Electronic tool and methods for meetings

• US 9,083,769 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barco NV
• Original Assignee: Barco NV
• Inventors: Beel, Koen Simon Herman, Nir, Yoav, Louwet, Filip Josephine Johan, Coen, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): SUN, SCOTT C
• Application Number:
  US14/212,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20140201400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/00 Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units program control for peripheral devices G06F13/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4025 where none of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/00 Details of television systems scanning details or combination thereof with generation of supply voltages H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

An electronic meeting tool and method for communicating arbitrary media content from users at a meeting comprises a node configuration means adapted to operate a display node of a communications network, the display node being coupled to a first display. The node configuration means is adapted to receive user selected arbitrary media content and to control display of the user selected arbitrary media content on the first display. A peripheral device adapted to communicate the user selected arbitrary media content via the communications network is a connection unit comprising a connector adapted to couple to a port of a processing device having a second display, a memory and an operating system, and a transmitter. A program is adapted to obtain user selected arbitrary media content, said program leaving a zero footprint on termination. The user may trigger a transfer of said user selected arbitrary media content to said transmitter.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a processing device to a communications network, the processing device having a memory, a display and an operating system with at least one pre-installed generic driver providing a generic communications protocol for communication between processing device and a standard class of peripheral devices, the method comprising the steps of:

a) coupling a peripheral device to the processing device, the peripheral device having a transceiver;

b) setting up, by means of the pre-installed generic driver of the operating system, a means for communication between the peripheral device and the processing device;

c) coupling the processing device to a communications network via the peripheral device;

d) routing screen scraped data between the processing device and the communication network via the means for communication, wherein the generic communication protocol is used for transferring the screen scraped data between the processing device and the peripheral device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein Step b) comprises presenting the peripheral device to the processing device as a human interface device and wherein the pre-installed generic driver is a human interface device driver.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein Step b) comprises presenting the peripheral device to the processing device as a mass storage device and wherein the pre-installed generic driver is a mass storage device driver.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein Step b) comprises presenting the peripheral device to the processing device as a composite device and wherein pre-installed generic drivers drive different device interfaces independently.

5. The method of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein a client application is stored on the peripheral device which when run on the processing device obtains the screen scraped data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the client application is a portable application.

7. A peripheral device for providing communication connectivity to a processing device which is provided with memory, a display and an operating system with at least one pre-installed generic driver providing a generic communication protocol for communication between the processing device and a standard class of peripheral devices, the peripheral device comprising a memory in which executable software code is stored for execution on the processing device, said executable software code comprising:

a first software code portion for setting up, by means of the pre-installed generic driver of the operating system, a means for communication between the peripheral device and the processing device;

a second software code portion for connecting the processing device to a communications network via the peripheral device, the peripheral device having a transceiver; and

a third processing software code for routing data between the processing device and the communications network over the means for communication;

wherein the first software code portion is adapted to use the generic communication protocol for transferring the data between the processing device and the peripheral device, and

an input device coupled to the peripheral device, the input device being adapted to react to a user action to trigger the transfer of the data from the processing device to the peripheral device.

8. The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein the first software code portion is adapted to present the peripheral device to the processing device as a human interface device and wherein the pre-installed generic driver is a human interface device driver.

9. The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein the first software code portion is adapted to present the peripheral device to the processing device as a mass storage device and wherein the pre-installed generic driver is a mass storage device driver.

10. The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein the first software code portion is adapted to present the peripheral device to the processing device as a composite device and wherein pre-installed generic drivers drive different device interfaces independently.

11. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein the input device is physical actuator coupled to the peripheral device.

12. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein the input device is a key for display on the display.

13. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said executable software code comprises fourth code for providing a means for connecting to the communications network including a base node.

14. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said executable software code comprises fifth code for providing a means for capturing video frame buffers of the processing device.

15. The peripheral device of claim 14 wherein said executable software code comprises sixth code for providing a means for encoding, compressing and optionally encrypting the video frames and sending them over a secure link to the base node.

16. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said executable software code comprises seventh code for providing a means for handling the peripheral device.

17. The peripheral device of claim 15 wherein said executable software code comprises eighth code for providing a means for initiating connection to the base node.

18. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said executable software code comprises ninth code for receive inputs from an input device on the peripheral device.

19. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said executable software code comprises tenth code for providing a means for sending state changes to the visual indicator on the peripheral device.

20. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said executable software code comprises eleventh code for providing a means for presenting the user a GUI.

21. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said executable software code comprises twelfth code for presenting GUI for administration of the executable software code when executed as a portable application.

22. The peripheral device of claim 13 wherein said executable software code comprises thirteenth code for providing a means for displaying and activating a key on the display of the processing device for allowing a user input to start the transfer of data from the processing device to the base node.