AU2014202134A1 - System and method for communicating with a display - Google Patents

Abstract

Document53-16/04/2014 A system for communication with a display network including: a mobile communication device; and 5 a plurality of programmable displays of the display network located at mutually spaced locations; wherein the mobile communication device is arranged to communicate with the plurality of displays by a wireless communication network such that a user of the mobile communication device is able to send programming information from 10 the mobile communication device to one or more of said displays to selectively program said one or more displays. 24a Central Sign 1 18a control 22 Sign 2 18b 24c 24d Sign 3 18c 14 16 Sign n 18d Smartphone Figure 1

Description

Document55-16/04/2014 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION WITH A DISPLAY Field of the Invention 5 The invention relates to a system and method for communication with a display and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a system and method for communicating with and/or controlling a programmable display sign. Background of the Invention 10 It is known to provide programmable signs for use in directing vehicle traffic and other purposes. These display signs may include an illuminated panel which is able to be programmed to show a range of symbols, words and the like. It is known to program such signs with a computer which uploads program information to the sign via a cable directly 15 connected to the computer and the sign. However, the applicant has identified that such existing methods of programming signs are very slow, time consuming and labour intensive. 20 Examples of the invention seek to provide an improved system for communicating with display signs which overcomes or at least alleviates disadvantages associated with existing display sign systems. Summary of the Invention 25 In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for communication with a display network including: a mobile communication device; a plurality of programmable displays of the display network located at mutually 30 spaced locations; and a central controller adapted to control the displays; Document55-16/04/2014 -2 wherein the mobile communication device is arranged to communicate with the central controller by a wireless communication network, and the central controller is arranged to communicate with the plurality of displays by said wireless communication network, such that a user of the mobile communication device is able to send programming 5 information from the mobile communication device to the central controller to program one or more of said displays. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for communication with a display network including: 10 a mobile communication device; and a plurality of programmable displays of the display network located at mutually spaced locations; wherein the mobile communication device is arranged to communicate with the plurality of displays by a wireless communication network such that a user of the mobile 15 communication device is able to send programming information from the mobile communication device to one or more of said displays to selectively program said one or more displays. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 20 method of communication with a display network including the steps of: providing a mobile communication device; and sending request information from the mobile communication device to one or more displays of the display network by a wireless communication network to selectively obtain information on and/or to program said one or more displays of the display network. 25 In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tangible computer readable medium having stored thereon, computer executable instructions that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising: 30 displaying a user interface to prompt a user for input; receiving input of the user; and Document55-16/04/2014 -3 transmitting request information based on said input from the computing device to one or more displays of a display network by a wireless communication network to selectively obtain information on, and/or to program, said one or more displays of the display network. 5 Preferably, the wireless communication network is a mobile telecommunication data network. More preferably, the method includes the step of implementing a fall-back condition of transmitting said request information directly to said one or more displays by Short Message Service (SMS) in the event the mobile telecommunication data network is 10 unsuccessful in transmitting said request information. Preferably, the method includes the steps of obtaining position information from a global positioning system (GPS) of the computing device, transmitting said position information to a central controller of the display network, and processing said position 15 information on the central controller to identify a display local to the current position of the computing device. Brief Description of the Drawings 20 The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sketch of a system for communication with a display network in accordance with an example of the present invention; 25 Figure 2 shows a display sign trailer of a system for communication with a display network in accordance with an example of the present invention; Figure 3 shows another example of a display sign trailer which may be used in 30 systems of the present invention; and Document55-16/04/2014 -4 Figure 4 shows a map displaying locations of display signs which may be utilised in example systems of the present invention. Detailed Description 5 With reference to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a system 10 for communication with a display network 12 in accordance with an example of the present invention. Advantageously, the system 10 may utilise a mobile computing communication device in the form of a smartphone 14 such as, for example, the type marketed under the trade marks 10 Apple iPhone. The smartphone 14 may be used to efficiently obtain information from the display network 12 and/or to transmit programming information to one or more signs of the display network 12. Advantageously, the smartphone 14 may be provided with a specifically designed application (or "app") which makes use of features in the smartphone 14 such as, for example, a global positioning system (GPS), a data transmitter which is 15 able to transmit data over a mobile telecommunications data network, a short message service (SMS) facility of the smartphone 14, portability of the smartphone, and a colour screen which is able to display images such as that shown in Figure 4 as part of a user interface of the application. 20 More specifically, the system 10 for communication with the display network 12 includes a mobile communication device 16 (which may be in the form of the smartphone 14), a plurality of programmable displays 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d of the display network 12 located at mutually spaced locations, and a central controller 20 which is adapted to control the displays 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d. The mobile communication 25 device 16 may be arranged to communicate with the central controller 20 by a wireless communication network (illustrated by two-way communication line 22), and the central controller 20 may be arranged to communicate with the plurality of displays 18a-18d by said wireless communication network such that a user of the mobile communication device 16 is able to send programming information from the mobile communication 30 device 16 to the central controller 20 to program one or more of the displays 18a-18d. The Document55-16/04/2014 -5 communication between the central controller 20 and the displays 18a-18d is illustrated by two-way communication lines 24a-24d. The communication between the mobile communication device 16 and the central 5 controller 20, as well as the communication lines between the central controller 20 and the displays 18a-18d may be along a mobile telecommunications data network, such as the type known as 3G or 4G. Advantageously, by way of the functionality provided by the features of the mobile communication device 16, the mobile communication device 16 may be able to communicate directly with one or more of the signs 18d by way of a Short 10 Messaging Service (SMS) (or by alternative means such as Bluetooth or other short range RF communication links) which may be useful in the event that the mobile communication data network is not operational or does not cover a range sufficient for satisfactory operation of the system 10 (for example in a situation where SMS is transmitted over a different network to the data network). The central controller 20 may be provided with a 15 sim card to operate with the mobile telecommunication data network, and each of the signs 18a-18d may be provided with its own sim card also for communication with the mobile telecommunication data network. Alternatively, rather than being provided with a SIM card the central controller 20 may connect to the Telco which provides the wireless services - each sign would still require its own SIM card. Each of the signs 18a-18d may 20 have a unique telephone number (for SMS services and a unique IP address for data services) so that the mobile communication device 16 is able to communicate directly with any particular one of the signs 18a- 18d directly by using the telephone number. The direct communication by SMS between the mobile communication device 16 and the sign 18d is depicted in Figure 1 by way of communication line 26. Alternatively, direct 25 communication between the mobile communication device 16 and the sign 18d may be provided by Bluetooth or other short range RF or other wireless links. In another form, the system 10 for communication with the display network may be configured to communicate directly with the signs 18a-18d, without the need for a separate 30 central controller 20. In such an arrangement, the mobile communication device 16 is arranged to communicate with the plurality of displays 18a-18d by the wireless Document55-16/04/2014 -6 communication network such that a user of the mobile communication device 16 is able to send programming information from the mobile communication device 16 to one or more of the displays 18a-18d to selectively program said one or more displays. 5 The mobile communication device 16 may be used to obtain information from the signs 18a-18d, and/or to program the signs 18a-18d. Examples of the signs are shown in Figures 2 and 3. More specifically, Figure 2 shows a sign 18 having a display panel 28 of a single cover, whereas Figure 3 shows a sign 18 having a display panel which is capable of displaying in colour. Figure 4 shows a map which lists the location for each of the signs 10 18a-18d in the display network 12. This display may be shown on a screen of the mobile communication device 16 to facilitate the display of information to the user, and also to facilitate the input of data from the user to obtain information from and/or program particular signs of the display network 12. The signs may be programmed as an entire group, individually or as smaller groups. The mobile communication device 16 may be 15 provided with a specially designed application which facilitates display of information to the user and input of instructions by the user. In this way, the user is able to send request information from the mobile communication device 16 to one or more displays of the display network 12 by a wireless communication network to selectively obtain information on and/or to program said one or more displays 18a- 18d of the display network 12. 20 The specially designed application may be in the form of a smartphone app which is stored on a tangible computer readable medium. In particular, the computer readable medium may have stored thereon computer executable instructions that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device (in the form of the mobile communication 25 device 16/smartphone 14) to perform a method comprising the steps of: displaying a user interface to prompt a user for input; receiving input of the user; and transmitting request information based on said input from the computing device 14 to one or more of the displays 18a-18d of a display network 12 by a wireless communication network to selectively obtain information on, and/or to program, said one or more displays 18a-18d of 30 the display network 12.

Document55-16/04/2014 -7 Although the present invention is described by way of example in this document as being applicable to programmable display signs, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a similar system may be used for communication with other types of units such as, for example, vending machines. Each of the signs 18a-18d may have a GPS such that 5 the position information of the respective sign can be communicated for display in the map configuration shown in Figure 4 on the screen of the mobile communication device 16. Alternatively, the position information for each sign 18a-18d may be input by an installer at the time of installing each sign, with this information held at the central controller 20 such that it is able to be displayed on the screen of the mobile communication device 16 of 10 each user. The system 10 may be sold to users, or may be provided to them for a periodic fee. The smartphone app may utilise the GPS in the mobile communication device 16. Accordingly, the GPS in the mobile communication device 16 may be used to identify nearby signs and to navigate to specific signs of the display network 12. The system 10 may be used to determine information of signs such as when they are going on or off hire, 15 whether they are stolen, damaged or moved. The smartphone app may be provided free of charge to users for one month with an ongoing fee after the initial month, and special versions of the app may be provided for a limited period such as, for example, ten days. The smartphone app may also have the facility to provide a "revert" button which undoes changes to the programming of a sign (such as the particular image and/or words to be 20 displayed on the sing), and may provide "view-only" access to specific users, with authorisation and permission levels for different categories of users. The system 10 may also be used to provide other information in relation to specific signs such as the following: 25 e When the last service was done e When the display sign was built 30 e The data usage of the sim card in the display sign Document55-16/04/2014 " An hour meter, for example to shown how many hours the display sign has been used, and to turn off the sign automatically at a specified limit. * Revenue stream of the particular sign 5 * The app may alert the user via vibrating and/or audible sounds of sign theft or other sign malfunction or preset alarm condition e The app may scan a barcode on signs or listen for local Bluetooth or other short 10 range RF links to identify the units in proximity of the user such that the user can request parts or attendance by service technicians or other personnel. While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by 15 way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments. 20 The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 25 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and 'comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or 30 steps.

Claims (10)

1. A system for communication with a display network including: a mobile communication device; 5 a plurality of programmable displays of the display network located at mutually spaced locations; and a central controller adapted to control the displays; wherein the mobile communication device is arranged to communicate with the central controller by a wireless communication network, and the central 10 controller is arranged to communicate with the plurality of displays by said wireless communication network, such that a user of the mobile communication device is able to send programming information from the mobile communication device to the central controller to program one or more of said displays. 15

2. A system for communication with a display network including: a mobile communication device; and a plurality of programmable displays of the display network located at mutually spaced locations; wherein the mobile communication device is arranged to communicate with 20 the plurality of displays by a wireless communication network such that a user of the mobile communication device is able to send programming information from the mobile communication device to one or more of said displays to selectively program said one or more displays. 25

3. A method of communication with a display network including the steps of: providing a mobile communication device; and sending request information from the mobile communication device to one or more displays of the display network by a wireless communication network to selectively obtain information on and/or to program said one or more displays of 30 the display network. Document54-16/04/2014 -10

4. A tangible computer readable medium having stored thereon, computer executable instructions that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising: 5 displaying a user interface to prompt a user for input; receiving input of the user; and transmitting request information based on said input from the computing device to one or more displays of a display network by a wireless communication network to selectively obtain information on, and/or to program, said one or more 10 displays of the display network.

5. A tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wireless communication network is a mobile telecommunication data network. 15

6. A tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the method includes the step of implementing a fall-back condition of transmitting said request information directly to said one or more displays by Short Message Service (SMS) in the event the mobile telecommunication data network is unsuccessful in transmitting said request information. 20

7. A tangible computer readable medium as claimed in claim 5, wherein the method includes the steps of: obtaining position information from a global positioning system (GPS) of the computing device, transmitting said position information to a central controller 25 of the display network, and processing said position information on the central controller to identify a display local to the current position of the computing device.

8. A system for communication with a display network substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 30 Document54-16/04/2014 - 11

9. A method of communication with a display network substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A tangible computer readable medium having stored thereon substantially as 5 hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.