Refrigerated case advertising system and method

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser for maintaining food product at a desired temperature. The refrigerated merchandiser includes a case having a product display area adapted to support and display the food product to be visible from the front of the case and a refrigeration system operable to supply refrigerated air to the product display area and adapted to maintain the food product at the desired temperature. The case further includes at least one graphic display panel coupled to the case and a controller in electrical communication with the graphic display panel. The controller delivers a signal to the graphic display panel which displays video advertising based on the signal received from the controller.

1 . A refrigerated merchandiser for maintaining food product at a desired temperature, the refrigerated merchandiser comprising: 
 a case including a product display area adapted to support and display the food product to be visible from the front of the case;    a refrigeration system operable to supply refrigerated air to the product display area and adapted to maintain the food product at the desired temperature;    at least one graphic display panel coupled to the case;    a controller in electrical communication with the graphic display panel, wherein the controller is operable to deliver a signal to the graphic display panel, the graphic display panel operable to display video advertising based on the signal received from the controller.    
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one graphic display panel includes a plurality of graphic display panels, wherein the plurality of graphic display panels extend end-to-end across a substantial length of the case.  
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is operable to deliver a respective plurality of signals to the plurality of graphic display panels, the plurality of graphic display panels operable to display continuous video advertising across the plurality of graphic display panels based on the plurality of signals.  
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is operable to deliver a respective plurality of signals to the plurality of graphic display panels, at least one of the plurality of graphic display panels operable to display video advertising based on one of the respective plurality of signals independent of the remaining of the plurality of graphic display panels.  
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of graphic display panels is operable to display a static advertisement and the remaining of the plurality of graphic display panels is operable to display an active advertisement.  
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one graphic display panel includes a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor in electrical communication with the controller wherein the sensor is operable to generate a signal based on a measured parameter of the refrigerated merchandiser, the controller operable to receive the signal from the sensor.  
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is operable to adjust the refrigeration system based on the signal from the sensor.  
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is operable to activate an indicator based on the signal from the sensor.  
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is attached to the top of the case.  
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the controller electrically communicates with a network service accessible to an end user.  
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source supported by the case between the product display area and the graphic display panel.  
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 12 , wherein the light source is operable to project light along a first path of illumination directed toward the product display area adapted to brighten the food product, and wherein the light source is operable to project light along a second path of illumination directed toward the graphic display panel, at least a portion of the light along the second path of illumination operable to pass through the graphic display panel to be visible from the front of the graphic display panel.  
     
     
         14 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the case further includes a canopy positioned above the product display area, and wherein at least one graphic display panel couples to the canopy.  
     
     
         15 . A method of providing advertising on a refrigerated merchandiser located at a retailer, the method comprising: 
 providing a refrigerated merchandiser having at least one graphic display panel and a controller in electrical communication with the graphic display panel;    providing network service in electrical communication with the controller;    delivering video advertising from the network service to the controller;    delivering the video advertising from the controller to the graphic display panel; and    displaying the video advertising on the graphic display panel.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising charging a fee to the retailer for providing the network service.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising allowing an advertiser access to the network service.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising delivering the video advertising from the advertiser to the network service.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising charging a fee from the retailer to the advertiser.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein charging a fee from the retailer to the advertiser includes offering price specials based on the volume of advertising.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein displaying the video advertising includes displaying continuous video advertising across a plurality of graphic display panels.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein displaying the video advertising includes displaying video advertising on one of a plurality of graphic display panels independent of the remaining of the plurality of graphic display panels.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein displaying video advertising includes displaying a static advertisement on the one of the plurality of graphic display panels independent of the remaining of the plurality of graphic display panels displaying an active advertisement.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising integrating the network service to monitor and control the refrigerated merchandiser.  
     
     
         25 . A method of providing advertising on a refrigerated merchandiser located at a retailer, the method comprising: 
 providing a refrigerated merchandiser having advertising space;    charging a fee from the case manufacturer to at least one advertiser to advertise on the advertising space; and    displaying the advertising on the advertising space; and    reducing the purchase cost of the refrigerated merchandiser to the retailer by an amount based on the fee charged to the at least one advertiser.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising eliminating the cost of the refrigerated merchandiser to the retailer.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein providing a refrigerated merchandiser includes providing at least one graphic display panel on the refrigerated merchandiser for displaying video advertising and a controller in electrical communication with the at least one graphic display panel.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising providing network service in electrical communication with the controller.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising delivering video advertising from the network service to the controller and delivering the video advertising from the controller to the at least one graphic display panel.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising allowing an advertiser access to the network service.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising delivering the video advertising from the advertiser to the network service.