WO2020245837A1

WO2020245837A1 - Interactive billboard system and method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2020245837A1
Application number: PCT/IN2020/050405
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kalyan KERUR
Original assignee: Kerur Kalyan
Priority date: 2019-06-07
Filing date: 2020-05-06
Publication date: 2020-12-10

Abstract

The present invention provides an interactive billboard system (100) including a user device (102), a server (104), and a billboard (120) interconnected by a communication network (106). The interactive billboard system (100) enables a user of the user device (102) to interact and display data on the billboard (120).

Description

INTERACTIVE BILLBOARD SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to interactive electronic systems and particularly to billboards.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Billboards have been used since many decades for advertising. Traditionally, the billboards have been a popular form of advertisement due to benefits of visibility, location, and audience provided by the billboards. Billboards placed at prime locations such as highways, airports, train stations, and beaches are seen by a very large mass of people. Such billboards are in great demand among advertisers for reaching out to the masses. On the contrary, the billboards at less crowded places are not much seen by the masses. The traditional billboards are non-electronic, and hence, their visibility is completely dependent on their location and placement. Also, the traditional billboards are either painted or printed. As a result, content painted or printed on the on the billboards cannot be changed quickly and easily. Hence, the duration for which a particular content is maintained on the billboard is more and is not readily customizable.

[0003] With the advent in technology, digital billboards were introduced in place of the traditional billboards at the prime locations. Digital billboards offer flexibility of changing the displayed content at any intervals based on requirements of the advertisements. The content that can be displayed on the digital billboards includes various forms of media, such as, advertisements, live updates of sports or news, entertainment videos, songs, etc. However, even the digital billboards display only predefined content. The content is also usually controlled by agencies or organizations owning or managing the digital billboards. Therefore, even the digital billboards do not offer ready customizability based on requirements provided in run time.

[0004] Another example of conventional billboards includes billboards capable of communication with the internet. Such billboards are usually controlled by a server that provides the media to be displayed on the billboards. Such billboards may use input devices or touchscreens to facilitate users to interact with the billboard. However, even the visibility of such billboards is dependent on the location and placement of the billboard. As a result, the extent of interaction provided by these billboards is limited only to the people who approach the billboards and use the touchscreen or the input devices of the billboards.

Moreover, multiple such billboards, though controlled by same server, still function as independent billboards and are not synchronized. Further, these billboards require the users to approach and physically interact with the billboards and hence, these billboards fail to facilitate remote interactions by the users. [0005] Moreover, none of the billboards allow the users to participate in any activity pertaining to the displayed media or to provide run time suggestions to watch and enjoy content of their choice.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for interactive billboards that allow better interaction by the users, greater participation of the users, and customization based on the users’ needs in run time.

SUMMARY

[0007] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an interactive billboard system and a method of interaction with a billboard. [0008] This summary is neither intended to identify essential features of the present invention nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, a method of interaction with a billboard is provided. The method includes detecting presence of a registered user device in vicinity of the billboard by a server. The billboard displays a media. The server transmits the displayed media and a notification to the registered user device when the registered user device is in vicinity of the billboard. The registered user device generates an input data in response to the received notification and media. The registered user device transmits the input data to the server. The server displays the received input data on the billboard.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, an interactive billboard system is provided. The interactive billboard system includes a billboard and a server. The billboard is configured to display a media. The server is configured to detect presence of a registered user device in vicinity of the billboard. The server transmits the media and a notification to the registered user device when the registered user device is in vicinity of the billboard. The registered user device generates input data in response to the received notification and media. The server receives the input data from the registered user device. The server displays the received input data on the billboard.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the server stores one or more predefined location coordinates indicative of an area in vicinity of the billboard in a memory. The server receives one or more real-time location coordinates from the registered user device. The real-time location coordinates are indicative of location of the registered user device in real-time. The server matches the received real-time location coordinates with the predefined location coordinates. The server determines that the registered user device is in vicinity of the billboard when the real-time location coordinates are within the predefined location coordinates of the area. [0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the registered user device includes an input/output device. The input/output device displays the media and the notification to a registered user corresponding to the registered user device. The input/output device receives the input data from the registered user in response to the displayed media and notification.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the input data is displayed on the billboard at a predetermined location and for a predetermined duration.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the registered user device and the server are connected by way of a mobile communication network. [0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the server and the billboard are connected by way of wired or wireless communication networks.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the memory stores information of a plurality of registered user devices and corresponding plurality of registered users.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the media is at least one of: an image, an audio, and an audio-video media.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the input data is at least one of: a text, an image, an audio, and an audio-video data.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the server receives the input data from the registered user device and screens the input data to determine the allowability of the input data. The server displays the input data on the billboard when the input data is allowable.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the server transmits a questionnaire to a user device corresponding to a user. The server receives a user response from the user device in response to the questionnaire. The server screens the received user response to determine the allowability of the user response. The server registers the user as the registered user when the user response is allowable. [0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the server provides a plurality of media displayed on a plurality of billboards to the registered user device.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the registered user device provides the input data to be displayed on any one of the plurality of billboards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0023] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0024] Figure 1 illustrates an interactive billboard system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 illustrates an interactive billboard system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 illustrates a billboard in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0027] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method of interaction with a billboard in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method of interaction with a billboard in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present invention. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow chart, flow diagram, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The various embodiments of the present invention provide an interactive billboard system and a method of interaction with a billboard. [0031] In the following description, for purpose of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details.

[0032] One skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present invention, some of which are described below, may be incorporated into a number of systems.

[0033] However, the systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Further, structures and devices shown in the figures are illustrative of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are meant to avoid obscuring of the present invention.

[0034] Furthermore, connections between components and/or modules within the figures are not intended to be limited to direct connections. Rather, these components and modules may be modified, re-formatted or otherwise changed by intermediary components and modules. [0035] The appearances of the phrase“in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0036] In an embodiment, the present invention provides an interactive billboard system. The interactive billboard system includes one or more billboards, one or more user devices, and a server interconnected by way of a communication network. The one or more user devices correspond to one or more users each. These users and user devices are registered by the server as“registered users” and corresponding“registered user devices” after performing a registration process. In the registration process, the server provides a questionnaire to the users of the user devices. The users provide their responses to the questionnaire through the user devices. The user responses are provided to the server for screening. The server receives the user responses and screens the user responses for determining allowability of the user responses. When a user’s response is determined to be allowable, the server registers the user as a registered user and the corresponding user device as a registered user device. The server stores information about the registered users and the corresponding registered user devices in the memory. The server also stores predefined location coordinates in the memory. These predefined location coordinates are of an area in vicinity of the billboards.

[0037] After registration of the user device, the registered user device transmits its real-time location coordinates to the server. The server matches the real-time location coordinates with the predefined location coordinates to check whether the registered user device is in the vicinity of the billboards. When the real-time location coordinates of the registered user device are within the predefined location coordinates stored by the server in the memory, the server determines that the registered user device is in the vicinity of one or more of the billboards displaying a media.

[0038] After determining that the registered user device is in the vicinity of the billboards, the server transmits the media of all the billboards and a notification to the registered user device. The notification and the media are displayed to the registered user through the registered user device. The registered user provides input data in response to the received notification and media through the registered user device.

[0039] The server receives the input data from the registered user device screens the input data to determine allowability of the input data. When the server determines that the input data is allowable, the server displays the input data on the billboard at a predefined location and for a predefined time.

[0040] Thus, the interactive billboard system of the present invention facilitates the interaction between the billboard and the user. In that, the user can view the media displayed on all the billboards through the user device and can provide input data to be displayed on any of the billboards. That is, the billboard displays the media as well as the input data received form the user, thereby providing an interactive service to the user.

[0041] Referring now to Figure 1, an interactive billboard system (100) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The interactive billboard system (100) includes a plurality of user devices (also referred to singularly as “the user device (102)”) and a server (104) in communication by way of a communication network (106). The user device (102) includes a memory (108), a processor (110), and an Input/Output (I/O) interface (112). The server (104) includes a memory (114), a processor (116), and an I/O interface (118).

[0042] The interactive billboard system (100) further includes a plurality of billboards (120a, 120b ... 120n) (also referred singularly as“the billboard (120)” or collectively as“the billboards (120)”) interconnected to the user device (102) and the server (104) by way of the communication network (106). In an example, the billboards (120) include a digital display such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display controlled by a display controller (not shown). Further, examples of the communication network (106) include, but are not limited to, internet, mobile communication networks (such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A). etc.), WiMAX, Wi-Fi, optical fiber connections, and other wired or wireless communication links.

[0043] Examples of the user device (102) include, but are not limited to, smart phones, tablets, smart wearable devices, smart electronics accessories, laptops, etc. Each user device (102) is linked to a corresponding user. In an example, the user is linked to the user device (102) by way of a unique user id or by an email address of the user. In another example, the user device (102) has an application installed therein that enables communication with the server (104). The application may have a set of one or more computer readable instructions stored in the memory (108) that are executed by the processor (110) of the user device (102).

[0044] Initially, the server (104) registers the users and user devices (102) by a registration process. In an example, the registration process is initiated when the user installs the application on the user device (102). In another example, the registration process is performed by way of the installed application. The server (104) operates on an operating system, examples of which includes, but is not limited to Linux Redhat operating system.

[0045] In the registration process, the server (104) transmits a questionnaire to the user device (102). In an example, the questionnaire may be presented to the user from within the application installed on the user device (102). The user provides a response to the presented questionnaire to the server (104). The server (104) receives the response and screens the response for allowability. In an example, the screening may be performed by an administrator of the interactive billboard system (100). In another example, the screening may be executed by the processor (116) based on computer readable screening instructions stored in the memory (114). When the server (104) determines that the user response is allowable, the server registers the user as a registered user and the user device (102) as a registered user device (102). The server (104) stores information about the registered user and the registered user device (102) in the memory (114). In an example, the communication between the server (104) and the user device (102) is encrypted to provide security to the user’s data.

[0046] The server (104) also stores predefined location coordinates in the memory (114). The predefined location coordinates indicate areas surrounding the billboards (120) up to a predefined distance. That is, the predefined location coordinates indicate areas in the vicinity of the billboards. In an example, the predefined location coordinates indicate an area up to 150 meters around the billboards (120). Examples of the location coordinates include latitude and longitude coordinates of the area obtained by Global Positioning System (GPS).

[0047] The registered use device (102) transmits real-time location coordinates to the server (104). In an example, the registered user device (102) includes a GPS module (not shown) that generates the real-time location coordinates. These real-time location coordinates are indicative of real-time location of the registered user device (102). In an example, the registered user device (102) may transmit the real-time location coordinates periodically or upon a detecting a change in location. In an example, the real-time location coordinates are transmitted through the application installed on the user device (102).

[0048] The server (104) receives the real-time location coordinates of the registered user device (102) and matches the real-time location coordinates with the predefined location coordinates stored in the memory (114). The sever (104) determines the registered user device (102) to be in the vicinity of the billboard (120) when the real-time location coordinates are within the predefined location coordinates.

[0049] When the registered user device (102) is in the vicinity of the billboard (120), the server (104) transmits a notification to the registered user device (102). Such notification may be presented to the user in form of an alert or a prompt by the application installed on the registered user device (102). The server (104) also transmits the media displayed on the billboard (120) to the registered user device (102). Thus, the registered user is presented with the media as well as the notification through the registered user device (102). The registered user provides input data in response to the displayed media and notification. The input data is then transmitted by the registered user device (102) to the server (104). [0050] Examples of the media and the input data include, but are not limited to, audio-video media, videos, images, text, etc. Further, the input data may also include smileys (such as emoticon, emoji, bitmoji, etc.), reactions (such as like, dislike, upvote, downvote, etc.), and comments, etc.

[0051] The server (104) receives the input data and screens the input data for allowability. The screening may be performed by the administrator of the interactive billboard system (100) or by may be executed by the processor (116) based on computer readable screening instructions stored in the memory (114). Examples of screening include, but are not limited to, content filters to filter the input data that includes inappropriate, offensive, irrelevant, or objectionable content. When the server (104) determines that the input data is allowable, the server (104) displays the input data on the billboard at the predefined location and for a predefined duration.

[0052] Referring now to Figure 2, the interactive billboard system (200) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The billboard (120) is connected to a computer (202). The computer (202) is connected to a Wi Fi router (204). The Wi-Fi router (204) is connected to internet (206). The registered user device (102) is in communication with the billboard (120) by way of the internet (206). The Wi-Fi router (204) is a long range wi-fi router with a range of around 150 meters.

[0053] In an embodiment, the input data provided by the registered user device (102) is encrypted and transmitted to the server (104). The server (104) screens the input data for determining the allowability. When the input data is allowable, the server (104) provides the encrypted input data to the computer (202). The computer (202) receives and decrypts the received encrypted input data. Only certain ports of the computer (202) are kept open to receive the encrypted input data from the server (104). For instance, the server (104) first provides the media to be displayed on the billboard (120) in form of a package over a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port of the computer (202). The computer (202) extracts the media from the package and displays the media on the billboard (120) for a predetermined duration of time, for instance, for 5 or 10 seconds. At the end of the predetermined time duration, the computer (202) displays the input data on the billboard (120). [0054] Referring now to Figure 3, the billboard (120) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The billboard (100) is designed to have large area (302) reserved for the advertisement and small area (304) for the input data, such as comments and images, by the registered users. In an example, the large area (302) is about 80% of total area of the billboard (120) and small area (304) is about 20% of total area of the billboard (120).

[0055] In an embodiment, the registered user selects an area of the billboard (120) for displaying the input data. In another embodiment, the media is stored on a cloud server and is accessed by the computer (202) via the internet (206). The data may be stored on the cloud server in an encrypted form. [0056] In an embodiment, the server (104) provides media displayed on all the billboards (120) to the registered user device (102). The registered user device (102) may provide the input data to be displayed on any one of the billboards (120).

[0057] Referring now to Figure 4, a flowchart illustrating a method of interaction with the billboard (120) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] At step 402, the server (104) detects the presence of the registered user device (102) in the vicinity of the billboard (120).

[0059] At step 404, the server (104) transmits the media and the notification to the registered user device (102).

[0060] At step 406, the registered user device (102) generates the input data in response to the received notification and media. [0061] At step 408, the registered user device (102) transmits the input data to the server (104).

[0062] At step 410, the server (104) displays the input data on the billboard (120). [0063] Referring now to Figure 5, a flowchart illustrating a method of interaction with the billboard (120) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart of Figure 5 illustrates, in particular, a method of determining whether the user device (102) is in the vicinity of the billboard (120). [0064] At step 502, the server (104) stores the predefined location coordinates in the memory (114).

[0065] At step 504, the registered user device (102) transmits the real-time location coordinates to the server (104).

[0066] At step 506, the server (104) matches the receives real-time location coordinates with the predefined location coordinates stored in the memory (114).

[0067] At step 508, the server (104) determines that the registered user device (102) is in the vicinity of the billboard (120) when the real-time location coordinates are within the predefined location coordinates stored in the memory (114). [0068] The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims :

1. A method for interaction with a billboard (120), said method comprising the steps of:

detecting, by a server (104), presence of a registered user device (102) in vicinity of the billboard (120), said billboard (120) displaying a media; transmitting, by the server (104), the displayed media and a notification to the registered user device (102) when the registered user device (102) is in vicinity of the billboard (120);

generating, by the registered user device (102), an input data in response to the received notification and media;

transmitting, by the registered user device (102), the input data to the server (104); and

displaying, by the server (104), the received input data on the billboard.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of detecting presence of the registered user device (102) in vicinity of the billboard (120) comprises the steps of:

storing, by the server (104), one or more predefined location coordinates in a memory (114), said predefined location coordinates indicative of an area in vicinity of the billboard (120);

transmitting, by the registered user device (102), one or more real time location coordinates to the server (104), said real-time location coordinates indicative of location of the registered user in real-time;

matching, by the server (104), the received real-time location coordinates with the predefined location coordinates; and

determining, by the server (104), that the registered user device (102) is in vicinity of the billboard (120) when the real-time location coordinates are within the predefined location coordinates of the area.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of generating the input data comprises the steps of:

displaying, by an input/output device (112), the media and the notification to a registered user corresponding to the registered user device (102); and

receiving, by the input/output device (112), the input data from the registered user in response to the displayed media and notification.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input data is displayed on the billboard (120) at a predetermined location and for a predetermined duration.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the registered user device (102) and the server (104) are connected by way of a mobile communication network (106).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server (104) and the billboard (120) are connected by way of wired or wireless communication networks (106).

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the memory (114) stores information of a plurality of registered user devices (102) and corresponding plurality of registered users.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media is at least one of: an image, an audio, and an audio-video media.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input data is at least one of: a text, an image, an audio, and an audio-video data.

10 The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: receiving, by the server (104), the input data from the registered user device (102);

screening, by the server (104), the input data for determining allowability of the input data; and

displaying, by the server (104), the input data on the billboard (120) when the input data is allowable.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

transmitting, by the server (104), a questionnaire to a user device (102) corresponding to a user;

generating, by the user device (102), a user response to the received questionnaire;

transmitting, by the user device (102), the user response to the server

(104);

screening, by the server (104), the received user response for determining allowability of the user response; and

registering, by the server (104), the user device (102) as the registered user device (102) and the user as the registered user when the user response is allowable.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server (104) provides a plurality of media displayed on a plurality of billboards (120) to the registered user device (102).

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the registered user device (102) provides the input data to be displayed on any one of the plurality of billboards (120).

14. An interactive billboard system (100) comprising:

a billboard (120) configured to display a media; and

a server (104) configured to: detect presence of a registered user device (102) in vicinity of the billboard (120),

transmit the media and a notification to the registered user device (102) when the registered user device (102) is in vicinity of the billboard (120),

receive an input data from the registered user device (102), wherein input data is generated by the registered user device (102) in response to the received notification and media, and

display the received input data on the billboard (120).

15. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the server (104) is further configured to:

store one or more predefined location coordinates in a memory (114), said predefined location coordinates indicative of an area in vicinity of the billboard (120),

receive, one or more real-time location coordinates from the registered user device (102), said real-time location coordinates indicative of location of the registered user in real-time,

match the received real-time location coordinates with the predefined location coordinates, and

determine that the registered user device (102) is in vicinity of the billboard (120) when the real-time location coordinates are within the predefined location coordinates of the area.

16. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the registered user device (102) comprises an input/output device (112) configured to:

display the media and the notification to a registered user corresponding to the registered user device (102), and

receive the input data from the registered user in response to the displayed media and notification.

17. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the input data is displayed on the billboard (120) at a predetermined location and for a predetermined duration.

18. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the registered user device (102) and the server (104) are connected by way of a mobile communication network (106).

19. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the server (104) and the billboard (120) are connected by way of wired or wireless communication networks (106).

20. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the memory (114) stores information of a plurality of registered user devices (102) and corresponding plurality of registered users.

21. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the media is at least one of: an image, an audio, and an audio-video media.

22. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the input data is at least one of: a text, an image, an audio, and an audio-video data.

23. The interactive billboard system (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the server (104) is further configured to:

receive the input data from the registered user device (102), screen the input data to determine allowability of the input data, and display the input data on the billboard (120) when the input data is allowable.

24. The interactive billboard system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the server (104) is further configured to:

transmit a questionnaire to a user device corresponding to a user, receive a user response from the user device in response to the questionnaire,

screen the received user response to determine allowability of the user response, and

register the user device (102) as the registered user device (102) and the user as the registered user when the user response is allowable.

25. The interactive billboard system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the server (104) provides a plurality of media displayed on a plurality of billboards (120) to the registered user device (102). 26. The interactive billboard system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the registered user device (102) provides the input data to be displayed on any one of the plurality of billboards (120).