Patent Publication Number: US-2007118860-A1

Title: Video advertising delivery system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This Application is a Non-Provisional Application of Provisional (35 USC 119(e)) Application 60/724380 filed on Oct. 7, 2005. This Non-Provisional Application is timely filed in that the deadline for the filing date fell on a Saturday (Oct. 7, 2006) and followed by the Columbus Day Federal Holiday (Oct. 9, 2006), i.e., Oct. 10, 2006 is the next business day following the due date for filing the Non-Provisional Application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention in general relates to mobile video systems and more particularly to apparatus and methods for delivery of video advertisements via mobile systems.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Video systems are routinely located on moving vehicles, such as busses, streetcars, trolleys, trams, and trains. Usually, these video systems are associated with surveillance systems. Such systems cost money and, since transportation vehicles often run on thin budgets, they are not used as much as they could be, with detriment to the passengers, the transportation provider, and the public. Advertisements are also commonly located on such vehicles. However, the advertisements are seen so often by riders that they tend to blend into the background. Thus, they are not as effective as they might be otherwise. It would be highly useful if a way were found to make advertising more effective, and it would be even more useful if it could use the already-paid-for video system.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention advances the art and helps to overcome the aforementioned problems by providing a mobile video advertisement delivery system comprising: a vehicle locator system; a video advertisement storage system; a processor communicating with the vehicle locator system for determining a suitable time or place to display an advertisement; and a display communicating with the processor for displaying the advertisement at the suitable time or place. Preferably, the vehicle locator system includes a GPS system. Preferably, the advertisement is stored at a location away from the vehicle and delivered via wireless. Preferably, the system further includes a video surveillance system.  
      The invention also provides a method of delivering advertisements, the method comprising: placing a video display in a vehicle; determining a proximity time when the vehicle will be in proximity to an advertiser location; and displaying an advertisement associated with the advertiser location for a time period associated with the proximity time. Preferably, the placing of the video display in a vehicle comprises placing the video display in a public transportation vehicle. Preferably, the displaying comprises displaying the advertisement for a time period prior to the vehicle arriving adjacent the advertiser location. Preferably, the displaying comprises displaying the advertisement for a time period while the vehicle is stopped at the advertiser location. Preferably, the method further comprises video recording the activity within the vehicle during the time period.  
      In another aspect, the invention provides a method of delivering advertisements, the method comprising: installing a video surveillance system in a vehicle; and using at least a portion of the video surveillance system to display advertising videos.  
      The above and other features and advantages of the present invention maybe better understood from a reading of the following description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile video delivery system according to the invention; and  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for timely delivery of video advertisements. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Herein, “video” preferably includes both a picture or visual display and the audio, but may include only the picture.  FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an exemplary mobile video advertisement delivery system (VADS)  100  according to the invention. System  100  includes three major parts, which may be separately provided by different entities: a location infrastructure  110 , which preferably is a GPS satellite system, but may be a more local locator system; a mobile system  130 ; and a central, usually non-mobile, system  160 . Locator infrastructure  110  preferably comprises a plurality of satellites  102 ,  104 , and  106  as known in the art.  
      Mobile system  130  includes a vehicle  140 , a microprocessor  144 , a locator  142 , an electronic memory  148 , an electronic storage unit  150 , a video system  141 , and a receiver/transmitter  147 . Locator  142  preferably is a GPS locator with antenna  143 . Receiver/transmitter  147  includes an aerial  146 , and video system  141  preferably comprises a display  154 , speakers  156  and  157 , and interfaces  151  and  152 . Memory  148  and electronic storage unit  150  may comprise a single device, but preferably the memory  148  is a random access memory while storage unit  150  is a hard drive, a tape drive, or other mass storage unit. Only one of interfaces  151  and  152  maybe used in some embodiments, but two interfaces give the alternatives of delivering video via the microprocessor  144  or directly from mass storage unit  150 .  
      Central system  160  includes a central processor  174 , an electronic memory  176 , an electronic storage unit  178 , a transmit and receive unit  172 , and an aerial  162 . Again, memory  176  is preferably a RAM and storage unit  178  is preferably a hard drive, tape drive, or other mass storage unit, but they may be combined in a single memory or storage unit. Central system  160  is optional, as the entire video advertising display system may be in mobile vehicle  140 .  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for timely delivery of video advertisements. First, locator information from locator system  110  and  142  is used to determine the location and speed of the vehicle at  205 . At  208 , the location information and preferably also the speed information are used to determine the proximity of an advertiser, for example, an ice cream shop. A suitable time and/or place at which to display the advertisement is then determined at  210 . This time and/or place will depend on the location of the vehicle, and usually also the speed of the vehicle, and usually is over a time range of minutes or seconds prior to the time the advertiser location is reached. For example, the ice cream advertisement may display for thirty seconds prior to the vehicle reaching the location or closest proximity to the ice cream shop. The suitable time and/or place determination may not include the actual determination of a time of day, or even a time period, but the delivery of the advertisement may simply be triggered by the proximity of an advertising target, and ended by the passing of the target, or the fact that the vehicle is no longer in proximity to the advertising target. The term “time” here relates primarily to the fact that the advertisement is delivered only for a certain time period and is not always on. The appropriate advertisement is located at  214 . Generally, the advertisement is stored on mass storage system 150  in the vehicle, but it maybe located on mass storage system  178  at the central office and delivered to the mobile system  130  via transmitter  172 , receiver  147 , and aerials  162  and  146 . An Internet system with wireless access may also be used to deliver the advertisement. At  217 , the advertisement is displayed at the appropriate time. The system then returns to  208  to deliver the next advertisement, and records the display at  220 . The advertiser may then be billed at  222 . Alternatively, the advertiser may pay a flat fee for a certain number of advertisement displays.  
      The system  100  is preferably incorporated into a surveillance system as described in United States Patent Publication No. No. 2003/0086000 published May 8, 2003 and entitled “Remote Surveillance System”, which publication is incorporated by reference to the same extent as though fully disclosed herein. Such surveillance systems usually run at a fraction of their capacity to manage video; thus, the video storage and control system of the surveillance system may be used to deliver the advertisements without loss of surveillance capacity.  
      The system according to the invention allows a public transportation company, for example, to target a captive audience with up-to-the-minute advertising and pay for its video security at the same time. The system permits the advertising to be presented at a critical buying juncture, that is, when the vehicle is in proximity to an advertiser location. Here, “proximity” means that the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the advertiser location, which distance is such that a person in the audience can reach the location within a reasonably short time, preferably, twenty minutes, more preferably, ten minutes, and most preferably, five minutes. In the optimum situation, a person in the audience can reach the advertiser location within one minute.  
      The system also permits the advertisement to be played when the vehicle is adjacent to the advertiser location. Here, “adjacent” means that the vehicle is at a point on a street or other vehicle path at which a vehicle on the street or other vehicle path is passing the advertiser location.  
      The system according to the invention also permits the user to make good use of its surveillance system. Using broadcast quality, full-motion video, and GPS technology in a typical surveillance system, such as the ShiftWatch® system, the user can provide local advertisers with geo-targeted ads. Meanwhile, the user generates revenue and pays for its video security system at the same time! 
      The average transit rider spends 1½ hours a day commuting to and from work This captive audience is a valuable asset to advertisers. With geo-targeting, the VADS enables advertisers to promote their products as the transit vehicle nears their store or retail outlet selling their products.  
      The system can use revenue sharing models, which vary by ridership, demographics, and number of advertising “impressions.” The VADS developer can work with the user to define a program that meets the user&#39;s needs.  
      Some features of the system according to the invention include its ability to generate revenue the first day. It provides advertisements in broadcast quality, full-motion, high resolution video. It permits targeting a captive audience, which results in more valuable advertising. It uses GPS technology to geo-target advertising, that is, target the advertising to a specific location. It permits either video or audio advertising or both. It also provides the ability to update advertising messages frequently to increase product awareness.  
      There has been described a video delivery system that timely delivers video advertisements in mobile environments. It should be understood that the particular embodiments shown in the drawings and described within this specification are for purposes of example and should not be construed to limit the invention, which will be described in the claims below. Further, it is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of the specific embodiments described, without departing from the inventive concepts. It is also evident that the methods recited may, in many instances, be performed in a different order, or equivalent structures and processes may be substituted for the various structures and processes described. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each and every novel feature and novel combination of features present in and/or possessed by the invention herein described.