Abstract:
The present invention relates to a network based digital signage apparatus and a method for causing the digital signage apparatus to retrieve content from a remote server, for use in displaying content thereon. By utilizing a computer network to cause a digital signage device to remotely retrieve and store and/or display content, the instant invention potentially offers significant cost savings over the use of traditional digital signage systems that require separate media player and controller hardware.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/411,152, filed Nov. 8, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for facilitating the remote display of content. In particular, this invention involves a method and apparatus for use in remotely retrieving, managing and displaying content via a network based digital signage device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Digital signage is a form of electronic display that shows information, advertising and other messages. Conventional digital signs (such as LCD, LED, plasma displays, or projected images etc.) are often found in public and private environments, such as retail stores and corporate buildings. The benefits of digital signage over static signs, in situations where changing signs are preferred over static signs, are that the content can be easily changed, animations can be shown, and the digital signage display can be adapted to the context and the audience, even interactively. In many applications, digital signage advertising offers advantages over traditional advertising because digital advertisements are often cheaper to generate, and can be used to display unlimited content, as opposed to paper advertising. Thus, in many scenarios, digital signage can offer a superior return on investment as compared to temporary and/or promotional signs made from other substrates. 
         [0004]    In recent years, the market for public information displays has evolved considerably to include full motion video content combined with images and text displayed on high-resolution video graphics screens. As hardware prices decline, it is becoming more and more common to see digital signage systems in shopping centers, hotels, university campuses and corporate lobbies etc. However, conventional digital signage devices typically rely on the use of separate audio/video equipment for pushing the desired content to the digital display device. For example, traditional digital signage systems often require a separate controller box and/or media player (such as a DVD player) to push content to the signage device and/or to manage the display of content. Thus, especially for applications where multiple digital signage devices are desired, the initial investment in the digital signage systems (and supporting hardware), can be quit high. In addition to high initial hardware costs, because conventional digital signage systems often require multiple connections to one or more controller box and/or media player, the installation and maintenance of such systems is often difficult and costly. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Several embodiments of the present invention answer the above and other needs by providing a method and apparatus for a remotely managed, network based digital signage device. 
         [0006]    One embodiment of the present invention includes: a housing; a display screen mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to a microprocessor; an infrared (IR) receiver mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the IR receiver is configured to receive optical signaling from a handheld control unit; a network interface mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the network interface is configured to receive one or more control commands via a network and wherein the one or more control commands originate from a remote device; and a first memory electrically coupled to the microprocessor, the first memory storing a control program readable and executable by the microprocessor to cause the microprocessor to process the one or more control commands, and wherein the control program is further configured to cause the microprocessor to initiate communication with a content server in response to the received one or more control commands, wherein the content server is separate from the remote device. 
         [0007]    In yet another embodiment, the present invention comprises a method, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at the digital signage device, one or more control commands, wherein the one or more control commands originate from a remote device and are received by the digital signage device via a network; communicating with a content server via the network, in response to the received one or more control commands, wherein the content server comprises content for playback on the digital signage device and wherein the content server is separate from the remote device; retrieving at least a portion of the content on the content server in response to the received one or more control commands; and displaying at least a portion of the retrieved content on a display screen, wherein the display screen is mechanically coupled to the digital signage device and wherein the content comprises one or more of the following: image information, video information, or audio information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts a conventional digital signage system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of the components of a digital signage device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a digital signage system according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a digital signage system comprising multiple displays according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts a block diagram for carrying out the steps of a method for retrieving and displaying content according to one preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of signals sent over a network for carrying out some embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present disclosure included herein illustrate and describe elements that are of particular relevance to the present disclosure, while eliminating, for the sake of clarity, other elements found in conventional digital signage systems. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art digital signage system  100  which includes a signage display  110 , a media device  120  and a control device  130 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , conventional digital signage systems usually include a signage display  110  that is connected to an external media device  120  and/or a control device  130 . 
         [0017]    In practice, the signage display  110  of the conventional digital signage system  100  will be connected to the media device  120  and control device  130 , via a wired connection, such as via standard audio/video or HDMI cables etc. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the media device  120  and control device  130  are connected to the signage display  110  with a wired HDMI connection and a wired RS232 connection, respectively. In prior art digital signage systems, such as that pictured in  FIG. 1 , the media device  120  typically comprises a media player such as a BluRay disc or DVD player that is configured to push content to the signage display  110 . 
         [0018]    In conventional push-technologies, such as that typified in the topology depicted in  FIG. 1 , the request for content and subsequent content transaction is initiated at the media device  120 . For example, a user may cause content to be pushed from the media device  120 , to the signage display  110  by initiating playback of content on the media device  120  (e.g. a DVD player, BluRay disc player etc.), and using the signage display  110  to merely display the received content. Furthermore, in conventional digital signage systems such as that depicted in  FIG. 1 , management and scheduling of displayed content may be controlled via an external control device  130 . That is, content scheduling and playback is managed by a control device  130  used to control the display of content pushed from the media device  120 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a digital signage device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Shown in  FIG. 2  are: a digital signage device  200 , comprising: a microprocessor  210 , a memory  220  containing a control program  230  stored thereon, a display screen  240 , a network interface  250  and an optical sensor  260 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the microprocessor  210  is electrically coupled to the memory  220 ; the microprocessor is also electrically coupled to the display screen  240 , the network interface  250  and the optical sensor  260 . The memory  220  contains the control program  230  stored thereon which is executable by the microprocessor  210  for carrying out various features of the instant invention as will be described in further detail, below. The memory  220  may comprise essentially any type of tangible, machine readable memory device. By way of example, the memory could comprise essentially any type of RAM, DRAM, ROM, USB memory or magnetic or flash based memory etc. 
         [0020]    The display screen  240  may comprise essentially any type of color or monochromatic display device suitable for carrying out the features of the instant invention. By way of example, the display screen  240  may include, but is not limited to, LED, LCD, OLED, plasma or projection based displays. In some embodiments of the invention, the display screen  240  will comprise a high definition color display. 
         [0021]    In preferred embodiments, the microprocessor  210 , the memory  220  (containing a control program  230  stored thereon), display screen  240  and the network interface  250  will be cooperated with a housing (not shown) for use in forming the digital signage device  200 . In some embodiments, the housing will be further cooperated with an optical sensor  260  for use in receiving optical signals. For example, the optical sensor  260  may comprise an infra-red (IR) based sensor for receiving light based signals from a hand held control device, such as a television remote control. 
         [0022]    In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the network interface  250  is configured to communicate with a computer network such as a WAN, LAN or the internet; however, the network interface  250  could be configured to communicate with essentially any remote electronic device via either a wired or wireless connection. As will be discussed in further detail below, the network interface is configured for bi-directional communication for use in sending/receiving control commands and other information over a network, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts a digital signage system  300  according to one preferred embodiment of the invention. Specifically, the digital signage system  300  comprises: the digital signage device  200 , a network  310 , a contents server  320  and a remote device  330 . In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the component portions of the digital signage device  200  are physically cooperated; that is, the microprocessor  210 , memory  220  (containing the control program  230 ), display screen  240  and network interface  250  are all physically cooperated into the digital signage device  200 . 
         [0024]    As depicted by  FIG. 3 , the digital signage device  200 , contents server  320  and remote device  330  are all connected to the network  310 . As illustrated, the network  310  may be either a wired or wireless network, or the connection from the digital signage device  200 , content server  320  and remote device  330  to the network may be accomplished using an intermediary network device such as a wireless router or switch. As further depicted in  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments the memory  220  of digital signage device  200  comprises an internal storage device; however, in other embodiments the memory may be a removable memory device such as a USB memory stick. 
         [0025]    The contents server  320  may comprise essentially any processor based network device that is capable storing content and transmitting content over the network  310 . By way of example, the contents server  320  may comprise, but is not limited to, a PC, web server, ftp server, game console system or network based memory device. Additionally, the content stored on the contents server  320  may comprise essentially any type of multimedia information, including but not limited to audio, video or image information etc. 
         [0026]    The remote device  330  may comprise essentially any processor based device capable of communicating with the digital signage device  200  via the network  310 . By way of example, the remote device may comprise a PC, tablet based mobile device, entertainment system or network capable mobile device such as a smart phone or PDA. 
         [0027]    In practice, the digital signage device  200  will receive one or more control commands from the remote device  330 , via the network  310 . In preferred embodiments of the invention, these received control commands will cause the control program  230  (using microprocessor  210 ), to execute steps to retrieve content from the content server  320 . That is, microprocessor  210  will pull content from the content server  320  to the digital signage device  200 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment of the present invention, receipt of control commands from remote device  330  will cause the digital signage device  200  to retrieve at least a portion of the content available on the content server  320 . Under control of control program  230 , microprocessor  210  will store at least a portion of the retrieved content to the memory  220 . In preferred embodiments, stored content may be read, re-written or deleted by microprocessor  210  in conjunction with control command instructions received via the network  310 . 
         [0029]    In another embodiment of the present invention, microprocessor  210  will cause the retrieval of content from the content server  320  without storage to the memory  220 . That is, in accordance with control commands received via the network,  310 , the digital signage device  200  will initiate the streaming of at least a portion of the content on the content server  320  to the digital signage device  200 . In preferred embodiments, content streamed from the content server  320  to the digital signage device will be used for immediate (or near immediate) processing and/or playback on the display screen  240 . As will be discussed in further detail below, content management and playback scheduling can be coordinated with the playlist in accordance with control commands received from the remote device  330 . 
         [0030]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the content server  320  may be configured to perform the above described functions of remote device  330 , i.e., sending and receiving control signals to the digital signage device  200 . In this configuration, the need for having a separate remote device  330  connected to network  310  will be eliminated. Such configurations may offer significant cost advantages in scenarios where additional signage devices  200  are to be added. 
         [0031]    In practice, the digital signage device  200  will receive one or more control commands from the content server  320 , via the network  310 . These received control commands will cause the control program  230  (using microprocessor  210 ), to execute steps to retrieve content from the content server  320 . That is, microprocessor  210  will pull content from the content server  320  to the digital signage device  200 . 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, receipt of one or more control commands from the content server  320  will cause the digital signage device  200  to retrieve at least a portion of the content available on the content server  320 . Under control of control program  230 , microprocessor  210  will store at least a portion of the retrieved content to the memory  220 . In preferred embodiments, stored content may be read, re-written or deleted by microprocessor  210  in conjunction with control command instructions received via the network  310 . 
         [0033]    In another embodiment of the present invention, microprocessor  210  will cause the retrieval of content from the content server  320  without causing the retrieved content to be stored to the memory  220 . That is, in accordance with control commands received via the network  310 , the digital signage device  200  will initiate the streaming of at least a portion of the content on the content server  320  to the digital signage device  200 . The content streamed from the content server  320  to the digital signage device will be used for immediate (or near immediate) processing and/or playback on the display screen  240 . As will be discussed in further detail below, content management and playback scheduling may also be coordinated with the playlist in accordance with control commands received from the content server  320 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  depicts the topology of a digital signage system  300  according to another preferred embodiment of the invention. For example, in some embodiments, the digital signage system  300  may comprise more than one digital signage device  200 . The content server  320 , remote device  330  and digital signage devices  200 , are communicated with the network  310  (not shown) such that each of the digital signage devices  200  can communicate with the content server  320  and remote device  330 . By way of example, each of the digital signage devices  200  may receive control commands from the remote device  330  causing the digital signage devices to request content from the content server  320 . In response to this request, content is synced as between each of the digital signage devices  200  and the content server  320 . In some embodiments, the content delivered to each individual digital signage device may vary. In some embodiments, certain of the individual signage devices may stream content from the content server  320 , whereas others of the individual signage devices may store received content on the memory for later access and display. 
         [0035]    In preferred embodiments of the instant invention, the remote device  330  will further send control commands to control the management and playback of content on the digital signage device/s  200  using one or more playlists. For example, a user operating the remote device  330  may send control commands to one or more of the digital signage devices  200  to add, edit/update or delete a playlist on the one or more signage device/s  200 . As will be understood by those of skill in the art, one or more playlists on the one or more digital signage device/s may be use to manage the scheduling and playback of the content received from the content server. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  depicts a block diagram illustrating the steps of a method  500  executed by control program  230  using microprocessor  210 , on digital signage device  200  according to one embodiment of the instant invention. Although the following steps make reference to the execution of the method  500  on one digital signage device  200 , one of skill in the art would appreciate that the method  500  could be carried out on two or more devices on the same or separate networks. In step  510 , the digital signage device/s receive one or more control commands via the network  310 . The control commands of step  510  comprise multiple instructions, executable by the microprocessor  210 , for use in retrieving and managing content from the content server  320 . However, in various embodiments, the received control commands may consist of either content management instructions or content retrieval instructions (at the exclusion of the other). 
         [0037]    In step  520 , a playlist is created at remote device  330  and then downloaded to digital signage device  200  for execution thereon. In embodiments wherein the content server  320  may control operation of the digital signage device  200 , the control signals may originate from the content server  320 , without the need for a separate remote device  330 . By way of example, the content server  320  and/or remote device  330  may be used to create one or more playlists that include content items of virtually any type, including but not limited to, image, video and audio information. Additionally, playlists may be created to provide sophisticated scheduling for the playback of different content items. For example, playlist scheduling may enable the playback of a particular content item between two arbitrary points in time before proceeding to the next content item. 
         [0038]    Proceeding to step  530 , control program  230  causes the digital signage device to contact the content server  320  and to index the available content provided by the content server  320 . As discussed above, communication between the digital signage device  200  and the content server  320  may occur using either a wired or wireless network  310 . 
         [0039]    In step  540 , the received control commands cause the digital signage device to retrieve (or pull) content from the content server  320 . In some embodiments, the content items to be retrieved may be specified in the playlist information of step  520 . In alternative embodiments, the digital signage device  200  may simply retrieve all or a portion of the content on content server  320  in accordance with the instructions of the received control commands. Retrieved content items may either be streamed from the content server  320  to the digital signage device  200  or they may be stored on the memory  220  of the digital signage device  200 . For example, in optional step  550 , the content retrieved from the content server  320  is streamed to the digital signage device  200  such that the received content is processed and displayed on display screen  240  without storage to the memory  220 . In another embodiment of the invention, according to optional step  560 , the retrieved content of content server  320  is stored on the memory  220 , before being accessed for playback by microprocessor  210 . 
         [0040]    In step  570 , the playlist of step  520  is executed by microprocessor  210  to cause the playback of content received from content server  320 . In step  580 , the execution of the playlist will cause the display of images or video on the display screen  240  of digital signage device  200 . In some embodiments, the execution of the playlist may cause the playback of audio information, either alone or in conjunction with, the playback of image and/or video information. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flow diagram for the signaling steps of the digital signage system  300 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , signaling is initiated by remote device  330  wherein control commands are sent to the digital signage device  200 , in signaling step  610 . The initial control commands transmitted to the digital signage device may include a multitude of instructions including on/off commands, status requests etc. Furthermore, control commands received by the digital signage device  200  may include essentially any type of control command. For example, received control commands may comprise virtually any type of instruction that may be transmitted via a television remote control (e.g. volume control, input switching, playback status updates, screen settings etc.). 
         [0042]    In at least one preferred embodiment of the invention, the initial control commands received by the digital signage device will comprise instructions to retrieve content from the content server  320  and may comprise information regarding a virtual or web address of the content server and/or information regarding what content should be retrieved. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the received control commands comprise instructions adapted to use JsonRPC protocols. 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, after receiving the initial control commands the digital signage device will initiate communication with the content server  320 . This communication may cause the content server  320  to perform a number of tasks; however, in one preferred embodiment the content server  320  will respond by transmitting requested content to the digital signage device  200 . As depicted in signaling step  630 , the digital signage device will receive the requested content from the content server  320 , at which point the requested content may be either streamed or stored to memory  220  (not depicted). In signaling step  640 , the digital signage device  200  receives additional control command signaling from the remote device  330 . As illustrated, in one preferred embodiment, the received control commands will comprise instructions to edit/update a playlist stored on memory  220  of digital signage device  200 . As illustrated in signaling step  650 , in response to the received “edit playlist” control commands of signaling step  640 , the digital signage device  200  may update and or execute one or more playlists. 
         [0044]    The present invention has been described above in terms of a presently preferred embodiment so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. There are, however, many configurations for the system not specifically described herein but with which the present invention is applicable. The present invention should therefore not be seen as limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but rather, it should be understood that the present invention has wide applicability with respect to track light systems generally. All modifications, variations, or equivalent arrangements and implementations that are within the scopes of the attached claims should therefore be considered within the scope of the invention.