Projector device management system

• US 20030191836A1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: InFocus Corporation (Lap-Shun Hui, MBA)
• Inventors: Murtha, Steve, Cossitt, Alan, Wenban, Jim, Tran, De, Castaldi, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A system and methods for managing a plurality of projector devices over a computer network are provided. The system includes a projector manager linked to a computer network, wherein the projector manager is configured to monitor over the network a status of a selected feature of a selected projector device, and to change the status of the selected feature when requested. The system also includes a projector manager controller linked to the computer network, wherein the projector manager controller is configured to request the projector manager to perform at least one of the functions of reporting the status of the selected feature and requesting the selected projector device to change the status of the selected feature.

Claims

1. A system for managing a plurality of projector devices over a computer network, the system comprising:

a projector manager linked to computer network, wherein the projector manager is configured to monitor over the network a status of a selected feature of a selected projector device and to change the status of the selected feature when requested; and

a projector manager controller linked to the computer network, wherein the projector manager controller is configured to request the projector manager to perform at least one of the functions of reporting the status of the selected feature and requesting the selected projector device to change the status of the selected feature.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager is configured to monitor the status of the selected feature by periodically polling the selected projector device for a current status of the selected feature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager is configured to store the current status of the selected feature after polling the selected projector device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected feature is selected from the group consisting of a power on/off status, a current image source, ceiling mounted status, table mounted status, rear projection mode status, remaining lamp hours, network connectivity status, cooling fan status, projector device temperature, projector device model name, projector device firmware revision number, and projector device serial number.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager is configured to detect a change in status of the selected feature, and to send an alert message to another network device when a change in status is detected.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the projector manager is configured to send an alert message to another network device when a change in status is detected.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager includes at least one service configured to interact with the projector manager controller to perform tasks requested by the projector manager controller and to provide information requested by the projector manager controller to the projector manager controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the projector manager includes a locator service configured to serve as a single system reference point for communication with other network components, and to determine locations of other services when access to other services is requested by another network devices.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the locator service is configured to manage a list of registered users for the system and to control system logon functions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the locator service is configured to store a privilege level for each registered user.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the projector manager includes an administration service configured to poll selected projector devices to determine current status of the selected projection devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the administration service is configured to set projector device parameters when directed by the projection manager controller.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the administration service is configured to monitor the projector devices for changes in projector device status.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the administration service is configured to send an alert message to a selected network device when a change in projector device status is detected.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the administration service is configured to maintain a log of detected changes in projector device status.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the log of detected changes in projector device status includes a new events log configured to store detected changes in projector device status that have not been attended to by an administrator.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of administration services located at a plurality of different network locations, and a locator service configured to apportion administrative tasks of the administration servers among the plurality of projector devices.

18. The system of claim 7, wherein the projector manager includes a directory service configured to keep track of physical locations of the plurality of projector devices.

19. The system of claim 7, wherein the projector manager includes a telnet service configured to communicate with telnet-enabled projector devices.

20. The system of claim 7, wherein the projector manager controller is configured to connect to each service via a separate socket connection.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager includes at least one translator for translating commands and queries from the projector manager to the selected projector device into a command language utilized by the selected projector device.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager includes a database configured to store information related to projector devices.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the information related to projector devices includes information related to the status of the selected projector device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the information related to projector devices includes information regarding capabilities of selected projector device models.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager is implemented at least partially by software executable on a server computing device.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager controller is implemented at least partially by software executable on a client computer device.

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network adaptor disposed between the selected projector device and the projector manager to enable communications between the selected projector device and the projector manager.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager controller is configured to accept input from a user directing the projector manager controller to communicate with the projector manager.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector manager controller includes a user interface configured to present status information to a user upon request by a user.

30. A system for administrating a plurality of network-enabled projector devices over a computer network, the system comprising:

server software stored on a recordable medium linked to the network, wherein the server software is executable by a server computing device to communicate with a selected projector device over the network to detect a status of the selected projector device and to change the status of the selected projector device when directed; and

administrative client software stored on a recordable medium linked to the network, wherein the administrative client software is executable by a client computing device to permit the user to direct the server computing device to communicate with the selected projector device.

31. An article comprising:

a storage medium containing a set of instructions executable by a client computing device and a server computing device linked to a computer network to control a projector device over the network via the steps of;

accepting an input from a user at the client computing device, wherein the input requests a selected function to be performed on the projector device;

sending a first message from the client computing device to the server computing device directing the server computing device to request the projector device to perform the selected function; and

upon receiving the first message at the server computing device, sending a second message from the server computing device to the projector requesting the projector device to perform the selected function.

32. The article of claim 31, wherein the input includes instructions directing the server computing device to periodically request the projector device to send status information to the server computing device.

33. The article of claim 31, wherein the status information is selected from the group consisting of a power on/off status, a current image source, ceiling mounted status, table mounted status, rear projection mode status, remaining lamp hours, network connectivity status, cooling fan status, projector device temperature, projector device model name, projector device firmware revision number, and projector device serial number.

34. The article of claim 32, wherein the input includes instructions directing the server computing device to compare the status of the projector device to a preselected condition, and to send an alert message to the client computing device if the status of the projector device meets the preselected condition.

35. The article of claim 34, wherein the preselected condition is a low-lamp-life condition.

36. The article of claim 33, wherein the preselected condition is the projector device being disconnected from the network.

37. The article of claim 31, wherein the input includes instructions directing the server computing device to change a status of the projector device.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein the status of the projector device is selected from the group consisting of power on/off status, a current image source, ceiling mounted status, table mounted status, and rear projection mode status.

39. The article of claim 31, wherein the input includes instructions directing the server computing device to shut down the projector device according to a preselected schedule.

40. A method for remotely controlling a network-enabled projector device, wherein the projector device is connected to a computer network that includes a client computing device and a server computing device, the method comprising:

sending a first message from the client computing device to the server computing device directing the server computing device to request the projector device to perform a selected function; and

upon receiving the first message at the server computing device, sending a second message from the server computing device to the projector device requesting the projector to perform the selected function.

41. A method of automatically alerting of a changed status of a projector device linked to a computer network, the network including a server computing device in communication with the projector device over the network and a client computing device in communication with the server computing device over the network, the method comprising:

detecting a current status of the projector device via the server computing device;

comparing the current status of the projector device with a preselected condition;

and if the current status of the projector device meets the preselected condition, then sending an alert message from the server computing device to the client computing device to alert of the current status of the projector device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein detecting a current status of the projector device via the server computing device includes sending a query from the server computing device to the projector device and receiving a response to the query at the server computing device, wherein the response includes information regarding the current status of the projector device.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein detecting a current status of the projector device includes detecting an amount of remaining lamp life.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the preselected condition is a threshold amount of remaining lamp life.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein detecting a current status of the projector device includes detecting whether the projector device is connected to the network.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the preselected condition corresponds to the projector device being disconnected from the network.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the alert message includes a field selectable by a user to indicate that the user has dealt with the alert message.

48. The method of claim 41, further comprising storing the alert message in a log of alert messages.