Apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for displaying information on mobile units, with reporting by, and control of, such units

A system for publicly displaying messages comprising:

• an automotive vehicle and;
• the following elements carried by the vehicle:
• a publicly visible electronic display;
• a computer, having a video interface, for controlling the images shown on said display;
• and
• a radio connected to said computer for conveying to and from the computer digital information, including information about which messages it should cause to be shown on said display, and for transmitting to remote computers information supplied to the radio by the vehicle's computer;
• wherein said computer is provided with programming enabling it to communicate over said radio to a remote computer system information about the status of said computer.

A mobile display system for publicly displaying messages comprising:

• an automotive vehicle and;
• the following elements carried by the vehicle:
• a publicly visible electronic display;
• a computer, having a video interface, for controlling the images shown on said display;
• and
• a radio connected to said computer for conveying digital information to and from the computer, including information about which messages it should cause to be shown on said display;
• wherein said computer is provided with programming enabling it to communicate over said radio to a remote computer system real time information about the status of said mobile display unit.

A mobile display system for publicly displaying messages comprising:

• an automotive vehicle and;
• the following elements carried by the vehicle:
• a publicly visible electronic display;
• a computer, having a video interface, for controlling the images shown on said display;
• and
• a radio connected to said computer for conveying digital information to and from the computer, including information about which messages it should cause to be shown on said display;
• one or more enclosures enclosing said display, computer, and radio;
• a sensor for providing a measurement of the temperature inside one of said enclosures;
• a connection for communicating said temperature measurement to said computer;
• wherein said computer is provided with programming enabling it to communicate over said radio to a remote computer system information about said temperature measurement.

A mobile display system for publicly displaying messages comprising:

• an automotive vehicle and;
• the following elements carried by the vehicle:
• a publicly visible electronic display;
• a computer, having a video interface, for controlling the images shown on said display;
• and
• a light sensor for providing a measurement of the amount of light falling on said display from sources other than the display itself;
• a connection for communicating said measurement to said computer;
• a radio connected to said computer for conveying digital information to and from the computer, including information about which messages it should cause to be shown on said display;
• wherein said computer is provided with programming enabling it to communicate over said radio to a remote computer system information about said light measurement.

A mobile display system for publicly displaying messages comprising:

• an automotive vehicle and;
• the following elements carried by the vehicle:
• a publicly visible electronic display;
• a computer, having a video interface, for controlling the images shown on said display;
• and
• a connection for communicating to said computer an indication of the amount of light being emitted by said display;
• a radio connected to said computer for conveying digital information to and from the computer, including information about which messages it should cause to be shown on said display;
• wherein said computer is provided with programming enabling it to communicate over said radio to a remote computer system information about said amount of light being emitted.

A mobile display system for publicly displaying messages comprising:

• an automotive vehicle having and ignition system and means for turning the ignition system on and off;
• and
• the following elements carried by the vehicle:
• a publicly visible electronic display;
• a computer, having a video interface, for controlling the images shown on said display;
• and
• a connection for communicating to said computer an indication of whether said ignition system is on or off;
• a radio connected to said computer for conveying digital information to and from the computer, including information about which messages it should cause to be shown on said display;
• wherein said computer is provided with programming enabling it to communicate over said radio to a remote computer system an indication of whether said ignition system is on or off.

A mobile display system for publicly displaying messages comprising:

• an automotive vehicle;
• and
• the following elements carried by the vehicle:
• a publicly visible electronic display;
• a computer, having a video interface, for controlling the images shown on said display;
• and
• a radio connected to said computer for conveying digital information to and from the computer, including information about which messages it should cause to be shown on said display;
• wherein:
• said radio includes electronics for generating an indication of the strength of the radio frequency signal which is being received by that radio;
• said computer receives said signal strength indication;
• and
• said computer is provided with programming enabling it to communicate over said radio to a remote computer system information about the signal strength indication.