CN100403346C - Ground Display System with Variable Image Orientation - Google Patents

Abstract

The floor display system (100) includes one or more of the following features in various embodiments: a plurality of display panels (310, 315, 325, 330); a variable image orientation (520, 577); networked data distribution and management (108, 109, 125, 800); interactivity (900-; image enhancing optics (1100); controlled audio (111); a protective cover (1200); a slip prevention element (1300.1); aroma technologies (1400); theft protection (1500, 1501); a track and groove system (1910, 1915); a special positioning mechanism (2020); and a lightweight flexible layer (2100).

Description

Ground Display System with Variable Image Orientation

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims the benefit under the Paris Convention of the U.S. provisional applications identified below: Application Serial No. 60/418626, filed October 12, 2002; Application Serial No. 60/428387, filed November 19, 2002; and Application Serial No. 60/429044, filed November 22, 2002. Additionally, this application is a continuation-in-part of application serial number 10/438923 filed May 16,2003. Application Serial No. 10/438923 is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Serial No. 10/285639, filed November 1, 2002, which in turn was filed May 3, 2002, and issued as U.S. Patent on January 14, 2003 Continuation of Application Serial No. 10/137357 granted under Serial No. 6,507,285. Application Serial No. 10/137357 is a continuation of Application Serial No. 09/767846, filed January 24, 2001, and issued July 9, 2002 as US Patent No. 6,417,778. Application Serial No. 09/767846 is a continuation of now abandoned Application Serial No. 09/418752 filed on October 15, 1999. Application Serial No. 09/418752 is a continuation-in-part of Application Serial No. 09/304051, filed May 4, 1999, and issued April 24, 2001 as US Patent No. 6,219,876. Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

background

Advertising and other kinds of messaging are often provided in the form of "vertical spaces": ie, billboards, walls, hanging displays, and the like. On the other hand, a space with great potential, but largely overlooked, for advertising and messaging is ground space, which can be described as "horizontal space".

Many efforts have been made to use floor space for advertising. Adhesive (ie "stick on") floor decals are known. Such decals can include colorful images and convey some sort of advertising message, such as "Drink a Coke." However, this advertising medium is limited by the fact that the message is static and not easily changed. On the other hand, US Patent 6,417,778, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a modifiable electronic display associated with the floor which allows images and text to be easily changed, allowing advertising messages to be quickly adapted and effectively targeted to prospective customers.

However, challenges remain to actually and effectively reach audiences through visual advertising or messaging displayed on or above ground. Among these challenges is how to orient the displayed content for ease of viewing and understanding. In contrast, difficulties related to image orientation in vertical space are generally absent. For example, when one looks at a computer monitor or television, the displayed image is almost always "face up" from the viewer's perspective, since the person is mostly oriented with their feet on the ground and their head in the air . So, again, the imagery in ads and messaging in vertical space is almost always face-up relative to the viewer.

On the other hand, when the image is in horizontal space, problems may arise related to the orientation of the image. For example, an image on and coplanar with the ground may be approached or viewed from any number of different directions. Depending on the viewer's approach, the image may be face-up, upside down, sideways, or skewed in any direction from the viewer's perspective. More specifically, it is assumed that the image on the ground is oriented to be easily viewed and understood by viewers walking north (eg, face up relative to these viewers). This image is reversed for viewers going south, and thus extremely difficult to understand. Likewise, assume that the image on the ground is oriented face-up for a viewer walking west - the same image is upside down for a viewer walking east.

These considerations can be compounded by looking at how language differences affect image presentation. For example, while English text is read in left-to-right, top-to-bottom order, in Asian languages such as Japanese, text is read top-to-bottom in columns in a left-to-right progression. In Israel, text is read from right to left.

Brief introduction to the drawings

1 and 2A-2D illustrate a ground display system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3, 4, 5A-5C, 6A-6B and 7 illustrate variable image orientations according to embodiments of the invention;

8A-8D illustrate various scenarios for configuring a floor display system with selected content in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate various interactivity devices that may be associated with a floor display system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 11 shows a material layer comprising thin diffractive prisms according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 12A and 12B illustrate a shield according to an embodiment of the present invention;

13A and 13B represent a protective sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 14 and 15 represent an alarm system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

16-18 illustrate the components and assembly of a floor display system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

19A-19D illustrate a track and groove system according to an embodiment of the invention;

20A-20E illustrate a positioning mechanical system according to an embodiment of the invention; and

21A-21C illustrate a portable flexible electronic display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to floor display systems having, among other features, variable image orientations. More specifically, images displayed by the ground display system may be oriented and/or redirected according to the viewer's perspective in order to make the images easier to view and understand. To orient and/or reorient an image, the image may be rotated or otherwise moved or displaced.

The floor display system may be located in a public place, such as a business establishment or other public building, and configured to electronically display modifiable arbitrary content, such as advertisements or other informational content. For example, the ground display system can be set up near the shelf where the products for sale are stored, and display advertisements and promotional content related to the products. In addition to variable image orientation, ground display systems may include the following features: networked data distribution and management; interactivity; image enhancement optics; controlled audio; Deployment in slot system; specialized positioning mechanism; and light and flexible implementation. These and other aspects of embodiments of the invention are discussed in more detail below.

As mentioned above, U.S. 6,417,778 discloses a system for electronically conveying information via floor displays. More specifically, floor displays may incorporate modifiable electronic display surfaces, for example to provide liquid crystal displays. A display can be connected to the computer, and computer generated images can be displayed on the display. Thus, the image displayed on the display can be modified by generating a different computer image and displaying that computer image on the display. The display may be associated with the base part of the floor covering, for example contained in a recess thereof, or may be contained face-up in the underside of an embedded part of the floor covering. Alternatively, the display may be integrally formed with either the base portion or the embedded portion. A modifiable display can utilize a number of different graphics that can be displayed on the display in any of a variety of ways. For example, a graphic can be displayed in a generally fixed position on the display, or it can be scrolled on the display, using both exemplary methods alone or in combination to display multiple graphics.

Other alternatives for modifying the graphics displayed on the floor covering include employing light emitting polymers to create and thus change the graphics. Light emitting polymers may be applied to, affixed to, or woven into the floor covering. Light emitting polymers may be used in any part of the floor covering, such as the base part or the embedded part, or any other part of the different embodiments of the floor covering. Light emitting polymers are known and described in US Pat. Nos. 5,945,502, 5,869,350 and 5,571,626, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Other options for displays are electronic ink or conductive paper. Conductive paper is commercially available from Xerox and is described in US Patents 5,723,204, 5,604,027, 4,126,854, and 4,143,103, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Conductive paper uses thousands of small electrically charged beads called Gyricons, each about the width of a hair, to create pixels. Two-tone beads are embedded in a liquid-filled plastic sheet that forms the surface of the paper. Each half-black, half-white bead rotates continuously with the electric field. Whether the bead is black or white side up determines the image. Since there is no need to refresh the image, and because the screen is not backlit, the conductive paper uses only a fraction of the power used by conventional electronic displays. Electromagnetic pens and printer-like devices can be used to get the image onto paper.

Electronic ink can be purchased from E Ink Corp. (Address: 45 Spinelli PI., Cambridge, MA 02138). Electronic ink uses microcapsules to encapsulate micromechanical display systems. Tiny microcapsules are captured between two plastic sheets to create pixels. Alternatively, microcapsules can be sprayed onto the surface. The result is a flexible display material. The microcapsules are transparent and contain a mixture of black ink and white pigment flakes. Charges pass through the microcapsules. Depending on the electrostatic charge, the pigment flakes float on top of each microcapsule or rest on the bottom. The surface appears white as the pigment flakes float on top. When they rest on the bottom and thus under the ink, the surface is black. Each of two states is stable: black or white. A transparent electromagnetic grid covering the surface of the sheet controls the shape of the image. The display can be connected wirelessly to, for example, a computer and thus to the World Wide Web by using, for example, a Motorola paging system. If multiple monitors are used, the text on all monitors can be changed simultaneously by a single editor via a web page.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the supplementary or alternative techniques to the above can be used to realize the ground display system. "Floor" as used herein means floor, ground, or any surface thereof, including concrete, asphalt, carpet material, wood, linoleum, tile, rubber, vinyl, and the like. A ground display system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 . Floor display system 100 includes an electronic display device 101 associated with a floor covering 102 . More specifically, the display device 101 may be at least partially connected to or supported by or incorporated in or otherwise associated with the floor covering 102 . Floor covering 102 and associated electronic display device 101 may take many structural forms and be constructed of a variety of materials and are not limited to the specific forms described herein. In an embodiment, the floor covering 102 and the electronic display device 101 are designed for use where there is pedestrian or other (eg, shopping cart on wheels) traffic. Accordingly, floor coverings and electronic displays may be durable enough that they may be repeatedly stepped on, walked on, or have wheeled shopping carts or other rolling or sliding objects pass over them without adverse effects on the floor coverings and displays. The impact is negligible. For example, the electronic display device may have a transparent or translucent robust protective cover to allow viewing of the electronic display device therethrough and to protect the electronic display device from damage associated with walking or other traffic, such as scratches, cracks, chipping, tearing or damage caused by environmental dirt. The floor covering 102 may be fixed to the ground or may be portable such that it can be easily moved to different locations.

2A and 2B are a top or plan view and a side elevation or elevation view, respectively, of the floor covering 102 . As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B , the floor covering 102 may include at least one sloped surface. More specifically, the floor covering 102 may include a plurality of sloped surfaces 212, 213, 214, and 215 that slope downward and away from the top surface 200 (which, as noted above, may be the surface of the protective cover of the display device 101), Such that the entire perimeter of the floor covering presents an inclined surface to persons approaching the floor covering. Such a structure can make the floor covering easier to pass by a person walking on the floor covering, or by a wheeled shopping cart when the floor covering is installed in an aisle of a commercial establishment. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the display device 101 may be arranged coplanar with one or more inclined surfaces of the floor covering. This may make the display of the display device easier to view for persons who are at a distance or who are approaching the ground covering, since the display is raised slightly.

2C and 2D illustrate that embodiments of the present invention may also include a flexible or compressible frame member 220 . The frame member 220 may be disposed adjacent to edges of the inclined surfaces 212 , 213 , 214 and 215 . For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2D , the frame member 220 may adjoin the edge 221 of the sloped surface 215 . By providing a easily deformable surface, the frame members can make small abrupt changes from the ground to the floor covering 102 noticeable to persons passing the floor covering. By way of example only, the bezel member may be made of, for example, metal, wood, plastic, natural rubber, silicone rubber, foam rubber, or polyurethane rubber.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , an electronic display device 101 associated with a floor covering 102 may be configured to electronically display graphical images and alphanumerics in a static (no movement or change) or dynamic (e.g., scrolling or otherwise moving or changing) format. data. More specifically, the electronic display device 101 can be coupled to the controller 103 by wire or wirelessly, and can be modified via the controller 103 to display any content selected by the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , electronic display device 101 may be coupled to controller 103 via a display driver circuit, such as video graphics adapter card 105 . The controller 103 may comprise any kind of electronic logic circuit: for example a general purpose microprocessor or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) configurable in software. The driver 105 of the electronic display device can be combined with the controller 103 or built in an ASIC. The controller can also be in the form of a single board computer with a processor and memory, with one or more display driver circuits built on board, and wireless components for communicating with the outside or loading data into the memory.

The controller may be coupled to storage media 104, which may be any form of media suitable for storing digital data, including RAM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory), flash memory or other non-volatile solid-state electronic memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or magnetic and/or optical disk memory. The storage medium 104 may store, for example, control software run by the controller 103 and video content of options displayed on the electronic display 101 under the control of the control software. A user interface (not shown), such as a personal computer with a display monitor and keyboard, can be coupled to the controller to enable configuration of the controller with specific user inputs, such as specific control programs, to produce specific displays and/or audio output. An audio device 111 , such as a speaker, may also be coupled to controller 103 via sound card 110 . The audio device 111 may output audio content of options stored in the storage medium 104 under the control of the controller 103 . Components of floor display system 100 may be powered by power supply 114 . The floor display system may also include a sensing device 113 to provide various interactive applications of the floor display system, described in more detail below. Sensing device 113 may be coupled to controller 103 and provide a signal thereto. The connection of the sensing device to the controller can be wired or wireless.

Data may be stored in storage medium 104 using, for example, data port 106 coupled to a common system bus. By way of example only, the bus could be USB (Universal Serial Bus). The floor display system may also include a wireless port 107, eg implemented with a wireless WAN/LAN card. Through the wireless port 107, the floor display system 100 can couple and communicate with a network 125. The network may be any kind of network including a Wide Area Network (WAN) such as the Internet or a Local Area Network (LAN) including, for example, other floor display systems. Through network 125 , floor display system 100 may be coupled to server computer 108 of the network, eg, via wireless communication device 112 . Server computer 108 may be coupled to database 109 . Database 109 may store information related to the operation of ground display system 100 . For example, the database may contain video and audio content or control software that may be downloaded to the storage medium 104 of the ground display system. Accordingly, the ground display system 100 may be remotely controllable. However, the ground display system 100 does not require a network connection and can be controlled locally by, for example, downloading content and control software locally via the data port 106 . In addition, although a wireless communication method and system is shown in FIG. 1, a wired system may also be used, or may be combined with a wireless system.

In addition to the foregoing, display technologies that may be used in embodiments of the present invention include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), electroluminescent (EL) displays, Plasma display panels (PDPs), field emission displays (FEDs) including printable field emitters, ferroelectric displays, polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs), light emitting polymers (LEPs), electronic paper, and luminescent ceramics or other Luminescent inorganic materials. Other display technologies that may be used in embodiments include fiber optic technology, where a remote image is formed electronically and delivered to a fiber optic array or bundle using a light guide source. The remote image light source can be internal or external to the ground covering. Other display technologies considered include holographic displays. In this technique, a white light or laser hologram can be generated inside or outside the floor covering 102 and focused by a lens, possibly a Fresnel lens, so that it can be seen by someone looking at the display 101 at an acute angle.

的普遍存在的“Windows”软件在内的各种图形软件应用的广泛使用，显示器的这种分区是众所周知的。As noted above, electronic display device 101 is capable of displaying at least alphanumeric data and graphic images. The content may include alphanumeric data alone, graphic images (eg pictures) alone, or a combination of both, and may be static or moving or both, depending on the video content selected. Motion alphanumeric data and images can be scrolled, for example. Alphanumeric data and graphic images can be black and white or full color. Furthermore, the display device 101 may comprise more than one different display: ie, the display area of the display device may be partitioned for content. For example, a display area may include two or more different "windows," each displaying different content. For example in "split screen" TV, and by including

Such partitioning of displays is well known from the widespread use of various graphics software applications, including the ubiquitous "Windows" software.

Various digital video file formats can be used to generate images on electronic display device 101, including MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or Digital Video Disc, and Flash. Additionally, conventional video content such as used in Internet TV may be converted to digital video content for display on the electronic display device 101 according to embodiments of the present invention. One such conversion process involves extracting traditional NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) video from videotape and capturing it in a computer via a video capture card. An example of such a card is the Targa 2000RTX board. Once captured, the video can be compressed into a file in a format playable by digital devices. For example, files can be saved in MPEG 1 or MPEG 2 format.

Depending on the embodiment, the components of the floor display system 100 as described above may be contained entirely inside the floor covering 102, entirely outside the floor covering 102, or some components may be inside the floor covering 102 while other components are on the outside.

variable image orientation

FIG. 3 illustrates a ground display system with variable image orientation, according to an embodiment of the present invention. "Image" means anything capable of visual representation, alone or in any combination, in static or dynamic format or combinations thereof, including pictures, designs, text, numbers, etc. In FIG. 3, the ground display system 100 is shown as having versions 320, 335 of the same image, where each version is oriented for viewing from a corresponding different direction. More specifically, image 335 may be completely "face up" from the perspective of the first viewer, while image 320 may be completely "upside down" from the perspective of the first viewer. On the other hand, from the perspective of the second viewer, image 335 may be completely "upside down", while image 320 may be completely "face up". In the floor display system shown in FIG. 3 , the electronic display device 101 of the system may include a plurality of individual display modules or panels 310 , 315 , 325 , 330 associated with the floor covering 102 . Each panel can individually incorporate any of the above display technologies. Two or more panels may be configured to display a composite image: for example, the corresponding displays on panels 325 and 330 make up composite image 335 . Additionally, each of the individual panels can be configured to display images independently. "Independently" in this context means not as an integral part of the composite image. Additionally, each panel can be configured to display an image with a different orientation than the image on another panel.

In some applications it may be advantageous for the viewer to only see the images of the individual panels directly in front of him. In such applications, some standard LCD displays with extremely small viewing angles may be very suitable. That is, by properly orienting a display panel 310, 315, 325, 330 incorporating such standard LCD technology, it is possible to make the corresponding display substantially visible when viewed from one direction, but invisible when viewed from another. Virtually invisible. For example, depending on the LCD technology used, a viewer approaching or standing near panel edge 327 may clearly see images on panels 310 and 315, but not clearly see images on panels 325 and 330. Likewise, a viewer approaching or standing near panel edge 329 may clearly see the images on panels 325 and 330 but not clearly see the images on panels 310 and 315 . Selectively orienting the panels in this manner prevents a situation in which a viewer close to the ground display system sees the image upside down or tilted towards him and thus struggles to recognize it.

Figure 4 shows another possible application of a multi-panel display as described above. As shown in Figure 4, each panel can be configured to display an image independently of the other panels (as opposed to using two or more panels to form a composite image). In the example of FIG. 4, each panel 310, 315, 325, 330 represents a respective different full image 410, 415, 425, 430, where each image has a different orientation than at least one of the other images. For example, the respective orientations of the images may be selected to best suit viewing from respective different directions. Such a feature can be used, for example, to display different messages to persons approaching from respective different directions. In general, the embodiments of the present invention as shown in Figures 3 and 4 should be placed in locations where people primarily walk in two opposite directions, such as in a grocery store aisle, at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, or at an entrance/exit It can be extremely beneficial in passages and the like. It is noted that multi-panel displays according to embodiments of the present invention are not limited to four panels; more or less panels are possible.

Other alternatives according to embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figures 5A-5C. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C , floor display system 100 may include an electronically rotatable and translatable (eg, movable or displaceable) image 520 . The ground display system may also include a plurality of proximity detectors 530 , 540 , 550 , 560 , for example included in the sensing device 113 . Based on signals from the proximity detectors, the rotatable and translatable images may be rotated and/or translated into desired orientations for viewing by the viewer based on criteria such as the viewer's proximity to the ground display system.

More specifically, proximity detectors 530, 540, 550, 560, for example, may be mounted, affixed to, or otherwise associated with an edge of floor covering 102. For example, proximity detectors 530, 540, 550, 560 may be associated with sloped surfaces 212, 213, 214, and 215 of the floor covering, respectively. Proximity detectors may be used to determine the orientation of a given image 520 at a given time based on the viewer's proximity. For example, a proximity detector may be coupled to the controller 103 of the floor display system and send a signal to the controller. Based on information in the signal received from the proximity detector, it may be determined by the controller that the first viewer 580 is closer to, for example, the proximity detector 550 than the second viewer 590 is to the proximity detector 540 . The determination of the controller can be made, for example, by implementing suitable hardware and/or software algorithms. For example, under the conditions shown in FIG. 5A , the controller may rotate and/or translate image 520 so that it faces up from the perspective of viewer 580 . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B , it may be determined from the input from the proximity detector that the audience 590 is closer to the proximity detector 540 than the audience 580 is to the proximity detector 550 . Under these conditions, image 520 may be rotated and/or translated so that it faces up from the perspective of viewer 590 . Also, as shown in FIG. 5C , it may be determined from the input from the proximity detector that the audience 595 is closer to the proximity detector 530 than the audience 590 is to the proximity detector 540 . Under these conditions, the image 520 may be rotated and/or translated so that it faces up from the perspective of the viewer 595 .

Techniques for performing image rotation and/or translation as described above are known. For example, many currently available electronic display drivers (eg, video graphics adapter card 105) and electronic display device 101 support image rotation and/or translation using software specifically designed for such operations. As previously mentioned, based on the input signals from the proximity detectors, the controller 103 can run decision software implementing, for example, a decision tree to determine which of the multiple viewers is closest to the floor display system and which edge of it. The controller can then run corresponding rotation and/or translation software to rotate and/or translate the displayed image accordingly. Note that image rotation and/or translation need not occur in 90 degree increments as shown in FIGS. 5A-5C ; finer increments in rotation down to a fraction of a degree are possible.

While image rotation and/or translation software is one possibility to implement, another possibility could be to store images in multiple different fixed orientations and select a given image from the stored images for display based on a proximity decision . Furthermore, proximity may not be the only basis for selecting a particular image orientation, other bases are possible. For example, an image may be configured to periodically cycle through a number of different orientations. There may be a default orientation of the image if no viewer is sufficiently close or if no determination of proximity is reached. Embodiments of the present invention may also include a "screen saver" mode and start or stop video output based on a person's proximity.

Proximity detectors can be implemented in various forms including, for example, ultrasonic detectors, heat detectors, motion detectors, IR (infrared) rangefinders, electronic eyes, cameras, charge-coupled devices (CCDs), or other imaging systems.

Note also that, as shown in FIG. 5A, the outline 577 is used to represent any part of the electronically generated graphic or the actual physical edge of the electronic display device 101 of the floor display system, which has a substantially circular shape, unlike that shown in the previous figures. Basic square or rectangular opposite. A substantially circular electronic display device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be mechanically rotated to reorient the image based on a signal from a proximity sensor. 6A and 6B, on the other hand, illustrate electronic (eg, software driven) image rotation and/or translation, wherein the electronic display device of the floor display system includes a plurality of modules or panels in a substantially square or rectangular configuration as previously described.

FIG. 7 illustrates that proximity detection does not necessarily need to be performed by proximity detectors located in or on the ground covering 102 . Rather, for example, proximity detectors may be disposed in, on, or otherwise associated with objects in the vicinity of ground display system 100 . FIG. 7 shows proximity detectors 715 , 720 , and 730 disposed on a shelf 710 adjacent to floor display system 100 . Based on the signals received from proximity detectors 715, 720, and 730, the controller 103 of the floor display system can determine which of the multiple viewers is closest and orient the rotatable/translatable image 720 accordingly. This determination can be made, for example, based on the known distance of the corresponding detector from the ground display system. The proximity detectors can also be located in the ceiling or be suspended from the ceiling, for example on rails.

Data distribution and management:

It is contemplated that floor display systems according to embodiments of the present invention may be deployed in many types of public buildings, including commercial establishments (eg, markets, stores). In a single building, multiple ground display systems can be deployed. Multiple floor display systems can be used, for example, to announce sales and pricing, provide product descriptions, direct customers to specific locations in the establishment, and the like. Therefore, it may be advantageous to control floor display systems individually or in groups to produce specific video/audio outputs according to their location. More specifically, the video/audio content output by a given floor display system may, for example, be related to nearby products, such as products on adjacent shelves. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention relate to configuring a floor display system to produce specific video/audio outputs, as described below.

Direct Link Download

Referring to FIG. 8A , a user may locally configure the floor display system 100 by physically connecting a configuration device 800 , such as a handheld controller/storage device (CSD), to the floor display system 100 . The connection may eg be via a direct link 801, eg a cable link, to eg the data port 106 of the floor display system. The user may then download the selected video/audio content and/or control software from the device 800 to the storage medium 104 of the ground display system. What data is downloaded to the ground display system may depend, for example, on where the ground display system is located and thus on what content may be relevant. The downloaded video/audio content can be changed by downloading new video/audio content in the same way.

Local Area Network (LAN) Download

Referring to FIG. 8B , the user can remotely configure the ground display system, for example as follows: The user can connect the device 800 to a computer 108 (e.g., a web server, see FIG. 1 ) in the building, for example, via an IRDA (Infrared Data Association ) either wirelessly or via a wired USB link. The web server 108, in turn, may be connected to a plurality of floor display systems 100 in the building through wired or wireless connections (e.g., using LAN 125 and Ethernet). Video/audio content and/or control software may then be downloaded from the device 800 to the web server 108 and from the web server to each connected floor display system 100 . The data downloaded to the first ground display system may differ from the data downloaded to the second ground display system, depending on, for example, the respective locations of the first and second ground display systems. The device 800 may be, for example, a CSD, a personal computer or a laptop, or the like. Alternatively, the server 108 may be linked to a database 109 containing content and control software, and the user may instruct the server 108 to download the content and/or control software from the database 109 to the ground display system.

LAN wireless download

Referring to FIG. 8C, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user does not need to connect to the web server computer as described above. Instead, the user need only be in the vicinity of the multiple ground display systems to be configured, wirelessly configuring the ground display systems remotely from up to 100 feet away. As shown in FIG. 8C, a user may, for example, equip a device 800, such as a laptop computer or a CSD, with a short-range wireless transmitter that transmits a wireless signal 802 to communicate with a device 800 via, for example, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or other similar communication protocol. The floor display systems 100 in the commercial establishment communicate. In this way, content and/or control software can be downloaded wirelessly to each ground display system without going through a network. Alternatively, the same short-range wireless transmission can be used to send data to the web server 108, which can then distribute the data to each ground display system.

Wide Area Network (WAN) Download

Referring to FIG. 8D , remote communication with and configuration of multiple ground display systems in multiple different buildings, such as commercial establishments, is possible in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. This can eg be achieved using a WAN (Wide Area Network) configuration. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8D , the central control location 803 may be linked to the LAN 125 associated with each institution via a wired or wireless connection to the Internet or some other wired or wireless (e.g., satellite) WAN 804. Each LAN 125 may in turn be linked by wire or wirelessly to multiple floor display systems 100 located in the facility. Video/audio content and/or control software can then be downloaded from the central control location 803 to each LAN, which can then transmit video/audio content and/or control software to multiple ground display systems. As noted above, since it may be desirable to have different video/audio outputs produced by corresponding floor display systems within the same facility, each floor display system may have a unique identifier code assigned to it. This identifier code may be provided in the header of the digital data corresponding to the video/audio content and/or control software for the particular floor display system. The header information can be used to ensure that each ground display system receives the data intended for it.

satellite network download

As a variation on the WAN download techniques described above, satellite network downloads may be used where a wide area network is provided via a constellation of satellites. Here, satellites may broadcast data point-to-multipoint to receivers (eg, dish receivers) in various facilities including terrestrial display systems. The data can then be disseminated via the LAN, for example to a corresponding floor display system. Satellite systems such as Motorola's Iridium, Hughes' Direct TV, and Boeing Digital Cinema have demonstrated such capabilities.

Floor displays linked to point-of-sale (POS) systems

The floor display system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be linked to an establishment's POS (point of sale) system. POS systems can be used to collect information about customer preferences. Information about the effectiveness of particular advertising content in generating sales, for example, can be gathered by correlating the sales of a given item in an establishment with the timing of display of the given content on a floor display system. This can be accomplished, for example, by electronically comparing sales transactions as they occur with the timing of specific advertisements displayed on the ground display system. In order to provide this scheduling information to the POS system, the floor display system can be directly connected to the computer or server of the POS system. Or, for example, the LAN's server computer can control the timing of content on the establishment's various ground display systems, and provide the timing information to the POS system's server so that it can be correlated "in real time," i.e. contemporaneously, with sales transactions. Alternatively, the scheduling information can be associated "offline" with the sales record at a later time.

interactivity

Embodiments of ground display systems according to the present invention may include interactive features, as described below.

request information

Embodiments of the invention may include the ability to request information from customers and record the requested information. An illustrative example is shown in Figure 9. As shown in FIG. 9, a number of interactivity devices provided for human interaction may be coupled to the floor display system 100 via wired or wireless connections (eg, Bluetooth). Interactivity devices may include, for example, a voice input device such as a microphone 900, a keyboard or numeric keypad 901 for entering alphanumeric data, a touch sensitive display 902, a card reader 903, a barcode scanner 905, and a coupon dispenser 907. Each device can be set at a comfortable level for speaking or typing or otherwise handling. The ground display system 100 may include voice recognition software for performing voice recognition processing of people's utterances to the voice input device 900 . The floor display system may also include a pressure sensor 909 below the top surface of the display area of the floor display system. The pressure sensor 909 may be implemented as a membrane contact switch, for example. Each of the aforementioned interactivity devices may be coupled to the controller 103 of the floor display system for sending signals to the controller. The controller is programmed to perform the desired function based on the received signal.

The ground display system 100 and related interactive devices can be installed at convenient locations of commercial institutions, for example. The floor display system 100 may visually or audibly generate information requests to passing patrons. The ground display system may generate a request when the approach of a person is detected by the sensing device 113 . In an information request, the floor display system may, for example, request customer comments regarding pricing, product specifications, product preferences, coupons, etc., or any other kind of desired information. The ground display system may prompt the customer, for example, by speaking into the voice input device 900, by typing information on the keyboard/numeric keypad 901, by pressing certain areas of the display on the touch sensitive screen 902, by stepping on a designated portion of the ground display system to answer via the pressure recording response on the pressure sensor 909 or by any combination of these means.

Floor display system 100 may record the customer responses in a storage medium, such as storage medium 104 . When sufficient responses have been collected, the information can be downloaded and analyzed, for example, by brand marketing personnel in order to determine customer preferences.

The floor display system 100 can also be configured to respond to a person's request through visual or audio output, wherein any of the above-mentioned interactive devices (e.g., keyboard/numeric keypad 901, touch-sensitive screen 902) can be used by speaking or Make a request by entering data.

Card reader 903 may be used, for example, to obtain identity information from customers. Such identity information may include, but is not limited to: name, age, shopping history, frequency of visits to the store, most frequently purchased items, store credit card amounts, information related to store discounts, etc. The identity information may be magnetically encoded in a card 904 readable by a card reader 903, for example. Card 904 may be, for example, a "smart" card. Smart cards (or electronic cards) are known devices that usually contain an embedded computer chip and are usually the size of a traditional credit or debit card.

A barcode scanner 905 may be used, for example, to allow customers to scan coupons 906 . In response, the ground display system may generate visual and/or audio messages related to the coupon. For example, the message could inform the customer that the coupon is still valid, doubled in value, etc. Customers may also be enabled to scan products on the barcode scanner 905 and receive coupons accordingly. Coupons 908 may be printed or otherwise generated and distributed by coupon dispenser 907 . Coupon dispenser 907 may include counters to count how many coupons have been distributed and for what products. This information can be recorded by the ground display system and used by marketing personnel to gauge customer response to advertisements, prices, and the like.

Displays camera images of people

Embodiments of the present invention may include interactive devices implemented as cameras to capture images of people and make the images displayable on ground display systems. An illustrative example is shown in Figure 10. Camera 1000 may be installed near floor display system 100 on floor 1050 , such as on shelf 1020 . The camera 1000 may be configured to capture images of a person 1030 walking or standing near the floor display system. An image of a person 1060 may, for example, be incorporated into an advertisement 1070 displayed on a ground display system. Images of people can be displayed, for example, as continuous motion video or as still images. The camera's "frame grabber" function can be used to create still images. Still images can be modified, for example, by image editing software, in order to convey some kind of interesting message. For example, in advertisement 1070 of FIG. 10, a milk mustache may be superimposed on a person's face.

optical instrument

Techniques to enhance the visibility or visual effect of displays according to embodiments of the present invention include the use of prisms. Diffractive or Fresnel prisms are known and commercially available, for example under the trade name Reflexite ^(TM) . Such diffractive prisms can be as thin as a few millimeters or even fractions of a millimeter. According to an embodiment of the invention, a thin layer of material comprising diffractive prisms may be provided on an electronic display device of a floor display system. Arranging such a diffractive prism on an electronic display device makes the corresponding display easier to see, especially in certain directions. At the same time, the floor display system can remain unobtrusive due to the thin prism material. FIG. 11 illustrates disposing a material layer 1100 comprising thin diffractive prisms on the electronic display device 101 of the floor display system 100 .

audio

Embodiments of the present invention may provide for careful control of the volume produced by the audio device 111 of a floor display system, particularly for purposes such as minimizing disturbance to visitors to a commercial establishment or other public building containing multiple floor display systems. To this end, the volume and bandwidth of the sound output by the audio device may be controlled so as to limit the distance the sound travels. For example, lower frequency sound waves (eg, less than about 200 to 300 Hz) travel farther with less attenuation than higher frequency sound waves. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may include a control mechanism, such as controller 103, running appropriate software for controlling the audio output to include frequencies slightly above about 200 to 300 Hz, and for controlling the amplitude so that the audio output optimally Perceived by persons within predetermined range.

Embodiments may also include a proximity detector to provide a signal to make a decision as to what kind of audio output should be produced. For example, a proximity detector may detect when a person is within a predetermined distance from the floor display system and send a corresponding signal to the floor display system's controller. Based on the signal received from the proximity detector, the controller can start or stop the audio output, control the audio frequency and volume, etc. The controllers of the respective floor display systems may also be linked to the central computer, as described above in connection with the various network configurations possible for the floor display systems. The central computer may control the audio output of the respective floor display systems, for example to prevent floor display systems within a predetermined distance of each other from simultaneously producing audio output.

In an embodiment, the audio device 111 may also include, for example, directional speakers incorporated into or positioned adjacent to the floor covering. Directional speakers may point in a certain direction or directions that people are expected to approach. Proximity detectors can detect from what direction a person is approaching, and this information can be used by the controller to cause corresponding directional speakers to produce audio output.

It should be understood from the above discussion of audio control, as well as the previous discussion of variable image orientation, that embodiments of the present invention may provide for controlling video and/or audio output based on a person's proximity. More specifically, based on the proximity of people, floor display systems according to embodiments of the present invention can start or stop video or audio output, and adjust image orientation and audio output characteristics individually or in combination.

protecting mask

As noted above, embodiments of the present invention may include robust protective covers for electronic display devices. According to a possible embodiment, further implementation details of such a shield are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 12A-12B .

As shown in FIG. 12A , by way of example only, shield 1200 may include an extremely transparent member 1210 composed of glass or rigid plastic. The shield may include a hard coating 1220 on the transparent member 1210, wherein the coating 1220 is, for example, a diamond-like coating, such as known hard dense carbon coatings, which have mechanical properties similar to diamond but less expensive. Coating 1220 may also be formed from or comprise plastic or polymeric coatings such as those well known in the art for coating plastic lenses. The shield may also include an anti-reflective coating 1230 over the hard coating 1220 . The antireflective coating 1230 may include, for example, multilayer or organometallic oxide or organic or polymeric coatings of various refractive indices that reduce reflection as is known in the art of lens coatings. Although not shown, in some embodiments an anti-reflective coating may be present on the bottom surface 1205 of the transparent member 1210 . Coatings as described in the previous section reduce glare and prevent scratches.

FIG. 12B shows an alternative embodiment in which the hard coat layer 1220 is omitted and only an antireflective coating layer 1230 is applied on top of the transparent member 1210 . Also, although not shown, an anti-reflective coating may also be present on the bottom surface 1205 of the transparent member 1210 in some embodiments.

non-slip

Embodiments of the present invention may also include a removable transparent protective sheet. The removable transparent protective sheet may include non-slip features to help reduce the likelihood of a person slipping, for example due to moisture or humidity, when he/she steps onto the floor display system. Referring to FIG. 13A , a detachable transparent protective sheet 1300 can be disposed on the above-mentioned protective cover 1200 . In addition to preventing damage to the shield 1200, such as staining and scratching, the sheet 1300 can also have a slip-resistant surface, wherein the slip resistance can be achieved by particles such as grit or grit on or added to the surface, by Patterns, crevices or other discontinuities of any kind 1300.1 in the surface, through water-absorbing and/or water-dispersing materials in the sheet or any other material properties of the sheet that act to resist slipping, non-slip coatings on the surface, or as described above Any combination is available. Sheets may cover the entire floor display system, including electronic display devices and floor coverings, or may cover only a portion thereof. The anti-slip material can be distributed on the floor display system in the form of strips, for example.

As shown in Figure 13B, embodiments may include multiple protective sheets in a stacked form 1301, where the sheets are individually removable. When the top sheet of the stack becomes dirty, it can be removed and discarded to reveal the clean sheet below. According to still other alternatives, the slip protection sheet material may be in the form of a continuous roll of material 1302, wherein clean material is dispensed eg by a timing device or a dirt detection device.

aroma technology

Embodiments of the invention may include aroma technology. For example, a stack of laminated sheets with an odor or fragrance sandwiched between each sheet may be provided in a dispenser for use with a floor display system. For example, stacks of laminated sheets may be provided on or near the floor display system, such as in a dispenser provided on a stand. Alternatively, a transparent scented sheet may be placed over all or part of the floor display system, for example on an inclined surface of the floor covering. This characteristic can be particularly effective in the marketing of soaps, lotions, cosmetics, laundry detergents, fabric conditioners, air fresheners, and many other products that use smell or fragrance as a primary characteristic.

Referring to Figure 14, in an alternative embodiment, the floor display system 100 may include an electromechanical fragrance dispenser 1400 that releases a burst of fragrance periodically or in conjunction with a given advertisement. For example, the dispenser 1400 may be attached to or in or on the floor covering 102, or may be otherwise associated with a floor display system. Such dispensing devices have been developed, using small piezoelectric actuators to create tiny pumps that dispense small amounts of stored aroma. In addition, MEMs (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) have been developed for electromechanical pumping of liquids.

anti-theft

Embodiments of the present invention may provide anti-theft, as described below.

alarm system

A ground display system according to an embodiment may include an alarm system configured to be activated if the ground display system is moved without authorization. Referring to FIG. 15, the alarm system may include an unauthorized movement detection device 1500 capable of detecting whether the ground display system is moved. For example, device 1500 may be attached to or in or on floor covering 102 or may be otherwise associated with floor display system 100 . The device may include, for example, an accelerometer or a mercury switch coupled to the controller 103 . The device may signal the controller when a change in position of the ground display system is detected. The controller can then determine whether an audible and/or visual alarm should be generated. Alerting may include, for example, sounding a siren, etc., and/or flashing a message such as "Warning" or "Theft" on a display device. A switch or software setting can be used to disable the warning system so that the ground display system can be moved without generating an warning.

electric pulse

A floor display system according to an alternative embodiment may include a warning system including means capable of detecting if the floor display system has been moved, as described above. However, as an alternative or in addition to generating an alert, the alert system may be configured to emit an electrical pulse if the ground display system is moved without authorization. Therefore, referring to FIG. 15 , the ground display system 100 may include an electric pulse generator 1501 . For example, the electrical pulse generator may be connected to or in or on the floor covering 102, or may be otherwise associated with the floor display system. Electrical pulse generator 1501 can generate electrical pulses that can refrain from further processing of the ground display system by unauthorized handlers of the ground display system. A switch or software setting can be used to stop the electrical pulse generator so that the ground display system can be moved without generating a pulse.

construction and assembly

Figure 16 illustrates details of a possible implementation of an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 16 , the floor covering 102 of the floor display system 100 may include four electronic inverters 1620 , 1630 , 1640 , 1650 for providing four inverters for driving a four-panel electronic display device as described above with reference to FIG. 3 . power for the backlighting on each of the LCD displays. Power may be provided via cable 1660 . Controls such as control 103 may be constructed small or thin enough to remain within the frame of floor covering 102 when other components are added to form a more complete assembly, as described below.

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the floor display system 100 . The base assembly 1710 may be configured to receive and support a wiring assembly 1720 including the four inverters 1620, 1630, 1640, 1650 and cables 1660 as described above. A structure 1730 may be provided over the wiring member 1720; the structure 1730 may be constructed of plastic or other material and provide support for the inclined surfaces 212, 213, 214, 215 as described above. Structure 1730 may also be configured to accommodate electronic display device 101 comprising four separate panels, for example, in a recess formed therein.

Surface material portions 1750 such as carpet or rubber may be laid over the structure 1730 to form sloped surfaces 212 , 213 , 214 , 215 . The tempered glass plate including the supporting ribs 1770 can be used as the protective cover 1200 of the electronic display device 101 . Components of the floor display system may be bonded together with adhesives, epoxies, or mechanical fasteners, for example. A plurality of detachable protective sheets 1301 can be laid on the tempered glass 1200 . Protective sheet 1301 may include non-slip features 1300.1.

Although not shown, the audio device 110 may be included in the above-described components. The audio device can be constituted, for example, by a thin-section speaker or a piezoelectric speaker.

FIG. 18 shows assembled components of a floor display system 100 according to an embodiment built on a tiled floor 1820 .

The heat generated by the electronics of the floor display system can be managed by perfusion mixtures known for these purposes. Electronics, for example, can be mounted and bonded to a thin metal plate that acts as a heat sink.

Embodiments of the present invention may also include waterproof elements in order to prevent damage to electronic components by moisture, for example from foot traffic. Such waterproofing elements may, for example, comprise a potting compound that acts as a sealant in crevices where damaging moisture may be introduced. For example, a potting compound may be used in the void between an electronic display device and a floor covering to seal in moisture. Water-resistant materials such as silicone can also be used for this purpose. Additionally, for example, a watertight seal may be formed between the housing of the electronic display device and other surfaces of the floor display system. A sealant such as silicone can be used to create a watertight seal.

Track and Groove Systems

Embodiments of the present invention may include a floor display system implemented as a "track and groove" system. The track and trench system can be configured to support the deployment of one or more electronic display devices on the ground.

Fig. 19A shows an illustrative example. In FIG. 19A , trenches 1910 are formed in ground 1905 . Track 1915 is disposed in the groove. Racks 1920 may be positioned adjacent to the rails and channels.

Track 1915 may include elements for providing power as well as for electronic data transfer. For example, power cables and data transmission cables may be secured to or encased in or otherwise associated with the track 1915 . Power cables and data transfer cables may include multiple connections for connecting electronic devices thereto for the devices to receive power and/or data via the cables.

FIG. 19B shows electronic display device 1925 disposed in trench 1910 . The electronic display device 1925 can be connected to the track 1915 in some way: for example, it can hook or snap onto the track 1915 . The electronic display device 1925 may include any of the display technologies and functions described above. Additionally, although not shown in FIG. 19B , it should be understood that electronic display device 1925 may be associated with any of the devices described above, including audio devices, sensing devices, interactivity devices, network devices, and the like. More specifically, for example, electronic display device 1925 can be coupled to a controller, such as controller 103, by wire or wirelessly, and can be modified via the controller to display any content selected by the user, as described above. Electronic display device 1925 and corresponding controller can be connected to the power supply of track 1915 . The controller may also be coupled to a storage medium, such as storage medium 104 . Data may be stored in a storage medium using, for example, a data port, such as data port 106, coupled to a common bus. The data port may be coupled to the track's data transfer cable and receive content over the cable for storage in the storage medium and display on the electronic display device 1925 under the control of the controller. Accordingly, the electronic display device 1925 may be configurable to electronically display any content that is modifiable, support image rotation and/or translation, or otherwise include any of the functionality described above in connection with the electronic display device.

As shown in FIG. 19C , the void in groove 1910 may be closed or covered by a mating portion, such as portion 1930 . Such mating portions may be used to close voids in the trench not occupied by the electronic display device 1925 . Embodiments of the invention may also include a protective cover 1935 for an electronic display device. The shield 1935 may be completely transparent, or may be partially opaque but include a transparent window 1935.1 for viewing the electronic display device.

Figure 19D shows a cross-section along line 19D-19D. Reference numerals 1950 and 1955 correspond to data cables and power cables, respectively. As seen in FIG. 19D , embodiments of the present invention may also include a lifter 1960 to raise the electronic display device 1925 to a desired level and also to provide support for the protective cover 1935 along with the rails 1915 .

Advantages of embodiments comprising a track and groove system as described above include that there is no obstruction to walking or other traffic present since the electronic display device may be positioned below or substantially at ground level. Additionally, shared power and data provision over the rails may allow for a more economical implementation.

positioning mechanism

Embodiments of the invention may relate to a floor display system including a mechanism for positioning an electronic display device associated with a floor at a selected inclination for better viewing. Figures 20A-20C show an illustrative example, where Figure 20B is an orthogonal side view corresponding to Figure 20A. According to an embodiment, the electronic display device 2000 may rest on or be hinged to the ground 2015, or otherwise be associated therewith. A positioning device 2020 may be coupled to the electronic display device 2000 for positioning it at a predetermined angle θ relative to the ground 2015 . This can make the electronic display device easier to view from a distance. Positioning device 2020 may include, for example, a spring or other flexible or expandable mechanism. As shown in FIG. 20C , the positioning device 2020 can be compressible or retractable so that the electronic display device 2000 can be moved closer to the ground 2015 by, for example, pressure from a human foot 2030 . An advantage of the above arrangement is that the area occupied by the electronic display device can be used for walking or other traffic. It should be understood that although not shown in FIGS. 20A-20C , electronic display device 2000 may include any of the display technologies and functions described above, and be associated with any of the devices described above. Accordingly, electronic display device 2000 may be configurable to electronically display modifiable arbitrary content, support image rotation and/or translation, or otherwise include any of the functionality described above in connection with an electronic display device.

Figures 20D-20E illustrate an alternative embodiment, wherein Figure 20D is an orthogonal side view corresponding to Figure 20A. As shown in FIGS. 20D-20E , two electronic display devices 2000 , each configured as described above with reference to FIGS. 20A-20C respectively, can be arranged back-to-back and share a common positioning device 2020 .

Flexible Electronic Display Device

Electronic display devices according to embodiments of the present invention may be constructed of extremely thin, flexible, lightweight materials. An illustrative example is shown in Figures 21A-21C. According to an embodiment, the electronic display device 2100 may include a lightweight material capable of shrinking and bending as shown in FIG. 21A. More specifically, the electronic display device 2100 may include a lightweight flexible display element layer 2120 and a lightweight flexible frame 2110 . The display element layer 2120 may include display elements such as small molecule OLEDs, polymer OLEDs, PLEDs, or LEPs. 21B and 21C are cross-sectional views along lines 21B-21B and 21C-21C, respectively. As shown in FIG. 21B , the flexible frame 2110 may include a lightweight flexible transparent protective layer 2130 and a lightweight flexible cushion layer 2160 . The display element layer 2120 may be disposed between the pad layer 2160 and the transparent protective layer 2130 . The transparent protective layer may comprise, for example, polycarbonate, mylar, or other strong transparent plastics. As shown in FIG. 21C, electronic display device 2100 may also include a lightweight, flexible thin-film battery 2170 to power the display. The thin film battery 2170 may be disposed between the display element layer 2120 and the pad layer 2160 .

The electronic display device 2100 may also include portable control electronics 2140 for driving the display of the display element layer. As shown, control electronics 2140 may be included with frame 2110 on the side of display element layer 2120 . Alternatively, control electronics may be provided, for example, between the display element layer 2120 and the underlayer 2160 (FIG. 21B), or between the underlayer 2160 and the thin film battery 2170 (FIG. 21C).

It should also be understood that although not shown in FIGS. 21A-21C , electronic display device 2100 may be associated with any of the devices described above and may be configured to electronically display any content that may be modified, supporting image rotation and/or translation , or otherwise include any of the functions described above in connection with the electronic display device.

As mentioned above, the above-mentioned electronic display device 2100 is very light and portable, so it is easy to carry. For example, it is contemplated that electronic display device 2100 may be rolled up and carried under an arm like a newspaper.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated and/or described herein. However, it can be understood that various modifications and changes of the present invention are included in the above theory and the scope of the appended claims without departing from the essence and intended scope of the present invention.

Claims (70)

1. A ground display system comprising: ground cover; an electronic display device associated with the floor covering, wherein the electronic display device is configurable to electronically display any modifiable content; controller; and a sensing device coupled to the controller; Wherein the image displayed by the electronic display device can be oriented based on information received by the controller from the sensing device. 2. The ground display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configurable to determine the proximity of at least two persons to the ground display system based on information received from the sensing device , and the image is rotated according to the information. 3. The ground display system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configurable to cause the image to be translated also based on the information. 4. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the sensing means comprises at least one proximity detector. 5. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is associated with the floor covering. 6. The ground display system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is associated with an object in the vicinity of the ground display system. 7. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the electronic display device comprises a plurality of separate panels. 8. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the floor display system is locally configurable with selected content. 9. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the floor display system is remotely configurable with selected content. 10. The floor display system according to claim 9, wherein the floor display system is included in a network via which the floor display system is configured. 11. The floor display system of claim 10, wherein the network is a local area network. 12. The ground display system of claim 10, wherein the network is a wide area network. 13. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the floor display system is linked to a point of sale system. 14. The ground display system of claim 1, wherein the ground display system is configurable to request and record information from a human. 15. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the floor display system includes at least one interactive device. 16. The floor display system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactivity device is a voice input device. 17. The floor display system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactive device is a keyboard or a numeric keypad. 18. The floor display system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactive device is a touch-sensitive display screen. 19. The floor display system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactivity device is a pressure sensor associated with the floor covering. 20. The floor display system of claim 15, wherein said at least one interactivity device is the card. 21. The floor display system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactivity device is a barcode scanner. 22. The floor display system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactive device is a coupon dispenser. 23. The floor display system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactive device is a video camera. 24. The floor display system of claim 23, wherein the camera is configurable to cause an image of a person to be displayed on the electronic display device. 25. The ground display system of claim 24, wherein the image of the person is incorporated into a message displayed on the electronic display device. 26. The ground display system of claim 24, wherein the image of the person is modifiable to convey an interesting message. 27. The ground display system according to claim 1, further comprising a diffraction prism disposed on the electronic display device. 28. The floor display system of claim 1, further comprising an audio device. 29. The floor display system of claim 28, wherein the frequency and volume of the output of the audio device is controllable based on information received by the controller from the sensing device. 30. The floor display system of claim 28, wherein the controller is configurable to activate or deactivate the output of the audio device based on information the controller receives from the sensing device. 31. The floor display system of claim 28, wherein the audio device includes a plurality of directional speakers, and the controller is configurable to use Directional speakers produce audio output. 32. The floor display system of claim 28, wherein the floor display system is coupled to at least one other floor display system, the other floor display system also includes an audio device, and the audio device is a controllable to prevent the audio devices from simultaneously producing audio output when the floor display systems are within a predetermined distance of each other. 33. The ground display system of claim 28, wherein the ground display system is configurable to activate or deactivate video of the electronic display device based on information received by the controller from the sensing device output, enabling or disabling audio output from the audio device, and adjusting image orientation and audio output characteristics individually or in combination. 34. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the floor display system is configurable to respond to human requests through visual or audio output, wherein interactive means are used by speaking or by entering data to make the request. 35. The floor display system of claim 1, further comprising a protective cover disposed on the electronic display device. 36. The floor display system of claim 35, wherein the protective cover comprises a transparent member. 37. The floor display system of claim 36, further comprising a hard coating over the transparent member. 38. The floor display system of claim 37, further comprising an anti-reflective coating over said hard coating. 39. The floor display system of claim 36, further comprising an anti-reflective coating on the top surface of the transparent member. 40. The floor display system of claim 36, further comprising an anti-reflective coating on the bottom surface of the transparent member. 41. The floor display system of claim 35, further comprising a removable protective sheet disposed over the protective cover. 42. The floor display system of claim 41, wherein the removable protective sheet includes an anti-skid feature. 43. The floor display system of claim 41, wherein the removable protective sheet is one of a plurality of removable protective sheets in a stack. 44. The floor display system of claim 35, further comprising a non-slip protective sheet disposed on the protective cover in the form of a continuous roll of material. 45. The floor display system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of scented sheets. 46. The floor display system of claim 1, further comprising an aroma dispenser. 47. The floor display system of claim 1, further comprising a warning system. 48. The floor display system of claim 47, wherein the warning system includes an electrical pulse generator. 49. The floor display system of claim 1, further comprising a waterproof element. 50. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the electronic display device comprises a plurality of separate panels, wherein each of the separate panels is configurable to independently display an image. 51. The floor display system of claim 50, wherein each panel is further configured to display an image having a different orientation than the image on the other panel. 52. The floor display system of claim 50, wherein at least two panels are configurable to form a composite image. 53. The ground display system of claim 50, wherein the image displayed by at least one of the plurality of separate panels of the electronic display device is capable of displaying images based on the information received by the controller from the sensing device. information to rotate. 54. The floor display system of claim 53, wherein the image is further capable of panning based on information received by the controller from the sensing device. 55. The floor display system of claim 50, wherein at least one of the panels is configurable to display an image that is substantially visible when viewed from a first direction but substantially invisible when viewed from a second direction . 56. The ground display system of claim 1, further comprising: a trench in the ground in which the electronic display device is housed; A track disposed in the groove and connected to the electronic display device. 57. The floor display system of claim 56, wherein the track has at least one of power and data conduits associated therewith, and the electronic display device is configured to receive power from the power and data conduits, respectively. At least one of power and data is received. 58. The floor display system of claim 56, further comprising at least one mating portion configured to fill an open space in the trench. 59. The floor display system of claim 56, further comprising a protective cover disposed on the electronic display device. 60. The floor display system of claim 59, wherein the shield includes a transparent window. 61. The floor display system of claim 56, further comprising a riser disposed within said trench to raise said electronic display device to a desired level. 62. The ground display system of claim 1, further comprising: A positioning mechanism, coupled to the electronic display device, for positioning the electronic display device at a predetermined angle relative to the ground. 63. The floor display system of claim 62, wherein the positioning mechanism is flexible. 64. The floor display system of claim 62, wherein the positioning mechanism is extendable and retractable. 65. The floor display system of claim 62, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a spring. 66. The ground display system according to claim 62, further comprising another electronic display device arranged back to back with the electronic display device and sharing the positioning mechanism with the electronic display device. 67. The ground display system of claim 1, wherein: The floor covering comprises a lightweight flexible frame comprising a lightweight flexible transparent protective layer and a lightweight flexible underlayment; and The electronic display device includes a lightweight flexible display element layer disposed between the transparent protective layer and the underlayer. 68. The floor display system of claim 67, wherein the electronic display device further comprises a lightweight flexible thin film battery. 69. The floor display system of claim 67, wherein the display element layer comprises organic light emitting diodes. 70. The floor display system of claim 67, wherein the display element layer comprises a light emitting polymer.

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