Multi-terminal docking station system

• US 7,086,081 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Martinez, Anthony Edward, Fox, Valerie Jill
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hossain, Farzana E.
• Application Number:
  US10/007,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 725/109, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 725/59
• US Class Current: 725/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An improved methodology and implementing system are provided in which a docking station is arranged to receive and dock a number of individual wireless personal information management (IM) units. In an exemplary embodiment, the personal IM units include touch-sensitive flat display screens. One or more of the personal wireless IM units may be individually removed from the docking station and operated to selectively and individually communicate with the docking station to access and retrieve more detailed information related to a presentation being made in another medium such as a TV or even an associated live presentation. In one example, the docking station is arranged to receive input from a TV system relative to which channel is being presented on the TV and is enabled to access and retrieve detailed information from a server which is related to the content of the current TV presentation. Alternatively, a user may select to use the personal IM unit independently of the TV to access selected unrelated web sites or to retrieve information from a server concerning a past or scheduled future TV presentation. The docking station includes means for determining which of a number of personal IM units is front-most in the docking station. The server is generally programmed ahead of time with detailed information related to scheduled TV programs and may also be coupled to a TV station directly to dynamically provide additional content for unscheduled TV programs.

Claims

1. A method for providing a plurality of individual display presentations based upon a data stream from a server, said method comprising:

receiving said data stream by a control device from said server;

processing said data stream to provide a presentation output;

transmitting said presentation output to a series of wireless control units, each of said wireless control units including a display means;

selectively mounting at least one of said wireless control units in a receptacle of said control device; and

applying said presentation output to each of said display means to provide said plurality of individual display presentations wherein said control device includes a predetermined number of receptacles for receiving corresponding control units, said receptacles being positioned in an array from a front portion to a back portion of said control device, said front portion being arranged for viewing by a user whereby only a display means of a front-most control unit is viewable by said user, said method further including determining a front-most mounted control unit within said control device.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including transmitting said presentation output only to said front-most control unit.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said control units further includes an ON/OFF switching means for selectively switching each of said control units ON or OFF, said method further including receiving said presentation output by all of said control units which are turned ON in addition to said front-most control unit.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data stream is related to an event being viewed by a user of one of said wireless control units, said method further including:

providing a series of links for display on said display means of said control unit;

enabling a selection of at least one of said links by said user; and

providing a display of information related to said selected link on said display means of said control unit.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said display means comprises touch sensitive display screens by which users are enabled to make selections by applying pressure to a selected screen area.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control device further includes an infrared receiver, said method further including receiving channel selection signals by said control device from a wireless remote control device.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control device further includes a display button, said display button being selectively operable for controlling displays on said display means of said control units.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control device further includes charging means, said charging means being selectively operable for charging said wireless control units when said wireless control units are mounted on said control device.

9. A medium containing machine-readable code, said code being selectively readable to provide program signals for executing a method for providing a plurality of individual display presentations based upon a data stream from a server, said method comprising:

receiving said data stream by a control device from said server;

processing said data stream to provide a presentation output;

transmitting said presentation output to a series of wireless control units, each of said wireless control units including a display means;

selectively mounting at least one of said wireless control units in a receptacle of said control device; and

applying said presentation output to each of said display means to provide said plurality of individual display presentations wherein said control device includes a predetermined number of receptacles for receiving corresponding control units, said receptacles being positioned in an array from a front portion to a back portion of said control device, said front portion being arranged for viewing by a user whereby only a display means of a front-most control unit is viewable by said user, said method further including determining a front-most mounted control unit within said control device.

10. The medium as set forth in claim 9 wherein said method further includes transmitting said presentation output only to said front-most control unit.

11. The medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said control units further includes an ON/OFF switching means for selectively switching each of said control units ON or OFF, said method further including receiving said presentation output by all of said control units which are turned ON in addition to said front-most control unit.

12. The medium as set forth in claim 9 wherein said data stream is related to an event being viewed by a user of one of said wireless control units, said method further including:

providing a series of links for display on said display means of said control unit;

enabling a selection of at least one of said links by said user; and

providing a display of information related to said selected link on said display means of said control unit.

13. The medium as set forth in claim 12 wherein said display means comprises touch sensitive display screens by which users are enabled to make selections by applying pressure to a selected screen area.

14. The medium as set forth in claim 9 wherein said control device further includes an infrared receiver, said method further including receiving channel selection signals by said control device from a wireless remote control device.

15. The medium as set forth in claim 9 wherein said control device further includes a display button, said display button being selectively operable for controlling displays on said display means of said control units.

16. The medium as set forth in claim 9 wherein said control device further includes charging means, said charging means being selectively operable for charging said wireless control units when said wireless control units are mounted on said control device.

17. A system for providing a plurality of individual display presentations based upon a data stream from a server, said method comprising:

a control device arranged for receiving said data stream from said server, said control device including a series of wireless control units, whereby at least one of said wireless control units is arranged to be mounted in a receptacle of said control device;

means for processing said data stream to provide a presentation output;

means for transmitting said presentation output to said series of wireless control units, each of said wireless control units including a display means; and

means for applying said presentation output to each of said display means to provide said plurality of individual display presentations wherein said control device includes a predetermined number of receptacles for receiving corresponding control units, said receptacles being positioned in an array from a front portion to a back portion of said control device, said front portion being arranged for viewing by a user whereby only a display means of a front-most control unit is viewable by said user, said method further including determining a front-most mounted control unit within said control device.