Communications: electrical – Systems – Annunciator
Patent
1998-10-06
2000-11-14
Swarthout, Brent A.
Communications: electrical
Systems
Annunciator
34028601, 34030915, 340328, 3403841, G08B 500
Patent
active
061475939
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
None
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of advertising and/or provision of information. Specifically, this invention relates to a controller for controlling the output of messages to a target audience.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
It has become a practice for retailers and other providers of goods and services to advertise their wares or services, in proximity to the point of sale, often using public address systems and the like to extol the virtues of their products or services. Such public address systems play a pre-recorded message, or in some circumstances a live announcement to members of the public, often on a continuous basis.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventors have sought to provide a system for delivery of messages or advertising, to potential customers or other target audiences, in a more personable and less intrusive manner.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a message output-controller having a first input for receiving continuously played sequential message items from a message playing device, a second input for receiving a signal indicative of the proximity of a target audience for message items, means for detecting a transition between successive message items, and a controller means to enable commencement of playing a message item on detecting said transition when said signal has indicated or indicates the proximity of said target audience.
In the case of an audio message, the means for detecting said transition may either detect a period of silence between successive message items, or detect an index signal placed between successive message items at the point where message items originate. The latter may include an audible or inaudible tone pulse or the like recorded between successive message items on a cassette tape of prerecorded message items, or a pulse signal or the like produced in an apparatus where the message items originate. In the case of a tone signal, the means for detecting said transition may be a tone decoder circuit or the like.
It will be understood that the message playing device may include a cassette tape or other storage/retrieval means such as digital storage media in the form of electronic memory or a computer hard disk drive in a digital audio record/playback device.
In the case of visual messages for production on a video screen, the means for detecting said transition may detect a signal encoded between successive message items at the point where message items originate.
With this message output controller, once a target audience is detected, a message will not commence playing until the end of a message in progress. This ensures that the target audience is not subjected to the end of a message or an incomplete message which may be meaningless.
However as the message output controller may be silent for a period initially once the presence of a target audience is determined, it is preferred that the message output controller includes a local message playback device for playing an introductory or welcome message immediately on the second input receiving the signal, and before the transition is detected.
Preferably said controller is arranged to continue playing the current message item until a next said transition is reached, whereupon if said signal indicates that said target audience is not proximal, said controller will disable playing of further said message items.
Alternatively, in a less preferred arrangement, said controller is arranged to disable playing of said message items immediately upon said signal indicating that said target audience is not proximal.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vending machine having a message output controller as hereinbefore described.
Preferably said vending machine comprises a fuel dispensing mach
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Derwent JAPIO, AN93-035203, Fujita Corp., Feb. 12, 1993.
Hall Jeffery Mark
Horwood Mark Peter
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