Information distribution system for use in an elevator
View Patent ↗A method of providing video information to a display monitor within an elevator located in a building, which includes receiving first data defining a category of video information, receiving second data, associated with the category of video information and defining at least one source of the video information; and retrieving from the source, over a data communications path and on the basis of the first data and the second data, the video information to be displayed on the monitor within the elevator.
1. A method of displaying content on a plurality of elevator display units, said method comprising:
at a first processor associated with a first subset of said plurality of elevator display units,
receiving a first generic playlist, said first generic playlist defining a first category of content to be displayed;
identifying a first content source corresponding to said first category;
retrieving content from said first content source; and
displaying said content retrieved from said first content source at each elevator display unit from said first subset;
at a second processor associated with a second subset of said elevator display units,
receiving a second generic playlist, said second generic playlist including a definition of said first category of content to be displayed;
identifying a second content source corresponding to said first category, said second content source being different from said first content source;
retrieving content from said second content source; and
displaying said content retrieved from said second content source at each elevator display unit from said second subset.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first generic playlist further identifies a second category of content to be displayed immediately following said first category of content.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, at said first processor,
identifying a third content source corresponding to said second category of content,
retrieving content from said third content source; and
displaying said content retrieved from said third content source at each elevator display unit from said first subset.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising, at said second processor,
identifying a fourth content source corresponding to said second category;
retrieving content from said fourth content source; and
displaying said content retrieved from said fourth content source at each elevator display unit from said second subset.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said fourth content source is different from said third content source.
6. An apparatus for displaying content on a plurality of elevator display units, said apparatus comprising:
a first processor associated with a first subset of said plurality of elevator display units, said first processor configured to
receive a first generic playlist, said first generic playlist defining a first category of content to be displayed;
identify a first content source corresponding to said first category;
retrieve content from said first content source; and
display said content retrieved from said first content source at each elevator display unit from said first subset;
a second processor associated with a second subset of said elevator display units, said second processor configured to
receive a second generic playlist, said second generic playlist including a definition of said first category of content to be displayed;
identify a second content source corresponding to said first category, said second content source being different from said first content source;
retrieve content from said second content source; and
display said content retrieved from said second content source at each elevator display unit from said second subset.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said first generic playlist further identifies a second category of content to be displayed immediately following said first category of content.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said first processor is further configured to
identify a third content source corresponding to said second category of content,
retrieve content from said third content source; and
display said content retrieved from said third content source at each elevator display unit from said first subset.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said second processor is further configured to
identify a fourth content source corresponding to said second category;
retrieve content from said fourth content source; and
display said content retrieved from said fourth content source at each elevator display unit from said second subset.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said fourth content source is different from said third content source.
11. A manufacture comprising a tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon software for causing display of content on a plurality of elevator display units, said software including:
instructions for execution at a first processor associated with a first subset of said plurality of elevator display units, said instructions causing said first processor to
receive a first generic playlist, said first generic playlist defining
a first category of content to be displayed, and
a second category of content to be displayed immediately following said first category of content;
identify a first content source corresponding to said first category;
identify a second content source corresponding to said second category;
retrieve content from said first content source;
display said content retrieved from said first content source at each elevator display unit from said first subset;
retrieve content from said second content source;
display said content retrieved from said second content source at each elevator display unit from said first subset; and
instructions for execution at a second processor associated with a second subset of said elevator display units, said instructions causing said second processor to
receive a second generic playlist, said second generic playlist including a definition of said first category of content to be displayed and said second content category to be displayed;
identify a third content source corresponding to said first category, said third content source being different from said first content source;
retrieve content from said third content source;
display said content retrieved from said third content source at each elevator display unit from said second subset;
identify a fourth content source corresponding to said second category;
retrieve content from said fourth content source; and
display said content retrieved from said fourth content source at each elevator display unit from said second subset.
12. A manufacture comprising a tangible and non transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon instructions for causing content to be displayed on a plurality of elevator display units, said instructions including:
instructions for causing a first processor associated with a first subset of said plurality of elevator display units to
receive a first generic playlist, said first generic playlist defining a first category of content to be displayed;
identify a first content source corresponding to said first category;
retrieve content from said first content source; and
display said content retrieved from said first content source at each elevator display unit from said first subset;
instructions for causing a second processor associated with a second subset of said elevator display units to
receive a second generic playlist, said second generic playlist including a definition of said first category of content to be displayed;
identify a second content source corresponding to said first category, said second content source being different from said first content source;
retrieve content from said second content source; and
display said content retrieved from said second content source at each elevator display unit from said second subset.
13. The manufacture of claim 12 , wherein said first generic playlist further identifies a second category of content to be displayed immediately following said first category of content.
14. The manufacture of claim 12 , further comprising, wherein said instructions further include instructions for causing said first processor to
identify a third content source corresponding to said second category of content;
retrieve content from said third content source; and
display said content retrieved from said third content source at each elevator display unit from said first subset.
15. The manufacture of claim 14 , wherein said instructions further include instructions for causing said second processor to
identify a fourth content source corresponding to said second category;
retrieve content from said fourth content source; and
display said content retrieved from said fourth content source at each elevator display unit from said second subset.
16. The manufacture of claim 15 , wherein said fourth content source is different from said third content source.