Systems and methods for facilitating interaction with a whiteboard

• US 20030137496A1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gaston, Barbara, Stevens, Chad
• Application Number:
  US10/055,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137496A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels

Abstract

A whiteboard apparatus is provided. Briefly described, one such whiteboard apparatus comprises an electronic paper display device and a writing surface. The electronic paper display device is configured to display an image. The writing surface is arranged in superimposed relationship with the electronic paper display device. The present invention may also be viewed as method. Briefly, one such method comprises the steps of: providing an electronic paper display device configured to display an image on a whiteboard; arranging a writing surface in superimposed relationship with the electronic paper display device; and displaying an image on the electronic paper display device over which a user may write on the writing surface.

Claims

1. A whiteboard apparatus, comprising:

an electronic paper display device configured to display an image; and

a writing surface arranged in superimposed relationship with the electronic paper display device.

2. The whiteboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic paper display device comprises:

a plurality of image elements, each of the image elements having one or more charged particles; and

logic configured to display the image by controlling the orientation of the charged particles.

3. The whiteboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic paper display device employs electronic ink technology.

4. The whiteboard apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a network interface device configured for communication with a communication network and wherein the image displayed on the electronic paper display is received via the communication network.

5. The whiteboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic paper display device is further configured to display a reference image over which a user may write on the writing surface.

6. The whiteboard apparatus of claim 5, wherein the reference image comprises a Cartesian plane.

7. The whiteboard apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store one or more images to be displayed on the electronic paper display device.

8. The whiteboard apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a user interface device configured to enable a user to select one of the images stored in memory to be displayed on the electronic paper display device.

9. The whiteboard apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a scanning device configured to convert a document to an electronic image to be displayed on the electronic paper display device.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic paper display device configured to display an image on a whiteboard;

arranging a writing surface in superimposed relationship with the electronic paper display device; and

displaying an image on the electronic paper display device over which a user may write on the writing surface

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of selecting the image to be displayed on the electronic paper display device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of downloading the reference image to be displayed on the electronic paper display device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic paper display device employs electronic ink technology.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the image comprises a Cartesian plane.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of storing the image to be displayed on the electronic paper display device.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of scanning the image from a document.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of printing the image displayed on the electronic paper display device and the contents of the writing surface.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic paper display device comprises:

a plurality of image elements, each of the image elements having one or more charged particles; and

logic configured to display the image by controlling the orientation of the charged particles.