Abstract:
A kiosk having an electronic billboard video display which display is switched to a reduced area display associated with an interactive terminal in the kiosk. Chromogenically activated privacy panels are rendered opaque when the terminal is in use to block viewing of the reduced area display.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional serial No. 60/239,513, filed Oct. 11, 2000. 
     
    
     
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
         [0002]    The computer program listing appendix on the accompanying compact discs of computer program listing appendix labeled copy 1 and copy 2, each containing the file WEB BILLBOARD 1.0 created on Oct. 9, 2001, each containing 13,100 bytes is hereby incorporated by reference to form a part of this specification. This file comprises a suitable source code to be loaded in the interactive terminal computer to carry out the various functions described herein.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Large scale billboards are often used in high traffic public places such as airports, malls, plazas, etc for commercial advertising. Electronic displays are sometime used for this purpose, exhibiting large scale video images, either still frame or fall motion videos to be eye-catching and to have maximum commercial impact.  
           [0004]    Public interactive terminals are also in widespread use at such locations for obtaining information, such as for hotels, restaurants, etc., or conducting internet transactions, frequently housed in kiosks mounting fixed advertising graphics.  
           [0005]    It is costly to have such large scale electronic displays in these locations due to the high expense incurred for rental of the space and for the hardware necessary to display full motion videos and the need to maintain and periodically update the displays. On the other hand, the commercial value of the great public exposure of displays located in these locations is high.  
           [0006]    It is the object of the present invention to provide a large scale electronic display which is combined with an interactive terminal to maximize the usage of the display hardware to improve its cost effectiveness and to enhance its commercial value by providing other modes of commercial promotion.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of maintaining and updating a large scale electronic display.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The above object and others, which will become apparent upon a reading of the following specification and claims, are achieved by mounting an electronic billboard comprised of a large scale electronic display screen to a kiosk or booth so as to exhibit an image readily viewable by persons at some distance from the kiosk. A lower section of the electronic display screen lies immediately above an interactive terminal in the kiosk, with chromogenic privacy panels extending alongside the terminal to block viewing of the lower section of the screen but only when there is a person using the interactive terminal so that the entire display is normally viewable by passersby.  
           [0009]    The display screen normally exhibits a large scale image for viewing by all persons in the general area of the kiosk, an interactive terminal computer having a stored video signal transmitted to the electronic display.  
           [0010]    An approach within a short distance by an interested person is detected by a short range motion-proximity sensor, which causes the computer to change the large scale image to a display image having a message inviting use of the interactive terminal. When a person steps up to the terminal and touches a keyboard, touch pad or a touch screen comprised of the lower section of the screen, the computer causes a display image from the interactive terminal to be exhibited confined to the lowermost section of the screen, and also causes the chromogenic panels to be rendered opaque. The interactive terminal is controlled by a touch screen capability of the electronic display, or by a keyboard, touch pad or mouse, or by manipulation of combinations of the same, to allow stored information to be accessed and/or internet transactions or data access to be enabled. The internet connection can also be used to change or update the video signal data in th computer to modify the large scale and interactive terminal displays from a remote location. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a kiosk according to the present invention equipped with a large scale electronic display screen and an interactive terminal.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a downward looking diagrammatic representation of the large display screen and interactive terminal together with other related components and connections.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a front view of a typical screen display during the interactive mode.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of the interactive terminal screen display.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0016]    Referring to the Drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, a kiosk or booth  10  is shown which has a base  16  mounting a large scale electronic display  12  held upright for viewing of images comprising a full motion video, or changing still pictures which can be readily viewed by passersby at some distance, thereby functioning as an electronic billboard.  
         [0017]    A pair of normally transparent chromogenic privacy panels  14  project from each side of the lower section of the electronic display  12  to define a privacy space therebetween when the panels  14  are rendered opaque by an electrical circuit.  
         [0018]    An interactive terminal computer  18  is located below and in front of the electronic display  12  within the privacy space between the panels  14 .  
         [0019]    The terminal computer  18  can be a conventional IBM compatible PC using a Windows 2000 operating program, of suitable speed and other capabilities to be able to exhibit desired displayed images.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the large area electronic display  12 , interactive terminal computer  18  and related system components.  
         [0021]    The electronic display  12  is preferably a plasma panel display (PDP)  20 , and preferably can be used as a touch screen by means of a touch system  20  surrounding the electronic display  12 . The touch system  20  is comprised of a frame  22  containing an array of LED&#39;s and electronics allowing a user to interact with the interactive terminal computer  18 . A suitable such system is available from Imaging Systems Technology (IST) of Toledo, Ohio, under the Touch Screen trade name.  
         [0022]    As noted, the electronic display  12  is quite large to exhibit images readily viewable at a considerable distance, i.e., a screen size on the order of a 52 inches diagonal is preferable although smaller sizes such as 42 inches diagonal may be adequate.  
         [0023]    A video display signal is received by the PDP from the computer  18 , the PDP connected to the monitor part, which causes a full motion or a changing still image to normally be exhibited, which in a first mode occupies the entire area of the display  12 , the lower section thereof viewable through the normally transparent panels  14 .  
         [0024]    A motion-proximity detector  26 , which may be comprised of a downwardly aimed conventional motion detector, produces a signal when a passerby approaches, approximately within three feet, causing a second displayed image to be exhibited containing a message inviting interactive use.  
         [0025]    The motion-proximity sensor  26  is connected to the computer  18  as to a serial port, with a suitable signal conversion, as by use of a relay, so as to be compatible with the computer in any manner well known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0026]    When the passerby steps up to the terminal  18  and interacts therewith, as by pressing a key on a keyboard  28 , or contacting a touch pad  30  (or mouse), or touches the electronic display  12 , the display is switched to a second mode, in which interactive terminal images are exhibited on the lower section  32  of the display  12  within the space between the privacy panels  14 . At the same time, the panels  14  are rendered opaque by a control signal from the computer  18  causing and electrical circuit to be operated to cause the panels  14  to become partially or wholly opaque to block viewing of the lowermost section  32  by persons not within the privacy space between the panels  14 .  
         [0027]    Other images can be exhibited at this time on the upper section of the display  12 , as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0028]    Such chromogenic panels can be constructed in various ways, such as by applying a special electrochromic film to glass panels, which film is normally transparent but which becomes opaque when a current is applied (or removed). See U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,266,177; 6,245,262; and 6,039,390 for examples of these films. Other chromogenic devices such as liquid crystal and thermotropic devices are described in  Project B 3  Final Report. Task  18 by Mike Rubin of the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, published in 1997 by IEA.  
         [0029]    A card swipe reader  36  is also connected to the computer  18  for executing internet transactions.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 shows a typical interactive display contemplated, as for example providing information and/or transactions in a large office building.  
         [0031]    An image in the upper region of the display can remain while the interactive terminal is in use.  
         [0032]    Transactions and data transfers may be executed via the internet connection  34 , in response to input from the interactive terminal computer  18 .  
         [0033]    In addition, the display images can be updated or changed from a remote location.  
         [0034]    A thermal printer  38  can also be connected to allow confirming copies of transaction details.  
         [0035]    The user can control the session variously by the touch screen capability, the keyboard or the touch pad. Access to various hard drive content features regarding products, retail store locations, miscellaneous relevant information, etc. is also thereby enabled.  
         [0036]    By connection to the internet, commercial web sites of advertisers can be contacted where user transactions may be enabled.  
         [0037]    When the user ends his or her session, and steps away, the display  12  clears, and a full scale image is again exhibited.  
         [0038]    A typical computer program is set forth in the source code listing contained on the compact disc appendix referenced above, although it should be noted that a mouse signal has been substituted therein for the motion-proximity sensor signal contemplated.