Image-rendering device

• US 6,860,609 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: InFocus Corporation (Lap-Shun Hui, MBA)
• Inventors: Olson, Jorell A., Hoeye, Robin F., Lewis, Jason G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Judy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J
• Application Number:
  US10/453,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 353/121, 353/122, 353/30, 353/31, 353/94, 348/744, 348/211.2, 348/211, 348/213, 345/1.1
• US Class Current: 353/122
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/54 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

In a computing device configured to be connected to a wireless network, a method of projecting an image via a projection device over the wireless network, is provided, wherein the projection device is connected to the wireless network via an image-rendering device configured to receive data over the wireless network. The method includes detecting the image-rendering device over the wireless network, presenting a display identifying the image-rendering device to a user, receiving selection of the image-rendering device by the user and sending data representing the image from the computing device to the image-rendering device over the wireless network for projection by the projection device.

Claims

1. In a computing device configured to be connected to a wireless network, a method of projecting an image via a projection device over the wireless network, wherein the projection device is connected to the wireless network via an image-rendering device configured to receive data over the wireless network, the method comprising:

detecting image-rendering device over the wireless network;

presenting a display on the computing device identifying the image-rendering device to a user;

receiving selection of the image-rendering device by the user; and

sending data representing the image from the computing device to the image-rendering device over the wireless network for projection by the projection device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the image-rendering device over the wireless network includes detecting a plurality of image-rendering devices over the wireless network.

3. In a computing device configured to be connected to a wireless network to which a plurality of projection devices are connected, each projection device having an associated image-rendering device for wirelessly receiving image data over the wireless network, a method of projecting an image, comprising:

detecting each image-rendering device connected to the wireless network;

presenting to a user a list identifying the detected image-rendering devices;

receiving selection of a selected image-rendering device from the list identifying the image-rendering devices; and

sending image data from the computing device to the selected image-rendering device for projection by the projection device associated with the selected image-rendering device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting to a user the list identifying the detected image-rendering devices includes presenting the list such that detected image-rendering devices that are currently in use are differentiated from detected image-rendering devices that are not currently in use.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting to a user the list identifying the detected image-rendering devices includes presenting a list including a last n number of image-rendering devices selected in prior use sessions, whether or not the last n-number of image-rendering devices are detected.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the list identifies the image-rendering devices by name.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the list identifies the image-rendering devices by number.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the list includes status information on each image-rendering device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the status information includes information regarding whether each image-rendering device is currently in use.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the status information includes information regarding whether each image-rendering device is connected to the wireless network.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless network is one of a plurality of wireless networks, further comprising detecting the plurality of wireless networks and presenting to the user a list of the plurality of wireless networks for selection of a wireless network to which to connect.

12. In a computing device, a method of updating over a wireless network a set of executable instructions stored on a plurality of projection devices, wherein each projection device is configured to render images received over the wireless network for projection by the associated projection device, the method comprising:

detecting at least one projection device over the wireless network;

presenting to a user a list identifying each detected projection device;

receiving selection of at least one selected projection device from the list identifying each detected projection device; and

sending updated executable instructions from the computing device to each selected projection device for storage in memory located on each selected projection device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein detecting at least one projection device over the wireless network include detecting a version of the set of executable instructions stored on the at least one projection device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein presenting to a user a list identifying each projection device detected includes presenting to the user the version of the set of executable instructions stored on each projection device detected.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving selection of at least one selected projection device from the list includes receiving selection of a plurality of projection devices from the list.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the list shows status information regarding each detected image-rendering device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the status information includes information regarding whether each detected image-rendering device is currently in use.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the list includes a last n number of projection devices selected in prior use sessions, whether or not the last n-number of projection devices are detected.

19. In a computing device configured to be connected to a wireless network, a method of projecting an image via a projection device over the wireless network, wherein the projection device is connected to the wireless network via an image-rendering device configured to receive data over the wireless network, the method comprising:

detecting a plurality of image-rendering devices over the wireless network;

presenting a display identifying an image-rendering device to a user, including;

presenting a list of the plurality of image-rendering devices to the user

receiving selection of the image-rendering device by the user; and

sending data representing the image from the computing device to the image-rendering device over the wireless network for projection by the projection device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein presenting a list of the plurality of image-rendering devices to the user includes presenting information regarding a status of each image-rendering device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the information regarding the status of each image-rendering device includes information regarding whether each image-rendering device is currently in use.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the information regarding the status of each image-rendering device includes information regarding whether each image-rendering device is connected to the wireless network to which the computing device is connected.

23. In a computing device configured to be connected to a wireless network, a method of projecting an image via a projection device over the wireless network, wherein the projection device is connected to the wireless network via an image-rendering device configured to receive data over the wireless network, the method comprising:

detecting image-rendering device over the wireless network;

presenting a display identifying the image-rendering device to a user including presenting a list of a last n image-rendering devices selected in prior use sessions;

receiving selection of the image-rendering device by the user; and

sending data representing the image from the computing device to the image-rendering device over the wireless network for projection by the projection device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the wireless network is a first wireless network, and wherein at least some of the image-rendering devices are on a different wireless network than the first wireless network.

25. In a computing device configured to be connected to a wireless network, a method of projecting an image via a projection device over the wireless network, wherein the projection device is connected to the wireless network via an image-rendering device configured to receive data over the wireless network, the method comprising;

detecting image-rendering device over the wireless network;

presenting a display identifying the image-rendering device to a user including;

receiving selection of the image-rendering device by the user; and

sending data representing the image from the computing device to the image-rendering device over the wireless network for projection by the projection device;

wherein the wireless network is one of a plurality of wireless networks, further comprising detecting the plurality of wireless networks and presenting a list of the plurality of wireless networks to the user for selection of a wireless network to which to connect.

26. In a computing device configured to be connected to a wireless network to project an image via a projection device over the wireless network, wherein the projection device is connected to the wireless network via an image-rendering device configured to receive data over the wireless network, a user interface program containing instructions executable by the computing device to:

detect a plurality of image-rendering devices over the wireless network

present a display identifying the plurality of image-rendering devices to a user;

receive selection of an image-rendering device by the user; and

send data representing the image from the computing device to the image-rendering device over the wireless network for projection by the projection device.

27. The user interface program of claim 26, wherein the instructions are executable to present a list of the plurality of image-rendering devices to the user.

28. The user interface program of claim 27, wherein the instructions are executable to present information regarding a status of each image-rendering device.

29. The user interface program of claim 28, wherein the information regarding the status of each image-rendering device includes information regarding whether each image-rendering device is currently in use.

30. The user interface program of claim 28, wherein the information regarding the status of each image-rendering device includes information regarding whether each image-rendering device is connected to the wireless network to which the computing device is connected.

31. The user interface program of claim 29, wherein the instructions are executable to present a list of a last n image-rendering devices selected in prior use sessions.

32. The user interface program of claim 31, wherein the wireless network is a first wireless network, and wherein at least some of the image-rendering devices are on a different wireless network than the first wireless network.

33. The user interface program of claim 26, wherein the wireless network is one of a plurality of wireless networks, further comprising detecting the plurality of wireless networks and presenting a list of the plurality of wireless networks to the user for selection of a wireless network to which to connect.

34. In a computing device configured to be connected to a wireless network to project an image via a projection device over the wireless network, wherein the projection device is connected to the wireless network via an image-rendering device configured to receive data over the wireless network, a user interface program containing instructions executable by the computing device to:

detect one or more image-rendering devices connected to the wireless network;

present to a user a list identifying detected image-rendering devices connected to the wireless network;

receive selection of a selected image-rendering device from the list identifying the image-rendering devices; and

send image data from the computing device to the selected image-rendering device for projection by the projection device associated with the selected image-rendering device.

35. The user interface program of claim 34, wherein the instructions are executable to present the list such that detected image-rendering devices that are currently in use are differentiated from detected image-rendering devices that are not currently in use.

36. The user interface program of claim 34, wherein the instructions are executable to present a list including a last n number of image-rendering devices selected in prior use sessions, whether or not the last n-number of image-rendering devices are detected.

37. A projection system comprising:

a means for detecting one or more projection devices linked to a wireless network;

a list means for presenting the projection devices for selection by user;

a means for selecting a projection device; and

a means for sending data over the network to the projection device for display.

38. The projection system of claim 37, further comprising a means for identifying current executable instructions of the projection device.

39. The projection system of claim 38, further comprising a means for updating the executable instructions of the projection device.

40. The projection system of claim 39, wherein a means for updating the executable instructions includes sending an updated version of software to the projection device.

41. The projector system of claim 39 further comprising a means for presenting information regarding a status of each detected projection device.

42. A projection system comprising:

a plurality of projection devices linked to a wireless network;

a computing device linked to the network configured to detect the projection devices linked to the network, wherein the computing device is further configured to present a list of the projection devices for selection by a user.

43. The projection system of claim 42, wherein an image-rendering device is associated with at least one projection device.

44. The projection system of claim 42, wherein the list further identifies projection devices that are available.

45. The projection system of claim 42, wherein the list identities projection devices that are currently in use.

46. The projection system of claim 42, wherein the list includes a last n number of projection devices selected in prior use sessions.

47. The projection system of claim 42, wherein the list includes information regarding a status of each projection device.