REAL-TIME ADVERTISEMENT BASED ON COMMON POINT OF ATTRACTION OF DIFFERENT VIEWERS
An apparatus for advertising includes a focal direction module that uses cameras to determine a direction of focus of attention of a plurality of persons by determining a direction of the head of each person located in a vicinity of a plurality of products. A focus extrapolation module extrapolates the direction of focus for each person. A product focus module determines, for each product, a number of persons that have a direction of focus on the product. The determination is based on the extrapolated direction of focus for each person. A ranking module ranks each product based on the number of persons with a direction of focus on a product. A advertising module displays an advertisement in view of at least a portion of the plurality of persons, and the content of the advertisement is based on a ranking by the ranking module.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a focal direction module that uses one or more cameras to determine a direction of focus of attention of a plurality of persons by determining a direction of the head of each person of the plurality of persons, the plurality of persons located in a vicinity of a plurality of products;
a focus extrapolation module that extrapolates the direction of focus for each person of the plurality of persons;
a product focus module that determines, for each product of the plurality of products, a number of persons of the plurality of persons that have a direction of focus on the product, the determination based on the extrapolated direction of focus for each person;
a ranking module that ranks each product based on the number of persons with a direction of focus on a product of the plurality of products; and
an advertising module that displays an advertisement in view of at least a portion of the plurality of persons, content of the advertisement based on a ranking by the ranking module.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cameras are positioned to have a range of view of more than 180 degrees.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each product of the plurality of products is one or more of
viewed by the one or more cameras from a plurality of viewing angles totaling more than 180 degrees in a horizontal plane; and
receiving a direction of focus from a plurality of viewing angles totaling more than 180 degrees in a horizontal plane.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the direction of focus for each person of the plurality of persons is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the person's face.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the product focus module determines the number of persons of the plurality of persons that have a direction of focus on a product at regular time intervals.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the product focus module determines the number of persons of the plurality of persons that have a direction of focus on a product within a window of time.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the product focus module determines an amount of time that a direction of focus is maintained on a product.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ranking for each product of the plurality of products factors in a sales history of the product.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ranking of each product of the plurality of products factors in a duration of time that a direction of focus is maintained on the product.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ranking of each product of the plurality of products factors in an existing inventory of the product.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the advertising module displays the advertisement using a device comprising one or more of an electronic display, a tablet computer, a phone, and a printer.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the advertisement comprises one or more of a video, an e-mail, a text message, and a printed coupon.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the advertisement comprises a display located one or more of
within a vicinity of the product being advertised;
within a vicinity of a point of sale; and
within a view of a person that has a direction of focus on the product being advertised.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the product receiving the most direction of focus has a highest ranking and the advertisement comprises a promotion of the product having the highest ranking.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the advertisement comprises a promotion of one or more of
a ranked product;
a product related to a ranked product;
a product that is complementary to a ranked product;
a product similar to a ranked product;
a product used with a ranked product;
a product that comprises a substitute for a ranked product; and
a service related to a ranked product.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the advertisement comprises one or more advertisements for a plurality of ranked products of the plurality of products.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tracking module that, for each product of the plurality of products, tracks sales of the product and wherein the ranking module uses the sales information of the tracked sales to rank the plurality of products.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the tracking module further tracks, for a zone within the area of the plurality of products, one or more of
the number of directions of focus touching the zone; and
the duration of time that a direction of focus touches the zone.
19 . A system comprising:
one or more cameras;
a processor; and
a monitoring apparatus executing at least partially on the processor, the monitoring apparatus comprising
a focal direction module that uses the one or more cameras to determine a direction of focus of attention of a plurality of persons by determining a direction of the head of each person of the plurality of persons, the plurality of persons located in a vicinity of a plurality of products;
a focus extrapolation module that extrapolates the direction of focus for each person of the plurality of persons;
a product focus module that determines, for each product of the plurality of products, a number of persons of the plurality of persons that have a direction of focus on the product, the determination based on the extrapolated direction of focus for each person;
a ranking module that ranks each product based on the number of persons with a direction of focus on a product of the plurality of products; and
an advertising module that displays an advertisement in view of at least a portion of the one or more persons, content of the advertisement based on the ranking by the ranking module.
20 . (canceled)