Electronic whiteboard

• US 20020113773A1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: McTernan, Michael Christopher, McDonnell, James Thomas Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/073,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device

Abstract

An electronic whiteboard (2) having a data store (6, 28) for storing images recorded on the whiteboard, which data store (6, 28) has a presence on a network, for example the internet via a unique network location or URL. In one preferred embodiment the electronic whiteboard includes a network server for the data store and the server has a unique network location or URL. In a second preferred embodiment the data store (6, 28) has a presence on the network via a remote server (26) which acts as a gateway from the network to the data store (6, 28) and the server has a presence on the network, defined by a unique network location or URL. Thus, an authorised person, in any location and at any time can access the data store (6, 28) of the electronic whiteboard (2) simply by accessing the network and inputting the unique network location or URL associated with the data store (6, 28)

Claims

1. An electronic whiteboard comprising:

a surface for recording of images;

a data store for storing images which are recorded on the surface, wherein the data store has a presence on a network via a network location; and

a communication system for communicating to individuals or computing devices within its locality the network location of the data store.

4. An electronic whiteboard according to claim 1, wherein the communication system comprises an electronic tag from which the network location associated with the data store can be derived.

5. An electronic whiteboard according to claim 1 wherein the data store has a presence on a network via a remote server which forms a gateway between the network and the data store and the remote server has a presence on the network via a network location.

6. An electronic whiteboard according to claim 1, incorporating a network server having a network location for providing access to the data store via the network.

7. An electronic whiteboard according to claim 1 wherein the data store stores images recorded on the whiteboard periodically.

8. An electronic whiteboard according to claim 7 wherein the data store stores images recorded on the whiteboard in real time.

9. An electronic whiteboard according to claim 1 wherein the network location is a URL.

2. An electronic whiteboard according to claim 2, wherein the communication system comprises a beacon for emitting a signal from which the network location associated with the data store can be derived.

3. An electronic whiteboard according to claim 2, wherein the beacon is an infrared beacon.

10. A method of operating an electronic whiteboard, comprising:

presenting a surface of the electronic whiteboard for recording of information;

storing images recorded on the surface in a data store, and providing a network location for accessing images in said data store; and

communicating the network location to potential recipients in the vicinity of the electronic whiteboard.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein communicating the network location comprises emitting a beacon signal from which the network location associated with the data store can be derived.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the beacon signal is an infrared beacon signal.