Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-25
2001-02-20
Feild, Joseph H. (Department: 2776)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C707S793000, C705S015000, C705S027200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06191780
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a segment structure which allows electronic devices to generate multimedia displays. In particular, the invention relates to a segment structure that allows customization of selected portions of the multimedia displays while maintaining the integrity of other selected portions of the multimedia displays.
Computer jukeboxes and electronic dart games (using dart boards interfaced with a controller) generally fall into the category of electronic amusement devices. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,355,302 to Martin et al., 5,114,155 to Tillery et al, and 5,401,033 to Lychock, Jr which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Electronic amusement devices typically make their way from a manufacturer to a distributor then to a route operator who installs the electronic amusement devices in establishments including hotels, bars, casinos.
As electronic devices, including electronic amusement devices, have become more sophisticated, they have incorporated hardware to produce audio, visual, or other effects. Any electronic device including even rudimentary audio, video, or other effects may be used to communicate information, for example, advertisements, via multimedia presentations. Thus, a computer jukebox or an electronic dart game may include audio or visual hardware to produce effects used in an advertisement. Such electronic amusement devices have also become capable of providing another source of income by displaying multimedia displays of advertisements programmed to run when certain multimedia capabilities of the electronic device are available.
As an example, computer jukeboxes provide a selection menu allowing a patron to select a particular song that he or she may want to hear. However, when a patron is not selecting a song, an advertisement (which may or may not generate revenue) may be displayed on a screen attached to the computer jukebox, and/or played through speakers attached to the computer jukebox.
Even if an advertisement is displayed, there is no guarantee that it will provide a suitable match to a local business. As an example, a predefined pizza advertisement generally would not match the particular names, addresses, or phone numbers of pizza establishments in a particular locality. The diverse types of local business in the communities in which electronic devices are installed leads directly to diverse requirements for the advertisements displayed on the electronic devices.
It is also desirable, in some instances, to prevent a predefined advertisement from being modified in whole or in part. For example, advertisers that expend a great deal of money to develop national-based advertisements typically may require assurances that the advertisement will not be modified when displayed on an electronic device. In other instances, only a portion of the advertisement (for example, the text or graphics generally, or the text or graphics displayed at particular times or places in the advertisement) may need protection from customization.
A need exists for a mechanism by which customized or non-customized advertisements may be displayed on electronic devices installed in diverse establishments.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide segment structures that enable route operators or other intermediate distribution personnel to produce customized multimedia displays (for example, advertisements) for display on electronic devices. Thus, the original creator of an advertisement need not be directly involved in the production of a customized multimedia display, but may allow the intermediate distribution personnel to provide customization services.
It is a further object of the present invention to enable an electronic device to accept segment structures, text, and graphics data for use in displaying customized multimedia displays. As one example, the electronic device may include a high density disk drive used to load segment structures, text, and graphics attributes defining a customized multimedia display.
It is another object of the present invention to allow a single predefined display to be enhanced and modified in many different ways to produce numerous customized multimedia displays. Each customized multimedia display may be defined by a segment structure that protects certain elements of the multimedia display from alteration while allowing alteration of other elements of the multimedia display.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for downloading and storing multimedia displays defined by a multimedia segment structure as well as executing the segment structure to generate the multimedia displays on a display, speakers, and the like associated with the electronic device. The segment structures may be executed according to a play sequence, for example, which proceeds through an alphabetic list of segment structures sequentially, and loops back to the first segment structure when the end of the list is reached.
Another object of the present invention is to provide predefined advertisements that include literal arguments and tokenized arguments. The present invention may protect files referenced by literal arguments with encryption to prevent substitution or modification by unauthorized personnel.
The present invention provides a multimedia segment structure defining customizable multimedia presentations. The multimedia segment structure includes at least one MAC segment with multimedia commands invoking multimedia effects. At least one of the multimedia commands includes a tokenized argument. The multimedia segment structure also includes at least one DAT segment including at least one command invoking the MAC segment. The DAT segment also includes one or more argument definintions corresponding the tokenized arguments used in the MAC segments. Thus, the DAT segment may customize a multimedia display by changing the value of the tokenized argument.
The commands in the MAC segment, or the MAC segment as a whole may be protected against alteration by encryption and/or password protection. The tokenized arguments thereby provided customization of an advertisement in the DAT segment while basing the advertisement on an underlying and unalterable structure defined in the MAC segment. As an example, the DAT segment may define the token PICT
1
as “jukebox_add.jpg” or as “dart_game_add.jpg” to produce a customized advertisement relating to jukeboxes or dart games, respectively.
The commands in the MAC segment may instruct the hardware in the electronic device, for example, to produce graphics and text on the display or actuate attached devices. For example, “LINE
540
50
100
430
” draws a line from
540
,
50
to
100
,
430
on the display and “TEXT Arachnid” draws the text “Arachnid” on the display. The commands may also instruct the electronic device to display a bitmap, display an animation or movie, delay or wait, select particular fonts for text display, set transparent colors, and the like.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5355302 (1994-10-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5401033 (1995-03-01), Lychock, Jr.
patent: 5640560 (1997-06-01), Smith
patent: 5640590 (1997-06-01), Luther
patent: 5680619 (1997-10-01), Gudmundson et al.
patent: 5682326 (1997-10-01), Klinger et al.
patent: 5761655 (1998-06-01), Hoffman
patent: 5892966 (1999-04-01), Petrick et al.
patent: 5941953 (1999-08-01), Bergmann et al.
patent: 5953005 (1999-09-01), Liu
patent: 2170943 (1986-08-01), None
patent: WO 97/04394 (1997-02-01), None
patent: WO 97/09708 (1997-03-01), None
Wall, et al., “An Overview of Perl,” XP-002126585 O'Reilly & Associates (1996).
Bulterman, Dick C. A. “Embedded Vide
Martin John R.
Rentmeesters Charles D.
Arachnid, Inc.
Feild Joseph H.
McAndrews Held & Malloy Ltd.
Perkins Michael J.
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