Group based computer use system

• US 6,614,451 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1994
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grouputer Corporation Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Grouputer Corporation Pty Limited
• Inventors: Hudson, Anne Elizabeth, Wolfe, Jonathon Peter, Findlay, John Gilchrist
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/211,971
• Time in Patent Office: 3,380 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/158, 395/159, 395/160, 395/161, 395/162, 395/114, 395/115, 395/326, 395/333, 395/334, 395/340, 395/330, 345/326, 345/333, 345/334, 345/340, 345/330, 345/341, 345/342, 345/332, 345/331
• US Class Current: 715/759
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A facilitation system to facilitate communication amongst a number of persons having access to data input devices. The system has a host computer, a control program stored in the computer and operable to permit data entered on any of the input devices to be transferred to the computer, and at least one display. Each display means is configured to display a common single image generated by the computer for simultaneous viewing by each of the persons. The single image includes a plurality of display areas, with each input device having a corresponding display area wherein data simultaneously and separately input via each input device is simultaneously displayed in the corresponding display area. At least one control device is connected to the computer and operable to select specific data displayed in any of the display areas and to both transfer and display the specific data in any of the display areas.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of data input devices, each said data input device being operable by a respective person to facilitate communication with each of the other of the respective persons;

at least one computer to which said data input devices are operatively coupled;

a control program stored in said at least one computer and operable to permit data entered respectively on each and any of said data input devices to be transferred to said at least one computer;

at least one display means coupled to said at least one computer and observable by each of said persons, each said display means simultaneously displaying a common image generated by said at least one computer, said common image including a plurality of mutually exclusive display areas with each said input device having a corresponding display area, wherein said data entered by said input devices is substantially simultaneously displayed in the corresponding display area thereby permitting each of the persons to view simultaneously their own entered data and data entered by the other of the persons as said data is entered; and

at least one control device connected to said at least one computer and operable to select specific data displayed in any of said display areas and to facilitate both transfer and display of said specific data to any other display area.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display areas include said corresponding display areas and at least one further display area, said further display area displaying selected specific data transferred thereto from said corresponding display areas using said control device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard of the computer, a mouse, and another corresponding device connected to said at least one computer.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device is configured to manage the operation of said control program.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said data input devices comprises a keyboard.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said data input devices are respective keyboards linked to a facilitator unit which acts to buffer signals sourced from said keyboards to said at least one computer.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said keyboards are linked to facilitator unit via a wireless link.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said wireless link is selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency link and an optical link.

9. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said facilitator unit is configured integrally with said at least one computer.

10. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said facilitator unit comprises for each said keyboard, a corresponding buffer means adapted to buffer data from said corresponding keyboard onto a common bus, and a control means by which data on said common bus is transmitted to said at least one computer, said data including at least one identifier corresponding to the appropriate one of said keyboards.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising one or more further display means each being controlled by said at least one computer and said control program to display said common image corresponding to that displayed by said one display means for viewing by each one of the persons.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein associated with each of said corresponding display areas, is a corresponding cursor.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of said data input devices comprises a computer device linked to said at least one computer by a data communication network, each said computer device comprising at least one corresponding display means and at least one corresponding data input device, wherein each said corresponding data input device has a corresponding said display area in said common image generated by said at least one computer and which is displayed by each said corresponding display means.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said control program comprises a set-up means by which each of said data input devices can be allocated to one said corresponding display area, and a data assimilator and consistency means, adapted to format data received from and transmitted to each said computer device.

15. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein data input via said keyboards is displayed in said common image on a keystroke-by-keystroke basis.

16. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data entered by each of said input devices is stored in a single file in a memory of said at least one computer, said common image being generated directly from said file.

17. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said computer device resides at a location distanced from said at least one computer, and said computer device links a plurality of said data input devices to said computer.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said data input devices are linked to said computer device by a facilitator unit.

19. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data input devices comprise respective keyboards linked to a facilitator unit which acts to buffer signals sourced from said keyboards to said at least one computer and wherein data input via each of said keyboards is displayed in said common image on a keystroke-by-keystroke basis.

20. A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising one or more further display means each being controlled by said at least one computer and said control program to display said common image corresponding to that displayed by said at least one display means for viewing by each one of the persons.

21. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of said data input devices comprises a computer arrangement linked to said at least one computer by a data communication network, said computer arrangement comprising a computer, at least one corresponding one of said display means and at least one corresponding one of said data input devices, wherein said corresponding one of said data input devices has a corresponding one of said display areas in said single image generated by said at least one computer and which is displayed by each said corresponding one of said display means.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said control program comprises a set-up means by which each of said data input devices can be allocated to one said corresponding display area, and a data assimilator and consistency means, adapted to format data received from and transmitted to each said further computer, and wherein said image, being common to each one of said display means, is updated substantially simultaneously via said network with data input from each one of said data input devices.

23. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein an image displayed by said display means can be selected to display either or both of said corresponding display areas and said further display area.

24. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said display areas occupies the entire said common image such that said display areas overlap.

25. A method of facilitating communications between a plurality of persons, each having access to a data input device, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving data simultaneously and separately input from each and any of said data input devices in at least one computer;

assimilating said data into a file stored within said at least one computer;

displaying said data by displaying said file as a common image on at least one display means simultaneously observable by each of said persons such that, when initially received, data input from each of said input devices is displayed in a corresponding one of a plurality of mutually exclusive display areas of said image associated with said one input device; and

manipulating said file to select specific data displayed in any one of said corresponding display areas to transfer said specific data for display in said common image in another display area.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said common image is divided to separately display said corresponding display areas and further comprises a further display area into which said selected data from any one or more of said corresponding display areas can be transferred for display.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein an image displayed by said display means can be selected to display either or both of said corresponding display areas and said further display area.

28. A method as claimed in claim 25 wherein each said corresponding display area occupies the entire said common single image such that said corresponding display areas overlap.

29. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of data entry keyboard devices each being operable by a respective person to facilitate communication with other respective persons;

a facilitator unit coupled to said keyboard devices and configured to buffer signals sourced from said keyboard devices to at least one computer;

at least one display means;

a computer program stored in said at least one computer and operable to generate a common image for simultaneous display one each of said display means, said common image including a plurality of mutually exclusive display areas, with each said keyboard device having a corresponding one of said display areas and there being at least one further display area, the data entered via each said keyboard device being simultaneously displayed in the corresponding display area thereby permitting each of the persons to view simultaneously their own entered data and data entered by others of said persons; and

at least one control device connected to said at least one computer and operable to select specific data displayed in said display areas and to instigate both transfer and display of said specific data in any other of said display areas.

30. A method of facilitating structured communications between a plurality of persons at least greater than two, each having access to at least one of a predetermined plurality of data input devices, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) using at least one computer to form a common image on at least one display means simultaneously observable by each of said persons, said common image comprising at least one user display area corresponding to each said input device;

(ii) creating a structured sequence by which said communication is to be interactivity facilitated and presenting at least part of said sequence within said common image;

(iii) displaying said common image simultaneously to each of said persons and, in response thereto;

(iv) receiving data simultaneously and separately input from each and any of said data input devices in at least one computer;

(v) assimilating said data into a file stored within said at least one computer such that, when initially received, data input from any one of said input devices is displayed in a dedicated display area of said common image associated with said one input device; and

(vi) manipulating said file to select specific data displayed in any one of said dedicated display areas to transfer said specific data for display in said common image in another display area.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein step (ii) of creating a structured sequence comprises step (iv).

32. A method according to claim 30 wherein step (ii) of creating a structured sequence comprises retrieving a predetermined structured communication sequence.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein said predetermined structured communication sequence is amended using step (iv).