Patent Publication Number: US-2017372367-A1

Title: Content output device, method of outputting content, and computer readable medium

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a content output device, a method of outputting content, and a computer readable medium. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     A recent system for enhancing the ability to attract customers includes a digital signage device which displays content and includes a beacon transmitting unit, for example. The digital signage device displays a first content, such as an advertisement or guidance, and causes the beacon transmitting unit to broadcast beacon information including identification (ID) information corresponding to information related to the first content. In the system, a communication device receiving the beacon information displays a second content in association with the first content. 
     In the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2015-222880, every time when entering the communication area of the beacon transmitting unit of the digital signage device while the digital signage device is displaying the first content, the communication device displays the second content related to the first content in response to the beacon information. If the second content is a coupon for the merchandise advertised in the first content, the system may provide redundant or duplicative information, for example, the same coupons in several times in a day to a user of the communication device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to enable controlling a responsive period of a communication device to beacon information depending on content. 
     To achieve the above object, a content output device in which one aspect of the present invention is reflected includes: a display that outputs content; a communication unit that transmits at least one piece of beacon information correlated to the content which is being output by the display; and a CPU that makes responsive period information or unresponsive period information for a communication device based on the content which is being output by the display, and causes the communication unit to transmit the beacon information containing the responsive period information or the unresponsive period information, wherein the responsive period information or the unresponsive period information indicates a period which the communication device executes or does not execute an action corresponding to the received beacon information. 
     According to the present invention, the responsive period of the communication device to the beacon information can be controlled depending on content. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description and the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an overall configuration of a content output system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a functional configuration of a digital signage device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a screen unit illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a functional configuration of a portable terminal illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a content outputting process executed by a controller illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a beacon receiving process executed by a controller illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary operation of the portable terminal upon execution of the beacon receiving process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following is an embodiment where a content output device of the present invention is applied to a digital signage device  1 . It should be noted that the accompanying drawings should not be construed to limit the present invention. 
     [Configuration of Content Output System  100 ] 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an overall configuration of a content output system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the content output system  100  includes a digital signage device  1  and a portable terminal  2 . The digital signage device  1  includes a beacon transmitting unit  31  that can establish a near field wireless communication with the portable terminal  2  through the Bluetooth (registered trademark) scheme. 
     [Configuration of Digital Signage Device  1 ] 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a main control configuration of the digital signage device  1  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a schematic front view of a screen  22  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . For example, the digital signage device  1  is disposed in a shop, and outputs content, such as an advertisement or guidance, to customers. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the digital signage device  1  includes a projecting unit  21  which emits light of video images of content, and a screen  22  which receives the light of video images from the projecting unit  21  at its rear face and displays the projected video images on its front face. 
     The projecting unit  21  will now be described in detail. 
     The projecting unit  21  includes a controller  23 , a projector  24 , a storage  25 , and a communication unit  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the projector  24 , the storage  25 , and the communication unit  26  are connected to the controller  23 . 
     The controller  23  includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory (that are not shown). The CPU runs various programs stored in the storage  25  to carry out a predetermined operation and control of each unit. The memory serves as a working area of the running programs. The controller  23  carries out a content outputting process described below in cooperation with the programs stored in a program storage  251  in the storage  25 . 
     The projector  24  is a projecting device which converts image data of content output from the controller  23  into light of video images and emits the light of video images to the screen  22 . For example, the projector  24  is a digital light processing (DLP) (registered trademark) projector utilizing a digital micromirror device (DMD). The DMD is a display device which includes an array of microscopic mirrors (1024(width) by 768(length) pixels for XGA) and individually adjusts an inclination of each mirror at high speed such that the mirror has an on or off state to execute a displaying operation. The displaying operation forms an optical image with light reflected on the mirrors. 
     The storage  25  is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, for example. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the storage  25  includes a program storage  251 , a content storage  252 , and a beacon setting information storage  253 . 
     The program storage  251  stores a system program and various processing programs to be executed by the controller  23 , and data for execution of the programs. 
     The content storage  252  stores content information (content data) in connection with a content identification (ID) for identifying content. The digital signage device  1  outputs content in reference to the content information. The content information includes moving image data composed of plural frame images and sound data corresponding to each flame image, for example. Alternatively, the content information may include only image data (still image data or moving image data). In this embodiment, the content storage  252  stores the content information on Content A and the content information on Content B. 
     The beacon setting information storage  253  stores time information in connection with the content ID. During output of content, the beacon transmitting unit  31  transmits beacon information including the content ID and the time information. The time information indicates an unresponsive period of a beacon application (described in detail below) of the portable terminal  2  with respect to another reception, after reception of the beacon information, of the same beacon information including the same content ID as that of the former received beacon information (i.e., a period which the beacon application does not perform any action in response to another reception of the same beacon information). The format of the time information may be “X hours”, “Y minutes”, or “A hours and B minutes to C hours and D minutes”, for example. In this embodiment, the time information is in the format of “X hours” and/or “Y minutes”. 
     The information stored in the beacon setting information storage  253  can be updated with the new one from a server (not shown) through the communication unit  26  as needed. 
     The communication unit  26  includes a modem, a router, a network card, and any other component. The communication unit  26  communicates with an external device through a communication network. 
     The screen  22  will now be described in detail. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the screen  22  includes an image formation unit  27  and a base  28  supporting the image formation unit  27 . 
     The image formation unit  27  is a screen disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of the incident light of video images. The screen includes a light transmissive plate  29  formed as a human-shaped acrylic board, and on the light transmissive plate  29 , a rear-projection film screen  291  composed of a laminate of Fresnel lens films and/or a film  292  having an image of a human preliminary printed thereon are pasted, for example. The projector  24  projects images onto a region of the film screen  291  pasted on the light transmissive plate  29  of the image formation unit  27 . Alternatively, the film screen  291  may be laminated over the light transmissive plate  29  and an image of a human may be projected on the film screen  291 . 
     The base  28  includes a beacon transmitting unit  31 , an operation unit  32  of a push-button type, and a sound output unit  33 , such as a speaker. 
     The beacon transmitting unit  31  is a communication unit which broadcasts the beacon information including the content ID and the time information of the content, which is being output with preset transmission intensity, through the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication at a predetermined time interval. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the beacon transmitting unit  31 , the operation unit  32 , and the sound output unit  33  are connected to the controller  23 . 
     The projector  24 , the image formation unit  27 , and the sound output unit  33  function as an output unit. [Configuration of portable terminal  2 ] 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a main control configuration of the portable terminal  2 . The portable terminal  2  is a communication device, such as a smartphone or a cell-phone, carried by a customer. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the portable terminal  2  includes a controller  201 , a storage  202 , an operation unit  203 , a display  204 , a communication unit  205 , a beacon receiver  206 , a clock  207 , and any other component. 
     The controller  201  includes a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown) and a memory (that are not shown). The CPU runs various programs stored in a program storage  221  in the storage  202  to carry out a predetermined operation and control of each unit. The memory serves as a working area of the running programs. The controller  201  executes various processing including a beacon receiving process described below in cooperation with the programs stored in the program storage  221  of the storage  202 . 
     The storage  202  is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, for example. With reference to  FIG. 4 , the storage  202  includes the program storage  221 . The program storage  221  stores a system program and programs for various applications including a beacon application to be executed by the controller  201 , and data for execution of these programs. The beacon application is a dedicated application program that executes an action corresponding to the beacon information (in detail, the content identified with the content ID contained in the beacon information) received at the beacon receiver  206 . 
     The storage  202  also includes an unresponsive period storage  222 . The unresponsive period storage  222  stores, in connection with the content ID, a reception date and time of the beacon information containing the content ID, and the time information obtained from the beacon information. 
     The operation unit  203  is provided with several functional keys. In response to key strokes by a user, the operation unit  203  transmits information on the instructed operation to the controller  201 . The operation unit  203  is also provided with a touch panel composed of a grid of transparent electrodes and covering the display  204 . The operation unit  203  detects each position pressed with a finger or a stylus on the touch panel and transmits obtained positional information to the controller  201 . 
     The display  204  is a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example. The display  204  performs various displays in response to display control signals from the controller  201 . 
     The communication unit  205  is wirelessly connected to a communication network via a base station or an access point to communicate with an external device in connection with the communication network. 
     The beacon receiver  206  establishes a near field wireless communication with an external beacon transmitting device, such as the beacon transmitting unit  31  of the digital signage device  1 , through the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, and receives the beacon information transmitted from the beacon transmitting device. 
     The clock  207  is composed of a real-time clock (RTC), for example. The clock  207  acquires a current date and time and transmits the acquired current date and time to the controller  201 . 
     [Operation of Content Output System  100 ] 
     The operation of the content output system  100  according to the embodiment will now be described. 
     The operation of the digital signage device  1  will now be described first. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a content outputting process executed by the digital signage device  1 . The content outputting process is executed by the controller  23  in cooperation with the programs stored in the program storage  251  upon the turning-on of the digital signage device  1 . 
     The controller  23  causes the projector  24  and the sound output unit  33  to start output of Content A (Step S 1 ). In detail, the controller  23  reads the content information of Content A stored in the content storage  252 , and causes the projector  24  to project the images of Content A based on the moving image data in the read content information such that the images are displayed on the image formation unit  27 . The controller  23  also causes the sound output unit  33  to output sounds of Content A based on sound data of the read moving image data. 
     The controller  23  then obtains the time information corresponding to Content A from the beacon setting information storage  253 , and sets the content ID for identifying Content A and the obtained time information in the beacon transmitting unit  31  (Step S 2 ). By obtaining the time information corresponding to the currently-output content from the beacon setting information storage  253 , the controller  23  determines the unresponsive period of the portable terminal  2  to the beacon information correlated to the currently-output content, and sets the unresponsive period as the time information in the beacon transmitting unit  31 . 
     The controller  23  then causes the beacon transmitting unit  31  to transmit (broadcast) the beacon information including the set content ID and time information (Step S 3 ). 
     The controller  23  then determines whether to terminate the output of Content A (Step S 4 ). For example, the determination in Step S 4  may be conducted based on a predetermined schedule, or may be conducted based on a detection signal from a motion detector disposed in the digital signage device  1 . 
     If the controller  23  determines not to terminate the output of Content A (NO in Step S 4 ), the procedure returns to Step S 3 . 
     If the controller  23  determines to terminate the output of Content A (YES in Step S 4 ), the controller  23  causes the projector  24  and the sound output unit  33  to start output of Content B (Step S 5 ). In detail, the controller  23  reads the content information of Content B stored in the content storage  252 , and causes the projector  24  to project the images of Content B based on the moving image data in the read content information such that the images are displayed on the image formation unit  27 . The controller  23  also causes the sound output unit  33  to output sounds of Content B based on sound data of the read moving image data. 
     The controller  23  then obtains the time information corresponding to Content B from the beacon setting information storage  253 , and sets the content ID for identifying Content B and the obtained time information in the beacon transmitting unit  31  (Step S 6 ). 
     The controller  23  then causes the beacon transmitting unit  31  to broadcast the beacon information including the set content ID and time information (Step S 7 ). 
     The controller  23  then determines whether to terminate the output of Content B (Step S 8 ). If the controller  23  determines not to terminate the output of Content B (NO in Step S 8 ), the procedure returns to Step S 7 . 
     If the controller  23  determines to terminate the output of Content B (YES in Step S 8 ), the procedure returns to Step S 1 . 
     The controller  23  repeats the cycle including Steps S 1  to S 8  while the digital signage device  1  is turned on. 
     The operation of the portable terminal  2  will now be described. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a beacon receiving process executed at the portable terminal  2 . The beacon receiving process is executed by the controller  201  in cooperation with the beacon application stored in the program storage  221  upon the turning-on of the portable terminal  2 . 
     The controller  201  waits for reception of the beacon information at the beacon receiver  206 . 
     Upon the reception of the beacon information at the beacon receiver  206  (YES in Step S 11 ), the controller  201  determines whether the received beacon information is the beacon information correlated to Content A based on the content ID contained in the beacon information (Step S 12 ). 
     If the controller  201  determines that the received beacon information is the beacon information correlated to Content A (YES in Step S 12 ), the controller  201  determines whether the current time is within the unresponsive period with respect to the beacon information correlated to Content A, in reference to the unresponsive period storage  222  and the current time transmitted from the clock  207  (Step S 13 ). 
     If the controller  201  determines that the current time is within the unresponsive period with respect to the beacon information correlated to Content A (YES in Step S 13 ), the procedure returns to Step S 11 . 
     If the controller  201  determines that the current time is not within the unresponsive period with respect to the beacon information correlated to Content A (NO in Step S 13 ), the controller  201  causes the unresponsive period storage  222  to store the reception date and time and the time information of the beacon information in connection with the content ID contained in the received beacon information (Step S 14 ). In other words, the unresponsive period storage  222  stores information on the unresponsive period which the beacon application does not respond to the beacon information correlated to Content A. 
     The controller  201  then performs an action corresponding to the received beacon information, i.e., an action corresponding to Content A (Step S 15 ). The procedure then returns to Step S 11 . 
     If the controller  201  determines that the received beacon information is not the beacon information correlated to Content A in Step S 12  (NO in Step S 12 ), the controller  201  determines whether the received beacon information is the beacon information correlated to Content B (Step S 16 ). If the controller  201  determines that the received beacon information is not the beacon information correlated to Content B (NO in Step S 16 ), the procedure returns to Step S 11 . 
     If the controller  201  determines that the received beacon information is the beacon information correlated to Content B (YES in Step S 16 ), the controller  201  determines whether the current time is within the unresponsive period with respect to the beacon information correlated to Content B, in reference to the unresponsive period storage  222  and the current time transmitted from the clock  207  (Step S 17 ). 
     If the controller  201  determines that the current time is within the unresponsive period with respect to the beacon information correlated to Content B (YES in Step S 17 ), the procedure returns to Step S 11 . 
     If the controller  201  determines that the current time is not within the unresponsive period with respect to the beacon information correlated to Content B (NO in Step S 17 ), the controller  201  causes the unresponsive period storage  222  to store the reception date and time and the time information of the beacon information in connection with the content ID contained in the received beacon information (Step S 18 ). In other words, the unresponsive period storage  222  stores information on the unresponsive period which the beacon application does not respond to the beacon information correlated to Content B. 
     The controller  201  then causes an action corresponding to the received beacon information, i.e., an corresponding to Content B (Step S 19 ). The procedure then returns to Step S 11 . 
     The controller  201  repeats the cycle including Steps S 11  to S 19  while the portable terminal  2  is turned on. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary operation of the portable terminal  2  during the beacon receiving process described above. 
     For example, when the portable terminal  2  carried by a user enters the communication area of the beacon transmitting unit  31  at 9:00 on February 19 and receives the beacon information (time information: 12 hours) correlated to Content A which is being output at the digital signage device  1 , the beacon application performs an action corresponding to the beacon information of Content A and becomes unresponsive to (does not perform any action in response to) the beacon information correlated to Content A for subsequent 12 hours (i.e., until 21:00 on February 19). 
     When the same portable terminal  2  carried by the user enters the communication area of the beacon transmitting unit  31  again at 10:00 on February 19 and receives the beacon information (time information: 6 hours) correlated to Content B which is being output at the digital signage device  1 , the beacon application performs an action corresponding to the beacon information of Content B and becomes unresponsive to the beacon information which is being output at Content B for subsequent 6 hours (i.e., until 16:00 on February 19). 
     When the same portable terminal  2  carried by the user enters the communication area of the beacon transmitting unit  31  after 16:00 on February 19 and receives the beacon information correlated to Content B which is being output at the digital signage device  1 , the beacon application responds to the received beacon information, namely, performs an action corresponding to the beacon information of Content B because the unresponsive period to Content B has passed over. In contrast, the beacon application does not respond to the beacon information correlated to Content A until 21:00 on February 19. 
     When the same portable terminal  2  carried by the user enters the communication area of the beacon transmitting unit  31  after 21:00 on February 19 and receives the beacon information correlated to Content A which is being output at the digital signage device  1 , the beacon application responds to the received beacon information, namely, performs an action corresponding to the beacon information of Content A because the unresponsive period to Content A has passed over. 
     As described above, the controller  23  can control the responsive period of the portable terminal  2  to the beacon information based on the content. 
     In the exemplary case illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the action corresponding to the beacon information of Content A is to display a coupon of the merchandise advertised in Content A, and the action corresponding to the beacon information correlated to Content B is to display a coupon of the merchandise advertised in Content B. The frequency of display of the coupons for the merchandise in Content A and B at the portable terminal  2  may be varied. In the exemplary case illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the distribution of the coupon for the merchandise in Content B to one user is at most four times per day, and that for the merchandise in Content A is at most two times per day. 
     For example, if the beacon information correlated to the content for advertising merchandise includes the time information indicating one day or 24 hours, the display of the coupon for the merchandise for a single user can be restricted to one per day. 
     In another exemplary case, the digital signage device  1  is disposed on the entrance of a food mall. During the opening hours of the food mall, the digital signage device  1  sequentially outputs the content guiding the restaurants, and causes the beacon transmitting unit  31  to transmit the beacon information correlated to the currently-output content. In this case, by setting the time information (for example, “11:00 to 21:00” for a food mall opening from 11:00 to 21:00) for the content of a restaurant closed on the day, it becomes possible to restrict the portable terminal  2  from displaying an unavailable coupon for the restaurant closed on the day. 
     In still another exemplary case, the digital signage device  1  is disposed on the entrance of a shop. The digital signage device  1  repeatedly playbacks Content A to promote customers to visit the shop. When the motion detector senses a customer entering the shop, Content A is switched to Content B indicating an appreciation for the visit. The action of the beacon application corresponding to the beacon information correlated to Content A is to display an advertisement of the shop, and the action of the beacon application corresponding to the beacon information of Content B is to display a coupon for the shop. In this case, by setting the time information of Content A to 0 minute and setting the time information of Content B to 24 hours, the user of the portable terminal  2  receives an advertisement of the shop every time when the user passes by the entrance of the shop, but receives a single coupon for the shop per day. 
     In the embodiments described above, the time information included in the beacon information is a period which the portable terminal  2  having received first beacon information does not perform an action corresponding to second beacon information, which is same as the first beacon information, upon reception of the second beacon information (i.e., unresponsive period); however, the time information may be any other period. 
     In another embodiment, the time information included in the beacon information may be a period which the portable terminal  2  having received first beacon information does not perform an action corresponding to second beacon information, which is different from the first beacon information, upon reception of the second beacon information. For example, it is assumed that the digital signage device  1  outputs the content of a time-limited sale while transmitting the beacon information correlated to the content. In this case, by setting the time information to the time-limited sale hours, it becomes possible to prevent the beacon application of the portable terminal  2  from performing an action corresponding to the beacon information correlated to contents other than the content of the time-limited sale, and to cause the beacon application to preferentially perform the action related to the time-limited sale such as advertisement and display of coupons, during the time-limited sale hours. 
     In another embodiment, the time information included in the beacon information is a period which the portable terminal  2  having received beacon information from a first source does not perform an action corresponding to beacon information from a second source, which is different from the first source, upon reception of the beacon information from the second source. For example, plural digital signage devices  1  are provided which output different content. A certain digital signage device  1  outputs the content of a time-limited sale while transmitting the beacon information correlated to the content. In this case, by setting the time information to the time-limited sale hours, it becomes possible to prevent the beacon application of the portable terminal  2  from performing an action corresponding to beacon information transmitted from any digital signage devices  1  other than the certain digital signage device  1 , and to cause the beacon application to preferentially perform the action related to the time-limited sale such as advertisement and display of coupons, during the time-limited sale hours. The beacon information includes a terminal identification (ID) for identifying the digital signage device  1  as the source, and the portable terminal  2  can identify the source of the received beacon information with the terminal ID. 
     In another embodiment, the time information included in the beacon information is not an unresponsive period but a responsive period. For example, the time information is a period which the portable terminal  2  having received the beacon information continues the action corresponding to the beacon information. In an exemplary case, the digital signage device  1  outputs the content of a time-limited sale, and the action of the portable terminal  2  corresponding to the beacon information correlated to the output content is a pop-up display of coupons that can be used in the time-limited sale. In this case, by setting the time information to the time-limited sale hours, it becomes possible to cause the beacon application of the portable terminal  2  to continue the pop-up display of coupons for the time-limited sale on the display  204  during the time-limited sale hours. The portable terminal  2  may terminate the display of coupons at the end of the time-limited sale hours. 
     As described above, the controller  23  of the digital signage device  1  can determine the responsive or unresponsive period of the beacon application of the portable terminal  2  with respect to beacon information based on the output content, and can cause the beacon transmitting unit  31  to transmit the beacon information including the responsive or unresponsive period. 
     Accordingly, the responsive period of the portable terminal  2  to the beacon information can be controlled depending on the content. 
     It should be noted that the embodiments of the content output system described above are mere preferred examples of the present invention and thus should not be construed to limit the invention. 
     In the embodiments described above, the digital signage device  1  outputs two content (Content A and B); however, the digital signage device  1  can output any number of content and any content. 
     In the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to the example where the information which is to be transmitted and includes the ID information is broadcast through the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication; however, the information may be transmitted through any communication scheme. In another embodiment of the present invention, the information which is to be transmitted and includes the ID information is broadcast through an ultrasonic communication. 
     In the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to the digital signage device which displays the images projected from the projector on the screen; however, these embodiments are mere non-limiting example and the present invention may be applied to any content playback device including any other display device, such as a liquid-crystal display or a plasma display that can achieve the advantageous effects described above. 
     The detail configuration and operation of the devices/units of the content output system can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The embodiments described above should not be construed to limit the present invention, and the claims and other equivalents thereof are included in the scope of the invention. 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-123105 filed on Jun. 22, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.