U.S. patent application number 13/659224 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-07 for content distribution platform.
This patent application is currently assigned to CIRIGHT SYSTEMS, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is CIRIGHT SYSTEMS, INC.. Invention is credited to Joseph Callahan.
Application Number | 20130057640 13/659224 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41726699 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130057640 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Callahan; Joseph |
March 7, 2013 |
CONTENT DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM
Abstract
A system is adapted to manage the distribution of content to one
or more cooperating media/substrates. The system receives data
representative of environment conditions for one or more
cooperating media/substrates adapted to display digital content.
The media/substrates may be located in public spaces. The system
compares the received data representative of environment conditions
with selection criteria to identify content for distribution to the
media/substrates. The selected content is distributed to the one or
more cooperating media/substrates.
Inventors: |
Callahan; Joseph; (Bryn
Mawr, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CIRIGHT SYSTEMS, INC.; |
Bryn Mawr |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CIRIGHT SYSTEMS, INC.
Bryn Mawr
PA
|
Family ID: |
41726699 |
Appl. No.: |
13/659224 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12201205 |
Aug 29, 2008 |
|
|
|
13659224 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/14.02 ;
348/14.08; 348/E7.077 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G08B 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/14.02 ;
348/14.08; 348/E07.077 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/14 20060101
H04N007/14 |
Claims
1. A content management and distribution system, comprising: one or
more computing processors; and a computing memory communicatively
coupled with the one or more computing processors, the computing
memory having stored thereon computer executable instructions that
cause the content management and distribution system to perform
operations, comprising: selecting by the content management and
distribution system based upon one or more display system factors
comprising any of the location of the one or more display systems,
physical size of the one or more display systems, physical
orientation of the one or more display systems, and the operating
status of one or more components of the one or more display
systems, a set of selection criteria to be used in identifying
information for display at the one or more display systems;
receiving by the content management and distribution system data
representative of one or more environment conditions that is
collected by one or more environment condition sensing devices
operatively cooperating with the one or more display systems, the
one or more display systems being operatively connected to a video
teleconference communications platform over a communications
network, the environment conditions comprising a video-conferencing
environmental condition occurring within a predetermined distance
from the one or more display systems comprising: the number of
people, the initiation of one or more steps of a video conference,
the occurrence of a one or more physical gestures from one or more
persons, movement of the display system from a first position to a
second position, the utterance of spoken words, the motion of one
or more animals, the movement of one or more people, the
communication of video conference data from the one or more display
system s to one or more components of the video-conferencing
communications platform, the communication of a control signal
operative to initiate one or more steps of a video conference
session from the one or more display systems to the one or more
components of the video-conferencing communications platform, the
interaction with one or more data elements on the one more display
systems, the communication of video conference data from the one or
more environment condition sensing devices to one or more
components of the video-conferencing communications platform, the
communication of a control signal operative to initiate one or more
steps of a video conference session from the one or more
environment condition sensing devices to the one or more components
of the video-conferencing communications platform, the interaction
with one or more data elements on the one more display systems, the
shape of one or more persons, the amount of hair on one or more
persons, the presence of facial hair on one or more persons, height
of one or more persons, the skin tone of one or more persons, the
presence of makeup on one or more persons, and the length of time a
person is looking at the one or more display systems; applying by
the content management and distribution system the selected set of
selection criteria and the data representative of the one or more
environment conditions in querying content data residing on the
data store to select content for distribution; and communicating
the selected content to one or more display systems.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, further wherein the selected
content comprises any of text content, graphic content, video
content, audio content, and a combination thereof
3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more
display systems comprise one or more mobile-enabled display
systems.
4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more
display systems comprise any of a mobile phone, a smart-phone, a
tablet computing device, a personal computer, a kiosk, a desktop
computer, television, and a mobile-enabled watch device.
5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the one or more
environment condition sensing devices are integrated within the one
or more display systems.
6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the digital
communications network comprises an open communications
network.
7. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the selected content
comprises data representative of one or more steps of one or more
video conferencing communication sessions.
8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the selected content
is selected based on the one or more environment conditions
comprising the connectivity to a selected video-conferencing
communications service, the selected video-conferencing
communications service comprising a video-conferencing
communications service user interface application.
9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the selected content
is selected based on the one or more environment conditions
comprising interactivity with the user interface application.
10. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least
one instruction for tracking content that is distributed to the one
or more display system and storing data representative of the
tracked content.
11. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising at least
one instruction for generating reporting data from the data
representative of the tracked content.
12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more
display systems are adapted to receive content according to one or
more instructions provided by the content management and
distribution system and display the received content.
13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more
display systems further comprise an integrated computing processor
operative to cooperate with the one or more environment condition
sensing devices and executing one or more computing instructions to
process the data representative of the one or more environment
conditions sensed by the one or more environment condition sensing
devices.
14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more
environment condition sensing devices comprise any of one or more
cameras, one or more motion sensors, one or more people counters, a
communications network router, a credit card terminal, an audio
microphone, a gaming console controller, a remote control, a
keyboard, a pointing device, an interactive touch display panel, a
radio frequency communications module, a near-field communications
module, and one or more antennae .
15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more
display systems comprises a display panel for displaying
content.
16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the display systems
comprise at least one of a light emitting diode display a liquid
crystal display, and a display having a portion that is a liquid
crystal display and a portion that is a light emitting diode
display.
17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the display is
adapted to electronically receive content from the content
management and distribution system.
18. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein of the one or more
display systems comprise comprises a display adapted to display
content, a computing processor operable to cooperate with the one
or more environment condition sensing devices adapted to sense the
one or more environment conditions, and a communications component
adapted to communicate with the content management and distribution
system.
19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the one or more
display systems further comprise a data store.
20. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more
display systems are adapted to receive input from an operator, the
input comprising at least one of the following: voice; text;
biometric data, payment data, user account authentication data, and
identification data.
21. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or
more data stores operable to store data comprising at least one of
the following: content for distribution, guidelines for
distributing content, tracking data identifying content previously
distributed, and reporting data.
22. A computer implemented method for managing and/or distributing
content, comprising: at a computing system, selecting by the
content management and distribution system based upon one or more
display system factors comprising any of the location of the one or
more display systems, physical size of the one or more display
systems, physical orientation of the one or more display systems,
and the operating status of one or more components of the one or
more display systems, a set of selection criteria to be used in
identifying information for display at the one or more display
systems; at the computing system , receiving by the content
management and distribution system data representative of one or
more environment conditions that is collected by one or more
environment condition sensing devices operatively cooperating with
the one or more display systems, the one or more display systems
being operatively connected to a video teleconference
communications platform over a communications network, the
environment conditions comprising a video-conferencing
environmental condition occurring within a predetermined distance
from the one or more display systems comprising: the number of
people, the initiation of one or more steps of a video conference,
the occurrence of a one or more physical gestures from one or more
persons, movement of the display system from a first position to a
second position, the utterance of spoken words, the motion of one
or more animals, the movement of one or more people, the
communication of video conference data from the one or more display
system s to one or more components of the video-conferencing
communications platform, the communication of a control signal
operative to initiate one or more steps of a video conference
session from the one or more display systems to the one or more
components of the video-conferencing communications platform, the
interaction with one or more data elements on the one more display
systems, the communication of video conference data from the one or
more environment condition sensing devices to one or more
components of the video-conferencing communications platform, the
communication of a control signal operative to initiate one or more
steps of a video conference session from the one or more
environment condition sensing devices to the one or more components
of the video-conferencing communications platform, the interaction
with one or more data elements on the one more display systems, the
shape of one or more persons, the amount of hair on one or more
persons, the presence of facial hair on one or more persons, height
of one or more persons, the skin tone of one or more persons, the
presence of makeup on one or more persons, and the length of time a
person is looking at the one or more display systems; at the
computing system, comparing the received data representative of
environment conditions with selected selection criteria to select
content for distribution; and at the computing system,
communicating the selected content to the one or more display
systems.
23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising
associating an identifier with each of the one or more display
systems.
24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein receiving data
representative of one or more environment conditions of one or more
cooperating display systems comprises receiving data representative
of one or more steps of one or more video-conferencing
communications sessions.
25. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising receiving
selection criteria from a content provider, the content provider
providing content representative of one o more video-conferencing
communications sessions, wherein the content provider is an
operator of one or more video-conferencing communications
services.
26. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising tracking
the content that is distributed to the one or more cooperating
display systems and storing the data representative of the tracked
content.
27. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising
generating reporting data from the data representative of the
tracked content.
28. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein receiving data
representative of environment conditions comprises receiving data
representative of environment conditions according to a
schedule.
29. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable
instructions that, when executed by a computing system cause the
computing system to perform operations, comprising: at a computing
system, selecting by the content management and distribution system
based upon one or more display system factors comprising any of the
location of the one or more display systems, physical size of the
one or more display systems, physical orientation of the one or
more display systems, and the operating status of one or more
components of the one or more display systems, a set of selection
criteria to be used in identifying information for display at the
one or more display systems; at a computing system, receiving by
the content management and distribution system data representative
of one or more environment conditions that is collected by one or
more environment condition sensing devices operatively cooperating
with the one or more display systems, the one or more display
systems being operatively connected to a video teleconference
communications platform over a communications network, the
environment conditions comprising a video-conferencing
environmental condition occurring within a predetermined distance
from the one or more display systems comprising: the number of
people, the initiation of one or more steps of a video conference,
the occurrence of a one or more physical gestures from one or more
persons, movement of the display system from a first position to a
second position, the utterance of spoken words, the motion of one
or more animals, the movement of one or more people, the
communication of video conference data from the one or more display
system s to one or more components of the video-conferencing
communications platform, the communication of a control signal
operative to initiate one or more steps of a video conference
session from the one or more display systems to the one or more
components of the video-conferencing communications platform, the
interaction with one or more data elements on the one more display
systems, the communication of video conference data from the one or
more environment condition sensing devices to one or more
components of the video-conferencing communications platform, the
communication of a control signal operative to initiate one or more
steps of a video conference session from the one or more
environment condition sensing devices to the one or more components
of the video-conferencing communications platform, the interaction
with one or more data elements on the one more display systems, the
shape of one or more persons, the amount of hair on one or more
persons, the presence of facial hair on one or more persons, height
of one or more persons, the skin tone of one or more persons, the
presence of makeup on one or more persons, and the length of time a
person is looking at the one or more display systems; at the
computing system, comparing the received environment condition data
with one or more environment condition criteria to select content
for distribution; and at the computing system, communicating the
selected content to the one or more cooperating display systems.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of, and claims
priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/201,205, entitled
"Content Distribution Platform", filed on Aug. 29, 2008, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The proliferation of electronic communications technologies
has allowed for mass delivery of information. For example,
technologies such as electronic mail, instant messaging, web
browsers, etc., have provided a medium by which to deliver
electronic information to a large number of people very quickly.
Electronic devices including, for example, personal computers,
mobile phones, personal digital assistants, smart phones, and
television set-top boxes (e.g., cable set top boxes, satellite set
top boxes, etc.), provide ready access to consumers of information.
The type and content of information that may be delivered via
modern communication technologies varies greatly and comprises
everything from personal information to public advertisements.
[0003] Current practices leverage the electronic communications
technologies to deliver electronic content according to a number of
content delivery paradigms. Such paradigms prescribe delivering
content according to one or more selected criteria including, among
others, user behavior (i.e., how a user has historically interacted
with previously delivered electronic content), and geography (e.g.,
location-based search services). The context of the electronic
content (e.g., the type of content to be delivered) can also be
used when determining where, when, or to whom the electronic
content will be delivered. For example, a content provider can
select to electronically deliver electronic sports content to users
during a particular sports season--i.e., deliver football content
during football season. Additionally, in connection with arguably
the most pervasive electronic content distribution network--the
Internet, users can select the type of content that they want
electronically delivered by navigating the world-wide-web to
identify and request selected electronic content.
[0004] Thus, systems exist for the distribution of data. However,
Applicants have noted that there is a need for information
distribution systems that employ new paradigms.
SUMMARY
[0005] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter.
[0006] The herein described systems and methods provide a
computer-implemented interactive system and methods allowing for
the management and distribution of content, electronically, or
otherwise, to one or more cooperating sustainable media/substrates
according to a selected content management and distribution
paradigm premised on one or more environment conditions of the one
or more cooperating sustainable media/substrates. In an
illustrative implementation, a content distribution environment
comprises a content management and distribution engine operable to
manage and distribute content to one or more cooperating
sustainable media/substrates, and an instruction set comprising at
least one instruction to instruct the content management and
distribution engine to process data representative of one or more
environment conditions for the one or more sustainable
media/substrates and select content for distribution to the one or
more cooperating sustainable media/substrates based on the
environment condition data.
[0007] In an illustrative operation, the exemplary content
management and distribution engine can associate one or more
media/substrate identifiers to one or more cooperating
media/substrates. In the illustrative operation, the exemplary
content management and distribution engine can process environment
condition data representative of one or more environment conditions
of the one or more cooperating media/substrates to identify one or
more environment conditions criteria to be applied and apply the
one or more environment condition criteria for the one or more
cooperating media/substrates. In the illustrative operation, the
exemplary content management and distribution engine can distribute
selected content to the one or more cooperating media/substrate
according to the identified environment conditions and applied
environment condition criteria. Illustratively operatively, the
exemplar content management and distribution engine can track the
distribution of content of the cooperating media/substrates and
generate reports for display/storage having data representative of
the content that has been distributed.
[0008] In an exemplary implementation, the media/substrates may
comprise a medium at which information may be presented to
consumers. For example, in an illustrative embodiment, the medium
may comprise a light emitting diode display, a liquid crystal
display, or other suitable technology for electronically displaying
information. In an exemplary embodiment, the medium may comprise a
display area for presenting information in a non-electronic format.
The media/substrates can be positioned, for example, at/on physical
locations such as, for example, trash receptacles, billboards,
vending machines, benches, or any other location that is accessible
to potential viewers.
[0009] In an example implementation, the media/substrate may
further comprise one or more sensors or other mechanism to collect
data regarding the environment conditions in the area or vicinity
of the media/substrate. For example, in an exemplary
implementation, the media/substrate may comprises a sensor system
operable to collect data regarding the number of people or vehicles
that are in, or that travel through, the vicinity of the particular
media/substrate at a particular time or during a particular time
period. In an exemplary embodiment, the media/substrate may be
adapted to communicate the data regarding the environment
conditions via a communications link to the content management and
distribution system.
[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the content management and
distribution engine may be adapted to aggregate the received data
regarding the environment conditions. In an exemplary
implementation, the content management and distribution system may
associate an identifier with each of the media/substrates. As data
regarding the environment conditions is received from the
media/substrates, the content management and distribution system
may store the received data in relation to an identifier
corresponding to the media/substrate to which the data is
relevant.
[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the content management and
distribution system may be further adapted to process the
environment conditions data and to identify content for
distribution to particular media/substrates depending upon the
environmental conditions data collected for the particular
substrates. For example, in an illustrative implementation, the
content management and distribution system may process the received
environment condition data to identify those media substrates that
regularly have a high volume of persons that pass the substrate
during a particular period of time.
[0012] In an illustrative implementation, the content management
and distribution system may manage the distribution of particular
digital content to those media/substrates that have a determined
level of traffic nearby at particular dates and times. In an
illustrative embodiment, the content may be distributed to the
media/substrates by electronic or non-electronic means. The content
may be received and displayed at the media/substrates.
[0013] The following description and the annexed drawings set forth
in detail certain illustrative aspects of the subject matter. These
aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways
in which the subject matter can be employed and the claimed subject
matter is intended to include all such aspects and their
equivalents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing
environment in accordance with an illustrative implementation of
the herein described systems and methods.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary networked
computing environment in accordance with an illustrative
implementation of the herein described systems and methods.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the cooperation of
exemplary components of an illustrative implementation in
accordance with the herein described systems and methods.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an illustrative block
representation of an illustrative implementation of an exemplary
content management and distribution system in accordance with the
herein described systems and methods.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one or more cooperating
components of an exemplary media/substrate in accordance with the
herein described systems and methods.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of illustrative processing
performed to manage and/or distribute content in accordance with
the herein described systems and methods; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of illustrative processing
performed to identify selected content for management/distribution
in accordance with the herein described systems and methods.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The claimed subject matter is now described with reference
to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer
to like elements throughout. In the following description, for
purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in
order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject
matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter
may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block
diagram form in order to facilitate describing the claimed subject
matter.
[0022] As used in this application, the word "exemplary" is used
herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration.
Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not
necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other
aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended
to present concepts in a concrete fashion.
[0023] Additionally, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive
"or" rather than an exclusive "or". That is, unless specified
otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to
mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X
employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs
A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In
addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this application and
the appended claims should generally be construed to mean "one or
more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be
directed to a singular form.
[0024] Moreover, the terms "system," "component," "module,"
"interface,", "model" or the like are generally intended to refer
to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of
hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For
example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process
running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a
thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of
illustration, both an application running on a controller and the
controller can be a component. One or more components may reside
within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be
localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more
computers.
[0025] Although the subject matter described herein may be
described in the context of illustrative illustrations to process
one or more computing application features/operations for a
computing application having user-interactive components the
subject matter is not limited to these particular embodiments.
Rather, the techniques described herein can be applied to any
suitable type of user-interactive component execution management
methods, systems, platforms, and/or apparatus.
Illustrative Computing Environment:
[0026] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary computing system 100 that may be
used to implement various aspects of the herein described systems
and methods. Referring to FIG. 1, the computing system 100 is
capable of executing a variety of computing applications 180.
Computing application 180 may comprise, for example, a computing
application, a computing applet, a computing program and other
instruction set operative on computing system 100 to perform at
least one function, operation, and/or procedure. Exemplary
computing system 100 is controlled primarily by computer readable
instructions, which may be in the form of software. The computer
readable instructions can contain instructions for computing system
100 for storing and accessing the computer readable instructions
themselves. Such software may be executed within central processing
unit (CPU) 110 to cause the computing system 100 to operate. In
many known computer servers, workstations and personal computers,
CPU 110 is implemented by micro-electronic chips CPUs called
microprocessors. A coprocessor 115 is an optional processor,
distinct from the main CPU 110 that performs additional functions
or assists the CPU 110. The CPU 110 may be connected to
co-processor 115 through interconnect 112. One common type of
coprocessor is the floating-point coprocessor, also called a
numeric or math coprocessor, which is designed to perform numeric
calculations faster and better than the general-purpose CPU
110.
[0027] In operation, the CPU 110 fetches, decodes, and executes
instructions, and transfers information to and from other resources
via the computer's main data-transfer path, system bus 105. Such a
system bus connects the components in the computing system 100 and
defines the medium for data exchange. Memory devices coupled to the
system bus 105 include random access memory (RAM) 125 and read only
memory (ROM) 130. Such memories include circuitry that allows
information to be stored and retrieved. The ROMs 130 generally
contain stored data that cannot be modified. Data stored in the RAM
125 can be read or changed by CPU 110 or other hardware devices.
Access to the RAM 125 and/or ROM 130 may be controlled by memory
controller 120. The memory controller 120 may provide an address
translation function that translates virtual addresses into
physical addresses as instructions are executed.
[0028] In addition, the computing system 100 can contain
peripherals controller 135 responsible for communicating
instructions from the CPU 110 to peripherals, such as, printer 140,
keyboard 145, mouse 150, and data storage drive 155. Display 165,
which is controlled by a display controller 163, is used to display
visual output generated by the computing system 100. Such visual
output may include text, graphics, animated graphics, audio, and
video. The display controller 163 includes electronic components
required to generate a video signal that is sent to display 165.
Further, the computing system 100 can contain network adaptor 170
which may be used to connect the computing system 100 to an
external communication network 160.
[0029] Computing system 100 may be adapted for use in implementing
the systems described herein, including, for example, the content
management distribution system, operator computing system, content
provider computing system and/or the media/substrates that are
described herein.
Illustrative Computer Network Environment:
[0030] Computing system 100, described above, can be deployed as
part of a computer network. In general, the above description for
computing environments applies to both server computers and client
computers deployed in a network environment. FIG. 2 illustrates an
exemplary illustrative networked computing environment, with a
server in communication with client devices via a communications
network 160, in which the herein described apparatus and methods
may be employed. As shown in FIG. 2, server 205 may be
interconnected via a communications network 160 (which may be
either of, or a combination of a fixed-wire or wireless LAN, WAN,
intranet, extranet, peer-to-peer network, virtual private network,
the Internet, or other communications network) with a number of
client computing environments. Client computing environments may
comprise devices such as, for example, tablet personal computer
210, mobile telephone 215, telephone 220, personal computer 100,
and, personal digital assistant 225. In connection with the herein
described systems and methods, client computing environments may
further comprise media/substrate 217 which may comprise an
electronic device adapted to collect environment content data such
as, for example, the number of persons passing by the
media/substrate in a set period of time, and communicate the
environment condition data to a server system 205. In an exemplary
embodiment, media/substrate 217 may be adapted to display
(electronically or otherwise) content received from the server
system 205. In connection with the herein described systems and
methods, server 205 may be employed, for example, to provide
content management and distribution services as described
herein.
[0031] In a network environment in which the communications network
160 is the Internet, for example, server 205 can be dedicated
computing environment servers operable to process and communicate
data to and from client computing environments 100, 210, 215, 217,
220, and 225 via any of a number of known protocols, such as,
hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), file transfer protocol (FTP),
simple object access protocol (SOAP), or wireless application
protocol (WAP). Additionally, networked computing environment 200
can utilize various data security protocols such as secured socket
layer (SSL) or pretty good privacy (PGP). Each client computing
environment 100, 210, 215, 217, 220, and 225 can be equipped with
operating system 180 operable to support one or more computing
applications, such as a web browser (not shown), or other graphical
user interface (not shown), or a mobile desktop environment (not
shown) to gain access to server computing environment 205.
[0032] During operation, a user (not shown) may interact with a
computing application running on a client computing environments to
obtain desired data and/or computing applications. The data and/or
computing applications may be stored on server computing
environment 205 and communicated to cooperating users through
client computing environments 100, 210, 215, 217, 220, and 225,
over exemplary communications network 160. A participating user may
request access to specific data and applications housed in whole or
in part on server computing environment 205. These data may be
communicated between client computing environments 100, 210, 215,
217, 220, and 220 and server computing environments for processing
and storage. Server computing environment 205 may host computing
applications, processes and applets for the generation,
authentication, encryption, and communication of data and
applications and may cooperate with other server computing
environments (not shown), third party service providers (not
shown), network attached storage (NAS) and storage area networks
(SAN) to realize application/data transactions.
[0033] It is appreciated that media/substrate 217 can include but
is not limited to various components operable to display
sustainable content electronically, or otherwise (e.g., flexible
and/or non-flexible liquid crystal displays, flexible and
non-flexible LED displays, substrates operative to receive content
presented by eco-friendly/recyclable materials). It is further
appreciated that sustainable content can include but is not limited
to electronic content displayable on the cooperating
media/substrate that is illustratively powered by a sustainable
power source (e.g., solar power, turbine power, or other
sustainable power) and/or content that is presented on the
media/substrate that is eco-friendly and/or recyclable (e.g.,
organic paint).
[0034] Content Management And Distribution:
[0035] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative implementation of exemplary
content management and distribution environment 300. Referring to
FIG. 3, exemplary content management and distribution environment
300 comprises media/substrates 320 and 325 through 330.
Media/substrates 320, 325, 330 are adapted to present information
that is forwarded from content server computing environment 360. In
an exemplary embodiment, media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 may
comprise a display device such as, for example, an LCD display, an
LED display, or any other device or surface that is suitable for
presenting information content. In an illustrative embodiment,
media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 comprise a medium or area for
receiving and displaying information content through non-electronic
means.
[0036] Media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 are adapted to receive
and present distributed content 305, 310, 315, respectively, that
may be received via communications network 335 or other mechanism
from server computing environment 360. For example, in an
illustrative embodiment, media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 may
receive content via network 335 and display the content
electronically. In exemplary embodiment, content may be distributed
to media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 through other than network
335, e.g. manually, and displayed in non-electronic fashion. For
example, the content may comprised or be comprised on a poster that
is affixed to the particular media/substrate.
[0037] Distributed content 305, 310, 315 may be any information
that may be displayed, viewed, transmitted, searched, copied,
retrieved, annotated, navigated, and/or printed from
media/substrates 320, 325, and 330, respectively. In an
illustrative implementation or embodiment, distributed content 305,
310, 315 may be, for example, advertising data, safety information
data, environment condition data, public announcement data,
etc.
[0038] Each of media/substrates 320, 325, 330 are further adapted
to collect information regarding the environment in or proximate to
its particular vicinity. For example, media/substrates 320, 325,
and 330 may comprise various sensor devices for collecting
information regarding the circumstances of its surroundings. In an
exemplary implementation, media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 may
comprise infrared detector systems that are operable to detect, for
example, the number of entities, including, for example, people,
animals, machines, and/or vehicles, passing the particular
media/substrate in a particular length of time or period.
Media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 further comprise sensors adapted
to sense additional environment and weather conditions such as, for
example, time, location, temperature, wind, brightness,
precipitation, etc., proximate the particular media/substrate. In
another exemplary implementation, media substrates 320, 325, 330
may collect information regarding transactions such as commercial
purchases that may be made proximate to the particular substrate.
Media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 may be adapted to collect any
type of information regarding the circumstances of its
surroundings/environment. Such information is described herein
generally as environment condition data. It is appreciated that the
term environment conditions is not meant to be limiting and can
include but is not limited to one or more environment conditions
which a cooperating one or more media/substrate experience
including, but not limited to, the location of the media/substrate,
the size of the media/substrate, traffic (e.g., number of people
walking by, number of people driving by, size of vehicles passing
by) proximate to or in the vicinity of the media/substrate (e.g.,
as ascertained by a cooperating traffic monitor--object counter),
weather surrounding the media/substrate, etc.
[0039] Each of media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 may be adapted to
collect and/or store the environment condition data, which in an
exemplary implementation may be stored in relation to the time that
the data was collected. Media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 may be
adapted to forward the data over communications network 335 or via
other means to server 360 where the data is stored as environment
condition data 349. Media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 may be
adapted to forward data in real-time as it is being collected.
Alternatively, or in addition, media/substrates 320, 325, and 330
may communicate collected environment data at prescribed/scheduled
intervals whereupon it is received by the content management and
distribution engine. For example, the data may be communicated at
intervals of 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes.
[0040] In an illustrative embodiment, the data can be communicated
by the media/substrates over network 335. Communication network 335
may comprise any communications technologies suitable for
communicating electronic data including, for example, WAN, LAN,
internet, wire line, and wireless technologies.
[0041] Content management and distribution engine 350 executes on
server computing environment 360 and is adapted to manage digital
content and control the distribution of that digital content to
media/substrates 320, 325, and 330 according to a content and
distribution paradigm. Content delivery guidelines 347 comprise
rules and/or criteria that are used by content management and
distribution engine 350 to identify content that is suitable for
particular media substrates. For example, in an exemplary
implementation, content delivery guidelines 347 may specify that a
particular content 342 or a particular type of digital content
should be presented at media/substrates during time periods over
which the media/substrates have a particular level of persons in
the vicinity. In an exemplary implementation, content delivery
guidelines 347 may specify that at other periods of time content
342 reflecting public announcements should be presented on
media/substrates meeting a particular profile.
[0042] Content management and distribution engine 350, when
applying content delivery guidelines 347 to identify data for
distribution, may refer to the environment condition data 349 that
is constantly being collected and aggregated from media substrates
320, 325, and 330. Content management and distribution engine 350
may further reference media/substrate tracking/monitoring data 340
to identify content for distribution at particular times.
Media/substrate tracking monitoring data 340 reflects data that has
been gathered about the individual media/substrate. In an
illustrative implementation, the media/substrate
tracking/monitoring data may identify, for example, for each
media/substrate the content that has been previously delivered,
when the content was delivered, how long the content was displayed,
periods of time that the particular media/substrate was unavailable
or is scheduled to be unavailable and the reasons for the
unavailability, etc. In an exemplary implementation, content
management and distribution engine 350 assigns a unique identifier
to each of media substrates 320, 325, and 330 so that data such as
environment condition data 349 and media/substrate
tracking/monitoring data 340 may be stored in relation to the
identifier for the appropriate media substrate and easily retrieved
for the particular substrate.
[0043] Content management and distribution engine 350 is further
adapted to generate reports relating to all aspects of the
operation of the system. For example, reports and the associated
reporting data 345 may be generated relating to the usage of
content--what content was distributed, when the content was
distributed, and to which media/substrate. Reports 345 may be
generated regarding the operation of particular media
substrates--what content was received, when the content was
received, how long the content was displayed, what environmental
data was applied to the media/substrate during particular periods
of time. Reports may be generated automatically at determined and
scheduled intervals of time but may also be generated selectively
in response to requests from operators of the system and providers
of digital content that may make requests of the system.
[0044] FIG. 4 provides a view of an illustrative implementation of
an exemplary content management and distribution environment 400.
Content management and distribution platform 420 has access to
digital content 417, media/substrate tracking/monitoring data 410,
and reporting data 415. In an exemplary implementation, content
management and distribution application 437 may be a software
application that executes on content management and distribution
platform 420 and may employ/execute distribution guidelines 439
(e.g., environment condition criteria) to determine the content
that should be distributed to a media substrate at particular
times. Environment condition data may be stored separately at
content management and distribution platform 420.
[0045] In an illustrative implementation, content management and
distribution platform 420 can be operatively coupled
(electronically or otherwise, e.g., via manual monitoring) to
media/substrate 425, and electronically coupled to content
providers computing environment 440, and media/substrate operator
computing environment 460 via communications network 435. In an
illustrative implementation, communications network 435 may
comprise fixed-wire and/or wireless intranets, extranets, local
area networks, wide area networks, and the Internet.
[0046] Media/substrate 425 may be adapted, via programming
instructions or otherwise, to collect and communicate environment
condition data to content management/distribution platform 420 and
to receive and display distributed content 450 that is received
from content management/distribution platform 420. In an
illustrative operation, media/substrate environment 425 can be
associated by content management/distribution platform 420
according to a content management and distribution paradigm (e.g.,
the distribution paradigm can look to a number of environment
condition criteria when associating media/substrates including but
not limited to the size of a given media/substrate, the location of
the given media/substrate, etc.).
[0047] Participating users 430 may interface with media/substrate
425 in both active and passive capacities. Participating users 430
may comprise, for example, people that pass in the vicinity of the
media/substrate 425, but may also comprise, for example, vehicles
that pass the vicinity. In an example implementation, the
media/substrate 425 may have sensors that identify environment
condition data for the vicinity. The environment condition data may
comprise, for example, information collected by the sensors about,
amongst others, the participating users 430. For example, in an
exemplary implementation, media/substrate 425 comprises infrared
sensors to detect participating users 430 in the vicinity as well
as the time and velocity of users while they are in the
vicinity.
[0048] Participating users 430 may actively interface with
media/substrate 425. For example, media/substrate may provide an
interface that allows participating users 430 to input information
about themselves or the environment to media/substrate 425. Users
430 may answer questions displayed on media/substrate 425 or
otherwise input information. Media/substrate 425 may further
comprise hardware and software to receive all types of inputs from
users 430. For example, media/substrate 425 may accept voice input,
keyboard input, i.e. text, electromagnetic card input,
identification inputs, payment inputs, biometric scans, or any
other mechanism for transmitting information from users 430. The
information gathered from users is communicated as environment
condition data to content management distribution platform where it
is used by content management and distribution application 437 to
determine what content should be distributed to the
media/substrate. Thus, a participating user 430 may make an input
into media/substrate that triggers the distribution of content to
media/substrate 425 by contributing to one or more selected
environment conditions which satisfy one or more selected
environment condition criteria.
[0049] The environment condition data collected at media/substrate
425 may be communicated (electronically or otherwise) to content
management/distribution platform 420.
[0050] The environment condition data may be communicated in real
time or at determined intervals. Responsive to receiving the data
representative of the environment conditions, content
management/distribution platform 420 executing content
management/distribution application 437 processes the environment
condition data and data representative of the media/substrate
environment 425 (e.g., media/substrate tracking/monitoring data
410) according to one or more distribution guidelines 439 (e.g.,
environment condition criteria) to identify selected content 417
for distribution to media/substrate 425 as distributed content 450.
Content management/distribution platform 420 may be operable to
select particular distribution guidelines 439 depending upon
various selection criteria including, for example, the location of
a media/substrate, the weather conditions proximate to the
media/substrate, the size of a display at the media/substrate, and
the operational state of the media/substrate.
[0051] In the illustrative operation, content
management/distribution platform 420 can store media/substrate
track/monitoring data representative of content that is distributed
to media/substrate environment 425 and/or content that is not
distributed and process media/substrate tracking/monitoring data to
generate reporting data 415 that is representative of content 417
that is distributed and/or content 417 that is not selected for
distribution. In the illustrative operation, content
management/distribution platform 420 can communicate with content
providers computing environment 440 to communicate the generated
reporting data. Further in the illustrative operation, depending on
the received environment condition data (e.g., no one has passed by
a given media/substrate for a selected period of time, the time of
day, the weather, etc.), content management/distribution platform
420 can operatively communicate with media/substrate environment
425 to request that the media/substrate 425 power down according to
one or more selected power management paradigms executed by
media/substrate environment 425.
[0052] Content providers computing environment 440 is also
communicatively coupled via communications network 435 to content
management and distribution platform 420. Content providers 445 may
use environment 440 to access content management and distribution
platform 420 for any number of reasons. For example, in an
exemplary implementation, content providers 445 may use providers
computing environment 440 to perform the following: input new
content, change content, and/or change or select criteria for
presenting particular items of content. The information input at
providers computing environment 440 is communicated to and received
at the content management and distribution system.
[0053] Media/operator computing environment 460 may be
communicatively coupled via communications network 435 to content
management and distribution platform 420 and media substrate 425.
At media/operator computing environment 460, media/substrate
operators 465 can interface with environment 460 to control the
system. For example, media/substrate operators 465 may input
preferences, rules, and/or criteria that dictate what content is
distributed and the circumstances under which the distribution
takes place. Media/substrate operators 465 may input preferences,
rules, and/or selection criteria that determine which distribution
guidelines or rules are to be employed. Media/substrate operators
465 may also input content. The inputs by operators 465 are
received by content management distribution platform 420 and may be
reflected in one or more of the distribution guidelines as well as
content 417. Media/substrate operators 465 may access system 460 to
generate reports 415.
[0054] Thus, media/substrate operators 465 can set one or more
selected environment condition criteria as preferences for the
delivery of selected content by content providers 445. In the
illustrative operation, such content providers 445 preferences can
be electronically communicated to media/substrate operator 465
using content providers computing environment 440 in communication
with media/substrate operator computing environment 465 using
communications network 435. Such environment condition criteria can
be communicated by media/substrate operators 465 to content
management/distribution platform 420 for processing and application
to content 417. In the illustrative operation, such environment
condition criteria can be stored as distribution guidelines 439
that are processed by content management/distribution application
427.
[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary media/substrate environment
500 which may be used, for example, in connection with the
media/substrate of FIGS. 3 and 4. As is shown in FIG. 5, in an
illustrative implementation, exemplary media/substrate environment
500 comprises media/substrate 505 comprising one or more
cooperating components including but not limited to communications
component 510, display component 520 (operative to display
electronic and non-electronic content), environment condition data
aggregator 530, and data store 540.
[0056] In the illustrative implementation, environment condition
aggregator 530 may comprise one or more electronic/non-electronic
mechanisms/apparatus/sensors operative to collect data about one or
more environment conditions. For example, environment condition
aggregator 530 may comprise infrared sensors, temperature sensors,
clocks, or any other device that is adapted to capture
environmental data that is of interest. Environment condition
aggregator 530 may be adapted to detect, sense, and record, for
example, the number of people passing by a given physical location,
the number of vehicles passing by a given physical location, and/or
the weather proximate to a given physical location. In an exemplary
implementation, environment condition aggregator 530 may be adapted
to capture commercial activity in the vicinity of a particular
media/substrate. For example, aggregator 530 may be adapted (via
hardware and/or software) to record commercial transactions and/or
purchases proximate to a given physical location. Data regarding
commercial transactions may be received from one or more other
cooperating data collection components such as, for example, a
nearby vending machine, cash register, or other device adapted to
record transactions. Aggregator 530 may be further adapted to
monitor and record environment conditions relating to the
operational status of components of the media/substrate environment
500 including media/substrate 505, communications component 510,
display component 520, data store 540, and environment condition
aggregator 530. For example, aggregator 530 may be adapted to
record whether any of the components are inoperable or operating at
a reduced capacity.
[0057] Data store 540 may be adapted for storing data relevant to
the operation of media/substrate environment 500 including, for
example, the data that is collected by environment condition data
aggregator 530. Generally, data that is collected by aggregator 530
and stored in data store 540 is stored in relation to the time that
it was collected. Data store 540 further comprises the digital
content that is to be displayed or otherwise communicated by
media/substrate.
[0058] Display component 520 may be adapted to display the content
that is communicated to the media/substrate as determined and
managed by the content management and distribution application.
Display component 520 may be any device and/or medium that is
suitable for displaying the content and may comprise one or both of
electronic and non-electronic display portions. In an exemplary
implementation, display component may comprise, for example, LED
displays, LCD displays, computer monitors, or any other device that
is suitable to display the relevant content. In an exemplary
implementation, display component 520 may be composed of flexible
materials such as flexible light emitting diodes (LEDs) and liquid
crystal displays (LCDs). In an exemplary implementation, display
component 520 may comprise a surface area adapted to receive
information in non-electronic printed form such as, for example, on
a poster or other article suitable for display of information.
[0059] Communications component 510 may be adapted to communicate
information between the media/substrate environment 500 and the
content management and distribution application. Communications
component 510 may comprise any device(s) and/or networks that are
suitable to communicate the relevant data including, for example,
environment condition data and distributed content data. For
example, communications component 510 may comprise any of wireless
or wire line communication networks and may use any relevant
technology including, for example, LAN, WAN, and Internet
technologies.
[0060] In an illustrative implementation, media/substrate
environment 500 comprises one or more collectors of sustainable
energy. For example, media/substrate environment 500 may comprise a
solar energy collector system. Alternatively, or in addition,
media/substrate environment 500 may comprise a wind energy
collector system. In an illustrative implementation, the
sustainable energy source provides power for operating the
components of the media/substrate environment.
[0061] Part or all of exemplary media/substrate environment 500 may
be physically located in flexible and/or rigid form in various
physical locations including but not limited to trash receptacles,
billboards, vehicles, buildings, vending machines, benches, bus
stops, train platforms, airports, and floating billboards.
Furthermore, the environment may incorporate substrates that are
comprised of eco-friendly and recyclable materials. For example,
the substrate may incorporate organic paint.
[0062] In an illustrative operation, exemplary media/substrate
environment 500 can operatively cooperate with a content management
and distribution platform to receive content for display and
interaction. In the illustrative operation, according to a selected
content management and distribution paradigm, exemplary
media/substrate environment 500 can operatively through one or more
components of exemplary media/substrate environment aggregate
various environment condition data for communication to a
cooperating content management and distribution platform for use in
selecting content for management and/or distribution by the
cooperating content management and distribution platform to the
media/substrate environment.
[0063] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of exemplary processing performed by
illustrative content management and distribution platforms of
FIG.'s 3 and 4. At block 600, content management and distribution
application associates identifiers with one or more cooperating
media/substrates. Thus, each of media/substrates is associated with
an identifier that is used by the content management and
distribution system to store data related to the particular
media/substrate as well as to identify data for distribution to the
media/substrate.
[0064] At block 610, environment condition data is processed so as
to be available for use in identifying content for distribution.
Environment content data is collected at the media/substrates as
described above. The environment content data may comprise, for
example, the number of people passing by one or more
media/substrates, the number of vehicles passing one or more
media/substrates, the weather proximate to the one or more
media/substrates, and purchases being made proximate to the one or
more media/substrates. The environment content data is communicated
to the content management distribution system where it is stored in
relation to an identifier corresponding to the particular
media/substrate from which the data derived.
[0065] In addition to aggregating the environment content data, the
content management distribution system determines the set of
environment condition selection criteria that should be applied to
the environment content data in order to identify content for
distribution. Different environment condition selection criteria
may be employed depending upon any number of factors. For example,
the environment condition selection criteria may be selected based
upon, for example, the time of day or year, the location of the one
or more media/substrates, the size of the one or more
media/substrates, the weather proximate to the one or more
media/substrates, and the operational state of the one or more
media substrates. These inputs may be used to identify the set of
selection criteria that are then used to query the environment
condition data.
[0066] At block 620, one or more environment conditions criteria is
applied to identify selected content for distribution to the one or
more media/substrates. The content management and distribution
application may apply the relevant content distribution guidelines
or conditions criteria to, for example, the environment condition
data, in order to determine which content should be delivered to
which media/substrates. For example, the content
distribution/delivery guidelines may specify that media/substrates
located at a particular area and with a determined amount of
individuals in the vicinity for a particular time frame are to
receive a particular set of content. The content conditions
selection criteria may specify, for example, that one or more
media/substrates with a particular threshold of traffic in the
vicinity or proximate thereto (i.e., the number of persons and/or
vehicles passing in the vicinity) are candidates for receiving a
particular advertisement or public notice. The content conditions
selection criteria may specify, for example, that a media/substrate
having a particular location, experiencing a particular weather
condition, and/or having a commercial transaction taking place in
proximity is a candidate for receiving a particular
advertisement.
[0067] At block 630, content management and distribution system
manages the distribution of the identified selected content to the
one or more cooperating media-substrates. The system may manage the
distribution by, for example, specifying: the content to be
distributed, the media/substrate(s) to which the content is to be
distributed, the time the content is to be distributed, the means
by which the content is to be distributed, and/or the person(s)
responsible for managing the distribution. The content management
and distribution system may communicate the selected data
electronically over the communications network at a system
specified data and time. The selected data may be displayed at a
media/substrate via electronic means such as, for example, an LCD
display. In an exemplary implementation, content management and
distribution system may manage the distribution of content by, for
example, identifying that particular content is to be communicated
manually. The content may be displayed on a surface of a
media/substrate in non-electronic form.
[0068] At block 640, information relevant to the content that is
distributed to the media/substrates is tracked and/or monitored as
well as the non-selected content. In an exemplary implementation,
relevant information that is be tracked may comprise, for example,
the content that was distributed, the media/substrates to which the
content was distributed, the time that the content was distributed,
the duration for which the content was displayed, etc. The tracking
and monitoring data is stored for later retrieval.
[0069] At block 650, one or more reports are generated for
display/storage. Reports may be generated from any and all of the
data that is collected by the content management and distribution
platform. For example, reports may be generated from the tracking
and monitoring data. Reports may be generated for any number of
purposes and regarding any number of items. For example, reports
may be generated that illustrate the particular content that was
distributed as well as the content that was not selected for
distribution. Reports may be generated that illustrate the
operation of particular media/substrates. The reports may be
generated at predetermined intervals or in response to requests by
content providers and/or operators of the system. The reporting
data may be stored for later retrieval.
[0070] FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary process that may be performed by
illustrative content management and distribution platforms of FIGS.
3 and 4. As shown, at block 700, one or more environment condition
criteria are defined to associate selected content with one or more
selected environment conditions. In an illustrative implementation,
such environment condition criteria can include but are not limited
to location of the media/substrate, the weather proximate to the
media/substrate, the size of the media/substrate, and the
operational state of the media/substrate. Based on the environment
condition criteria, selected content can be identified for
distribution to one or more cooperating media/substrates. In an
illustrative implementation, an advertisement for a car (i.e.,
exemplary selected content) can be associated for distribution to a
cooperating media having the adequate size to display a car-type
advertisement and is located near a gas station (e.g., environment
condition criteria).
[0071] At block 710, environment content data is collected at the
media/substrates as described above. The environment content data
may comprise, for example, the number of people passing by one or
more media/substrates, the number of vehicles passing one or more
media/substrates, the weather proximate to the one or more
media/substrates, and commercial transactions (e.g., purchase of a
soda) made proximate to the one or more media/substrates. The
environment content data is communicated to the content management
distribution system where it is stored in relation to the
particular media/substrate from which it derived.
[0072] At block 720, the environment condition criteria is applied
to the collected environment condition data to identify which
selected content to distribute to the one or more cooperating
media/substrates that are experiencing the one or more environment
conditions. The content management and distribution application
applies the relevant content distribution guidelines/criteria/rules
to determine which content should be delivered to which
media/substrates. For example, the content distribution/delivery
guidelines may specify that media/substrates located at a
particular area and with a determined amount of individuals in the
vicinity for a particular time frame are to receive a particular
set of content.
[0073] At block 730, the identified content is distributed to
cooperating media/substrates. The selected data may be communicated
electronically over the communications network. In another
implementation, the content may be communicated via other means
such as, for example, manually.
[0074] At block 740, the content management and distribution
platform tracks information relevant to the content that is
distributed to the media/substrates as well as the content that is
not selected for distribution. In an exemplary implementation,
relevant information that is be tracked may comprise, for example,
the content that was distributed, the media/substrates to which the
content was distributed, the time that the content was distributed,
the duration for which the content was displayed, etc. The tracking
and monitoring data is stored for later retrieval.
[0075] At block 750, content management and distribution platform
generates one or more reports. The reports may be stored and/or
displayed. The reports may reflect information relating to content
that has been distributed, but may also reflect information
regarding content that was not selected for distribution.
[0076] Thus, systems and methods for managing and distributing
digital content have been disclosed. In an exemplary
implementation, content is selected for distribution, in part,
based upon the environment conditions at the device where the
electronic content is to be displayed. The embodiments and
implementations disclosed herein are for exemplary purposes only.
Additional embodiments that may not be explicitly disclosed fall
within the contemplated implementations. For example, any suitable
device may be used to collect environment data and display content.
Furthermore, any type of environment condition data may be
collected and used in the determination of content to be delivered.
Still further, any type of selection criteria/guidelines/rules may
be used to identify content for distribution to particular
media/substrates.
[0077] The methods and adaptations of the disclosed systems that
are described herein can be implemented by computer-executable
instructions stored on one or more computer-readable media or
conveyed by a signal of any suitable type. The methods can be
implemented at least in part manually. The steps of the methods can
be implemented by software or combinations of software and hardware
and in any of the ways described above. The computer-executable
instructions can be the same process executing on a single or a
plurality of microprocessors or multiple processes executing on a
single or a plurality of microprocessors. The methods can be
repeated any number of times as needed and the steps of the methods
can be performed in any suitable order.
[0078] The subject matter described herein can operate in the
general context of computer-executable instructions, such as
program modules, executed by one or more components. Generally,
program modules include routines, programs, objects, data
structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement
particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the
program modules can be combined or distributed as desired. Although
the description above relates generally to computer-executable
instructions of a computer program that runs on a computer and/or
computers, the user interfaces, methods and systems also can be
implemented in combination with other program modules. Generally,
program modules include routines, programs, components, data
structures, etc. that perform particular tasks and/or implement
particular abstract data types.
[0079] Moreover, the subject matter described herein can be
practiced with most any suitable computer system configurations,
including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems,
mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, personal computers,
stand-alone computers, hand-held computing devices, wearable
computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer
electronics, and the like as well as distributed computing
environments in which tasks are performed by remote processing
devices that are linked through a communications network. In a
distributed computing environment, program modules can be located
in both local and remote memory storage devices. The methods and
systems described herein can be embodied on a computer-readable
medium having computer-executable instructions as well as signals
(e.g., electronic signals) manufactured to transmit such
information, for instance, on a network.
[0080] Although the subject matter has been described in language
specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is
to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended
claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts
described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described
above are disclosed as example forms of implementing some of the
claims.
[0081] It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable
combination of components or methodologies that fall within the
claimed subject matter, and many further combinations and
permutations of the subject matter are possible. While a particular
feature may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several
implementations, such feature can be combined with one or more
other features of the other implementations of the subject matter
as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular
application.
[0082] Moreover, it is to be appreciated that various aspects as
described herein can be implemented on portable computing devices
and other aspects can be implemented across distributed computing
platforms. Likewise, various aspects as described herein can be
implemented as a set of services.
[0083] It is understood that the herein described systems and
methods are susceptible to various modifications and alternative
constructions. There is no intention to limit the herein described
systems and methods to the specific constructions described herein.
On the contrary, the herein described systems and methods are
intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and
equivalents falling within the scope and spirit of the herein
described systems and methods.
[0084] It should also be noted that the herein described systems
and methods can be implemented in a variety of electronic
environments (including both non-wireless and wireless computer
environments), partial computing environments, and real world
environments. The various techniques described herein may be
implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of both.
Preferably, the techniques are implemented in computing
environments maintaining programmable computers that include a
computer network, processor, servers, a storage medium readable by
the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or
storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one
output device. Computing hardware logic cooperating with various
instructions sets are applied to data to perform the functions
described above and to generate output information. The output
information is applied to one or more output devices. Programs used
by the exemplary computing hardware may be preferably implemented
in various programming languages, including high level procedural
or object oriented programming language to communicate with a
computer system. Illustratively the herein described apparatus and
methods may be implemented in assembly or machine language, if
desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted
language. Each such computer program is preferably stored on a
storage medium or device (e.g., ROM or magnetic disk) that is
readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer for
configuring and operating the computer when the storage medium or
device is read by the computer to perform the procedures described
above. The apparatus can also be considered to be implemented as a
computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer
program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer
to operate in a specific and predefined manner.
[0085] Although exemplary implementations of the herein described
systems and methods have been described in detail above, those
skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many additional
modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the
herein described systems and methods. Accordingly, these and all
such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of
the herein described systems and methods.
[0086] What has been described above includes examples of the
claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe
every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for
purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of
ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further
combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are
possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to
embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that
fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in
either the detailed description or the claims, such term is
intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term
"comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a
transitional word in a claim.
[0087] The herein described systems and methods may be better
defined by the following exemplary claims.
* * * * *