AU2002318765B2 - An Electronic Multi-Image Display System - Google Patents

Description

AN ELECTRONIC MULTI-IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM The present invention relates to a multi-image display system and in particular a dynamic multi-image display system.

Static non-electronic displays of still images are well known. Shop front window displays are one example. Traditional shop front displays include a matrix of still photographs and/or text advertisements designed to catch the attention of passing pedestrian traffic. These types of displays are widely used by real estate agents to advertise various properties for sale. Travel agents may also use static displays to illustrate various travel destinations.

The present invention will be described with particular reference for use in the real estate industry. However it should be understood that no limitation is intended thereby and the system of the present invention may be used for any suitable display including shop front, trade and educational displays and the like.

There are a number of disadvantages associated with the use of still photographs in shop front displays. These disadvantages include limitations as to the number of representations which can be displayed. For example it is generally not possible for an estate agent to include all available properties in a single display; the photographs are subject to fading from sunlight and are difficult to see at night.

Changing the display or part thereof is also time consuming. For example, in order to change the price or status of a real estate advertisement (such as to "under contract" or "sold"), the photographs must be physically removed from the window, altered and re-affixed. Storage and possible retrieval of displays for re-use or modification is also difficult and costly. Further, static displays typically fail to hold a customer's interest for extended periods of time.

Dynamic displays in the form of videos or slide shows may also be used to attract the attention of potential customers. A travel agent may display a video or slide show showing a certain tourist destination. Dynamic displays typically hold a viewer's attention for a longer period of time than static photographs. Video displays however also have a number of disadvantages. First, videos must be pre-recorded which makes it difficult and time consuming to change specific images within the video recording. Also, at the end of the video, there is a time delay as the video is rewound prior to replaying. The video tape is also subject to wear through constant use which results in a decrease in picture quality. Further, for applications where a 2 plurality of different images is desired, such as a number of available properties for sale, video imaging is limited as only one image is typically displayed at a time. It is of course possible to have a number of screens upon which are played images from a respective number of video players. However, this arrangement is capital expensive and still has the above disadvantages which are inherent to the video medium.

More recently digital multimedia presentations have found applications in many areas. Such multi-media displays can overcome some of the inherent disadvantages of analogue media such as video. However, a digital multi-media player, such as that used in a display system described in CA2284221, can still only play a single presentation at any one time. The system as described in CA2284221 is however, able to run different presentations at different sites such as different restaurant sites. It does this by providing a host computer which generates site specific presentation packages. The presentations are then transmitted via a wide area network to a site where they are received and stored on an on-site player. Only a single presentation is played at any one site.

Another system for displaying digital multi-media presentations has been described in WO00/5621. The system described therein is in some respects similar to that described in CA2284221 in that presentations are displayed on single screens in discrete geographical locations. A number of screens within a location are controlled by a local server which in turn is controlled by a central server. Each screen operated by a local server displays the same presentation.

US 6250428 also describes a system with a central server controlling in this case "building servers". Each building server runs the same media presentation at discrete sites within buildings. Exemplary sites are elevator cabs. The building servers are individually addressable such that building specific information may be transmitted to a respective building. However, again single presentations are displayed in respective locations.

EP 0475581 describes a method and apparatus for sharing a local display to at last one remote computer display. Such an apparatus may find application for example in sharing work performed by a teacher on one computer to screens shared by students. Such a system is clearly unable to simultaneously present multiple presentations at a single location.

US 59223307 describes a computer system where the image generated by a computer is spread across multiple screens to create a larger work space for the user. This assists an operator to view multiple windows simultaneously.

US 6097441 describes a system for dual display of data signals such as TV broadcast signals, video signals and the like.

It can be seen that none of the above systems provide means for simultaneously displaying predetermined image presentations at a single location and/or controlled from a single server or host computer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an assembly and method for displaying multiple images which may at least partially overcome the above disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.

According to a first broad form of the present invention there is provided an assembly for displaying at least two image presentations, the assembly including; a host computer having image input means and image processing means for processing input images into at least two predetermined image presentations; image output means for simultaneous output of the processed image presentations and at least two image display devices electrically connected to the image output means, whereby each image display device can simultaneously display a respective image presentation.

According to a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of displaying a number of images, the method including providing a host computer with image input and processing means and at least two image display devices operatively connected to the host computer, inputting selected images into the computer, processing the images into at least two presentations and displaying the presentations simultaneously on the respective display devices.

In the present specification the term "image" is to be construed as any suitable type of visual or audio image. Examples of suitable images include but are not limited to photographs (digital, colour, black and white), drawings, plans, computer generated images, graphs, tables, text, film/video, television, text, live video cam, digital effects, audio; and mosaics, overlays or combinations of any two or more images.

3a It will be appreciated that there are numerous combinations of images which may be used, depending upon the location and function of the display. For example, 4 a shop front display may include one or more display images unrelated to the goods or services being advertised, such as an update of the latest sporting scores or results.

The host computer is typically a personal computer (PC).

The image input means can include any suitable means known in the art and includes conventional input means such as keyboard and mouse. Preferably, the input means can input images received from a location separate from the host computer. The separate location may be local in the form of a server networked with the host computer. Images may be transmitted to the server by LAN or site specific communication means. Alternatively or in addition to, the separate location may be a remote location, in which case the images are transmitted to the computer by e-mail or the like.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment the assembly includes at least two host computers and further includes a server networked thereto. It will be appreciated that one or more host computers may be added to the assembly at any time. The total number of host computers may depend upon the desired total number of image presentations and display devices. This allows flexibility of the system.

In the embodiment where a server controls two or more host computers, the assembly may further include delegation means for delegating desired instructions from the server to a respective host computer. The delegation means may be in any suitable form and may be integral with or separate from the server.

The assembly may further include means for transforming images into a desirable digital format.

The host computer also includes image processing means for processing the images into a predetermined format. The host computer, or if present the server, may also include means for generating images and/or text for inclusion in the presentation.

The assembly also includes image output means. The image output means may be integral with the host computer or include a peripheral output device such as a broadcast card. The image output device typically includes means for manipulating electronic image signals from the host computer such that it is compatible with the image display device. Such image output devices typically operate at least two display units. The devices are connectable to the host computer by means of computer expansion slots in a manner known in the art.

The image display devices may be any suitable devices for electronically displaying images. Such devices include conventional cathode ray devices and liquid crystal display units. Typically the display devices are displayed together as a single visual unit, however, this may not necessarily be the case.

The presentations typically display different sequences of images; however, this may not necessarily be the case. The presentations may display the same sequence of images either simultaneously or staggered. Simultaneous displays may be used where there is single display units placed in discrete locations or to emphasize a message using the plurality of display devices as a single presentation media.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the assembly further includes remote control means which enables a user to control the image presentations from a remote location ie. from other than where the host computer is located. In this case, the host computer would normally not be provided with conventional input means such as a keyboard and/or computer mouse. This may be preferred where the host computer is located in an area which may be accessible to members of the public.

The remote control means may control the computer using wireless networking technology. An example of such an application is that a user may change the display from a remote location and/or input additional inputs directly from the field.

By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a preferred assembly of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a display controller which forms part of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the display controller of Figure 2 in use; Figure 4 is a block diagram of a further preferred assembly of the present invention and Figure 5 is a detail of part of the assembly of Figure 4.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a preferred assembly 1 of the present invention.

The assembly 1 includes a host computer 10 which is a networked PC having a network interface card 11 (NIC) to enable the computer to be added to a pre-existing network including a remote controller 12. The PC has adequate random access memory which is at least equivalent to the combined size of the presentations running therefrom.

The PC is loaded with software for processing images into a number of presentations for display. The software has the capacity to display independent information from different sources in multiple instances on a multiple-monitor set up.

The software typically can support multiple file types so different media can be used in one presentation. The software can enable these files to be displayed as a slide show combining still images, digital video and if desired, sound.

The remote controller 12 is typically loaded with thin client software for transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) networks. This enables a user to control the system from a remote location. The remote controller 12 in Figure 1 is a notebook computer with a wireless connection to the host computer The PC also has at least two PCI (peripheral component interconnect slots), typically six slots, for electronically collecting display controllers 14. Each display controller has four image outputs 5,6,7,8 which support four image display devices, which in this case are liquid crystal display units 15. Each display unit 15 interprets information from the respective display controller 14. Settings such as clarity of image, RBT settings, display area, frequency of signal and V. H. align settings can be adjusted to suit the user's requirements.

The display units 15 may be mounted in any desirable configuration.

Typically, the units 15 are mounted in a vertical format being a shop front window.

The units 15 may be mounted using architectural wires, engineered metal frames, timber framework or direct to the glass.

As can be seen in Figure 2, each display controller 14 has an independent on board dual processor 16 and independent on board random access memory 17.

This enables the host computer 10 to have dedicated resources for data definition and presentation processing. The display controller 14 has two input devices 20, 21 for receiving information from the host and one output device 22 for outputting information to the host computer. The display controller also has output devices 8 for output of signals to a respective display device The controller also includes a TV decoder 18 which allows a conventional RCA video input connection 9. The controller can decode the video information and 7 transfer data to the host computer which in turn arranges the data into the presentation and transfers the data back to the display controller 14. This sequence is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a further preferred assembly 30 of the present invention. The assembly 30 is similar to that shown in Figure 1 and like components have been allocated the same reference numbers. The assembly 30 includes two host computers 10, a priority delegation device 31 and a server 32. The server 32 is typically a professional computer with host unique information relevant to settings and properties displayed on the host computer and hence the display devices. The server 32 includes input devices 34 such as a keyboard and mouse and storage devices such as USB storage devices. The server 32 also has archival storage means. The server may also be provided with removable USB storage devices. The server 32 is connected to the priority delegation controller 31 and hence the host computers 10 with a dedicated high data transfer cable (such as that known in the art as CAT5e cable) connection 33.

Each host computer 10 is connected to one or more display control devices 34. Typically a host computer 10, when of the personal computer type, can control a maximum number of 10 display devices. (For convenience, only a signal display controller is shown). The display controller 34 is similar to that shown in Figure 1 in that it has an independent on board dual processor 16 and on board random access memory 17 which allows the host computer to have dedicated resources for data definition and presentation processing. The display controller has two input devices 21 for receiving information from the host computer. Each display device controls six liquid crystal display units 15, such that the overall display which may be set up in a shop front window can be set up as an array of 3 x 4 screens.

It can be seen that by altering the number of host computers and/or display control devices that a great deal of flexibility with respect to total number of screens and displays may be obtained. The number of screens however, may be controlled with a minimum number of host computers and if necessary a single server coordinating a number of host computers. This enables multiple presentations to be presented with minimum hardware and capital costs combined with system flexibility.

The number of display units may be changed with relative ease to mirror the requirements of a particular customer or to change with the customer's requirements.

8 It can further be seen that the assembly and method of the present invention may be used to continuously display a number of different slide presentations. This may find particular application for real estate shop front displays where multiple images of the same property may be displayed, in association with or interspersed with text information regarding the property and/or agent. Two or more properties may be displayed sequentially on the same display unit such that the overall number of properties displayed may be increased without increasing shopfront space.

Still further, because of the ability to display an increased amount of information, other than that specifically relating to individual properties, may also be displayed. Other types of information which may be useful to potential customers and which may persuade them to consider purchasing in a particular area can include information and/or images regarding the suburb or area such as climate, facilities such as shops, schools and public transport and information regarding real estate market trends in that area. Other types of information may also be displayed so as to hold a customer's interest such as news and sporting updates.

Further still, the presentations may easily be modified and/or updated and in particular from a remote source. For example, a real estate agent may input digital images and information from on site at a property or amend existing images to indicate that a property has been sold or is under contract. Images may also be sent to the controller by e-mail.

It can be seen that the assembly and method of the present invention may be used in many applications other than real estate shop front windows. The assembly and method of the present invention may find application for any situation where it is desired to display sequential multiple images to viewers.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention as described herein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims (1)

1. 26-07-05 16:06 ;PIZZEYS ;61732218077 9/ II 9 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. An assembly for simultaneously displaying and controlling a plurality of independent image presentations on at least two image display devices; the assembly including; a host computer having image input means, storage means for storing the image presentations, image processing means for processing the plurality of image presentations for simultaneous and independent display of each stored presentation on a respective image display device and at least one computer expansion slot; and image output means connectable to the at least one computer expansion slot and which includes at least one display controller connectable to at least two image display devices or at least two display controllers each connectable to a single said image display device wherein the maximum number of image display devices which are connectable to the image output means can be increased by increasing the number of display controllers such that the total number of image presentations which may be simultaneously and independently displayed is also increased. 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the host computer includes at least two PCI slots for connecting to the or each display controller. 3. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims which includes at least two host computers. 4. The assembly of claim 3, which further includes a server networked to the at least two host computers. The assembly of claim 4, which includes a delegation means for delegating data and instructions from the server to a desired host computer. 6. The assembly of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the server includes means for generating images. 28/07 2005 TUE 15:43 [TX/RX NO 8534] [009 2 6 0 5 ;1 6- 06 P IZ Z Y ;61732218077 10/ 1 7. The assembly of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the image input means receives images from the server. 8. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the image presentation includes a sequential display of said images. 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the images include still photographs. 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the photographs are images of real estate properties. 11. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 10, including at least two display devices connected to the image output means. 12. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 11, which includes at least four display devices and in use the display devices are arranged in a vertically aligned array. 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein in use, the array forms part of a shop front window display. 14. The assembly of any one of claims 11 to 12 where display devices are liquid crystal display units. The assembly for simultaneously controlling and displaying a plurality of images, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures. 16. A method of displaying a number of images, the method including providing the assembly of any one of claims 1 to 15 and at least two display devices inputting selected images into the computer, processing the images into at least'two presentations and displaying the presentations simultaneously on the respective display devices. 26/07 2005 TUE 15:43 [TX/RX NO 6534] j010 2 6 0 5 ;1 6- 07 P IZ Z Y S617322 8077 I/ II 11 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the display devices are arranged in a vertically aligned array. 18. The method of claim 16, or claim 18, wherein the images displayed include images of real estate properties. 19. The method of any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the image display devices form part of a shop front display. A shop front window display including a plurality of image display devices, and the assembly of any.one of claims 1 to 21. The display of claim 20 wherein the display devices are mounted in a vertically aligned array on a frame. DATED THIS TWENTY-SIXTH DAY OF JULY 2005 PIXSELL PTY LTD BY PIZZEYS PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 26/07 2005 TUE 15:43 [TX/RX NO 6534] @011