US 2006/0224941 A1 · Information display system

Abstract

This invention provides a system and a method for information display that is well adapted to marketing in the current, rapidly changing digital transmission communications setting. The invention provides a viewer interface that can be embodied in an inexpensive portable information storage media, such as a compact disc, a mini-compact disc, a business card cut CD, a flash memory card, a DVD, or other such portable information storage devices. The viewer interface includes means to identify the party who provided the interface to the viewer. When the viewer interface is used with a communications link, the interface establishes a connection to an interface management program located on a remote computer. The interface management system enables the user who provided the portable information storage media for the viewer to control the content of the information displayed to the viewer, and change that content without modifying or storing any information on the viewer's display device or changing the content of the viewer interface. The system thus has three components that operate together to provide the information display system. There is a viewer interface stored in a portable information storage media, an interface management program accessible by a communications link by remote display devices activated by the viewer interface and connected to a suitable communications network, and a user interface that permits a user to access the interface management program and change the information supplied to the viewer interface, thereby changing and controlling the display of information to the viewer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An information display system that comprises:

1) An interface management program having a communications link available to potential viewers and configured to identify a user in response to a stored value communicated by a viewer interface and further configured to supply selected variables to a viewer interface as specified by an information display system user, having the following additional features;
i. The interface management program enables a user to communicate with the interface management program and change a variable supplied to a viewer when the viewer connects to the interface management program by the communications link;
ii. The interface management program enables the display of information to a viewer when the viewer communicates with the interface management program using the communications link;
and
2) A viewer interface embodied in a portable information storage media that comprises a portable media operating system that recognizes a communications link to the interface management program when the viewer interface is activated by the viewer, communicates with the interface management program;
supplies a stored value or a value provided by the viewer that identifies a user of the interface management program who provided the portable information storage media for a viewer and in response to a variable returned by the information management system, displays information to the viewer as selected by the user who supplied the viewer with the portable information storage media;
and
3) A user interface that is configured to communicate with an information display system interface management program and is further configured to permit a user to change a variable that controls the information displayed to a viewer when the viewer contacts the information system interface management program and supplies a stored value or a value provided by the viewer that identifies the user who supplied the viewer with a portable information stored media comprising a viewer interface.

5 more elements

A method for information display that comprises:

1) Providing an interface management program having a communications link available to potential viewers and configured to identify a user in response to a stored value communicated by a viewer interface and further configured to supply selected variables to a viewer interface as specified by an information display system user, having the following additional features;
i. The interface management program enables a user to communicate with the interface management program and change a variable supplied to a viewer when the viewer connects to the interface management program by the communications link;
ii. The interface management program enables the display of information to a viewer when the viewer communicates with the interface management program using the communications link;
and
2) Providing a viewer interface embodied in a portable information storage media that comprises a portable media operating system that recognizes a communications link to the interface management program when the viewer interface is activated by the viewer, communicates with the interface management program;
supplies a stored value or a value provided by the viewer that identifies a user of the interface management program who provided the portable information storage media for a viewer and in response to a variable returned by the information management system, displays information to the viewer as selected by the user who supplied the viewer with the portable information storage media;
and
3) Providing a user interface that is configured to communicate with an information display system interface management program and is further configured to permit a user to change a variable that controls the information displayed to a viewer when the viewer contacts the information system interface management program and supplies a stored value or a value provided by the viewer that identifies the user who supplied the viewer with a portable information stored media comprising a viewer interface.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Information display system

Life of this patent

Information display system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20