JP2007219459A - Controller for electronic signboard - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To observe and control many outdoor large-sized signboard devices installed at distances from a control computer in a one-to-many style. <P>SOLUTION: A main computer displays a plurality of data relating to the outdoor large-sized signboard devices at a display section 7 from an area database 11, a specific slave computer is selected from them, and a connection with the selected slave computer is made through the Internet. An instruction program 12 is transmitted and the specific slave computer follows commands from the main computer. The main computer commands the specific slave computer to start, advertisement data 21 are read out of a storage device 20 through the Internet after the slave computer starts, and displayed at the display part 7 of the main computer and further displayed at a display part 27 of the specific slave computer and the signboard, and their display states are observed through the display part 7 of the main computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic signboard control device, and more particularly to a system for remotely controlling a large outdoor signboard device for advertisement from an indoor office using the Internet.

Today, consumers can see many large signboards for outdoor use on the rooftops and walls of town buildings. These large outdoor signboards are for advertising purposes only in terms of operation and management, and coexist with media advertisements such as TV, newspapers, magazines, radio, etc., for walkers who are walking, moving on the train, waiting for trains and traffic lights Appeal various advertising.
In addition, these large outdoor signboards are electronic signboards, and their display contents are set, changed, and corrected by a control computer (PC) installed in a remote indoor office. It is a useful advertising medium.

  Under these circumstances, the development of bright, light-emitting diode elements of three colors has led to the emergence of large-scale outdoor signboards that are relatively inexpensive and large, especially at night, news closely related to daily life, daily notices, department stores, Practical and interesting participatory content such as displaying supermarket information is displayed along with company advertisements.

In the invention of Patent Document 1, characters and pictures are displayed by sequentially controlling the light emission positions of the light emitting elements of the electronic signboard by a circuit control method.
JP 2002-55636 A

In the display of advertisements and the like by the conventional electronic outdoor large signboard device, a single company installs a single electronic signboard installed at a position away from a control computer (PC) of a single indoor office on a one-to-one basis. It is controlled by.
Therefore, when a single company or an advertising company controls a plurality of electronic signboards installed in each area of the city from the control computer (PC) of the single indoor office, it is necessary to respond to these controls. The display of each device could not be controlled unless a plurality of offices were provided corresponding to the plurality of electronic signboards and a control computer (PC) was installed there.

In other words, even when a company installs electronic billboards for self-promotion in cities in cities nationwide or in major cities around the world, a control computer (PC) is installed separately for these display controls. Otherwise, the display of each device could not be controlled.
In the present invention, a single indoor office control computer (PC) is used to install a plurality of electronic devices installed in each area of the city, in cities in the whole country, and further in major cities around the world. It is an object to provide a method and an apparatus capable of controlling a signboard.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and can communicate with a plurality of large-sized signboards for outdoor use, each of which is composed of slave computers distributed in various places and electronic signboards connected thereto, via the Internet. In the electronic signboard control device comprising a main computer, the main computer includes an input unit 6, a display unit 7, a clock 8, a CPU 9, and a regional database 11 relating to the large outdoor signboard device in each region, A command program 12 for controlling the slave computer, a correction program 18 capable of editing and updating characters, video, and graphic data, a link program 26, a location program 50, and a memory 31 are provided. The slave computer includes a CPU 13, a storage device 20, a display unit 27, a clock 28, a work memory 41, characters, images and figures. A storage device 20 in which advertisement data 21 is recorded, a communication program 15 that transmits the advertisement data 21 to the main computer, a display program 16 that displays the advertisement data 21 on the electronic signboard, and the instruction program 12 and a response A possible dependent program 17 and a control program 19 for controlling the electronic camera, wherein the main computer displays a plurality of data relating to the outdoor large signboard device from the regional database 11 on the display unit 7 and specifies from among them The slave computer is selected, connected to the selected slave computer via the Internet, and the command program 12 is transmitted. The specific slave computer receives the command program 12, and the slave program 17 responds. The CPU 13 follows a command from the main computer. Then, a specific slave computer is commanded to start or end by operating the input unit 6 of the master computer, and after startup, the advertisement data 21 is read from the storage device 20 via the Internet and displayed on the display unit 7 of the master computer. Further, the information is displayed on the display unit 27 of the specific slave computer and the electronic signboard, and the display state of the specific large outdoor signboard device is observed on the display unit 7 of the main computer.

A single company can control a large number of large outdoor signboards installed in a position apart from a single indoor office control computer (PC) in a one-to-many manner.
In other words, when a company installs electronic billboards for self-promotion in cities in the country or in major cities around the world, a single indoor office control computer (PC) If necessary, it is possible to observe a plurality of electronic signboards individually, change the display contents, and control the display time zone.

An overview of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Large outdoor signboards 1A, 1B,... 1N for electronic signboards are attached to buildings 23 and buildings 24 distributed around the world. In addition, electronic cameras 30A, 30B,... 30N are installed at positions facing the display screen of the outdoor large signboard device 1A.
The large outdoor signboards 1A, 1B,... 1N are controlled via the Internet 3 by a control computer (PC) 4 comprising a computer or the like provided in the office 2 of the operation / management company located at a separate address. Is done. A control computer (PC) 4 is a main computer, and is a notebook type or a desktop type having an Internet communication function.

In FIG. 7, these large outdoor signboards 1A, 1B,... 1N are, specifically, individual computers (PCs) 5A, 5B,. (In the following, for the sake of simplicity, an electronic signboard is also referred to as an outdoor large signboard apparatus.) Further, individual electronic cameras 30A, 30B,... 30N are connected to computers (PC) 5A, 5B,. .
An individual computer (PC) 5A, an individual large outdoor signboard 1A, and an individual electronic camera 30A are provided close to each other at almost the same address. The other sets are arranged in close proximity in a similar manner.

The host computer (PC) 4 can communicate independently with the large-scale outdoor signboards 1A, 1B,... 1N slave computers (PCs) 5A, 5B,. is there.
The computer (PC) 4 and multiple computers (PC) 5A, 5B,..., 1N may be either a DOSV machine or a MAC machine, and the manufacturers are IBM, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Samsung in Korea, Acer in Taiwan, etc. Any company is acceptable. These computers (PCs) 4 and 5 may be any computer in which programs satisfying international standard TCP / IP for communication on the Internet, WWW, HTML for publishing and browsing, and a browser are set.

  In FIG. 6, for example, if the outdoor large signboard device 1 </ b> A or the like is attached to a base on the roof of the building 23, the corresponding slave computer (PC) 5 </ b> A or the like is placed in the box 15 that avoids rain and wind under the base. A door for opening and closing is attached to the box. Alternatively, if the large outdoor signboard 1A or the like is mounted on the wall surface of the building roof, the computer (PC) 5A or the like is installed on the near floor inside the building. The large outdoor signboard 1A and the like and the computer (PC) 5A and the like are connected by a cable 25. The same applies to the other large outdoor signboards 1B,... 1N.

The location of the office 2 of the host computer (PC) 4 in FIG. 8 is, for example, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and the location of the computer (PC) 5A and the outdoor signboard 1A is Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and the computer (PC). The location of 5B and the large outdoor signboard device 1B is set in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, the large outdoor signage device 1N and the computer (PC), and the location of 5N in Nagoya City.
Here, the outdoor large-sized signboard device 1A has a size of, for example, 10 mx 12 m, and displays a natural color video image / character / symbol / drawing with an electronic signboard whose pixels are composed of light emitting diodes of three colors.
Each of the large outdoor signboards 1A, 1B,... 1N displays each still image signboard or a moving image / CG image, and is displayed independently by the corresponding computer (PC) 5A, 5B,. The state is controlled.

Companies that operate and manage large outdoor signboards operate offices 2 such as general companies or their subsidiaries, branches, and sales offices. For example, Toyota in Aichi, Japan, Hughes in California, USA, helicopters, Metal analyzer in Cambridge, UK for analyzers, Red Wine Company in Lyon, France for wine.
To manage and manage large outdoor signboards 1A, 1B, ... 1N for the company's main streets, buildings, and highways in the cities of the world to control their display status , 5N is additionally arranged in each computer (PC) 5A, 5B,. Each computer (PC) 5A, 5B,... 5N is connected to the large outdoor signboard 1A, 1B,.
Each of the slave computers (PCs) 5A, 5B,... 5N is controlled by a single main computer (PC) 4 which is the central computer, and a host code K0 is set therein, and the address is, for example, K0 @ kokoku. com.
Similarly, the addresses of the computers (PC) 5A, 5B,... 5N are respectively set to, for example, KA @ kokoku. com, KB @ kokoku. com, KN @ kokoku. com.

In FIG. 5, a main computer (PC) 4 includes a key / mouse input unit 6, a liquid crystal or CRT display unit 7, a clock 8, a CPU 9, a communication program 10 for the Internet, and each computer (PC) 5A in each region. 5B,... 1N, an instruction program 12, a correction program 18, a link program 26, a location program 50, and a memory 31 made of semiconductor are provided. Host code K0 and address K0 @ kokoku. com is registered in the identification memory 33.
The instruction program 12 is commercially available software such as Cookie, JAVA, script, University of Tsukuba SoftEther, etc., and each slave computer (PC) 5A, 5B,. 1N can be driven.
The correction program 18 edits and corrects the advertisement data 21 received from the storage device 20 of each slave computer (PC) 5A, 5B,.
The location program 50 reads out the address data of each of the large outdoor signboards 1A, 1B,... 1N from the regional database 11, and the link program 26 marks the address data with image data indicating each position on the map image. X is to be converted.

Next, the configuration of each computer (PC) 5A, 5B,... 5N and each large outdoor signboard 1A, 1B,. Since these have almost the same configuration, a large outdoor signboard device 1A that is paired with a computer (PC) 5A will be described as a representative.
A unique code KA is set in the computer (PC) 5A, and the address is, for example, KA @ kokoku. com, code KA and address KA @ kokkoku. com is registered in the identification memory 34.
The computer (PC) 5A includes a CPU 13, a program group, a storage device 20 such as a hard disk, a key, a mouse input unit 26, a liquid crystal or CRT display unit 27, a clock 28, and a work memory 41 made of a semiconductor.
The program group consists of a communication program 15, a display program 16, a subordinate program 17, and a camera control program 19, and a storage device 20 is composed of a magnetic storage or an IC memory, in which advertisement data 21 and live data 22 are recorded. Yes.
The communication program 15 only needs to satisfy the international common standard TCP / IP for communication on the Internet, WWW for publishing and browsing the context, HTML, and browser.

The display program 16 reads the advertisement data 21 from the storage device 20 and displays it on the large outdoor signboard device 1A, and the subordinate program 17 starts driving the slave computer (PC) 5A by the host computer (PC) 4 on the host side. It responds to the occasion. The computer (PC) 4 can be driven from the computer (PC) 5A in the reverse direction, but in the present invention, the reverse drive operation is not executed.
The camera control program 19 controls display / storage / transmission of video data received from the external electronic camera 30A.
The computer (PC) 5A and the electronic camera 30 can be connected by a cable, connected by a wireless LAN system, or connected by a wireless telephone system. For simplicity, a case of connecting by a wireless telephone system will be described.
The advertisement data 21 is digital data composed of videos, characters, symbols, and figures that Toyota of Aichi Japan, for example, wants to display in its own advertisements and advertisements in each region, each country, and each region, such as coast, plateau, city, This is a video of a fictional universe.

The live data 22 is recorded video data received from the external electronic camera 30. In the storage device 20, the recording format is the FIFO format, which is a pre-write and pre-read method in the Tokoroten format. Latest data LIVE data tn, LIVE data tj... Old (previous) data LIVE data tg are recorded.
In FIG. 3, the large outdoor signboard device 1A is installed on the roof of the building 23, on the wall surface or on a dedicated building, and the electronic camera 30A can photograph the display state so as to face the display screen of the large outdoor signboard device 1A. Located in the building or building in the position. The electronic camera 30A is provided on the rooftop or wall surface of the building on the right side in the drawing, and has a wireless telephone / email function.
The relationship among the computer (PC) 5A, the outdoor large signboard device 1A, and the electronic camera 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. The CPU 13 of the computer (PC) 5A reads out the advertisement data 21 of the storage device 20 and displays it on the display unit 27, and causes the display program 16 to display the same content on the outdoor large signboard device 1A.

The CPU 13 refers to the clock 28 by the camera control program 19 and makes a call to the electronic camera 30A at predetermined time intervals. The responding electronic camera 30A captures the appearance of the outdoor large signboard apparatus 1A displaying the advertisement video together with a part of the building as a background and transmits it to the computer (PC) 5A in the telephone mode.
If these are wired or LAN connections, the video data may be sent to the computer (PC) 5A by always shooting.
Live data 22 in which video data received from the external electronic camera 30A is recorded is written into the storage device 20 in the FIFO format from the previous data in the tokoroten format. When the predetermined data amount is reached, the old data is read out first. Discarded.
That is, the display state of the outdoor large signboard device 1A is updated or recorded in the storage device 20 in units of a predetermined data amount at all times or at predetermined time intervals. On the other hand, when the live data 22 is written in the FIFO format in the work memory 41 of the semiconductor memory and read out from the old data, the transfer rate of the live data 22 to the outside increases.

In the main computer (PC) 4, the location program 50 reads the address data of each large outdoor signboard device from the regional database 11, and displays a list of these arrangement locations on the display unit 7 as shown in FIG.
Next, by operating the input unit 6, the CPU 9 captures a map from the Internet sites of MAPPION, GOOGLE MAP, and GOOGLE EARTH by using Internet Explorer. Next, the link program 26 converts the address data into a mark X of image data indicating each position on the map image, and displays the mark on the display unit 7 so as to overlap the map image as shown in FIG.
In other words, the address is set as the position information mark X, superimposed on the map image and superimposed (superimpose), and the installation position of the outdoor large signboard device 1A is colored with a red circle or blue X as shown in FIG. In addition, it is displayed on the display unit 7 together with the map.

Similarly, in the main computer (PC) 4, the location program 50 reads an address relating to another computer (PC) 5B (which is also the position of the large outdoor signboard 1B) from the regional database 11, and maps it from an Internet site such as MAPIO. Are combined, and the address is made into a position information mark X, superimposed on the map display (superimpose), and the installation position of the large outdoor signboard device 1B as shown in FIG. A color is given by X and displayed on the display unit 7.
In the same manner, another address is set as a mark X of the position information, and is superimposed (superimposed) on the map.
The displayed map showing the installation position of the large outdoor signboard device 1A can be displayed with the magnification enlarged or reduced. When the map is reduced and displayed in a wide range, for example, the mark X of the Tokyo position information in FIG. The superimposed map range is gradually expanded, and the map on which the superimposition of the mark X (outdoor large signboard device 1B) of the Sendai position information in FIG. 2 can be displayed on the same screen.

When the image is further reduced and displayed, it becomes a wide range. For example, the entire Honshu is displayed, and a Honshu map on which the position information mark X of each region is superimposed can be displayed on the same screen. Similarly, it can be displayed as Asia, Europe / Asia, and the whole world. However, although the plurality of marks X approach each other, the overall distribution of the outdoor large signboard device 1N can be grasped.
In the main computer (PC) 4, the communication program 10 for the Internet is automatically set in the position information mark X on the map (corresponding to the large outdoor signboard 1A) and the computer (PC) 5A of FIG. Address KA @ kokoku. com. Similarly, other position information marks X can be combined with other addresses.

Alternatively, in the main computer (PC) 4, in order to select each outdoor large signboard device desired to be controlled / observed, the key and mouse input unit 6 is operated, for example, a slave computer (PC) 5A located at a remote place. Address KA @ kokoku. com directly and connect via the Internet.
If another computer (PC) 5B (which is also the position of the large outdoor signboard device 1B) is Sendai City, or further address KB @ kokoku. com can be connected via the Internet.

Alternatively, the computer (PC) 4 operates the key 6 and the mouse input unit 6 to, for example, the address KC @ kokoku. com can be connected via the Internet.
The CPU 9 sends the instruction program 12 to the slave computer (PC) 5C via the Internet, for example, and the slave program 17 operates in response to the slave computer (PC) 5C, and the CPU 13 responds to a command from the master computer (PC) 4. Follow state is set.
Therefore, the main computer (PC) 4 requests the slave computer (PC) 5C to simultaneously send the screen currently displayed on the outdoor signboard device 1C to the computer (PC) 4 in parallel. The displayed screen is also displayed on the display unit 27 of the slave computer (PC) 5C, but is also displayed on the display unit 7 of the main computer (PC) 4 at the same time.

In the office 2 of the operation / management company, the person in charge can confirm the display contents of the large outdoor signboard device 5 </ b> C located at a remote address on the display unit 7 of the control main computer (PC) 4.
Next, the main computer (PC) 4 sends a read command to the storage device 19 of the slave computer (PC) 5C to instruct the video data captured by the external electronic camera 30C to be sent to the main computer (PC) 4.
Video data live data 22 from the external electronic camera 30C is written in the storage device 20 in the FIFO format and in the Tokoroten format from the previous data, and is read from the old data LIVE data tg first through the Internet. It is sent to a computer (PC) 4. Even old data is a few minutes behind, and it is almost simultaneous for the human beings to observe. As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 8, the image of the actual display state of the outdoor large signboard device 1 </ b> C viewed from the opposite side of the building 23 is displayed on the control main computer (PC) 4 at a remote address. It can be observed on the display unit 7.

When the electronic camera 30C is a wireless telephone system, the video data can also be received from the main computer (PC) 4 by directly calling the electronic camera 30C without going through the slave computer (PC) 5C.
As a result, there is no abnormality in the connection between the slave computer (PC) 5C and the large outdoor signboard device 1C on the side of one main computer (PC) 4 or the display contents of the large outdoor signboard device 5C. And the display contents on the display unit 27 of the slave computer (PC) 5C can be confirmed. If there is a difference, it notifies the person in charge of Nagoya City of the slave computer (PC) 5C and the outdoor large signboard device 1C, and can instruct repair.

Next, a case where the office 2 of the operation / management company wants to change the display content of the large outdoor signboard device 5C in Nagoya City at a remote address will be described.
It instructs the slave computer (PC) 5C to read the advertisement data 21 and send it to the master computer (PC) 4.
The CPU 13 of the slave computer (PC) 5C reads, for example, Toyota advertisement data 21 from the storage device 20 and transmits it to the master computer (PC) 4 in Minato-ku, Tokyo via the Internet.
The received main computer (PC) 4 primarily stores the Toyota advertisement data 21 in the semiconductor memory 31. At the same time, the CPU 9 reads out the advertisement data 21 and displays it on the display unit 7.
In the computer (PC) 4, the advertisement data 21 is modified / changed / edited according to the new policy of the company by the modification program 18, or the entire advertisement is changed to create the modified advertisement data 21.

Thereafter, the main computer (PC) 4 first reads the subordinate program 17 of the slave computer (PC) 5C, enables command driving, sends the changed advertisement data 21 to the slave computer (PC) 5C, and instructs the change of the advertisement contents. To do.
The CPU 13 of the slave computer (PC) 5C updates the original advertisement data 21 in the storage device 20 to the changed advertisement data 21.
Accordingly, the contents of the storage device 20 are replaced with this data by operating the input unit 6 of the key and mouse from the office in Tokyo without going to Nagoya City, and after a predetermined time or immediately, the outdoor signboard 1C Display contents can be changed.

The display content after the change is the same as described above, since the electronic camera 30C is photographing the outdoor large signboard device 1C displaying the advertisement image, whether or not the change is surely changed is the main computer (PC) 4 in Tokyo. You can check on the screen.
Similarly, observation / correction / abnormality of the other large outdoor signboard device 1B and large outdoor signboard device 1N can be confirmed / edited / discovered on the screen of the main computer (PC) 4.
A company's chief of advertising can visually recognize on the map how many large outdoor signboards 1A, 1B, 1C, etc. for car advertisements are installed in Japan and the world. . Further, it is possible to observe what kind of content is displayed on the large outdoor signboards 1A, 1B, 1C,.

  It is a figure which shows the address of the large-sized outdoor signboard apparatus of each place of the control apparatus of the electronic signboard of this invention.   It is a figure which shows the expansion / contraction map which shows the position of the large-sized outdoor signboard apparatus of each place of this invention.   It is a figure which shows the external appearance when this invention is implemented on the building roof facing the main street intersection.   It is a block diagram which shows the structure by the side of the subordinate computer (PC) of this invention.   It is a block diagram which shows the structure by the side of the main computer (PC) of this invention.   It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a large-sized outdoor signboard apparatus of this invention.   It is a figure which shows the structure of the whole network by which the large outdoor signboard apparatus of this invention is made.   It is a figure which shows simply the whole external appearance of the large-sized outdoor signboard apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A, 1B, 1C,... 1N Large signboard for outdoor use 2 Office 3 Internet 4, 5A, 5B,... 5N Secondary computer (PC)
6 Input unit 7, 27 Display unit 8, 28 Clock 9, 13 CPU
10, 15 Communication program 11 Database 12 Command program 15 Box 16 Display program 17 Dependent program 18 Correction program 19 Camera control program 20 Storage device 21 Advertising data 22 Live data 23 Building 24 Cable 25 Link program 30A, 30B, 30C ... 30N Electronic camera 31 Memory 33 Identification memory 41 Work memory 50 Location program K0 Host code KA, KB, ... KN Secondary code X mark

Claims (4)

In a control device for an electronic signboard composed of a plurality of large outdoor signboard devices composed of slave computers distributed in various places and electronic signboards connected thereto, and a main computer capable of communicating with these via the Internet,
The main computer has an input unit, a display unit, a clock, a CPU, a regional database regarding the large outdoor signboard device for each region, a command program for controlling the slave computer, and editing and updating of character, video and graphic data A possible fix program, link program, location program and memory,
The slave computer includes a CPU, a storage device, a display unit, a clock, a work memory, a storage device in which advertisement data including characters, images, and graphics is recorded, and a communication program that transmits the advertisement data to the main computer. A display program for displaying the advertisement data on the electronic signboard, a subordinate program capable of responding to the command program, and a control program for controlling the electronic camera,
The main computer displays a plurality of data related to the large outdoor signboard device from the regional database on the display unit, selects a specific slave computer from among them, and connects to the selected slave computer via the Internet, The instruction program is transmitted, the specific slave computer receives the instruction program and the dependent program responds, and the CPU follows a command from the main computer, and the specific computer is operated by operating the input unit of the main computer. The slave computer is instructed to start or end, and after startup, the advertisement data is read from the storage device via the Internet and displayed on the display unit of the master computer, and the display unit of the specific slave computer and the electronic signboard thereof. And display the display status of a specific outdoor signboard Control apparatus for an electronic signboard, characterized by observing the display unit of the main computer.   The advertisement data is read from the storage device of a specific slave computer by the operation of the input unit of the master computer, displayed on the display unit 7, edited and updated by the correction program, and the edited and updated advertisement data is displayed on the specific slave computer. 2. The advertisement data sent to a computer, stored in the storage device, edited and updated, and displayed on the display unit of the main computer, the display unit of the specific slave computer, and the electronic signboard. The electronic signboard control device described.   The main computer acquires map information from a predetermined site on the Internet and displays it as a map image on a display unit, the location program reads address data of each outdoor large signboard device from the regional database, and the link program These address data are converted into image data marks indicating respective positions on the map image, and the marks are overlaid on the map image so that the locations of the large outdoor signage devices can be observed on the map image. The electronic signboard control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   An electronic camera equipped with a data communication program capable of photographing the whole image of the outdoor large signboard device and the vicinity thereof is installed at a position facing each of the large outdoor signboard devices, and the operation of the input unit of the main computer A specific slave computer is selected via the Internet, and the slave computer receives live data consisting of the whole outdoor signboard image taken by the electronic camera and video in the vicinity thereof by the data communication program. The slave computer transmits the video of the live data to the master computer at a remote address via the Internet, and the display state of the large outdoor signboard device is displayed on the display unit so that it can be observed. The electronic signboard control device according to claim 1.

Images