WO2009055876A1

WO2009055876A1 - A media-locker system

Info

Publication number: WO2009055876A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/001631
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Scott Gratton
Original assignee: Steven Scott Gratton
Priority date: 2007-11-02
Filing date: 2008-11-03
Publication date: 2009-05-07

Abstract

A media-locker system (10) including a bank of locker units is disclosed. Each locker unit (12) has a closure member (32) movable between an open and a closed position and a locking arrangement for locking the closure member (32) in the closed position. The system (10) includes a locker controller having a locker user interface arrangement (40) for guiding a user through a procedure for hiring a locker (12), and a payment module (38) for receiving payment from a user wishing to hire a locker unit (12). The media-locker system (10) also includes an interactive media system having a display module (24) mounted on the bank of locker units. The media system includes a storage arrangement for storing interactive media content, and a user interface arrangement (40) for permitting a user interactively to select and retrieve media content for presentation on the display module (24). Conveniently the locker user and media user interface arrangements may be formed by a single touch screen display module.

Description

A MEDIA-LOCKER SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to lockers and media systems. In particular, this invention relates to a media-locker system, and to a method of operating a media-locker system. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Lockers are well known contrivances and generally a locker includes a storage compartment in which a user may store goods such as luggage, bags, clothes, valuables, and the like. The locker is locked to secure the goods while they are locked in the locker and are unattended. On some premises lockers are provided to locker users in return for payment. In other words the lockers may be installed in a space within a certain premises as to generate revenue, for example by renting out the lockers to locker users.

At some other premises lockers are provided as part of a subscription or service of a business operating on the premises, and thus the lockers do not directly generate revenues for the business.

Locker systems have developed into self-help units. For example, automatic locker systems may have coin or token operated modules into which a coin or token is deposited in return for locker use. A locker is provided for use to a user in return for payment. The amount of payment often depends on the length of time of use of the locker system. The costs involved in developing and manufacturing reliable automatic locker systems can be significant. At the same time there is a commercial need to keep down the costs of renting out lockers to make them accessible to a wide range of users.

Clearly it would be advantageous if lockers, for example vendible lockers, could be improved so that these lockers had additional functions. It would be particularly advantageous if additional ways of generating revenue from locker systems could be devised, that is revenue in addition to that obtained for renting the lockers to users. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly in one aspect the invention provides a media-locker system which includes: a bank of locker units, each locker unit defining an interior space and having a closure member movable between an open and a closed position and a locking arrangement for locking the closure member in the closed position and also for unlocking the closure member; a locker controller including, a payment module for receiving payment from a user wishing to hire a locker unit for a time and a lock operating arrangement operatively connected to the locking arrangement for enabling the user to lock and unlock the locking arrangement of the associated locker unit that the user hired; and an interactive media system having at least one display module mounted on the bank of locker units, the media system including a media information storage arrangement for storing interactive media content, and a media user interface arrangement for permitting a user interactively to select and retrieve media content from the media information storage arrangement for presenting the selected media content on the display module.

The locker controller may include a locker user interface arrangement for guiding a user through a procedure for hiring a locker.

The locker user interface arrangement may include a touch screen display module for displaying a graphical user interface having a touch screen control for guiding a user through the procedure for hiring a locker.

The media user interface arrangement may also include a touch screen display module for displaying a graphical user interface for permitting a user interactively to select and retrieve media content from the media information storage arrangement for presenting the selected media content on the screen display module. The touch screen display module of the locker user interface arrangement and the touch screen display module of the media user interface arrangement may be formed by ^' the same touch screen display module. The touch screen display module may have touch screen buttons or soft buttons for enabling a user to interact therewith. The touch screen display module may have a menu for enabling a user to interact therewith The locker user interface arrangement or the media user interface arrangement may include an audio arrangement for reproducing sounds audible to a user.

The locker controller may include a microcontroller unit and a memory for storing a set of microcontroller executable instructions, which when executed, constitutes a locker hiring application. Similarly, the interactive media system may include a microcontroller unit and memory for storing a set of microcontroller executable instructions, which when executed, constitutes a media retrieval application. The same microcontroller unit and the same memory may be used for both the locker controller and the media system.

The media content delivered by the media user interface arrangement may include text, and/or images, and/or videos, and/or sounds. The media user interface arrangement may include detection means for sensing the presence of a person proximate to the bank of lockers, and for activating presentation of the media content in response to the sensing of a person.

The micro-controller for the interactive media system may include a scheduling arrangement for automatically displaying selected media content on the display module. The scheduling arrangement may schedule different media content for display at different times according to a time schedule.

The media content displayed by the media system may include a sequence of stationary images displayed in turn on the display module, e.g. the media content may be displayed as a slide show.

The scheduling arrangement may be operatively able to be interrupted by intervention by a user. The intervention by a user may comprise operation of the locker controller or the media system by a user, or the intervention by a user may comprise selecting media content over that scheduled by the scheduling arrangement. The media interface arrangement may include a manual switch for enabling a user to select the content of the media that is displayable on the display module.

The media system may include an administrator arrangement for permitting authorized data communication of the media system microcontroller with an administrator system for configuring the microcontroller and for updating the media content. The media system microcontroller may include a network interfacing arrangement for interfacing remotely with the administrator arrangement for remotely receiving media content that is to be displayed on the display module and for remote configuring of the microcontroller.

The bank of lockers may be placed or be able to be placed at a venue, in which case, the media content may include information relating to the venue. The venue may have a business associated therewith and the media content displayed on the display system may include promotional or advertising information associated with the business. The venue may have a plurality of businesses associated therewith and the media content may include information associated with at least two businesses. The venue may be visited by users, and the media content may include information for users relating to the venue. Moreover, the media content may include safety instructions relating to potential dangers to users when they visit the venue.

The media content may also include tourist information selected from the group of tourist information comprising: tourist attractions, maps and directions to tourist attractions, accommodation facilities, and transport services. The media content may be indexed and labeled with a unique media name or tag, a date when the media item was created and stored on the storage arrangement, a time of day and date when the media item is to be displayed or played on the display module, and the duration for which the media item is to be displayed. The bank of lockers may include a plurality of lockers that are arranged in stacked rows of lockers to form a multi-tiered locker bank.

The media-locker system may include a plurality of display modules of which at least one display module is mounted on the bank of lockers, and at least one other display module is mounted away from the lockers, e.g. remote from the lockers, to display media content visible to viewers remote from the lockers. The one and other display modules may face in different directions.

The media information storage arrangement and the media user interface arrangement, and the micro controller for the media system may be onboard the bank of lockers. For example the media system may be built into the back of lockers and be integrated into the structure of the lockers.

The invention also provides a method for operating a media-locker system having a bank of lockers and a media-system having at least one display module mounted on the bank of lockers, the method including: storing interactive media content on a media information storage arrangement; presenting an interactive media user interface to a user for the user interactively to request media content from the media storage arrangement; receiving a request from the user interfacing arrangement; retrieving the requested media content from the media information storage arrangement; and presenting the selected media content to the user on the display module.

The method may include presenting to the user a locker user interface for receiving a request from a user to hire a locker for a period of time and for guiding a user through a procedure for hiring the locker.

The locker user interface and the interactive media interface may include graphical user interfaces presented on a touch screen module and may have touch screen buttons for guiding the user through the process of hiring a locker or interactively selecting and retrieving media content from the media information storage arrangement for presenting the media content on the display module.

The method may include automatically displaying media information on the display module according to a time schedule and interrupting automatic displaying of the media content when presenting the interactive media user interface to the user for the user interactively to request media content from the media storage arrangement.

The method may include storing media content on the storage arrangement that relates to the venue at which the locker bank is placed, or relates to promotional or advertising information associated with a business at a venue at which the locker bank is placed. Also, the method may include storing media content on the media storage arrangement that includes instructional information to patrons at a premises where the bank of lockers is placed.

The method may include storing media content on the media storage arrangement that includes tourist information selected from the group of information comprising: tourist attractions, maps and directions to tourist attractions, accommodation facilities, and transporting facilities.

The presenting of the selected media content may include presenting text, and/or images, and/or videos, and/or sounds. The method may include generating an index for the media content. Generating an index for the media content may include tagging the media content with a unique media name, a date when the media content was created and stored on the storage arrangement, a time of day and date when the media content is to be displayed or played on the display module, and the duration for which the media content is to be displayed. The method may include displaying media content on a plurality of display modules of which at least one display module is mounted on the bank of lockers and at least one other display module is mounted remote from the lockers.

The method may include reproducing sounds audibly to a user with an audio arrangement forming part of the locker-media system. The method may include detecting the presence of a user proximate the bank of lockers and in response thereto activating presentation of media content on the display module.

The method may include receiving a unique administrator login request for permitting authorized data communication with an administrator system for configuring the controller and for updating the media content.

The invention further provides a media-locker system which includes: a bank of locker units for on-site use by users; and a user interactive media system having at least one display module positioned in a closely spaced relationship with the locker, and an interactive media user interface for permitting a user interactively to select and retrieve media content from the media storage arrangement, the media content including at least advertising information.

The bank of lockers may include a plurality of lockers that are arranged in stacked rows of lockers to form a multi-tiered locker bank. Each locker may include a closure member, such as a locker door, and the lockers may be arranged with their doors facing in the same direction.

Each locker may include a locking arrangement to securely lock its closure member to prevent unauthorized access. The locking arrangement may be a mechanical lock or an electrical lock. The at least one display module may include a display mounting arrangement for mounting the display module in its closely spaced relationship with the locker. The display mounting arrangement may be arranged for mounting the display module on a closure member of a locker. The display mounting arrangement may be arranged for mounting the display module on a wall of a locker or a bank of lockers. In one embodiment, the display mounting arrangement may be arranged for mounting the display module between adjacent locker units.

The media system may include a plurality of display modules of which at least one display module is mounted in a closely spaced relationship with the lockers, and at least one other display module is mounted away from the lockers to display media content that is visible to viewers positioned away from the lockers.

The media system may include a plurality of display modules mounted in a closely spaced relationship with the lockers. In addition, the media system may also include a plurality of display modules mounted away from the lockers.

Thus, the media-locker system may include a bank of lockers that is positioned on a premises and a media system that includes at least one display module mounted on the bank of lockers. A plurality of other display modules may also form part of the media- locker system, and be spaced apart from each other and from the bank of lockers.

The media system may include an audio arrangement for reproducing sounds audible to a locker user or a passerby. The media content may include text, images, or videos that are displayable on the display module, and/or sounds that are audibly reproducible by the audio arrangement. The media content may be displayed automatically by the media system, e.g. in a predetermined manner without user intervention, or the media content may be interactively retrievable and displayable by an interactive user. The media content may be promotional information, for example advertising information. Also, the media content or at least part of the media content may be instructive information or general information that may be of interest to patrons at a premises where the lockers are located. The sets of media content may be unassociated, for example one set of media content may be instructional information and another set of media may be advertising information. Each media item in a set of media content may have a media item label associated therewith. The media item label may include information associated with the media item, for example it may include a unique media name or tag, a date when the media item was created and stored on the storage arrangement, a time of day and date when the media item is to be displayed or played on the display module, the duration for which the media item is to be displayed or played, and the like.

The display controller may include a scheduling arrangement for managing the displaying of a media set, for example the display time and duration of each media item in a media set, when a user is not interacting with the media content.

The display controller may be on-site, for example near the lockers or on-board the lockers, in which case the display controller may include a network interfacing arrangement for receiving media content that is to be displayed on the display modules and for receiving commands for setting the scheduling arrangement to schedule the displaying of the newly received media content.

Further, the media user interfacing arrangement may include a media touch screen, and the media touch screen may also form part of the display module. The media user interfacing arrangement may thus include a graphical user interface for displaying menus, having soft buttons, and the like, for guiding a user to retrieving selected media content for presentation on the display module.

The media-locker system may include a locker controller for controlling use of the lockers by locker users. The locker controller may include a payment module, such as a coin operated unit, a card reader, or the like. The locker controller may also include a lock operating arrangement interfaced with electrical locks of the lockers for locking and unlocking the electrical lock of the locker when a user hired the locker.

The media-locker system may include a locker user interfacing arrangement for guiding a user through a procedure for hiring a locker. The locker user interface arrangement may include a touch screen display module for displaying a graphical user interface for guiding a user through the process of hiring a locker. The locker controller and the display controller may be formed by a microcontroller unit interfaced with the payment module, the display modules, and other peripherals, such as an on-site mode switch for permitting an operator or supervisor to switch between displaying of media sets manually. Yet further the invention may also extend to a method of controlling a media-locker system having a bank of lockers and a media-system having at least one display module mounted on the bank of lockers, which method includes: presenting to a user either a locker hire user interface or an interactive media user interface; providing a media information storage arrangement for storing media content with which the user interacts through the media user interface for selecting and retrieving media information from the media information storage arrangement; and presenting the selected media content to the user on the display module. The method may include storing sets or collections of media content on the information storage arrangement.

The method may include presenting the media content on a plurality of display modules, of which at least one display module is mounted on the bank of lockers and at least one other display module is mounted away from the bank of lockers, e.g. remote therefrom. The method may include receiving the media content from a remote controlling arrangement over a data communication network and storing the media content in a media database interfaced with a display controller.

The method may include labeling each set of media content with a unique label. The labels may include a title of the set of media content, a time and date at which the set of media content was created, a date when the set of media content was uploaded to the information storage arrangement, and the like. The label information is thus used for identifying the media content item and for providing information on the manner in which the media content item is to be treated by the display controller.

The method may include creating a display index for the media content. The display index may be for indexing the sets of media content. The method may include storing the display indexes on the data storage arrangement. The method may further include creating a time scheduler having display tasks associated with the indexed media content to control a time and duration at which each set of media content is displayed when a user is not interacting with the media content. The method may include swapping between display indexes to display their respective media items, in which case, the method may include marking a position in the display index at which the display index was terminated to keep a record of progress of the display tasks, so that the display controller can determine at which index item and display task to resume.

For a user desirous of hiring a locker, the method may include prompting a user to select a desired locker size and receiving a request for a locker and locker size. The method may further include receiving a duration request for the duration a user wishes to hire a locker. The method may include validating payment received from the user. The method may include allocating a locker and a security pin to the user, and then opening the allocated locker for the user.

The method may include receiving an operator or supervisor request to activate an operator procedure for assisting a user who forgot his locker number, or security pin number, and who needs to reset the security pin number. The method may include prompting the operator to ask the user which locker is the relevant locker, and to enter a locker number, and logging the locker number to a log file.

The method may include prompting the operator to request identification of the contents of the locker from the user, to open the locker, and to verify the content of the locker. The method may include reissuing a security pin if the content is correctly identified.

Finally the invention also extends to a method of using a media-locker system by a user.

The media-locker system may have any one or more of the features described above for the first aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A media-locker system, in accordance with the invention, may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe in detail several embodiments of the invention with reference to accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. However it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description.

In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings: Figure 1 shows a functional block diagram of a media-locker system, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a functional block diagram of another embodiment of the media-locker system; Figure 3 shows a functional block diagram of yet another embodiment of the media-locker system;

Figure 4 shows schematically a media-locker system in part similar to that illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of a bank of lockers forming part of a media-locker system;

Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of another bank of lockers forming part of a locker media system;

Figure 7 shows a functional block diagram of a display-locker controller forming part of the media-locker system in Figure 3; Figure 8 shows a functional block diagram of a data storage arrangement having stored thereon media content for displaying on the display module of a media display system of the media-locker system;

Figure 9 shows a functional flow diagram of the display controller in Figure 7; Figure 10 shows a functional flow diagram of a remote controller arrangement forming part of the media-locker system in Figure 3; and

Figure 11 shows a functional flow diagram of a locker controller forming part of the media-locker system in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 , reference numeral 10 refers generally to one embodiment of a media-locker system, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The media-locker system 10 includes a plurality of lockers 12 in the form of a bank of lockers 14. Each locker 12 has a closure or a closure member that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The closure is lockable with a locking arrangement 16 in the closed position so that a locker user can stow valuables securely inside the locker 12.

In this embodiment, each locking arrangement 16 is in the form of an electrical lock that is operatively connected to a locker controller 20. The locker controller 20 includes a payment module 38 for receiving payment from a user wishing to hire a locker unit 12 for a time and a lock operating arrangement for enabling the user to lock and unlock the locking arrangement 16 of the associated locker unit 12 that the user hired. The media-locker system 10 further includes an interactive media system, generally. indicated by reference numeral 22. The interactive media system has at least one display module 24 mounted on the bank of locker units 14. Further, the media system 22 includes a media information storage arrangement 52 for storing interactive media content, and a media user interface arrangement for permitting a user interactively to select and retrieve media content from the media information storage arrangement 52 for presenting the selected media content on the display module 24.

The media system 22 includes a display controller 26 for controlling the displaying of media content 28 on the display module 24. Figure 6 shows the bank of lockers 14 having an array of locker units 12 arranged in stacked rows of lockers to form a multi-tier bank of lockers. The lockers 12 are arranged in two columns flanking a central panel column 30. The closure of each locker is in the form of a door 32 and all the doors 32 of the lockers 12 face the same direction. It would be appreciated that the lockers can be arranged in many different ways relative to each other to form a cluster or bank of lockers.

The display module 24 has a mounting arrangement 34 for mounting the display module 24 on the bank of lockers 14 so that the display module 24 is mounted in a closely spaced relationship with at least one locker 12. The display module 24 has a screen 36 facing the same way as the locker doors 32. Thus the display screen 36 is oriented relative to the lockers 12 so that the display screen 36 can be viewed by a viewer looking at the lockers 12, for example a user of the lockers or a passer by viewing the lockers.

The payment module can be in the form of a coin operated unit, a token operated unit, or a magnetic card reader or a combination of one or more of these. The locker controller 20 further includes a locker user interface arrangement 40 in the form of a touch screen display module for displaying a graphical user interface having touch screen control for guiding a user through the procedure of hiring a locker 12.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a media-locker system 46, in which the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components as in Fig 1 unless otherwise indicated. The media-locker system 46 has a plurality of display modules 48, 42, of which at least one display module 48 is mounted in a closely spaced relationship with the lockers 12, and at least one other display module 42 is mounted remote from the locker 12. Both display modules are used to display media content 44 to viewers, e.g. the same media content. The display controller 26 and the locker controller 22 are connectable in data communication to a computer, such as a laptop 21 , for configuring the controllers, for example to up-load media content 54 that is to be displayed, and to upload other software programs which when executed form the graphical user interface for the user.

The software programs also include a scheduler for managing the times and duration of displaying the media content, and the like. Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a media-locker system 60, in which the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components as in Fig 1 unless otherwise indicated.

Figure 3 includes at least two banks of lockers 62. Each bank of lockers 62 has a controller 64 that serves as both the locker controller and the display controller. Each bank of lockers 62 also includes an information storage arrangement 52, such as a database, on which media content 54 is stored for displaying on associated screens of the display modules 48, 42, 24.

The controller 64 has locker control instructions 58 and display control instructions

56. The controller 64 is also interfaced with a remote operator arrangement 66 having an operator control program 68, over a data communication network 64. The data communication network 64 can be a local area network, or a wide area network such as the internet.

The controller 64 can also provide spoken instructions that are audible to a user. The spoken instructions can relate to both the locker control instructions and the display control instructions.

The media system also includes an audio arrangement (not shown) for reproducing media content in the form of audio content that is audible to a user or to a passer by.

The media-system also includes a detection arrangement for detecting a user proximate the bank of lockers, in response to which display of the media content is activated, for example when a user is not busy interacting with he media system. The detection arrangement may for example include a movement sensor or an infra red sensor.

The information or media content 54 stored on the storage arrangement, e.g. database 52, can include images, video that is displayable on the display module, and/or sounds that are audibly reproducible by the audio arrangement.

The media content 54 that are to be displayed can be retrievable by an interactive user for displaying the media content 54 on the display modules. In other times, e.g. when an interactive user is not retrieving media content 54, the media content 54 may be displayed in a predetermined manner by the display controller. The screens of the display modules 24, 48, 44 can be of the touch-screen type with touch screen buttons or soft buttons. An interactive menu is displayed on the screen and a user may navigate through the media content 54 with the touch screen buttons and select the media content 54 that they wish to be displayed. In one example, the media-content 56 is made up of one or more sets of media content 106 and is stored on a database 52. A set of media content includes media items 54 of which each one is labeled with an item label 104. Each item can include images, video clips, text, and/or sounds, and the like that are displayed in turn when the media item is triggered by the scheduler for displaying on an allocated display module. The item label includes information about the media item that would facilitate management and operation of the media-system. For example, the label item can include a date when the media item was created, a date when the media item was uploaded, an indication of what type of media content it is made up of, and a time and date that it is to be displayed.

One media set can include, for example, advertising content having stationary images for slide shows, a video clip, related sounds, and the like for advertising a product or service, and another media set can include instructions or useful information that is displayed and that may be of interest to the viewers.

The database 52 also includes a media index 102 that has index items that relate to the media items. Each set of media can have its own media index. The media index can be a lookup table which is marked at any particular index item, should the displaying of the media set be interrupted, so that the display controller can refer to the marker when displaying is to be resumed.

Figure 7 shows a functional block diagram of a typical display-locker controller that is used for controlling the display or presentation of media content on the display modules 42, 48 and for controlling the locker arrangement 16.

The microcontroller 64 includes a microprocessor 80, data memory 82 including the data storage arrangement or database 52 having stored thereon the media content 54 that is to be displayed. A program memory 84 has the instructions 56 for controlling the displaying of the media content and instructions 58 for controlling the locker operation. A network interfacing arrangement 86 is provided for connecting over a network 65 to a remote controlling arrangement, for example a personal computer 66. Communication with the display-locker controller can be effected in many ways, for example peer-to-peer from a computer, over the internet, LAN or WAN architectures, wireless communication such as over a GSM network, and the like. The locker controller also includes a coin-operated unit 94 that is interfaced with the microcontroller 64, for example by way of a suitable expansion board. The controller

64 further includes a display interface output module 88 for passing the media content to the display modules 48, 42. The display module can be of the touch screen-type to form part of the interactive arrangement for interfacing with a user.

An input/output arrangement 90 is also provided for interfacing with the electrical locks 16 of the lockers 12, and with a modal switch 92 for on-site manual switching between media sets.

Figure 9 shows an example of some basic steps of a method in which a display controller forming part of the media-locker system can operate, when a set of computer readable instructions is executed.

The display controller includes a display controller program product 56 which when executed performs the basic steps 200 of the method in which the display controller 26 operates. When the display controller program 56 executes, then a boot sequence is followed, at 202, and the display controller detects, at 204, if the remote operator controller 66 is requesting a connection or else if the media content display procedure is to be followed. If a remote request is detected, at 204, then leg 206 is followed and a data connection is established, at 208, with the remote operator controller 66. At 210, a command is received from the remote controller 66, which command can include uploading, at 210, a media content index 102 of a media content set 106. Each set of media content 106 include the images, video, text, sound, and the like, that belongs to the set of media content 106. A command and/or upload successful verification is sent, at 212, to the remote controller 66. At 214, the display controller either repeats the remote control request from 208, or exits, at 220 and jumps to 204. If the display procedure is followed, leg 222, then the display procedure is initialized, at 224. The display index 102 is checked, at 226, which display index keeps record of the media items that are to be displayed and tracks the display progress of the media items in the media set 106. Based on the condition of the media index 102 and the item labels 104 of the media content set 106, the next in line media content set is displayed, at 226. At 228, the display controller checks if a manual mode switch has been set by an operator. The manual mode switch can be set by an on-site operator to switch to another media set for displaying its content instead, for example, to switch between displaying advertising information and displaying instructional information.

If the mode select switch is detected, at 228, then leg 230 is followed, and then, for example, the next in line instruction information item is detected, at 232, from the information index, and displayed. If the mode select, at 234, is still active after the information is displayed, then 240 is followed, and the next information item from the information index is displayed. However, if the mode select is deactivated, at 234, then leg 242 is followed, and at 244 the display controller detects either a shut down mode or returns to advertising display mode. If the shut down mode is detected, at 244, then leg 246 is followed and the display controller shuts down, at 250. If the return to advertising is detected, at 244, then leg 248 is followed and the information index is saved, at 252. The display controller returns to 226, and the display index is resumed for displaying of advertising information. Figure 10 shows an example of some basic steps 300 of a method in which a remote controller, for example a computer work station 66, forming part of the media- locker system can operate. The remote controller includes a remote controller program product 68 which when executed performs the basic steps 300 of the method in which the remote controller operates. The remote access program executes, and prompts, at 302, a user to select the particular controller with which it is required to communicate. Each controller has a unique address. A connection is then established, at 304, with the display controller, over the network 65. At 306, the information, for example the media set, media index, scheduler, or other commands, are uploaded to the controller 20. A verification check is done, at 310, and if successful the program 300 exits, at 316. If the verification is unsuccessful, then leg 314 is followed, and uploading is attempted again. The remote operation can include other procedures, for example to remotely open a locker.

Figure 11 shows an example of some basic steps 400 of a method in which a locker controller, in accordance with the invention, operates. When the locker instructions 58 is executed, at 402, by the locker controller, then a user is prompted, at 404, to selected a locker hire option available for locker users or clients, or a site operator/administrator option that would only be accessible by the site operator. If the locker user option is selected, then leg 406 is followed to prompt a user to select and enter, at 408, a locker size, and then to select and enter, at 410, a duration for which the user wish to hire a locker.

At 412, the user validates payment for the duration of locker hire by using the payment module provided by the locker system. The payment and renting history log is then updated, at 413, and at 414, and the user generates a return secret, for example a pin number. The locker controller then opens, at 416, the allocated locker by unlocking the associated locking arrangement of the locker. If the operator option is selected, at 402, then leg 420 is followed. The option is typically selected when a locker user forgets their locker number, or the user has forgotten their security pin number, or if a locker needs to be opened for any other reason or a pin number is to be reset. The locker controller can include many different wizards to facilitate guiding a user or an administrator though different scenarios of operation.

One example of such a wizard includes resetting a pin number for a user, in which case, at 422, the administrator is prompted to ask the user's locker number and the locker number is entered and logged, at 424. Similarly, at 426, the operator is prompted to ask the user to identify the contents in his locker. Thereafter, the operator proceeds, at 428, and opens, at 430, the relevant locker.

The operator is prompted, at 432, to verify the identified contents, and if successful, leg 434 is followed and the locker controller permit resetting of the pin number, at 436, for the locker user. If the contents are not correctly identified, at 432, then leg 438 is followed, and the locker is locked, at 440, by the controller.

The media-locker system provides at least one display module 48, 42 for presenting media content visible to viewers for example to a locker user or a passer by. The locker user or passer by can be a patron at a premises or venue, and it would be appreciated that there are many types of premises and venues where lockers are useful to patrons. The display modules can be controlled by any type of controller, for example a personal computer connected to the display modules. However, in one particularly convenient embodiment the media-locker system is standalone and includes the display- locker controller 64 mounted onboard a structure forming part of the lockers 12.

In use the lockers 12 or locker banks 14 are installed at a venue where users need to store valuables. A user can then hire a locker by payment with the payment arrangement that may be one or more of a coin-operated module, a token receiver, and a magnetic card reader. The user is guided through the renting process by a graphical user interface including instructions and menu prompts, soft buttons, and the like, and if successful a locker is temporarily allocated to a user. Advertisers who are interested in advertising their products and services to users or patrons of the premises can provide media content in the form of business advertisements to be displayed on the media system. These advertisements are then uploaded to the display controller from where they can be displayed on the media system. The advertisements can be activated for scheduled display as per the scheduling arrangement and the display index or they can be interactively retrieved by a user with the interactive media interface.

In addition to displaying advertisements, other information that is relevant to the user or patrons can also be stored on the display controller. Interactive media content retrieval by users with the touch screen, may also facilitate providing valuable and pertinent information to a user. For example it may provide directions for tourists needing to find a destination or place of interest. In another example, users, for example passengers waiting at airports can utilize waiting time by navigating through the media content provided on the locker-media system. In one example, a site operator can trigger, for example with the modal switch, an instruction to be display on the display modules, and then later switch back to the advertisements. In one example, the instructions can display CPR procedures at a swimming pool, "don't run" instructions, or "no diving" instructions. At airports, the instruction "Don't leave parcels and bags unattended" can be displayed. At beaches, for example, the warning "beach closed" can be displayed, and at Casinos the message "gambling is addictive" can be displayed.

A yet further advantage of this media-locker system is that it also allows for general or safety information to be displayed when triggered by an on-site operator or supervisor. For example, when a special information mode is selected on lockers installed on the beach front or surrounding areas, the media-locker systems can be activated during dangerous beach conditions to display warnings, and other safety information screens. A related advantage of the media-locker system is that it can assist with compliance of notice requirements to reduce the risk of public liability. Once demonstrated the media locker system can also result in the lowering of public liability insurance premiums.

It would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that a locker-media system in accordance with the invention may find a multitude of varied and diverse applications and that all of these applications are intended to be covered by this application.

An advantage of the media locker system described above with reference to the drawings is that the display of advertising can generate revenue in addition to the revenue from renting lockers to users. Non-concessional lockers having a media system can also generate revenue by displaying advertisements on the media system even though they do not generate revenues by use of the lockers. The media-locker system establishes a stream of income from advertising separate from that for the locker hire. A further advantage is that communication with the locker-display controllers over a network makes it easy to administrate from a single remote control point and to update or change the display of media content per client requirements.

It will of course be realized that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein defined.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A media-locker system which includes: a bank of locker units, each locker unit defining an interior space and having a closure member movable between an open and a closed position and a locking arrangement for locking the closure member in the closed position and also for unlocking the closure member; a locker controller including, a payment module for receiving payment from a user wishing to hire a locker unit for a time and a lock operating arrangement operatively connected to the locking arrangement for enabling the user to lock and unlock the locking arrangement of the associated locker unit that the user hired; and an interactive media system having at least one display module mounted on the bank of locker units, the media system including a media information storage arrangement for storing interactive media content, and a media user interface arrangement for permitting a user interactively to select and retrieve media content from the media information storage arrangement for presenting the selected media content on the display module.

2. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the locker controller includes a locker user interface arrangement for guiding a user through a procedure for hiring a locker.

3. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 2, in which the locker user interface arrangement includes a touch screen display module for displaying a graphical user interface having touch screen control for guiding a user through the procedure for hiring a locker.

4. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 3, in which the media interface arrangement also includes a touch screen display module for displaying a graphical user interface for permitting a user interactively to select and retrieve media content from the media information storage arrangement for presenting the selected media content on the screen display module.

5. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 4, in which the touch screen display module of the locker user interface arrangement and the touch screen display module of the media user interface arrangement is formed by the same touch screen display module.

6. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 5, in which the locker user interface arrangement or the media user interface arrangement include an audio .arrangement for reproducing sounds audible to a user.

7. A media locker system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locker user interface arrangement or the media user interface arrangement includes an audio user interface.

8. A media-locker system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, in which the locker controller includes a microcontroller unit and a memory for storing a set of microcontroller executable instructions, which when executed, constitutes a locker hiring application.

9. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 8, in which the interactive media system includes a microcontroller unit and memory for storing a set of microcontroller executable instructions, which when executed, constitutes a media retrieval application.

10. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 9, in which the same microcontroller unit and the same memory is used for both the locker controller and the media system.

11. A media-locker system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10, in which the media content delivered by the media user interface arrangement includes text, and/or images, and/or videos, and/or sounds.

12. A media-locker system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 11 , in which the media user interface arrangement includes detection means for sensing the presence of a person proximate to the bank of lockers, and for activating presentation of the media content in response to the sensing of a person.

13. A media-locker system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the microcontroller for the interactive media system includes a scheduling arrangement for automatically displaying selected media content on the display module.

14. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the scheduling arrangement schedules different media content for display at different times according to a time schedule.

15. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, in which the media content displayed by the media system includes a sequence of stationary images displayed in turn on the display module.

16. A media-locker system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the scheduling arrangement can be interrupted by intervention by a user.

17. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the intervention by a user comprises operation of the locker controller or the media system by a user, or the intervention by a user comprises selection of alternative media content by a user.

18. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 17, in which the media interface arrangement includes a manual switch for enabling a user to select the content of the media that is displayable on the display module.

19. A media-locker system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 18, in which the media system includes an administrator arrangement for permitting authorized data communication of the media system microcontroller with an administrator system for configuring the microcontroller and for updating the media content.

20. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 19, in which the media system micro controller includes a network interfacing arrangement for- interfacing remotely with the administrator arrangement for remotely receiving media content that is to be displayed on the display module and for remote configuring of the microcontroller.

21. A media-locker system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bank of lockers is placed or is able to be placed at a venue and in which the media content includes information relating to the venue.

22. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 21 , in which the venue has a business associated therewith and in which the media content displayed on the display system includes promotional or advertising information associated with the business.

23. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 22, in which the venue has a plurality of businesses associated therewith and in which the media content includes information associated with at least two businesses.

24. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 21 , in which the venue is visited by users, and the media content includes information for users relating to the venue.

25. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 21 , in which the media content includes safety instructions relating to potential dangers to users when they visit the venue.

26. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the media content includes tourist information selected from the group of tourist information comprising: tourist attractions, maps and directions to tourist attractions, accommodation facilities, and transport services.

27. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 9, in which the media content is indexed and labeled with a unique media name or tag, a date when the media item was created and stored on the storage arrangement, a time of day and date when the media item is to be displayed or played on the display module, and the duration for which the media item is to be displayed.

28. A media-locker system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bank of lockers includes a plurality of lockers that are arranged in stacked rows of lockers to form a multi-tiered locker bank.

29. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, which includes a plurality of display modules of which at least one display module is mounted on the bank of lockers, and at least one other display module is mounted away from the lockers to display media content visible to viewers remote from the lockers.

30. A media-locker system as claimed in claim 9, in which the media information storage arrangement and the media user interface arrangement, and the micro controller for the media system are onboard the bank of lockers.

31. A method for operating a media-locker system having a bank of lockers and a media-system having at least one display module mounted on the bank of lockers, the method including: storing interactive media content on a media information storage arrangement; presenting an interactive media user interface to a user for the user interactively to request media content from the media storage arrangement; receiving a request from the user interfacing arrangement; retrieving the requested media content from the media information storage arrangement; and presenting the selected media content to the user on the display module.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31 , which includes presenting to the user a locker user interface for receiving a request from a user to hire a locker for a period of time and for guiding a user through a procedure for hiring the locker.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, in which the locker user interface and the interactive media interface includes graphical user interfaces presented on a touch screen module and having touch screen buttons for guiding the user through the process of hiring a locker or interactively selecting and retrieving media content from the media information storage arrangement for presenting the media content on the display module.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, which includes automatically displaying media information on the display module according to a time schedule and interrupting automatic displaying of the media content when presenting the interactive media user interface to the user for the user interactively to request media content from the media storage arrangement.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, which includes storing media content on the storage arrangement that relates to a venue at which the locker bank is placed.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, which includes storing media on the storage arrangement that relates to promotional or advertising information associated with a business at the venue at which the locker bank is placed.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, which includes storing media content on the media storage arrangement that includes instructional information to patrons at a premises where the bank of lockers is placed.

38. A method as claimed in claim 34, which includes storing media content on the media storage arrangement that includes tourist information selected from the group of information comprising: tourist attractions, maps and directions to tourist attractions, accommodation facilities, and transport facilities.

39. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 38, in which the media content includes text, and/or images, and/or videos, and/or sounds.

40. A method as claimed in claim 39, which includes generating an index for the media content.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40, in which generating an index for the media content includes tagging the media content with a unique media name, a date when the media content was created and stored on the storage arrangement, a time of day and date when the media content is to be displayed or played on the display module, and the duration for which the media content is to be displayed.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41 , which includes displaying media content on a plurality of display modules of which at least one display module is mounted on the bank of lockers and at least one other display module is mounted remote from the lockers.

43. A method as claimed in claim 42, which includes reproducing sounds audibly to a user with an audio arrangement forming part of the locker-media system.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43, which includes detecting the presence of a user proximate to the bank of lockers and in response thereto activating a presentation of the media content on the display module.

45. A media-locker system substantially as herein described in any of the embodiments described in the detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings.

46. A method of operating a media-locker system having a bank of lockers and a media-system as described in any of the embodiments described in the detailed description of the invention with particular reference to Figures 9 to 11.