Simultaneous projected presentation of client browser display

• US 6,760,045 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Quinn, Bradley J., Bowling, Kent M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NHON D
• Application Number:
  US09/751,252
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 345/730-732, 345/733, 345/744, 345/748, 345/749, 345/760, 715/501.1, 715/513
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A system and method for displaying content accessed by a client to an audience via a projector is disclosed, wherein the content includes a client version suitable for access by clients and a projector version suitable for display by a projector. The system includes a server coupled to the network capable of communication with the clients via the network and at least one projector capable of accessing the projector version of the content communicatively coupled to the server. Upon receiving a request from a client that one or more projectors display content accessed by the client, that is “follow” the display of content by that client, the server thereafter monitors the browsing activity of the client, detecting when the client is accessing content via the network. When the client accesses the client version of the content, the server notifies the following projector(s) to access the projector component of the content via the network so the content may be displayed by the projector.

Claims

1. A system for displaying content accessed by a client through a network via a projector, the content including a client version suitable for access by said client and a projector version suitable for display by said projector, comprising:

a server coupled to the network, said server being capable of communication with said client via the network;

said projector communicatively coupled to said server, said projector being capable of accessing the projector version of the content;

said client and said projector each comprising a browser for accessing said content;

wherein, upon receiving a request from said client that said projector display the content accessed by the client, said server is capable of thereafter detecting when said client is accessing the client version of the content and notifying said projector to access the projector component of the content via the network whereupon the content may be displayed by said projector, the server determining that the request is not received from a projector by receiving a call from a calling machine and determining if the calling machine is in a list maintained by the server, and if the calling machine is not in the list, determining that the calling machine is a client and updating the list so that the requested projector displays content accessed by the client.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projector is communicatively coupled to said server via said network.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said server provides a control page accessible by said client via said network, wherein said control page is suitable for requesting that said projector display content accessed by said client.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control page includes a script suitable for requesting that said projector display content accessed by said client.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said server includes a sender routine and said projector includes a receiver routine said sender and receiver routine for communicating a command string between said server and said projector.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network comprises the Internet and said content comprises a Web page on the World Wide Web (WWW).

7. A method for displaying content accessed through a network by a client via a projector, the content including a client version suitable for access by the client and a projector version suitable for display by the projector, the method comprising:

receiving a request from the client that the projector display content accessed by the client and determining that the request is not received from a projector by

receiving a call from a calling machine;

determining if the calling machine is in a list maintained by the server; and

if the calling machine is not in the list, determining that the calling machine is a client and updating the list so that the requested projector displays content accessed by the client;

determining that the client is accessing the client component of the content; and

notifying the projector that the client is accessing the content, whereupon the projector accesses and displays the projector component of the content.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of receiving a request from the client comprises providing a control page on said network, said control page being accessed by said client to provide said request.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of receiving a request from the client comprises receiving a script suitable for requesting that said projector display content accessed by said client.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of causing said projector to display said content within a frame.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step of notifying the projector comprises opening a socket between the server and the projector.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said socket is opened by a sender routine resident on the server and a receiver routine resident on the projector.

13. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said network comprises the Internet and said content comprises a Web page on the World Wide Web (WWW).