Abstract:
A method of displaying information by a network kiosk which causes different information to be displayed when someone passes within a predetermined distance of the kiosk. The method includes the steps of sensing a person within a predetermined distance of the kiosk, displaying first information, timing a time period, and displaying second information if the person did not begin use of the kiosk within the time period.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to self-service kiosks and more specifically to a method of displaying information by a network kiosk. 
   Retailers have a desire to sell their products over networks, such as global networks which are a part of the World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) and which use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol). These retailers wish to provide Internet server web sites which offer the same features as Internet server web sites available to home shoppers who use their computers to connect to the Internet server web sites. 
   Kiosks provide a publicly-accessible computing platform for displaying web pages from retailer web sites. Kiosks may be located within a retailer&#39;s transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as in shopping malls. Kiosks may be easily networked to retailer web sites using the TCP/IP protocol. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software. 
   When not in use, a network kiosk may be configured to display advertisements and other attracting information. The kiosk stops the display when an operator begins use of the kiosk. 
   It would be advantageous instead for the kiosk to sense the presence of an operator and automatically display a start or “home” page. It would also be advantageous for the kiosk to display different attracting information at different sensed distances of nearby people. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method of displaying information by a network kiosk is provided. 
   The method includes the steps of sensing a person within a predetermined distance of the kiosk, displaying first information, timing a time period, and displaying second information if the person did not begin use of the kiosk within the time period. 
   It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method of displaying information by a network kiosk. 
   It is another object of the present invention to display information which may attract a person to use the kiosk if the person passes within a predetermined distance of the kiosk. 
   It is another object of the present invention to display first information when a person is within a predetermined distance of the kiosk and second information if the person fails to operate the kiosk within a predetermined period of time. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a transaction processing system including a network kiosk; 
       FIG. 2  is a depiction of a display configuration file; and 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating the information display method of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , transaction system  10  includes kiosk  12  and network  14 . Kiosk  12  is preferably located within a transaction establishment, such as a retail store, or transaction environment, such as a shopping mall. Kiosk  12  may include an NCR 7401 computer. 
   Kiosk  12  primarily includes processor  16 , touch screen  18 , memory  20 , and storage medium  22 . Kiosk  12  may additionally include a number of peripherals, including magnetic strip reader (MSR)  24 , printer  26 , and scanner  28 . 
   To assist with execution of certain tasks performed by kiosk  12 , kiosk  12  includes a built-in time keeping device, commonly referred to as a system clock, which is synchronized with current time, in order to automatically execute the tasks at their scheduled times. 
   Processor  16  controls operation of kiosk  12  and executes web browser software  32  and web wrapper software  36 . 
   Web browser software  32  allows an operator to access information and purchase products from retailers through network  14 , which preferably includes World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) servers. Web browser software  32  may include commercially-available web browser software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software. Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software is configured into a kiosk operation using a “-k” command line option. This option hides toolbars and menubars to prevent operator access to those functions. 
   Web browser software  32  retrieves and displays web pages  44  from network  14 , which includes a plurality of interconnected servers. Web pages  44  include web pages which display information about products and services offered by the kiosk owner as well as other web pages. Web pages  44  assist operators to find information about products sold by the kiosk owner and to complete purchases of such products. For this purpose, web pages  34  may include a start or “home” page which operates as a default page from which operation begins and to which operation returns when an operator is finished using kiosk  12 . Web pages  44  may be written using hypertext markup language (HTML) or other suitable web page language. 
   Web wrapper software  36  provides security functions. During operation, web wrapper software  36  prevents an operator from accessing kiosk files, other applications, the operating system software, or basic input-output system (BIOS) firmware, and prevents the operator from causing kiosk  12  to reboot. 
   Under the present invention, web wrapper software  36  additionally manages display of display content  34  while kiosk  12  is not in use. Web wrapper software  36  may cause display  40  to display first information when no one is near kiosk  12  and then switch to second information when a person passes by kiosk  12 . Operation may fall back to the first information if kiosk  12  is not operated within a predetermined period of time. Web wrapper software  36  determines display content using display configuration file  38 . Display content information may be coded into web wrapper software  36  or listed in display configuration file  38  to allow a kiosk owner to control operation. 
   The first information may include no information at all, but preferably includes some kind of advertising such as video or still frame advertisements. The advertising may be with or without sound. The advertising may be unfocused on any particular product area. 
   The second information may include advertising as well, but be more distinctive and attractive to a person passing by. The advertising may include sound. The advertising may be with or without sound. The advertising may be focused on a particular product area. 
   Touch screen  18  includes display  40  and input device  42 . Display  40  and input device  42  may also be separate units. Input device  42  may record personal information from an operator. 
   Memory  20  is used by processor  16  to store executed program information, including web wrapper software information. 
   Storage medium  22  stores software including web wrapper software  36 . Storage medium  22  also stores display content  34  and display configuration file  38 . 
   MSR  24  reads loyalty, credit, debit, SMART, and/or other types of cards carried by an operator. MSR  24  may record personal information from an operator. 
   Printer  26  prints information from web wrapper software  32 , including information on web pages  44  from network  14 . For example, printer  26  may print information relevant to a transaction completed by an operator using kiosk  12 . 
   Scanner  28  reads bar codes on products to obtain product identification numbers. Kiosk  12  queries a transaction server with the identification numbers to obtain information about the product and displays the information. 
   Proximity sensor  30  senses motion of people near kiosk  12 . Proximity sensor  30  may be an ambient light sensor which senses a drop in ambient light as people pass by kiosk  12 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , security configuration file  38  includes entries DISPLAY INFORMATION for each state of kiosk  12 . Illustrated here are two states, QUIET and ATTRACT. 
   Entry QUIET identifies a first state entered by kiosk  12  after a predetermined period of non-use. 
   Entry ATTRACT identifies a second state entered by kiosk  12  after a signal from proximity sensor  30 . 
   Entry DISPLAY INFORMATION describes information from display content  34  which web wrapper software  36  will cause to be displayed during the corresponding state. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the method of the present invention is illustrated beginning with START  60 . 
   In step  62 , web wrapper software  36  waits for a proximity signal from proximity sensor  30 . 
   In step  64 , web wrapper software  36  reads display configuration file  38  to determine display content  34  to display under the ATTRACT state. 
   In step  66 , web wrapper software  36  causes display  40  to display content  34  for the ATTRACT state. 
   In step  68 , web wrapper software  36  initializes a timeout period. 
   In step  70 , web wrapper software  36  determines whether a signal from proximity sensor  30  has been received since the timeout period was initialized. If so, operation returns to step  68  to reinitialize the timeout period, based upon the assumption that a person is going to use kiosk  12 . Continual reinitialization of the time period occurs while the person is using kiosk  12 . If a signal from proximity sensor  30  has not been received since the timeout period was last initialized, operation proceeds to step  72 . 
   In step  72 , web wrapper software  36  determines whether the timeout period has expired. If not, operation returns to step  70 , otherwise, operation proceeds to step  74 . 
   In step  74 , web wrapper software  36  reads display configuration file  38  to determine display content  34  to display under the QUIET state. 
   In step  76 , web wrapper software  36  causes display  40  to display content  34  for the QUIET state. Operation returns to step  62  to wait for another proximity signal. 
   Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.