Digital signage system

Abstract

Providing a digital signage system that can reduce communication costs between data distribution devices and information display devices. [Solution] The digital signage system includes a plurality of information display devices 20 installed in multiple locations, and a data distribution device 10 provided on a bus that travels around the locations where the plurality of information display devices 20 are installed. The data distribution device 10 includes a data distribution means 12 that establishes communication with the plurality of information display devices 20 at each of their vicinity locations only when the bus travels around the locations where the plurality of information display devices 20 are installed, and distributes data. The information display device 20 includes a receiving means 21 that receives data distributed from the data distribution device 10, a storage means 22 that stores the data received by the receiving means 21, and a display means 23 that displays information based on the data stored in the storage means 22.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital signage system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, bus stops have been provided with signposts, which are columnar guiding facilities. The signposts display guiding information such as timetables, fares, and route maps. These guiding information need to be replaced manually all at once at timings such as timetable revisions, resulting in a high workload.

[0003] Therefore, an information providing device for providing information regarding the operation of buses or the like that can change dynamically has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This information providing device communicably connects a plurality of bus stops each including a wireless communication unit and a reflective liquid crystal, a carrier device that is an information processing device operated and managed by a bus carrier, and a server device via a communication network such as the Internet or a mobile phone line network. The server device generates display data based on material data obtained from the carrier device so that a display according to the situation is made for each bus stop based on the information indicating the situation of the bus stop obtained from the bus stop, and transmits the display data to the wireless communication unit of the bus stop, thereby providing dynamic information to the bus stop.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the above information providing device, in order to arbitrarily update display data, it is necessary to construct a constantly connected line between the server device on the data distribution side and the bus stop on the information display side. However, the usage fee for this constantly connected line is an obstacle to the introduction of the device and the system.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a digital signage system that can reduce communication costs between a data distribution device and an information display device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The digital signage system of the present invention includes a plurality of information display devices installed in multiple locations, and a data distribution device provided on a physical mobile body that travels around the locations where the plurality of information display devices are installed. The data distribution device includes data distribution means that establishes communication with the plurality of information display devices at each of their vicinity locations only when the physical mobile body travels around the locations where the plurality of information display devices are installed, and distributes data. The information display device includes receiving means for receiving data distributed from the data distribution device, storage means for storing the data received by the receiving means, and display means for displaying information based on the data stored in the storage means.

[0008] According to the digital signage system of the present invention, when a physically mobile body equipped with a data distribution device moves around to locations where multiple information display devices are installed, communication between the multiple information display devices and the data distribution device is established each time at a location near each of the multiple information display devices, and data is distributed. As a result, each information display device can display information based on this distributed data. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the digital signage system of the present invention, communication between the data distribution device and the information display devices is established and data is distributed only when a physically moving object travels around a location where multiple information display devices are installed. Each information display device then displays information based on this distributed data, thus reducing communication costs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1]This is a schematic diagram of a digital signage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the digital signage system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a digital signage system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the digital signage system of Figure 1.

[0012] In Figure 1, the digital signage system in the embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of information display devices 20 installed at each bus stop (hereinafter referred to as "bus stop") of the bus 1, which is a physically moving object. The bus 1 is equipped with a data distribution device 10. The bus 1 is a public transportation service that operates according to a timetable and travels around to each of the locations where the information display devices 20 are installed.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the data distribution device 10 includes a storage means 11 for storing data to be distributed to each information display device 20, and a data distribution means 12 for distributing the data to each information display device 20. The data stored in the storage means 11 is such as a revised timetable. This revised timetable data is created by the management terminal 2 and stored in the storage means 11 of the data distribution device 10.

[0014] The data distribution means 12 establishes communication with each information display device 20 at a location near each bus stop only when the bus 1 is making a round trip to each bus stop. After establishing communication with each information display device 20, the data distribution means 12 distributes the data stored in the storage means 11. After completing data distribution, the data distribution device 12 terminates communication with each information display device 20.

[0015] The information display device 20 comprises a receiving means 21 for receiving data distributed from the data distribution device 12, a storage means 22 for storing the data received by the receiving means 21, and a display means 23 for displaying information based on the data stored in the storage means 22. The receiving means 21 is normally in a state where communication is stopped, and establishes communication to receive data when receiving data from the data distribution device 12. The display means 23 consists of a display panel, a controller for data processing and various controls, etc.

[0016] In the digital signage system with the above configuration, when the bus 1 equipped with the data distribution device 10 travels around bus stops where multiple information display devices 20 are installed, communication is established between the multiple information display devices 20 and the data distribution device 10 at each of the locations near the multiple information display devices 20, and data such as revised timetables is distributed. As a result, the information display devices 20 at each bus stop can display information such as revised timetables based on this distributed data.

[0017] Thus, in the digital signage system of this embodiment, the data distribution device 10 and each information display device 20 are normally in a state where communication is stopped (always in sleep mode), and only when the bus 1 is traveling around the bus stops is communication established between the data distribution device 10 and the information display device 20 at each nearby location to distribute data, thereby making it possible to reduce communication costs between the data distribution device 10 and the information display device 20.

[0018] Next, we will describe a more specific example of a digital bus stop using the digital signage system configured as described above.

[0019] The digital bus stop (information display device 20) uses an electronic paper display (EPD) as the display panel of the display means 23. Since the EPD consumes power only when rewriting, it is power-saving, can transmit information even without power, and is effective even during disasters. Also, the receiving means 21 is normally in a state where communication is stopped, and establishes communication and receives data only when receiving data from the data distribution device 12, so it is power-saving. Therefore, the information display device 20 can operate without power reception by adopting a solar power generation system.

[0020] The operating company of Bus 1 creates data such as the revised timetable and notification information to be displayed on the information display device 20, and transfers it from the management terminal 2 to the data distribution device 10 of Bus 1 at the business office. When Bus 1 in operation circulates among each digital bus stop (information display device 20), for example, the data distribution means 12 of the data distribution device 10 detects each information display device 20 by short-range communication using BLE technology such as iBeacon (registered trademark) and transmits a broadcast signal.

[0021] Each information display device 20 is always in the sleep mode. When each information display device 20 receives this broadcast signal due to the proximity of Bus 1 in operation, it establishes communication with the data distribution device 10 of Bus 1. After establishing communication with each information display device 20, the data distribution means 12 of the data distribution device 10 distributes the data stored in the storage means 11. After the data distribution is completed, the data distribution device 12 ends the communication with each information display device 20.

[0022] In this way, as Bus 1 in operation circulates among each digital bus stop (information display device 20), data such as the revised timetable and notification information is distributed to each information display device 20. Instead of data distribution by Bus 1 in operation, a data distribution device 10 may be provided on a physical moving body such as a maintenance service car, and data may be distributed by circulating among each digital bus stop (information display device 20).

[0023] Each digital bus stop (information display device 20) displays the current timetable until the timetable is revised, and also displays information such as notice information of the timetable revision. Then, when the set date and time of the timetable revision arrives, each information display device 20 can switch the display to the new revised timetable simultaneously. Note that as the data to be distributed, it is also possible to include a temporary timetable, detour guidance, disaster prevention information, advertisements, etc. It is also possible to include setting data such as the timing of display switching in the distribution data.

Industrial Applicability

[0024] The digital signage system of the present invention is useful as a system for performing data distribution and display using physical moving bodies such as buses, trains, subways, ferries, and airplanes, which are public transportation means operated based on a timetable.

Explanation of Symbols

[0025] 1 Bus 2 Management Terminal 10 Data Distribution Device 11 Storage Means 12 Data Distribution Means 20 Information Display Device 21 Receiving Means 22 Storage Means 23 Display Means

Claims

1. Multiple information display devices are installed in multiple locations, This includes a data distribution device provided on a physically mobile body that travels around to locations where the multiple information display devices are installed, The data distribution device includes data distribution means that establishes communication with the multiple information display devices at each of the locations where the multiple information display devices are installed, and distributes data, only when the physical mobile body travels around the locations where the multiple information display devices are installed. The information display device includes a receiving means for receiving data distributed from the data distribution device, a storage means for storing the data received by the receiving means, and a display means for displaying information based on the data stored in the storage means. Digital signage system.

2. The data distribution device detects the information display device via short-range communication and transmits a signal. The information display device is always in sleep mode, and establishes communication with the data distribution device upon receiving a signal from the data distribution device. The digital signage system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned physical moving object is a public transportation system that operates according to a timetable. The aforementioned data includes the aforementioned timetable. The digital signage system according to claim 1 or 2.

Images