FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system and method for managing screen content. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a system and method for managing screen content alongside live high definition or standard definition video input.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The concept of digital signage, or sometimes referred to as "narrowcasting" is well known in the art. Digital signage refers to a form of electronic content display for advertising and other purposes, making use of electronic displays including liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode backlit display (LED) and plasma display. Digital signage conventionally provides for a message, advertisement or other information to be displayed across a screen, the screen having an input for receiving the contents to be displayed thereon. A disadvantage of this particular form of digital signage, is that content (the message or advertisement that is being displayed across the screen) may have to be manually updated by a user or advertiser. A further disadvantage is that screens, associated with the digital signage, are usually dedicated to displaying only the content of the digital advertisement. Generally, no other picture, save for looped, pre-recorded (canned) footage, can be displayed on the screen whereon digital signage is being displayed.

Digital signage has in the past been incorporated into television broadcasts, thereby allowing a full screen broadcast picture to be reduced in size in order to allow for advertisements and/or notices to appear alongside or below the picture being broadcast on the screen display. Such reduction in size of a picture is known in the art as a "squeeze-back". These screens are, therefore, not exclusively dedicated to digital signage, but can display digital signage as part of a broadcast.

However, such squeeze-backs are broadcast initiated and are, therefore, part of the broadcast itself. As per the principles of a broadcast, the same picture and digital signage content is broadcast to all broadcast receivers (the so-called "one-to-many" principle) and as such displayed on an associated screen. Only a broadcaster, therefore, has complete control over the broadcast, including content and scheduling thereof, as well as the digital signage incorporated therein. A further disadvantage hereof is that customised digital signage content cannot be displayed on a screen already displaying a broadcast picture.

Some attempts have been made to include squeeze-backs on a screen while displaying live or canned footage. However, these attempts rely on systems which are cumbersome and which require a software package to be installed in respect of every screen so used, that is, the system makes use of hardware resident software. A further disadvantage of these systems is that limited display options are offered in respect of a particular squeeze-back. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for managing screen content, with which the above disadvantages may be overcome or minimised, or which may provide a useful alternative to the existing technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for managing screen content, including:

- a server adapted to house software;

- the server being in communication with a communications network and the communications network being in communication with a plurality of electronic devices;

- each electronic device, in turn, being connected to at least one screen adapted to display footage;

- wherein each electronic device provides access to the communications network via an access gateway, in order to allow the software to display content on the screen via the communications network while the footage is being displayed on the screen.

The communications network may be the internet.

The software may be content management software. The software may further be internet resident software, that is, so-called "cloud-based" software. Each electronic device may be connected to a plurality of screens.

Each electronic device may be a media-player enabled to receive a plurality of audio and/or visual inputs from audio and/or visual input sources. The audio and/or visual inputs may include digital versatile disc (DVD) player inputs, decoder inputs, for example broadcast signals, and the like. The media-player device is adapted to distribute each input from its input source to one or more of the screens, thereby displaying the footage on the screen(s). The footage may be pre-recorded (canned) or live footage, depending on the nature of the input source and the corresponding input received. Preferably each screen is a high definition (HD) screen adapted to receive an HD signal. Each screen may, however, also be a standard definition (SD) screen. Each screen may be an LED, LCD, plasma screen or the like. The screens each may be located in various public or private locations.

The access gateway may be a bi-directional gateway, such as a third generation (3G) gateway, a fourth generation (4G) gateway, a Wi-Fi™ gateway, an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) gateway, a satellite gateway or the like.

The content may include advertisements or messages or displays in the form of images, video clips, flash movies, rich site summary (RSS) feeds, dynamic text crawls, power point files, website uniform resource locator (URL)s, live video capture such as web cameras and closed-circuit television (CCTV), text files, open database connectivity (ODBC) text feeds, audio messages and the like.

The content may be displayed on different zones on the screen. The content may be displayed according to templates. The templates may incorporate animation such as swivelling, scrolling, so called "pop-ups", squeeze-backs or the like. The content may be loaded, or pre-loaded, onto the server via a browser on a personal computer (PC), Smartphone or the like. The content can also be loaded onto the system 10 via a text message from a mobile phone. The system further includes a scheduling function. The scheduling function may provide for individual scheduling of the content which is to be displayed on each screen. The content may, therefore, be displayed instantaneously ("real-time" display) upon being loaded onto the server or the content may be displayed according to the scheduling function (scheduled display).

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for managing screen content, the method including the steps of:

- connecting an electronic device to one or more screens;

- allowing each screen to display footage;

- allowing the electronic device to access a communications network via an access gateway on the device; and

- allowing the communications network to communicate with a server, housing software, whereby the software displays content on the screen via the communications network, while the screen is also displaying the footage.

The communications network may be the internet. The access gateway may be a bi-directional gateway, such as a third generation (3G) gateway, a fourth generation (4G) gateway, a Wi-Fi™ gateway, an ADSL gateway, a satellite gateway or the like. The software may be content management software. The software may further be internet resident software, that is, so-called "cloud-based" software.

Each electronic device may be a media-player enabled to receive a plurality of audio and/or visual inputs from audio and/or visual input sources. The audio and/or visual inputs may include digital versatile disc (DVD) player inputs, decoder inputs, for example broadcast signals, and the like. The media-player device is adapted to distribute each input from its input source to one or more of the screens, thereby displaying the footage on the screen(s).

The footage may be pre-recorded (canned) or live footage, depending on the nature of the input source and the corresponding input received. Preferably each screen is a high definition (HD) screen adapted to receive an HD signal. Each screen may, however, also be a standard definition (SD) screen. Each screen may be an LED, LCD, plasma screen or the like.

The screens each may be located in various public or private locations. The content may include advertisements or messages or displays in the form of images, video clips, flash movies, RSS feeds, dynamic text crawls, power point files, website URL's, live video capture such as web cameras and CCTV, text files, ODBC text feeds, audio and the like.

The content may be displayed on different zones on the screen. The content may be displayed according to templates. The templates may incorporate animation such as swivelling, scrolling, so called pop-ups, squeeze-backs or the like.

The content may be loaded, or pre-loaded, onto the server via a browser on a personal computer (PC), Smartphone or the like. The content can also be loaded onto the system 10 via a text message from a mobile phone. The system further includes a scheduling function. The scheduling function may provide for individual scheduling of the content which is to be displayed on each screen. The content may, therefore, be displayed instantaneously ("real-time" display) upon being loaded onto the server or the content may be displayed according to the scheduling function (scheduled display).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described further by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: is a schematic diagram of a system according to the invention; is a front view of a screen whereon potential content zones are indicated;

is a front view of a screen displaying content at the top right hand corner and the bottom of the screen, according to one embodiment of the system of Figure 1 ; and

is an alternative embodiment of the screen of Figure 3, displaying content as a pop-up.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a system for managing screen content according to the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10.

The system 10 includes a server 12 adapted to house software 13, the server 12 being in communication with a communications network 14 and the communications network 14 being in communication with a plurality of electronic devices 16, each electronic device 16, in turn, being connected to at least one screen 18 adapted to display footage 19, wherein each electronic device 16 provides access to the communications network 14 via an access gateway, in order to allow the software 13 to display content 20 on the screen 18 via the communications network 14 while the footage 19 is being displayed on the screen 18. According to the invention, the communications network 14 is the internet 14. The software 13 is not housed on the electronic device 16, but is, instead, internet resident software, that is, so-called "cloud-based" software 13. The software 13 according to the invention is content management software.

The access gateway, whereby the internet 14 is accessed, can be any bidirectional gateway, such as a third generation (3G) gateway, a fourth generation (4G) gateway, a Wi-Fi™ gateway, an ADSL gateway, a satellite gateway or the like. It is foreseen that each device 16 can provide for one or many different internet access gateways.

It is further possible that each electronic device 16 either can be connected to only one screen 18, or can be connected to a plurality of screens 18, according to the requirements of the user. These screens 18 are located at various locations of choice, for example, shopping centres, individual retailers or at a business premises.

Depending on preference of the user, each location or venue can have a number of screens 18 installed. Each of the plurality of screens 18, is then assigned to a channel. The channels, in turn, are defined by the function of the screen. Three channels are provided for, namely (a) a squeeze-back channel, (b) a full screen channel and (c) an in-house channel. Using the squeeze-back channel, advertising content is displayed periodically, or according to a schedule, alongside any live television footage, using a digital video effect (DVE) animation. Using the fuli screen channel, full screen advertisements of still images, video or animations can be displayed. These advertisements can be in a large format (46") or a small format (7"). Using the in-house channel, venue-specific content can be displayed, such as menus, special promotions and/or posters advertising specific events, for example.

The electronic device 16 is a media-player that is capable of receiving a plurality of audio and/or visual inputs from audio and/or visual input sources. These audio and/or visual inputs include digital versatile disc (DVD) player inputs, decoder inputs, for example broadcast signals, and the like. It is foreseen that any home entertainment system may be provided as input to the device 16. The media-player device 16 will receive the various inputs and then distribute each input from its input source to one or more of the screens 18, thereby displaying conventional footage 19 on the screen(s) 18. The device 16 provides for high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) and/or digital visual interface (DVI) output, whereby connection to the screens 18 is established. The footage 19 can be pre-recorded (canned) or live footage, depending on the nature of the input source and the corresponding input received. For example, should a user choose to plug-in a DVD player into the device 16, the footage 19 that will be displayed on the corresponding screen 18 will be the canned DVD footage. Similarly, analogue television and/or satellite television inputs may be received by the device 16, whereafter said analogue and/or satellite live television footage will be displayed on the corresponding screen 18. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the screens 18 are HD screens adapted to receive any HD signal. However, the system of the invention also facilitates for SD screens 18 adapted to receive a SD signal. Each screen 18 preferably is an LED, LCD or plasma screen. The screens 18 can also be touch-screens. The screens 18 to which the device 16 is connected, should preferably have an RS232 communications port in order for the device 16 to monitor the screen status and update the system 10.

The content 20 that is displayed on the screen 18 is digital signage content and can include advertisements or messages in the form of images, video clips, flash movies, RSS feeds, dynamic text crawls, power point files, website URL's, live video capture such as web cameras and CCTV, text files, ODBC text feeds and the like. The system 10 also makes provision for the content to be displayed on different zones 22 on the screen. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, content can also be displayed in full screen.

The system 10 can utilise various templates whereby content 20 is displayed. The templates, for example, can incorporate animation such as swivelling, scrolling, so called pop-ups, squeeze-backs or the like. Templates, therefore, define the layout of screen content 20 and the squeeze-back characteristics such as size, speed and direction. The templates can be modified by any user of the system 10 within that user's permissions, A typical digital display is broken down into a number of different zones. One of the zones, for example, can be used for video, while another is used for still images and yet another for a scrolling text message.

It is foreseen that there be three standard template types, namely (a) still image, (b) pre-rendered animation and (c) dynamic template with or without animation. The still image template makes provision for a single background image (.jpg) to be used as advertisement content. The pre-rendered animation template makes provision for video (which will be wrapped in a flash file) and flash animation (.swf). The dynamic template (with or without animation) makes provision for content within the advert to be changed manually or automatically, for example text messages and/or images.

The content 20 can be in any format (such as, for example, Jpg or .swf) and can be loaded onto the server 12 by the user via a browser on his/her personal computer (PC), Smartphone or the like. The content 20 can also be loaded onto the system 10 via a text message from a mobile phone.

The system 10 further includes a scheduling function. Upon loading or preloading the content 20 onto the system 10, a user can select or create a schedule according to which the content 20 is to be displayed. The content can, therefore, be displayed instantaneously ("real-time" display) upon being loaded onto the server or the content can be displayed according to the scheduling function (scheduled display).

In use, a user will load content onto the server 12 by accessing the server 12 via a browser on his Smartphone or PC. The user then connects the electronic device 16 to one or more screens 18 and further connects one or more chosen input sources to the device 16. For example, a satellite television cable is connected to the device 16. The screen 18 will then display satellite television footage. The internet 14 is then accessed via the device 16, by making use of an access gateway, for example 3G. The cloud based software will, via the internet, display the content on the screen, alongside the footage, according to the chosen template. The user can, at any time, change, modify or update the content required to be displayed via the system, and can choose the scheduling of the content display.

The present system 10, therefore, provides a method whereby users, such as agencies and/or advertisers can control their brand on any television screen at a push of a button. Content (messages and information) to be displayed can be sent to a specific region or even to a specific store in order to highlight special offers, product information, competition details and provide news updates, in real time or according to a pre-determined schedule. A further advantage of the system 10 of the invention, is that content can be updated quickly and with minimum effort through a digital signage network without physically having to interact with the content. Unlike the content on static signs, the multimedia dimension offered by digital signage makes content more engaging, more informative and more targeted. Digital signage can be interactive through touch screen technology and other interactive technologies.

The system and method of the present invention provides for digital advertising on a screen (the screen displaying footage), whereby the space taken up by the footage is reduced ("squeezed" back), in order to make space for content to be displayed alongside the footage. The system of the present invention does not alter the integrity of the footage, that is, the aspect ratio of the footage remains unchanged in spite of the content being displayed on the same screen. Further, the system of the present invention does not make use of, or require, a screen's built in conventional picture-in- pi ctu re functionality in order to operate.

The present system 10, therefore, facilitates the following:

^• Secure login: The software and related data are centrally hosted on the cloud and are accessed by users via a web browser;

Web interface: Authorised users can log in from any location in order to upload media, edit playlists and schedules, view and download playback reports and upload schedules to players on the network;

• Media management: A large variety of content types for play-out can easily be ingested by the system; and

• Scheduler functions: A full-featured intelligent and user-friendly scheduler is included which allows for complex daily schedules, or event-triggered playback. This ensures that managed and automated content is displayed in the right place, at the right time.

It will be appreciated that various alternative embodiments are also possible in accordance with the present invention.