Reusable Digital Signage Channels with Local Variance Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing digital signage across multiple locations are inefficient due to the cumbersome process of individually scheduling each digital asset on hundreds or thousands of display devices, which does not scale well and lacks reusability, making it difficult to maintain and deploy consistent content with local variations.

Innovation Solution

The system groups digital assets into reusable channels with scheduling information, allowing for efficient deployment across multiple display devices, where a single file containing metadata is communicated from a central computing device to remote devices, enabling easy management of global and local content schedules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If individual digital assets are scheduled separately for each display device, then precise control over content display is achieved, but the system complexity and manual effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent scheduling precisionVSAvoidscheduling system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the scheduling system into two levels: channel-level scheduling (grouping multiple digital assets into channels) and device-level scheduling (assigning channels to display devices). This segmentation reduces complexity by avoiding individual asset-to-device mapping while maintaining precise control through the hierarchical structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces 'channels' as an intermediary layer between digital assets and display devices. Instead of directly mapping assets to devices, assets are first organized into channels, which then are assigned to devices. This intermediary simplifies the scheduling process and reduces system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If each digital asset is individually assigned to display devices, then specific content can be shown at specific times, but the process becomes manually intensive and does not scale

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent deployment easeVSAvoidcontent deployment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple digital assets into channels, allowing them to be scheduled and deployed as a group rather than individually. This combining approach maintains the ability to control specific content display while dramatically reducing manual effort and improving scalability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The channel structure provides multi-functionality: channels can contain multiple assets, be scheduled with time information, assigned to multiple devices, and reused across different contexts. This universal structure eliminates the need for repetitive individual asset assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If n individual elements are scheduled across m display devices, then complete content coverage is achieved, but the number of assignments required becomes unmanageable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent coverageVSAvoidscheduling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a new dimension to the scheduling structure by introducing channels as an intermediate layer. Instead of a direct n-to-m mapping between assets and devices, the system creates an n-to-k (assets to channels) and k-to-m (channels to devices) mapping structure, reducing the total number of assignments required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If digital assets are individually tagged and scheduled, then location-specific content can be displayed, but reusability across different locations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation-specific content capabilityVSAvoidcontent reusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The channel structure enables universal reusability: the same channel containing multiple digital assets can be assigned to multiple display devices across different locations. This maintains location-specific content capability while dramatically improving content reusability and reducing redundant scheduling work.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10523990B2Reusable digital signage across multiple locations with local variances

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Systems and techniques for creating reusable digital signage at a central computing device and deploying the reusable digital signage from the central computing device to multiple remote display devices include creating a first channel and a second channel at a central computing device. A first set of multiple digital assets are assigned to the first channel and a second set of multiple digital assets are assigned to the second channel. A schedule for display of the first channel and the second channel is created, where the schedule includes timing information for display of the first channel and for display of the second channel. The schedule is assigned to the multiple remote display devices. A single file of the first channel and the second channel is generated for deployment to the multiple remote display devices including the schedule as metadata in the single file. The single file is communicated from the central computing device to the multiple remote display devices for display of the first channel and the second channel according to the schedule.