Interactive promotional information communicating system

Abstract

An interactive advertising system is adapted to identify, measure and track consumer exposure to a number of different advertisements and to expose consumers to several different advertisements. The system simultaneously identifies and measures the number of consumers viewing different advertisements, while displaying different selected advertisements for viewing by the consumer. The system includes a display for displaying advertisements and other information. The system functions in either one of an idle mode, wherein potential consumers are not within a sensed proximity range, and an active mode, wherein the presence of potential consumers within the proximity range is detected. In the idle mode, the system displays programmed non-advertisement information. In the active mode, the display projects a programmed sequence of advertisements, that includes full-motion color commercials that may be interspersed with other information. A sound module may be provided for generating an audio portion of the advertisements. The time period of the active mode is sensed for determining the portions of the programmed sequence of advertisements that were displayed during the active mode, for determining particular advertisements that may have been viewed by the consumer to generate data. The data is retrieved from a host computer for determining what information in the active mode was displayed and the duration that the system was in the active mode for determining consumer presence and what portions of the active mode information may have been viewed by consumers.

1 . An automated method for communicating individualized promotional information to a person, the method comprising: 
 sensing an activity;    determining a distinguishing characteristic of a person responsible for the activity; and    selectively communicating one or more promotional information segments to the person based on the determined distinguishing characteristic of the person.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining the person's interest in the communicated promotional information segments.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the promotional information segments are communicated to the person using an electronic display.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of determining the person's interest comprises determining whether the person is looking in the direction of the electronic display.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the person's interest comprises determining the duration that the person is looking in the direction of the electronic display.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the person's interest comprises measuring changes in the person's eye pupil size.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the person's interest comprises analyzing eye movement of the person.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of selectively communicating is further based on the determined interest.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether the person ordered or purchased a product or service which is the subject of a communicated promotional information segment.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether the person ordered or purchased a product or service which is the subject of a communicated promotional information segment within a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether the person ordered or purchased a product or service which is the subject of a communicated promotional information segment from a predetermined vendor.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of affording the person the opportunity of effect a purchase or order of a service or product which is the subject of a communicated information segment.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , where in the step of affording comprises establishing communication between the person and a vendor of the product or service.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein communication is established using an input device.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a distinguishing characteristic comprises accessing pre-stored information about the person.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pre-stored information is conveyed via a data link from a remote location to the location from which the promotional information segment is communicated.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a distinguishing characteristic comprises determining one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of gender, race, ethnic background, age, nationality, height, weight and shape of the person.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more characteristics are determined by facial scanning.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more characteristics are determined by an optical detector effecting a retinal and/or iris scan.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more characteristics are determined by voiceprint analysis.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing entry of the person into a detection zone.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing pressure exerted by the person.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing pressure exerted by vehicle operated by the person.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step of sensing comprises sensing heat and/or infrared radiation emitted by and/or reflected by the person.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing sound waves emitted and/or reflected by the person.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing activity of a device operated by the person.  
     
     
         27 . An automated method for projecting feature-specific promotional information, the method comprising: 
 sensing an activity;    identifying a feature of the activity; and    projecting one or more promotional information segments specific to the identified feature.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of offering for sale a service or product associated with a projected promotional information segment.  
     
     
         29 . An automated method for interactively communicating information to a person and/or determining information about the person, the method comprising: 
 sensing an activity;    communicating one or more promotional information segments to a person responsible for the activity; and    determining a level of interest of the person in a communicated promotional information segment.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of communicating comprises displaying the promotional information segments on a display means, the method further comprising the step of determining the portion of the display means the person is viewing.  
     
     
         31 . A system for selectively communicating promotional information to a person, the system comprising: 
 a sensing system for sensing a person;    a controller for determining a distinguishing characteristic of the person sensed by the sensing system; and    a projection device for projecting to the person promotional information based on the determined distinguishing characteristic.    
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the controller further determines the person's interest in the projected promotional information.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising an electronic display for communicating the promotional information.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the controller determines the person's interest by determining whether the person is looking in the direction of the electronic display.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the controller determines the person's interest by determining the duration that the person is looking in the direction of the electronic display.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the controller determines the person's interest by measuring changes in the person's eye pupil size.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the controller determines the person's interest by analyzing eye movement of the person.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein projection device projects promotional information based on the determined interest.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the system is in communication with a remote host computer.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the host computer is in communication with a vendor of a service or product which is the subject of the projected promotional information, the controller further operating to afford the person the opportunity to effect a purchase or order of said service or product.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the controller determines a distinguishing characteristic by accessing pre-stored information about the person.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the pre-stored information is conveyed via a data link from a remote location to the location from which the promotional information projected.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the distinguishing characteristic comprises one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of gender, race, ethnic background, age, nationality, height, weight and shape of the person.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more characteristics are determined by facial scanning.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more characteristics are determined by an optical detector effecting a retinal and/or iris scan.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more characteristics are determined by voiceprint analysis.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the sensing system senses entry of the person into a detection zone.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the sensing system senses activity of a device operated by the person.  
     
     
         49 . A system for selectively communicating promotional information to a person, the system comprising: 
 a sensing system for sensing an activity of the person;    a controller for identifying a feature of the sensed activity; and    a projection device for projecting to the person promotional information based on the identified feature.    
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the identified feature is a location of the system for selectively communicating.  
     
     
         51 . The system of claim  50 , wherein the location is identified using a global positioning system (GPS).