GB2580903A

GB2580903A - Smart display tiles, systems and methods of use

Info

Publication number: GB2580903A
Application number: GB1900989.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Williams Bryn; Alan Green David
Original assignee: Mosaic Led Ltd
Current assignee: Mosaic Led Ltd
Priority date: 2019-01-24
Filing date: 2019-01-24
Publication date: 2020-08-05
Also published as: WO2020152474A1; GB201900989D0

Abstract

Display tiles suitable for forming a modular display in combination with one or more further display tiles are disclosed in addition to systems comprising the display tiles, and methods of using such tiles and systems. The display tiles comprise a display screen and a processor. The processor is configured to generate location information comprising proximity information, the proximity information being indicative of an identity of one or more adjacent further display tiles in the modular display. The display tiles further comprise a data port for outputting data to an external entity, and the processor is further configured to output the generated location information to an external entity via the data port. Also disclosed is a method of displaying visual content on a modular display comprising creating a model of the position of display tiles within the modular display based on location information generated by each of the display tiles and generating visual data for each of the display tiles based on the model.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GII1900989.3 RTM Date:19 Jule 2019 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Bluetooth HDMI Wi-Fi Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk /ipo Smart Display Tiles, Systems and Methods of Use The present disclosure relates to smart display tiles, systems incorporating a plurality of smart display tiles and methods of controlling smart display tiles.

Background

Modular displays comprising display tiles (such as LED tiles), are used in the entertainment and commercial industries to create large video displays. A large number of display tiles may be connected together to form a continuous modular display that is much larger than any individual display on the market. These continuous modular displays are typically used in sports grounds, concert halls and large open areas to display videos and/or still images to viewers.

To form a modular display, a number of these display tiles are positioned next to each other and connected together. To display an image across the modular display, each display tile must be fed with the visual data it must display in real-time.

To correctly set up a modular display, a skilled technician is required to correctly connect each display tile into a signal transmission system, and then to manually associate each display tile with its position in the modular display so that an image can be correctly displayed across the modular display. This is a costly and time consuming process.

Moreover, to control the display tiles, expensive signal distribution and switching equipment is required. This equipment is used to carry the data signal from a source media player device, through a signal transmission system, to the display tiles. It takes manpower and time to install the signal distribution equipment and it is a common point of failure.

Current modular display systems in the market also all require a "Wall controller" which is a device which receives the incoming video signal from the source media player device and breaks the video signal up into smaller chunks, in the correct signal format for each display tile. This Wall controller adds further cost and complexity to the system. Moreover, in order for the Wall controller to address a modular display in real time, received video signals must be compressed and distorted in order to carry the data across the various signal paths from the original source video file through numerous devices before it gets to the display tiles. Whilst there are workarounds in the market which help to preserve signal quality from the source to the screen, each of these workarounds involve expensive media server systems to be located next to the display. Where space is at a premium, these media server systems are impractical. One possibility is to locate the media server away from the modular display, however this then requires additional expensive signal transmission equipment.

Summary

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a smart display tile for forming a modular display in combination with one or more further smart display tiles, the smart display tile comprising: a display screen; a processor, configured to generate location information comprising proximity information, wherein the proximity information is indicative of an identity of one or more adjacent further smart display tiles in the modular display; and a data port for outputting data to an external entity, wherein the processor is further configured to output the generated location information to an external entity via the data port.

The proximity information may comprise an identifier for each of the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles. Additionally, the proximity information may be indicative of a position of the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles relative to the smart display tile.

The processor may be further arranged to: receive, from the external entity, a model of at least a part of the modular display, wherein the model is based at least in part on the generated location information, and wherein the model comprises at least a location of the smart display tile within the modular display. 30 The processor may be further arranged to: receive further location information from one or more adjacent further smart display tiles; and generate, based at least in part on the generated location information and the received further location information, a model of at least a part of the modular display, wherein the model comprises at least a location of the smart display tile and the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles within the modular display.

The external entity may be a screen controller or a further smart display tile.

The processor may be further arranged to: receive visual data; and display, on the display screen, visual content based at least part of the received visual data. The visual data may be suitable for displaying an image across the modular display, and the processor may be further arranged to extract a portion of the image for display on the display screen based on a model of at least part of the modular display, wherein the model comprises at least a location of the smart display tile.

The processor may be further arranged to transmit at least part of the visual data to at least one adjacent further smart display tile.

The smart display tile may further comprise: at least one communications module configured to receive an identifier from an adjacent smart display tile. The received identifier may be indicative of an identity of the adjacent module smart display. The processor may be configured to generate the location information based at least in part on the received identifier.

The proximity information may be further indicative of a position of each of the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles relative to the smart display tile. The processor may be further configured to determine the proximity information by, for each of the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles: receiving, via one or more of the at least one communications module, the identifier of the adjacent further smart display tile; determining a closest edge of the smart display tile to the adjacent further smart display tile; and associating, in the proximity information, the received identifier of the adjacent further smart display tile with the determined closest edge.

The at least one communications module may comprise a first communications module associated with a first edge of the smart display tile and a second communications module associated with a second edge of the smart display tile, wherein determining the closest edge of the smart display tile to the adjacent further smart display tile is based at least in part on the edge associated with the communications module through which the identifier of the adjacent further smart display tile was received.

The at least one communications module may comprise a sensor arranged to sense the identifier transmitted by a communications tag located on the adjacent further smart display tile. The sensor may comprise a radio-frequency identification, RFID, sensor and the communications tag comprises an RFID tag, and/or the sensor comprises a near-field communication, NFC, sensor and the communications tag comprises an NFC tag.

The at least one communications module may comprise: a serial input/output port for coupling with a serial input/output port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a parallel input/output port for coupling with a parallel input/output port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a USB port for coupling with a USB port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or an Ethernet port for coupling with an Ethernet port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver for coupling with a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver on an adjacent smart display tile, and/or a WiFi transmitter/receiver for coupling with a WiFi transmitter/receiver on an adjacent smart display tile.

The smart display tile may further comprise: an orientation module. The processor may then be further configured to determine an orientation of the smart display tile using the orientation module, and the location information may be further indicative of an orientation of the smart display tile.

In a second aspect, there is provided a system comprising a plurality of the smart display tiles of the first aspect. The plurality of smart display tiles being arranged to form a modular display.

The system may further comprise: a screen controller, arranged to: receive location information generated by each of the plurality of smart display tiles; and generate a model of the modular display based on the received location information, wherein the model comprises a location of each of the plurality of smart display tiles within the modular display.

The screen controller may be further arranged to: receive visual data for the display of visual content across the modular display; generate portions of visual data by dividing the visual content into portions, based on the generated model; and distribute the portions of visual data to the plurality of smart display tiles, based on the generated model, to enable each of the plurality of smart display tiles to display their part of the visual content.

In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a screen controller for controlling a modular display comprising a plurality of smart display tiles, the screen controller comprising: a processor, arranged to receive a plurality of location information data sets, each generated by a respective one of the plurality of smart display tiles, wherein each location information data set comprises proximity information indicative of an identity of one or more smart display tiles that are adjacent to the smart display tile that generated the location information data set; and generate a model of the modular display based on the received plurality of location information data sets, wherein the model comprises a location of each of the plurality of smart display tiles within the modular display.

The processor may be further arranged to: receive visual data for the display of visual content across the modular display; generate portions of visual data by dividing the visual content into portions, based on the generated model; and distribute the portions of visual data to the plurality of smart display tiles, based on the generated model, to enable each of the plurality of smart display tiles to display their part of the visual content.

In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of forming a model of a modular display comprising a plurality of smart display tiles, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of location information data sets, each generated by a respective one of the plurality of smart display tiles, wherein each location information data set comprises proximity information indicative of an identity of one or more smart display tiles that are adjacent to the smart display tile that generated the location information data set; and generating the model based on the received location information data sets, wherein the model comprises a location of each of the plurality of smart display tiles within the modular display.

In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure provides computer program configured to perform the method of the fourth aspect when executed on at least one processor.

In a sixth aspect, the present disclosure provides a smart display tile for forming a modular display in combination with one or more further smart display tiles, comprising: a display screen; a processor arranged to receive visual data for use in displaying visual content on the display screen; and a memory, arranged to store at least part of the received visual data, wherein, the processor is further arranged to cause the display of the visual content on the display screen using the stored visual data.

Optionally, the visual data may be suitable for displaying visual content across the modular display, and the processor may be further arranged to extract from the visual data a portion of the visual content for display from the visual data.

The visual data may comprise a content creation algorithm defining visual content to be displayed across the modular display, and the processor may be further arranged to generate the visual content for display on the display screen based on: a model of the position of the smart display within the modular display; and the content creation algorithm.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a system comprising a plurality of the smart display tiles of the sixth aspect, wherein the plurality of smart display tiles are arranged to form a modular display.

In an eighth aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of displaying visual content on a modular display comprising a plurality of smart display tiles, the method comprising: creating a model of the position of each of the smart display tiles within the modular display, based on location information generated by each of the plurality of smart display tiles; generating visual data for each of the plurality of smart display tiles by dividing the visual content into a plurality of pieces, based on the model; and distributing each piece of the visual data to a corresponding one of the plurality of smart modular displays, based on the model, wherein each smart display tile is arranged to display the piece of the visual content based on the visual data it receives, thereby reproducing the visual content across the modular display.

Optionally, the method may further comprise: storing, by each of the smart display tiles, the visual data it receives; and displaying, by each of the smart display tiles, the stored piece of visual data in response to a trigger.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example only, aspects of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a modular display; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a smart display tile used in the modular display of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a display system comprising the modular display of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of forming a model of the modular display of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a further method of forming a model of the modular display of Figure 1; Figures 6a to 6f are schematic representations of the formation of the model of the modular display of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating a further method of forming a model of the modular display of Figure 1; Figures 8a to 8d are further schematic representations of the formation of the model of the modular display of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a flow chart illustrating methods of displaying content on the modular display of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method of generating content for display on the modular display of Figure 1; and Figure 11 is a schematic representation of a modular display.

Detailed Description

Prior art modular displays are typically formed from panels of LED tiles with little or no "on display" processing power. The present disclosure addresses some of the problems of the prior art by incorporating additional hardware into the display tiles to form "smart" display tiles.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the smart display tiles comprise an embedded processor which enables the smart display tile itself to do the necessary visual processing required to convert an input signal to a visual output. By using processors embedded in the smart display tiles, visual processing demands can be distributed across the smart display tiles, reducing or eliminating the need for external hardware. Moreover, such distributed processing enables the use of uncompressed video signals, which may improve the quality of the final visual output. The smart display tiles may make use of uncompressed video signals, at the native resolution of each tile, which results in higher quality playback.

The processors of each smart display tile may further be used to enable the system to intelligently create a model of the position of each smart display tile with respect to its neighbours in a modular display. This model may then be used to split input visual data into portions of data for each smart display tile to display. Having each smart display tile detect and output location information relating to it and/or its neighbours, the model of the modular display can be created without the need for manual human input. This enables the system to be installed more easily, more quickly and more cheaply, without the risk of a technician incorrectly connecting one or more of the display tiles causing the modular display to display the visual content incorrectly.

In addition, the smart display tiles may also comprise a memory, such as a solid state memory or any other non-volatile memory type. The memory may be used to store the visual data that the modular display is to show. The use of a memory embedded in the smart display tiles enables the signal distribution equipment to be removed once each smart display tile has received and stored its respective visual data. Where space is at a premium, such as at concert venues and sportsgrounds, the ability to reduce the footprint of the system in use is highly advantageous. Moreover, the ability to remove the signal distribution equipment and in use, the removal of the need for stand-alone media servers to be continually present and the ease of set-up/operation of the system, means the system may be provided at

a lower cost that equivalent prior art systems.

Smart display tiles with memory may also be arranged to store a model of their position within modular display along with data defining visual effects to be displayed on the modular display. Smart display tiles which know both their location and a desired visual effect may themselves generate the necessary visual content they need to display to ensure that the desired visual effect is displayed across the greater modular display. For example, to display a "star" pattern across the modular display, each smart display tile may calculate which part of the star pattern it needs to display, based on its knowledge of the desired pattern and its position within the modular display. Enabling smart display tiles to generate their own content avoids the need for connections to external processors during display of the visual effect, improving the functionality of the system and simplifying or removing the requirement or the creation of specific image or video assets.

Figure 1 shows a modular display 100 which is formed from nine smart display tiles 110 which have been arranged together to form a continuous modular display 100.

Nine smart display tiles 110 are provided as an example, although any number of smart display tiles 110 may be used to form the modular display 100.

Each of the smart display tiles 110 in this example are rectangular, however the smart display tiles 110 may be any shape. The smart display tiles 110 may be formed in a shape which tessellates, in order to enable the modular display 100 to be formed as a continuous display without gaps in-between adjacent smart display tiles 110. For example, the smart display tile 110 may have a rectangular, triangular or hexagonal shape. Furthermore, different smart display tiles 110 making up the modular display 100 may have different shapes, for example some may have a square shape and some may have a triangular shape.

Figure 2 provides a schematic representation of details of the smart display tile 110. The smart display tile 110 comprises an input 220 which is arranged to receive data from an external source. The received data may include visual data (eg, images and/or videos). The input 220 may be any input capable of receiving data, such as a serial port, a USB port, an Ethernet port, a WiFi (RTM) receiver, a Bluetooth (RTM) receiver and so forth, and/or capable of receiving a video signal, such as an SPI port, a DVI port, an HDMI port, and so forth.

The smart display tile 110 may also comprise an output 225 which is arranged to send data to an external source. The sent data may include visual data (eg images and/or videos) that the smart display tile 110 has previously received. The sent data may also include location information that has been generated by the smart display tile 110 (which will be described in more detail further on). The output 225 may be any output capable of transferring data, such as a serial port, a USB port, an Ethernet port, a WiFi (RTM) transmitter, a Bluetooth (RTM) transmitter and so forth, and/or capable of transferring a video signal, such as an SPI port, a DVI port, an HDMI port, and so forth. In some embodiments, the input 220 and the output 225 may be combined forming an input/output port.

The smart display tile 110 further comprises a processor 230. The processor 230 may perform many different functions, as will be described in more detail in the following description. The processor 230 is arranged to receive visual data from the input 220 and cause it to be displayed on a display screen (not shown). The processor 230 may also send data to an external entity via the output 225.

Additionally, the processor may store data on, and retrieve data from, a memory when one is present in the modular display.

The smart display tile 110 may further comprise one or more communications modules 235, each of which are in data communication with the processor 230.

Preferably, at least one communications module 235 is associated with (for example, located at) each edge of the smart display tile 110. For square or rectangular smart display tiles 110, at least four communications modules 235 may be used. For triangular smart display tiles 110, at least three communications modules 235 may be used. At least a part of each communications module 235 may be positioned at or close to an edge of the smart display tile 110, to enable the communications module 235 to associate a received signal with an edge of the smart display tile 110.

The communications modules 235 are arranged to enable the processor 230 to detect and identify adjacent smart display tiles 110 in the modular display 100. The communications modules 235 may each comprise a sensor, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor arranged to detect RFID tags located on an adjacent smart display tile 110 and/or a near-field communication (NFC) sensor arranged to detect NFC tags located on an adjacent smart display tile 110. The smart display tile 110 may further comprise at least one communications tag, such as an RFID tag and/or NFC tag, configured to output an identifier of the smart display tile 110 to enable adjacent smart display tiles 110 in the modular display to detect and identify it. Whilst NFC and RFID have been used as examples of particular types of sensors and communications tags that could be used, it will be appreciated that sensors and communications tags of any other suitable communications protocol/architectures could alternatively be used.

At least some of the communications modules 235 may additionally or alternatively comprise one or more of: a serial input/output port (such as an SPI and/or I2C port) for coupling with a serial input/output port (such as an SPI and/or I2C port) on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a parallel input/output port for coupling with a parallel input/output port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a USB port for coupling with a USB port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or an Ethernet port for coupling with an Ethernet port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver for coupling with a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver on an adjacent smart display tile, and/or a WiFi transmitter/receiver for coupling with a WiFi transmitter/receiver on an adjacent smart display tile, and/or an SPI port for coupling with an SPI port on an adjacent further smart display, a DVI port for coupling with a DVI port on an adjacent further smart display, an HDMI port for coupling with an HDMI port on an adjacent further smart display, etc. In this example, optionally, rather than sensing an identifier of an adjacent further smart display tile, the smart display tile 110 may send a request for identification to an adjacent further smart display tile that it is coupled to via a communications module 235 and receive the identifier in return. Where each smart display tile 110 is coupled to only one neighbouring smart display tile, the location information may be able to provide information regarding only one neighbouring tile, without including information relating to any other neighbouring tiles. However, as will be appreciated from the description below with reference to Figures 5 and 6, a model of the modular display 100 may still be generated based on this more limited information.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that in this example one or more of the communications modules 235 may also function as the input 220 and/or output 225, described earlier.

Furthermore, the smart display tile 110 may further optionally comprise an orientation module 260 comprising one or more orientation sensors (such as accelerometers, magnetic reed switches, etc) for use in determining an orientation of the smart display tile 110 (for example, to determine which edge of the smart display tile is the uppermost edge, which edge is the lowermost edge, etc).

The inclusion of an orientation module 260 in each smart display tile 110 aids in the processor 230 creating location information that is also indicative of an orientation of the smart display tile. This means that during assembly, a technician need not necessarily have to position a particular edge of the smart display tile 110 as the 'top', or 'bottom' edge. For example, a smart display tile 110 may not have a 'top' or 'bottom' edge -each edge may be the same. Therefore, a technician may position the smart display tile 110 in any orientation and the smart display tile 110 itself can subsequently itself determine its orientation. This should simplify the process of building and setting up the modular display 100. Knowing the orientation of each smart display tile 110 in the modular display 100, as well as the identity of the neighbours of each smart display tile 110, may be useful in generating a model of the modular display 100, which will be described in greater detail below.

The smart display tile 110, also comprises a display screen (not shown in Figure 2) arranged to output visual imagery. The display screen may be formed from a panel of LEDs, a panel of Organic LEDs, formed as a plasma display panel, formed using CRT technology, formed using any type of suitable forward or rear projection technology, or any other known visual output technology. The display screen may cover most of, or the entirety of, one surface of the smart display tile 110, to enable visual content to be displayed across modular display 100 without interruption by borders of the smart display tiles 110.

The smart display tiles 110 may further comprise a memory 240. The memory 240 may be any type of volatile or non-volatile memory that is suitable for storing data for later retrieval. The memory 240 may receive visual data from the processor 230, and store at least part of the visual data for later retrieval by the processor 230 during playback of the visual content.

Figure 3 shows a system 300 comprising the modular display 110, although only six smart display tiles 110 are represented for the sake of simplicity. Each smart display tile 110 is connected to at least one of its neighbours via a data link 315.

In this simplified schematic, each data link 315 connects a data input/output port (not shown) of each smart display tile 110 with a corresponding data/input port (not shown) of a neighbouring smart display tile 110. The data input/output port may be part of the communications modules 235 described above (for example, a serial, parallel, Ethernet, etc port), or may be separate to the communications modules 235. This illustrated arrangement will be referred to hereinafter as a "daisy chain" arrangement. Such a daisy chain arrangement enables each of the smart display tiles 110 to be linked together using the lowest possible number of links. However, other tile interconnection topologies are possible, such as a star or hub interconnection topology.

Figure 11 shows an example of a star/hub interconnection topology 1100. In a star/hub interconnection, at least some of the smart display tiles 110 may have a data link 315 to two or more of its adjacent further smart display tiles. In Figure 11, the central smart display tile 110 has four data links 315, linking it to the four adjacent smart display tiles 110. Three of the four corner smart display tiles 110 have a single data link 315, linking them to one of their adjacent smart display tiles 110. The smart display tile illustrated in the top right of Figure 11 has two data links 315.

Additional tile interconnection topologies are envisaged, such as a mesh interconnection topology (wherein each smart display tile 110 is connected to most or all of its neighbours) and a ring interconnection topology (wherein each smart display tile 110 is connected to at least two of its neighbour).

Having more than one data link 315 for at least some of the smart display tiles 110 may increase the efficiency of the recursive search process described above. It may also provide some data link 315 redundancy, since any smart display tiles 110 with two or more data links 315 should have two or more paths by which it can send and receive data. This means that if one of those data links should fail, the smart display tile should still be able to send and receive data effectively.

It should be appreciated that the configuration of the smart display tile 110 is such that it can be "interconnection topology agnostic", in that it could be connected using the daisy chain topology or the star/hub topology. For example, for any given modular display 100, the technician assembling the modular display 100 may connect up only one data link 315 for some of the smart display tiles 110, may connect up two data links 315 for some other smart display tiles 110, three data links for some other smart display tiles 110, etc, depending on what is most convenient for each smart display tile 110. This may significantly simplify the process of assembling the modular display 100.

The system 300 further comprises a screen controller 350. The screen controller 350 is arranged to be in data communication 320 with at least one of the smart display tiles 110, in order to send data to, and receive data from, each of the smart display tiles 110 via the communications interface 320 and the data links 315. Advantageously, the screen controller 350 may be disconnected from the modular display100 once any required data has been transferred, to reduce the physical footprint of the system 300 when the modular display 100 is displaying images.

The screen controller 350 may be any type of device which has at least one processor that is capable of processing and sending data to the smart display tiles 110. The screen controller 350 may be, for example, a laptop or a desktop computer, a computer server, a remote computer server or a lighting desk.

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described by reference to the functionality of the smart display tiles 110. It is to be understood that the following functionalities may be implemented individually or in combination.

Modelling of Modular Displays A method of automating the modelling of the modular display 100 comprising a plurality of smart display tiles 110 will be described with reference to Figure 4. At step 5401, a plurality of smart display tiles 110 are connected together to form the modular display 100. An advantage of the present disclosure is that the smart display tiles 110 may be arranged and connected in any order and positioning, as long as each modular display is connected to at least one other (for example, in a daisy chain arrangement, or a star/hub arrangement, etc). This simplifies the process of assembling and connecting the modular display 100.

Once the smart display tiles 110 are connected together, in Step 5402 each smart display tile 110 uses its communications module(s) 235 to detect at least one of its neighbours (if any). The smart display tile 110 detects an adjacent further smart display tile by receiving an identifier (such as a serial number or other unique identifier) of the adjacent further smart display tile via a communications module 235. Having received an identifier from each adjacent further smart display tile, the processor 230 generates proximity information that is indicative of the identity of the at least oneadjacent further smart display tile. For example, the proximity information may comprise each received identifier. The processor 230 may also determine the position of each adjacent further smart display tile relative to the smart display tile 110 based on the communications module 235 through which the identifier of the adjacent smart display tile was received. For example, if an identifier is received via the topmost communications module 235 of the smart display tile 110, the processor 230 may determine that that adjacent further smart display tile is located above the smart display tile 110. The proximity information may be further indicative of the relative position of the adjacent further smart display tile, for example by associating the received identifier with the edge associated with the communications module 235 through which the identifier was received.

At step 5403, each smart display tile 110 may determine its orientation (for each, which of its edges is uppermost, which is lowermost, etc) using the orientation module 260. The processor 230 may then generate location information (for example, a location information data set) comprising the proximity information and orientation information indicative of the orientation of the smart display tile 110.

Each location information data set may also comprise an identifier of the smart display tile 110 that has generated the location information data set. The identifier of the smart display tile 110 may comprise information pertaining to at least one of the shape, size, resolution, communications address, etc of the smart display tile 110.

At step 5404, each smart display tile 110 outputs its generated location information data set to an external entity via the output 225. If the modular display 100 has been set up with a separate, direct data interface between each smart display tile 110 and the screen controller 350, each smart display tile 110 sends its generated location information directly to the screen controller 350. Alternatively, where the modular display 100 has been set up in a daisy-chain fashion (as represented in Figure 3), or using any other interconnection topology, each smart display tile 110 may share its generated location information with one or more neighbouring smart display tiles. The smart display tile 110 with the communications interface 320 to the screen controller 350 may then send all of the location information data sets to the screen controller 350. In both examples, when the screen controller 350 has all of the location information data sets, it may generate a model of the modular display 100.

In an alternative, one of the smart display tiles 110 may be a predetermined "master" smart display tile. It may receive the location information data sets from all of the other smart display tiles 110 in the modular display 100 and may then generate the model of the modular display 100. In a further example, two or more (for example, all) of the smart display tiles 110 in the modular display 100 may receive all of the location information data sets and may each generate a model of the modular display 100. In these examples, the screen controller 350 and data interface 320 may not be required.

At step S405, a model of the modular display 100 is formed by the screen controller 350 or one or more of the smart display tiles 110. The model of the display screen 100 may be formed by comparing the location information data set of each smart display tile 110. For example, because each location information data set is indicative of the identities of adjacent smart display tiles, a model or map of the relative locations of each of the smart display tiles 110 making up the modular display 100 can be generated.

A first method of forming the model is illustrated in Figure 5. The method of Figure 5 makes use of a recursive search algorithm to construct a model of the modular display 100. In the recursive search algorithm method, each smart display tile 110 is arranged to transmit its generated location information in response to being polled for the information, as described below. Moreover, each smart display tile should be connected via at least one data link 315 directly to at least one of its adjacent members (for example, in the daisy-chain topology, or the star/hub topology, etc).

At step 5501, a first smart display tile 110 is polled for its generated location information. This polling may be performed by one of the smart display tiles 110 earlier in the chain of interconnections, or by a connected screen controller 350.

At step 5502, the first smart display tile 110 returns its generated location information, in response to being polled.

At step S503, the first smart display tile 110 is added into the model and orientated, based on the information that was provided in the generated location information of the first smart display tile 110.

At step S504, a smart display tile 110 that neighbours the modular display polled previously and is coupled via the data link 315, is then polled for its generated location information.

At step 5505, the neighbouring smart display tile 110 is added into the model, based on the information that was provided in the generated location information of the neighbouring smart display tile 110.

At step 5506, the neighbouring smart display tile 110 is orientated, based on the information that was provided in the generated location information of the neighbouring smart display tile 110.

Steps 5504 to 5506 are then repeated until all smart display tiles 110 have been included in the model. This successive polling scheme may be implemented by instructing the previously polled smart display tiles 110 to poll its neighbour with whom it is coupled via a data link 315 and then return the received generated location information.

The recursive polling scheme may be implemented in any order, as long as each smart display tile is eventually polled for its generated location information. If a smart display tile has more than one additional smart display coupled to it, the recursive polling scheme may first poll one of the coupled additional smart displays, and then poll the neighbours of the polled additional smart display (and so on). Alternatively, the polling scheme may poll each coupled additional smart display before polling any neighbours of the coupled additional smart displays.

Figures 6a to 6f illustrate the construction of a model being created in accordance with the method described in respect of Figure 5, the model representing the modular display of Figure 3. In this example, the location information generated by each smart display tile 110 is indicative only of the adjacent smart display tile with whom a data link 315 is shared. In each successive Figure, additional smart display tiles 110 are added into the model. Figure 6a illustrates the model having a single smart display tile 110A. After a first iteration of the method described above, the model has two smart display tiles 110A and 1108, as shown in Figure 6b. Successive iterations are shown in Figures 6c to 6f, until the model fully represents the modular display of Figure 3.

The created model provides a mapping of each smart display tile 110 within the modular display screen, which may then be used to display visual content across the display screen, as will be further described below.

A further method of forming the model is illustrated in Figure 7. An advantage of this method is that it does not require each smart display tile 110 to be connected to all of its neighbours (for example, each smart display tile 110 may be connected to only one of its neighbours, as shown in Figure 3).

In this method, at step 5701, a smart display tile 110 is added to the model. It is not important which smart display tile 110 is first added.

At step 5702, the first smart display tile 110 may be orientated with respect to ground, based on the orientation information provided in the generated location information of the first smart display tile 110. In this way, the model may be aware of which edge of the first smart display tile 110 is the uppermost, which is the lowermost, which is the left edge and which is the right edge. This may be useful then for correctly mapping the relative position of neighbouring smart display tiles in step 5703.

At step 5703, any neighbours identified in the location information generated by the first smart display tile 110 are added to the model. From this point onwards, the model is expanded by analysis of the information provided in the location information generated by the smart display tiles that were identified in the location information of the first smart display tile 110 (and thereafter by the neighbours of those smart display tiles and so forth). In particular, at step S704, each of the most recently added neighbouring smart display tiles 110 are oriented within the model based on the location information that they provide(in the same way as orientation took place in S702). The method then returns to 5703 where further smart display tiles that neighbour the mostly recently are added to the model based on the location information provided by the most recently added smart display tiles 110.

Steps 5703 and 5704 are then repeated until all smart display tiles 110 have been included in the model.

Figures 8a to 8d illustrate the construction of a model 880 being created in accordance with the method described in respect of figure 7, the model representing the modular display 100 of Figure 3. In each successive figure, additional smart display tiles 110 are added into the model.

Figure 8a shows the first smart display tile 1101 at the end of Step S702. Figure 8b shows the addition of its neighbours 1102 and 1103 at the end of Step S703. Focus then switches in Step 5704 to smart display tile 1102, which is oriented based on the location information it generated. The method returns to step 5703, where a neighbour 1103 is added to the model, which is represented in Figure 8c. This process is then repeated for smart display tile 1104, which results in a neighbour 1105 being added to the model. The process is repeated again for 1104 and for 1105, resulting in smart display tile 1106 being added and the model being complete, as shown in Figure 8d. The model is complete when the location information of each smart display tile 110 in the model has been analysed to ensure that the neighbours of all smart display tiles have been added to the model.

In contrast to the previous method, this model is completed in four steps as more than one smart display tile 110 may be added to the model in any given iteration. Figure 8a illustrates the model having a single smart display tile 110. After a first iteration of the method described above, the model has three smart display tiles 110, as shown in Figure 8b. Successive iterations are shown in Figures 8c to 8d, until the model fully represents the modular display Figure 3.

The created model 660 provides a mapping of each smart display tile 110 within the modular display, which may then be used to display visual data across the display screen, as will be further described below.

Displaying Visual Content A model of a modular display 100 created in accordance with the description above, may be used to help process an image (for example, a still image, or video, or other graphical effect) for display across the modular display 100. Methods for displaying an image across the modular display 100 will now be described in connection with Figure 9.

Figure 9 is a flow chart illustrating methods of displaying an image in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. At step 5901, a media file (video data) is uploaded, by a user, to the system. The media file may comprise one or more image or video files for displaying visual content across the modular display 100.

As with the processing of the model, processing of the video file may be performed by the screen controller 350, by one of the smart display tiles 110, or may take place across a plurality of the smart display tiles 110 in a distributed manner. Generally, processing of the media file can be performed by any processor which has sufficient processing power to process the file in a reasonable time frame.

At step 5902, the media file is processed. This processing involves dividing, or portioning, the image content of the media file into subsets of data to be displayed by each smart display tile 110. For a still image, the image is divided into sub-images which when displayed by the smart display tiles, reproduce the image across the modular display 100. For a modular display 100 comprised of six smart display tiles 110, the image will be divided into six portions. For videos, the image content of the video would be split into six parts, which when displayed simultaneously by the six smart display tiles 110, reproduce the whole visual content of the video across the modular display 100. Preferably, the product of this processing step maintains the visual quality of the source file. Any known method of dividing the image content may be used, the exact processing method used is not important to

the understanding of the present disclosure.

This processing step is performed in accordance with the model of the modular display 100. Use of the model informs how the image content should be divided.

Once processed, each portion may be tagged with the identifier of the smart display tile 110 it is to be displayed by, in order to assist later distribution, (for example tagged by an identifier and/or communications address of the smart display tile 110 so that it can then be communicated by the correct smart display tile 110 via the interfaces 350 and 315.

At step 5903, the video data is delivered and/or distributed amongst the smart display tiles 110. In this distribution step, the portions of the processed media are delivered to the smart display tile 110 they are supposed to be displayed by. This distribution step may occur in real-time as the media file is being processed, or occur only once processing is complete.

Once the processed media files have been received by the smart display tiles 110, they may be displayed in 5904. This delivery in 5903, and display in S904, may occur continuously, with media files being continuously processed, delivered then displayed.

Alternatively, when the smart display tiles 110 comprise an embedded memory 240, the smart display tile 110 may store some or all of the video data they receive. Storing of the video data may enable the modular display 100 to be disconnected from any external entities once the video data have been uploaded to the modular display 100. Later playback of the stored video data, 5906, may be based on pre-programmed data forming part of the video data. Alternatively, playback may be triggered by an external device (not shown), based on a pre-determined time, or any other method, such as use of a Network Time Protocol (NTP) service. Optionally, the video data may also be broadcast and/or received by each of the display tiles 110, via a wired or wireless input 220 and/or output 225.

Alternatively, when the smart display tiles 110 have sufficient memory and processing power, the entire input media file and virtual model may be sent to each smart display tile 110. In this case, each smart display tile 110 may process the received media file based on the model in order to display the relevant portion of the visual content to be displayed across the modular display 100. In this case, each smart display tile 110 may store the entire input media file in memory and process it during playback, or may process it and store in memory data enabling it to playback its part of the overall visual content at a later time.

Inclusion of a memory element 240 in the smart display tiles 110 further enables the smart display tile 110 to generate their own content, as and when required. The generation of this content will now be described in connection with the flow chart of Figure 10.

The method of Figure 10 can be applied to smart display tiles 110 comprising a memory element 240 storing content creation algorithms for content to be generated in real time. The content creation algorithms may describe a desired content output that is to be displayed across the modular display 100. The content creation algorithms may comprise images or video files, vector files or any other type of data file which can be translated into a visual output. The content creation algorithms may define, for example, visual effects (such as moving geometrical patterns), screensavers, default background screens, timetables or the like.

At step 1001, each smart display tile 110 in the modular display 100 receives a trigger which causes it to generate and display content. This trigger may be preprogrammed, received from an external device (not shown), based on a pre-determined time, or by any other method, such as use of a Network Time Protocol (NTP) service.

Based on receipt of a suitable trigger, at step 51002, each smart display tile 110 retrieves its content creation algorithm from its memory. The selected content creation algorithm may be based on information received with the trigger, or it may be, for example, the only content creation algorithm stored in its memory.

At step S1003, each smart display tile 110 retrieves a model of the modular display 100 from its memory. As set out above, this model describes the location and orientation of each smart display tile 110 within the modular display 100.

At step S1004, each smart display tile 110 generates content for it to display, based on the retrieved content creation algorithm and the retrieved model. This generated content may be generated by extracting a suitable portion of data from an image or video file based on the model. Alternatively, entirely new visual data may be constructed based on a content creation algorithm comprising instructions for forming desired content and the retrieved model.

Finally, at step 51005, the content generated by each of the smart display tiles 110 is displayed.

The above embodiments describe one way of implementing the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that modifications of the features of the above embodiments are possible within the scope of the independent claims.

The skilled person will understand that many of the method steps described above may be performed in a different order to the order set out above. For example, it is not important whether a content creation algorithm or a model is first retrieved in the method shown in Figure 10. Similarly, during the generation of a model, it is not important whether smart display tiles 110 are first positioned in the model and then orientated, or orientated and then positioned, as the desired outcome is the same.

Whilst the Figures represent a plurality of smart display tiles 110 that abut their neighbouring smart display tiles 110 to form a continuous modular display 100, in an alternative there may be at least a small gap between at least some adjacent smart display tiles 110, such that neighbouring smart display tiles 110 do not necessarily touch each other.

In the above, typically a model of the modular display 100 is first created, then when the model is complete, visual data is sent to the smart display tiles 110 so that visual content can be display according to the completed model. However, in one alternative, the model may be created during the assembly of the modular display 100. Based on the model of the part assembled modular display, visual content of the visual data may be displayed (for example, the generative content described above). The model may periodically, or intermittently, be refreshed, so that each new smart display tile 110 that is added to the modular display 100 will be added to the model and the display of the visual content may be modified as appropriate. Being able to display visual content during the assembly of the modular display 100 may help to simplify the process of assembling the modular display 100, since it is appearance of the visual content on the modular display 100 can be seen whilst the positioning of the smart display tiles 110 is still taking place.

Furthermore, optionally, even after assembly of the modular display 100 is complete, the model may periodically or intermittently be updated/refreshed (for example, by the screen controller 350 (if it is still connected), or by one or more of the smart display tiles 110. If any changes to the modular display 100 are detected (for example, one or more of the smart display tiles 110 drops out of the modular display 100 as a result of a failure), the displayed visual content may be adjusted as appropriate. This may be particularly useful where each smart display tile 110 stored video data for the entire visual content to be displayed by the modular display 100, and so can straightforwardly modular the visual content that it displays when it receives (or determines for itself) and updated model.

Features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims. While particular combinations of features have been presented in the claims, it will be appreciated that other combinations, such as those provided above, may be used.

The processes and methods disclosed above may be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. For example, they may be implemented by software comprising computer readable code, which when executed on one or more processors of any electronic device, performs the functionality described above. The software may be stored on any suitable computer readable medium, for example a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as read-only memory, random access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, Blue-rays, magnetic tape, hard disk drives, solid state drives and optical drives. The computer-readable medium may be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable instructions are stored and executed in a distributed way.

Claims

Claims 1. A smart display tile for forming a modular display in combination with one or more further smart display tiles, the smart display tile comprising: a display screen; a processor, configured to generate location information comprising proximity information, wherein the proximity information is indicative of an identity of one or more adjacent further smart display tiles in the modular display; and a data port for outputting data to an external entity, wherein the processor is further configured to output the generated location information to an external entity via the data port.
2. The smart display tile of claim 1, wherein the proximity information comprises an identifier for each of the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles.
3. The smart display tile of any preceding claim, wherein the proximity information is indicative of a position of the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles relative to the smart display tile.
4. The smart display tile of any preceding claim, wherein the processor is further arranged to: receive, from the external entity, a model of at least a part of the modular display, wherein the model is based at least in part on the generated location information, and wherein the model comprises at least a location of the smart display tile within the modular display.
5. The smart display tile of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processor is further arranged to: receive further location information from one or more adjacent further smart display tiles; and generate, based at least in part on the generated location information and the received further location information, a model of at least a part of the modular display, wherein the model comprises at least a location of the smart display tile and the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles within the modular display.
6. The smart display tile of any preceding claim, wherein the external entity is a screen controller or a further smart display tile.
7. The smart display tile of any preceding claim, wherein the processor is further arranged to: receive visual data; and display, on the display screen, visual content based at least part of the received visual data, wherein the visual data is for displaying an image across the modular display, and wherein the processor is further arranged to extract a portion of the image for display on the display screen based on a model of at least part of the modular display, wherein the model comprises at least a location of the smart display tile.
8. The smart display tile of claim 7, wherein the processor is further arranged to: transmit at least part of the visual data to at least one adjacent further smart display tile.
9. The smart display tile of any preceding claim, further comprising: at least one communications module configured to receive an identifier from an adjacent smart display tile, wherein the received identifier is indicative of an identity of the adjacent module smart display, and wherein the processor is configured to generate the location information based at least in part on the received identifier.
10. The smart display tile of claim 9, wherein the proximity information is further indicative of a position of each of the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles relative to the smart display tile, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine the proximity information by, for each of the one or more adjacent further smart display tiles: receiving, via one or more of the at least one communications module, the identifier of the adjacent further smart display tile; determining a closest edge of the smart display tile to the adjacent further smart display tile; and associating, in the proximity information, the received identifier of the adjacent further smart display tile with the determined closest edge.
11. The smart display tile of claim 10, wherein the at least one communications module comprises a first communications module associated with a first edge of the smart display tile and a second communications module associated with a second edge of the smart display tile, wherein determining the closest edge of the smart display tile to the adjacent further smart display tile is based at least in part on the edge associated with the communications module through which the identifier of the adjacent further smart display tile was received.
12. The smart display tile of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the at least one communications module comprises a sensor arranged to sense the identifier transmitted by a communications tag located on the adjacent further smart display tile, and optionally wherein the sensor comprises a radio-frequency identification, RFID, sensor and the communications tag comprises an RFID tag, and/or the sensor comprises a near-field communication, NFC, sensor and the communications tag comprises an NFC tag.
13. The smart display tile of any of claims 11 to 12 wherein the at least one communications module comprises: a serial input/output port for coupling with a serial input/output port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a parallel input/output port for coupling with a parallel input/output port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a USB port for coupling with a USB port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or an Ethernet port for coupling with an Ethernet port on an adjacent further smart display tile; and/or a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver for coupling with a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver on an adjacent smart display tile, and/or a WiFi transmitter/receiver for coupling with a WiFi transmitter/receiver on an adjacent smart display tile.
14. The smart display tile of any preceding claim, further comprising: an orientation module; wherein the processor is further configured to determine an orientation of the smart display tile using the orientation module, and wherein the location information is further indicative of an orientation of the smart display tile.
15. A system comprising a plurality of the smart display tiles of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of smart display tiles are arranged to form a modular display.
16. The system of claim 15, further comprising: a screen controller, arranged to: receive location information generated by each of the plurality of smart display tiles; and generate a model of the modular display based on the received location information, wherein the model comprises a location of each of the plurality of smart display tiles within the modular display, optionally wherein the screen controller is further arranged to: receive visual data for the display of visual content across the modular display; generate portions of visual data by dividing the visual content into portions, based on the generated model; and distribute the portions of visual data to the plurality of smart display tiles, based on the generated model, to enable each of the plurality of smart display tiles to display their part of the visual content.
17. A screen controller for controlling a modular display comprising a plurality of smart display tiles, the screen controller comprising: a processor, arranged to receive a plurality of location information data sets, each generated by a respective one of the plurality of smart display tiles, wherein each location information data set comprises proximity information indicative of an identity of one or more smart display tiles that are adjacent to the smart display tile that generated the location information data set; and generate a model of the modular display based on the received plurality of location information data sets, wherein the model comprises a location of each of the plurality of smart display tiles within the modular display.
18. The screen controller of claim 17, wherein the processor is further arranged to: receive visual data for the display of visual content across the modular display; generate portions of visual data by dividing the visual content into portions, based on the generated model; and distribute the portions of visual data to the plurality of smart display tiles, based on the generated model, to enable each of the plurality of smart display tiles to display their part of the visual content.
19. A method of forming a model of a modular display comprising a plurality of smart display tiles, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of location information data sets, each generated by a respective one of the plurality of smart display tiles, wherein each location information data set comprises proximity information indicative of an identity of one or more smart display tiles that are adjacent to the smart display tile that generated the location information data set; and generating the model based on the received location information data sets, wherein the model comprises a location of each of the plurality of smart display tiles within the modular display.
20. A computer program configured to perform the method of claim 19 when executed on at least one processor.
21. A smart display tile for forming a modular display in combination with one or more further smart display tiles, comprising: a display screen; a processor arranged to receive visual data for use in displaying visual content on the display screen; and a memory, arranged to store at least part of the received visual data, wherein, the processor is further arranged to cause the display of the visual content on the display screen using the stored visual data.
22. The smart display tile of claim 21, wherein the visual data is for displaying visual content across the modular display, and wherein the processor is further arranged to extract from the visual data a portion of the visual content for display from the visual data, wherein the visual data comprises a content creation algorithm defining visual content to be displayed across the modular display, and wherein the processor is further arranged to generate the visual content for display on the display screen based on: a model of the position of the smart display within the modular display; and the content creation algorithm.
23. A system comprising a plurality of the smart display tiles of any of claims 21 to 22, wherein the plurality of smart display tiles are arranged to form a modular display.
24. A method of displaying visual content on a modular display comprising a plurality of smart display tiles, the method comprising: creating a model of the position of each of the smart display tiles within the modular display, based on location information generated by each of the plurality of smart display tiles; generating visual data for each of the plurality of smart display tiles by dividing the visual content into a plurality of pieces, based on the model; and distributing each piece of the visual data to a corresponding one of the plurality of smart modular displays, based on the model, wherein each smart display tile is arranged to display the piece of the visual content based on the visual data it receives, thereby reproducing the visual content across the modular display.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: storing, by each of the smart display tiles, the visual data it receives; and displaying, by each of the smart display tiles, the stored piece of visual data in response to a trigger.