Projector wireless control system and wireless control method

• US 6,793,352 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nomizo, Tomohiro, Akaiwa, Shoichi, Karasawa, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEVER, ANDREW T
• Application Number:
  US10/323,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20030117532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 353/30, 353/31, 353/94, 353/42, 353/121, 353/122, 348/14.02, 348/14.05, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.4, 348/211.5, 348/211.6, 348/211.7, 725/109, 725/123, 725/126, 725/133
• US Class Current: 353/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

A projector and a mobile terminal are connected wirelessly in two-way communication, and thus the projector is controlled by the mobile terminal. Also, projection data is exchanged between the mobile terminal and the projector, or between a data server connected to a network and the projector using a command of the mobile terminal. Furthermore, when a plurality of mobile terminals send projection data simultaneously, a communication enabled state is established with only one mobile terminal by a predetermined procedure, or one projector'"'"'s projection screen is divided in order to project a plurality of projection data simultaneously.

Claims

1. A projector wireless control system comprising:

a projector which includes a network module for communicating with another device, and projects projection data; and

a plurality of mobile terminals, each of the plurality of mobile terminals includes a projector control function for controlling operation of the projector, and is wirelessly connected to the projector, allowing two-way communication with the projector through the network module;

wherein the projector establishes the two-way communication enabled state with one of the module terminals based on a request from the mobile terminal.

2. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1,

wherein the mobile terminal includes a function of causing the projector to project projection data which the projector has possessed.

3. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes a function of sending projection data wirelessly to the projector.

4. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes a display unit, and has a function of wirelessly sending an image to be displayed on the display unit to the projector and causing the sent image to be projected on the projector.

5. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes a display unit, and has a function of wirelessly receiving an image, which is projected on the projector and displaying the received image, on the display unit.

6. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a projection data storage server which is connected to the projector through the network module, wherein the mobile terminal has a function of causing the projector to send/receive projection data to/from the storage server.

7. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes a remote control function of performing projection operation of the projector.

8. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes a tablet function of entering a drawing capable of being projected by the projector.

9. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes a keyboard function of entering information to the projector.

10. A projector wireless control system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of the projectors are provided for one unit of the mobile terminal.

11. A projector wireless control system comprising:

a projector which includes a network module for communicating with another device, and projects projection data; and

a plurality of mobile terminals, each of the plurality of mobile terminals includes a projector control function for controlling operation of the projector, and is wirelessly connected to the projector, allowing two-way communication with the projector through the network module, wherein each of the plurality of mobile terminals sends a control signal, based on a priority, to the projector to control the projector.

12. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly, which uses a system comprising:

a projector which includes a network module for communicating with another device and projects projection data; and

a plurality of mobile terminals, each of the plurality of mobile terminals includes a projector control function for controlling operation of the projector, and is wirelessly connected to the projector for allowing two-way communicating with the projector through the network module,

wherein the method comprises a step of establishing the two-way communication enabled state with one of the mobile terminals based on a request from the mobile terminal and a step of controlling the projector to project the data, by the terminal.

13. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 12, further comprising:

a sending step in which the mobile terminal sends a projection control signal to the projector; and

a projecting step in which the projector projects projection data, which the projector has possessed, based on the projection control signal.

14. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 12, further comprising:

a sending step in which the mobile terminal sends projection data and a projection control signal to the projector; and

a projecting step in which the projector projects the sent projection data based on the projection control signal.

15. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 12, further comprising:

a sending step in which the mobile terminal sends a projection data transfer signal to the projector; and

a sending step in which the projector sends projection data, which the projector has possessed, to the mobile terminal based on the projection data transfer signal.

16. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 12 wherein the mobile terminal includes a display unit, said method further comprising:

a sending step in which the mobile terminal sends a projection data transfer signal to the projector;

a sending step in which the projector sends projection data, which is projected on the projector, to the mobile terminal based on the projection data transfer signal; and

a displaying step in which the mobile terminal displays the projection data to the display unit of the mobile terminal.

17. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 12, in which the system further comprises a projection data storage server connected to the projector through the network module, the method further comprising:

a sending step in which the mobile terminal sends a projection data read signal to the projector; and

a reading step in which the projector reads projection data stored in the storage server into the projector based on the projection data read signal.

18. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 12, further comprising:

a requesting step in which the mobile terminal requests download of a predetermined application file which the projector has possessed;

a sending step in which the projector sends the application file to the mobile terminal based on the request; and

a providing step in which the mobile terminal receives the application file and is provided with a function based on the application file.

19. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 18,

wherein the application file is any one of a remote control application file for controlling projection operation of the projector:

a tablet application file for entering a drawing which can be projected by the projector, and a keyboard application file for entering information into the projector.

20. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 12, wherein one unit of the mobile terminal controls a plurality of the projectors simultaneously.

21. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 20,

wherein the unit of the mobile terminal sends projection data to a plurality of the projectors simultaneously to project the projection data on each of the projectors simultaneously.

22. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly, which uses a system comprising:

a projector which includes a network module for communicating with another device and projects projection data; and

a plurality of mobile terminals, each of the plurality of mobile terminals includes a projector control function for controlling operation of the projector, and is wirelessly connected to the projector for allowing two-way communication with the projector through the network module,

wherein the method comprises a step of wirelessly sending a control signal, based on a priority, from each of the plurality of mobile terminals to the projector to control the projector.

23. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 22,

wherein, the connection request is not accepted by the projector in the case when the projector is in a communication enabled state with any one of the mobile terminals.

24. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 23,

wherein, when a plurality of the mobile terminals send connection requests to the unit of the projector simultaneously, a communication enabled state is established between a mobile terminals and the projector in accordance with a predetermined priority.

25. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 23,

wherein, when a plurality of the mobile terminals send connection requests to one unit of the projector simultaneously, the projector gives a warning to stop the connection request to each mobile terminal until when only one mobile terminal sends a connection request, and, when only one mobile terminal sends a connection request, the mobile communication enabled state is established between the projector and the mobile terminal.

26. A method of controlling a projector wirelessly according to claim 22,

wherein, when a plurality of the mobile terminals send projection data and a projection control signal to the projector, the projector projects a plurality of each projection data onto one projection screen dividedly.