Patents by Inventor Michael J. DiFranza

Michael J. DiFranza has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120000734
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GANNETT SATELLITE INFORMATION NETWORK, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Patent number: 7878308
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Publication number: 20100044161
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Captivate Network Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Patent number: 7156211
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Patent number: 6962240
    Abstract: A system for displaying content includes a display visible to viewers present in a viewing zone and an occupancy detector for providing occupancy data indicative of how many viewers are present in the viewing zone. A processing system associates this occupancy data with content provided on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Captivate Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Publication number: 20040222047
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Captivate Network, Inc., a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Publication number: 20030209392
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: Captivate Network, Inc., a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Patent number: 6543582
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Captivative Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Publication number: 20020112925
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Captivate Network, Inc., Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Patent number: 6073727
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, "real-time" general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Captivate Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Patent number: 5955710
    Abstract: The invention relates to features a system which distributes "real-time" information along with digital advertising to elevator display units mounted in elevators. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying general and commercial information to passengers within the elevator, and a local server which, receives scheduling information from a remote production server over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, retrieves and formats the general and commercial information for display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Captivate Network, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. DiFranza