WO2003036600A1

WO2003036600A1 - Communication system

Info

Publication number: WO2003036600A1
Application number: PCT/IB2002/004151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kleanthis Adamou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-22
Filing date: 2002-10-10
Publication date: 2003-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2004-04-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication system (10) for use in vehicles. The system includes a base communication (16) station with a transmitter (22), a communication station (36) mounted on a vehicle and including a receiver (44), a display means for displaying information and a repository for storing information for display. The base station (16) is operable to transmit a program of information, by means of its transmitter (22), via a communication channel (26); and each mobile station (36) is operable to receive the program of information by means of its receiver (44) via the communication channel, to store the program in its repository and to display the program in a predetermined manner by means of its display means.

Description

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a communication system and method to communicate information for use in vehicles. The invention is directed particularly, but not exclusively, to the communication and display of advertising material in vehicles.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Public transport systems provide opportunities for the advertisement of goods and services. At present, these opportunities are not utilised to their full potential. There is, for example, the possibility of displaying or flighting television advertisements in television broadcasts or what are known as "infomercials". However, television signals are not broadcast on a uniform frequency throughout a geographic region. This has a disadvantage that the signal may be received in a specific area on a specifically tuned frequency only. Should a vehicle move outside a specified range, the broadcast signal may be lost. Consequently, real-time broadcast television advertisements are not likely to be successful where the range of operation of the public transport vehicle is relatively large.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a communication system and method of communication for use in vehicles, which will, at least partially, alleviate the abovementioned disadvantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a communications system for use in vehicles, the system including a base communication station having first transmitting means; at least one mobile communication station mounted on a vehicle and including a first receiving means, a display means for displaying information and a repository for storing information for display; the base station being operable to transmit a program of information, by means of its first transmitting means, via a communication channel; and the, or each, mobile station being operable to receive the said program of information, by means of its first receiving means, via the communication channel, to store the program in its repository and to display the program in a predetermined manner by means of its display means.

The, or each, mobile communication station may include second transmitting means and the base communication station may include second receiving means operable to receive data transmitted by the said second transmitting means via the communication channel. Further, the base communication station may include first control means operably connected to the first transmitting means and the second receiving means and operable to control operation thereof. The first control means may comprise a computer processor operating under control of a computer program.

The, or each, mobile communication station may include second control means operably connected to the second transmitting means, the first receiving means and the repository and operable to control operation thereof. Then, the second control means may comprise a computer processor operating under control of a computer program. The program of information may comprise a plurality of program segments, at least one of which comprises advertising material. Preferably, each of the program segments has associated therewith an identifier.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the, or each, mobile communication station is operable to transmit an identification signal at predetermined intervals, the base station being operable on receipt of an identification signal from a mobile station to transmit at least one program segment of a program of information to that mobile station to update the program of information stored on the repository of the said mobile station, in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion. The base station may be operable to interrogate the control means of the mobile station from which the identification signal is received to ascertain the identification of each program segment stored in the repository of that mobile station.

The at least one predetermined criterion may be selected from a list containing the following criteria: the identity of the vehicle associated with the mobile station from which the identification signal is received; an anticipated predetermined route for the vehicle associated with the mobile station; the time of day; the make-up of the program of information stored on the repository of the mobile station.

Preferably, the base station is operable to transmit to the mobile station instructions relating to the display of the program of information.

The instructions may include an instruction selected from a list containing: the number of times that each program segment is to be displayed; the length of time that each program segment is to be displayed on each occasion; the time of day that each program segment is to be displayed; the geographical location of the vehicle associated with the mobile station when each program segment is displayed.

The control means of the, or each, mobile communication station may be operable to record data relating to program segments displayed on the display means and to transmit the said data to the base station on request therefrom.

The data may include data relating to items selected from a list containing the following items: the number of times that each program segment is displayed; the length of time that each program segment is displayed on each occasion; the time of day that each program segment is displayed.

The, or each, mobile communication station may include means for determining the geographical location of the vehicle with which the mobile station is associated. Then, the data stored and transmitted by the control means may include the geographical location of the vehicle at the time of display of each program segment.

In one embodiment of the invention, the display means is located within its associated vehicle to be visible by passengers within the vehicle. The display means may comprise a monitor screen and the display means may include a sound reproduction facility located so that it is audible to passengers within the vehicle.

In one embodiment of the invention, the, or each, mobile communication station is located in a taxi.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for communicating information for use in vehicles, the method including transmitting a program of information from a base station; receiving the said program of information at a vehicle; storing the program of information at the vehicle; and displaying the program of information in a predetermined manner at the said vehicle.

The base station may have a first transmitting means; the vehicle may have a mobile communication station, including a first receiving means, a display means for displaying information and a repository for storing information for display; and the program of information may be transmitted by means of the first transmitting means via a communication channel; and the program of information may be received at the mobile communication station of the vehicle by means of its first receiving means, via the communication channel, stored in its repository and displayed in the predetermined manner by means of its display means.

The mobile communication station may include second transmitting means and the base communication station may include second receiving means operable to receive data transmitted by the said second transmitting means via the communication channel. The base communication station may include first control means operably connected to the first transmitting means and the second receiving means and operable to control operation thereof. The first control means may comprise a computer processor operating under control of a computer program. The mobile communication station may include second control means operably connected to the second transmitting means, the first receiving means and the repository and operable to control operation thereof. The second control means may comprise a computer processor operating under control of a computer program.

The program of information may comprise a plurality of program segments, at least one of which comprises advertising material. Preferably, each of the program segments has associated therewith an identifier. The method may include the steps of transmitting an identification signal at predetermined intervals from the mobile communication station; receiving the identification signal from the mobile communication station at the base station; in response to the received identification signal, transmitting at least one program segment of a program of information to that mobile station, in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion; and updating the program of information stored on the repository of the said mobile station.

The method may include the step of interrogating the control means of the mobile station from which the identification signal is received to ascertain the identification of each program segment stored in the repository of that mobile station.

The method may include the step of transmitting from the base station to the mobile station instructions relating to the display of the program of information.

The method may include the further steps of recording, at the mobile communication station, data relating to program segments displayed on the display means; and transmitting the said data to the base station on request therefrom.

Then, the data may include data relating to items selected from a list containing the following items: the number of times that each program segment is displayed; the length of time that each program segment is displayed on each occasion; the time of day that each program segment is displayed.

The mobile communication station may include means for determining the geographical location of the vehicle with which the mobile station is associated. Then, data stored and transmitted from the mobile station may include the geographical location of the vehicle at the time of display of each program segment.

The display means may be located within its associated vehicle to be visible by passengers within the vehicle. The display means may comprise a monitor screen and may include a sound reproduction facility located so that it is audible to passengers within the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a display means of the system of Figure 1 , in use within a passenger vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally refers to a communication system for use in vehicles, in accordance with the invention.

The system 10 has a control station 12 linked via fixed line telecommunications network 14 to a plurality of base stations, only one of which is shown in Figure 1 and indicated by reference numeral 16. It will be appreciated that any suitable communications network may be employed for communication between the control station 12 and the base stations 16. The control station 12 may further be linked to providers of material for display, such as advertising agencies or other media providers, as indicated by reference numeral 18. Thus, material for display may be downloaded from the originator of the material directly to the control station 12 via a communications network 20. In addition, as will be described more fully hereunder, the control station 12 may communicate data and billing information relating to the display of the material to the provider thereof via the relevant communications network 20. Each base station 16 has a transmitter 22 and a receiver 24, each connected to its respective antenna 26, 28 and to a controller 30, in the form of a computer, such as a PC. The PC 30 has its own data storage device 32, or is connected to a data storage device, which may be a hard or stiffy disk drive, tape drive, video machine, CD or DVD drive or the like. In the embodiment described, the base station transmitter 22 and receiver 24 operate on a radio frequency and are of low power to have a range selected to cover a specific geographical area as indicated at 34, which in the preferred embodiment is a taxi rank.

The system 10 also includes a plurality of mobile communication stations 36, each station 36 being located and secured within a passenger vehicle, in this embodiment a minibus taxi 38. Each mobile communication station 36 comprises a controller 40, in the form of a PC or laptop computer, which is operably connected to a transmitter 42 and a receiver 44. The transmitter 42 and receiver 44 each have their own antenna 46, 48 to which they are connected. The computer 40 has its own data storage device or is connected to such a device 50 and the data storage device may be of any suitable type, such as a disk drive, tape drive, DVD or CD drive, a video drive or the like. Each taxi transmitter 42 and receiver 44 operate on radio frequency and are, as with the base station 16, of low power, to have a predetermined short range, indicated at 52. Further, the mobile communication station 36 has a display device 54, in the form of a VDU, which, as shown in Figure 2, is secured within the cabin of the taxi 38 in such a manner that it is visible to a majority of passengers seated inside the taxi 38.

It will be appreciated that the mode of operation of the various transmitters and receivers of the system can be by way of any suitable modality, including one or more of the Internet, landline telephone networks, cellular phone networks, satellite communication networks or the like. In use, an advertising agency 18 sends a program of information (display material) and a set of instructions for the display of the program to the control station 12. At the control station 12 a uniquely numbered batch of display material according to the agency's needs is prepared, and this batch is then transmitted to selected or a specific base station 16. Included in the transmission are specific instructions for reproduction of the material for display, which material and instruction set are downloaded to the base station computer 30 and stored on the associated storage device 32. The instructions include details about which taxi should receive the batch and at what time of day the taxi should receive it or display the material of the batch.

Stored on each base station computer 30 is a record of the program of material and instructions for its display which have been downloaded to every taxi associated with that base station 16. Thus, upon receipt of a new program of information, it may be readily determined which taxi should receive the new program. In one embodiment of the system, the base station controller 30 is operable under program control to interrogate the controller 40 of a mobile station 36 to ascertain what program of material is presently loaded on the mobile station 36.

In the present embodiment, each mobile station 36 of a taxi 38 transmits an unique identification code at predetermined intervals. As the taxi 38 comes into range of a base station 16, the identification signal is receivable by the base station 16. Once the base station 16 receives a taxi identification transmission, communication is established between the base station 16 and the mobile station 36 and verified by means of a handshake. The base station computer 30 checks whether the taxi 38 is scheduled for an update of display material. If the taxi 38 is due for an update, the base station 16 immediately starts transmitting the updated batch of display material and instructions for the display of the material. The transmission may be encoded so that only the specific taxi computer 40 downloads the material. The data store 50 of the mobile station 36 is updated so that outdated display material is deleted and the updated display material is saved for display to the passengers. It will be appreciated that this process may be carried out seamlessly and transparently so that it does not interfere with the normal operation of the taxi 38. The taxi driver need not even be aware that the display material for his taxi has been updated, until the new material is displayed in his taxi.

In one embodiment of the system 10, the program of information comprises a plurality of program segments, each of which may comprise an advertisement, advertorial or item of material, such as a video feature or the like. Each program segment has its own unique identifier. Thus, the instruction set downloaded with the program material may contain instructions relating to each program segment of the program, such as, for example, the number of times that the segment is to be displayed, the time of day for each display, the length to time of the display (where the display is a still image), and even the location of the vehicle when the segment is to be displayed. For this latter purpose, the mobile station 36 of the vehicle will include a geographical position locating means, such as a global positioning system (GPS) (not shown), which is connected to the controller 40 of the mobile station 36. In this manner, a particular program segment may be scheduled for display at a selected location.

The taxi computer 40 also transmits statistical data back to the base station computer 30 when communication is established. The statistical data includes details about the number of times each advertisement has been displayed, the time of display, and in what geographical area or areas it was displayed. Where the taxi is fitted with a GPS system, it will be possible for precise coordinates to be reported for each display of each advertisement. Alternatively, where the minibus taxi 38 follows a known predetermined route, the information relating to the location for display of each segment may be estimated from the known route. The statistical, data is sent from the base station 16 to the control station 12 and from there it is reported to the advertising agency 18 or client, for use in a management information system (MIS), and/or it may be used for billing purposes by the provider of the system in billing clients who advertise or use the system 10. The system 10 allows a single control station 12 to effectively control a number of base stations 16 over a wide geographical area.

A client of the system 10, such as an advertising agency, is thus able to send display material in a predetermined format to the control station 12 for display in a specific geographical region. From there, the display material is transmitted base stations 16 for distribution to specific taxi's in specific areas. It will be appreciated that there need not be a control station 12, and that the system 10 may comprise a base station 16 and its associated satellite mobile stations 36.

It will be apparent that this system 10 allows an advertiser to reach a specific target market in a specific area. If, for example, a national chain of stores has a sale of its goods in a single city only, it may not make economic sense to purchase expensive television advertising time, since the advertisement will be irrelevant to viewers in other cities. The system 10 allows the advertiser to specify a specific vehicle within which the advertisement must be displayed. The system 10 may also find use in elections, national or local. It is therefore a focussed way of bringing information to the attention of the public. The system 10 may also find application in combating crime. Information about suspects or missing persons may be advertised to the public in those areas where the suspect or person is thought likely to be, thereby improving the chances of the suspect being apprehended or the person being recognised.

It will be appreciated that there are other embodiments of the communication system which fall within the scope of the invention. For example, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the display of information in taxis alone. Indeed, it is foreseen that the system will be used in taxis, busses, trains, trams, ferries, aeroplanes and the like. Further, the communication between base and mobile stations need not be controlled by limiting, only or at all, the ranges of their respective transmitters and receivers. Thus, the respective transmitters and receivers may have long ranges, and transmission my be effectively restricted to selected vehicles by means of the use of unique vehicle identifiers or by the known application of encoding and decoding algorithms in the system.

Claims

1. A communications system for use in vehicles, the system including a base communication station having first transmitting means; at least one mobile communication station mounted on a vehicle and including a first receiving means, a display means for displaying information and a repository for storing information for display; the base station being operable to transmit a program of information, by means of its first transmitting means, via a communication channel; and the, or each, mobile station being operable to receive the said program of information, by means of its first receiving means, via the communication channel, to store the program in its repository and to display the program in a predetermined manner by means of its display means.

2. The communications system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the, or each, mobile communication station includes second transmitting means and the base communication station includes second receiving means operable to receive data transmitted by the said second transmitting means via the communication channel.

3. The communication system as claimed in claim 2, in which the base communication station includes first control means operably connected to the first transmitting means and the second receiving means and operable to control operation thereof.

4. The communication system as claimed in claim 3, in which the first control means comprises a computer processor operating under control of a computer program.

5. The communication system as claimed in claim 4, in which the, or each, mobile communication station includes second control means operably connected to the second transmitting means, the first receiving means and the repository and operable to control operation thereof.

6. The communication system as claimed in claim 5, in which the second control means comprises a computer processor operating under control of a computer program.

7. The communication system as claimed in claim 6, in which the program of information comprises a plurality of program segments, at least one of which comprises advertising material.

8. The communication system as claimed in claim 7, in which each of the program segments has associated therewith an identifier.

9. The communication system as claimed in claim 8, in which the, or each, mobile communication station is operable to transmit an identification signal at predetermined intervals, the base station being operable on receipt of an identification signal from a mobile station to transmit at least one program segment of a program of information to that mobile station to update the program of information stored on the repository of the said mobile station, in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion.

10. The communication system as claimed in claim 9, in which the base station is operable to interrogate the control means of the mobile station from which the identification signal is received to ascertain the identification of each program segment stored in the repository of that mobile station.

11. The communication system as claimed in claim 10, in which the at least one predetermined criterion is selected from a list containing the following criteria: the identity of the vehicle associated with the mobile station from which the identification signal is received; an anticipated predetermined route for the vehicle associated with the mobile station; the time of day; the make-up of the program of information stored on the repository of the mobile station.

12. The communication system as claimed in claim 11 , in which the base station is operable to transmit to the mobile station instructions relating to the display of the program of information.

13. The communication system as claimed in claim 12, in which the instructions include an instruction selected from a list containing: the number of times that each program segment is to be displayed; the length of time that each program segment is to be displayed on each occasion; the time of day that each program segment is to be displayed; the geographical location of the vehicle associated with the mobile station when each program segment is displayed.

14. The communication system as claimed in claim 8, in which the control means of the, or each, mobile communication station is operable to record data relating to program segments displayed on the display means and to transmit the said data to the base station on request therefrom.

15. The communication system as claimed in claim 14, in which the data includes data relating to items selected from a list containing the following items: the number of times that each program segment is displayed; the length of time that each program segment is displayed on each occasion; the time of day that each program segment is displayed.

16. The communication system as claimed in claim 15, in which the, or each, mobile communication station includes means for determining the geographical location of the vehicle with which the mobile station is associated.

17. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, in which the data stored and transmitted by the control means includes the geographical location of the vehicle at the time of display of each program segment.

18. The communication system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the display means is located within its associated vehicle to be visible by passengers within the vehicle.

19. The communication system as claimed in claim 18, in which the display means comprises a monitor screen and in which the display means includes a sound reproduction facility located so that it is audible to passengers within the vehicle.

20. The communication system as claimed in claim 19, in which the, or each, mobile communication station is located in a taxi.

21. A method for communicating information for use in vehicles, the method including transmitting a program of information from a base station; receiving the said program of information at a vehicle; storing the program of information at the vehicle; and displaying the program of information in a predetermined manner at the said vehicle.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 , in which the base station has a first transmitting means; the vehicle has a mobile communication station, including a first receiving means, a display means for displaying information and a repository for storing information for display; and in which the program of information is transmitted by means of the first transmitting means via a communication channel; and the program of information is received at the mobile communication station of the vehicle by means of its first receiving means, via the communication channel, is stored in its repository and is displayed in the predetermined manner by means of its display means.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, in which the mobile communication station includes second transmitting means and the base communication station includes second receiving means operable to receive data transmitted by the said second transmitting means via the communication channel.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, in which the base communication station includes first control means operably connected to the first transmitting means and the second receiving means and operable to control operation thereof.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, in which the first control means comprises a computer processor operating under control of a computer program.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, in which the mobile communication station includes second control means operably connected to the second transmitting means, the first receiving means and the repository and operable to control operation thereof.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, in which the second control means comprises a computer processor operating under control of a computer program.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, in which the program of information comprises a plurality of program segments, at least one of which comprises advertising material.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, in which each of the program segments has associated therewith an identifier.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, which includes the steps of transmitting an identification signal at predetermined intervals from the mobile communication station; receiving the identification signal from the mobile communication station at the base station; in response to the received identification signal, transmitting at least one program segment of a program of information to that mobile station, in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion; and updating the program of information stored on the repository of the said mobile station.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, which includes the step of interrogating the control means of the mobile station from which the identification signal is received to ascertain the identification of each program segment stored in the repository of that mobile station.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31 , in which the at least one predetermined criterion is selected from a list containing the following criteria: the identity of the vehicle associated with the mobile station from which the identification signal is received; an anticipated predetermined route for the vehicle associated with the mobile station; the time of day; the make-up of the program of information stored on the repository of the mobile station.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, which includes the step of transmitting from the base station to the mobile station instructions relating to the display of the program of information.

34. The method as claimed in claim 33, in which the instructions include an instruction selected from a list containing: the number of times that each program segment is to be displayed; the length of time that each program segment is to be displayed on each occasion; the time of day that each program segment is to be displayed; the geographical location of the vehicle associated with the mobile station when each program segment is displayed.

35. The method as claimed in claim 29, which includes the steps of recording, at the mobile communication station, data relating to program segments displayed on the display means; and transmitting the said data to the base station on request therefrom.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, in which the data includes data relating to items selected from a list containing the following items: the number of times that each program segment is displayed; the length of time that each program segment is displayed on each occasion; the time of day that each program segment is displayed.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36, in which the mobile communication station includes means for determining the geographical location of the vehicle with which the mobile station is associated.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37, in the data stored and transmitted from the mobile station includes the geographical location of the vehicle at the time of display of each program segment.

39. The method as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 38, in which the display means is located within its associated vehicle to be visible by passengers within the vehicle.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39, in which the display means comprises a monitor screen and in which the display means includes a sound reproduction facility located so that it is audible to passengers within the vehicle.

41.The method as claimed in claim 40, in which the mobile communication station is located in a taxi.

42. A communications system for use in vehicles, substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

3. A method for communicating information for use in vehicles, substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.