Method and apparatus for controlling power to a multi-media conferencing system using any one of a system power switch and a computer

• US 6,070,247 A
• Filed: 12/03/1996
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smart Technologies Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smart Technologies Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Grimm, Thomas, Martin, Donald J., Perrin, Keith L., Davis, Kevin D., Wallace, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Application Number:
  US08/760,120
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 353/122, 395/750-750.08, 361/683-686
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip

Abstract

A multi-media conferencing system (10) that links desirable conferencing components into an adaptable and functional whole through innovative system approaches to system level controls. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media conferencing system (10) that integrates equipment to present information in the most desirable way as determined by the presenter and allows for system power to be turned on and off by a single system button power button (48) and by a system computer (30).

Claims

1. A multi-media conferencing system, comprising:

a video projector;

a computer coupled to said video projector and having (i) a hard disk drive and (ii) power on/off means for commanding power on/off to both said computer and said video projector;

a system power on/off switch for commanding power on/off to both said computer and said video projector; and

a mechanism coupled to said computer, said video projector and said system power on/off switch, said mechanism controlling power on/off to said computer and to said video projector in response to a signal from said computer power on/off means or in response to a signal from said system power on/off switch, said mechanism turning power on to both said computer and said video projector in response to an on signal from said computer on/off means without an on signal from the system power on/off switch.

2. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 1, wherein said computer is a portable computer.

3. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 2, wherein a docking station couples said portable computer to said video projector and to said mechanism.

4. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 1, further including a mouse coupled to said computer.

5. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 1, further including an auxiliary hard disk drive having signal lines coupled to said computer and a power input line coupled to said mechanism.

6. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 1, further including a multi-function printer having signal lines coupled to said computer and a power input line coupled to said mechanism.

7. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 1, further including an interactive display board coupled to said computer.

8. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises:

an uninterruptable power supply relay coupling an uninterruptable power supply to AC power input; and

a switch control box coupled to said system on/off switch, to said computer, to said uninterruptable power supply relay and to said uninterruptable power supply.

9. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 1, where said mechanism comprises an uninterruptable power supply under the control of a single-chip microcontroller.

10. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises:

a single chip microcontroller having one input coupled to an uninterruptable power supply;

a second input coupled to said computer;

a third input coupled to said computer;

a fourth input coupled to a back-up hard disk drive;

a fifth input coupled to said system on/off switch;

a sixth input coupled to a switch, actuation of which causes a back-up hard disk drive to restore the hard disk drive in said computer; and

a seventh input coupled to a battery backup.

11. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 5, wherein said mechanism couples power to said auxiliary hard disk drive in response to said mechanism receiving a turn-on signal from any one of said system on/off switch and said computer, said mechanism further decoupling power from said auxiliary hard disk drive in response to said mechanism receiving a turn-off signal from any one of said system on/off switch and said compter.

12. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 6, wherein said mechanism couples power to said printer in response to said mechanism receiving a turn-on signal from any one of said system on/off switch and said computer, said mechanism further decoupling power from said printer in response to said mechanism receiving a turn-off signal from any one of said system on/off switch and said computer.

13. A multi-media conferencing system comprising:

a video projector;

a portable computer which couples power to and decouples power from both said portable computer and said video projector;

a system on/off switch which couples power to and decouples power from both said portable computer and said video projector;

a docking station coupling said portable computer to said video projector; and

a mechanism controlling power supplied to said portable computer and to said video projector, said mechanism coupling power to said portable computer and to said video projector in response to a turn-on signal from said system on/off switch or said portable computer, said mechanism further decoupling power from said portable computer and said video projector in response to a turn-off signal from said system on/off switch or said portable computer, said mechanism turning power on to both said portable computer and said video projector in response to an on signal from said portable computer without an on signal from the system power on/off switch.

14. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 13, further including an auxiliary hard disk drive having signal lines coupled to said computer and a power input line coupled to said mechanism.

15. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 13 further including a multi-function printer having signal lines coupled to said computer and a power input line coupled to said mechanism.

16. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 13, further including an interactive display board coupled to said computer.

17. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 13, wherein said mechanism comprises:

an uninterruptable power supply relay coupling an uninterruptable power supply to AC power input; and

a switch control box coupled to said system on/off switch, to said computer, to said uninterruptable power supply relay and to said uninterruptable power supply.

18. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 13, where said mechanism comprises an uninterruptable power supply under the control of a single-chip microcontroller.

19. The multi-media conferencing system of claim 13, wherein said mechanism comprises:

a single chip microcontroller having one input coupled to an uninterruptable power supply;

a second input coupled to said computer;

a third input coupled to said computer;

a fourth input coupled to a back-up hard disk drive;

a fifth input coupled to said system on/off switch;

a sixth input coupled to a switch actuation of which causes a back-up hard disk drive to restore the hard disk drive in said computer; and

a seventh input coupled to a battery backup.

20. A method of controlling power to a multi-media conferencing system, comprising the steps of:

providing a mechanism for coupling power to and decoupling power from both a computer and a video projector;

providing on a computer power on/off means for providing power to and decoupling power from both the computer and the video projector;

providing a system on/off switch for providing power to and decoupling power from both the computer and the video projector;

coupling power to said computer and to said video projector in response to said mechanism receiving a turn-on signal from the system on/off switch or in response to said mechanism receiving a turn-on signal from the computer power on/off means, said coupling step turning power on to both said computer and said video projector in response to the turn-on signal from said computer power on/off means without a turn-on signal from the system power on/off switch; and

decoupling power from said computer and said video projector in response to said mechanism receiving a turn-off signal from said system on/off switch or in response to said mechanism receiving a turn-off signal from said computer power on/off means.

21. A portable multi-media conferencing system, comprising:

a portable cart;

a computer accommodated by said cart and having power on/off means for commanding power on/off to both said computer and a video projector;

said video projector accommodated by said cart, said video projector being coupled to said computer;

a system power on/off switch for commanding power on/off to both said computer and said video projector; and

a mechanism within said cart, said mechanism being coupled to said computer, said video projector and said system power on/off switch, said mechanism controlling power on/off to said computer and to said video projector in response to a signal from said computer on/off means or in response to a signal from said system on/off switch, said mechanism turning power on to both said computer and said video projector in response to an on signal from said computer on/off means without an on signal from the system power on/off switch.

22. A system according to claim 21, further comprising a docking station which couples said computer to said video projector and to said mechanism.

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein said mechanism comprises an uninterruptable power supply under the control of a single-chip microcontroller.

24. A system according to claim 21, wherein said mechanism comprises an uninterruptable power supply relay, and a switch control box coupling said uninterruptable power supply relay to an interruptable power supply.

25. A portable multi-media conferencing system, comprising:

a portable cart;

a computer accommodated by said cart and having (i) a hard disk drive and (ii) power on/off means for commanding power on/off to both said computer and a video projector;

said video projector accommodated by said cart, said video projector being coupled to said computer;

an auxiliary hard disk drive coupled to said computer for rebooting the hard disk drive in said computer;

a system power on/off switch for commanding power on/off to both said computer and said video projector; and

a mechanism within said cart, said mechanism being coupled to said computer, said video projector and said system power on/off switch, said mechanism controlling power on/off to said computer and to said video projector in response to a signal from said computer on/off means or in response to a signal from said system on/off switch, said mechanism turning power on to both said computer and said video projector in response to an on signal from said computer on/off means without an on signal from the system power on/off switch.

26. A portable multi-media conferencing system, comprising:

a portable cart;

a computer accommodated by said cart and having (i) a hard disk drive and (ii) power on/off means for commanding power on/off to both said computer and a video projector;

said video projector accommodated by said cart, said video projector being coupled to said computer;

an auxiliary hard disk drive coupled to said computer for rebooting the hard disk drive in said computer;

a system power on/off switch for commanding power on/off to both said computer and said video projector; and

a mechanism within said cart, said mechanism being coupled to said computer, said video projector and said system power on/off switch, said mechanism controlling power on/off to said computer and to said video projector in response to a signal from said computer on/off means or in response to a signal from said system on/off switch.

27. A system according to claim 26, further comprising a docking station which couples said computer to said video projector, to said auxiliary hard disk drive, and to said mechanism.

28. A system according to claim 26, wherein said auxiliary hard disk drive contains a copy of an operating system and other software required for operation of said system.

29. A system according to claim 26, further comprising an interactive display board coupled to said computer.

30. A system according to claim 26, wherein said mechanism comprises an uninterruptable power supply and a switch control box coupled to said system on/off switch, to said computer, and to said uninterruptable power supply.

31. A multi-media conferencing system, comprising:

a computer having a hard disk drive, and a power on/off means for commanding power on/off to both said computer and a video projector;

said video projector coupled to said computer;

a system power on/off switch for commanding power on/off to both said computer and said video projector;

an auxiliary hard drive coupled to said computer for rebooting the hard disk drive in said computer; and

a mechanism, coupled to said computer, said video projector and said system power on/off means, for controlling power on/off to said computer and to said video projector in response to a signal from said computer power on/off means or in response to a signal from said system power on/off switch, said mechanism turning power on to both said computer and said video projector in response to an on signal from said computer on/off means without an on signal from the system power on/off switch.

32. A multi-media conferencing system, comprising:

a computer having a hard disk drive, and a power on/off means for commanding power on/off to both said computer and a video projector;

said video projector being coupled to said computer;

a system power on/off switch for commanding power on/off to both said computer and said video projector;

an auxiliary hard drive coupled to said computer for rebooting the hard disk drive in said computer; and

a mechanism, coupled to said computer, said video projector and said system power on/off means, for controlling power on/off to said computer and to said video projector in response to a signal from said computer power on/off means or in response to a signal from said system power on/off switch.

33. A system according to claim 32, further comprising a docking station coupling said computer to said video projector, to said auxiliary hard disk drive, and to said mechanism.

34. A system according to claim 32, wherein said auxiliary hard disk drive contains a copy of an operating system required for operation of said multi-media conferencing system.

35. A system according to claim 32, further comprising an interactive display board coupled to said computer.

36. A system according to claim 32, wherein said mechanism comprises an uninterruptable power supply relay and a switch control box coupled to said system on/off switch, and to said uninterruptable power supply relay.

37. A multi-media conferencing system comprising:

a video projector;

a portable computer having a hard disk drive, and a power on/off means for turning power on/off to both said portable computer and the video projector;

a docking station coupling said portable computer to said video projector and to an auxiliary hard disk drive, said auxiliary hard disk drive for rebooting the hard disk drive in said portable computer;

a system power on/off means for turning power on/off to both said portable computer and the video projector; and

a mechanism, coupled to said portable computer, to said video projector, and to said system power on/off means, for controlling power supplied to said portable computer and to said video projector, said mechanism capable of turning power on/off to said portable computer and to said video projector in response to an on/off signal from said system on/off switch or an on/off signal from said portable computer, said mechanism turning power on to both said computer and said video projector in response to an on signal from said computer on/off means without an on signal from the system power on/off means.

38. A multi-media conferencing system comprising:

a video projector;

a portable computer having a hard disk drive, and a power on/off means for turning power on/off to both said portable computer and the video projector;

a docking station coupling said portable computer to said video projector and to an auxiliary hard disk drive, said auxiliary hard disk drive for rebooting the hard disk drive in said portable computer;

a system power on/off means for turning power on/off to both said portable computer and the video projector; and

a mechanism, coupled to said portable computer, to said video projector, and to said system power on/off means, for controlling power supplied to said portable computer and to said video projector, said mechanism capable of turning power on/off to said portable computer and to said video projector in response to an on/off signal from said system on/off switch or an on/off signal from said portable computer.

39. A system according to claim 38, further comprising an auxiliary hard disk drive having signal lines coupled to said computer, and a power input line coupled to said mechanism.

40. A system according to claim 38, further comprising an interactive display board coupled to said computer.

41. A system according to claim 38, further comprising an uninterruptable power supply relay for coupling an uninterruptable power supply relay for coupling an uninterruptable power supply to said multi-media conferencing system, and a switch control box coupled to said system on/off switch, to said computer, to said uninterruptable power supply relay, and to said uninterruptable power supply.

42. A system according to claim 38, wherein said mechanism comprises an uninterruptable power supply under the control of a single-chip microcontroller.