Method of operating a communication system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communication system that can be integrated with a piece of furniture, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving data from a first portable computing device at a display module, a network connection or both, wherein the data is received through a first user module;
(b) receiving a status signal at a controller or a switch controller from a second user module indicating that the second user module has been activated by a user; and
(c) in response to the activation of the second user module, stopping receiving data from the first portable computing device at the display module, the network connection or both, and starting receiving data from a second portable computing device at the display module, the network connection or both, wherein the data is received at the display module from the second portable computing device through the second user module when the controller or the switch controller determines that an internal communication option is desired, and the data is received at the network connection from the second portable computing device through the second user module when the controller or the switch controller determines that an external communication option is desired.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system that may be integrated or otherwise combined with a piece of furniture, such as a conference table, desk or credenza. The communication system may provide a combination of audio, video, telephony, presentation and/or other conferencing functions and may include a number of separate user modules, a control module, a display module and a network connection. According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the separate user modules is a compact device that is integrated into the piece of furniture and includes a button that, when activated, allows a user to take control of certain aspects of the communication system. For example, a user may take over the display module or the information that is sent via the network connection by activating their user module.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communication system that can be integrated with a piece of furniture, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving data from a first portable computing device at a display module, a network connection or both, wherein the data is received through a first user module; (b) receiving a status signal at a controller or a switch controller from a second user module indicating that the second user module has been activated by a user; and (c) in response to the activation of the second user module, stopping receiving data from the first portable computing device at the display module, the network connection or both, and starting receiving data from a second portable computing device at the display module, the network connection or both, wherein the data is received at the display module from the second portable computing device through the second user module when the controller or the switch controller determines that an internal communication option is desired, and the data is received at the network connection from the second portable computing device through the second user module when the controller or the switch controller determines that an external communication option is desired. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of operating a communication system that can be integrated with a piece of furniture, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a communication system having a plurality of user modules, a control module, and a display module, each of the user modules can be connected to a separate portable computing device as well as the control module and each of the user modules has a button; (b) receiving a signal at the control module from a first user module indicating that a user has engaged a button on the first user module and, in response to receiving the signal, using the control module to display content on the display module from a portable computing device connected to the first user module; and (c) receiving another signal at the control module from a second user module indicating that a user has engaged a button on the second user module and, in response to receiving the another signal, using the control module to display content on the display module from a portable computing device connected to the second user module, wherein users can control the content displayed on the display module by engaging the buttons on the plurality of user modules, and wherein at least one of step (b) or step (c) further comprises detecting a plurality of portable computing devices connected to a single user module when a user has engaged the button on the same user module, and using a priority hierarchy to determine which portable computing device will provide content to the display module. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification