Abstract:
A computer system manages a network of electronic advertising billboards through a wireless telecommunications system. The electronic billboard management system is comprised of a web-site supported by a global computer network. This web-site communicates with the network of electronic billboards via wireless telecommunications. 
     Once the purchaser has logged in to the website, he or she has access to the Purchase Advertising System, Upload Advertising System, the Account Support System, and the Advertising Design System. Using the Purchase Advertising System, a purchaser can select the number of electronic billboards, the geographic areas, and the times in which he or she wishes to advertise. The Advertising Design System is a graphics art computer program that can create a variety of still or animated images. Once a purchaser has created an advertisement, he will then access the Upload Advertising System to place his or her advertisements into action.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to the field of management systems supported by a global computer network. More specifically, the present invention relates to a computer system that manages a network of electronic advertising billboards through a wireless telecommunications system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Technology is having a massive impact upon our economy. The global computer network known as the World Wide Web has facilitated a business revolution and propelled the world into an Information Age. All sectors of the economy are seeking to improve their efficiency and productivity by incorporating the benefits brought by advancing technology. 
         [0003]    The billboard advertising industry is one sector of the economy that could greatly benefit from the benefits of advancing technology and the World Wide Web. At present, the most dominant technology used for billboard advertising is the well-known highway and street side billboard. These billboards are comprised of a metal or wooden frame that supports a large image advertising a business, product, event, political message, or team sport. However, with then invention of large flat screen displays, billboard advertising has moved into the electronics age. Through the use of large flat screen displays such as the Jumbotron produced by the Sony Corporation, the billboard advertising industry can now project a commercial to viewers instead of a mere still image. In addition to these large flat screen television displays, various other large electronic displays that can project clear advertising images are now currently in use. 
         [0004]    At present, the use of these large flat screen displays is not very common. Heavily traveled locations in the largest of cities like New York&#39;s Times Square have large flat screen displays. Several professional sports facilities have large flat screen displays such as Bank One Ballpark, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. These large flat screen displays are used for advertising. 
         [0005]    With the advance of technology and manufacturing capacity, it is anticipated that these large flat screen displays with increase in number. In fact, with time, large flat screen displays may replace the printed still image billboards now seen by the highway and in the cities. This future network of electronic billboard displays will require a computer-based network to manage them. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object of the present invention is a computer-based system that manages a network of electronic billboards through a wireless telecommunications system. This electronic billboard management system is comprised of a web-site supported by a global computer network. This web-site communicates with the network of electronic billboards through a variety of methods. The primary method of communication is a wireless telecommunications link. The web-site accesses a communications server that dials out to a communications antenna or satellite link. This antenna or satellite then transmits information from the web-site to the wireless receiver connected to the electronic billboard. Alternatively, billboards may include a direct telephone line for communication with the web-site. 
         [0007]    To buy advertising space on this network of electronic billboards, a purchaser will access the web-site supported by the global computer network via an Internet service provider (ISP). Once the purchaser has accessed the web-site, the purchaser will first encounter the web-site login system. If the purchaser is a first time purchaser, he will have to go through a registration system. The purchaser will have to provide their personal name, company name, billing address, e-mail address contact information, and other general information. Once the purchaser has registered, the web-site registrations system will provide him with a login name and password. If the purchaser has already registered, they will simply provide their login name and password to the login system. 
         [0008]    Once the purchaser has logged in, he or she has access to the Purchase Advertising System, Upload Advertising System, the Account Support System, and the Advertising Design System. To buy advertising on one or more of the electronic billboards, the purchaser will access the Purchase Advertising System. The Purchase Advertising System includes a series of maps that show the locations of the electronic billboards throughout the nation and the world. These maps are layered in order of detail. The first level map shows the entire world. A purchaser will then select a country in which they wish to advertise. From there the purchaser can select state, county, and city maps to determine the location of available billboards. In addition, these maps include the ability to access a digital image of the actual billboard and its surrounding vicinity. 
         [0009]    A purchaser would now access the availability screen. This availability screen lists the locations and times of electronic billboard space that is still available for purchase. 
         [0010]    To actually buy advertising space on these electronic billboards, a purchaser will access a purchase advertising order form within the Purchase Advertising System. On this order form, a purchaser can select the number of electronic billboards and the geographic area in which he wishes to advertise. In addition, the purchaser can select the time at which he wishes to advertise. For instance, a purchase could buy space on all of the electronic billboards in an entire city for five minutes at the same time. The web-site will determine the cost for renting the space requested by the purchaser. The purchaser would then enter credit card information to pay for the rented advertising space. Once the purchaser has paid for the rented space, the web-site will give him an access code to for use with the Upload Advertising System to upload the actual advertisement to the computer system. 
         [0011]    A purchaser can create an advertisement through two methods. He or she can either create an advertisement using his or her own resources. Or, he or she can access the Advertising Design System. The Advertising Design System is a graphics art computer program that can create a variety of still or animated images. A purchaser who lacks the software to create their own advertising can thereby use the software supported by the web-site to create and advertisement. 
         [0012]    Once a purchaser has created an advertisement, he will then access the Upload Advertising System. The purchaser will provide the Upload Advertising System with the code created by the Purchase Advertising System. This code enables the Upload Advertising System to access the purchaser&#39;s account and determine which billboards are to carry the advertisement at what times. The Upload Advertising System then accesses a communications server that dials out to a communications antenna or satellite link. This antenna or satellite then transmits digital advertisement from the web-site to the wireless receiver connected to the electronic billboard. Alternatively, billboards may include a direct telephone line for communication with the web-site. 
         [0013]    The primary object of the invention is to create a computer supported method and system that can manage a plurality of electronic billboards. A further object of the invention is to produce a system whereby purchasers of billboard advertising can buy advertising space on electronic billboards via the Internet. A still further object of the invention is to enable the Internet based billboard management system to communicate with the network of electronic billboards through a wireless communications system. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the invention is implemented to provide a method for operating a computer supported method and system that can manage a plurality of electronic billboards. In another embodiment, the invention is implemented to provide an apparatus for operating a computer supported method and system that can manage a plurality of electronic billboards. In still another embodiment, the invention is implemented to provide a signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a data processing apparatus for operating a computer supported method and system that can manage a plurality of electronic billboards. Finally, another embodiment consists of logic circuitry having a plurality of interconnected, electrically or optically conductive elements configured for operating a computer supported method and system that can manage a plurality of electronic billboards. 
         [0015]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself; however, both as to its structure and operation together with the additional objects and advantages thereof are best understood through the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a diagram of the overall system for managing a network of electronic billboards; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a diagram of the wireless system of a single electronic billboard; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of the systems comprising the management system supported by a web-site on a global computer network; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows the process of logging in and registering as a user; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows the process for searching for available advertising space; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  shows the process for buying an advertisement; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows the process for creating an advertisement; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  shows the process for uploading an advertisement and distributing it to the network of electronic billboards; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  shows a user/registration database; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  shows an electronic billboard database; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  shows an information bearing cartridge; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  shows an information bearing storage medium for the microcode used in processing the activity of the electronic billboard management system; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  shows an information bearing semiconductor chip. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    A diagram of the overall system for managing a network of electronic billboards is shown in  FIG. 1 . A plurality of personal home computers  110  are connected to a global computer network  115  such as an Internet. This global computer network  115  is connected to a local Ethernet  124 . The Ethernet  124  is managed by a system administration computer  123 . A database server  120 , a web server  121 , and a communications server  122  are connected to the Ethernet  124 . The database server  120  stores the user/registration database  900  shown in  FIG. 9 . The database server  120  also stores the billboard database  10000  shown in  FIG. 10 . The web server  121  supports the web site  300 , shown in  FIG. 3 , that is accessible from the global computer network  115 . 
         [0031]    The communications server  122  connects the Ethernet  124  to a satellite dish  126  or a radio antenna  127  through a communications system  125  in order to wirelessly communicate with one or more electronic billboard systems  130  located within a geographic region such as the State of Arizona. In the event a satellite dish  126  is used, data bearing signals  129  are transmitted from the satellite dish  126  to a satellite  128  and relayed to one or more of the electronic billboard systems  130 . The communications server  122  can also elect to transmit data bearing signals  129  through a radio tower  127  to one or more of the electronic billboard systems  130 . The signals  129  can be either analog or digital signals. 
         [0032]    In order to access the web site  300 , a user will first log on to one of the personal computers  110 . The user will then access the global computer network  115  from her personal computer  110 . Once the user has accesses the global computer network  115 , the user will direct her computer to access the web site  300  supported by the web server  121 . Once the user is in communication with the web site  300  whose architecture is shown by the chart  300 , the user can conduct electronic billboard commerce. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a diagram of the wireless system of a single electronic billboard. Visual output of the advertisement is seen on display  201 . Display  201  could preferably be a gas-discharge display, which is commonly known as a plasma display. A gas-discharge display contains neon between a horizontal and vertical set of electrodes. When a vertical and a horizontal electrode are charged, the neon glows at their intersection, emitting light. Display  201  may equally be a cathode ray tube (CRT) commonly used with desktop computers, a liquid crystal display, light emitting diode display, or a flat panel electroluminescent display. 
         [0034]    Display  201  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) commonly used in laptops, cell-phones, fax machines, etc. An LCD display uses organic fluids called liquid crystals, because liquid crystals possess two important properties. First, liquid crystals are transparent but can alter the orientation of polarized light passing through them. Second, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules and their polarization properties can be changed by applying an electric field. Liquid crystals are sandwiched between two glass plates, the outsides of which having been coated with polarizing filters and the inner plate is typically backlit via fluorescent light. Inside these glass plates is a matrix of electrodes. When an element of the matrix, called a pixel, experiences a voltage change, the polarization of the adjacent liquid crystal molecules change, which alters the light transmitted through the LCD pixel and hence seen by the user. 
         [0035]    Display  201  could equally use light emitting diodes (LEDs) which are a semiconductor device that converts electrical energy into light. LEDs work on the principle of electroluminescence and are produce little heat for an amount of light output. Display  201  could be a flat panel electroluminescent display, where a thin phosphor layer is set between vertical and horizontal electrodes. These electrodes form an X-Y Cartesian coordinate system. When a vertical and a horizontal electrode are charged, the phosphor at their intersection emits light. 
         [0036]    The display  201  is connected to a local computer  202  that is in communication with an antenna  203 . The antenna  203  receives signals  129  transmitted from either the satellite  128  or the radio tower  127 . The local computer  202  supports the communications software that acquires and stores the signals  129  received by the antenna  203 . The local computer  202  also supports the software that operates the display  201 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows architecture menu  300 . Architecture menu  300  comprises login system  302 . If a prospective user is not yet registered, there is registration system  304 . Once the user is registered, the user has access to purchase system  310 , upload system  312 , create ad system  314 , and account system  316 . In the event that a purchaser has not already produced an advertisement to show on a display  201 , the purchaser can create an advertisement using the create ad system  314 . The create ad system  314  is comprised of a photo-paint software system that produces animated and still drawings. The purchaser can access the account system  316  to examine the financial activity on their account. The purchaser can view how many billboards she has purchased and at what price. The purchaser can also update their contact information such as phone, fax, mailing address, and email address. The purchaser can also update their billing information or credit card information through the account system  316 . 
         [0038]    Registration system is further developed in  FIG. 4 . When a user accesses the website, step  400 , step  402  is used to determine whether the user is already registered. If the user is already registered, the process flows to step  404 , which sends the process to step  500  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0039]    However, if the user is not already registered in step  402 , the registration process flows to step  406 , where the user completes an online registration form. The registration process then flows to step  408 , where the input provided by the prospective user is checked. If the input is not valid, due to invalid email address, nonexistent credit card information, etc., step  408  returns to step  406  and the user is again asked to complete the online registration form. However, if the input is verified as valid in step  408 , the registration process flows to step  410  where the system stores the data for future use. Then the registration process flows to step  412 , where the system entails a logon name and password to the user via the email address supplied by the user. Then the registration process ends at step  420 . 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 5 , the user enters his or her logon and password in step  502 . In step  504 , the system searches the database of users. From step  504 , the logon process flows to step  506 , where the system checks as to whether the logon and password are valid. If the logon and password are not valid, the logon process flows to step  508 , where the counter of the number of logon attempts is incremented by one, pwtrial=pwtrial+1. In step  510 , the counter pwtrial is compared against a threshold number N 1 . This threshold number could be set by the system administrator. A suitable value for N 1  could be three. If the counter does not exceed this threshold number N 1  in step  510 , the logon process flows to step  511 , where the user receives an “Invalid logon and password” message. Then, the process goes back to step  502  for another logon attempt. 
         [0041]    However, if the counter of the number of logon attempts exceeds threshold N 1  in step  510 , the logon process flows to step  512  and the account is frozen for security reasons. This is to prevent hackers from causing harm. The logon process flows to step  514 , where a security alert is issued to the system administrator before the logon process “abnormally ends” or abends in step  516 . 
         [0042]    If the user provides a valid logon and password in step  506 , the logon process flows to step  520 , where the counter of the number of logon attempts is reset to zero, pwtrial=0. Then the logon process flows to step  522  where the user is given access to the main menu, which was described in  FIG. 3 . The logon process flows to step  524 , signifying that the logon process is now complete. 
         [0043]    Once the logon process is completed,  FIG. 5 , the user may enter the access purchase system process, step  600  of  FIG. 6 . The purchase process flows to step  602 , where the system gives the user a table of available locations, available time periods or slots, and the prices associated with those locations and time periods. The purchase process then flows to step  604 , where the user specified the desired billboard location and time periods. The purchase process then flows to step  606 , where the purchase process searches the database for the availability of the desired billboard location and time periods. In step  608 , the query is made as to whether the requested location and time is available. If the requested location and time is not available, the purchase process flows to step  606 , where the user is queried if he or she desires to continue with the purchase process. If the user does wish to continue with the purchase process in step  616 , the process flows to step  602 . If the user does not wish to continue with the purchase process in step  616 , the purchase process exits at step  630 . 
         [0044]    If in step  608 , the requested location and time is available, the purchase process flows to step  610 , where the purchase process accesses the price database. Then the purchase process flows to step  612 , where the user is asked whether he or she wishes to purchase the available location and time. If the user answers no, the purchase process flows to step  616 . However, if the user does wish to purchase the location and time, the process flows to step  618  and the user then completes an online purchase form. The purchase process then flows to step  620 , where the user is provided with an upload code, for uploading his or her advertisement. Then, the purchase process flows back to step  616 , where the user is queried whether he or she wishes to continue and possibly make additional purchases. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 7 , the user prepares to upload advertising in step  700 . The upload process flows to step  702 , where the user provides the upload code. The upload process flows to step  704 , where the system searches the upload database in an attempt to check the validity of the upload code. If the upload code is correct, the upload process flows to step  720 , where the counter for attempts to enter the upload code is reset to zero, uptrial=0. Then the upload process flows to step  730 , which signifies a jump to step  800  of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0046]    If the upload code is not correct in step  706 , the logon process flows to step  708 , where the counter of the number of upload code attempts is incremented by one, uptrial=uptrial+1. In step  710 , the counter uptrial is compared against a threshold number N 2 . This threshold number could be set by the system administrator. A suitable value for N 2  could be three. If the counter does not exceed this threshold number N 2  in step  710 , the logon process flows to step  718 , where the user receives an “Invalid upload code” message. Then, the process goes back to step  702  for another logon attempt. 
         [0047]    However, if the counter of the number of upload code attempts exceeds threshold N 2  in step  710 , the logon process flows to step  712  and the account is frozen for security reasons. This is to prevent hackers from causing harm. The logon process flows to step  714 , where a security alert is issued to the system administrator before the logon process “abnormally ends” or abends in step  716 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 8  gives the rest of the upload process, which begins with step  800 , which the user reaches upon correctly entering his or her upload code. The upload process then continues to step  802 , where the system issues a request to the user for the location of the advertisement file for upload. The upload process flows to step  804 , where the user provides the location of the file to be uploaded and the file is uploaded to the system. The upload process then flows to step  806 , where the system performs a check of the advertisement file, to insure it is in the correct format and compatible with the display technology which will display the file. If the advertisement file is not correct in step  806 , the upload process flows to step  808 , where an “Improper Format” message is displayed to the user. Then the upload process flows from step  808  to step  802  where the user can upload a correct advertising file. 
         [0049]    If the advertising file is in the correct format in step  806 , the upload process flows to step  810 , where the system accesses the communications server. The upload process then flows to step  812 , where the system transmits the advertisement file to the remote electronic billboard network. Then upload process then flows to step  814 , where the advertisement file is displayed on the electronic billboard at the desired location and desired time. The upload process then flows to step  820 , which is the conclusion of the upload process. 
         [0050]      FIG. 9  shows a user/registration database  900 . Template  900  includes the contact person&#39;s name  901 , mailing address  902 , city  903 , state  904 , country and Zip code  905 , phone number  906 , fax number  907 , email address  908 , and company name  909 , name of contact  910 , username  911 , password  912 , and Internet address  913 , A purchaser seeking to register as a user on the system will provide information for  901 ,  902 ,  903 ,  904 ,  905 ,  906 ,  907 ,  908 ,  909 ,  910 , and  913 . The registration system  304  generates the username  911  and the password  912  and stores them in the table  900 . The registration system emails the username  911  and the password  912  to the purchaser at the email address  908 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 10  shows an electronic billboard database  1000 . The table  1000  provides a listing of all of the electronic billboard systems  130  in the network by their billboard number  1001 , street address  1010 , city  1011 , state  1012 , and zip code  1013 . The purchase system  310  uses the information  1001 ,  1010 ,  1011 ,  1012 , and  1013  to generate a map showing the locations of billboards  130  available for purchase. Section  1014  provides a table of the times and prices of the billboards  130 . The billboards in this table are shown being for sale in four hour blocks of time at 12 am, 4 am, 8 am, 12 pm, 4 pm, and 8 pm. An “X” in a time block indicates that the billboard  130  has already been purchased. A number in the time block indicates the price at which that four hour time block for that billboard  130  can be purchased. If the purchaser buys a block of time, the purchase system  314  writes an “X” in the table for every block of time purchased. While this table is shown dividing the available electronic billboard space into four hour blocks of time, any time increment is possible. 
         [0052]      FIG. 11  shows a typical floppy disk cartridge  1100  which could be used hold the microcode used in processing the activity of the electronic billboard management system. Floppy disk cartridge  1100  consists of cartridge body  1101  and shutter  1102 . Shutter  1102  has an opening  1103 , so that I/O can be performed on the data on disk inside of the cartridge body  1101 . Cartridge body  1101  has an opening  1104  so that the hub  1105  of the floppy disk can be rotated by a floppy disk drive, for the purposes of I/O. 
         [0053]      FIG. 12  shows a typical floppy disk  1200  which would be contained in floppy disk cartridge  1100 . Floppy disk  1200  has an circular outer perimeter  1201 . Data is recorded in circular or spiral tracks  1203  between the inner recording radius  1204  and the outer recording radius  1202 . Hub  1205  is used to rotate the floppy disk  1200  so that I/O can be performed on the data in tracks  1203 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  shows computer chip  1300 . Computer chip  1300  may be a RAM, EPROM, or ASIC chip, etc. The exterior of chip  1300  shows a typically square or rectangular body  1301  with a plurality of electrical connectors  1302  along the perimeter of body  1301 . There is typically an alignment dot  1303  at one corner of chip  1300  to assist with the proper alignment of chip  1300  on a card. Within body  1301 , chip  1300  consists of a number of interconnected electrical elements, such as transistors, resistors, and diodes. These interconnected electrical elements are fabricated on a single chip of silicon crystal or other semiconductor material such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) by use of photolithography. One complete layering-sequence in the photolithography process is to deposit a layer of material on the chip, coat it with photoresist, etch away the photoresist where the deposited material is not desired, remove the undesirable deposited material which is no longer protected by the photoresist, and then remove the photoresist where the deposited material is desired. By many such photolithography layering-sequences, very-large-scale integration (VLSI) can result in tens of thousands of electrical elements on a single chip. Ultra-large-scale integration (ULSI) can result in a hundred thousand electrical elements on a single chip. 
         [0055]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood to those skilled in the art, that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.