Network projector interface system

• US 20030115263A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: InFocus Corporation (Lap-Shun Hui, MBA)
• Inventors: Thompson, Kevin D., Murtha, Steve, Tran, De
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network projector interface system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes client software stored on a recordable medium and at least partially executable on a client computer on a network, where the client software provides a client interface configured to aid a user in directing a presentation file to a selected network projector. The system also includes presentation manager software stored on a recordable medium executable on the network, where the presentation manager software produces a presentation manager configured to manage storage and access to the presentation file, and a network projector coupled to a projector computer, where the projector computer is coupled to the network and communicates with the presentation manager to display the presentation file on the selected network projector.

Claims

1. A network projector interface system comprising:

client software stored on a recordable medium and at least partially executable on a client computer on a network, where the client software provides a client interface configured to aid a user in directing a presentation file to a selected network projector;

presentation manager software stored on a recordable medium executable on the network, where the presentation manager software provides a presentation manager configured to communicate with the client software and to manage storage of and access to the presentation file; and

a network projector coupled to a projector computer, where the projector computer is coupled to the network and communicates with the presentation manager to display the presentation file on the selected network projector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the client interface includes a plurality of presentation-specific dialog boxes for directing the presentation file to the selected network projector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein one of the dialog boxes enables a user to select attributes for the presentation file.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the attributes include identification of a presentation deletion date, creation of a password to allow access to the presentation file, and identification of the number of times the presentation file may be displayed.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising administrative software executable on the network configured to enable an administrator to regulate the use of the network projector.

6. The system of claim 5, where the administrator software is executable to present at least one selectable parameter for the presentation file based on a characteristic of the selected network projector.

7. The system of claim 5, where the administrator software is executable to present at least one selectable parameter for the presentation file based on identity of the user.

8. A system for managing a computer network including at least one network-enabled projector device, the projector device including a projector computer;

the system comprising;

a user client computer linked to a network configured to enable a user to direct a presentation file to a user-selected projector device;

a presentation storage site linked to the network configured to store the presentation file for display on the user-selected projector device; and

a presentation manager linked to the network and accessible directly via the projector computer of the user-selected projector device, wherein the presentation manager is configured to manage access to the presentation file stored in the presentation storage site.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the user client computer includes presentation software configured to aid the user in directing a presentation file to a user-selected projector device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the presentation software provides a user-interface, wherein the user interface is configured to display a plurality of dialog boxes configured to enable the user to define attributes for the presentation file.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the presentation software includes a user interface with a dedicated icon configured to facilitate access to the presentation software.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the icon is a presentation folder configured to facilitate storage of the presentation file in a projector-specific location managed by the presentation manager.

13. The system of claim 8, further including an administrator client computer configured to run administrator software to regulate the use of the projector device.

14. The system of claim 8, further including an administrator client configured to run administrator software executable to allow an administrator to set parameters for the presentation file.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the parameters includes a deletion date and a size limitation.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the presentation manager is implemented at least partially by software executable on a server-computing device.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the presentation manager is implemented at least partially by software executable on the user client computer.

18. A method for managing display of a presentation file on a networked computer system, the computer system including a user computer and a projector device, the method comprising:

receiving a presentation file at the user computer directed to a user-selected projector device on a network;

managing storage of the presentation file such that the presentation file is stored in a presentation storage site on the network associated with the user-selected projector device; and

queuing the presentation file to the selected projector device to facilitate display on the projector device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving a presentation file from a user computer includes providing a user interface on the user computer, where the user interface includes a plurality of dialog boxes for use by the user.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving a presentation file from a user computer includes providing a user interface on the user computer, where the user interface includes a dedicated presentation icon onto which a user may drop a presentation file to direct the file to the user-selected projector.

21. The method of claim 18, further including checking the status of the presentation file to determine if the presentation file is within the parameters set by an administrator.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the projector computer is integrated within the projector.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the projector computer is external of the projector.

24. A storage device readable by a machine, the storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for use in accessing a presentation file from a networked projector device, the method comprising:

providing a user interface on a network that is configured to enable a user to request a presentation file be directed to a selected network projector device;

directing the presentation file to a presentation storage site on the network managed by a presentation manager;

queuing the presentation to the selected network projector device; and

managing access to the presentation file at the selected projector device.

25. The storage device of claim 24, wherein the user interface includes at least one dedicated icon to facilitate the user in directing a presentation file to a selected network projector device.

26. The storage device of claim 24, wherein managing access to the presentation file includes providing a password protection mechanism for the presentation file.

27. The storage device of claim 24, wherein managing access to the presentation file includes identifying whether the presentation file matches parameters set for one of the presentation file, the user, and the projector device.

28. A method for enabling a user to present a presentation on a network-enabled projector, the method comprising:

presenting a user interface on a client computer on a computer network, the user interface including at least one dialog box configured to enable a user to transfer a presentation file to a projector computer associated with a user-selected projector on the network;

storing the presentation file in a presentation storage location associated with the user-selected projector on the network; and

automatically queuing the presentation file to the projector computer associated with the user-selected projector.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the projector computer is embedded within the user-selected projector.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein presenting a user interface includes providing a dialog box configured to enable a user to password protect their presentation file.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein presenting a user interface includes providing a dialog box configured to enable a user to limit the number of times the presentation may be viewed.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein presenting a user interface includes providing a dialog box configured to enable a user to limit the lifetime of the presentation file.