JP2014026040A - Display controller and display control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance an advertising effect by not showing a part of information displayed on a digital signage when a user notices presence of the signage.SOLUTION: A display controller captures a user who visually recognizes a screen where an advertisement image is displayed. When the user is captured, the display controller measures a distance from the captured user to the screen. Then, the display controller makes a part of advertisement image, which is displayed on the screen, invisible according to the distance measured.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a display control device that controls an advertisement image displayed on, for example, a digital signage (electronic signage), and a display control program that causes a computer to function as the display control device.

  In recent years, digital signage systems have become popular as advertising tools. This system advertises an unspecified number of users by displaying an advertisement image on a digital signage (electronic signage) installed in a public place such as a store or a station. The advertisement image may be a moving image or a still image.

  However, simply displaying the advertisement image on the digital signage cannot attract the user's interest. In view of this, there has been conventionally devised to increase the degree of attention of the user by displaying a flashy image that attracts people's eyes or changing the content to be displayed according to the movement of the person.

JP 2011-164421 A

  When a user notices the presence of digital signage, if some of the information displayed on the signage disappears, most users will be interested in what was displayed on that part. And since the interested user pays attention to the advertisement image displayed on the digital signage, the advertising effect is enhanced.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a display control technology that can enhance the advertising effect by making a part of information displayed on the signage invisible when the user notices the existence of the digital signage. It is something to try.

  In one embodiment, the display control device includes a reproducing means, a capturing means, a measuring means, and an invisible means. The reproduction means displays the advertisement image on the screen. The capturing means captures a user who visually recognizes the screen. The measuring means measures the distance from the captured user to the screen. The invisible means makes a part of the advertisement image displayed on the screen invisible according to the distance measured by the measuring means.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the digital signage system in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the one aspect | mode of digital signage. The figure which shows the one aspect | mode of an electronic camera. The flowchart which shows the control procedure of the switching control part in 1st Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the example of a screen transition of the digital signage in 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the digital signage system in 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the control procedure of the switching control part in 2nd Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the example of a screen transition of the digital signage in 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a display control device will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, a display control device that controls an advertisement image displayed on a digital signage (electronic signage) that is an advertisement medium will be described.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital signage system. The digital signage system includes a digital signage 1, a content storage unit 2, an electronic camera 3, and a display control device 4. The digital signage 1 is installed in a public place such as a store or a station as an advertising tool for an unspecified number of users, and displays a moving image or a still image advertising image under the control of the display control device 4.

  One embodiment of the digital signage 1 is shown in FIG. The digital signage 1 in FIG. 2 has a form in which a video display 12 is attached to a stand 11. Such a digital signage 1 can be installed anywhere as long as the stand 11 can be disposed. In addition, the aspect of the digital signage 1 is not limited to what is shown in FIG. For example, the digital signage 1 may be configured by embedding or fixing the video display 12 on a wall surface.

  The content storage unit 2 is a rewritable storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory, and stores a plurality of advertisement contents serving as advertisement images. One advertisement content includes a pair of data of the standard image 21 and the invisible image 22. The invisible image 22 is obtained by erasing a part of the display data of the corresponding standard image 21 and making the data display area invisible.

  The electronic camera 3 captures a space area in front of the screen of the video display 12 constituting the digital signage 1 from the screen side, and includes an imaging unit 31, an image memory 32, and a distance sensor 33. The imaging unit 31 converts a frame image in the imaging region into an electrical signal using an imaging element such as a CMOS or CCD. The image memory 32 sequentially stores frame image data that is converted into an electrical signal from the imaging unit 31 and output. The distance sensor 33 measures the distance from the screen of the video display 12 to an arbitrary moving body in the imaging region using, for example, laser light. Since the digital signage 1 is installed in a public place such as a store or a station as described above, it is assumed that the moving body is a user (person).

  One mode of the electronic camera 3 is shown in FIG. In the electronic camera 3 of FIG. 3, a laser light projecting / receiving window 3B is formed on the same plane as the lens 3A. The imaging unit 31 captures an image of the imaging region by causing the light guided into the camera 3 by the lens 3A to enter the light receiving surface of the imaging element. The distance sensor 33 measures the distance from the light projecting / receiving window 3B to the object (moving body) based on the time until the laser light projected from the light projecting / receiving window 3B is reflected by the object and returns to the light projecting / receiving window 3B. To do. For this reason, the electronic camera 3 is installed in the vicinity of the digital signage 1 so that the lens 3A and the light projecting / receiving window 3B are located on the same plane as the screen of the video display 12. In addition, the aspect of the electronic camera 3 is not limited to the thing of FIG. For example, an electronic camera 3 that does not have the distance sensor 33 may be used by providing the distance sensor 33 separately from the electronic camera 3. In this case, the electronic camera 3 is not necessarily installed in the vicinity of the digital signage 1.

  The display control device 4 includes a content reading unit 41, a content analysis unit 42, a standard image storage unit 43, an invisible image storage unit 44, an image switching unit 45, an image reproduction unit 46, a moving body capturing unit 47, a distance measurement unit 48, and A switching control unit 49 is included.

  The content reading unit 41 reads advertisement content from the content storage unit 2 according to a preset schedule. The content analysis unit 42 analyzes the advertising content read by the content reading unit 41 and divides it into the standard image 21 and the invisible image 22. The standard image storage unit 43 stores the standard image 21 analyzed by the content analysis unit 42. The invisible image storage unit 44 stores the invisible image 22 analyzed by the content analysis unit 42. The image switching unit 45 selects one of the standard image 21 stored in the standard image storage unit 43 and the invisible image 22 stored in the invisible image storage unit 44, and the image reproduction unit 46. Output to. The image reproducing unit 46 displays the standard image 21 or the invisible image 22 given from the image switching unit 45 on the video display 12 of the digital signage 1.

  The moving body capturing unit 47 compares the frame images sequentially stored in the image memory 32 and captures the moving body that moves within the photographing area of the electronic camera 3. The distance measuring unit 48 recognizes the direction of the moving body captured by the moving body capturing unit 47 and projects a laser beam from the distance sensor 33 in the direction to determine the distance from the screen of the video display 12 to the moving body. taking measurement. The switching control unit 49 switches the image selected by the image switching unit 45 according to the distance from the screen of the video display 12 to the moving body.

  Here, the display control device 4 includes an image playback unit 46 as playback means for displaying an advertisement image on the video display 12 which is the screen of the digital signage 1. In addition, the display control device 4 includes a moving body capturing unit 37 as a capturing unit that captures a user who visually recognizes an advertisement image displayed on the video display 12, and measures the distance from the captured user to the screen of the video display 12. A distance measuring unit 48 is provided as a measuring unit that performs the measurement, and an image switching unit 45 and a switching control unit 49 are provided as an invisible unit that invisible a part of the advertisement image displayed on the screen of the video display 12 according to the measurement distance.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the switching control unit 49. This procedure is realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which is a computer in accordance with a display control program stored in a program memory (not shown).

  First, the switching control unit 49 instructs the image switching unit 45 to select a standard image (ST1). In response to this instruction, the image switching unit 45 outputs the data of the standard image 21 stored in the standard image storage unit 43 to the image reproduction unit 46. Thus, the standard image 21 is displayed on the video display 12 of the digital signage 1. An example of the standard image 21 is shown on a screen 51 in FIG. In this example, an advertisement image indicating an image of a digital television that is an advertisement product and its price is used as the standard image 21.

  Next, the switching control unit 49 waits for the moving object to be captured by the moving object capturing unit 47 (ST2). Until the moving body is captured, the switching control unit 49 does not instruct the image switching unit 45 to switch images. Therefore, the standard image 21 continues to be displayed on the video display 12.

  When the moving body is captured (YES in ST2), switching control unit 49 confirms whether or not the moving body is approaching the screen side of video display 12 (ST3). When it is confirmed from the position of the moving body sequentially captured by the moving body capturing unit 47 that the moving body is not approaching the screen side of the video display 12 (NO in ST3), the switching control unit 49 switches the image. The unit 45 is not instructed to switch images. Then, the switching control unit 49 waits for the next moving body to be captured by the moving body capturing unit 47 (ST2). Therefore, even if the user is captured by the moving body capturing unit 47, the image on the video display 12 remains the standard image 21 if the user has not approached the screen side of the video display 12.

  When it is confirmed that the moving body is approaching the screen side of video display 12 (YES in ST3), switching control unit 49 acquires distance L to the moving body measured by distance measuring unit 48. (ST4). Then, the switching control unit 49 checks whether or not the measurement distance L is longer than a preset second distance X2 [m] (ST5). The second distance X2 is a distance, for example, 1 [m], at which the captured moving body is recognized as being in the immediate vicinity of the screen of the video display 12.

  When measurement distance L is equal to or smaller than second distance X2 [m] (NO in ST5), switching control unit 49 returns to the processing in step ST2. That is, the switching control unit 49 waits for the next moving body to be captured by the moving body capturing unit 47 (ST2). Therefore, when the user is captured within 1 [m] with respect to the screen of the video display 12, the image on the video display 12 remains the standard image 21.

  When measurement distance L is longer than second distance X2 [m] (YES in ST5), switching control unit 49 determines whether or not this measurement distance L is shorter than preset first distance X1. Confirm (ST6). Here, the first distance X1 is an area in which the screen of the video display 12 can be viewed from substantially the front, and is sufficiently longer than the second distance X2, for example, 5 [m].

  When measurement distance L is equal to or greater than first distance X1 [m] (NO in ST6), switching control unit 49 returns to the processing in step ST2. That is, the switching control unit 49 waits for the next moving body to be captured by the moving body capturing unit 47 (ST2). Therefore, when the user who is captured as a moving object is 5 [m] or more away from the screen of the video display 12, the image on the video display 12 remains the standard image 21.

  When measurement distance L is shorter than first distance X1 [m] (YES in ST6), switching control unit 49 instructs image switching unit 45 to select an invisible image (ST7). In response to this instruction, the image switching unit 45 outputs the data of the invisible image 22 stored in the invisible image storage unit 44 to the image reproduction unit 46. Thus, the invisible image 22 is displayed on the video display 12 of the digital signage 1. An example of the invisible image 22 is shown on a screen 52 in FIG. In this example, the invisible image 22 is an image from which the price portion of the digital television is deleted.

  Therefore, when a user who approaches the screen is captured within the range of 1 [m] or more and within 5 [m] from the screen of the video display 12, the image of the video display 12 is not displayed from the standard image 21. The display is switched to the visualized image 22. That is, a part of the standard image 21, specifically, the price of the advertising product is deleted. As a result, most users will be interested in what is displayed in the erased portion and will be closer to the screen.

  Now, after instructing the selection of the invisible image, the switching control unit 49 starts a built-in timer (ST8). Then, the switching control unit 49 confirms that the moving body is continuously captured (ST9). When the moving body is continuously captured (YES in ST9), switching control unit 49 checks whether or not distance L to the moving body is shorter than second distance X2 (ST10). .

  When distance L to the moving body is still equal to or greater than second distance X2 (NO in ST10), switching control unit 49 checks whether the timer has timed out (ST11). The timer counts a time slightly longer than the time required for the user located at the first distance X1 to reach the screen of the video display 12 to the second distance X2, for example, 5 seconds. When the timer has not timed out (NO in ST11), switching control unit 49 returns to the process in step ST9. That is, the switching control unit 49 confirms that the moving body is continuously captured (ST9).

  On the other hand, if the mobile object cannot be captured (NO in ST9), or the distance L to the mobile object is shorter than the second distance X2 (YES in ST10), or the timer times out. In this case (YES in ST11), the switching control unit 49 instructs the image switching unit 45 to select a standard image again (ST12). In response to this instruction, the image switching unit 45 outputs the data of the standard image 21 stored in the standard image storage unit 43 to the image reproduction unit 46. Thus, the standard image 21 is displayed again on the video display 12 of the digital signage 1 as shown in the screen 53 of FIG.

  On the other hand, after instructing the selection of the standard image, the switching control unit 49 stops the timer (ST13). Then, returning to the process of step ST2, the switching control unit 49 waits for the next moving body to be captured.

  Accordingly, a user who has been captured within a range of X2 [m] or more and within X1 (X1> X2) [m] from the screen of the video display 12 is out of the shooting area or approaches X2 [m] from the screen. Alternatively, if 5 seconds have elapsed from the start of capture, the image on the video display 12 is returned from the invisible image 22 to the standard image 21. As a result, when a user who is interested in what is displayed in the erased portion approaches within X2 [m] from the screen, the price of the advertisement product is displayed in the erased portion.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when an unspecified user notices the existence of the digital signage 1, he / she is interested in the user by obscuring a part of the information displayed on the screen of the signage 1. When the user approaches the screen of the digital signage 1, the information that has been made invisible can be shown, so that the information that has become invisible can be strongly appealed to the user. As a result, the advertising effect of the advertisement using the digital signage 1 can be further enhanced. In particular, by making the price of the advertising product invisible, the effect becomes extremely large.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is common in 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital signage system. Also in the second embodiment, the digital signage system includes a digital signage 1, a content storage unit 2, an electronic camera 3, and a display control device 4. The digital signage 1 and the electronic camera 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The content storage unit 2 is different from the first embodiment in the data structure of one advertisement content. That is, in the first embodiment, the advertising content is composed of a pair of data of the standard image 21 and the invisible image 22, but in the second embodiment, from a pair of data of the standard image 21 and the mask identification data 23. Configure advertising content. The mask identification data 23 is data for individually identifying various mask images M stored in a mask image storage unit 401 described later.

  In addition to the content reading unit 41, the standard image storage unit 43, the image reproduction unit 46, the moving body capturing unit 47, and the distance measurement unit 48, the display control device 4 includes a mask image storage unit 401, a content analysis unit 402, and a mask image selection unit. 403, an image composition unit 404 and a composition control unit 405.

  The mask image storage unit 401 is a rewritable storage medium such as a flash memory, for example, and stores a mask image M for covering part of the display data of the standard image 21. There are a plurality of mask images M, and unique mask identification data 23 is assigned to each of them.

  The content analysis unit 402 analyzes the advertising content read by the content reading unit 41 and divides it into the standard image 21 and the mask identification data 23. The mask image selection unit 403 selects the mask image M specified by the mask identification data 23 analyzed by the content analysis unit 402 from the mask image storage unit 401. The image composition unit 404 synthesizes the mask image M selected by the mask image selection unit 403 with the standard image 21 stored in the standard image storage unit 43. Then, the image composition unit 404 outputs the synthesized image data to the image reproduction unit 46. The composition control unit 405 controls whether the image composition unit 404 composes the mask image M with the standard image 21 according to the distance from the screen of the video display 12 to the moving object.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the composition control unit 405. This procedure is realized by a CPU, which is a computer, in accordance with a display control program stored in a program memory (not shown).

  First, the composition control unit 405 instructs the image composition unit 404 not to compose (ST21). In response to this instruction, the image composition unit 404 outputs the data of the standard image 21 stored in the standard image storage unit 43 to the image reproduction unit 46 as it is. Thus, the standard image 21 is displayed on the video display 12 of the digital signage 1. An example of the standard image 21 is shown on a screen 81 in FIG. In this example, an advertisement image indicating an image of a digital television that is an advertisement product and its price is used as the standard image 21.

  Next, the composition control unit 405 performs the same procedure as steps ST2 to ST6 executed by the switching control unit 49 of the first embodiment as steps ST22 to ST26. As a result, when a user who approaches the screen is captured within the range of 1 [m] or more and within 5 [m] from the screen of the video display 12 (YES in ST26), the composition control unit 405 Instructs the image composition unit 404 to compose (ST27).

  In response to this instruction, the image composition unit 404 synthesizes the mask image M selected from the mask image storage unit 401 by the mask image selection unit 403 with the standard image 21 stored in the standard image storage unit 43. The combined image data is output to the image reproduction unit 46. Thus, an image in which the mask image M is combined with the standard image 21 is displayed on the video display 12 of the digital signage 1. An example of the composite image is shown in a screen 82 in FIG. In this example, the mask image M is synthesized with a part of the standard image 21, specifically, the price portion of the advertising product, and the user cannot see the price. As a result, most users will be interested in what is displayed in the invisible state and will be closer to the screen.

  Now, after instructing the synthesis of the mask image M, the synthesis control unit 405 executes the same processing as steps ST8 to ST11 executed by the switching control unit 49 of the first embodiment as steps ST28 to ST31. . As a result, when the mobile object cannot be captured (NO in ST29), the distance L to the mobile object is shorter than the second distance X2 (YES in ST30), or the timer times out (YES in ST31), the composition control unit 405 instructs the image composition unit 404 to stop composition (ST32). In response to this instruction, the image composition unit 404 stops the composition of the mask image M and outputs the data of the standard image 21 stored in the standard image storage unit 43 to the image reproduction unit 46 as it is. Thus, the standard image 21 is displayed again on the video display 12 of the digital signage 1 as shown in the screen 83 of FIG.

  On the other hand, after instructing to stop the synthesis of the mask image M, the synthesis control unit 405 stops the timer (ST33). Then, returning to the process of step ST22, the composition control unit 405 waits for the next moving object to be captured.

  Therefore, a user who has been captured within a range of X2 [m] or more and within X1 (X1> X2) [m] from the screen of the video display 12 is out of the shooting area or close to within X2 [m] from the screen. Alternatively, when 5 seconds have elapsed from the start of capture, the mask image M is erased from the image on the video display 12. As a result, when a user who is interested in what is displayed in the invisible portion approaches within X2 [m] from the screen, the price of the advertising product is in the invisible portion. Is displayed.

  Thus, also in 2nd Embodiment, there can exist the same effect as 1st Embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
For example, in the first embodiment, the switching control unit 49 confirms whether or not the moving body is approaching the screen side of the video display 12 in step ST3, but this processing step may be omitted. . That is, when capturing the moving object, the switching control unit 49 acquires the distance L to the moving object regardless of whether the moving object is approaching the screen side of the video display 12, and after step ST5 The process may be executed. This point is the same as in the second embodiment, and the process step of step ST23 of the synthesis control unit 305 may be omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the switching control unit 49 confirms whether or not the measurement distance L is longer than the second distance X2 [m] in step ST5. Is shorter than the first distance X1, it is first confirmed whether the measurement distance L is shorter than the first distance X1, and if the measurement distance L is shorter, the measurement distance L is the second distance X2 [m It may be confirmed whether it is longer. This point is the same in the second embodiment, and the processing steps of step ST25 and step ST26 of the synthesis control unit 305 may be interchanged.

  In the first embodiment, the switching control unit 49 confirms whether or not the distance L to the moving body is shorter than the second distance X2 in step ST10, but this processing step is omitted. Also good. That is, the switching control unit 49 may instruct the image switching unit 45 to select the standard image again when the moving object is captured and cannot be captured or the timer times out. This is the same as in the second embodiment, and the processing step of step ST30 of the synthesis control unit 305 may be omitted. Alternatively, in the first or second embodiment, the switching control unit 49 or the synthesis control unit 405 includes a timer, but this timer function may be omitted.

  In each of the above embodiments, the moving object is recognized from the image captured by the electronic camera 3 and a part of the advertisement image is made invisible according to the distance from the screen of the video display 12 to the moving object. If the user's line of sight around 1 is monitored and it is detected that the screen of the video display 12 is viewed, a part of the advertisement image may be made invisible. Further, the information to be invisible is not limited to the price of the advertising product, but may be a product name, a discount rate, or the like.

  In each of the above embodiments, a control program for realizing the functions of the invention is recorded in advance in the program storage unit in the apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a similar program may be downloaded from the network to the apparatus. Alternatively, a similar program recorded on the recording medium may be installed in the apparatus. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it can store a program such as a CD-ROM or a memory card and can be read by the apparatus. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading the program may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) in the apparatus.

  In addition, although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital signage, 2 ... Content storage part, 3 ... Electronic camera, 4 ... Display control apparatus, 41 ... Content reading part, 42, 402 ... Content analysis part, 43 ... Standard image storage part, 44 ... Invisible image storage part 45 ... Image switching unit, 46 ... Image reproduction unit, 47 ... Moving object capturing unit, 48 ... Distance measuring unit, 49 ... Switch control unit, 401 ... Mask image storage unit, 403 ... Mask image selection unit, 404 ... Image composition Unit, 405... Synthesis control unit.

Claims (6)

Playback means for displaying an advertisement image on the screen;
Capturing means for capturing a user viewing the screen;
Measuring means for measuring the distance from the user captured by the capturing means to the screen;
An invisible means for invisible part of the advertisement image displayed on the screen by the reproducing means according to the distance measured by the measuring means;
A display control apparatus comprising:   When the distance measured by the measuring means is equal to or less than a first distance and equal to or greater than a second distance shorter than the first distance, the invisibility means makes a part of the advertisement image invisible, and the distance is The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control device visualizes when the distance is less than the second distance. The advertisement image includes an invisible image partially invisible and a standard image not invisible,
The invisibility means selects the standard image and outputs it to the reproduction means until the user is captured by the capture means, and the distance measured by the measurement means by the user is captured by the capture means. The invisible image is selected and output to the reproducing means when the distance is equal to or less than 1 and shorter than the second distance, and when the distance is less than the second distance, the standard image is again displayed. 3. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control apparatus selects and outputs the selected information to the reproduction means. A storage means for storing a mask image for making part of the advertisement image invisible by overlapping with the advertisement image;
The invisibility means outputs the advertisement image as it is to the reproduction means until the user is captured by the capture means, and the distance that the user is captured by the capture means and measured by the measurement means is a first distance. An image in which the mask image is superimposed on the advertisement image is output to the reproduction means when the distance is less than the second distance and shorter than the first distance. When the distance becomes less than the second distance, the advertisement is again displayed. 3. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image is output as it is to the reproduction means.   5. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the advertisement image that is made invisible by the invisible means is a price of an advertisement target product. To a computer connected to a display for displaying advertising images,
A function of displaying an advertisement image on the screen of the display;
A function of capturing a user viewing the screen;
A function of measuring the distance from the captured user to the screen, and a function of making a part of an advertisement image displayed on the screen invisible according to the distance;
Display control program for realizing.

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