user&#39;s wireless transmitter. A receiver may detect  515  a user&#39;s wireless transmission which may include an advertisement identifier. The advertisement identifier may correspond to the user&#39;s advertisement information and the advertisement to be displayed. When the user&#39;s wireless transmission is received  520 , the advertisement information may be retrieved  525  from the processor readable storage medium using the advertisement identifier. In an embodiment, the processor may convert  530  the advertising information into a proper display format so that the user&#39;s advertisement may be displayed on the electronic paper screen. In another embodiment, the advertisement information may be in the proper display format, so no conversion may be required. After the advertisement information is retrieved, the processor may activate  535  the electronic paper screen by supplying power to the screen. The processor may then instruct  540  the electronic paper screen to automatically display  545  the user&#39;s advertisement. After the advertisement is displayed, the processor may remove  550  power from the electronic paper screen. In an embodiment, the advertisement may still be displayed on the electronic paper screen after the power is removed. 
     For example, if a fast food restaurant wants its advertisement “‘Eat at Lucky’s” displayed on passing vehicles, it may send the information associated with the advertisement to the advertising agency. Once the advertising agency downloads the advertisement information, “Eat at Lucky&#39;s” may be automatically displayed whenever the restaurant&#39;s signal is detected. In such an embodiment, the advertisement may be displayed more quickly because real time transmission of advertising information is not required. 
     In an embodiment, the user&#39;s advertisement may remain on the electronic paper screen until the receiver detects a second user&#39;s wireless signal. In an alternate embodiment, the advertisement may remain on the screen for a specified period of time. The user, the advertising agency, or the processor, among others, may specify the time period for an advertisement to remain on the electronic paper screen. In an alternate embodiment, the advertisement may be displayed until the user&#39;s wireless transmission is no longer detected. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , advertisements from multiple users may be displayed on the same electronic paper screen. An electronic paper screen  620  on a vehicle  650  may be divided into a plurality of display areas to simultaneously accommodate advertisements from a plurality of users. By allocating the electronic paper screen  620 , multiple users may display their advertisements without excluding any user or users. For example, if a receiver  645  detects four users&#39; signals, user  1   600 , user  2   605 , user  3   610  and user  4   615 , the processor may divide the electronic paper screen  620  into four display areas, and may display the advertisements of the four users simultaneously. In an embodiment, the first user&#39;s  600  advertisement may be displayed on the top left of the display  625 , the second user&#39;s  605  advertisement may be displayed on the top right  630 , the third user&#39;s  610  advertisement may be displayed on the bottom left  635  and the fourth user&#39;s  615  advertisement may be displayed on the bottom right  640 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the size of the display areas may correspond to the amount of the users&#39; advertisement bids. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a receiver  735  may detect wireless transmissions from user one  700 , user two  705  and user three  710 , where user one  700  paid $500 for its advertisement and users two  705  and three  710  each paid $250 for their advertisements. In this instance, all three users&#39; advertisements may be displayed simultaneously on a vehicle&#39;s  740  electronic paper screen  745 , but user one&#39;s  700  advertisement may occupy a larger display area  720  than either the display area  725  for user two or the display area  730  for user three. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the electronic paper screen may be subdivided into more or fewer subdivisions. It will also be apparent to those of skill in the art that the electronic paper screen may be subdivided into less than a maximum number of subdivisions if fewer than such maximum number of transmissions are received. 
     Alternatively, advertisements for a plurality of users within range of the same receiver may be displayed in the sequence in which they are received. As such, if a processor receives requests to display advertisements from four users in the following order: user two, user three, user one, user four, then user two&#39;s advertisement may be displayed first, followed by user three&#39;s advertisement, user one&#39;s advertisement and user&#39;s four advertisement. In another embodiment, advertisements for a plurality of users within range of the same receiver may be displayed in an order corresponding to the amount of the user&#39;s bid. For example, if the receiver detects transmissions from two users, user one and user two, within the same range, and user one paid more for its advertisement than user two, user one&#39;s advertisement will be displayed first, followed by user two&#39;s advertisement. 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.