Google files patent on Streetview billboard ad replacer

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By Sean Michael Ragan
Posted 2010/01/13 @ 8:08 am
Category Computers & Mobile, Fun & Games, General

Google has just filed a patent application for a method to automagically detect billboards in Streetview-type imagery and replace them in real time with Google’s own dynamically-generated ads. It’s just a patent application at this point, so there’s no way of knowing if it’s actually going to happen yet. Still, an interesting idea. [via Gizmodo]

BY Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I write for MAKE, serve as Technical Editor for MAKE magazine, and develop original DIY content for Make: Projects.

In the Maker Shed

6 Responses to Google files patent on Streetview billboard ad replacer

Julian Cook on January 14th, 2010 at 6:32 am said:

Does billboards in street view type imagery actually get this much traffic? Maybe I am not thinking of the right thing. I’m thinking about being in Google Map, at street view and then in street view when I see a billboard, Google replaces it with ads? Interesting concept. Even more interesting would be be Google running ads on REAL billboards where the boards are LCD screens and constantly receiving ads via RSS or something similar, targeted to local populations.

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Steven Goodwin on January 14th, 2010 at 7:03 am said:

Does that make it prior art?

Steve Mann was doing this in the wearables scene at least as recently as 2003.

Link to his book for the Googley-challenged

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Cyborg/Steve-Mann/e/9780385658256

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- japroach on January 16th, 2010 at 11:20 pm said:
  
  The patent application mentions “browser based”, probably other specifics as well that would allow it to be patented.
  
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Gaijintendo on January 14th, 2010 at 7:03 am said:

If they advertise on a “Will work for food” bit of cardboard, I would consider that tramp to be due some money for promoting your product – but to actually pay for a premium space in real life and be pasted over…
Basically Google, Put a coca cola logo on the sun, and GIVE OUR NATION’S TRAMPS SOME SPARE CHANGE REVENUE.

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- Andy L on January 14th, 2010 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  I imagine it will annoy them in the same sense that it annoys Pepsi when someone buys a Coke.
  
  Google certainly isn’t under any obligation to distribute anyone’s advertisements.
  
  “Sherwood 48 Associates” learned that lesson when they tried to sue the makers of the Spiderman movie for digitally removing one of their billboards from location shots of Times Square.
  
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Sci on January 14th, 2010 at 8:32 am said:

Isn’t this technology already in the public domain?
I can certainly recall reading and seeing video demo’s of software for wearable computers that greyed out or otherwise detected and overlaid adverts with images of your choice. And most of the software for wearables seems to be open source licensed.

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