Patent Publication Number: US-2012047006-A1

Title: Advertisement Management And Display System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Divisional Patent Application, which claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/113,185, filed on Apr. 30, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to distribution and display of advertisements. More particularly, the present invention relates to an advertisement management and display system, which is adapted to electronically receive advertisements from one or multiple advertisers and display the advertisements on a table with electronic display capability. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Broadcast programming is available through radio and television airwave broadcasts, cable providers, satellite transmissions and other communication channels. For years, televisions have provided viewers with a variety of entertainment, news, educational programs and advertisements. With the advent of personal computers and the Internet, these media have become almost universally available. 
     Advertisements for the goods or services of a business can be presented to potential customers by printing the advertisements on a substrate such as a newspaper, for example, or alternatively by displaying the advertisements via television programming during breaks in a broadcasted program, for example, or on a personal computer via the Internet. Advertisements on printed media are static and have a relatively limited capacity to engage the attention and interest of potential customers. On the other hand, advertisements which can be targeted to potential customers in an electronic format such as via television or Internet, for example, are dynamic and have a large capacity for customization as well as the ability to entertain while promoting goods or services. 
     Therefore, an advertisement management and display system which is adapted to display advertisements on a table with electronic display capability is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to an advertisement management and display system. The advertisement management and display system is particularly adapted to electronically receive advertisements from one or multiple advertisers and display the advertisements on a table with electronic display capability. The table can be placed in a restaurant, cafeteria, mall, club, hospital waiting area, coffee shop, airport and other area in which persons stand or sit at a table in order to advertise goods and services to potential customers. 
     In one general aspect of the present invention, the advertisement management and display system may include:
         marketing management software;   a client advertisements database communicating with the marketing management software;   at least one table; and   at least one content display device carried by the at least one table and communicating with the marketing management software. The client advertisements database is adapted to store at least one advertisement, the marketing management software is adapted to receive the advertisement or advertisements from the client advertisements database and the content display device or devices is/are adapted to receive the advertisement or advertisements from the marketing management software and display the advertisement or advertisements.       

     In a further aspect of the present invention, a marketing company may communicate with the marketing management software and may be adapted to modify the at least one advertisement. 
     In still a further aspect of the present invention, at least one advertiser may interface with the client advertisements database. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the at least one content display device may include a plurality of content display devices. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, the at least one table may include a table top and a plurality of table legs extending from the table top and the at least one content display device may be carried by the table top. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, the at least one table may include a table top and a central table top support extending from the table top and the at least one content display device may be carried by the table top. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the at least one content display device may include a display cavity provided in the at least one table; a display screen provided in the display cavity; a circuit board connected to the display screen; and a power cord connected to the circuit board. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, the display screen may include a touch-activated display screen. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a support tray may be carried by the at least one table. 
     These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a table with electronic display capability which is suitable for implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the advertisement management and display system; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an advertisement management and display system; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a table with electronic display capability which is suitable for implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the advertisement management and display system; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative split-screen embodiment of a table with electronic display capability which is suitable for implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the advertisement management and display system; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view a multi-screen embodiment of a table with electronic display capability which is suitable for implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the advertisement management and display system; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the table with electronic display capability illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along section lines  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 , of the table with electronic display capability; 
         FIG. 8  is a longitudinal sectional view of a table with electronic display capability having a magnified lens; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a table with electronic display capability with multiple, discrete advertisement display sections presented on the table with electronic display capability; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of the table with electronic display capability, with a support tray provided on a table top of the table and various items supported by the support tray; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of the table with electronic display capability, with a grid-type support tray provided on a table top of the table and various items supported by the support tray; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of a control system which is suitable for implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the advertisement management and display system; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of the table with electronic display capability, with a content display device illustrated in a pivoted configuration with respect to a table top; and 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a bar table embodiment of the table with electronic display capability. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Shown throughout the Figures, the invention is directed to an advertisement management and display system which is adapted to receive advertisements from one or multiple advertisers and display the advertisements on a table with electronic display capability in order to advertise products and/or services offered by the advertisers to potential customers. The advertisement management and display system is particularly suitable for displaying advertisements on tables in restaurants, cafeterias, malls, clubs, hospital waiting areas, coffee shops, airports and other areas in which persons stand or sit at a table. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the advertisement management and display system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral  300 . The system  300  includes marketing management software  301 . A client advertisements database  302  interfaces with the marketing management software  301  through an information transfer pathway  302   a.  At least one advertiser  304  communicates with the client advertisements database  302 . Each advertiser  304  may be an entity which offers goods and/or services to potential customers and which seeks to advertise those goods and/or services to the potential customers. In some embodiments, a marketing company  303  may interface with the marketing management software  301  through an information transfer pathway  303   a.  Through an information transfer pathway  200   a,  the marketing management software  301  interfaces with at least one table with electronic display capability  100 , hereinafter table, which will be hereinafter described. 
     As will be hereinafter described, the table  100  may be placed in a restaurant, cafeteria, mall, club, hospital waiting area, coffee shop, airport or other area in which potential customers of the goods and/or services offered by the advertisers  304  stand or sit around the table  100 . The advertisers  304  electronically store advertisements which promote the goods and/or services offered by each advertiser  304  on the client advertisements database  302 . The advertisements are transferred to the marketing management software  301  and ultimately, to the table  100 , on which the advertisements are presented for the purpose of promoting those goods and/or services to the potential customers (not illustrated) as the potential customers stand or sit around the table  100 . 
     Referring next to FIGS.  1  and  3 - 8  of the drawings, various illustrative embodiments of the table are illustrated. A first illustrative embodiment of the table  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7 . The table  100  includes a table top  101  which may have a generally elongated, rectangular configuration or other suitable alternative configuration such as triangular, octagonal or hexagonal, for example. The table top  101  may include a top surface  102 ; side surfaces  103  extending from the top surface  102 ; and a bottom surface  104  extending from the side surfaces  103  in generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship with respect to the top surface  102 . Multiple table legs  112  may extend from the table top  101  to support the table top  101  on a floor or other support surface (not illustrated). As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in an alternative illustrative embodiment of the table  100   a,  a central table top support  114  extends downwardly from generally the center of the table top  101 . A support base  115  may extend outwardly from the table top support  114  to stabilize the table top support  114  on the support surface (not illustrated). The table  100  can be constructed using any of a variety of materials including but not limited to wood, foam, laminate, stone, plastic and/or metal. 
     A content display device  200  is provided on the table top  101  of the table  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments the content display device  200  may include a component compartment  201  which may be provided on or in the bottom surface  104  of the table top  101  or in any suitable alternative location. The component compartment  201  includes a component compartment interior  202  which is sized and configured to contain a circuit board  210  and other functional components of the content display device  200 . A power cable  211  may be electrically connected to the circuit board  210  to supply electrical power to the circuit board  210 . The power cable  211  may be connected to a power cord  213  ( FIG. 1 ) which is adapted for connection to an electrical outlet (not illustrated). A data cable  212  may be connected to the circuit board  210  for electronic transfer of advertisement data to the circuit board  210 , as will be hereinafter described. 
     A display cavity  108  may be provided in the top surface  102  of the table top  101 . A display screen  216  of the content display device  200  is recessed in the display cavity  108 . A transparent screen cover panel  217 , which may be PLEXIGLAS (trademark) or other clear laminate, may be provided in the display cavity  108  over the display screen  216 . In some embodiments, the display screen  216  may be flush with the top surface  102  of the table top  101 . The display screen  216  may be mounted for selective removal from the table top  101 . In some applications, the display screen  216  may be a touch-controlled display screen, in which case operation of the content display device  200  is facilitated by touching of the display screen  216 . The display screen  216  may be an LCD (active matrix or passive matrix), an active matrix OLED or a passive matrix OLED, a CRT or a plasma screen and may be any of various sizes and shapes (square, round or panoramic, for example). In some applications, the plane of the display screen  216  may be disposed at a selected angle with respect to the plane of the top surface  102  of the table top  101 . 
     The data cable  212  ( FIG. 7 ) is adapted for connection of the content display device  200  to the Internet and/or to one or multiple database servers  120  ( FIG. 1 ). Additionally or alternatively, an antenna  220  may be connected to the circuit board  210  such as via antenna wiring  220   a.  In the system  300 , the data cable  212  and/or the antenna  220  define the links of communication between the content display device  200  and the corresponding information transfer pathway  200   a  ( FIG. 2 ) which interfaces with the marketing management software  301 . The antenna  220  is adapted to receive information wirelessly from the marketing management software  301  through the information transfer pathway  200   a.    
     The circuit board  210  includes the various components which initiate and sustain operation of the content display device  200 , according to technology which is well known by those skilled in the art. The circuit board  210  is adapted to receive the completed advertisements in electronic form from the marketing management software  301  through the information transfer pathway  200   a  (typically via the data cable  212  and/or the antenna  220 ) and display the advertisements on the display screen  216 . Accordingly, the circuit board  210  may present the completed advertisements in the form of advertising images, for example, on the display screen  216  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The advertising images may correspond to photos or images of various products offered by an advertiser  304  ( FIG. 2 ) in implementation of the system  300 . The circuit board  210  may have the capability to run a flash application which has the capability to continually update and display completed advertisements on the display screen  216 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the content display device  200  may include the capability to facilitate selective 180-degree rotation of the advertising images displayed on the display screen  216 . This may be facilitated by touching of the display screen  216 , for example. In some embodiments, multiple image orientation sensors  214  may be provided on the table top  101 , such as along the side surfaces  103 , for example. Each image orientation sensor  214  is connected to the circuit board  210  ( FIG. 7 ) and is adapted to sense the position of a person or persons (not illustrated) sitting or standing adjacent to the table  100 . Each image orientation sensor  214  provides input to the circuit board  210  which, in response, orients the advertising images displayed on the display screen  216  for proper observation by the person or persons. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments of the system  100   b,  the circuit board  210  ( FIG. 7 ) of the content display device  200  may be adapted to present a split-screen image display configuration on the display screen  216  and may include a pair of screen sections  216   a  for this purpose. The respective screen sections  216   a  may be oriented to display discrete advertising images for viewing from opposite sides of the table top  101 , for example. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in some applications the circuit board  210  ( FIG. 7 ) of the content display device  200  may be adapted to present multiple advertisement display sections  226  on the display screen  216 . In operation of the table  100 , different advertisements can be simultaneously presented in the respective advertisement display sections  226 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in another illustrative embodiment of the table  100   c,  multiple content display devices  200  are provided in the table top  101  in any desired orientation and pattern. In some embodiments, the content display devices  200  may be oriented in generally parallel relationship with respect to the respective side surfaces  103  of the table top  101 . Accordingly, advertisements presented on the display screen  216  of each content display device  200  are oriented for proper observation by persons seated or standing at respective positions around the table  100   c.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in another illustrative embodiment of the table  100   d,  a magnified lens  224  is provided in the display cavity  108 , over the display screen  216 . The magnified lens  224  is adapted to magnify advertising images displayed on the display screen  216 . Additionally or alternatively, a battery  221 , which may be rechargeable or disposable, is electrically connected to the circuit board  210  such as via battery wiring  222 . The battery  221  is adapted to supply electrical power to the content display device  200 . The battery  221  may be lithium, Ni—Mi, Ni—Cd or may be a direct methanol fuel cell or solar-powered, for example. The battery  221  may have the capability for remote charging using powercast technology. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 12  of the drawings, a suitable control system  400  for each of multiple tables  100  is illustrated. The control system  400  includes a system controller  401 . Various local controllers  402  of the tables  100  may be arranged in different areas of the same building (not illustrated) or in different buildings, for example. The system controller  401  communicates with each local controller  402  through a corresponding system communication pathway  403 . Through a corresponding local communication pathway  404 , each local controller  402  communicates with the circuit board  210  ( FIG. 7 ) of the content display device  200  on each table  100  which is controlled by that local controller  402 . Through each local controller  402 , the system controller  401  may be adapted to control such parameters as the content and/or order of advertisements presented on the display screen  216  ( FIG. 7 ) of each table  100 . The system controller  401  may be further adapted to control various aspects of the advertising images (such as brightness and contrast, for example), which are presented on the display screen  216 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, in typical application of the system  300 , each of multiple advertisers  304  who seek to display an advertisement or advertisements which relate to the products and/or services offered by one or more of the advertisers  304  subscribes to use the system  300  to advertise the goods and/or services to potential customers. One or multiple tables  100  is/are placed in a restaurant, cafeteria, mall, club, hospital waiting area, coffee shop, airport or other area in which potential customers will stand or sit around the table  100 . The advertisements of the advertisers  304  are loaded in electronic form into the client advertisements database  302 . The advertisements stored in the client advertisements database  302  may include such information as photos, images, descriptive text and/or videos which are directed to the products and/or services offered by each of the advertisers  304 . The advertisements are transferred from the client advertisements database  302  to the marketing management software  301  through the information transfer pathway  302   a.  In some embodiments, the marketing company  303  may augment, modify and/or edit the advertisements stored by the marketing management software  301  for marketing presentation purposes. The modified and/or edited and completed advertisements are transferred from the marketing management software  301 , through each corresponding information transfer pathway  200   a  to the content display device  200  of the table  100  for display on the display screen  216  of the content display device  200 . Accordingly, potential customers (not illustrated) of the goods and/or services offered by an advertiser  304  are seated or stand adjacent to the table  100  and can view the advertisement or advertisements on the display screen  216  of the content display device  200 . In a restaurant setting, for example, the potential customers may be patrons of the restaurant who sit at the table  100  and view the advertisements while waiting for a dining order to be completed. In a college cafeteria setting, the table  100  can be a cafeteria tables in which multiple content display devices  200  are placed, as was heretofore described with respect to the table  100   c  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Each content display device  200  may be used to display upcoming scholastic events, sports and announcements, for example. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 10 and 11  of the drawings, still another illustrative embodiment of the system  100   e  ( FIG. 10 ) includes a support tray  230  which is provided on the table top  101  of the table  100  to support various items such as salt and pepper shakers  234 , a pitcher  235  and ketchup and mustard containers  236 , for example. The support tray  230  may include a support tray frame  231 . A solid transparent glass or plastic support tray panel  232  is supported by the support tray frame  231 . Support tray legs  233  may extend from the support tray panel  232  to support the support tray  230  on the top surface  102  of the table top  101 . In the embodiment of the system  100   f  which is illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a grid panel  238  is provided on the support tray frame  231  in place of the solid support tray panel  232  of the support tray  230  in  FIG. 10 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 13  of the drawings, in yet another illustrative embodiment of the system  400 , the content display device  200  is pivotally attached to an edge of the display cavity  108  along a display device hinge  402 . Accordingly, the content display device  200  can be selectively pivoted to lie in the display cavity  108  such that the screen cover panel  217  is generally flush or coplanar with the table top  101 . Alternatively, the content display device  200  can be selectively pivoted from the display cavity  108  such that the screen cover panel  217  is oriented at an angle with respect to the table top  101 , as illustrated. This facilitates the viewing of images on the screen cover panel  217  by a person or persons (not illustrated) seated at an edge of the table top  101 . Batteries  406  which are connected to the content display device  200  via battery wiring  407 , as well as other components (not illustrated) of the content display device  200 , may be accessed in the display cavity  108  for repair, replacement and/or maintenance purposes by pivoting the content display device  200  to the angled position illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 14  of the drawings, in another illustrative embodiment of the system  500 , a bar table  501  may include a vertical support  502  and a bar table top  503  which extends from the vertical support  502 . At least one content display device  200  is provided in at least one display cavity  108  provided in the bar table top  503 . In some embodiments, multiple content display devices  200  may be provided in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other along the bar table top  503 . Accordingly, patrons (not illustrated) may stand at the bar table top  503  or sit at respective bar stools  506  which are positioned at the respective content display devices  200  along the bar table top  503  and view advertisements which are displayed on the screen cover panel  217  of each content display device  200 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.