Emissive surfaces and workspaces method and apparatus

• US 9,804,731 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Baloga, Mark A
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US14/500,155
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 715740, 715781, 709233
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0076 the screen being incorporated in the desk top
• 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 21/007 with under-desk displays, e.g. displays being viewable through a transparent working surface of the table or desk
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0071 Booth like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0073 Desk with integrated computer
• 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 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• 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 3/04847 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: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/70 Multimodal biometrics, e.g. combining information from different biometric modalities
• 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 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A conferencing arrangement and method for sharing information within a conference space, the arrangement comprising a common presentation surface positioned within the conference space, the common presentation surface including a presentation surface area, a common presentation surface driver, a system processor linked to the driver, the system processor receiving information content and presenting the information content via the common presentation surface and a user interface device including a device display screen and a device processor, the device processor programmed to provide a dynamic interface via the device display screen that is usable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface area for sharing information content and to automatically modify the interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces as the number of distinct sharing spaces is altered.

Claims

1. A conferencing arrangement for sharing information within a conference space, the arrangement comprising:

a common presentation surface positioned within the conference space, the common presentation surface including a presentation surface area;

a common presentation surface driver;

a system processor linked to the driver, the system processor receiving information content and presenting the information content via the common presentation surface; and

a user interface device including a device display screen and a device processor, the device processor programmed to provide a dynamic interface via the device display screen that is usable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface area for sharing information content and to automatically modify the interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces as the number of distinct sharing spaces is altered.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user interface device is positioned in a specific orientation with respect to the common presentation surface and wherein the features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces include sharing features on the device display screen that are substantially aligned with associated distinct sharing spaces.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein each feature for controlling content includes a graphical feature.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the common presentation surface is a first common presentation surface, the arrangement including at least a second common presentation surface that is angled with respect to the first common presentation surface and that includes presentation surface area, the dynamic interface usable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface areas for sharing information content.

5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein the angle between the first and second common presentation surfaces is less than 120 degrees.

6. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein the first and second common presentation surfaces form wall surfaces of the conference space.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 further including at least a third common presentation surface that is substantially parallel to the first presentation surface and that forms presentation surface area, the dynamic interface usable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface areas for sharing information content.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the common presentation surface is concave toward the conference space.

9. The arrangement of claim 1 further including a conference table arranged in the conference space, the user interface device built into a top surface of the conference table.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the user interface device is a first user interface device, the arrangement further including a second user interface device including a second device display screen and a second device processor, the second device processor programmed to provide a dynamic second interface via the second device display screen that is also usable to control the number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface area for sharing information content and to automatically modify the second interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces as the number of distinct sharing spaces is altered via any one of the interface devices.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein the first user interface device is positioned in a specific orientation with respect to the common presentation surface and wherein the features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces include sharing features on the first device display screen that are substantially aligned with associated distinct sharing spaces and wherein the second user interface device is positioned in a specific orientation with respect to the common presentation surface and wherein the features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces include sharing features on the second device display screen that are substantially aligned with associated distinct sharing spaces.

12. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the presentation surface and driver include an electronic display screen.

13. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the presentation surface area includes first and second presentation surface areas, each of which is dividable into sharing spaces, the second presentation surface area presenting a mirror image of the sharing spaces and content in the sharing spaces on the first presentation surface area, the interface including features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces of the first presentation surface area.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein the second presentation surface area substantially opposes the first presentation surface area.

15. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each sharing space has similar default dimensions.

16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein the interface enables modification to the dimensions of any of the sharing spaces.

17. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein, as sharing spaces are added to the presentation surface area, the sharing spaces are provided in a single row of adjacent sharing spaces.

18. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the system processor is programmed to, as shared information is replaced in one of the sharing spaces, present a thumbnail image of the replaced shared information in an archive field on the presentation surface.

19. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the device display screen is a touch sensitive device display screen.

20. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the presentation surface area is represented as a presentation surface field on the device display screen.

21. The arrangement of claim 1 further including a plurality of common presentation surfaces positioned within the conference space, each common presentation surface including a presentation surface area, the device processor programmed to provide a dynamic interface via the device display screen that is useable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface areas for sharing information content and to automatically modify the interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces as the number of distinct sharing spaces is altered.

22. The arrangement of claim 21 wherein the user interface device is positioned in a specific orientation with respect to the common presentation surfaces and wherein the features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces include sharing features on the device display screen that are substantially aligned with associated distinct sharing spaces.

23. The arrangement of claim 22 wherein the sharing features include content field icons on the device display that are spatially aligned with the sharing spaces on the common presentation surfaces.

24. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein the device display screen includes a central area and a frame area that circumscribes the central area, the content field icons presented within the frame area.

25. The arrangement of claim 24 wherein the device processor enables a user to replace content in any one of the sharing spaces by selecting content presented in the central area and dragging the content on the device display screen to one of the content sharing field on the display screen that is associated with the sharing space presenting the content to be replaced.

26. The arrangement of claim 24 wherein, as the orientation of the user interface device is changed, the device processor is programmed to alter the device interface to maintain substantial alignment of the content field icons on the device display screen and the associated distinct sharing spaces.

27. The arrangement of claim 24 wherein, as the orientation of the user interface device is changed, the device processor is programmed to alter the device interface to maintain substantial alignment of the content field icons on the device display screen and the associated distinct sharing spaces.

28. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein the user interface device includes a first user interface device, the arrangement including at least a second user interface device including a second device display screen and a second device processor, the second device processor programmed to provide a second dynamic interface via the second device display screen that is also usable to create distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface areas for sharing information content and to automatically modify the second interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces created on the presentation surface areas.

29. The arrangement of claim 28 wherein there are at least first, second and third substantially flat and rectangular common presentation surfaces, the first and third presentation surfaces spaced apart along opposite lateral edges of the second presentation surface and each forming a 90 degree angle with the second common presentation surface.

30. The arrangement of claim 28 wherein there are at least first, second and third substantially flat and rectangular common presentation surfaces, the first and third presentation surfaces spaced apart along opposite lateral edges of the second presentation surface and each forming a 90 degree angle with the second common presentation surface.

31. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein the device display further presents a separate sharing field for each of the plurality of common presentation surfaces and wherein the device processor alters the device interface to maintain substantial alignment of the sharing fields with the common presentation surfaces as the orientation of the user interface device is changed.

32. The arrangement of claim 31 wherein each of the common presentation fields includes a wall mounted display screen and wherein each of the sharing fields is a wall field.

33. The arrangement of claim 31 wherein the device display screen is touch sensitive.

34. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein the user interface device includes a first user interface device, the arrangement including at least a second user interface device including a second device display screen and a second device processor, the second device processor programmed to provide a second dynamic interface via the second device display screen that is also usable to create distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface areas for sharing information content and to automatically modify the second interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces created on the presentation surface areas.

35. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein the device display further presents a separate sharing field for each of the plurality of common presentation surfaces and wherein the device processor alters the device interface to maintain substantial alignment of the sharing fields with the common presentation surfaces as the orientation of the user interface device is changed.

36. The arrangement of claim 35 wherein the device display screen is touch sensitive.

37. The arrangement of claim 36 wherein a user creates a new distinct sharing space by selecting a location within the sharing field on the device display screen.

38. The arrangement of claim 37 wherein a user selects a location within the sharing field by touching content within the central area and dragging the content to the location to be selected.

39. The arrangement of claim 36 wherein a user creates a new distinct sharing space by selecting a location on one of the sharing fields on the device display screen.

40. The arrangement of claim 36 wherein a sharing space and the content presented within the sharing space can be moved from one location on a first common presentation surface to a second location on one of the common presentation surfaces by touching an associated content field icon on the device display and dragging the content field icon on the display from a current location to another location in one of the sharing fields that is associated with the second location.

41. The arrangement of claim 36 wherein a user creates a new distinct sharing space by selecting a location on one of the sharing fields on the device display screen.

42. The arrangement of claim 41 wherein a sharing space and the content presented within the sharing space can be moved from one location on a first common presentation surface to a second location on one of the common presentation surfaces by touching an associated content field icon on the device display and dragging the content field icon from a current location to another location in one of the sharing fields that is associated with the second location.

43. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the presentation surface area is represented as a sharing field along one edge of the device display screen that is arranged along a side of a central area on the device display screen.

44. The arrangement of claim 43 wherein the device display screen is touch sensitive.

45. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the common display surface includes a touch sensitive display and wherein a user can interact with content presented on the common display surface via touch.

46. The arrangement of claim 45 wherein a user can interact with the common display via touch to add additional sharing spaces to the common presentation surface, the device processor modifying the interface to present features for controlling content presented in all sharing spaces including any sharing spaces created using the common display.

47. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user interface device includes a first user interface device, the arrangement including at least a second user interface device including a second device display screen and a second device processor, the second device processor programmed to provide a second dynamic interface via the second device display screen that is also usable to create distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface areas for sharing information content and to automatically modify the second interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces created on the presentation surface areas.

48. The arrangement of claim 47 wherein each of the interface devices includes a portable interface device.

49. The arrangement of claim 48 wherein at least the first interface device includes a tablet type computing device.

50. The arrangement of claim 47 wherein the first and second interface devices are associated with first and second users and wherein, as content is presented in one of the sharing spaces by one of the users, indicia distinguishing the sharing user from other users is presented spatially adjacent the sharing space.

51. A conferencing arrangement for sharing information within a conference space, the arrangement comprising:

a common presentation surface positioned within the conference space, the common presentation surface including a presentation surface area;

a common presentation surface driver;

a system processor linked to the driver, the system processor receiving information content and presenting the information content via the common presentation surface; and

a user interface device including a device display screen and a device processor, the device processor programmed to provide a dynamic interface via the device display screen that is usable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface area for sharing information content and to automatically modify the interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces as the number of distinct sharing spaces is altered;

wherein the user interface device is positioned in a specific orientation with respect to the common presentation surface and wherein the features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces include sharing features on the device display screen that are substantially aligned with associated distinct sharing spaces; and

wherein, as the orientation of the user interface device is changed, the device processor is programmed to alter the device interface to maintain substantial alignment of the sharing features on the device display screen and the associated distinct sharing spaces.

52. The arrangement of claim 51 wherein the common presentation surface is a first common presentation surface, the arrangement including at least a second common presentation surface that is angled with respect to the first common presentation surface and that includes presentation surface area, the dynamic interface usable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface areas for sharing information content.

53. The arrangement of claim 52 wherein the first and second common presentation surfaces form wall surfaces of the conference space.

54. The arrangement of claim 52 further including at least a third common presentation surface that is substantially parallel to the first presentation surface and that forms presentation surface area.

55. A conferencing arrangement for sharing information within a conference space, the arrangement comprising:

a common presentation subassembly including presentation surface positioned within the conference space, the common presentation surface including presentation surface area facing the conference space on at least two sides of the conference space;

a common presentation surface driver;

a system processor linked to the driver, the system processor receiving information content and presenting the information content via the common presentation surface; and

a plurality of user interface devices, each user interface device including a device display screen and a device processor, the device processor programmed to provide a dynamic interface via the device display screen that is usable to modify an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface area for sharing information content, the device processor further programmed to automatically modify the interface to include features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces as the number of distinct sharing spaces is altered via any one of the plurality of user interface devices.

56. The arrangement of claim 55 wherein each of the interface devices includes a portable computing device.

57. The arrangement of claim 56 wherein each of the interfaces includes a central area and a border area along at least one edge of the central area, the features for controlling content including a separate content sharing icon located within the border area for each of the distinct sharing spaces.

58. The arrangement of claim 57 wherein the sharing spaces are arranged on the common presentation surface in a first pattern and wherein the content sharing icons are arranged in a second pattern within the border area that is substantially similar to the first pattern.

59. The arrangement of claim 56 wherein the features for controlling content in the sharing spaces include a separate content sharing icon for each of the distinct sharing spaces.

60. The arrangement of claim 59 wherein the first and second interface devices are associated with first and second users and wherein, as content is presented in one of the sharing spaces by one of the users, indicia distinguishing the sharing user from other users is presented spatially adjacent the sharing space.

61. The arrangement of claim 59 wherein, as the orientation of either of the user interface devices is changed, the device processor in the interface device is programmed to alter the device interface to maintain substantial alignment of the sharing features on the device display screen and the associated distinct sharing spaces.

62. A conferencing arrangement for sharing information within a conference space, the arrangement comprising:

a common presentation surface positioned within the conference space, the common presentation surface including a presentation surface area including distinct sharing spaces for sharing information content;

a common presentation surface driver;

a system processor linked to the driver, the system processor receiving information content and causing the driver to present the information content via the common presentation surface; and

a moveable dynamic user interface wherein the orientation of the user interface with respect to the sharing spaces is changeable, the interface including graphical features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces including graphical sharing features that remain substantially aligned with associated distinct sharing spaces as the interface orientation is changed.

63. The arrangement of claim 62 wherein the common presentation surface includes at least first and second common presentation surfaces positioned within the conference space, the first common presentation surface including at least a first distinct sharing space and the second common presentation surface including at least a second distinct sharing space.

64. The arrangement of claim 63 wherein the first and second common presentation surfaces form wall surfaces of the conference space.

65. The arrangement of claim 63 further including at least a third common presentation surface that is substantially parallel to the first presentation surface and that forms presentation surface area, the dynamic interface usable to create an arbitrary number of distinct sharing spaces on the presentation surface areas for sharing information content.

66. The arrangement of claim 62 wherein the user interface is a first user interface, the arrangement further including a second dynamic movable user interface wherein the orientation of the second interface with respect to the sharing spaces is changeable, the second interface including graphical features for controlling content presented in the sharing spaces including graphical sharing features that remain substantially aligned with associated distinct sharing spaces as the second interface orientation is changed.

67. The arrangement of claim 66 further including a plurality of common presentation surfaces positioned at different locations within the conference space and wherein subsets of sharing spaces are presented on at least a subset of the common presentation surfaces, each interface including graphical sharing features that are substantially aligned with associated distinct sharing spaces on each of the common presentation surfaces as the interface orientations are changed.

68. The arrangement of claim 62 wherein each sharing space has similar default dimensions.

69. The arrangement of claim 68 wherein the interface enables modification to the dimensions of any of the sharing spaces.

70. The arrangement of claim 62 wherein the interface is useable to add additional sharing spaces to the common presentation surface and wherein, as sharing spaces are added to the common presentation surface, the sharing spaces are provided in a single row of adjacent sharing spaces.