CONTENT MANAGEMENT IN OUT-OF-HOME ADVERTISING NETWORKS

1 . A method of user placement of a content item for play on a location-based out of home advertising network, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of display screens each in a distinct geographic location, wherein each display screen plays content items during scheduled time periods, and wherein the content items include advertising content items and non-advertising content items;

maintaining on a network server of the out of home advertising network an inventory that includes inventory slots, wherein each inventory slot includes a given display screen location and a given scheduled time period, and wherein each inventory slot may be assigned a content item ordered to play at the given display screen location and a given scheduled time period;

receiving at the network server a user request from a user's electronic communications device to place a user content item in the out of home advertising network; and

operating a network user interface of the network to receive the user request, to automatically determine one or more inventory slot that is available to be ordered, and to automatically place an insertion order for the user content item from the user request into at least one inventory slot.

2 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the display screens are capable of playing content items in multiple zones; and

wherein the operating includes the insertion order placing the user content item to play at a given zone for the at least one inventory slot.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the content item that plays during the given scheduled time period is part of a program wheel that plays repeatedly during the given scheduled time period.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the content item plays during one of a plurality of program wheel positions, wherein the program wheel positions comprise time segments within a duration of the program wheel.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the display screens are capable of playing content items in multiple zones, and wherein each of the program wheel positions further comprises a given one of the multiple zones.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein a duration of the program loop corresponds to a typical dwell time of a viewer at the display screen.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving from the user one or more desired inventory slots in which the user content item is to be played.

8 . The method of claim 7 ,

further comprising, in response to the receiving of the user request, sending from the network to the user one or more available inventory slots that are available to be ordered; and

wherein the receiving from the user the one or more desired inventory slots includes the one or more desired inventory slots selected from the one more available inventory slots.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising the network holding the one or more available inventory slots for a period of time during which only the user can order the available inventory slots.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the network reserving a first group of the inventory slots as reserved inventory slots to be available for ordering by the user.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising increasing or decreasing the volume of inventory slots in the first group of the reserved inventory slots.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the network reserving one or more additional group of inventory slots, wherein the first group and the one or more additional group are reserved for different categories of content items.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the different categories of content items {are comprised of content management types, content genres, or combinations of content management types and content genres}.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the content item that plays during the given scheduled time period is part of a program wheel that plays repeatedly during the given scheduled time period, and wherein the first group of inventory slots corresponds to one or more of a plurality of program wheel positions within the program wheel.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically carrying out one or more network function on the user content item as a precondition to automatically place the insertion order for the user content item from the user request into the at least one inventory slot.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of automatically carrying out one or more network function on the user content item comprises the step of filtering the user content item.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of automatically carrying out one or more network function on the user content item comprises the step of reformatting the user content item.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of automatically carrying out one or more network function on the user content item comprises the step of creating multiple versions of the user content item.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the user request includes receiving the user request over a global computer network (the Internet).

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the user request includes receiving the user request from a wireless device.

21 . A method for user interaction with a location-based out of home advertising network, the method comprising:

displaying on a display screen that is part of the network a benefit item and access information for communicating with the OOH network using a handheld device of a user, wherein the handheld device includes en electronic visual display;

sending a network screen to the handheld device, to be displayed on the electronic visual display of the handheld device, in response to use of the access information; and

sending the benefit item to the handheld device in response to a user input to the network screen.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the benefit item includes an item having economic value.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the item having economic value includes a discount or coupon.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the benefit item includes information for accessing advertised goods and/or services.

25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the benefit item includes a map.

26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the benefit item includes an address.

27 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the benefit item includes contact information.

28 . The method of claim 21 ,

wherein the display screen is a gas pump topper display screen; and

wherein the benefit item is displayed during dwell time of the user at a gas pump.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the benefit item is usable at a business in close proximity to the gas pump.

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the benefit item is usable at a gas station that the gas pump is a part of.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the benefit item is usable at a convenience store that is part of the gas station.

32 . The method of claim 31 ,

wherein the network includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) that covers an area around the display screen; and

wherein the sending the network screen and the sending the benefit item includes sending over the WLAN.

33 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the access information includes a bar code displayed on the display screen.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

35 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the network sends the network screen in response to scanning of the bar code by the user.

36 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the sending the network screen includes sending a new user registration screen, if the user is a new user.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the new user registration screen prompts the user enter profile information.

38 . The method of claim 37 ,

wherein the profile information includes one or more of demographic information and psychographic information; and

wherein the displaying includes displaying a benefit item that is selected on the basis of the one or more of demographic information and psychographic information.

39 . The method of claim 21 ,

wherein the display screen is a multi-zone display screen; and

wherein the displaying includes displaying the benefit item and the access information in different zones of the multi-zone display screen.