(19) Japan Patent Office (JP)
`JPA H07 – 168544
` (43) Date Published July 4, 1995
`
`(12) Unexamined Patent Application Publication (A)
`
`
`
`(11) J P A Publication Number
`
`(1)
`
`H07 - 168544
`
`Technology Indication Section
`
`FI
`
`(51) Int.Cl.6
`In-house sorting no.
`ID Code
`G09G 5/00 510 B 9471-5G G06F 15/00
`310 S 7459-5L G09F 9/00 301
`7610-5G
` Examination has not been requested. No. of Claims 3 FD (9 pages in total)
`(21) Application No.
`H05 – 342203
`(71) Applicant: 390002967
`(22) Application Date December 15, 1993
`Natsu Kopu Ltd.
`1-2-1 Tobio, Atsugi City, Kanagawa
`Prefecture
`(72) Inventor: Tadaya Nakamura
`1-2-1 Tobio, Atsugi City, Kanagawa
`Prefecture
`
`
`
`
`(54) [Title]
`ADVERTIZING, ETC. DISPLAY CONTROL
`SYSTEM
`
`(57) [Abstract]
`[Object] Create a control system allowing a registered
`user to input information at any location without
`technical constraints to display advertisements and
`information on the preregistered display devices
`selected.
`[Constituent Features] The system is structured by
`registering a plurality of slave stations each having a
`storage means which can receive and transmit data in
`the communication range and a display device
`connected to a plurality of terminal devices via a
`master station. Display contents are prepared using
`display content preparation support software operated
`within the system, and display conditions, such as
`location and time, are set using posting support
`software operated within the system. The processing
`is performed by selecting audio, text, and pictures in
`the guide displayed by the system to appropriately add
`the display contents for the personally prepared
`portion to be converted to allow the system to display.
`The conditions for the posting reservations and the
`costs are decided by sequentially limiting the location
`and time. After editing and adjusting for the available
`display time at the slave stations and overlapped
`reservations during the multi-reservation time frames
`established by the system, the slave stations store the
`information and then execute the reserved display.
`The execution records are created in a transmittable
`form.
`[Effect] An individual can advertise on a group of
`display devices globally at the level operable by
`ordinary persons; slave station owners can widely
`solicit advertisers; and system operators can
`autonomously employ the latest technology.
`
` IPR2017-00006 Ex. 1003
`Broadsign International, LLC Petitioner
` 1
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`

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`
`[Claims]
`[Claim 1] An advertising, etc. display control system 10 for
`advertising facilities comprising a plurality of fixed or mobile
`registered electronically controllable display devices 1a, 1b, ---,
`as slave stations 1, and a master station 2 selectively organized
`and configured with a central control unit 2b controlling a
`central processing unit 2a or a group or a plurality of groups of
`central processing units 2A, each unit individually and the
`group, adapted to display advertisements or information at any
`of the slave stations 1 by inputting and transmitting the display
`reservation information m prepared from a plurality of terminal
`devices 3 via the master station 2 which transmits the data to the
`slave station 1, wherein the advertising, etc. display control
`system is characterized such that the display reservation
`information m for a slave station 1 available for reservation is
`prepared by using display content preparation support software
`4, which assists the preparation of display data, including audio,
`text, or videos, for the display reservation information m, and
`display content posting support software 5, which assists the
`selection of a single or plural slave stations 1 to be reserved for
`display specified in accordance with certain standards, setting
`the display duration t and posting reservation time frame T, and
`display related procedural processing P, including editing of
`multiple display reservations, calculating and collecting fees or
`costs c; a display reservation with a specific slave station 1 is
`completed by inputting at any specific terminal device 3 directly
`or via a prescribed storage medium n upon storing the
`information on the storage medium n; and the display of the
`display reservation information m is executed at the specific
`slave station 1 under the set conditions reserved from a specific
`terminal device 3 via the master station 2.
`[Claim 2] The advertising, etc. display control system
`characterized by updating the display time information 6 of the
`display content posting support software 5 by dividing the
`display reservation cut off period for the selected specific slave
`stations 1 into several periods, sequentially distributing and
`editing the display reservations to be displayed in the same
`posting reservation time frame T received during each of the 1 st
`to the Nth reservation periods, while distributing the idle time 2t
`remaining in the posting reservation time frame T before and
`after each of the reserved display runtime t1 during the
`reservation period to adjust for overlapping display reservations,
`setting the display duration t for each of the display reservations
`by adding the idle time t2 to the display runtime t1 at the end of
`the final reservation period, and successively registering the
`display reservation status with the master station 2.
`[Claim 3] The advertising, etc. display control system
`characterized by providing the slave stations 1 with a storage
`means 7 accompanied by a transceiver 7a, enabling the slave
`stations 1 to store the transmitted contents 8 from the master
`station 2 before the display control system 10 executes and
`completes the reserved display of the transmitted contents 8 in
`the posting reservation time frame T at the slave stations 1, and
`enabling the slave stations to store the execution records 9 for
`the completed display before transmitting them to the master
`station 2, the applicable records for individual reservations
`among the transmitted records being subsequently transmitted to
`each of the preregistered addressees 3a.
`[Detailed Description of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Industrial Applications] The present invention relates to
`displaying advertising and information, particularly to an
`advertising, etc. display control system capable of allowing a
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`(2)
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`H07 - 168544
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`user to display advertisement and information, while allowing him
`to manage his budget, by inputting the information at a
`prescribed terminal device installed at a given location for
`display on a group of registered display devices of any number
`to be remotely communicated to a single or plurality of display
`devices optionally selected from among the group of display
`devices.
`[0002]
`[Background Art] Conventional methods for placing
`advertisements and information (hereinafter referred to as
`advertisements) include: a) producing, and posting or
`distributing a single or plural printed materials displaying the
`information one wishes to display at a specific location or non-
`specific multiple locations, b) unilaterally transmitting
`advertising as audio broadcasting, or image/video advertising
`using a group of display or notification devices, including
`radios, cable broadcasting systems, and television sets to the
`general public or the persons located at a specific location, or c)
`exclusively displaying advertisement on a single display device
`by using a device, such as an illuminated advertising board, an
`electronic signboard, a liquid crystal display, or the like.
`[0003] Conventional technologies for b) and c) above have
`been disclosed as the following advertising technologies: 1)
`anyone can know the registered display contents at an
`unspecified location by way of a prepaying means (Japanese
`Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H01-115262),
`2) the advertisement information stored on an electronic medium
`is displayed on a specific display means using a prepaying
`means by inserting a coin or card to display the information real
`time during a specific display period (Japanese Unexamined
`Patent Application Publication No. H02 -47766), 3)
`communication data display technology comprising a data
`conversion means, a storage means, and a display means which
`compresses and converts the communication data for
`advertisements (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
`Publication No. H02-181818), and 4) information notification
`technology which displays the display contents using text and
`images by way of a remote data transmission, and additionally
`provides audio (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
`Publication No. H05-216420).
`[0004] Additional disclosure includes 5) electronic billboard
`technology using a broadcasting system comprising a master
`station and a plurality of slave stations wherein an information
`provider prepares information contents and transmits to the
`master station, and specified slave stations display the contents
`on their display devices after confirming that the contents
`transmitted by the master station are indeed addressed to the
`slave stations (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
`Publication No. H03-117123), and 6) such information
`transmission is performed by satellite communication (Japanese
`Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. S60-85631).
`Additional disclosure includes 7) a system which displays
`information in a transportation vehicle (disclosed in the Denpa
`Shimbun article “A New Vehicular Video Service System
`Using Liquid Crystal Displays” published on February 14,
`1989), and 8) technology similar to 7) that provides non-specific
`information to the general public in a transportation vehicle by
`receiving the information transmitted from the outside (Japanese
`Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H02-223985).
`[0005] The latest prior art applicable to b) and c) above shows,
`“non-specific” being the keyword, that all display contents can
`be displayed on a remotely located display device by way of
`communication regardless of the form or style; the beneficiaries
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`can see the advertisements before their eyes at a specific
`location, such as a telephone box, by prepaying; the information
`providers can display information on a specific display device
`real time by prepaying; the communication and information
`companies can have the benefit of compressing the entrusted
`information to efficiently transmit and display the information;
`and the broadcasting system and transportation vehicle
`information network professionals can manipulate information
`provision and display to provide the public with unspecified
`information.
`[0006]
`[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional
`advertising method a) described above, however, is wasteful
`because the advertising media are expended or disposed of after
`use, and the conventional method b) has the same restrictions as
`those of the technologies 1) and 2) in which a beneficiary or an
`information provider seeking profits from advertising can
`transmit or receive advertisements, even if he is not a
`professional, if prepaid, i.e., he can merely receive profits to the
`extent that he can confirm. In order to increase profits from
`advertising in a wider area, an advertiser has no choice but to
`specify the conditions, such as a certain posting time frame and
`display duration, and to depend on the specific contracted
`professionals who exclusively select and use specific facilities for
`a broadcasting area or a transportation vehicle, which did not
`allow the advertiser to advertise to the general public in a few
`limited, selected regions to aim for the maximum economic
`effect.
`[0007] In other words, if an end user transmitting advertisements
`in a wide area is located in Kyushu and wishes to advertise using
`advertising facilities located in Tokyo, for example, he would
`outsource the task to a professional, leaving the decisions on the
`advertising means and specifications to the professional. In the
`case of displaying an advertisement on broadcasting display
`devices, since advertisements are normally displayed for short
`time periods, a mid-sized advertisement not conforming to the
`broadcasting conditions cannot be displayed. In the case of
`advertising on an outdoor display device, an advertisement is
`posted continuously by securing the right under an exclusive
`long-term contract over several months to several years, and thus
`the advertising space cannot be made available to someone who
`wishes to place another advertisement for a short period of time.
`Even if the contractor wishes to suspend the advertisement, he
`cannot do so unless he terminates the contract prematurely or the
`other party agrees to such suspension. Even if a regionally
`located small enterprise wishes to utilize a distant, centrally
`located outdoor display device, it could not to do so at an
`appropriate location on a timely manner.
`[0008] Meanwhile, if an owner of an outdoor display device such
`as an advertisement tower wishes to have an advertiser, he could
`not solicit a large number of advertisers nor lease the facility by
`the hour unless he outsources the solicitation to an advertising
`company due to the restrictions faced because the facility is fixed
`in one region. Companies do not typically outsource advertiser
`searches to advertising companies located across the country.
`Even for the individual notification means for the sales offices of
`tourism industries and their member inns and hotels, typical
`systems are such that when placing the information transmitted
`from a regional office on the company-wide notification rout,
`such information is communicated through a central office, which
`does not allow a regional office to directly input the information
`to the routing system to independently transmit information or
`use the system, or otherwise severely restrict such use. The
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`H07 - 168544
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`present invention provides a means for advertising from a
`location, even in a foreign country, for example, distant from the
`display facilities where the advertisement will be displayed
`without outsourcing the task to professionals, which allows the
`end user himself to directly decide the major specifications for
`providing the information, such as display contents, posting time
`frame, display durations, and display facilities, while managing
`his budget, and make display reservations upon confirming the
`selected particulars related to the display contents beforehand.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide the
`advertising facility owners and operators with the advertising
`display control system technology capable of increasing the
`utilization of the facilities by widely soliciting advertisers and
`collecting advertising revenues in an assured manner.
`[0009]
`[Means for Solving the Problems] The advertising, etc. display
`control display system according to the present invention is a
`system for advertising facilities comprising a plurality of fixed or
`mobile registered electronically controllable display devices as
`slave stations, and a master station selectively organized and
`configured with a central control unit controlling a central
`processing unit or a group or a plurality of groups of central
`processing units, each unit individually and the group, adapted to
`display advertisements or information at any of the slave stations
`by inputting and transmitting the display reservation information
`m prepared from a plurality of terminal devices via the master
`station which transmits the data to the slave station, wherein the
`advertising, etc. display control system is characterized such that
`the display reservation information m for a slave station
`available for reservation is prepared by using display content
`preparation support software, which assists the preparation of
`display data, including audio, text, or videos, for the display
`reservation information m, and display content posting support
`software, which assists the selection of a single or plural slave
`stations to be reserved for display specified in accordance with
`certain standards, setting the display duration t and posting
`reservation time frame, and display related procedural
`processing, including editing of multiple display reservations,
`calculating and collecting fees or costs; a display reservation
`with a specific slave station is completed by inputting at any
`specific terminal device directly or via a prescribed storage
`medium upon storing the information on the storage medium;
`and the display of the display reservation information is executed
`at the specific slave station under the set conditions reserved
`from a specific terminal device via the master station.
`[0010] Moreover, the present invention is characterized by
`updating the display time information of the display content
`posting support software by dividing the display reservation cut
`off period for the selected specific slave stations into several
`periods, sequentially distributing and editing the display
`reservations to be displayed in the same posting reservation time
`frame received during each of the 1st to the Nth reservation
`periods, while distributing the idle time remaining in the posting
`reservation time frame before and after each of the reserved
`display runtime during the reservation period to adjust for
`overlapping display reservations, setting the display duration for
`each of the display reservations by adding the idle time to the
`display runtime at the end of the final reservation period, and
`successively registering the display reservation status with the
`master station.
`[0011] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized by
`providing the slave stations with a storage means accompanied
`by a transceiver, enabling the slave stations to store the
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`H07 - 168544
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`transmitted contents from the master station before the display
`control system executes and completes the reserved display of the
`transmitted contents in the posting reservation time frame at the
`slave stations, and enabling the slave stations to store the
`execution records for the completed display before transmitting
`them to the master station, the applicable records for individual
`reservations among the transmitted records being subsequently
`transmitted to each of the preregistered addressees.
`[0012]
`[Operation] The present invention enables an end user who can
`access the two pieces of advertisement display support software
`provided by the system to put together the elements of the
`contents that can be displayed on a display device by selecting
`audio, text, images, or videos, individually or in combination, as a
`presentation, and store the presentation in the system, and by
`using the separate posting software in a similar manner, select the
`desirable regions or locations in accordance with the budget to
`make reservations for individually or continuously displaying the
`presentation on display devices in one or multiple locations in a
`limited small area or a wide area during a specific posing time
`frame over the selected specific time period, such as for a day,
`days, or weeks. The records of the display being executed can be
`obtained for confirmation, in addition to directly confirming the
`execution of the reserved presentation by being at a specific
`display location. Meanwhile, display device owners or operators
`can widely solicit advertisers from among the public in Japan and
`abroad, as well as controlling the quality of the system by editing
`and managing the reserved advertisements by applying certain
`standards, as well as understanding the utilization status using the
`reservation system, ensuring payments for the advertisements
`using the deposit system, and automating payment collection.
`[0013]
`[Example] The whole system according to the present invention
`is explained below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG.
`1 explains the overall structure of the system according to the
`present invention comprising slave stations, a master station, and
`terminal devices. FIG. 1(A) is a system configuration and
`layout diagram, FIG. 1(B) is an internal system configuration
`and layout diagram of the master station according to one
`example, FIG. 1(C) is a configuration diagram of the pertinent
`portion of the communication system through a slave station
`from a terminal device according to one example, FIG. 1(D) is a
`system configuration diagram according to another example, and
`FIG. 1(E) is a system configuration diagram according to
`another example. FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing the system
`processing sequence of the present invention. As shown in
`FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality of slave stations
`each having a display device 1a-1d, and so on, capable of
`computer processing, the display on which can be controlled by
`the master station 2. Each of the slave stations is provided with
`a storage device for temporarily storing the reserved display
`contents received by the accompanying transceiver 7a and the
`execution records after posting advertisements are transmitted to
`the master station 2. As for the master station 2, the system
`comprises a plurality of master stations 2, which have a single
`central processing unit 2a in some cases, but are structured, as
`shown in FIG. 1(B), with a central processing unit group 2A
`comprising a plurality of central processing units 2a each having
`a dedicated terminal device 3, controlled individually and as a
`group by a central control unit 2b, being selectively organized by
`the advertising, etc. display control system 10 (hereinafter
`referred to as the system). Here, the slave stations 1, the master
`stations 2, and the terminal devices 3 are registered with the
`
`system 10, and subjected to display control under the control
`standards for reserved display information unified by the system
`10.
`[0014] The system 10, which includes the registered slave
`stations 1, master stations 2, and terminal devices 3, is such that
`the slave stations 1 comprise devices, such as outdoor display
`panels for the general public, including pedestrians, those that
`are installed indoors, including train stations, stadiums and sport
`facilities, electronic billboards, TV monitors, and cable
`broadcasting devices in airplanes, ships, and trains. The system
`can be structured with a radio or TV station as a master station 2,
`and receivers as slave stations 1 installed permanently or for a
`specific time period targeting the general public or the members
`of a regional organization within a specific organization. The
`system 10 can be structured as one of the internal systems
`organized by a certain group, installing, for example, slave
`stations 1 and terminal devices 3 in a number of plants, offices,
`and sales offices while providing a master station 2 in an
`appropriate separate location to display advertisements suitable
`for the business objectives. The system 10 can be structured
`with a master station 2 installed at a tourism association office or
`professional management company, while installing slave
`stations 1 at the supporting sales offices in various locations,
`regional offices, and member inns. Slave stations 1 can be
`installed on the exterior walls of buildings, outdoor advertising
`panels of any form installed on the rooftops, telephone boxes,
`utility poles, or fixed-form bulletin boards installed in
`transportation equipment such as airplanes. When advertising
`can be effective with the use of a large outdoor billboard, in
`particular, the display surface of the display device 1a of a slave
`station 1 can be divided into sections, depending on the size and
`the shape of the billboard, to be treated as one device on one
`occasion while being treated as multiple display devices 1a and
`1b corresponding to the sections on another occasion.
`Moreover, the route to a specified slave station 1 from a terminal
`device 3 via the master station 2, i.e., the central processing unit
`2a, the central control unit 2b, and the central processing unit 2a'
`on the slave station 1 district side, is selectively chosen. In the
`case where a specific slave station 1 is located at the central
`processing unit 2a within the same district as that of the terminal
`device 1, the communication route in the same district is directly
`selected.
`[0015] As shown in FIG. 1(C) to (D), the slave station 1 is
`connected to the terminal device 3 via the master station 2 using
`a communication network using modems, such as telephone
`lines, enabling the use of the display content preparation support
`software 4 (hereinafter referred to as the preparation software)
`and the display content posing support software 5 (hereinafter
`referred to as the posting software) installed at the master station
`2 at the terminal device 3. What has been input and prepared at
`the terminal device can be stored on a storage medium n. The
`slave station 1 is equipped with a display device 1a and a storage
`means 7 accompanied by a transceiver 7a, and can receive and
`store transmissions from the master station 2, as well as
`receiving display control signals (FIG. 1(C)). Another example
`shown in FIG. 1(D) is structured by connecting via a wireless or
`satellite communication a master station 2, which is connected to
`a slave station 1 via a communication network, and another
`master station 2, which is connected to a terminal device 3 via a
`communication network. The preparation software shown in
`FIG. 1(D) installed on the terminal device 3 allows for the
`preparation of the display contents in part or in whole to be
`displayed at the slave station 1 without communicating with the
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`master station 2, as in the case of the terminal device 3 having a
`built-in storage medium n and the preparation software 4 shown
`in FIG. 1(E). The slave station 1, as shown in another example
`(FIG. 1(E)), can alternatively be connected with a master station
`2 using a cable.
`[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the preparation software 4 is
`software accompanied by a preparation guide for assisting in the
`preparation of the data to be displayed by storing on a storage
`medium n the display contents, such as audio, pictures, and text
`among the reserved display information m, including the
`contents, time, and location, to be communicated by the system
`10 and displayed on a display device 1a, and displaying on a
`display (CRT) screen, not shown, of the terminal device 3. The
`posting software 5 is software accompanied by a setting
`operation guide for performing display related procedural
`processing P to confirm and reserve the locations and time for
`the display data prepared by the preparation software 4, such as
`the budget, the locations of the slave stations 1a, display time,
`duration, and the method of display. The terminal device 3
`equipped with the preparation software 4 shown in FIG. 1(E) is
`structured as a special use device for an advertising company or
`a device for exclusive use by a specific organization, and is
`equipped with a storage device for incorporating, recycling, and
`repeatedly using for sales purposes a portion of the assets of the
`system 10 which are sorted out, transmitted, and purchased from
`among the display content data assets, such as audio, text,
`images, and videos, increasing in volume with the passage of
`time at the master station 2 as occasion demands. The user of
`the exclusive use device can reduce the preparation software 4
`usage fees and the communication costs while using the software
`to be paid to the operator of the system 10. The posting software
`5, moreover, remains installed at the master station 2 so as to
`handle the fluctuations in the slave stations 1, but for use by a
`special organization, the system 10 can structure the entire assets
`after editing a portion or a particularly important portion of the
`posted information assets in divided sections or as a whole for a
`separate application. The preparation software 4 shown in FIG.
`1(D) stores the basic display content data structured and
`produced by the system 10, but in the event that the storage
`capacity is insufficient for preparing a presentation even if the
`stored assets of the upgraded software product having improved
`storage contents are used, it will have the presentation completed
`by supplementing the display content data preparation deficiency
`through communication with the master station 2.
`[0017] FIG. 3 explains an advertisement display time frame
`according to the invention, where FIG. 3(A) is a diagram
`showing how display time reservation information is handled,
`and FIG. 3(B) is a posting time frame diagram showing seasonal
`factors and the reservation status in progress. For a display time
`6 where the display of an advertisement on display devices 1a is
`reserved and executed, posting time slots are appropriately set so
`as to fit the daytime and nighttime of the region where each
`display device 1a is located, and an idle time t2 is sporadically
`distributed in the posting reservation time frame T in order to
`accommodate the daytime-nighttime fluctuations attributable to
`seasonal factors, time adjustments, the conditions surrounding
`the subject being advertised, and others (FIG. 3(B)). When
`display reservations are received from an operator, the
`reservation periods created from the first to several orders are
`sequentially filled, and reservations are cut off when posting
`time is no longer available. If any time were to remain available,
`the display time 6 for individual reservations are arranged so that
`the posting reservation time frame T is filled with all the
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`reservations that came in before the final reservation cut-off
`time, i.e., the Nth order cut-off time, without excess or
`deficiency, while occasionally adding the display contents
`separately prepared by the system 10 (FIG. 3(A)). The specific
`reservation information described above is successively
`registered with the master station 2 and the applicable items
`updated so as not to allow any double booking to occur.
`[0018] The steps of operating the advertising, etc. display
`control system 10 according to the present invention structured
`as above will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the steps of selecting slave
`stations, explaining the pertinent part of one example of the
`display content posting support software. In FIG. 2, a user who
`wishes to advertise at a specific slave station 1 registers with the
`system 10, and shows the financial backing for the display
`reservation by confirming the deposit made. He then prepares
`his own storage medium n for making a copy of the product and
`inputs the display reservation information m. After preparing
`the display data determining the display contents by using the
`preparation software 4 and confirming the display reservation
`contents, he proceeds with display related procedural processing
`P through communication using the posting software 5. In other
`words, he selects and reserves a display location, date, time, and
`time period using the processing P in accordance with his
`budget. The reserved display contents are stored by the system
`10, including the master station 2, and the system 10 executes
`the display after allocating the posting time and performing a
`prescribed editing so as not to compromise public order and
`standards of decency. Even though not shown, the system 10
`suitably prepares a list of unnecessary language and images,
`which is automatically applied to the display contents being
`prepared at all times or in batch processing to seek correction
`when applicable. For the purpose of performing an effective
`display, the edits performed by the system 10 are also applied
`when planning a special campaign and story-based
`advertisements involving the system operators and the owners of
`the slave stations 1 prior to accepting reservations, as well as
`making public relations announcements and public notifications.
`With respect to transmission of display data to specified slave
`stations installed in transportation equipment, such as airplanes
`and buses, th