Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SUBWAY TV MEDIA SYSTEM
This invention relates to video display systems,
and more specifically to video display systems mounted in
and operating in mass transit subway cars.
It is commonplace to provide visual advertising
displays such as posters in mass transit subway cars, where
the displays are available for reading by subway passengers
during travel. It is also known to equip subway cars with
closed circuit television cameras, for surveillance of
passenger behaviour anal other safety checks. Images of
such surveillance are either displayed at a central
security facility, or recorded for subsequent viewing in
the event of safety problems.
It is al:~o commonplace to equip subway cars with
audio public' address systems for a myriad of uses,
including transit ~;ervice announcements, community service
events, advertising, safety and emergency procedures, as
well as inter-stafi_ communications.
Proposals have been made previously to equip
other trans~~ortation items, especially aircraft, with
television or video systems, primarily for the
entertainment. of passengers on long journeys. Examples of
such systems in the' patent literature can be found in U.S.
Patent 4,647,980 Steventon et al., U.S. Patent 4,630,821
Greenwald, U.S. Patent 4,352,124 Kline, U.S. Patent
5,123,728 Gra.din et: al., and U.S. Patent 3,457,006 Brown et
al.
Entertainment of passengers on subway cars has
until now generally been ignored, since the average journey
taken by a ~>assenc~er on a mass transit subway system is
usually short, lasting perhaps fifteen minutes.
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Nevertheless, subway transit riders offer an attractive
audience for visual advertising messages, as evidenced by
the proliferation of advertising signs which commonly adorn
a subway car. In addition, mass transit systems such as
subways are in need of extra sources of revenue, to keep
passenger fare structures at an affordable level as
operating costs rise, and to avoid decreased ridership as
a result.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a public service message display system,
entertainment system and advertising system for mass
transit subway cars.
It is a further object to provide a novel source
of extra revenue for a mass transit subway system.
The present invention provides a television
public service message display, entertainment and
advertising system for subway cars, in which television
monitors are provided at spaced intervals in subway cars,
to display short duration televisual entertainment and
advertising features to subway riders. The system is
designed so that advertising spots on it can be sold by the
transit system to potential advertisers and sponsors, for
extra revenues for the transit system. It takes advantage
of the fact that subway riders are, for the most part,
occupying a subway car under relatively crowded conditions
but for only a relatively brief duration. They are looking
for something on which to focus their attention during
their brief ride, whilst at the same time often finding it
inconvenient to open newspapers, magazines or the like
under crowded circumstances and becoming bored by static
advertising or other displays around them. The present
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invention prcvides properly positioned television monitors
displaying moving images of news items, advertising
material and the like, viewable by substantially all riders
in the car, and filling their need for visual entertainment
during the brief duration of their subway ride.
Thus, according to the present invention, from
one aspect, there is provided a video system for displaying
televised material to passengers in a mass transit subway
car, and core~prising at least one video display monitor
adapted for mountiTlg inside a subway car so as to display
televised mai~erials to passengers riding therein, and a
video signal source unit operatively connected to said at
least one monitor.
According to a second aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a subway car for mass
transportatic>n and comprising a video display system
including at least one video display monitor having a video
screen, the monitor being mounted in the subway car in a
manner such that the video screen thereof is readily
visible to passengers in the subway car, and a video signal
source unit operatively connected to said at least one
monitor.
The term "video signal source unit" as used
herein embraces player units for playing pre-recorded video
material, such as computer-based digital video recorders
(including Cl~-ROM players), video tape players and video
disk players,. and television receivers for receiving live
or pre-recorded broadcast television signals from a remote
transmitter and :supplying these to the video display
monitors mounted in the subway cars. One system according
to the invention utilizes receivers including computer-
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based digital video recorders for receiving broadcast
television signals from a remote transmitter as the video
signal source unit. Such video signal source unit can be
located either within the mass transits' premises or on a
remote broadcasting site. Alternatively, the invention
utilizes a video tape player, a video disk player, or a
computer-based digital video recorder, as the video signal
source unit. The video signal source unit may be located
in the same subway car as that in which the monitor or
monitors are located, or in adjacent or remote cars of the
same train, with the necessary operative connection between
the player and the monitor(s). An individual subway car
can be equipped with its own video signal source unit,
connected to a plurality of monitors mounted at different,
appropriately chosen locations along the length of the
subway car. Alternatively, one central video signal source
unit can be located in one car of subway train, and
connected to monitors in some or all of the cars of the
train, to provide a central video signal source unit for
the train.
Computer (PC) based digital video recorders
basically transmit video signals from a hard drive or CD-
ROM storage. They are however also capable of receiving
transmitted input at intervals, e.g. news item updates, at,
say, hourly intervals, to add to their stored transmittable
video data. In this sense they also act as television
receivers.
The video signal source unit and video display
monitors used in the present invention can be of known,
standard form, obtainable as off the shelf items from
manufacturers and sales outlets. The connections between
them, for display of televised material, are also standard
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and well within the skill of the art. For example, use can
be made of 'the existing subway infrastructure by which
audio announcements are currently transmitted.
Alternativel~~, the connections may be by use of coaxial
cables, fibre optics, cell phone systems or satellite
transmission, or by other appropriate means.
A preferred system according to the invention is
a subway car or plurality of subway cars equipped with a
plurality of television monitors, especially LCD-based
television monitor;a, and a video signal source comprising
a video tape player, video disk player or computer-based
digital video recorder, the video signal source and the
monitors being interconnected by suitable electrical cable
systems which. are self-contained within the subway car. In
this way, new subway cars can be built with the video
system or parts thereof installed, and usable on
substantiall~r any transit system, since the operation of
the video system is independent of any previously installed
track, tunnel. or control systems.
The video system according to the present
invention provides a means for communicating a very wide
range of information to viewers in an environment ideally
suited to communicating short video messages to viewers,
especially commercial messages or sponsored community
service, or informational news bytes. Most subway rides
are of short duration, e.g. 15-30 minutes or less. It is
normally undesirable to play television programs of any
significant length to subway passengers for fear of
distracting them from their proper points of interchange
and disembarkation. on the subway system. However, the
system according t:o the invention is ideally suited for
displaying ~~ series of short, 30 second - 1 minute
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messages, in sequence, such as a series of commercial
messages. These can range from straightforward advertising
as seen on commercial television, or the type of news feed
with corporate sponsorship as seen by cable television
viewers, with news services provided by specialized
companies in this business. If the information is
delivered by video tape player, video disk player or
computer-based digital video recorder, it can be repeated
at intervals of, say, 5-15 minutes, based upon the average
duration of individual subway rides, i.e. the pre-recorded
program is of total duration of about 5-15 minutes. If the
feed is delivered from an outside source, its delivery
depends on the package of the server, and according to
agreement between the purchaser and the mass transit
management, and other interested parties as necessary.
Typically, the television images displayed by the
monitors of the system according to the invention do not
incorporate sound, though they may contain rolling script,
similar to cable television news channels, or similar to
closed-captioning for the hearing impaired. This avoids
risk of interference with announcements being played to
passengers through the normal audio address system carried
by the subway train, and avoids adding to the general noise
level experienced by passengers on the subway cars, a noise
level which is commonly quite high even under normal
running conditions. However, sound may be incorporated
where appropriate, for example in safety or emergency
situations, or to mark the beginning of a message to which
the subway or transmission provider wishes to call
attention.
The manner in which the video display monitors
are disposed and mounted in the subway car depends to some
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extent on the de~oign of the subway car itself. Such
designs can vary between different subway systems.
Normally from 6-12 such colour monitors are provided in
each subway car, su~.itably of 12"-13" size, spaced along the
length of the car, and disposed above the windows of the
car, in a manner and at a location which does not interfere
with the operation. of any other essential element of the
car (door operation, lights, heating, air conditioning
etc.). A subway ca.r is normally constructed so that it has
a cavity wal:L, defined between its outer structural shell
and its inner- lining wall, the cavity providing for wiring
and cables arid other mechanical functions, and, at places,
containing insulation. The video display monitors in the
system of the invention are suitably mounted in the cavity
wall.
In a preferred arrangement, the video display
monitors havE~ a strong metal frame construction, fixed to
the frame of the :subway car. The screens are preferably
covered with a rigid transparent unit, e.g. of
polycarbonate, shaped to coincide with the shape of the
internal wa7.l of the subway car at the location of
mounting. F'or example, when the monitor is mounted at the
junction of 'the wall and ceiling of the subway car, where
there is commonly provided a concavely curved segment of
internal wall, th.e transparent cover unit is suitably
similarly concavely curved, so that it can be mounted as a
continuum with the internal walls and blended to contours
thereof, with the nnonitor mounted behind it. The screen is
suitably ang=Led do~wnwardly, for best viewing by passengers
seated opposite the screen. The entire structure of the
monitor, including the cover unit if used, is suitably
housed in a stainless steel or strong plastic casement,
designed to appear. integral with the subway car, without
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visible edges or protuberances, and matching the materials
and colours of the subway car interior.
The video monitors used in the system of the
present invention can be of standard, cathode ray tube-
based design. Such monitors have the advantage of economy,
being mass-produced items manufactured on a very large
scale. They are eminently suitable for use in most
embodiments according to the invention, and can be viewed
clearly from a variety of angles. However, in circumstances
where the subway car in operation encounters locations of
large magnetic field, it is possible that the picture
displayed on a CRT monitor will be distorted as the monitor
moves through such location. Any such distortion effect
can be reduced by surrounding the monitor, to an extent
practical and consistent with its provision of full visual
display, with an appropriate shield such as a steel or
other ferromagnetic casement. Where such a magnetic field
problem turns out to be particularly acute, the CRT-type
monitor may be replaced by a monitor incorporating a colour
liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, which is not sensitive
to intermittent encountering of external magnetic fields.
Specific preferred embodiments of the present
invention are illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic
drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows in plan view (Fig. lA) and in side
elevation (Fig. 1B), an existing subway car as used on the
Toronto Transit System with indications of appropriate
locations for mounting video monitors according to the
invention;
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Figure 2 is a sectional view of a subway car
according to the invention with video monitors in place;
Figure 3 is a detail, in section, of an existing
subway car illustrating the location for receiving a video
monitor according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a detail similar to Fig. 3, with the
video monitor in place;
Figure 4A is a view, similar to Fig. 4, of an
alternative embodiment;
Figure 5 is a detail in perspective view, of a
subway car equipped with a monitor according to one
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6 is a detail similar to Fig. 5 but of a
further alternative embodiment;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing
the general appearance when the monitor is operating.
A typical. subway car 10, as illustrated in Figs.
lA and 1B, i:~ equipped with sliding doors 12 and windows
14, spaced at convenient intervals along the length of the
car. Passenger seats, in sets of 2's and 3's, are disposed
beneath and alongside the windows 14, clear of the doors
12, some set: 16 being inward facing, other sets 18 being
forward facir.,g and other sets 20 being rearward facing.
Suitable locations for video monitors 22 in
accordance with thE~ invention are at the junction of wall
and ceiling of subway car 10, above the windows 14 and
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clear of the doors 12. They are thus disposed opposite to
sets of inward facing seats 16, and angled downwardly for
ease of viewing of passengers 24 seated in such inward
facing seats 16, as shown in Fig. 2, with direct sight
lines 26, but visible to passengers seated elsewhere, and
standing in the car 10. A video player 23 is suitably
located in the driver's cab 27 (Fig. lA), and connected to
all the monitors 22 by cables (not showing) disposed in the
cavity walls of the car.
Fig. 3 shows a detail of the car 10, at the
location where a monitor 22 is to be installed. The car
wall has an outer shell 28 in which windows 14 are
sealingly mounted, and structural pillars 30 mounted at
intervals and secured to the vertical structural member 32.
Centrally secured to the exterior skin and body structure
of body 34 of the car is a main air duct 36 and a housing
38 carrying ceiling lights running substantially the full
length of the car 10. The space between the ceiling
housing 38 and the top of the pillars 30 is normally
occupied by back lit advertising panels 40. Removal of
appropriate portions of these panels 40 provides space for
location of video monitors 22, according to the preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Thus as shown in Fig. 4, the video monitor 22 is
enclosed and rigidly mounted in its own enclosure 42, of
stainless steel, rigid plastic or the like. The enclosure
in turn is secured to the top of structural pillar 30 and
the side of housing 38, in a space between the ends of
illuminated panels 40, and protruding rearwardly to a
position adjacent the outer part of the exterior skin and
body structure 34. The front wall of enclosure 42 is
comprised of a clear transparent polycarbonate shield 44,
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through which the screen 46 the monitor 22 is clearly
visible. The screen 46 is angled downwardly for best
viewing by a passenger 24 seated opposite. The enclosure
42 with monitor 22 therein and connections protruding
outwardly therethrough is removable as a unit, for
replacement or service.
An alternative embodiment is illustrated in Fig.
4A, a view similar to that of Fig. 4. In this alternative
embodiment, CRT video monitor 22 is replaced with an LCD-
based video monitc>r 22A which is of thin, rectangular
cross-section, and occupies less space in the ceiling
structure of t=he ca:r. Accordingly, it can be moved towards
the ceiling :~o that its viewing screen is substantially
flush with or even behind the light panel 40. This use of
an LCD-based rnonito:r gives a better aesthetic appearance to
the inside of the subway car as a whole, as well as
improving the di~;play performance by minimizing the
interference effects, as previously discussed. An
appropriately shaped enclosure 42A for the LCD-based
monitor, with trane;port screen 44A, replaces enclosure 42
for the CRT video monitor, and is similarly mounted in
place.
Fig. 5 shows a front, perspective view of the
arrangement shown i:n section in Fig. 4. The monitor 22 and
its covering shie7_d 44 are recessed behind the upper
portion of t:ne adjacent advertising panels 40, and the
sides of the ~=nclosure 42 protrude inwardly from the lower
portion of panels 40. This provides ease of access to the
enclosure 42 for its removal when necessary.
An alternative arrangement is shown in Fig. 6.
Here the polycarbonate shield 44 is convexly curved, and is
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disposed further forward from the monitor screen 44. The
shield 44 now blends with forward facing part 48 the
exterior skin and body structure 34, to provide a perhaps
more aesthetically appealing arrangement. In Fig. 7, there
is diagrammatically illustrated the arrangement of Fig. 6
in practical operation. Poster-type illuminated
advertisements are provided by advertising panels 40
flanking the video monitors 22, whilst the video monitor
22, disposed at intervals along the length of the car 10,
show video information and/or advertising spots, at
convenient, easily viewed locations and disposition to
passengers riding in the car 10.
It will be appreciated that the specific
embodiments illustrated and described herein are by way of
example only, and are not to be construed as limiting on
the scope of the invention. The description pertains
specifically to the type of subway car currently in use in
the Toronto Transit System, and illustrates a means and
location for mounting the video monitors in such a system.
Details of construction, and hence details of appropriate
mounting for video monitors may differ from subway system
to subway system according to the form of car in use. Such
mounting details do not depart from the scope of the
present invention. In all cases, it is contemplated that
a plurality of monitors will be provided in each car, each
rigidly mounted at a convenient location clear of the doors
and windows, and at a disposition where it can be viewed by
passengers riding the subway car, without difficulty. The
provision of such video monitors mounted in their own
enclosures as described herein, and faced with a
transparent screen of, for example, polycarbonate, allows
for considerable variation in the detail of mounting means
and locations, to adapt them to different constructions of
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subway cars currently in use on different mass transit
systems.
