Multi-Use Conferencing Space, Table Arrangement and Display Configuration

• US 20120287226A1
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Baloga, Mark A., Graziano, Frank G.
• Application Number:
  US13/481,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/10 Tops characterised by shape, other than circular or rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/006 having an incorporated display screen
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0079 Conference or video conference table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/06 Furniture aspects of radio, television, gramophone, or record cabinets for similar equipment supports attached to the wall or ceiling or floor stands F16M
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/04 Tables combined with other pieces of furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising a first table assembly including (i) a first table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges, (ii) at least a first display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the first table top, a second table assembly including (i) a second table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges and (ii) at least a second display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the second table top, wherein, the first and second table assemblies arranged so that the front edges thereof are spaced apart to form a gap with the second display screen substantially parallel to and facing the first display screen.

Claims

1. A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising:

a first table assembly including;

(i) a first table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges;

(ii) at least a first display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the first table top;

a second table assembly including;

(i) a second table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges; and

(ii) at least a second display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the second table top;

wherein, the first and second table assemblies arranged so that the front edges thereof are spaced apart to form a gap with the second display screen substantially parallel to and facing the first display screen.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further including a third display screen adjacent the rear edge of the second table top and that is substantially parallel to the second display screen.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each of the second and third display screens has a diagonal dimension that is smaller than the diagonal dimension of the first display screen.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the diagonal dimension of each of the second and third display screens is between twenty and forty-two inches and wherein the diagonal dimension of the first display screen is between thirty and forty-six inches.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the gap between the front edges of the first and second table assemblies is between twenty-four and forty-two inches.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first table top has first and second lateral edges that traverse the distance between the front and rear edges of the first table top, each lateral edge having a length dimension of at least five feet, the second table top has first and second lateral edges that traverse the distance between the front and rear edges of the second table top, each lateral edge having a length dimension of at least five feet.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further including a control assembly that enables an assembly user to present information from a computer device on either of the first and second displays.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the control assembly is a first control assembly that is physically linked to the first table assembly.

9. The assembly of claim 8 further including a second control assembly that is physically linked to the second table assembly, the second control assembly enabling a user to present information from a second computer device on either of the first and second displays.

10. The assembly of claim 3 wherein videos of remote conferees are presented via the second and third display screens.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further including first, second and third video cameras positioned adjacent the first, second and third display screens to capture video of a space including the configuration from first, second and third different perspectives that are aligned with the first, second and third display screens.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the front edges of the table tops are straight and parallel.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein a video of a remote conferee that is currently presenting at a conference is presented on the first display screen.

14. A conferencing assembly, the assembly comprising:

a first table assembly including;

(i) a first table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges;

(ii) at least a first display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the first table top;

a second table assembly including;

(i) a second table top having oppositely facing front and rear edges;

(ii) a second display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the second table top, the second display screen having a diagonal dimension that is smaller than the first display screen; and

(iii) a third display screen supported adjacent the rear edge of the second table top and adjacent the second display screen, the third screen substantially parallel to the second screen, the third display screen having a diagonal dimension that is similar to the diagonal dimension of the second display screen;

wherein, the first and second table assemblies arranged so that the front edges thereof are spaced apart to form a gap with the second and third display screens substantially parallel to and facing the first display screen.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the diagonal dimension of each of the second and third display screens is between twenty and forty-two inches and wherein the diagonal dimension of the first display screen is between thirty and forty-six inches.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the gap between the front edges of the first and second table assemblies is between twenty-four and forty-two inches.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the first table top has first and second lateral edges that traverse the distance between the front and rear edges of the first table top, each lateral edge having a length dimension of at least five feet, the second table top has first and second lateral edges that traverse the distance between the front and rear edges of the second table top, each lateral edge having a length dimension of at least five feet.

18. The assembly of claim 14 further including a control assembly that enables an assembly user to present information from a computer device on either of the first and second displays.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the control assembly is a first control assembly that is physically linked to the first table assembly.

20. The assembly of claim 14 wherein videos of remote conferees are presented via the second and third display screens.

21. The assembly of claim 20 further including first, second and third video cameras positioned adjacent the first, second and third display screens to capture video of a space including the configuration from first, second and third different perspectives that are aligned with the first, second and third display screens.

22. A method of performing a conference, the method comprising the steps of:

supporting a large display screen for viewing within a conference space;

supporting at least first and second relatively small display screens for viewing within a conference space where the smaller display screens generally face the larger display screen wherein the small display screens are smaller than the large display screen;

when a remote conferee is presenting at a conference, presenting a video of the remote conferee via the large display screen and presenting videos of at least a subset of the non-presenting remote conferees via the small display screens; and

when the presenting remote conferee changes, presenting the new presenting remote conferee via the large display screen.

23. The method of claim 22 further including the steps of, when the new presenting remote conferee is one of the conferees presented via one of the small displays, when the new presenting remote conferee is presented via the large display screen, replacing the new presenting remote conferee on the small display with a video of another remote conferee.