Google filed a digital signage patent application on Dec 21st which mentions “Systems and methods for allocating space for advertisements in a network of electronic display devices.” The process is similar to its AdWords system. “The system then generates an advertising campaign specifying where the advertisement message is to be output and send the messages to the specified displays.”
Google now appears poised to join Cisco as another heavyweight in the digital signage arena. Cisco recently completed its acquisition of Tivella, a digital signage software and systems provider. Earlier this week, Cisco announced Cisco Digital Signage, a solution for management, publishing and playback of digital media on networked digital signage displays.
This is likely very bad news for the multitude of digital signage software providers out there. Not only will Google provide the software to deliver the content to the screen, but it will provide the automated ad serving, media buying, and reporting platform. Cisco’s solution is noteworthy, but Google knows advertising.
Whatever the case, digital signage appears to be finally gaining some serious momentum. Can Google flip the out of home advertising world upside down like it did with the internet?
