Video switch

• US 9,485,463 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: McClymonds, Ryan J., Snavely, Eric B., Lipsky, Steffen, Wayner, Robert C., King, Steven J., Pate, Randell E., Warwick, Timothy J., Young, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yenke, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAIEM, SEAN N
• Application Number:
  US14/689,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching
• 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 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A video switch system providing a collaborative environment for one or more users to share information. In the current embodiment, the video switch system enables users to quickly connect to the system, present information, have a video conference, or have a multi-user wireless video session, or a combination thereof, in a collaborative manner.

Claims

1. A video switch system for at least one user to collaboratively display information on at least one monitor, said video switch system comprising:

a switching unit operable to receive one or more first video sources from one or more respective user devices, said switching unit having a control system operable to direct said one or more first video sources to the at least one monitor, wherein the one or more respective user devices are associated with the at least one user;

wherein said switching unit includes one or more video cards configured to provide a connector interface capable of connecting said switching unit with one of the respective devices in order to receive video information therefrom;

a wireless presentation system operably connected to said control system of said switching unit, said wireless presentation system configured to receive one or more second video sources via a network interface, wherein said wireless presentation system is configured to direct at least one of said one or more second video sources to said control system of said switching unit; and

a hardware operator interface operably connected to said control system of said switching unit, said hardware operator interface including a user shareable input control device separate from said switching unit and separate from said one or more respective user devices, said user shareable input control device including a first user selectable input and a wireless video mode selection input selectable by the at least one user, wherein said first user selectable input and said wireless video mode selection input are co-located to define a shareable user interface of said user shareable interface;

wherein in response to said first user selectable input being selected, said operator interface commands said control system to direct at least one of said first video sources to the at least one monitor, wherein in response to said wireless video mode selection input being selected, said control system is configured in a wireless video mode to direct at least one of said second video sources to the at least one monitor.

2. The video switch system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said user shareable input control device includes a touch sensitive interface.

3. The video switch system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said user shareable input control device is at least one of (a) a remote control capable of wirelessly communicating with said switching unit and (b) electrically connected to the switching unit.

4. The video switch system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switching unit is configurable in said wireless video mode to direct said at least one of said second video sources and said at least one of said first video sources to the at least one monitor.

5. The video switch system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switching unit is capable of merging said at least one second video source and said at least one first video source for simultaneous display on one of the at least one monitor.

6. The video switch system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first user selectable input is associated with a first user device of said respective user devices;

wherein said user shareable input control device includes a second user selectable input in addition to said first user selectable input, said second user selectable input being associated with a second user device of said respective user devices;

wherein said first and second user selectable inputs are configured to indicate at least two indication states by changing light intensity.

7. The video switch system as claimed in claim 6 wherein in response to said first user respective device being connected to said switching unit via said modular interface, said first user selectable input transitions from an off indication state to a standby indication state by increasing a light intensity of said first user selectable input;

and

wherein in response to the at least one user selecting said first user selectable input, said first user selectable input transitions from said standby indication state to an active indication state by further increasing said light intensity of said first user selectable input.

8. The video switch system as claimed in claim 7 wherein in response to said first user selectable input being selected, said switching unit directs a video source of said first user device to the at least one monitor, and wherein in response to said second user selectable input being selected, said switching unit directs a video source of said second user device to the at least one monitor.

9. The video switch system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one monitor includes a plurality of monitors, wherein said first user selectable input is associated with a first user device of said respective user devices;

wherein said user shareable interface includes a second user selectable input in addition to said first user selectable input, said second user selectable input being associated with said first user device;

wherein in response to said first user selectable input being selected, said switching unit directs a video source of said first user device to one of the plurality of monitors, and wherein in response to said second user input being selected, said switching unit directs the video source of said first user device to another of the plurality of monitors, whereby selection of said first or second user selectable inputs enables the at least one user to choose which of the plurality of monitors displays the video source of the first user device.

10. The video switch system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said network interface of said wireless presentation system includes at least one of an Ethernet cable and a wireless Ethernet transceiver.

11. The video switch system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said wireless presentation system provides a user interface configured to allow each user of the at least one user to direct a second video source associated with the respective user to the at least one monitor.

12. The video switch system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said one or more video cards is a modular card connectable by a cable to one of the respective devices, and wherein said cable and said operator interface are disposed in proximity to each other near a surface of a conference table.