Apparatus and method for using connected vehicles as an advertisement platform

Abstract

A connected vehicle configured to detect presence of people near the connected vehicle via one or more proximity sensors is disclosed. The connected vehicle may be configured to reproduce one or more audio advertisements via external displays and/or external speakers of the connected vehicle. The one or more advertisements may be reproduced in such a way that the one or more advertisements reproduced may provide the people with an alert message informing them of the presence of the connected vehicle, in place of imaginary engine sounds, for safety of people outside the connected vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connected vehicle, the connected vehicle comprising:
 an advertisement system configured to detect presence of people near the connected vehicle via one or more proximity sensors and reproduce one or more audio advertisements via external displays and/or external speakers of the connected vehicle, wherein the one or more advertisements are reproduced via the external speakers of the connected vehicle in such a way that the one or more advertisements reproduced provide the people with an alert message informing the people of the presence of the connected vehicle, for safety of people outside the connected vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The connected vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the connected vehicle is configured to communicate and reproduce a same advertisement substantially simultaneously with other connected vehicles disposed near the connected vehicle or to reproduce an advertisement in coordination with other connected vehicles. 
     
     
         3 . The connected vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the connected vehicle is further configured to include an auxiliary battery for operation of the advertisement system and powering the external speakers such that the one or more advertisements are reproduced by the advertisement system when the connected vehicle is off but the presence of people near the connected vehicle is detected. 
     
     
         4 . The connected vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the external speakers of the connected vehicle comprise one or more vibration speakers based in part on one or more vibration media disposed in the connected vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The connected vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement system is configured to reproduce commercial information and/or non-commercial information. 
     
     
         6 . The connected vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the advertisement system is further configured to reproduce the non-commercial information between reproductions of commercial advertisements on the one or more external display, and wherein the non-commercial information comprises news, weather, traffic or other public information or announcements. 
     
     
         7 . The connected vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the non-commercial information comprises real-time scores for one or more sports games. 
     
     
         8 . The connected vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the non-commercial information includes location based information relating to transportation schedules including bus or train arrival times, when the connected vehicle is disposed at or near a bus or train station.