Locally responsive kiosk signage from on-line source

Abstract

Displayed content of signage at a distal location is at least partially controlled by a processor and database that directs signage display from a distal location. A central location processing system collects information on local, area wide, national or international conditions, events or changes in status and directs local signage to display appropriate information. The central location itself collects information, samples information, and evaluates general information to determine what specific information may be appropriately or desirably displayed at local signage. The display may be relevant to seasonal events such as holidays, sports events, actual changes in season, school year beginnings or endings, political events and the like, or independent events or conditions such as weather changes, severe weather, sales events, consumer alerts, public alerts, special event days. Information displayed locally can consider evaluation of local response to a range of potentially displayed information.

1 . A method of providing signage information to a viewable display comprising:
 a central processor system communicating with multiple information sources, at least two of said each information sources being separately and distally located from the central processor;   the multiple information sources providing information to the central processor system;   the central processor system distinguishing among information according to categories of information received;   the central processor forwarding information on a periodic or continuous basis to client processing systems; and   the client processing systems providing information to at least one display system for display in a public area;   
     wherein the information forwarded from the central processor is less than all information provided from the multiple information sources and determination of the amount of information and type of information forwarded is determined by at least one software program agreed to by the central processor system and the client processor system; and 
     wherein said less than all information provided from the multiple information sources is visually displayed in the public area. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the client processor system specifies content of what is displayed. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein information is forwarded on the basis of a priority format established between the central processor system and the client processor system. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the central processor assigns priority classifications to information received. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the priorities are based at least in part upon an evaluation of the relationship of received information to and from a client location. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein software automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to providing information to the client processing system, content parameters for the information transmitted are formally agreed to between the central processor and the client processing system and information is provided according to parameters, conditions and/or terms of an agreement implemented in software in the central processor. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the agreement includes payment for information received, an amount of the payment based upon contract provisions between the central processor and the client processing system. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the client elects parameters of what is to be displayed on client displays. 
   
   
       10 . A system for providing controlled information for display by a client comprising
 an information communication network allowing transmission of information between processors;   multiple information sources that communicate information over the information communication network to a central processor;   the central processor that receives communicated information from the multiple information sources;   the central processor enabled to distribute tasks to other servers within a central processor group   the central processor categorizing received information;   the central processor providing categorized information over the network to at least some of the other servers within the central processor group; and   a client processor in the central processor group that receives categorized information and publicly displays categorized information that is provided according to parameters established between the central processor system and the client processor system, which client processor system limits the type and content of information that may be publicly displayed according to software executed in the central processor or the client processor.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein at a single client location there are multiple display systems wherein information from the client processor is uniformly displayed on the multiple display systems. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein at a single client location there are multiple display systems wherein information from the client processor is differentially displayed among the multiple display systems based upon direction effected by the client processor. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein software in the client processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein software in the client processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein software in the client processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein software in the central processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein software in the central processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein software in the central processor automatically assists in determining time duration for display of information, frequency of displayed information items and/or space allotment to information items to be displayed.