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`I
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`§ilHec'dfP
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`:58 NOV1999
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`FORM-PTO-1390
`(Rev. 5-93)
`
`U.S. DEPA...,
`
`....NT OF COMMERCE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`.
`
`FlNEY'S DocI<ET NUMBER
`
`TRANSMITTAL LETTER TO THE UNITED STATES
` .
`0859-96
`DESIGNATED/ELECTED OFFICE (DO/E0/US)
`,,M,,,,,,:,,.,,, No, M
`
`
`CONCERNING A FILING UNDER 35 u.s.c. 371
`'09}
`
`
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`F
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`I J
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`
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`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION NO.
`
`INTERNATIONAL FILING DATE
`
`PCT/CA98/00439
`TITLE OF INVENTION
`SUBWAY TV MEDIA SYSTEM
`
`6 May, 1998 (067.0598)
`
`PRIORITY DATE CLAIMED
`
`7 May, 1997 (07.05.97)
`
`
`APPLICANTIS) FOR DO/E0/US
`Scott BLAIR
`
`I A
`
`pplicant herewith submits to the United States Designated/Elected Office (DO/E0/US) the following items and other information:
`1. I This is a FIRST submission of items concerning a filing under 35 U.S.C. 371.
`2. D This is a SECOND or SUBSEOUENT submission of items concerning a filing under 35 U.S.C. 371.
`3. I This is an express request to begin national examination procedures (35 U.S.C. 371 (fl) at any time rather than delay examination
`until the expiration of the applicable time limit set in 35 U.S.C. 371(b) and the PCT Articles 22 and 39(1).
`
`4. I A proper Demand for International Preliminary Examination was made by the 19th month from the earliest claimed priority date.
`
`5. I A copy of the International Application as filed (35 U.S.C. 371(c)(2))
`a.
`-transmitted herewith (required only if not transmitted by the International Bureau).
`b. -has been transmitted by the International Bureau.
`c. Dis not required, as the application was filed in the United States Receiving Office (ROIUSI
`El A translation of the International Application into English (35 U.S.C. 371(cl(2ll.
`
`‘
`
`7. - Amendments to the claims of the International Application under PCT Article 19 (35 U.S.C. 371(c)(3))
`a. Eiare transmitted. herewith (required only if not transmitted by the International Bureau).
`b. -have been transmitted by the International Bureau.
`c. Elhave not been made; however, the time limit for making such amendments has NOT expired.
`cl.
`i:|have not been made and will not be made.
`
`'
`ii\
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`,.
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`8. D A translation of the amendments to the claims under PCT Article 19 (35 U.S.C. 371(c)(3)).
`
`9. D An oath or declaration of the inventorlsl (35 U.S.C. 371(c)(4)).
`
`[:1 A translation of the annexes to the International Preliminary Examination Report under PCT Article 36 (35 U.S.C. 371(c)(5)).
`10.
`Items 11. to 16. below concern other documentlsl or information included:
`
`11.
`
`II
`
`An Information Disclosure Statement under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.
`
`12. D An assignment document for recording. A separate cover sheet in compliance with 37 CFR 3.28 and 3.31 is included.
`
`13. - A FIRST preliminary amendment.
`D A SECOND or SUBSEOUENT preliminary amendment.
`
`14. D A substitute specification.
`
`15. D A change of power of attorney and/or address letter.
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`16. I Other items or information:
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`Six (6) sheets of drawings (Figs. 1a-7l
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`P. 1
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`KAWASAKI-1012
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`P. 1
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`KAWASAKI-1012
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`Basic National Fee (37 CFR 1.492(a)(1)-(5)):
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`_
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`PTO USE ONLV
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`_
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`_
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`420 Reed , TO 0 8 Nov 1999
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`U.S.APPLlCAT|ONIu .
`, e
`6Té'CéRSEY9'S6D0CKET NUMBER
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`
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`Search Report has been prepared by the EPO or JPO .
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`. $840.00
` International preliminary examination fee paid to USPTO (37 CFR 1.482)
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`$670.00
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`No international preliminary examination fee paid to USPTO (37 CFR 1.482)
`$760.00
`but international search fee paid to USPTO (37 CFR 1.445(a)(2))
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`Neither international preliminary examination fee (37 CFR 1.482) nor
`international search fee (37 CFR 1.445(a)(2)) paid to USPTO .
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`lnternational preliminary examination fee paid to USPTO (37 CFR 1.482)
`and all claims satisfied provisions of PCT Article 33(2)-(4) .
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`$970.00
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`$ 96.00
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`ENTER APPROPRIATE BASIC FEE AMOUNT =
` -U)
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`(D 4>-P oo
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`Surcharge of $130.00 for furnishing the oath or declaration later than
`months from the earliest claimed priority date (37 CFR 1.492(e)).
`cuaams
`Number med
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`D 20 I 30
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`-0-
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`-0-
`E 5
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`840.00 TOTAL OF ABOVE CALCULATIONS = $
`Reduction for 1/2 for filing by small entity, if applicable. Verified Small Entity statement must also be
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`filed.
`(Note 37 CFR 1.9, 1.27, 1.28).
`
`
`
` $
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`840.00
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`$
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`$
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`$
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`840.00
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`-
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`840.00
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`Amount to be:
`refunded
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`charged
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`Processing fee of $130.00 for furnishing the English translation later than D 20 D 30
`months from the earliest claimed priority date (37 CFR 1.492(f)).
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`+
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`SUBTOTAL =
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`TOTAL NATIONAL FEE =
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` Fee for recording the enclosed assignment (37 CFR 1.21 (h)). The assignment must be accompanied
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`by an appropriate cover sheet (37 CFR 3.28, 3.31). $40.00 per property +
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`a. - A check in the amount of $840.00 to cover the above fees is enclosed.
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` b. D Please charge my Deposit Account No. 19-2380 in the amount of $
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`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any additional fees which may be required, or credit any overpayment to Deposit
`Account No. 19-238010859-96). A duplicate copy of this sheet is enclosed.
` NOTE: Where an appropriate time limit under 37 CFR 1.494 or 1.495 has not been met, a petition to revive (37 CFR 1 .137(a) or (b)) must be
`filed and granted to restore the application to pending status.
`
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`
` SEND ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
`
`Jeffrey L. Costellia
`SIXBEY, FRIEDMAN, LEEDOM & FERGUSON, P.C.
`8180 Greensboro Drive
`Suite 800
`
`
`Jeffrey L. Co tellia
`McLean, Virginia 22102
`NAME
`
`S
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`
`
`
`
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`
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`_
`
`35,483
`REGISTRATION NUMBER
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`
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`P.2
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`P. 2
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`FIG.1b
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`_ SUBWAQ TV MEDIA SYST§E_
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`
`entio ‘relates to video display systems,
`
`\o9 /4123; 84
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`/74¢ éé/Q55/5‘
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`TO 0 8 Nov 1999‘
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`his 1
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`
`
`and more specifically to video display systems mounted in
`
`5
`
`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
`
`10
`
`during travel.
`
`It is also known to equip subway cars with
`
`closed. circuit
`
`television cameras,
`
`for surveillance of
`
`passenger behaviour and other safety checks.
`
`Images of
`
`such surveillance are either displayed at
`
`a
`
`central
`
`security facility, or recorded for subsequent viewing in
`
`15
`
`the event of safety problems.
`
`It is also commonplace to equip subway cars with
`
`audio public
`address
`systems
`for
`a myriad of uses,
`indluding transit service announcements, community service
`
`20
`
`events, advertising, safety and emergency procedures, as
`
`well as inter—staff communications.
`
`Proposals have been made previously‘
`
`to equip
`
`other
`
`transportation items,
`
`especially aircraft, with
`
`25
`
`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
`
`30
`
`5,123,728 Gradin 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
`
`35
`
`taken by a passenger on a mass
`
`transit
`
`subway system is
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`usually
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`short,
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`lasting
`
`perhaps
`
`fifteen minutes.
`
`2.9
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`P. 9
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`

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`gz
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`g
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`Nevertheless,
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`subway transit riders offer an attractive
`
`audience for visual advertising messages, as evidenced by
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`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
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`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
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`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
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`and
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`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
`
`$10
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`P. 10
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`

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`.
`
`5.
`
`invention provides 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 rider
`
`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 comprising at
`
`least one video display monitor
`
`adapted for mounting inside a subway car so as to display
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`televised materials to passengers riding therein,
`
`and a
`
`video signal source unit operatively connected to said at
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`least one monitor.
`
`According to a
`
`second aspect of
`
`the present
`
`invention,
`
`there
`
`is provided a
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`subway
`
`car
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`for mass
`
`transportation 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-regorded video
`
`.
`‘*-%\
`such as computer—based digital video recorders
`material,
`(including CD-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-
`
`4511
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`10
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`20
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`25
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`P. 11
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`

`
`.
`
`.r
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`based digital video recorders
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`for
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`receiving broadcast
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`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
`
`5
`
`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
`
`10
`
`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,
`
`15
`
`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
`
`20
`
`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
`
`25
`
`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.
`
`
`
`30
`
`'
`
`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\\¥
`
`E2
`
`
`P. 12
`
`

`
`I
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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.
`
`Alternatively,
`
`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 monitors, 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 cxui be built with.
`
`the ‘video
`
`on
`usable
`and
`installed,
`thereof
`system or parts
`substantially 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 to the invention is ideally suited for
`
`displaying a
`
`series of
`
`short,
`
`30
`
`second —
`
`1 minute
`
`€313
`
`
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`.~.v__e.-a.~._...
`
`
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`
`P. 13
`
`

`
`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 kmr 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
`
`though they may contain rolling script,
`incorporate sound,
`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
`
`QM
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`.-.u;\..)..:.:.--
`
`
`P. 14
`
`

`
`
`
`extent
`
`on.
`
`the design. 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, suitably of 12"-13" size, spaced along the
`
`length of the car, and disposed above the windows of the
`
`inua manner and at a location which does not interfere
`car,
`with the operation of any other essential element of the
`
`car
`
`(door operation,
`
`lights, heating, air conditioning
`
`etC.)- A subway car is normally constructed so that it has
`
`10
`
`a cavity wall, defined between its outer structural shell
`
`and its_inner lining wall,
`
`the cavity providing for wiring
`
`and cables and other mechanical functions, and, at places,
`containing insulation.
`The video display monitors in the
`
`system of the invention are suitably mounted in the cavity
`
`15
`
`wall.
`
`2O
`
`25
`
`30
`
`Ln 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 wall of
`
`the
`
`subway car at
`
`the
`
`location of
`
`mounting.
`
`For 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,
`
`the 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 monitor mounted behind it. The screen is
`
`suitably angled downwardly, 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
`
`85
`
`
`P. 15
`
`

`
`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 1nass—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. 1A) and in side
`
`elevation (Fig. 1B), an existing subway car as used on the
`
`Toronto Transit Systenx with indications of appropriate
`
`locations for mounting ‘video monitors according to the
`
`invention;
`
`
`
`.uifi
`
`
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`96
`
`
`P. 16
`
`

`
`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.
`
`1A and 1B,
`
`is 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 sets 16 being inward facing, other sets 18 being
`forward facing 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
`
`LG}
`
`l0
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`P. 17
`
`

`
`,1
`
`6
`
`0
`
`-10-
`
`
`
`"Mi
`
`Mi!
`
`
`
`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 jfl such inward
`
`facing seats 16,
`
`as shown in Fig. 2, with direct sight
`
`lines 26, but visible to passengers seated elsewhere, and
`
`standing 1J1
`
`the car 10. A video pl§gEE_g3 is suitably
`
`located in the driver's cab 27 (Fig- 1A), and connected to
`
`all the monitors 22 by cables (not showing) disposed in the
`
`cavity walls of the car.
`
`10
`
`Fig.
`
`3
`
`shows
`
`ea 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 nwunted at
`
`15
`
`intervals and secured to the vertical structural member 32.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`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,
`
`P114
`
`
`P. 18
`
`

`
`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
`therein and connections protruding
`
`42 with monitor
`
`22
`
`I1:
`'l='::§sn
`: F2-
`
`
`fi“Md
`
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`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 monitor
`
`22A. which is of
`
`thin,
`
`rectangular
`
`cross—section,
`
`and occupies
`
`less space
`
`in the ceiling
`
`structure of the car. Accordingly, it can be moved towards
`
`the ceiling so that
`
`its viewing screen is substantially
`
`flush with or even behind the light panel 40. This use of
`
`an LCD-based monitor gives a better aesthetic appearance to
`
`the inside of
`
`the subway car" as
`
`a whole,
`
`as well as
`
`improving
`
`the display performance
`
`by minimizing
`
`the
`
`interference
`
`effects,
`
`as
`
`previously
`
`discussed.
`
`An
`
`appropriately shaped enclosure
`
`42A for
`
`the LCD-based
`
`monitor, with transport 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 in section in Fig. 4. The monitor 22 and
`
`its covering shield 44 are recessed behind the upper
`
`portion of
`
`the adjacent advertising panels 40,
`
`and the
`
`sides of the enclosure 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
`
`RLZ
`
`
`P. 19
`
`

`
`-12-
`
`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
`advertisements
`
`operation-
`Poster—type
`illuminated
`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.
`betails 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
`
`fronx 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 ‘videca 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
`
`as
`
`
`flimhhfi'.
`
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`P. 20
`
`

`
`F
`
`subway cars currently in use on different mass
`
`transit
`
`systems-
`
`
`
`
`P. 21
`
`

`
`A video system for displaying televised
`material to assengers in a mass transit subway system, and
`
`comprising at least one video display monitor adapted for
`
`mounting insid a subway car so as to display televised
`
`material
`
`to pas ngers riding therein, and a video signal
`
`source unit oper tively' connected.
`
`to said. at
`
`least one
`
`monitor-
`
`
`
`2.
`
`The v
`
`o
`
`ystem of claim J. comprising a
`
`plurality of video di
`
`lay monitors operatively connected
`
`to a single video signa
`
`source unit.
`
`3. The video sy tem of claim 2 wherein the video
`
`signal source unit comprise
`
`a video tape player, or video
`
`disk'player or computer—base digital video recorder.
`
`
`
`The video system of claim 3 wherein the video
`
`signal
`
`sour e
`
`system includes
`
`a
`
`pre—recorded
`
`video
`
`transmission p ogram for feeding to display on the monitors
`
`
`
`"i!"'Il11.“
`
`
`
` :..§ub0ll
`
`LN
`
`of duration abou
`
`5—l5 minutes.
`
`
`
`5.
`
`The
`
`'deo systen1 of clain1 4 wherein the
`
`
`
`program is repeatable, and includes a series of commercial
`
`messages of 30 second —
`
`minute duration.
`
`
`
`he ‘video systent of
`
`any’ preceding claim
`
`wherein the video moni
`
`rs are secured to the subway car at
`
`a location of junct o
`with the
`screens
`
`
`
`tween wall and ceiling of the car,
`th monitors directed obliquely
`
`
`
`ar seats.
`
`downwardly towards the
`
`P. 22
`
`
`P. 22
`
`

`
`6
`
`Q.
`
`_ 15 _
`
`fgt/£)eL2
`
`7. The video system of any preceding claim which
`is sound free.
`
`wherein the
`
`ideo ource unit is a television receiver for
`
`The video systen1 of clainn 1 or clain1 2
`
`receiving bro d
`
`at
`
`television signals
`
`from a
`
`remote
`
`
`
`which the video dis lay monitors include LCD screens.
`
`10.
`
`A su way car for mass
`
`transportation and
`
`comprising a video di play system including at
`
`least one
`
`video display monitor having a video screen,
`
`the monitor
`
`
`being mounted in the s way car in a manner such that the
`video screen thereof is readily visible to passengers in
`and a vi eo -
`
`anal source unit operatively
`
`the subway car,
`
`onitor.
`
`car of clahn 10
`
`including a
`
`
`
`connected to said at leas
`
`o
`
`11.
`
`The
`
`subwa
`
`
`
`plurality of said monitors, spaced along the length of the
`
`car on opposed sides thereo
`
`12;
`
`The
`
`subway car of
`
`claim 11
`
`including
`
`longitudinal opposed sidewall
`
`and a ceiling adjoining the
`
`sidewalls, and wherein each sa d monitor is mounted at the
`junction of the sidewall and c iling, with the screens of
`
`the monitors directly obliquely downwardly towards the car
`seats .
`
`
`
`
`
`13.‘ The subway car of claim 12 wherein the video
`
`monitor sc een is substantially flush with the adjacent
`
`wall surface structure of the car.
`
`
`P. 23
`
`
`
`
`P. 23
`
`

`
`
`
`C
`
`
` 6
`
`The
`
`subway car of
`
`any of claims
`
`10-13
`
`wherein the
`
`ideo signal source unit comprises a video tape
`
`player, a vid 0 disk player or computer—based digital video
`
`recorder.
`
`15.
`
`
`
`he subway car of any of claim 10-14 wherein
`
`the video monito s include LCD screens.
`
`16.
`
`T e
`
`subway car of
`
`any‘ of claims 10-15
`
`including a self-c tained wiring—cabling system connecting
`
`
`
`the video monitors
`
`
`o the video signal source unit.
`
`P. 24
`
`
`P. 24
`
`

`
`-17-
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A television system for subway cars (10) includes a plurality of TV
`
`monitors (22) mounted at intervals along the cars (10), at the junction of the
`sidewall and the ceiling, and a central video signal source ‘unit (23) such as a
`
`video tape player, video disk player, computer—based digital video recorder or
`
`television receiver, connected to the video monitors (22). Programs of short
`
`duration, e.g. 5-15 minutes, matching the average length of a subway ride, and
`
`comprising advertising messages, news bytes and the like are played and
`
`displayed in the monitors repeatedly during the subway ride.
`
`
`
`
`P. 25
`
`

`
`P. 26
`
`
`P. 26
`
`

`
`09/4232833
`EATENT APPLICATION SERIAL NO.
`
`U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`PATENT AND TRADEMXRK OFFICE
`FEE RECORD SIEET
`
`\
`
`Ii/'10/‘I999 biCL'+TI'BRO 00000040 09423284
`
`O1 FC:‘370
`
`_
`
`340. 00 0|?‘
`
`
`
`
`
`P: 27
`
`
`P. 27
`
`

`
`
`
`PATENT APPLICATION FEE DETERMINATION RECORD
`Effective ‘Novembcr 10.. 1993
`
`
`.
`
`Apprucationnr Docket Number
`
`
`
`
`Column 2
`
`cuums AS FILED - PART‘!
`Column 1
`
`‘
`
`
`
`
`"UMBER "#50
`
`
`
`INDEPENDENTCLAIMS
`MUL11PLE DEPENDENT cum PRE ~
`
`—H
`
`.
`
`'
`
`
`
` '
`
`Eéfiji
`< ""°P°"“°"‘\‘_E
`FIRST PRESENTATION OF MULTIPLE DEPENDENT CUKIM
`-
`
`‘
`
`HIGHEST
`
`-
`
`-
`
`V
`
`OINMS
`
`‘
`
`
`P. 28
`
`

`
`MULTIPLE DEPENDENT CLAIM
`FEE CALCULATION SHEET
`(FOR USE WHHFORMPTO~875)
`
`AFTER
`1:: AMEN
`
`NDM
`
`APPLICANTS
`
`U 0 I
`
`FlL|NO DATE
`
`
`mm....=.._...._.............._.........._...._==-£-
`WM________________“_________________________________am
`m_.._.m%._._mmn"
`_0-I42”
`........_......_............_..........
`
`05
`
`TOTA
`DEF
`TOTAL
`CLAIMS
`PTO-1380
`
`‘MAY
`
`TOTAL
`Emmn
`TOTAL
`uc
`IMS
`—> -
`.3.
`,nt.
`.....s.u
`mu
`RD FOR ADDITIONAL CLAIMS OR AMENDMENTS
`
`jm.._....._._...._....__.._._.._._......._...._._....
`
`E==__======_=_=====__=_===__=__m
`
`US DEPARTMENT ol COMMERCE
`Pnnm and Tndomark O
`mu
`
`z
`
`P. 29
`
`677777899
`
`
`P. 29
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`
`
`-‘-art?»-'4
` JUNE 1998 é7.o(,_<_ A
`
`