Digital communication system with security features
A digital communication system is disclosed, that allows a display of override content to interrupt a display of ongoing content on one or more display units. Ongoing content, such as advertisements, news, entertainment, or other relevant information, is provided on the display units until an urgent or security-related alert is required, and display of override content becomes necessary. Override content can include information relevant to the security of a passenger or passer-by viewing the display. Override content can relate to security threats such as accidents, major delays, fire, missing children, terrorist activity, or other content deemed adequately pertinent to warrant interrupting the display of ongoing content.
1. A digital communication system for distributing ongoing content and override content to a plurality of display units, the system comprising:
at least one display unit divided into two or more regions, each of said regions being capable of displaying a different input signal or stream carrying ongoing or override content; and
an override controller for receiving an override control signal and for retrieving override content from an override media source; and
a content distribution controller for controlling ongoing content for dissemination to the display units; and for overriding, on receipt of the override control signal from the override controller, at least one of the input signals or streams carrying ongoing content with an input signal or stream carrying override content;
wherein at least one region of the at least one display unit is for displaying ongoing content directed to advertising, while a second region is for displaying ongoing content not directed to advertising;
wherein the override content is displayed only on the at least one region of the display unit for displaying ongoing content not directed to advertising.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said ongoing content not directed to advertising comprises news, entertainment, location information, or transit-related information.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the override controller is configured to receive the override signal from a security authority.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the security authority comprises a police department; a fire department; a weather authority; an anti-terrorism authority; a building manager; or a transit authority.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the override controller is configured to receive the override signal from a security device.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the security device comprises a fire alarm, a motion detector, a surveillance camera, or an intrusion alarm.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the override content comprises security information.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the ongoing content comprises static visual content, animated visual content, audio content, or a combination thereof.
9. A method of providing security alert information in a digital communication system for distribution to a plurality of display units, the method comprising:
displaying at least two different input signals or streams carrying ongoing content on at least two regions of a plurality of display units;
receiving an override control signal;
retrieving override content containing security alert information in response to the override control signal;
formatting and transmitting override content to at least one of the regions of the display units to interrupt the signal or stream carrying ongoing content wherein at least one region of each of the display units is displaying ongoing content directed to advertising, and at least one other region is displaying ongoing content not directed to advertising; and
the override content is transmitted only to the at least one other region of the display units that is displaying ongoing content not directed to advertising.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving an override signal comprises receiving a signal from a security authority.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving an override signal comprises receiving an override signal from a security device.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the security alert information is provided to passengers in a transit network, the network having the digital communication system and the plurality of display units being mounted within the network.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein displaying at least two input signal or streams carrying ongoing content comprises: displaying at least one signal or stream carrying ongoing content directed to advertising and displaying at least a second input signal or stream carrying ongoing content not directed to advertising.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein formatting and transmitting override content to at least one region of the display units to interrupt ongoing content comprises:
interrupting the ongoing content not directed to advertising.