Vehicle-mounted dynamic content delivery systems

Abstract

A method is disclosed for displaying dynamic media content on a vehicle-mounted display as the vehicle travels along a route. The dynamic content may be audio or video content, and is selected based in part on sensor data, which may pertain to contextual or environmental factors. The content may be dynamically adjusted during playback, such as by bouncing or sharply changing direction during a sudden change in velocity or acceleration. Aside from motion-related factors, other contextual and environmental factors include weather, visibility, traffic, location, and time of day.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for displaying media content on a vehicle, comprising:
 (a) providing said vehicle comprising a display screen on an exterior portion of said vehicle;   (b) dynamically selecting said media content while said vehicle is travelling along a route; and   (c) displaying said media content dynamically selected in (b) on said display screen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said display screen is part of a display unit mounted on said exterior portion of said vehicle, which display unit comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system (GPS), a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, an optical sensor, an audio sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said optical sensor is a camera or video unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said optical sensor is a particle sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in (b), said media content is dynamically selected at least in part on (i) a speed, velocity or acceleration of said vehicle along a route, or (ii) contextual or environmental factors along said route. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said contextual factors include a geographic location of said vehicle along said route. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said contextual factors include a time of day in which said vehicle is travelling said route. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said environmental factors include traffic conditions or ambient lighting along said route. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle comprises a roof rack, and wherein (a) comprises fixing said display screen to said roof rack. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said environmental factors include weather conditions along the route. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said contextual factors include places of interest along said route. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein places of interest include apartments, hotels, museums, parks, shopping centers, restaurants, and bars. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said contextual factors include entertainment events happening in a vicinity of the route. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein along said route, said vehicle undergoes a change in velocity or acceleration, and wherein said media content is dynamically adjusted in response to said change in velocity or acceleration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein along said route, said vehicle stops. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a sensor to collect audio or video data along said route, and using said audio or video data to dynamically select said media content. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said sensor captures a multi-angle video of conditions along said route. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said conditions are route conditions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a sensor to collect geographic data along said route, and using said geographic data to dynamically select said media content. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using one or more sensors to collect environmental data. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said environmental data includes data indicative of visibility along said route. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising adjusting said media content in response to said change in visibility. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining one or more environmental conditions from said environmental data, and adjusting said media content in response to said environmental conditions. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said one or more environmental conditions includes air pollution or light pollution. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising logging information along said route. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising logging demographic information along said route. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said demographic information includes a number of passengers along said route. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said demographic information includes video of pedestrian or vehicle traffic along said route. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said content is dynamically selected using a machine learning algorithm. 
     
     
         30 . A system for displaying media content on a vehicle, comprising:
 a display screen mountable on an exterior portion of said vehicle; and   a controller operatively coupled to said display screen, wherein said controller is programmed to (i) dynamically select said media content while said vehicle is travelling along a route; and (ii) direct said media content dynamically selected in (i) to be displayed on said display screen.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said controller is programmed to dynamically select said media content based at least in part on (i) a speed, velocity or acceleration of said vehicle along a route, or (ii) contextual or environmental factors along said route. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a sensor for collecting audio or video data along said route. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the sensor is a multi-angle camera. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a logging module for storing information collected along said route. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a sensor for determining the velocity and acceleration of the vehicle along said route. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the media content is selected from content stored on an online portal. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the online portal is configured to permit content providers to upload content. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the online portal is configured to permit content providers to choose a time interval in which to display content. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the online portal is configured to permit content providers to choose how often the content is played back. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the online portal is configured to permit content providers to choose a bounded area in which media content playback occurs. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the system communicates with connected devices using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 
     
     
         42 . A method for determining an impression, comprising:
 (a) displaying media content on a screen during a first time period;   (b) obtaining, using a camera, video of a subject adjacent to said screen; and   (c) processing said video, using a gaze-tracking algorithm, to determine whether said subject looked at said screen during said time period.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said screen is disposed on a vehicle. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said camera is integrated into said screen. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said gaze-tracking algorithm comprises a machine learning algorithm. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said machine learning algorithm comprises a convolutional neural network. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said gaze-tracking algorithm uses geometric techniques. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising, repeating (a) to (c) for a plurality of subjects other than said subject and computing an impression rate for said media content. 
     
     
         49 . A method for determining a rate of engagement by a target group, comprising:
 (a) displaying media content on a display screen at a first time at a first location;   (b) determining, using mobile phone data, one or more subjects who were within a specified distance of said first location at said first time, which one or more subjects comprise said target group;   (c) tracking, using said mobile phone data, a subset of said target group to a second location indicative of an engagement associated with said media content; and   (d) determining said rate of engagement by processing a size of said subset and a size of said target group.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said display screen is on or mounted to a vehicle. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said tracking is performed within a specified time of said first time. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said specified time is at most one week. 
     
     
         53 . A system for determining an impression, comprising:
 a display screen mountable on an exterior portion of a vehicle, which display screen is configured to display media content during a first time period;   a camera configured to obtain video of a subject adjacent to said display screen; and   a controller operatively coupled to said display screen, wherein said controller is programmed to process said video, using a gaze-tracking algorithm, to determine whether said subject looked at said display screen during said time period.   
     
     
         54 . A system for determining a rate of engagement by a target group, comprising:
 a display screen mountable on an exterior portion of a vehicle, which display screen is configured to display media content at a first time at a first location;   (b) determining, using mobile phone data, one or more subjects who were within a specified distance of said first location at said first time, which one or more subjects comprise said target group;   (c) tracking, using said mobile phone data, a subset of said target group to a second location indicative of an engagement associated with said media content; and   (d) determining said rate of engagement by processing a size of said subset and a size of said target group.