Programmable, interactive display receptacle with use monitoring and independent activation, deactivation, and change capabilities

Abstract

A receptacle having a programmable, interactive visual display affixed to a surface of the receptacle. The receptacle includes the visual display, a programmable memory, and a controller. The memory stores data corresponding to one or more display images and/or text, and the controller controls the display for displaying the image/text data from the memory. The receptacle may further include an input mechanism for receiving at least one input, and the controller may control the display of images/text data in response to the input. The memory can also store at least one game or other program, and the controller can execute the game or other program from the memory, operate the game or other in response to one or more inputs received via the input mechanism, and control the display based on the requirements of the game or other programs. The display may include an audio component for producing audible sound.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A receptacle, comprising:
 a receptacle surface;   a visual display affixed to the receptacle surface;   one or more activation components including one or more of a user input mechanism operative to receive at least one user input, a sensor operative to sense at least one of a mode of receptacle use and a receptacle status, and a real time clock operative to provide at least one predetermined date and time;   at least one memory operative to store at least one program and data including at least one display image;   at least one processor operative to execute the at least one program out of the at least one memory to control the visual display for displaying the at least one display image, in response to one or more of the activation components including the user input, the mode of receptacle use, the receptacle status, or the real time clock; and   at least one image or form disposed on at least a part of the receptacle having a connection to at least one visual display image of the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The receptacle of  claim 1  further including an audio component operative to produce audible sound. 
     
     
         3 . The receptacle of  claim 1  further including an audio component operative to record sound. 
     
     
         4 . The receptacle of  claim 3  further including memory operative to store data including a plurality of audible sounds. 
     
     
         5 . The receptacle of  claim 4  wherein the processor is further operative, in response to the activation component, to control the audio component for broadcasting the data from the memory. 
     
     
         6 . The receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising:
 first memory programmed for timing of at least one of events in a day, week, month or year, or events within a day, week, month, or year; and 
 second memory having visual display data with associated events, and 
 wherein the processor is further operative to execute the at least one program out of the at least one memory responsive to the real time clock and associated events in the first memory to control the visual display for displaying event display images. 
 
     
     
         7 . The receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising:
 first memory programmed for timing of at least one of events in a day, week, month or year, or events within a day, week, month, year; and 
 second memory having an audible sound, or plurality of audible sound data associated with associated events, and 
 wherein the processor is further operative to execute at least one program out of the at least one memory in response to the real time clock and associated events in the first memory to control the audio component for broadcasting data from memory. 
 
     
     
         8 . The receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the real time clock is operative to time stamp selective receptacle use and status for storage in memory for use in finding receptacle use patterns, predicting or anticipating future use, or documenting misuse. 
     
     
         9 . The receptacle of  claim 1  further including a temperature sensor operative to sense temperature in proximity to the display, and memory having data for displaying control requirements over a temperature range, and
 wherein the processor is further operative to execute the at least one program out of the at least one memory responsive to temperature sensor and display control requirements over temperature range data to control the visual display including compensating refresh time or voltage levels, and for activating, not activating, deactivating, changing, or not changing the display. 
 
     
     
         10 . The receptacle of  claim 1  further including a temperature sensor operative to sense temperature in the receptacle, and memory having display data corresponding to temperature sensor data, and
 wherein the processor is further operative to execute the at least one program out of the at least one memory responsive to the activation component, the temperature sensor data, and the display data in memory corresponding to temperature sensor data, to update the visual display with the receptacle temperature. 
 
     
     
         11 . The receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the user input mechanism includes capacitive or resistive touch switches, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, optical sensors, acoustic sensors including microphones, RF communications including NFC (Near Field Communications) and Bluetooth, or accelerometers sensing specific receptacle orientations, movements, receptacle tapping locations and tapping codes. 
     
     
         12 . The receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the user input mechanism is operative to control display activation, deactivation, change or to keep fixed, select or program audio, text, graphic or video content and to interact with games and other programs. 
     
     
         13 . The receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer for monitoring receptacle angle, velocity, orientation, tilt, or tap. 
     
     
         14 . A method of customizing a programmable display receptacle for a specific user, group, organization, theme, or subject, the method comprising:
 molding, embossing, or printing a fixed image or form on at least a part of the receptacle corresponding to, representative of, or otherwise having a connection with a specific user, group, organization, theme, subject game or program;   installing a visual display with at least one programmable memory, processor, display activation device and associated electronics to the receptacle;   programming the memory with data for at least one image for the visual display that is corresponding to, representative of, or otherwise having a connection with the same specific user, group, organization, theme, subject, game or program as was molded, embossed, or printed on the receptacle; and   verifying successful programming of the receptacle memory including at least one of communications from receptacle and an image on the visual display signifying programming success.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising authenticating successful programming including:
 adding a checksum, unique receptacle ID, customer order number, customer name and mailing address, program name, program number or program version to a file sent to program the memory; and 
 displaying the checksum, unique receptacle ID, customer order number, customer name and mailing address, program name, program number or program version on the visual display after successful program completion, or displaying either nothing or an image indicating unsuccessful programming that includes error codes. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising, by an editor and programmer:
 selecting, uploading, or creating visual and audio data including voice, music, text, and images, games or programs related to a specific user, group, organization, subject or theme; 
 assigning attributes to the visual and audio data including voice, music, text, and images, games or programs including their interdependencies, sequencing, timing and under what conditions they become active; 
 creating a formatted file compatible with the programmable display receptacle control software program, receptacle memory and the communications for programming memory; and 
 programming receptacle memory including with visual and audio display data and their attributes by downloading the formatted file to the programmable receptacle display memory via a receptacle communications port. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising allowing one or more of individuals, groups, and organizations to collaborate on selecting and creating programmable display receptacles on a web page, including:
 initializing a custom receptacle by becoming the owner of the custom receptacle unless or until the individual assigns ownership to someone else; 
 identifying all other participants, including individuals, groups, organizations or all web site participants that are allowed to collaborate on creating the custom programmable display receptacle, at what stages they can collaborate and who can purchase or receive said custom receptacle finished product; 
 selecting or uploading a receptacle style and color, including any unique forms or embossing; 
 selecting or uploading any fixed images for the receptacle and identifying locations on the receptacle if there is more than one available; and 
 selecting, uploading, or creating any of visual and audio data including voice, music, text, images, games or programs along with attributes associated with the video display images, and audio data including date and time for selected images and audio to be displayed. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the visual display is a thin, flexible display, and wherein the method further comprises:
 installing the visual display, programmable memory, controller, display activation device and associated electronics to the receptacle, including: 
 enclosing the visual display to a sealed, plastic or glass overlay with a transparent window in at least the active display area of the visual display and includes any of the programmable memory, controller, display activation devices and associated electronics to be either in the same overlay package as the visual display, or located behind the visual display overlay when installed; and 
 installing any of the programmable memory, controller, display activation devices and associated electronics that are not located in the visual display overlay package onto the receptacle followed by sealing securing the visual display overlay package onto an outside surface of the receptacle. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the installed visual display overlay conforms to an outside surface of the receptacle, and wherein the method further comprises:
 providing a recess in the area of the receptacle corresponding the outline and thicknesses of the programmable memory, controller, display activation devices, associated electronics and visual display overlay; and 
 installing any of the programmable memory, controller, display activation devices and associated electronics that are not in the visual display overlay package, followed by installing the visual display overlay by aligning the visual display package to recessed area in the receptacle. 
 
     
     
         20 . A receptacle, comprising:
 a receptacle surface;   a visual display affixed to the receptacle surface;   a user input mechanism operative to receive at least one user input;   at least one sensor operative to sense at least one of a mode of receptacle use and a receptacle status;   at least one memory operative to store at least one program and data including at least one display image; and   at least one processor operative to execute the at least one program out of the at least one memory to control the visual display for displaying the at least one display image, in response to one or more of the user input, the mode of receptacle use, and the receptacle status.