Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural display systems
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-17
2004-01-20
Lao, Lun-Yi (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural display systems
C345S173000, C345S903000, C705S026640
Reexamination Certificate
active
06680714
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an interactive multi-user display arrangement for interactively displaying goods, services and information to the public.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern computer and data transmission, imaging and storage technology has made it possible to provide consumer information on an interactive basis in public places, such as airports, bus terminals, railroad stations, shopping plazas and the like where many people come and go.
Prior art related to dissemination of the information is known, e.g., from U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,103, which discloses a mosaic of monitor units in a common assembly and coupled to voice and data information networks. This patent is essentially directed to the object of providing high-resolution displays of image information.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,376, shows a multiple display system for displaying data in VIDEOTEX standard. U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,641 shows an information display system with a plurality of electronic display units coupled to a computer device.
None of the prior art is directed to an interactive multi-user display arrangement directed to providing and receiving information relating to the needs of the public in public or non-public places as disclosed herein.
It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide a video wall holding a matrix or matrices of video display monitors, screens or the like, and a row of terminals by means of which a plurality of consumers may simultaneously perform the following actions: viewing the video wall for entertainment purposes; viewing the separate presentations on separate monitors of the matrix; bringing up information on any presentation being shown on any one or more of the monitors on display screens and terminals. Information may be stored on the site of the video wall, or the consumer may gain remote access to other sites for further information.
The medium of information may be video, sound, still pictures, Internet web pages, or any other suitable method of electronic data transfer. Multiple consumers may use the terminals to interact with a local host computer or a remote computer, or with other persons at remote locations, and by means of video, audio, keyboard or touch screen input devices, or other input devices.
It is a further object of the invention to enable certain managers of the video wall display to locally or remotely access the network to modify the display or function of any computer in the display row of terminals, or video wall. This may be accomplished in any number of ways, such as: by remotely calling a computer in the network and from there editing the programs or content of any other computer on the network; and/or by locally using one of the computers on the network to edit the programs, contents or displays of any other computer on the network.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a link between consumers and producers, such that the network may perform any of the following functions: the producers, through managers of the network, may provide presentations on the matrix monitors in any number of formats; enable consumers to access information about the products by way of the network; provide access to remote databases, sales representatives or other information sources.
A further object of the network is to provide transaction capability, thereby enabling consumers to buy products or services available on the network through a number of means, such as credit card transaction, ATM transactions, check or money order transactions, cash transactions and the like.
The network is composed of three main parts; a video wall, a matrix of monitors and a row of terminals.
The video wall is a two dimensional array of monitors linked to a multiplexer or other networking devices. The multiplexer is a device that can send several signals over a single line. They are then separated by a similar device at the other end of the link. This can be done in a variety of ways: time division multiplexing; frequency division multiplexing and statistical multiplexing. The monitor is connected by data cables to the computer. The multiplexer is connected by a high-bandwidth cable to a data source, such as a computer, VCR, Laser disc, hard disk or other data source connects the multiplexer.
Information is sent by the computer to the multiplexer and from there to selected monitors. The video wall shows a display designed to attract attention to the display in a public environment.
The interactive display region of the invention is a two-dimensional array of display screens connected to a computing arrangement composed of one or several computers with data memories and interfaces. The computer may for example have a Pentium-90 central processing unit with 32 MB RAM and may contain programs to run requested presentations on a hard disk. The display screen of the computer has a viewing screen. The computer may have a graphics card e.g. 2 MB of RAM. It may also have a data network interface for interfacing remote data sources.
The computing arrangement may have programs to run any kind, number or combinations of presentations desired. A remote data server may update the computing arrangement with files and information. The computer may run on a scheduled basis. The remote server controls the schedule. When the server uploads files to the computing arrangement, it will queue the files and display them in whatever format is best suited. The data management may advantageously be of a dual file/database nature. The files may contain the information to run in any suitable format or protocol. The database determines which files to run and in which format to run them. The database can be in any suitable format, such as a script composed of a simple text file in a format compatible with the database manager and that of the matrix computer.
Data management will be exerted through the network connection. A data server runs a program that manages a database in a suitable protocol. That database provides a “schedule” of showing times for each presentation. At the appointed time the server will load the presentation files to the matrix computer in a protocol containing information on how to run the files (e.g. what program will run the software). Software on the computer may then queue the files and show them in selected order.
The server itself runs autonomously. However, when changes are to be made to the schedule, or when errors must be fixed, a manager may call the network, where a routing facility will send the call to the server. From there the manager, from his remote terminal, may edit the data and upload new files to the server for viewing. Other maintenance tasks, such as deleting old files, may be performed through the same connection.
A further part of the invention is a row of computer terminals, designed for interactive information exchange. The computing arrangement may have, i.e. 32 MB RAM and a hard disk or CD-ROM for storage of necessary program files. It may also have a network interface card, connecting it to a data hub, and from there to a dedicated data server. In addition, each terminal has a monitor, a video card, a video camera with a suitable video card, a sound card, a loudspeaker and a microphone, a touch screen, a printer and a scanner, an ATM device with receipt printer for credit card transactions, and a secure door for cash exchange.
The nature of the software and the connection is such that a plethora of different interfaces will be possible. The user may use the terminal to interface with, e.g. the Internet or any other network topology or combination thereof. Other forms of access are possible, including video conferencing and other features such as television and radio.
The terminals may get data from the server or from a remote line, again by way of direct or indirect access to a routing facility which provides external links.
Basic network access may be provided through the monitor and a touch screen. The user may use the touch screen or voice commands to navigate the network (composed of a single display or several d
Lao Lun-Yi
Oltman Flynn & Kubler
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