Personal control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaborative workspace

• US 9,420,880 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Epstein, Lewis, Kincaid, Brett, Yoo, Hyun, Stage, Suzanne, Scherrer, Lukas, Cheng, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US14/573,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20150103133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.07, 348/14.04, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 348/14.05
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/08 Table tops; Rims therefor not restricted to table tops A47B95/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/003 Table combination having a central power access component
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/006 having an incorporated display screen
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/00 Tables adapted for other particular purposes glass cutting tables C03B33/03
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/66 Transforming electric information into light information scanning details H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 : Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An apparatus and assembly for selecting information from a video source to be displayed on at least a first common display screen in a collaborative workspace having a switching device, the apparatus comprising a control interface that includes at least a first indicator that can visually indicate at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein the control interface indicates the first state when a video source is disassociated with the control interface, the second state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display and the third state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the common display.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selecting information from a video source to be displayed on at least a first common display screen in a collaborative workspace having a switching device, the apparatus comprising:

a control interface that includes at least a first indicator that can visually indicate at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein the control interface indicates the first state when a video source is disassociated with the control interface, the second state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display and the third state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the common display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least a first indicator includes an illumination device and wherein the first state is indicated by cutting power to the illumination device, the second state is indicated via illumination of a first color and the second state is indicated via illumination of a second color.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a control cable linked to the switching device at a first end and linkable to the video source at a second end, the control interface including a sensor for detecting when the second end of the cable is linked to the video source, the control interface associating the video source with the control interface upon sensing that the video source is linked to the second end of the control cable.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the control interface includes at least a first selectable control and, wherein, while the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display, upon selection of the first selectable control, the control interface causes the video information from the video source to be presented via the common display and causes the indicator to change from the second state to the third state.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein, while the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the common display, upon selection of the first selectable control, the control interface causes the video information from the video source to be removed from the common display and causes the indicator to change from the third state to the second state.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first selectable control includes a first button and wherein the illumination device generates light that circumscribes the first button when in at least the first and the second states.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 for use with a conference table wherein the first button is linked to the conference table.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first button is linked to the conference table via the control cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first button is mounted to an intermediate portion of the control cable so that a flexible portion of the control cable is located between the first button and the second end of the control cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the conference table includes a top member that forms an opening, the apparatus further including a deck member supported by the top member and forming a deck surface below the opening so that a cavity is formed above the deck surface within the opening, the deck surface forming at least one cable passing opening, the control cable including a connector at the second end, an intermediate portion of the control cable between the first and second ends of the control cable passing through the cable passing opening and moveable through the cable passing opening between a stored position and a use position, the connector receivable within the cavity when the control cable is in a stored position and removable from the cavity for linking to the video source when the control cable is in the use position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a retractor assembly mounted below an undersurface of the table top, the retractor assembly linked to the intermediate portion of the control cable to apply a force thereto tending to pull the control cable into the stored position.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control interface includes at least a first selectable control and, wherein, while the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display, upon selection of the first selectable control, the control interface causes the video information from the video source to be presented via the common display and causes the indicator to change from the second state to the third state.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control interface includes a control cable, a connector and a housing, the control cable having first and second ends, the connector for linking to the video source at the first end and the housing at the second end, the first selectable control including a button mounted within the housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the illumination device is mounted within the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the illumination device generates light in a pattern that circumscribes the button.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein control signals are wirelessly transmitted to the switching device upon selection of the button.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 also for selecting information from at least a second video source to be displayed on at least a first common display screen, the apparatus further including at least a second control interface that includes at least a second indicator that can visually indicate at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein the control interface indicates the first state when no video source is associated with the second control interface, the second state when the second video source is associated with the second control interface and video information from the second video source is not presented via the common display and the third state when the second video source is associated with the second control interface and video information from the second video source is presented via the common display.

32. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second end of the control cable is directly linked to the switching device.

33. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first indicator is only capable of indicating the first, second and third states.

34. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a retractor assembly mounted below an undersurface of the top member, the retractor assembly linked to the intermediate portion of the control cable to apply a force thereto tending to pull the control cable into the stored position.

35. The apparatus of claim 1 also for use with a second common display screen in the collaborative workspace, the control interface including at least a second indicator that can visually indicate at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein the second indicator indicates the first state when a video source is disassociated with the control interface, the second state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the second common display and the third state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the second common display.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the first and second indicators include first and second illumination devices and wherein the second and third states are indicated by controlling the illumination devices in visually distinguishing ways.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the first and second illumination devices are controlled to indicate the first state by cutting power.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 further including at least a first control cable, the first control cable having a plug at a first end for linking to a video source device, the control interface associating a first video source with the first indicator upon connection of the first control cable to the first video source.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the first control cable is physically associated with the first and second indicators.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the control cable includes a first housing connected to the first cable and wherein the first and second indicators are mounted in the first housing.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the housing is connected to the first control cable proximate a second end opposite the first end of the first control cable.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the control interface includes at least first and second selectable controls for controlling presentation of video information from a video source linked to the first control cable via the first and second display screens, respectively.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the first and second display screens are presented as separate first and second presentation spaces on a single large display.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the first and second selectable controls include first and second buttons mounted on the first housing, respectively.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein a second end of the control cable is mechanically linked to the switching device.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the video information is wirelessly transmitted from the first video source to the switching device.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the single large display presents third and fourth presentation spaces in addition to the first and second presentation spaces and wherein the control interface includes third and fourth selectable controls mounted in the first housing that are selectable to control presentation of video information in third and fourth presentation spaces, respectively.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the control interface further includes third and fourth indicators associated with the third and fourth selectable controls and wherein each of the third and fourth indicators is controllable to indicate first, second and third states.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the first, second, third and fourth indicators are spatially associated with the first, second, third and fourth selectable controls, respectively.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the control interface is a first control interface and wherein the apparatus includes at least a second control interface that includes first, second, third and forth selectable controls and first, second, third and fourth indicators that are spatially associated with the first, second, third and fourth selectable controls of the second control interface, respectively, the selectable controls and indicators of the second control interface mounted within a second housing, the second housing linked to a second control cable opposite a second plug that is linkable to a second source device, the selectable controls of the second control interface selectable to control replication of video information from a source device connected to the second control cable on the first, second, third and fourth presentation spaces, respectively, and the first, second, third and fourth indicators on the second control interface indicating states related to video information shared via the first, second, third and fourth presentation spaces, respectively.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 further including at least a third control interface that includes first, second, third and forth selectable controls and first, second, third and fourth indicators that are spatially associated with the first, second, third and fourth selectable controls of the third control interface, respectively, the selectable controls and indicators of the third control interface mounted within a third housing, the third housing linked to a third control cable opposite a third plug that is linkable to a third source device, the selectable controls of the third control interface selectable to control replication of video information from a source device connected to the third control cable on the first, second, third and fourth presentation spaces, respectively, and the first, second, third and fourth indicators on the third control interface indicating states related to video information shared via the first, second, third and fourth presentation spaces, respectively.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the video information is wirelessly transmitted from the first, second and third video sources to the switching device.

53. The apparatus of claim 35 also for use with third and fourth common display screens in the collaborative workspace, the control interface including third and fourth visual indicators that can visually indicate at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein each of the third and fourth indicators indicates the first state when a video source is disassociated with the control interface, the second state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the third and fourth common displays, respectively, and the third state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the third and fourth common display, respectively.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the first, second, third and fourth indicators include first, second, third and fourth illumination devices and wherein the second and third states are indicated by controlling the illumination devices in visually distinguishing ways.

55. The apparatus of claim 53 further including at least a first control cable, the first control cable having a plug at a first end for linking to a video source device, the control interface associating a first video source with the first, second, third and fourth indicators upon connection of the first control cable to the first video source.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the first control cable is physically associated with the first, second, third and fourth indicators.

57. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the first, second, third and fourth display screens are presented as separate first, second, third and fourth presentation spaces on a single large display, respectively.

58. The apparatus of claim 35 also including a table structure including a tabletop member having a tabletop edge, the first and second display screens supported adjacent one section of the tabletop edge to face a space over the tabletop member.

59. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the control interface is a first control interface and wherein the apparatus includes at least a second control interface that includes first and second indicators associated with the first and second display screens, respectively, the first and second indicators on the second control interface capable of visually indicating at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein the second control interface indicates the first state when a video source is disassociated with the second control interface, the second state when the video source is associated with the second control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display and the third state when the video source is associated with the second control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the common display.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein each of the first and second control interfaces is useable to select and deselect either of the first and second display screens at any time irrespective of the content presented on those screens.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein any selection or deselection made via any one of the first and second control interfaces causes a status of at least one indicator on each control interface that is linked to any video source to change state.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 also including first and second control cables that are associated with the first and second control interfaces, the first control cable having a plug at a first end for linking to a video source device, the first control interface associating a first video source with the first indicator upon connection of the first control cable to the first video source, the second control cable having a plug at a first end for linking to a video source device, the second control interface associating a second video source with the second indicator upon connection of the second control cable to the second video source.

63. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicator includes an illumination device that indicate the second and third states by generating first and second visually distinguishable light effects.

18. A conferencing assembly for use with at least first and second video sources within a conference space, the assembly comprising:

a conference table assembly including a top member forming a top surface;

at least one common display screen supported proximate the top surface of the top member;

a switching device having at least a first input and at least a first output, the first output linked to the at least one common display;

at least first and second control interfaces secured to the conference table assembly, the first control interface including a first button and a first indicator, the first indicator controllable to visually distinguish at least first and second states in which content from a video source associated with the first control interface is not presented on the common display and in which content from a video source associated with the first control interface is presented on the common display screen, respectively, the first button selectable to toggle between presenting and not presenting content on the common display screen, the second control interface including a second button and a second indicator, the second indicator controllable to visually distinguish at least first and second states in which content from a video source associated with the second control interface is not presented on the common display and in which content from a video source associated with the second control interface is presented on the common display screen, respectively, the second button selectable to toggle between presenting and not presenting content on the common display screen.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the first input to the switching device includes first and second inputs, the assembly further including at least first and second control cables, each control cable including first and second ends, the first ends of the first and second control cables linked to the first and second inputs, respectively, the second ends of the first and second control cables linkable to the first and second video sources, respectively, the assembly including a processor that detects connection of the first control cable with one of the video sources and automatically associates the connected video source connected to the first control cable with the first control cable and that detects connection of the second control cable with one of the video sources and automatically associates the connected video source connected to the second control cable with the second control interface.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the first button is mounted to the first control cable and the second button is mounted to the second control cable.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the first button is mounted to an intermediate section of the first control cable and the second button is mounted to an intermediate section of the second control cable so that flexible portions of the first and second control cables are located between the first and second buttons and the second ends of the first and second control cables, respectively.

22. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the first and second indicators are illumination devices that indicate the first and second states by generating first and second different colored light.

23. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the table top member forms first and second openings, an intermediate portion of the first cable passing through the first opening and an intermediate portion of the second cable passing through the second opening.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the switching device is mounted below an undersurface of the table top member.

25. The assembly of claim 23 further including first and second deck members that form first and second deck surfaces, the first and second deck members supported by the table top member below the first and second openings, each deck member forming at least one cable passing opening, the first and second cables passing through the at least one cable passing opening formed in the first and second deck members, respectively.

26. The assembly of claim 18 wherein any one of the first and second control interfaces can be selected at any time to toggle video from an associated source on and off on the common display screen and wherein video from either of the video sources may be independently presented on the common display screen and video from each of the first and second video sources may be presented on the common display screen at the same time.

27. A conferencing assembly for use with at least first and second video sources and at least a first common display screen located within a conference space, the assembly comprising:

a switching device having at least a first input and at least a first output, the first output linked to the at least a first common display screen;

a first control cable including first and second ends, the first end linked to the switching device and the second end linkable to one of the video sources;

a second control cable including first and second ends, the first end linked to the switching device and the second end linkable to one of the video sources;

a first selectable control;

a second selectable control;

a first visual indicator controllable to visually indicate first, second and third different states;

a second visual indicator controllable to visually indicate first, second and third different states; and

at least one processor programmed to perform the steps of;

monitoring for connection of the first control cable to one of the video sources;

(ii) while the first control cable is disconnected from the video sources, indicating the first state via the first visual indicator;

(iii) upon initial connection of the first control cable to one of the video sources, indicating the second state via the first visual indicator;

(iv) after connection of the first control cable to one of the video sources, monitoring for selection of the first selectable control while content from the video source connected to the first control cable is not presented on the common display screen and, upon selection of the first selectable control, presenting the content from the video source connected to the first control cable on the common display screen and indicating the third state via the first visual indicator;

(v) after connection of the first control cable to one of the video sources, monitoring for selection of the first selectable control while content from the video source connected to the first control cable is presented on the common display screen and, upon selection of the first selectable control, removing the content from the video source connected to the first control cable from the common display screen and indicating the second state via the first visual indicator;

(vi) monitoring for connection of the second control cable to one of the video sources;

(vii) while the second control cable is disconnected from the video sources, indicating the first state via the second visual indicator;

(viii) upon initial connection of the second control cable to one of the video sources, indicating the second state via the second visual indicator;

(ix) after connection of the second control cable to one of the video sources, monitoring for selection of the second selectable control while content from the video source connected to the second control cable is not presented on the common display screen and, upon selection of the second selectable control, presenting the content from the video source connected to the second control cable on the common display screen and indicating the third state via the second visual indicator; and

(x) after connection of the second control cable to one of the video sources, monitoring for selection of the second selectable control while content from the video source connected to the second control cable is presented on the common display screen and, upon selection of the second selectable control, removing the content from the video source connected to the second control cable from the common display screen and indicating the second state via the second visual indicator.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the first visual indicator includes a first illumination device that is spatially proximate the first selectable control and the second visual indicator includes a second illumination device that is spatially proximate the second selectable control.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the first and second selectable controls include first and second buttons.

30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the processor controls each of the first and second illumination devices to indicate the first state by cutting off power to the firs and second illumination devices, respectively.

31. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the first and second buttons are mounted to the first and second control cables, respectively.