Portable presentation system and methods for use therewith

• US 20070106950A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Polyvision Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dunn, Michael, Hildebrandt, Peter, Hutchinson, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,948,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/761
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/067 Combinations of audio and projected visual presentation, e.g. film, slides
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/08 providing for individual presentation of information to a plurality of student stations
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 : Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3197 : using light modulating optical valves

Abstract

A presentation system and method for presenting information to an audience within a space hat includes a plurality of mobile projectors and a master presentation unit that can be moved into a presentation space and associated where the projectors and master unit are quickly linkable via a network and where the master unit expedites the system configuration process to allow the system user to manipulate images presented by all of the projectors.

Claims

1. A method for configuring presentation units for cooperative activities, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a master presentation unit including a display and at least one input device in a conference space;

providing a processor associated with the master presentation unit;

moving a plurality of portable projectors within the conference space;

associating the master presentation unit with at least a subset of the projectors within the conference space wherein the associated subset of projectors includes at least two projectors;

presenting an image via the master presentation unit display;

providing a control interface via the master presentation unit display for designating any one of the projectors from the associated subset that should display the image presented via the master presentation unit; and

when a projector is designated to display the image from the master presentation unit, using the designated projector to project the image from the master presentation unit onto a presentation space within the conference space.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating the master presentation unit with a subset of the projectors includes presenting a list of the projectors via the master presentation unit display and receiving selections designating the subset of projectors via the master presentation unit input device.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of providing a sensor system for determining which projectors are in the conference space.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of the projectors includes an identification tag and wherein the sensor system includes at least a first tag reader for reading the identification tag.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the ID tag is an RF ID tag and the sensor is an RF sensor.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of providing a plurality of projectors in the conference space includes providing projectors that each include a wireless transmitter, the step of associating further includes the step of causing the projectors in the space to transmit unique projector identifiers to the master presentation unit, the step of presenting a list including presenting a list including a separate entry for each of the unique projector identifiers received by the master presentation unit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the projectors projects at least first and second images onto at least first and second presentation spaces, respectively, and wherein the step of providing a control interface includes providing an interface that facilitates designation of any of the first and second presentation spaces associated with any of the projectors.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of providing a control interface includes providing an interface that enables designation of any of the images presented by any of the projectors to be represented by the master presentation unit via the master presentation unit display.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of moving a plurality of projector units into the conference space includes providing each projector unit on a separate projector cart wherein each cart includes wheels to facilitate transport of the projector and moving the carts and projectors into the conference space.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of associating the master presentation unit with a subset of the projectors includes mechanically linking each of the carts to the master presentation unit.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of moving the carts includes arranging the carts in a side-by-side fashion and wherein the step of mechanically linking includes connecting communication cables between the master presentation unit and the projectors.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of mechanically linking further includes connecting power cables between the mater presentation unit and the projectors.

13. The method of claim 9 further including the steps of arranging the carts associated with the associated subset of projectors in a side-by-side fashion and mechanically linking adjacent carts to form a cart chain for transport.

14. A portable assembly for use with a data cable that includes a data connector, the assembly also for use with a member that forms a presentation surface, the assembly comprising:

a cart including;

a support member forming a support surface;

wheels supporting the support surface and facilitating movement of the cart;

a first data port supported by the cart and configured to receive the data connector; and

a projector supported by the support surface and linked to the first data port, the projector arranged to project images onto the presentation surface adjacent the cart.

15. The assembly of claim 14 also for use with a power cable that includes a power connector, the assembly further including a first power port supported by the cart and configured to receive the power connector, the projector linked to the first power port.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the cart further includes a transparent member and wherein the projector projects images through the transparent member and onto the presentation surface adjacent the cart.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the transparent member forms a substantially horizontal transparent table top above the support member.

18. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the cart further includes at least a rear wall member, first and second lateral wall members and at least one of a door member and a front wall member opposite the rear wall member that together form an internal chamber where the support member and the projector are supported in the chamber and, wherein, the first data port is supported by at least one of the rear wall member, the first lateral member, the second lateral member, the front wall member and the door member.

19. The assembly of claim 18 further including a transparent top member supported proximate top ends of the rear wall member and the first and second lateral wall members wherein the projector is juxtaposed to project images through the transparent top member and on to the presentation surface adjacent the cart.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein at least one of the rear wall member, the first lateral member, the second lateral member, the door member and the front wall member forms openings to facilitate ventilation of the internal chamber.

21. The assembly of claim 15 further including a second power port supported by the cart and configured to receive the power connector, a second data port supported by the cart and configured to receive the data connector and cables that link the first and second power ports and the first and second data ports, respectively.

22. The assembly of claim 21 further including first and second oppositely facing lateral wall members that are supported by the wheels and that form an internal chamber there between, the support member and the projector supported in the chamber, the first power port and the first data port supported by the first lateral wall member for connection to the power and data connectors on a side of the first lateral wall member opposite the internal chamber and the second power port and the second data port supported by the second lateral wall member for connection to the power and data connectors on a side of the second lateral wall member opposite the internal chamber.

23. The assembly of claim 22 further including a rear wall member that traverses the distance between the first and second lateral wall members and that defines a rear boundary of the internal chamber.

24. The assembly of claim 23 further including at least one of a front wall member and a front door member opposite the rear wall member and that defines a front boundary of the internal chamber.

25. The assembly of claim 24 further including a transparent top member supported proximate the top edges of the rear wall member and the lateral wall members wherein the projector is juxtaposed such that the projector projects images through the transparent top member.

26. The assembly of claim 25 wherein cart and projector are a first cart and a first projector and the assembly further includes a second cart and a second projector and, wherein, the power and data connectors of the second projector are linked to the first power and data ports of the second cart, respectively, the assembly further including power and a data jumper cables, the power jumper cable including power connectors at opposite ends and the data jumper cable including data connectors at opposite ends, wherein the power jumper cable links the second power port of the first cart to the first power port of the second cart and the data jumper cable links the second data port of the first cart to the first data port of the second cart.

27. A portable assembly for use with a power cable that includes a power connector and a data cable that includes a data connector, the assembly comprising:

a cart including;

first and second substantially vertical lateral wall members spaced apart on opposite sides of an internal chamber, each of the lateral wall members having an upper edge;

a substantially vertical rear wall member that extends between and is substantially perpendicular to the first and second lateral wall members;

at least one of a door member and a front wall member that extends between and is substantially perpendicular to the first and second lateral wall members

wheels that support the first and second lateral wall members and the rear wall member and that facilitate movement of the cart;

a substantially horizontal transparent top member supported by the wall members proximate the top edges of the lateral wall members; and

a first data port supported by the cart and configured to receive the data connector.

28. The assembly of claim 27 also for use with a member that forms a substantially vertical presentation surface, the assembly further including a projector supported by the wall members and linked to the first power port and the first data port, the projector arranged to project images through the transparent top member and onto the presentation surface adjacent the cart.

29. The assembly of claim 28 further including a support member supported by the wall members within the internal chamber and spaced apart from the upper edges of the lateral wall members so that an upper chamber is formed above the support member and below the transparent top member, the projector supported by the support member.

30. The assembly of claim 27 further including a first power port and wherein the first power port and the first data port and supported by one of the rear wall member, the front wall member, the door member, the first lateral wall member and the second lateral wall member.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the first power port and the first data port are supported by the first lateral wall member, the assembly further including a second power port and a second data port that are supported by the second lateral wall member, a power cable that links the first and second power ports and a data cable that links the first and second data ports.

32. An image presentation kit system for use with a substantially vertical member that forms a presentation surface, the assembly comprising:

a master presentation unit including an input device and a display screen;

a processor associated with the master unit;

at least first and second portable projector carts that include wheels for moving the carts within a conference space, each cart also including a projector juxtaposed to project images onto the presentation surface when the cart is positioned adjacent the presentation surface; and

a network for linking the processor to each of the portable projectors.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the network is wireless.

34. The system of claim 32 for use in a conferencing space including a floor member for supporting the carts wherein the network includes data cables mounted in the floor.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the data cables form a plurality of spaced apart data ports in the floor for linking to the carts.

37. The system of claim 32 wherein the network includes data first and second data ports mounted to the carts and jumper cables that extend between data ports of adjacent carts.

36. The system of claim 36 wherein each of the data ports includes a mechanical connector plug.

38. A method for configuring a presentation system for displaying images, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a master presentation unit including a display and at least one input device in a conference space;

providing a processor associated with the master presentation unit;

moving a plurality of portable projectors within the conference space;

using a mechanical network to mechanically link at least a subset of the projectors to the processor wherein the associated subset of projectors includes at least two projectors;

using the processor to poll the network to identify the number of projectors linked thereto and the logical locations of the projectors on the network;

configuring the processor to provide an interface display screen via the master presentation unit display to enable control of the images presented by each of the linked projectors using the master presentation unit input device.