Desktop computer conferencing system

• US 20050110780A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1989
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: NetAirus Systems
• Original Assignee: NetAirus Systems
• Inventors: Ditzik, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US11/023,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110780A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0073 liftable above the desk top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0073 Desk with integrated computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A man-computer-man communications system, including a computer workstation (10), which is comprised of a display device (22), graphic tablet (18), stylus (14), computer unit (24), and display device screen (16) located at convenient locations. The active area of the graphic tablet is a transparent surface area (18), which is coincident to the display screen and is approximately the same size as the display screen. The graphic tablet device may include active or passive stylus (14). A keyboard unit (12) and telephone unit (28) may be added to the workstation. An external communications system may be added to transmit and receive data to or from remote computers or other workstations. The computer unit (24) controls the operation of the workstation and external communications.

Claims

1. A data conferencing system having a first and a second conferencing terminal, the data conferencing system comprising:

the first conferencing terminal including;

a first integrated input and display device adapted to receive a first portion of information from a first stylus, the first portion of information including graphic data that is displayed on the first integrated input and display device;

a first communication device integral with the first integrated input and display device and configured to connect the first conferencing terminal to the second conferencing terminal;

a first interactive display interface portion configured to display both the graphic data entered by the first stylus and graphic data received from the second conferencing terminal simultaneously;

a first stylus position determination device adapted to determine the position of the first stylus;

a first keyboard in communication with the first integrated input and display device, input from the first keyboard being displayed on the first integrated input and display device; and

a transmissive first tablet surface adapted to be contacted by the first stylus and integrated with the first integrated input and display device through which the first portion of information is displayed and through which stylus position is detected;

the second conferencing terminal including;

a second integrated input and display device adapted to receive a second portion of information from a second stylus, the second portion of information including the graphic data that is displayed on the second integrated input and display device;

a second communication device integral with the second integrated input and display device and configured to connect the second conferencing terminal to the first conferencing terminal;

a second interactive display interface portion configured to display both the graphic data entered by the second stylus and the graphic data received from the first conferencing terminal simultaneously;

a second stylus position determination device adapted to determine the position of the second stylus;

a second keyboard in communication with the second integrated input and display device, input from the second keyboard being displayed on the second integrated input and display device; and

a transmissive second tablet surface adapted to be contacted by the second stylus and integrated with the second integrated input and display device through which the second portion of information is displayed and through which stylus position is detected;

wherein,

the first conferencing terminal has the same structure and configuration as the second conferencing terminal,

both conferencing terminals of the data conferencing system are capable of displaying the first and second portions of information simultaneously, and

at least one of the first and the second portions of information include handwriting entered by one of the first and second stylus.

2. A display-tablet device comprising:

a) a microprocessor computer system running an personal computer-type operating system program;

b) a flat panel display device defining a display screen controlled by the microprocessor computer system;

c) a transmissive graphic tablet input device placed over the flat panel display screen, wherein the graphic tablet input device is controlled by the microprocessor computer system, and wherein a user has an option to enter data to the graphic tablet using a stylus;

d) a control button on the front top surface of the portable display-tablet device for additional user control or data input to the portable display-tablet device;

e) an enclosure in which the microprocessor system and other necessary support components are located.

3. A method for information sharing on a personal computer comprising the following steps in any order:

a) executing a communication program in cooperation with a personal computer operating system;

b) communicating data under control of the personal computer operating system to and from a second roughly equivalent personal computer at a remote location via an external communications network;

c) conferring information between another personal computer system in a peer to peer manner in cooperation with the communicating data step using said computer program and an external communication function; and

d) adapting said personal computer system for multiple data input devices.

4. A computer program residing on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing one or more personal computer systems to:

a) communicate information to and from another roughly same type personal computer system remotely located in cooperation with an operating system with a window graphical user interface capable of single window operation while communicating information,

b) communication information via an external remote communications network in a roughly peer-to-peer process, such that a user has the option to execute programs separately and execute programs that do not correspond to each other;

c) control downloading of information from said roughly same type personal computer system via the external remote communication network, wherein said information is processed;

d) control uploading of information to said roughly same type personal computer via the external remote communication network, wherein said information is processed; and

e) process said information for communication to and from the remote personal computer, such that said communication of information is for a business purpose.

5. A computer program as recited in claim 4, in which the computer program is communicating information for the purpose of data conferencing and application sharing.

6. A computer program as recited in claim 4, in which the information communicated includes audio or voice information.

7. A computer program as recited in claim 4, in which the information communicated includes audio and video information.