Electronic painting

Abstract

An electronic painting comprising a display unit which is provided with a display element, an energy supply and a control unit, having a rigidly installed, non-replaceable storage medium, wherein non-changeable information which is used to control the display unit is stored. The electronic painting assumes the functions of a traditional painting which represents only one idea and is unique by virtue of the fact that the content of the storage medium is constant. The painting has a flat display which is also suitable for mounting on walls as traditional paintings. The electronic painting can also be provided with housing frame. Advantageously, a current or battery-driven electronic painting can also represent dimensions and time. The storage medium may contain a determined sequence of electronically generated images or a video, and movements can, for example, also be directly represented. Stored sound sequences can also be emitted via optional loud speakers.

1 . An electronic painting comprising a display unit which has at least one display element, a power supply and a control unit for driving the display unit, the electronic painting having a storage medium which is permanently installed, cannot be exchanged and stores information which cannot be changed and is intended to be displayed by the display unit.  
   
   
       2 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the display unit is implemented using a flat panel display based on liquid crystals, light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes or plasma display elements.  
   
   
       3 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic painting has a housing in which the power supply, the control unit and the storage medium are integrated.  
   
   
       4 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is implemented in the form of a battery compartment  
   
   
       5 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is implemented in the form of a mains supply.  
   
   
       6 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the power is supplied by solar cells, which are fitted to the housing, in conjunction with a rechargeable battery.  
   
   
       7 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage medium is disposed inside the housing of the electronic painting and is not accessible from the outside.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage medium is implemented using a hard disk, a microdrive, a memory stick, a compact flash memory, an optical memory, a magnetic card, a CD/DVD with a CD/DVD drive or a memory card.  
   
   
       9 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a clock.  
   
   
       10 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the display element is flexible.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the display element is made of electronic paper.  
   
   
       12 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic painting is attached to or integrated in clothing.  
   
   
       13 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic painting is attached to or integrated in a bag, a briefcase, a wallet, or a suitcase.  
   
   
       14 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the information to be displayed is provided in encrypted form.  
   
   
       15 . The electronic painting as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the information to be displayed is protected by a digital rights management system.  
   
   
       16 . A method of doing business, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an electronic painting comprising a display unit which has at least one display element, a power supply and a control unit for driving the display unit, the electronic painting having a storage medium which is permanently installed, cannot be exchanged and stores information which cannot be changed and is intended to be displayed by the display unit;    (b) storing display information on the storage medium, the display information comprising an electronic image or a sequence of electronic images; and    (c) providing the electronic painting to customers.    
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the original display information is destroyed after copying it to a predetermined number of electronic media.  
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the original display information is securely stored for refreshing the display information, and wherein access to the original display information is limited to the publisher of the electronic painting.  
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the electronic painting is leased to customers for a certain period of time.  
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the electronic painting is provided with a clock for measuring leasing time lapsed, and wherein the electronic painting is automatically switched off when a predetermined leasing time has lapsed.