CA2305611A1 - Method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaign on vending machines via a network - Google Patents
Method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaign on vending machines via a network Download PDFInfo
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- CA2305611A1 CA2305611A1 CA002305611A CA2305611A CA2305611A1 CA 2305611 A1 CA2305611 A1 CA 2305611A1 CA 002305611 A CA002305611 A CA 002305611A CA 2305611 A CA2305611 A CA 2305611A CA 2305611 A1 CA2305611 A1 CA 2305611A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- advertising material
- vending machine
- server
- display
- location
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
- G07F5/18—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
- G07F9/002—Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
- G07F9/02—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F27/00—Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for the dynamic display of marketing campaigns on vending machine via a network. The system comprises a database for storing advertising material and vending machine for displaying the advertising material. The system also comprises a server for managing of the advertising material provided to vending machine location. Also included are a plurality of input sources connected to server to provide scheduling information and the advertising material to the server for scheduling display of the advertising material on the display location.
Description
i METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC DISPLAY OF MARI~TING
CAMPAIGNS ON VENDING MACHINES VIA A NETWORK
Field of the Invention The present invention relates in general to displaying advertising material and more specifically to a method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaigns on computerized vending machines with a display via a network.
Background of the Invention In today's economy, advertising and promotions play a significant role in marketing campaigns. Traditionally, one of the ways to deliver promotional messages has been via use of billboards and posters located in public places. This requires a long and inefficient process, involving graphic designers, printing houses, advertising agencies and owners of space where material can be posted. Billboards and posters are located in places where volume of people's traffic is known. The vending machines are also in such places but the space occupied by vending machine is not used for displaying a dynamic images associated with marketing campaign Since the life cycle of many products is quite short, a quick method of delivering advertising material is required. In the past, advertisers spent six or more months for advertising campaigns. Such lead times are becoming less and less feasible. The effectiveness of marketing tools depends heavily on timing, graphical form and attractiveness of the message presented. Consumers now expect dynamic multimedia displays as seen on the Internet and graphic designers want to express themselves in a new ways.
In contrast, prior art billboard and poster displays are generally static where one site is occupied by the same material for a long duration of time. Also, the content displayed on the billboards and posters is difficult to change..
Marketing has become a complicated international business process requiring many interactions between many global participants. The logistics of putting new content on or updating the billboards, for example in response to market fluctuations, is complicated and involves several parties. It raises the cost and extends the time from conception to actual display of the poster (i.e. a new printed poster to be installed over the old one). Furthermore, only one advertiser can use Each billboard location at any given time.
Finally, marketing campaign designers are forced to deal with many billboard operators with dii~erent business practices and requirements. 7Chis slows down delivery of campaign content and limits the flexibility in delivery method.
In recent years, an unprecedented growth in the economy has been experienced. An undisputed factor in this growth is the role of the Internet which enables business to be performed over the Internet. This includes broadcasting information about available products and services, taking orders for goods and enabling flow of information between business participant;>.
Advertising has also become prevalent on the Internet as exemplified by US Patent 6,009,409 to Adler et al. and International patent application NO
W099/4 i 546 to Hylin et al.. US Patent 6,009,409 is directed at a system for controlling timing and form of advertisements sent to users who are actively browsing the Internet. WO
99/4'1546 describes a system which focuses on th.e control of displays over private local area networks with limited telephone access.
In both of the;>e prior art systems, advertising material is shown to the user without the user's consent. 7'he advertiser takes advantage of the fact that a user is browsing a screen and places their advertising in an available space. Also, both systems are susceptible to unauthorized access since the owner of the display has no control over the advertising material.
In order to overcome the limitations of the prior art, there is provided a method and system for scheduling the dynamic display of marketing campaigns on vending machines via a network . ThE: vending machines are converted into computerized devices with a display and become a new advertising channel.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaigns on vending machines via a network. The system comprises a central server which contains information concerning vending machine locations as well as available time slots. An advertiser accesses the central server to select a time slot for a specific vending machine location ar.~d then uploads the advertising material to the central server.
Prior to the occurrence of the allotted time slot, the advertising material is uploaded to the vending machine location and displayed at when the time slot occurs.
Integrity checks are performed on the advertising material to ensure that the material is displayable.
The advertiser is also allowed to monitor the content being displayed so that the advertiser can see the advertising material allocated to vending machine location and time slot.
The vending machines are converted to a computerized device with a display, processor and an ability to communicate with the server. The basic functionality of the vending machines display is to display advertising material, in the form of a valid image object, during the allocated time slot. Prior to expiry of validity of an object allocated to a current time slot, the vending machine triggers a communication session with the server to upload the next valid object to be displayed.
Also, the present invention allows advertisers in a marketing campaign to access the server via the Internet. Since all information relating to advertising material (image objects), time slots and vending machines location flows through the server, the server aids in standardizing the method of doing business for advertisers. The server stores image objects, uploaded by the advertiser, in a central database to be downloaded to vending machines locations when requested by the vending machines location.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for dynamic display of marketing campaigns on vending machines display via a network comprising:
a database for storing advertising material;
at least one vf;nding machine with a display, displaying said advertising material;
a server for managing of said advertising material on said at least one vending machine location; and a plurality of input sources connected to said server;
wherein said input sources provide scheduling information and said advertising material to said server for scheduling said display of said advertising material on said at least one vending machine location.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for dynamically disl>laying marketing campaigns on vending machines displays via a network comprising the steps of accessing a server, via said network, to retrieve available time slots associated with at least one vending machine;
selecting a time slot from said available time slots for displaying advertising z material;
storing said advertising material in a database;
uploading said advertising material to said vending machine location prior to occurrence of said selected time slot; and displaying said advertising material at said vending machines display location when said time slot occurs.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computerized vending machine comprising:
A display device:
A communicator An object storage; and A processor;
Wherein said processor comprises:
Operating system software;
Display software;
Object manager software; and FTPfVPN transfer software.
Brief Ilescrlc~tion of the Detailed Drawtnas An embodiment of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the system of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the system of the present invention; and Figures 3 - 6 are flowcharts detailing work flow processes according to the preferred embodiment.
General Description of' the l~reYerred )gmhodlment A schematic nagram of the information system for providing effective collaboration between markE;ting campaigns participants and secure delivery of advertising material to a vending machines display is shown in Figure 1. The system 10 comprises a plwality of vending machinf;s with display ~2 connected to a central server 14 which, in turn, is connected to a plurality of :input sources 16 via the Internet 1 "~. In the preferred embodiment, the input sources are personal computers.
Each vending machine at location i2 generally comprises at least one computerized device, preferably a computerized vending machine,18, a display device 20, a communicator ~~, an objects storage 24 and a processor 26. The objects storage 24 is preferably non-volatile memory. The body of vending machine 18 is a stationary space used to display advertising materia via the display device 20 which may be a computer video display such as an LCD panel, an LED panel, a projecting device utilizing digital light processing device or a cathode ray tube (C1ZT). The processor 26 controls logic and events sequence of the vending machine 18 and display device 20 of the location 12.
Communication between each vending machine location i2 and the server i4 is achieved via the communicator 22. In the preferred embodiment, the communicator is a modem.
The vending machine location 12 may also be connected to the server 14 through an Internet Service Provider 19 via a virtual private network session.
Turning to Figure 2, a more detailed schematic of the software modules of the processor 26 and the server 14 is provided. The processor 26 comprises operating system software 28 which executes display software 30, local controller software 3~, communication software 34, object manager software 36 and FTP/VPN transfer software 38. The operating system software f$ provides support to the vending machine i8 based on micro-kernel technology with message passing. The display software 30 enables decoding, decompression and display of images, animations and video on the display device fib. The local controller software 32 checks validity of the advertising material (in the form of at least one image object) and sends the materia to the display software 30. The validity checks and display progresses through subsequent time slots up to the end of a display cycle and re-starts. The validity check relates to exp~.ration date and time. If the expiration time of an image object allocated to the current time slot is shorter than a predefined time window, the local controller 3~ sends a signal to the object manager 36. The object manager software 36 triggers communication module 34 to establish a communication channel with the server 14. Finally, the FTP client software 38 executes FTP software once the communication channel is created. The FTP software ~~ssists in the downloading of information, including the image object for the following time slot, from the server i4. This results in the display of a new, image object when that time slot arrives in the next display cycle.
v The server 14 comprises a distribution engine 40, a slot allocator 42, a transaction system 44, a monitoring system 46, a location identifier 48 and a central database 52. Application engines stored on a web server 50 are accessed by an administrator, via an administrative computer 56, .or by an advertiser, via one of the input sources 16. The server 14 and the application engines provide business logic which enable interaction of many advertisers with many consumers. The server 14 is separated from the Internet by a corporate firewall 59. The corporate firewall 59 is configured such that only certain objects may pass through to the server 14 from the Internet 17.
The distribution engine 40 uploads image objects from the input sources 16 and checks the objects for technical integrity before storing them in the central database 52 along with scheduling and display location information. The slot allocator 42 maintains and tracks available time slots at vending machines locations 12. The transaction system 44 enables payments, cancellations and tracks orders and invoice status. The monitoring system 46 allows for real-time viewing, on an input source 16, the content being displayed on the vending machine 18 at the location 12. The location identifier 48 allows advertisers to search the central database 52 for description, statistical and technical information on each display at vending machine location lf.. The central database 52 also stores data for use by the distribution engine 40, the slot allocator 42, the transaction system 44 and the monitoring system 46.
Several services are located between the corporate firewall 59 and a main firewall 58. These services secure the connection between the input source 16 and the server 14. The services includes the web server 50, an FTP/VPN server 51, a security module 53, a communications module 55, a personalization module 57 and a context service module 61.
The web server 50 passes html pages dynamically created by the server 14 when requested by an input :>ource 16. The FTP/VPN server 51 opens, closes and maintains file transfer channels between the input sources 16 and the server 14.
Security module 53 maintains and verifies user profiles, names, roles, passwords, server access privileges and history logs of actions performed by the input source 16. Communication module 55 enables dial in by vending machine fold translates file types from the processor 26 to the server 14.
Personalization module 57 maintains user profile data and creates html pages with a personalized look for the advertiser during the login session. Context module 61 tracks the history of past login sessions and returns an html page reflecting the stage of a business process from a previous login. Administrative functions for these modules are performed by a system administrator via the administration computer 56.
Turning to Figures 3 - 6, flowcharts outlining various aspects of the present invention are provided. Firstly, an advertiser accesses the server 14 via one of the input sources 16. After logging in {step 60), the advertiser can either search a specific vending machine location 12 (step 62) or submit pre-requisite criteria for a vending machine location 12 (step 64).
If the advertiser decides to search a specific vending machine location 12, the advertiser then reviews data corresponding to the vending machine location 12 (step 66). This data may include address of physical location, size, display specification of vending machine, traffic data at the location, and demographic data related to a location. After reviewing the data, the advertiser reviews the available time slots, provided by the slot allocator 42, (step 68) and then subscribes to an available time slot to display the advertisement (step 70). A flowchart outlining the operation of the; slot allocator 42 is shown in Figure 4.
Alternatively, if the advertiser decides to submit criteria for a vending machine location 12 (step 64), the advertiser then proceeds to execute a selection routine (step 72). This allows an advertiser to select a vending machine location 12 based on pre-requisite criteria such as volume of traffic at the vending machine location and time slots available at the location.
After the selection routine has been executed, the advertiser reviews the results (step 74) and selects a display location 12 (step 76). The advertiser then reviews the vending machine location data (step 66), reviews available time slots (step 68) and subscribes to a time slot (step 70).
After subscribing to a time slot, the advertiser uploads the advertising material to the server 14 (step 78).
Once the advertising material is uploaded to the server 14, the distribution engine 40 reviews the information for technical integrity (step 80). After checking for technical integrity, the advertising material is reviewed for content integrity by the administrator (step 82). If the advertising material does not pass the content integrity test, the advertiser is informed and is requested to amend the advertising material.
Otherwise, the advertising material is approved and stored in the central database 52 (step 84). The advertiser is then notified that the advertising material has been stored (step 86). While the notification is being sent (step 88), a financial transaction is executed (step 90). The financial transaction may either be payment for the selected time slot (step 92) or a check of the time remaining for a previously purchased time slot (step 94). Upon confirmation of payment, the a image object is ready to be uploaded to the vending machine location 12 (step 96). The image object must be uploadE;d to the vending machine location 12 prior to the expiry of the previous time slot.
Twning to Figure 4, when an advertiser requests time slot information (step 97), the central database 52 is queried (step 98). The available time slots are then displayed on the input sowce 16 (step 100). After the advertiser subscribes to a time slot (step 102), the database 52 is updated with the new subscription (step 104) and the time slot is deemed allocated (step 106).
Turning to Figure 5, a flowchart outlining financial transactions is shown.
When the advertiser executes a financial transaction (step 90), the transaction module 44 performs two functions. The transaction module 44 calculates transaction fees (step 108) and aggregates air time information (step 110) where more than one time slot on more than one vending machine owners site has been subscribed to by a single advertiser.
After the transaction module 44 calculates transaction fees (step 108), an invoice is then sent to the advertiser electronically or by regular air mail (step 112). After payment is received (step 114), credit is applied to the server operator (step 116).
In parallel, the transaction module 44 aggregates air time information (step 110), invoices are then aggregated (step 118). An invoice is then sent (step 120) and once payment is received (step 122), a service fee is subtracted (step 124). The server operator is credited (step 126) and the payment is desegregated to different vending machine sites owners {step 128). The vending machine owners are then credited (step 130).
It may be also possible for advertisers to monitor their advertising material at the vending machine localxon 12 via one of the input sowces 16, as shown in Figure 6.
After monitoring is requested (step 132), the central database 52 is queried (step 134). The advertising material is then retrieved from the central database 52 (step 136), converted to an html file (step 138) and forwarded to the advertiser (step 140).
It will be appreciated that, although only one embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, various changes and modification may be made.
One such modification is that communication between the input sowces 16 and the server 14 and the server 14 and the display location 12 may be via any type of network and does not have to restricted to the Internet. For example, a cellular network or even a radio network.
All such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined try the claims appended herein.
CAMPAIGNS ON VENDING MACHINES VIA A NETWORK
Field of the Invention The present invention relates in general to displaying advertising material and more specifically to a method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaigns on computerized vending machines with a display via a network.
Background of the Invention In today's economy, advertising and promotions play a significant role in marketing campaigns. Traditionally, one of the ways to deliver promotional messages has been via use of billboards and posters located in public places. This requires a long and inefficient process, involving graphic designers, printing houses, advertising agencies and owners of space where material can be posted. Billboards and posters are located in places where volume of people's traffic is known. The vending machines are also in such places but the space occupied by vending machine is not used for displaying a dynamic images associated with marketing campaign Since the life cycle of many products is quite short, a quick method of delivering advertising material is required. In the past, advertisers spent six or more months for advertising campaigns. Such lead times are becoming less and less feasible. The effectiveness of marketing tools depends heavily on timing, graphical form and attractiveness of the message presented. Consumers now expect dynamic multimedia displays as seen on the Internet and graphic designers want to express themselves in a new ways.
In contrast, prior art billboard and poster displays are generally static where one site is occupied by the same material for a long duration of time. Also, the content displayed on the billboards and posters is difficult to change..
Marketing has become a complicated international business process requiring many interactions between many global participants. The logistics of putting new content on or updating the billboards, for example in response to market fluctuations, is complicated and involves several parties. It raises the cost and extends the time from conception to actual display of the poster (i.e. a new printed poster to be installed over the old one). Furthermore, only one advertiser can use Each billboard location at any given time.
Finally, marketing campaign designers are forced to deal with many billboard operators with dii~erent business practices and requirements. 7Chis slows down delivery of campaign content and limits the flexibility in delivery method.
In recent years, an unprecedented growth in the economy has been experienced. An undisputed factor in this growth is the role of the Internet which enables business to be performed over the Internet. This includes broadcasting information about available products and services, taking orders for goods and enabling flow of information between business participant;>.
Advertising has also become prevalent on the Internet as exemplified by US Patent 6,009,409 to Adler et al. and International patent application NO
W099/4 i 546 to Hylin et al.. US Patent 6,009,409 is directed at a system for controlling timing and form of advertisements sent to users who are actively browsing the Internet. WO
99/4'1546 describes a system which focuses on th.e control of displays over private local area networks with limited telephone access.
In both of the;>e prior art systems, advertising material is shown to the user without the user's consent. 7'he advertiser takes advantage of the fact that a user is browsing a screen and places their advertising in an available space. Also, both systems are susceptible to unauthorized access since the owner of the display has no control over the advertising material.
In order to overcome the limitations of the prior art, there is provided a method and system for scheduling the dynamic display of marketing campaigns on vending machines via a network . ThE: vending machines are converted into computerized devices with a display and become a new advertising channel.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaigns on vending machines via a network. The system comprises a central server which contains information concerning vending machine locations as well as available time slots. An advertiser accesses the central server to select a time slot for a specific vending machine location ar.~d then uploads the advertising material to the central server.
Prior to the occurrence of the allotted time slot, the advertising material is uploaded to the vending machine location and displayed at when the time slot occurs.
Integrity checks are performed on the advertising material to ensure that the material is displayable.
The advertiser is also allowed to monitor the content being displayed so that the advertiser can see the advertising material allocated to vending machine location and time slot.
The vending machines are converted to a computerized device with a display, processor and an ability to communicate with the server. The basic functionality of the vending machines display is to display advertising material, in the form of a valid image object, during the allocated time slot. Prior to expiry of validity of an object allocated to a current time slot, the vending machine triggers a communication session with the server to upload the next valid object to be displayed.
Also, the present invention allows advertisers in a marketing campaign to access the server via the Internet. Since all information relating to advertising material (image objects), time slots and vending machines location flows through the server, the server aids in standardizing the method of doing business for advertisers. The server stores image objects, uploaded by the advertiser, in a central database to be downloaded to vending machines locations when requested by the vending machines location.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for dynamic display of marketing campaigns on vending machines display via a network comprising:
a database for storing advertising material;
at least one vf;nding machine with a display, displaying said advertising material;
a server for managing of said advertising material on said at least one vending machine location; and a plurality of input sources connected to said server;
wherein said input sources provide scheduling information and said advertising material to said server for scheduling said display of said advertising material on said at least one vending machine location.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for dynamically disl>laying marketing campaigns on vending machines displays via a network comprising the steps of accessing a server, via said network, to retrieve available time slots associated with at least one vending machine;
selecting a time slot from said available time slots for displaying advertising z material;
storing said advertising material in a database;
uploading said advertising material to said vending machine location prior to occurrence of said selected time slot; and displaying said advertising material at said vending machines display location when said time slot occurs.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computerized vending machine comprising:
A display device:
A communicator An object storage; and A processor;
Wherein said processor comprises:
Operating system software;
Display software;
Object manager software; and FTPfVPN transfer software.
Brief Ilescrlc~tion of the Detailed Drawtnas An embodiment of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the system of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the system of the present invention; and Figures 3 - 6 are flowcharts detailing work flow processes according to the preferred embodiment.
General Description of' the l~reYerred )gmhodlment A schematic nagram of the information system for providing effective collaboration between markE;ting campaigns participants and secure delivery of advertising material to a vending machines display is shown in Figure 1. The system 10 comprises a plwality of vending machinf;s with display ~2 connected to a central server 14 which, in turn, is connected to a plurality of :input sources 16 via the Internet 1 "~. In the preferred embodiment, the input sources are personal computers.
Each vending machine at location i2 generally comprises at least one computerized device, preferably a computerized vending machine,18, a display device 20, a communicator ~~, an objects storage 24 and a processor 26. The objects storage 24 is preferably non-volatile memory. The body of vending machine 18 is a stationary space used to display advertising materia via the display device 20 which may be a computer video display such as an LCD panel, an LED panel, a projecting device utilizing digital light processing device or a cathode ray tube (C1ZT). The processor 26 controls logic and events sequence of the vending machine 18 and display device 20 of the location 12.
Communication between each vending machine location i2 and the server i4 is achieved via the communicator 22. In the preferred embodiment, the communicator is a modem.
The vending machine location 12 may also be connected to the server 14 through an Internet Service Provider 19 via a virtual private network session.
Turning to Figure 2, a more detailed schematic of the software modules of the processor 26 and the server 14 is provided. The processor 26 comprises operating system software 28 which executes display software 30, local controller software 3~, communication software 34, object manager software 36 and FTP/VPN transfer software 38. The operating system software f$ provides support to the vending machine i8 based on micro-kernel technology with message passing. The display software 30 enables decoding, decompression and display of images, animations and video on the display device fib. The local controller software 32 checks validity of the advertising material (in the form of at least one image object) and sends the materia to the display software 30. The validity checks and display progresses through subsequent time slots up to the end of a display cycle and re-starts. The validity check relates to exp~.ration date and time. If the expiration time of an image object allocated to the current time slot is shorter than a predefined time window, the local controller 3~ sends a signal to the object manager 36. The object manager software 36 triggers communication module 34 to establish a communication channel with the server 14. Finally, the FTP client software 38 executes FTP software once the communication channel is created. The FTP software ~~ssists in the downloading of information, including the image object for the following time slot, from the server i4. This results in the display of a new, image object when that time slot arrives in the next display cycle.
v The server 14 comprises a distribution engine 40, a slot allocator 42, a transaction system 44, a monitoring system 46, a location identifier 48 and a central database 52. Application engines stored on a web server 50 are accessed by an administrator, via an administrative computer 56, .or by an advertiser, via one of the input sources 16. The server 14 and the application engines provide business logic which enable interaction of many advertisers with many consumers. The server 14 is separated from the Internet by a corporate firewall 59. The corporate firewall 59 is configured such that only certain objects may pass through to the server 14 from the Internet 17.
The distribution engine 40 uploads image objects from the input sources 16 and checks the objects for technical integrity before storing them in the central database 52 along with scheduling and display location information. The slot allocator 42 maintains and tracks available time slots at vending machines locations 12. The transaction system 44 enables payments, cancellations and tracks orders and invoice status. The monitoring system 46 allows for real-time viewing, on an input source 16, the content being displayed on the vending machine 18 at the location 12. The location identifier 48 allows advertisers to search the central database 52 for description, statistical and technical information on each display at vending machine location lf.. The central database 52 also stores data for use by the distribution engine 40, the slot allocator 42, the transaction system 44 and the monitoring system 46.
Several services are located between the corporate firewall 59 and a main firewall 58. These services secure the connection between the input source 16 and the server 14. The services includes the web server 50, an FTP/VPN server 51, a security module 53, a communications module 55, a personalization module 57 and a context service module 61.
The web server 50 passes html pages dynamically created by the server 14 when requested by an input :>ource 16. The FTP/VPN server 51 opens, closes and maintains file transfer channels between the input sources 16 and the server 14.
Security module 53 maintains and verifies user profiles, names, roles, passwords, server access privileges and history logs of actions performed by the input source 16. Communication module 55 enables dial in by vending machine fold translates file types from the processor 26 to the server 14.
Personalization module 57 maintains user profile data and creates html pages with a personalized look for the advertiser during the login session. Context module 61 tracks the history of past login sessions and returns an html page reflecting the stage of a business process from a previous login. Administrative functions for these modules are performed by a system administrator via the administration computer 56.
Turning to Figures 3 - 6, flowcharts outlining various aspects of the present invention are provided. Firstly, an advertiser accesses the server 14 via one of the input sources 16. After logging in {step 60), the advertiser can either search a specific vending machine location 12 (step 62) or submit pre-requisite criteria for a vending machine location 12 (step 64).
If the advertiser decides to search a specific vending machine location 12, the advertiser then reviews data corresponding to the vending machine location 12 (step 66). This data may include address of physical location, size, display specification of vending machine, traffic data at the location, and demographic data related to a location. After reviewing the data, the advertiser reviews the available time slots, provided by the slot allocator 42, (step 68) and then subscribes to an available time slot to display the advertisement (step 70). A flowchart outlining the operation of the; slot allocator 42 is shown in Figure 4.
Alternatively, if the advertiser decides to submit criteria for a vending machine location 12 (step 64), the advertiser then proceeds to execute a selection routine (step 72). This allows an advertiser to select a vending machine location 12 based on pre-requisite criteria such as volume of traffic at the vending machine location and time slots available at the location.
After the selection routine has been executed, the advertiser reviews the results (step 74) and selects a display location 12 (step 76). The advertiser then reviews the vending machine location data (step 66), reviews available time slots (step 68) and subscribes to a time slot (step 70).
After subscribing to a time slot, the advertiser uploads the advertising material to the server 14 (step 78).
Once the advertising material is uploaded to the server 14, the distribution engine 40 reviews the information for technical integrity (step 80). After checking for technical integrity, the advertising material is reviewed for content integrity by the administrator (step 82). If the advertising material does not pass the content integrity test, the advertiser is informed and is requested to amend the advertising material.
Otherwise, the advertising material is approved and stored in the central database 52 (step 84). The advertiser is then notified that the advertising material has been stored (step 86). While the notification is being sent (step 88), a financial transaction is executed (step 90). The financial transaction may either be payment for the selected time slot (step 92) or a check of the time remaining for a previously purchased time slot (step 94). Upon confirmation of payment, the a image object is ready to be uploaded to the vending machine location 12 (step 96). The image object must be uploadE;d to the vending machine location 12 prior to the expiry of the previous time slot.
Twning to Figure 4, when an advertiser requests time slot information (step 97), the central database 52 is queried (step 98). The available time slots are then displayed on the input sowce 16 (step 100). After the advertiser subscribes to a time slot (step 102), the database 52 is updated with the new subscription (step 104) and the time slot is deemed allocated (step 106).
Turning to Figure 5, a flowchart outlining financial transactions is shown.
When the advertiser executes a financial transaction (step 90), the transaction module 44 performs two functions. The transaction module 44 calculates transaction fees (step 108) and aggregates air time information (step 110) where more than one time slot on more than one vending machine owners site has been subscribed to by a single advertiser.
After the transaction module 44 calculates transaction fees (step 108), an invoice is then sent to the advertiser electronically or by regular air mail (step 112). After payment is received (step 114), credit is applied to the server operator (step 116).
In parallel, the transaction module 44 aggregates air time information (step 110), invoices are then aggregated (step 118). An invoice is then sent (step 120) and once payment is received (step 122), a service fee is subtracted (step 124). The server operator is credited (step 126) and the payment is desegregated to different vending machine sites owners {step 128). The vending machine owners are then credited (step 130).
It may be also possible for advertisers to monitor their advertising material at the vending machine localxon 12 via one of the input sowces 16, as shown in Figure 6.
After monitoring is requested (step 132), the central database 52 is queried (step 134). The advertising material is then retrieved from the central database 52 (step 136), converted to an html file (step 138) and forwarded to the advertiser (step 140).
It will be appreciated that, although only one embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, various changes and modification may be made.
One such modification is that communication between the input sowces 16 and the server 14 and the server 14 and the display location 12 may be via any type of network and does not have to restricted to the Internet. For example, a cellular network or even a radio network.
All such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined try the claims appended herein.
Claims (17)
1. A system for dynamic display of marketing campaigns on vending machines display via a network comprising:
a database for storing advertising material;
at least one vending machine location for displaying said advertising material;
a server for managing of said advertising material provided to said at least one vending machine location;
and a plurality of input sources for providing scheduling information and said advertising material to said server for scheduling said display of said advertising material on said at least one vending machine location.
a database for storing advertising material;
at least one vending machine location for displaying said advertising material;
a server for managing of said advertising material provided to said at least one vending machine location;
and a plurality of input sources for providing scheduling information and said advertising material to said server for scheduling said display of said advertising material on said at least one vending machine location.
2. The system of Claim 1 wherein said advertising material is at least one image object.
3. The system of Claim 1 wherein said vending machine comprises a computerized device.
4. The system of Claim 3 wherein said computerized device comprises a display device.
5. The system of Claim 4 wherein said display device is one of an LCD panel, an LED panel, a projecting device utilizing digital light processing device or a cathode ray tube (CRT).
6. The system of Claim 1 wherein said server comprises:
a distribution engine for uploading said scheduling information and said advertising material from said plurality of input sources and for managing of said advertising material to provide it for at least one vending machine location; and a slot allocator for monitoring said scheduling of said display.
a distribution engine for uploading said scheduling information and said advertising material from said plurality of input sources and for managing of said advertising material to provide it for at least one vending machine location; and a slot allocator for monitoring said scheduling of said display.
7. The system of Claim 6 wherein said server further comprises:
a transaction system for enabling payment, cancellations and status checking.
a transaction system for enabling payment, cancellations and status checking.
8. The system of Claim 1 wherein said server further comprises a monitoring system for providing a view of said advertising material being allocated to a location, to at least one of said plurality of input sources.
9. The system of Claim 7 wherein said server further comprises:
a location identifier for providing description, statistical and technical information concerning said at least one vending machine location to at least one of said plurality of input sources.
a location identifier for providing description, statistical and technical information concerning said at least one vending machine location to at least one of said plurality of input sources.
10. The system of Claim 1 wherein said network is the Internet.
11. A method dynamic displaying of marketing campaigns via a network comprising the steps of:
accessing a server, via said network, to retrieve available time slots associated with at least one vending machine location;
selecting a time slot from said available time slots for displaying advertising material;
storing said advertising material in a database;
uploading said advertising material to said vending machine location prior to occurrence of said selected time slot; and displaying said advertising material at said vending machines display location when said time slot occurs.
accessing a server, via said network, to retrieve available time slots associated with at least one vending machine location;
selecting a time slot from said available time slots for displaying advertising material;
storing said advertising material in a database;
uploading said advertising material to said vending machine location prior to occurrence of said selected time slot; and displaying said advertising material at said vending machines display location when said time slot occurs.
12. The method of Claim 11 further comprising the step of searching for a vending machine location before said step of selecting a time slot from said available time slots.
13. The method of Claim 12 further comprising the step of retrieving vending machine location data after said step of searching for a vending machine location.
14. The method of Claim 11 further comprising the step of checking said advertising material for technical integrity before said step of storing said advertising material in a database.
15. The method of Claim 11 further comprising the step of performing financial transactions before said step of uploading said advertising material.
16. The method of Claim 15 wherein said step of performing financial transactions comprising the steps of calculating transaction fees and aggregating air time information.
17. A computerized vending machine comprising:
a display device;
a communicator;
an objects storage; and a processor;
wherein said processor comprises:
operating system software;
display software;
communication software;
object manager software; and FTP/VPN transfer software.
a display device;
a communicator;
an objects storage; and a processor;
wherein said processor comprises:
operating system software;
display software;
communication software;
object manager software; and FTP/VPN transfer software.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002305611A CA2305611A1 (en) | 2000-04-25 | 2000-04-25 | Method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaign on vending machines via a network |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002305611A CA2305611A1 (en) | 2000-04-25 | 2000-04-25 | Method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaign on vending machines via a network |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2305611A1 true CA2305611A1 (en) | 2001-10-25 |
Family
ID=4165906
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002305611A Abandoned CA2305611A1 (en) | 2000-04-25 | 2000-04-25 | Method and system for dynamic display of marketing campaign on vending machines via a network |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2305611A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20100235240A1 (en) * | 2009-03-16 | 2010-09-16 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Automatic vending apparatus for providing advertisement and method thereof |
-
2000
- 2000-04-25 CA CA002305611A patent/CA2305611A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20100235240A1 (en) * | 2009-03-16 | 2010-09-16 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Automatic vending apparatus for providing advertisement and method thereof |
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