Personal control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaborative workspace
First Claim
1. A video source control assembly for use with at least a first display screen and a plurality of video source devices, the control assembly comprising:
- a deck member forming a top surface, the top surface forming a plurality of cable passing openings;
a switching device including at least a first output port linkable to the at least a first display screen and a plurality of input ports for receiving video content from linkable video source devices;
a plurality of control cables, each control cable including first and second ends, each first end linkable to at least one of the source devices and the second end linked to the switching device via one of the input ports to provide video content thereto; and
a separate housing mounted to an intermediate portion of each of the control cables between the first and second ends of an associated control cable so that flexible portions of the associated control cable extend from the housing to each of the first and second ends of the associated control cable, a separate selection button mounted in each of the housings that, upon selection, provides a control signal to the switching device causing the switching device to modify a content presented on the at least a first display screen;
wherein, the portion of each cable between the housing and the second end passes through one of the cable passing openings and wherein the housing has dimensions such that the housing is blocked from passing through the cable passing opening; and
wherein, each control cable is moveable between an extended position wherein an associated housing is pulled up and spaced from the deck member and a stowed position in which the associated housing rests on the deck member adjacent one of the cable passing openings.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A video source control assembly for use with at least a first display screen and a plurality of video source devices, the control assembly including a deck member forming a top surface and at least one cable passing opening, a switching device, a plurality of control cables, each control cable including first and second ends, each first end linkable to at least one source device and the second end linked to the switching device to provide video content thereto and a separate housing mounted to an intermediate portion of each of the control cables so that flexible portions of the associated control cable extend from the housing to each of the first and second ends, a separate selection button mounted in each of the housings that provides a control signal to the switching device causing the switching device to modify the content presented on the display screen, wherein, the portion of each cable between the housing and the second end passes through the cable passing opening and the housing has dimensions such that the housing is blocked from passing through the cable passing opening.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A video source control assembly for use with at least a first display screen and a plurality of video source devices, the control assembly comprising:
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a deck member forming a top surface, the top surface forming a plurality of cable passing openings; a switching device including at least a first output port linkable to the at least a first display screen and a plurality of input ports for receiving video content from linkable video source devices; a plurality of control cables, each control cable including first and second ends, each first end linkable to at least one of the source devices and the second end linked to the switching device via one of the input ports to provide video content thereto; and a separate housing mounted to an intermediate portion of each of the control cables between the first and second ends of an associated control cable so that flexible portions of the associated control cable extend from the housing to each of the first and second ends of the associated control cable, a separate selection button mounted in each of the housings that, upon selection, provides a control signal to the switching device causing the switching device to modify a content presented on the at least a first display screen; wherein, the portion of each cable between the housing and the second end passes through one of the cable passing openings and wherein the housing has dimensions such that the housing is blocked from passing through the cable passing opening; and wherein, each control cable is moveable between an extended position wherein an associated housing is pulled up and spaced from the deck member and a stowed position in which the associated housing rests on the deck member adjacent one of the cable passing openings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A video source control assembly for use with at least a first display screen and a plurality of source devices including at least a first source device, the control assembly comprising:
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a switching device including at least a first output port linkable to the at least a first display screen and a plurality of inputs for receiving video content from source devices; a plurality of control cables, each control cable including first and second ends, each first end linkable to at least one of the source devices and the second end operatively linked to the switching device to provide video content thereto; and a separate selection button mounted to an intermediate portion of each of the control cables that, upon selection, provides a control signal to the switching device causing the switching device to modify a content presented on the at least a first display screen, each selection button including a separate illumination source, each illumination source controlled to indicate at least first and second different states in which content from an associated source device is presented on the at least a first display screen and is not presented on the at least a first display screen, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A video source control assembly for use with at least a first display screen and a plurality of video source devices, the control assembly comprising:
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a deck member forming a top surface, the top surface forming a plurality of cable passing openings; a switching device including at least a first output port linkable to the at least a first display screen and a plurality of input ports for receiving video content from linkable video source devices; a plurality of control cables including at least first and second control cables, each control cable including first and second ends, each first end linkable to at least one of the source devices and the second end linked to the switching device via one of the inputs to provide video content thereto; and a separate housing mounted to an intermediate portion of each of the control cables between the first and second ends of an associated control cable so that flexible portions of the associated control cable extend from the housing to each of the first and second ends of the associated control cable, a separate selection button supported by each of the housings that, upon selection, provides a control signal to the switching device causing the switching device to modify a content presented on the at least a first display screen, each selection button including a separate illumination source, each illumination source controlled to indicate at least first and second different states in which content from an associated source device is presented on the at least a first display screen and is not presented on the at least a first display screen, respectively; wherein, the portion of each cable between the housing and the second end passes through one of the cable passing openings and wherein the housing has dimensions such that the housing is blocked from passing through the cable passing opening; and wherein, each control cable is moveable between an extended position wherein an associated housing is pulled up and spaced from the deck member and a stowed position in which the associated housing rests on the deck member adjacent one of the cable passing openings. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A video source control assembly for use with at least a first display screen and a plurality of video source devices, the control assembly comprising:
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a switching device including at least a first output port linkable to the at least a first display screen and at least one input port for receiving video content from linkable video source devices; and a plurality of mechanical interface devices, each interface device including a housing and a selection button mounted within the housing, each interface device also including a flexible cable member extending from the housing with a plug at a distal end that is receivable within an outlet port of a video source device, each interface device further including a light device capable of indicating at least first and second states when content from a linked video source device is presented on the first display screen and when content from a linked video source is not presented on the first display screen, the switching device receiving content from at least one of the video source devices and controlling content on the display screen as well as the states indicated by the light devices as a function of selection of the selection buttons.
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Specification