Information display and control for work areas

• US 10,175,996 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R., Ward, Joseph D., Pate, Randell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tseng, Cheng Yuan
• Application Number:
  US15/499,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20170315828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/02 by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the position of which represent the time, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques G04G9/0082 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall

Abstract

A power and data housing assembly includes a housing body configured to retain and support an electronic device assembly in the form of an interactive display screen and associated electronics. The electronic device assembly is communicatively coupled to at least one peripheral device. The electronic device assembly is configured to provide interactive functions that include text messaging, time-keeping, calendar functions, calculations, game-playing, and audio/video media playback. The electronic device assembly is further configured to provide interactive control of and display of data from the at least one peripheral device. The electronic device is further configured to mirror a personal computing device'"'"'s display on the electronic device assembly'"'"'s display.

Claims

1. A power and data housing assembly configured to support at least one electronic device, the power and data housing assembly comprising:

a housing body configured for coupling to a work surface in a work area;

an AC electrical power output receptacle retained and supported by the housing body;

an electronic device assembly retained and supported by the housing body, the electronic device assembly comprising an interactive display screen and associated electronics, wherein a face of the AC electrical power output receptacle and the interactive display screen of the electronic device are oriented along respective parallel planes;

wherein the electronic device assembly is communicatively coupled to, and configured to remotely control, at least one peripheral device;

wherein the interactive display screen is configured to provide interactive control of the at least one peripheral device at the interactive display screen; and

wherein the interactive display screen and the associated electronics are operable to display information that is communicated to the electronic device assembly from the at least one peripheral device.

2. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the interactive display screen is touch-sensitive.

4. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the interactive display screen is an interactive digital display operable to provide interactive functionality comprising at least one of:

text messaging, timing keeping, calendar functionalities, calculations, game-playing, audio players, and video media players.

5. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic device assembly is communicatively coupled to the at least one peripheral device via a wireless link, and wherein the wireless link comprises at least one of a Bluetooth connection, a near field communication (NFC) connection, and a Wi-Fi wireless connection.

6. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic device assembly is communicatively coupled to the at least one peripheral device via a wired connection.

8. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one peripheral device comprises at least one of speakers, memory card interfaces, and an electronic peripheral device configured to send and/or receive analog and/or digital data.

10. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic device assembly comprises enterprise level control and data output functionality.

11. The power and data housing assembly of claim 10, wherein the enterprise level control functionality provides data output that is user independent.

12. The power and data housing assembly of claim 10, wherein the enterprise level control functionality provides at least one of local thermostatic, lighting, and power controls.

13. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein a second electronic device assembly is retained and supported by the housing body.

18. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the AC electrical power output receptacle comprises an AC high-voltage electrical power output receptacle.

19. The power and data housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the AC electrical power output receptacle and the interactive display screen of the electronic device are mounted adjacent to one another at said housing.

3. A power and data housing assembly configured to support at least one electronic device, the power and data housing assembly comprising:

a housing body configured for coupling to a work surface in a work area;

an AC electrical power output receptacle retained and supported by the housing body;

an electronic device assembly retained and supported by the housing body, the electronic device assembly comprising an interactive display screen and associated electronics, wherein a face of the AC electrical power output receptacle and the interactive display screen of the electronic device are oriented along respective parallel planes;

wherein the electronic device assembly is communicatively coupled to at least one peripheral device;

wherein the interactive display screen is configured to provide interactive control of the at least one peripheral device at the interactive display screen; and

wherein the interactive display screen and the associated electronics are operable to display information that is communicated to the electronic device assembly from the at least one peripheral device, and wherein the interactive display screen comprises a watch face display.

23. The power and data housing assembly of claim 3, wherein the electronic device assembly is configured to remotely control the at least one peripheral device.

7. A power and data housing assembly configured to support at least one electronic device, the power and data housing assembly comprising:

a housing body configured for coupling to a work surface in a work area;

an AC electrical power output receptacle retained and supported by the housing body;

an electronic device assembly retained and supported by the housing body, the electronic device assembly comprising an interactive display screen and associated electronics, wherein a face of the AC electrical power output receptacle and the interactive display screen of the electronic device are oriented along respective parallel planes;

wherein the electronic device assembly is communicatively coupled to at least one peripheral device, wherein the at least one peripheral device comprises one or more weather devices chosen from at least one of thermometers, barometers, rain sensors, and wind sensors;

wherein the interactive display screen is configured to provide interactive control of the at least one peripheral device at the interactive display screen; and

wherein the interactive display screen and the associated electronics are operable to display information that is communicated to the electronic device assembly from the at least one peripheral device.

9. The power and data housing assembly of claim 7, wherein the electronic device assembly is configured to remotely control the at least one peripheral devices.

14. A method for providing interactive functionality between a peripheral device and an electronic device assembly retained and supported by a power and data housing assembly that is coupleable to a work surface in a work area, wherein the method comprises:

communicating peripheral device configuration data from one or more peripheral devices to the electronic device assembly;

providing one or more enterprise functions or controls via an interactive display screen at the electronic device assembly, based upon the configuration data communicated by the one or more peripheral devices;

wherein the providing one or more enterprise functions or controls comprises providing interactive control of the one or more peripheral devices at the interactive display screen, and further providing information at the interactive display screen that is communicated from the one or more peripheral devices, wherein the providing interactive control between the one or more peripheral devices and the electronic device assembly further comprises the electronic device assembly remotely controlling a peripheral device; and

wherein the power and data housing assembly retains and supports an AC electrical power output receptacle to orient a face of the AC electrical power output receptacle and the interactive display screen of the electronic device assembly along respective parallel planes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more peripheral devices includes at least one of:

a handheld computer, a thermometer, a barometer, a rain sensor, a wind sensor, a thermostat, a lighting control, an audio speaker, and a memory card interface.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further provides additional interactive control and information flow at the electronic device assembly, the additional interactive control and information flow comprising one or more functions, the one or more functions comprising text messaging, time-keeping, calendar functionality, calculations, game-playing, audio playback, and video media playback.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein configuration data is communicated from the electronic device assembly to the peripheral device via one or more of wired and wireless communications links.

20. A power and data housing assembly configured to support at least one electronic device, the power and data housing assembly comprising:

a housing body configured for coupling to a work surface in a work area;

an AC high-voltage electrical power output receptacle retained and supported by the housing body;

an electronic device assembly retained and supported by the housing body, the electronic device assembly comprising a touch-sensitive interactive display screen and associated electronics, wherein the AC high-voltage electrical power output receptacle and the interactive display screen of the electronic device are mounted adjacent to one another at said housing;

wherein the interactive display screen is configured to provide interactive functionality and information; and

wherein the electronic device assembly is configured to remotely control at least one peripheral device.

21. The power and data housing assembly of claim 20, wherein the electronic device assembly is configured to wirelessly communicate with the peripheral device.

22. The power and data housing assembly of claim 21, wherein the peripheral device includes one of a cellphone, a second electronic device assembly, a weather sensor, an audio and/or video device, and a memory interface.

24. The power and data housing assembly of claim 20, wherein the electronic device assembly comprises enterprise level control and data output functionality, wherein the enterprise level control functionality provides data output that is user independent, and wherein the enterprise level control functionality further provides at least one of local thermostatic, lighting, and power controls.