Media delivery system

Abstract

 A media delivery system is described. The system includes a central server configured to communicate with a plurality of remote servers. The central server distributes a series of media data files which are then displayable on one or more display screens co-locatable with the remote servers. The screens are provided with a light sensor so as to enable an automatic control of the luminosity utilised by the screens in response to changing ambient condition.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to media delivery systems and in particular to point of sale advertising systems, particularly to a computer architecture configured to enable the control of the display of media at a plurality of remote locations. The invention particularly relates to a computer architecture configured to provide point of sale advertising at petrol pumps.

Background Of The Invention

[0002] Advertising systems are well known in the art. Such systems are varied and include; simple paper poster systems that are displayed on billboards, roller systems that include a plurality of sides, each with a specific image which by rotation can effect a change in the displayed image, and electronic displays. In a garage or petrol retail environment, it has become more frequent to try and use the time period that a customer is filling their tank of petrol to display some sort of advertising media. The type of media that has heretofore been used is a paper based sticker that is attached to the paper pump handle and paper based poster displays adjacent to the pump.

[0003] Despite these advance there is still a desire to provide advanced forms of media advertising, such as multimedia presentations, at the petrol pump. The provision of such media is not a trivial exercise as there are strict requirements as to the type of electronic equipment that can be used in a flammable environment such as that of a petrol station. This has, to date, prejudiced the provision of such systems. A further disadvantage relates to the control of such systems, in that it is desirable for the systems to be controlled in a manner that reduces the amount of interaction between the person working at the till in the garage and the equipment.

[0004] These and other problems are addressed by a media delivery system according to the present invention.

Summary Of The Invention

[0005] Accordingly, a first embodiment of the invention provides a computer implemented media delivery system including:

[0006] A central server configured to store a plurality of media data files in a central cache,

[0007] At least one remote server, the remote server being locatable at a garage, the remote server being in communication with the central server and being configured to store a subset of the plurality of media data files locally, the remote server being further configured to effect a display of selected ones of the subset of the plurality of data files at one or more display screens located adjacent to petrol pumps, and wherein

[0008] The display screens are provided with a light sensor, the light sensor being configured to detect changing levels of ambient light and to effect a change in luminosity of the screen in response to such changes in light level.

[0009] The light sensor is desirably selected from one or more of the following types:

1. Photodiode

2. VLS - Visible Light Sensor

3. Photoresistors

4. Phototransistors

[0010] The system may further include a plurality of motion sensors, each sensor being co-locatable with a corresponding display screens, the motion sensor being configured to effect a monitoring of traffic moving past the display screen so as to provide a footfall analysis of traffic past a specific display screen, the analysis being communicatable from the display screen to the central server.

[0011] The motion sensors may additionally or alternatively be configured to effect an initiation of a display of the media upon detection of movement.

[0012] The display screen is desirably positioned at a height above the pump and is angularly orientated relative to the pump. Desirably the height is greater than about 2m, and are angled with a screen pitch of about 45 degrees. The display screens may typically be provided either as a single unit or as a double unit with two screens provided back to back.

[0013] The screens may additionally be provided as part of an audio-visual unit, with the visual component being provided by the screen and the audio component provided by speakers co-located with the screen. The speakers are configured for delivering audio compatible with the displayed imagery. Desirably the unit additionally includes sound sensors configured to adjust the output sound based on the ambient sound conditions.

[0014] The system is desirably configured to enable a changing of the specific media data file delivered at each of the display screens from the central server.

[0015] These and other features will be apparent from a review of the drawings.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

[0016] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic overview of network architecture in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic of a petrol pump with a display unit of the present invention.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings

[0017] The invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0018] As seen in Figure 1, the invention provides a computer implemented media delivery system 100. The system includes a central server 101 configured to store a plurality of media data files in a central cache 101 a. The central server 101 is configured to communicate with one or more remote servers 105 (shown in the example of Figure 1 as four separate servers) which are located at specific garage or petrol station locations.

[0019] Communication between the central server and each of the remote servers is via a communication link 110 such a using a telecommunications network ADSL line or the like. Such broadband communication and the various ways in which it can be rolled out will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. Each of the remote servers are configured to be in individual communication with the central server and are configured to store a subset of the plurality of media data files locally. The media files stored at each of the remote servers can be remotely updated, accessed, edited, deleted etc from the central server. The remote servers provide a datastore for media files that are to be displayed at one of a plurality of available display screens 115 which are located at the petrol station. The display screens are desirably located at each of the petrol pumps and are dimensioned so as to provide a media experience to individuals who are refilling their vehicle at the petrol pump. The communications between each of the display screens and the remote servers are achieved using shielded CAT 5 cable which is suitable for a transmission of VGA signals from the remote server to the display screens. Depending on the configuration of the specific roll out, it is possible to loop a specific media file for repeated display at each of the display units or for example to provide a series of different media files for display.

[0020] Figure 2 shows an example of a typical display screen 115. The display screen is typically located adjacent to a petrol pump 200 which includes its known display screen 205 and pump 210. The display screen is typically provided as an integral audio visual unit incorporating a monitor 220- desirably of the type having a surface luminosity of about 1800 nits thereby making it sunlight readable. So as to provide associated sounds the unit may include one or more speakers 230 which are chosen to have sufficient output wattage to be audible in typical conditions of a petrol station. An example of such a sound system is a 2 X 100 watts marine speaker system which can operate in an outdoor environment and can provide about 100db at 1 metre distance. The entire audio visual unit is located above the petrol pump, typically by providing it on a support pole 240. The pole is usually of sufficient height to enable a positioning of the audio visual components at a height of about 2.1 metres above the ground, thereby complying with health and safety regulations associated with electronic equipment adjacent to flammable materials.

[0021] In accordance with the present invention, the control of the imagery at each of the displays is controlled remotely from the petrol station location- at the central server. It is therefore not possible for the display luminosity and intensity to be controlled locally, and as the weather conditions can change rapidly, the present invention provides for an automatic control of the display characteristics by incorporating a plurality of sensors. Firstly, a light sensor 225 is incorporated. This light sensor, typically a light sensitive diode, is detects the ambient light condition and controls how bright the individual screens will shine to compensate for the natural light. During the day with direct sunlight the screen will produce 1800 nits of light, thereby making them readable. As the regional weather conditions change each unit will adjust the power rating to the screen - dependent upon where it is located on the site and the brightness of that specific location.

[0022] Each of the units may be further adapted to include additional sensors, such as for example a motion sensor 235. The motion sensor is co-locatable with a corresponding display screen and is configured to effect a monitoring of traffic moving past the display screen. This can be used for a variety of purposes, for example so as to provide a footfall analysis of traffic past a specific display screen, the analysis being communicatable from the display screen to the central server or to simply effect an activation of the display when there is activity at that specific pump. By controlling the activity of the display on there being someone there to view the actual display it is possible to reduce the power requirements for implementing these units. It is desirable that they should not be on all the time irrespective of the traffic past a specific pump, and use of such motion sensors provides this control.

[0023] A further example of the type of sensor that may be incorporated is a sound sensor that senses the ambient sound conditions at an individual pump and adjusts the output of the speakers accordingly.

[0024] As mentioned above, the display screen is desirably positioned at a height of greater than about 2m above the pump and is also angularly orientated relative to the pump. It is found that an angle of about 45 degrees is optimal. The display screens may typically be provided either as a single unit or as a double unit with two screens provided back to back. As such two screens may be mounted on the same support pole and can provide independent audio visual material to persons at opposite pumps.

[0025] It will be understood that the control of the images displayed at each of the display units is from a central control at the central server. The system allows a control of the remote units individually, grouped or in their entirety thereby making it possible for the displayed media to be changed remotely. This change can be an individual sequence at a specific site or a sequence of different data files running on the whole network or single site remotely. Using a system in accordance with the present invention it is possible to change the specific displays within minutes of receiving instructions from a client.

[0026] Although it is possible to stream the data directly from the central server to each of the display units, the provision of a remote server is advantageous in that it provides for a local caching of the data- useful in cases a communication link is lost with the central server.

[0027] The data files are desirably configured using FLASH^™ technology and these FLASH files are distributed from the central server to each of the remote servers where they are converted to a VGA format for sending out on the CAT5 cable to each of the display units The advantages in using CAT5 cable to send the signal from the remote server to each of the multimedia display units include:

1. We can go to distances of 300m - VGA max is 3m

2. Can transmit video and audio with one cable

3. Cost - Cat5e is a lot cheaper than vga cable.

[0028] It will be appreciated that was has been described herein is a computer architecture configured to enable a display of multimedia at remote locations without requiring control of each of the media display units at the specific location. By providing a level of autonomy, the display units may automatically configure their settings to best suit the prevalent conditions. The display of sound and visual media may be activated in response to a person or vehicle coming into the range of the display unit which is advantageous in that the unit does not have the necessity to be constantly on. The central control and pushing of the media data files provides for a simplified operation which can be rolled out in multiple sites with minimum effort. These and other advantages of the present invention will be understood by the person skilled in the art and while the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments it will be appreciated that these are exemplary embodiments and it is not intended that the invention be limited in any way except as may be deemed necessary in the light of the appended claims.

[0029] The words comprises/comprising when used in this specification are to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers , steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A computer implemented media delivery system including:

a central server configured to store a plurality of media data files in a central cache,

at least one remote server, the remote server being locatable at a garage, the remote server being in communication with the central server and being configured to store a subset of the plurality of media data files locally, the remote server being further configured to effect a display of selected ones of the subset of the plurality of data files at one or more display screens located adjacent to petrol pumps, and wherein

the display screens are provided with a light sensor, the light sensor being configured to detect changing levels of ambient light and to effect a change in luminosity of the screen in response to such changes in light level.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light sensor is a light sensitive diode.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further including a plurality of motion sensors, each sensor being co-locatable with a corresponding display screens, the motion sensor being configured to effect a monitoring of traffic moving past the display screen so as to provide a footfall analysis of traffic past a specific display screen, the analysis being communicatable from the display screen to the central server.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the motion sensors are additionally or alternatively configured to effect an initiation of a display of the media upon detection of movement.

5. The system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the display screen is positioned at a height of about 2 metres above the pump and is angularly orientated at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the pump.

6. The system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the display screen is provided either as a single unit or as a double unit with two screens provided back to back.

7. The system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the screens are provided as part of an audio-visual unit, with the visual component being provided by the screen and the audio component provided by speakers co-located with the screen.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the unit additionally includes sound sensors configured to adjust the output sound based on the ambient sound conditions.

Drawing