Abstract:
Techniques for displaying messages on top of a vehicle are disclosed. Although useful in many other areas, the techniques are particularly suitable for taxicab. According to one aspect of these techniques, a display unit is mounted on top of a vehicle. The display unit includes at least two display panels facing outward respectively. The display unit is controlled by a computing device to display various messages. In one embodiment, the vehicle is provided a Global Positioning System (GPS) that determines a location of the vehicle. Coupled to the GPS, the computing device sends the location information of the vehicle to a base station and receives returned information from the base station in accordance with the location information. The returned information, at least some of which are location based, is locally processed for suitable display on the display panels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the area of presenting information for advertising or other purposes, and more specifically to a method and system for displaying information on top of a moving vehicle, at least some of the displayed information, at the time of being displayed, pertaining to the location of the moving vehicle. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Studies show that people notice words and pictures displayed on moving objects, such as trucks more than those on stationary billboards. That is why nearly all companies use their trucks to promote intended messages. For example, delivery trucks by United Parcel Service (UPS) are all in brown color and carry the company logo as well as service messages while moving trucks from U-haul are all in orange and white colors and imprinted with different sizes of available trucks and corresponding prices. The purpose of using trucks as moving billboards is to make a company stand out and get noticed in traffic areas. Similarly, advertisements or any commercial messages on moving vehicles create an eye level impact so as to increase awareness and overall positive impression for the advertiser (e.g., a company). 
   The moving advertisements on moving vehicles have proven to be as an effective advertising medium. Innovations in making such moving advertisements include vehicles (e.g., buses) entirely wrapped in electrostatic marking film carrying advertising messages. However, the moving advertisements on vehicles are stationary and sometimes permanent. It is generally difficult to change any messages or contents on the advertisements from time to time. 
   It is well known in the advertising industry that direct or relevant marketing is much more effective than the mass marketing, namely an advertisement pertaining to someone&#39;s interest or need would generate a response. For example, showing a pricy European-style furniture advertisement would make a lot of sense in a well established residential area than in a disadvantaged or crowded neighborhood. 
   Accordingly, there is a great need for solutions conveying information dynamically from a moving vehicle to viewers, wherein the information is conveyed based on a location of the moving vehicle and more related to viewers in the location and/or the time at which the information is seen. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This section is for the purpose of summarizing some aspects of the present invention and to briefly introduce some preferred embodiments. Simplifications or omissions in this section as well as in the abstract and the title may be made to avoid obscuring the purpose of this section, the abstract and the title. Such simplifications or omissions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
   The invention pertains to a display system mounted on top of a vehicle (e.g., a taxi). The display system includes a display unit configured to display messages provided locally or remotely, wherein the messages may be in form of static or moving graphics, texts, animation or video, and include a set of advertising messages and location-based messages. The display system includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) to detect the current position of the vehicle. In accordance with the location information, messages may be retrieved locally from a storage device or remotely from a base station via a wireless network. As a result, relevant messages or commercial advertisements can be displayed in the display unit. 
   The display unit includes at least two display panels and two display plates. The display panels are for displaying received or retrieved messages. In one embodiment, two display panels are mounted oppositely with the display side facing outwards such that the display panels may be readily seen when the vehicle goes around. In another embodiment, three display panels are positioned along the three sides of a triangle. When mounted on top of a vehicle, with one of three display panels facing the rear of the vehicle, all three display panels may be conveniently viewed by viewers in nearly all directions of the vehicle. Depending on implementation, the display panel in use may be of liquid crystal display (LCD) or light emitting diode (LED). The display plates are for displaying emergency messages when needed. In general, the display plates are smaller in size compared to that of the display panels. The display plates that normally display a default message may be triggered to display an emergency message. For cost consideration, the display plates are normally made based on LED. 
   One of the objects, features, advantages, benefits of the present invention is to provide a solution for conveying media information to viewers, the solution employs a vehicle mounted with a display system. When the vehicle goes around in traffic areas, relevant information displayed in the display system may be readily seen by viewers. 
   Other objects, features, advantages, benefits of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a display system suitable for being mounted on top of a moving vehicle such as a taxi, the display system includes two display panels and two display plates; 
       FIG. 2A  shows a functional block diagram of a control system in the display system; 
       FIG. 2B  shows an example of processing a media content in a media processor; 
       FIG. 2C  shows that information to be displayed may be retrieved locally or remotely; 
       FIG. 2D  shows a control of a display plate being turned a default message to an emergency message; and 
       FIG. 3  shows a flowchart or process of displaying media information to viewers via a display system mounted on top of a vehicle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention pertains to a display system mounted on top of a vehicle (e.g., a taxi). The display system includes a display unit configured to display messages provided locally or remotely, wherein the messages may be in form of static or moving graphics, texts, animation or video and include a set of advertising messages and location-based messages. The display system includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) to detect the current position of the vehicle. In accordance with the location information, messages may be retrieved locally from a storage device or remotely from a base station via a wireless network. As a result, relevant messages or commercial advertisements can be displayed in the display unit. 
   The detailed description of the invention is presented largely in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble the operations of data processing devices coupled to networks. These process descriptions and representations are typically used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Further, the order of blocks in process flowcharts or diagrams representing one or more embodiments of the invention do not inherently indicate any particular order nor imply any limitations in the invention. 
   Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.  FIG. 1  shows a display system  100  suitable for being mounted on top of a moving vehicle such as a taxi. The display system  100  includes two display panels  102  and  104  (not explicitly shown in the figure), and two display plates  106  and  108  (not explicitly shown in the figure). Preferably, the display panels  102  and  104  are identical. According to one embodiment, the display panel  102  or  104  is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. According to another embodiment, the display panel  102  or  104  includes a matrix of light emitting diodes (LED). The light emitting diodes in the matrix may be in at least three different colors (e.g., red, green and blue), surface mount diodes or tri-color diodes. To support weather proof, in one embodiment, each of the diodes is positioned and sealed on a silicon base and/or UV protected. Additionally, the display panels and/or display plates may be protected by a tinted or clear polycarbonate screen for protection from harmful UV rays and damages from vandalism or accident. 
   The two display panels  102  and  104  are provided to display media information that may include, but may not be limited to, images, graphics, animations, video and texts. The media information may be provided locally or remotely. As will be further described below, locally provided media information is typically from a storage device integrated or enclosed in the display system  100  while remotely provided multimedia information is provided wirelessly from a base station. 
   The two display plates  106  and  108  are configured to display fixed messages such as “Taxi” or “Help”. In a normal condition, a word “Taxi” or the like may be displayed. In an emergency situation in which, for example, a driver needs help, a switch in the vehicle may be activated to cause an eye-catching message (e.g., “Help”) to be displayed. In one embodiment, each of the two display plates  106  and  108  includes an array a matrix of light emitting diodes in at least one color. In a normal condition, the two display plates  106  and  108  are coupled to a fare meter and, when a taxi operates, are turned on to display a word or phrase in one color (e.g., green or yellow) to indicate that the taxi is for hire. In an emergency situation, a word or phrase is shown, perhaps in another color (e.g., red or amber), and/or flashed panically or periodically. As will be described below, the word or phrase in the emergency situation may be supplied by a base station via a network for amber alerting applications. 
   In one embodiment, spaces such as those above the display plates, referenced by  110  as an example, may be used for displaying static messages. Thus the display system  100  essentially provides means to display both media information that may be dynamic or static as well as to display pure static information in the traditional billboard style. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2A , there shows a functional block diagram  200  of a control system or computing device in the display system  100  of  FIG. 1 . According to one embodiment, the control system includes a network interface  202 , a controller  204 , a media processor  206 , a global positioning system (GPS)  208 , a storage device  209 , a display driver  210 , a power management device  212 , and a display plate controller  214 . It should be noted that not all of these components must be employed in order to practice the present invention. 
   The network interface  202  facilitates data exchange between the system  100  and a base station. In one embodiment, the network interface  202  operates to facilitate the system  100  of  FIG. 1  to exchange data over a wireless network. In one example, the network interface  202  operates in accordance with a commonly used protocol such as UDP, TCP/IP or a cellular protocol. The controller  204  controls operations of these and other components and causes the display driver  210  to output desired information in desired manners. 
   The media processor  206  may be part of the controller  204  and is configured to perform processing of media information. One of the features in the present invention is that the display system  100  of  FIG. 1  displays all types of information including static or moving graphics, texts, animations as well as motion images. Because the physical sizes of the display panels such as those panels  102  and  104  in  FIG. 1  can be in sizes different from the original sizes of the content intended to be displayed, if displayed without preprocessing, cropping or other undesired effects may be seen. In some case, a retrieved movie or message is in compressed format, the media processor  206  is configured to decompress the movie or message. The media processor  206  is provided to ensure that contents to be displayed are processed accordingly so as to display the information correctly on the display panels. 
     FIG. 2B  shows that an original content  222  is in a first size and the processed content  228  is in a second size. The original content  222  may be provided locally or remotely. The media processor  206  is configured to process the original content  222  in accordance with display parameters  224  pertaining to the display panels or other desired artistic effects. The display parameters  224  include at least information about width and height of the display panels. Subsequently, processed content is produced in a format  228  or  230 . According to one embodiment, the format  228  is simply a standard display. Like a television or computer display monitor, the standard display means herein to display the original content in fidelity. Conversely, the format  230  is a format that includes some artistic effects in the original content. For example, the height of the original content is bigger than that of the display panel, the processed content in format  230  is now in several frames that can be shown sequentially or in a rolling manner. Another example of the format  230  may include special artistic effects in the processed content, where these special artistic effects may be very suitable for a type of display panel. In an amber application, a special message is received. The message can be processed to be displayed on a display panel in a manner that readily draws attention from viewers (e.g., pedestrians). 
   The GPS  208  is a device that, when operating in conjunction with the vehicle, detects the present location of the display system. When the display system is mounted on top of a taxi, the GPS  208  indicates the present location of the taxi. According to one embodiment, the GPS  208  outputs the location information that enables the display system  100  to display location-based information. An example of the location-based information is a special offering in a local department store. Together with a current time provided inherently in the display system  100 , the location-based information can be also time-sensitive. An example of the location-based information that is also time sensitive is an advertisement of a special offer valid from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM from a local restaurant or a fast food chain store. 
     FIG. 2C  shows that the location-based information that may be also time sensitive may be from a local storage device  232  or provided from a base station via a wireless network. In one embodiment, the storage device  232  in the display system  100  is loaded with a plurality of commercial advertisements, some of which are specifically requested to be displayed in a certain location during a certain time. When a taxi happens in the specified location detected by the GPS  208  and when the certain time arrives, such commercial advertisements are retrieved and may be processed by the media processor  206  for display on the display panels. When a taxi mounted with such display system is in a location other than the specified location, commercial advertisements pertaining to the location may be provided from a base station via the wireless network  234 . Regardless of the original source of the commercial advertisements, the GPS  208  and the media processor  206  (perhaps with other components) facilitate polling of relevant commercial advertisements and to display the advertisements properly on the display panels. 
   The storage device  208  is provided to store code or software modules for various applications in addition to providing a storage space for media information. One of the modules is to facilitate the operations of many of the components in the control unit  200  of  FIG. 2 . Another one of the modules is to record time, duration or location when a particular piece of media information has been displayed. Still another one of the modules is a schedule that determines how, when and where a particular piece of media information needs to be displayed. In one application, the storage device  208  is scheduled to download media information from a base station along with a schedule. In another application, the storage device  208  is scheduled to receive certain media information from a base station when the vehicle is in a coverage area of the base station. 
   According to one embodiment, one of the modules is configured to perform conversations of media information received for display. When a received media advertisement is in MPEG2 that is good for LCD display panels but nevertheless not suitable for display on LED display panels, the module converts the media advertisement in MPEG2 to MPEG4 or other format suitable for display on the LED display panels. 
   The display driver  210  or the display plate controller  214  is a device that facilitates a proper display of any content on a corresponding display panel or plate. To distinguish the two types of functions of displays, the display  102  or  104  is referred to as a display panel while the display  106  or  108  is referred to as a display plate. Those skilled in the art would understand that it is not a limitation in the present invention that the two displays must be different. Both the displays  102  or  104  may be of the same type. In practice, according to one embodiment, the displays  106  and  108  are used for emergency messaging when needed, while the displays  102  and  104  are primarily used for conveying static or dynamic messaging to potential viewers (e.g., pedestrians). 
   The display system  100  operates on a power unit (e.g. battery) of the vehicle and may draw significant power from the power unit. The power management  212  is provided to ensure that the vehicle is not disabled from the low power of the power unit because of the display system  100 . In one embodiment, the power management  212  is configured to regulate the use of the power by the display system  100  to ensure that the display system  100  operates with a least amount of power. In another embodiment, the power management  212  is configured to automatically turn off the display system  100  in an event that the vehicle stops for an undesired lengthy period. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2D , there shows a control of the display plate  106  or  108 . The display plate  106  and  108  in a normal condition emulated with a switch  250  in “off” position show a default message. When a driver needs immediate help from others, the switch  250  is in “on” position, causing the display plate controller  214  to display an emergency message on the display plates. Preferably the emergency message is displayed in a manner that readily draws attention from others. According to one embodiment, the switch  250  may be located conveniently near the driver. When, for example, the driver is being attached or in need for help, the driver may activate the switch that causes the display plates to show an emergency message to draw attentions from viewers. In any case, it should be understood to those skilled in the art that either the default message or the emergency message may be dynamically changed to a situation or electronically determined by the control unit  200  of  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there shows a flowchart or process  300  of displaying media information to viewers via a display system mounted on top of a vehicle. The process  300  may be understood in conjunction with the previous figures and implemented as a method and a system to efficiently convey relevant information to viewers. At least some of the relevant information may be location-based and others may be time sensitive. The relevant information may come in a form of graphics, texts, animation or video. 
   As described above, a display system, such as that  100  of  FIG. 1 , is preferably mounted on top of a car (e.g., a taxi). Accordingly, at  302 , the current location of the car is determined via a GPS. At  304 , the location information is transported to a base station via a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network). The base station may be operated by a service provider and provide various information to registered cars to display some of the information at relevant location at a predefined time. In one embodiment, the location information including longitude and altitude of the vehicle is transported to the base station in data format suitable for a commonly used communication protocol (e.g., UDP or TCP/IP). 
   At  306 , the display system receives media information either locally or remotely. As described above, some of the media information may be pre-stored or loaded at a certain time in a storage device integrated or enclosed in the display system and others can be lively fed or retrieved from a base station. In one embodiment, a request including the location and time information is generated, the request is sent to the storage device to determine whether any preloaded information shall be displayed. If there is one commercial message that needs to be displayed, the message is retrieved from the storage device. The request may also be sent to the base station that determines any relevant information with criteria met by the parameters in the request. If there is one message that shall be displayed on the display system of the vehicle in the particular location at the specified time, the message is then transported in response to the request to the display system. 
   Regardless where the message or media information is retrieved, at  308 , a decision is determined whether the retrieved media information needs to be processed. If there is no need to process the retrieved information, the process  300  goes to  312  that causes the display panels to display the retrieved information. If the retrieved information needs to be processed, the process  300  goes to  310 , where the retrieved information is processed in accordance with predefined requirements (e.g., resizing and rendering to add artistic effects). The processed information is then sent to the display panels for display at  312 . 
   Other functions, not shown in  FIG. 3 , may include recording time, duration and location of a particular message that has been displayed. Such information may facilitate a service provider to determine billing information for its clients. 
   The present invention has been described in sufficient detail with a certain degree of particularity. It is understood to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure of embodiments has been made by way of examples only and that numerous changes in the arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. While the embodiments discussed herein may appear to include some limitations as to the presentation of the information units, in terms of the format and arrangement, the invention has applicability well beyond such embodiment, which can be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the forgoing description of embodiments.