Projection Device, Computer Readable Recording Medium Which Records Program, Projection Method and Projection System

• US 20090184924A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Uchida, Katsura
• Application Number:
  US12/414,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• 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: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• 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

Abstract

A projection device in which a displayed pointer image of an input device can be shifted by a plurality of users is provided. A projection device includes a wireless transmitting/receiving unit for receiving command signals of mouses connected with a plurality of computer units from the respective computer units; a pointer image generating unit (information processing unit) for generating pointer images of the mouses; a pointer image position setting unit (information processing unit) for setting a pointer image position based on the received command signals of the mouses; and a projection unit for projecting an image including the pointer image at least at the set position.

Claims

1. A projection device comprising:

a receiving unit which is configured to receive command signals of input devices which are connected with a plurality of computer devices from said plurality of respective computer devices;

a pointer image forming unit which is configured to form pointer images of the input devices;

a pointer image position setting unit which is configured to set pointer image positions based on the command signals received from the input devices; and

a projection unit which is configured to project an image including at least the pointer images at the pointer image positions set by the pointer image position setting unit.

2. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes a pointing device which is connected with the computer device,

the command signal contains a shift signal which is generated by the pointing device,

the projection device further comprises a shift signal adding unit which is configured to generate a new shift signal by adding the shift signals from the plurality of computer devices to a pointer image position set in the projection device, and the pointer image position setting unit is configured to set the pointer image position based on the generated shift signal.

3. A projection device according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive computer device identification information for identifying the plurality of respective computers and shift signals of the pointing devices which are connected with the computer devices from the plurality of respective computer devices in a state that the computer device identification information and the shift signals are associated with each other,

the pointer image forming unit is configured to specify display colors of the pointer images corresponding to the received computer device identification information and is configured to associate the display colors of the pointer images with the shift signals,

the pointer image position setting unit is configured to set the positions of the pointer images of the display colors which are associated with the shift signals based on the received shift signals of the pointing devices, and

the projection unit is configured to project the pointer images of the specified display colors to the set positions.

4. A projection device according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit receives display color information of the pointer images and the shift signals of the pointing devices which are connected with the computer devices from the plurality of respective computer devices in a state that the display color information and the shift signals are associated with each other,

the pointer image forming unit is configured to specify the display colors of the pointer images in accordance with the display color information of the received pointer images and is configured to associate the specified display colors with the shift signals,

the pointer image position setting unit is configured to set the positions of the pointer images of the display colors which are associated with the shift signals based on the received shift signals of the pointing devices, and

the projection unit is configured to project images which contain at least the pointer images of the specified display colors to the set positions.

5. A projection device according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive computer device identification information which identifies the plurality of respective computer devices and shift signals of the pointing devices which are connected with the computer devices from the plurality of respective computer devices in a state that the computer device identification information and the shift signals are associated with each other,

the pointer image forming unit is configured to specify shapes of the pointers corresponding to the received computer device identification information and is configured to make the shapes of the pointers associated with the shift signals,

the pointer image position setting unit is configured to set the positions of the pointer images of the shapes which are associated with the shift signals based on the received shift signals of the pointing devices, and

the projection unit is configured to project an image at least including the pointer images of the specified shapes to the set positions.

6. A projection device according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive pointer shape information and the shift signals of the pointing devices which are connected with the plurality of computer devices from the plurality of respective computer devices in a state that the pointer shape information and the shift signals are associated with each other,

the pointer image forming unit is configured to specify shapes of the pointers corresponding to the received pointer shape information and is configured to associate the shapes of the pointers with the shift signals,

the pointer image position setting unit is configured to set the positions of the pointer images of the shapes which are associated with the shift signals based on the received shift signals of the pointing devices, and

the projection unit is configured to project an image including at least the pointer images of the specified shapes to the set positions.

7. A projection device according to claim 2, wherein the projection device includes:

a video signal receiving unit which is configured to receive a plurality of video signals from the plurality of computer devices; and

an image arranging unit which arranges a plurality of images formed based on the plurality of received video signals within one image, and

the projection unit is configured to project the image in which the plurality of images is arranged together with the pointer images.

8. A projection device according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive shift signals of the pointing devices which are connected with specified computer devices and other computer devices excluding the specified computer devices from the specified computer devices and other computer devices excluding the specified computer devices,

the pointer image forming unit is configured to form the plurality of pointer images of the pointing devices,

the pointer image position setting unit is configured to set a position of a first pointer image based on the shift signal generated by adding the shift signals from the plurality of computer devices to the pointer image position set in the projection device, and is configured to set a position of a second pointer image based on the received shift signal of the pointing device of the specified computer device, and

the projection unit is configured to project an image which contains at least the plurality of pointer images to the set positions.

9. A projection device according to claim 2, wherein the projection device further includes:

a pointer projection instruction acquisition unit which is configured to acquire an instruction whether or not the pointer image for the pointing device is independently projected and shifted using the shift signal of the pointing device received from the specified computer device; and

a shift signal adding unit which is configured to generate a shift signal by adding the shift signals of a plurality of pointing devices to the pointer image position set by the projection device,

the pointer image forming unit is configured to form one or a plurality of pointer images of the pointing devices,

the receiving unit is configured to receive the shift signals of the pointing devices which are connected with the specified computer device and other computer devices excluding the specified computer device from the specified computer device and other computer devices excluding the specified computer device,

when the pointer projection instruction acquiring unit acquires an instruction indicative of not independently projecting the pointer image for the pointing device using the shift signal received from the specified computer device, the shift signal adding unit generates a shift signal by adding the shift signals received from the specified computer device and said other computer devices to the pointer image position set by the projection device, and the pointer image position setting unit sets the pointer image position based on the generated shift signal, and the projection unit projects an image including the pointer image to at least the set position, and

when the pointer projection instruction acquiring unit receives an instruction indicative of independently projecting and shifting the pointer image of the pointing device using the shift signal of the pointing device received from the specified computer device, the shift signal adding unit generates a shift signal by adding shift signals received from said other computer devices to the pointer image position set in the projection device, the pointer image position setting unit sets a position of a first pointer image based on the generated shift signal, a second pointer image is set based on the received shift signal of the pointing device of the specified computer device, and the projection unit projects an image which contains a plurality of pointer images to at least the set position.

10. A projection device according to claim 9, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive button push-down signals and button push-down release signals of the pointing devices which are connected with the plurality of computer devices from the plurality of computer devices, and

the pointer projection instruction acquiring unit is configured to acquire the shift signal of a predetermined quantity in a state that button push-down signal of the pointing device is acquired from the specified computer device and, thereafter, when a button push-down release signal of the pointing device is acquired, a pointer image shift state is changed over between a state in which the pointer image for the pointing device is independently projected and shifted using the shift signal of the pointing device received from the specified computer device and a state in which the pointer image is not independently projected.

11. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein the projection device further includes:

a video signal receiving unit which is configured to receive one or a plurality of video signals from one or the plurality of computer devices;

an image arranging unit which is configured to synthesize and arrange one or the plurality of images which are formed from the received one or plurality of video signals within a region of one image;

an image region identification information generating unit which is configured to generate computer device identification information which specifies the computer device which outputs the images and image region identification information which associates the region in which said one or plurality of images are arranged and the computer device identification information with each other;

a projection unit which is configured to project said one or plurality of images which are synthesized and arranged within the region of said one image and the pointer image which is set at the position set by the pointer image position setting unit;

a computer device specifying unit which is configured to specify the computer device which outputs the image indicative of the pointer image from the projection position of the pointer image set at the position and the image region identification information; and

a transmitting unit which is configured to transmit a specified command signal corresponding to a projection position of the set pointer image to the specified computer device based on the received command signal of the input device.

12. A projection device according to claim 11, wherein the input device includes pointing devices which are connected with the computer devices, and the command signal contains a shift signal which is generated by the pointing device.

13. A projection device according to claim 12, wherein the input device includes a keyboard which is connected with the computer device,

the command signal contains a button push-down signal which is generated by the pointing device or the keyboard, and

the specified command signal contains the shift signal and the button push-down signal of the pointer image displayed on the specified computer device.

14. A projection device according to claim 12, wherein the image arranging unit is configured to arrange said one or plurality of images within the region of said one image by adjusting sizes of the images received from the plurality of computer devices and is configured to acquire sizes of the images after adjustment for the respective computer devices, and

the transmitting unit is configured to transmit the specified command signal to the specified computer device in a state that the specified command signal and the size of the image after adjustment are associated with each other.

15. A projection device according to claim 14, wherein the projection device further includes:

a mask data storing unit which is configured to store mask data for masking the predetermined signals for button push-down signals of the keyboard contained in the command signal or the combination of the push-down signals; and

a filter unit which is configured to compare button push-down signals of the keyboard contained in the command signal or the combination of push-down signals and the mask data, and is configured to select the button push-down signals or the combination of the button push-down signals which do not correspond to the mask data, wherein

the transmitting unit is configured to transmit the selected button push-down signals or the combination of the selected button push-down signals to the specified computer device as the specified command signals.

16. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program executed by an information processing unit of a projection device which includes:

a receiving unit which is configured to receive command signals of input devices from a plurality of computer devices;

a video signal receiving unit which is configured to receive video signals from the plurality of computer devices;

an image arranging unit which is configured to synthesize and arrange one or a plurality of images within a region of one image;

an image region identification information generating unit which is configured to generate image region identification information in which the region of the image and computer device identification information are associated with each other;

a pointer image forming unit which is configured to form a pointer image arranged within the region of said one image;

a pointer image position setting unit which is configured to set a pointer image position based on a command signal of the input device;

a projection unit which is configured to project said one or plurality of images which are synthesized and arranged at a predetermined position within said one image and the pointer image;

a computer device specifying unit which is configured to specify the computer device which outputs a predetermined video signal;

a transmitting unit which is configured to transmit a corresponding command which corresponds to a projection position of the set pointer image for the specified computer device; and

the information processing unit which is capable of controlling the receiving unit, the video signal receiving unit, the image arranging unit, the image region identification information generating unit, the pointer image forming unit, the pointer image position setting unit, the projection unit, the computer device specifying unit, and the transmitting unit, wherein

the program is executed by the information processing unit such that;

the receiving unit performs a function of receiving the command signals of the input devices which are connected with the plurality of computer devices from the plurality of computer devices,

the video signal receiving unit performs a function of receiving said one or plurality of video signals from said one or plurality of computer devices,

the image arranging unit performs a function of synthesizing and arranging said one or plurality of video signals generated based on the received one or plurality of video signals within the region of said one image,

the image region identification information generating unit performs a function of generating computer device identification information which specifies computer device which outputs the image, and image region identification information which associates said one region in which one or a plurality of images are arranged and the computer device identification information with each other,

the pointer image forming unit performs a function of forming the pointer image which is arranged within the region of said one image,

the pointer image position setting unit performs a function of setting a position of the pointer image based on the received command signal,

the projection unit performs a function of projecting said one or plurality of images which are synthesized and arranged within the region of said one image, and the pointer image which is set at the position,

the computer device identifying unit performs a function of specifying the computer devices which output an image pointed out by the pointer image from the projection position of the pointer image set at the position and the image region identification information, and

the transmitting unit performs a function of transmitting specified command signal corresponding to the set projection position of the pointer image to the specified computer device based on the received command signal of the input device.

17. A projection method of an image using a projection device which includes:

a receiving unit which is configured to receive command signals of input devices from a plurality of computer devices;

a video signal receiving unit which is configured to receive video signals from the plurality of computer devices;

an image arranging unit which is configured to synthesize and arrange one or a plurality of images within a region of one image;

an image region identification information generating unit which is configured to generate image region identification information in which the region of the image and computer device identification information are associated with each other;

a pointer image forming unit which is configured to form a pointer image arranged within the region of said one image;

a pointer image position setting unit which is configured to set a pointer image position based on a command signal of the input device;

a projection unit which is configured to project said one or plurality of images which are synthesized and arranged at a predetermined position within the region of said one image and the pointer image;

a computer device specifying unit which is configured to specify the computer device which outputs a predetermined video signal; and

a transmitting unit which is configured to transmit a corresponding command which corresponds to a projection position of the set pointer image to the specified computer device,

the projection method of an image comprising the steps of;

receiving the command signals of the input devices which are connected with the plurality of computer devices from the plurality of computer devices;

receiving said one or plurality of video signals from said one or plurality of computer devices;

synthesizing and arranging said one or plurality of video signals generated based on received one or plurality of video signals within a region of one image;

generating computer device identification information which specifies computer device which outputs the image, and image region identification information which associates said one region in which one or a plurality of images are arranged and the computer device identification information with each other;

forming the pointer image which is arranged within the region of said one image;

setting a position of the pointer image based on the received command signal,

projecting said one or plurality of images which are synthesized and arranged within the region of said one image, and the pointer image which is set at the position,

specifying the computer device which outputs an image which is pointed out by the pointer image from the projection position of the pointer image set at the position and the image region identification information, and

transmitting a specified command signal corresponding to the set projection position of the pointer image to the specified computer device based on the received command signal of the input device.

18. A projection system comprising:

a plurality of computer devices with which input devices are connected; and

a projection device which is configured to receive video signals from the plurality of computer devices and command signals of the input devices and is configured to project an image and a pointer image within a region of one image, wherein

said each computer device includes;

a) a command signal transmitting unit which is configured to output the command signal of the input device to the projection device;

b) a video signal transmitting unit which is configured to output the video signal of the image to be displayed based on an application program to the projection device;

c) a command signal receiving unit which is configured to receive a specified command signal generated based on the command signal of the input device from the projection device; and

d) a shift signal transferring unit which is configured to transfer the received specified command signal to the application program; and

a projection device includes;

a) a receiving unit which is configured to receive command signals of input devices which are connected with a plurality of computer devices from the plurality of respective computer devices;

b) a video signal receiving unit which is configured to receive one or a plurality of video signals from one or the plurality of computer devices;

c) an image arranging unit which is configured to synthesize and arrange one or a plurality of images formed based on the received one or plurality of video signals within a region of one image;

d) an image region identification information forming unit which is configured to generate computer device identification information which specifies the computer device which outputs the image, and image region identification information which associates said one region in which one or a plurality of images are arranged and the computer device identification information with each other;

e) a pointer image forming unit which is configured to form pointer images which are arranged within the region of said one image;

f) a pointer image position setting unit which is configured to set a position of the pointer image based on the received command signal;

g) a projection unit which is configured to project said one or plurality of images which are synthesized and arranged within the region of said one image, and the pointer image which is set at the position;

h) a computer device specifying unit which is configured to specify the computer device which outputs an image pointed out by the pointer image from the projection position of the pointer image set at the position and the image region identification information; and

i) a transmitting unit which is configured to transmit a specified command signal corresponding to the set projection position of the pointer image to the specified computer device based on the received command signal of the input device.