Apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for displaying information on mobile units, with reporting by, and control of, such units

• Main Authors: Fridman, Leonid, Mankins, Matt, Harkavy, Brad, Platsidakis, Michael, Selker, Edwin, Whiton, Adam
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.11.2002

A system for publicly displaying messages includes one or more mobile units, each including an automotive vehicle carrying a publicly visible electronic display; a computer for controlling the images shown on the display; and a radio for transmitting and receiving information, including information about which messages should be shown on the mobile unit's display. A central system receives and sends information to radios on the mobile units to control what messages they display. In some embodiments the mobile unit includes programming to enable a remote computer, such as a central system computer, to have remote access over the radio to commands of the mobile unit's computer's operating system. In some embodiments, the information transmitted by a mobile unit's radio includes information about the status of the mobile unit's computer. This can include how much more room its memory has, how utilized its CPU is, how much radio traffic it is having, what display message it is currently showing, etc. In some embodiments, the radio transmits real time information about the status of the mobile display unit. This can include information about one or more temperatures in the display device, the amount of light falling on or near the display's screens, the amount of light emitted by the display's screens, whether or not the vehicle's ignition is on, and the strength of the signal being received by a mobile unit's radio.