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

• US 9,871,978 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• 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): Bilgrami, Asghar
• Application Number:
  US15/258,599
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• 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

A content sharing device for use in controlling content replicated from a video source device on a large common display screen, the content sharing device comprising a housing, a processor supported by the housing, at least first and second control buttons supported by the housing and linked to the processor, a cable linked to the processor and having a distal end opposite the processor, the cable including a connector at the distal end for linking to the video source device, wherein, the processor is programmed to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a first field on the common display screen upon selection of the first control button and to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a second field adjacent to and separate from the first field upon selection of the second control button.

Claims

1. A content sharing device for use in controlling content replicated from a video source device on a large common display screen, the content sharing device comprising:

a housing having a floor member that forms a substantially flat undersurface and a lateral wall that extends upward from the floor member to form a cavity;

a processor located within the cavity;

at least first and second control buttons supported by the housing and linked to the processor;

a cable operably linked to the processor and having a distal end opposite the processor, the cable including a connector at the distal end for linking to the video source device;

wherein, the processor is programmed to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a first field on the common display screen upon selection of the first control button and to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a second field adjacent to and separate from the first field upon selection of the second control button.

2. The content sharing device of claim 1 wherein the processor enables content to be replicated in the first and second fields by causing the content to be replicated in the first and second fields upon selection of the first and second control buttons, respectively.

3. The content sharing device of claim 1 further including at least a first visual indicator supported by the housing and linked to the processor, the processor controlling the at least a first visual indicator to indicate at least a first control state when the content on the video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated on the common display screen.

4. The content sharing device of claim 3 wherein the at least a first visual indicator includes a light source that is controlled by controlling at least one characteristic of the light generated by the light source.

5. The content sharing device of claim 4 wherein the light source is controllable to indicate at least first and second visually distinguished states.

6. The content sharing device of claim 5 wherein the light source generates a first light effect while content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated on the common display screen and the second light effect while content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device is not replicated on the common display screen.

7. The content sharing device of claim 1 wherein the first field includes an area along the left edge of the common display screen and the second field includes an area along the right edge of the common display screen.

8. The content sharing device of claim 2 wherein the processor is further programmed to, while content is presented in the first field, upon a next selection of the first control button, remove the replicated content from the first field and, while content is presented in the second field, upon a next selection of the second control button, remove the replicated content from the second field.

9. The content sharing device of claim 8 wherein the content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device may be replicated in each of the first and second fields simultaneously.

10. The content sharing device of claim 1 further including an off button supported by the housing and linked to the processor, the off button, upon selection while content from a video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in any field on the common display screen, removing the replicated content from the common display screen.

11. The content sharing device of claim 10 further including at least a first visual indicator supported by the housing and linked to the processor, the processor controlling the at least a first visual indicator to indicate at least a first control state when the content on the video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated on the common display screen and indicating at least a second control state when the content on the video source linked to the content sharing device is not replicated on the common display screen.

12. The content sharing device of claim 1 further including at least first and second separate visual indicators supported by the housing and linked to the processor, the processor controlling the at least a first visual indicator to indicate at least a first control state while the video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in the first field and controlling the at least a second visual indicator to indicate at least a first control state while the video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in the second field.

13. The content sharing device of claim 12 wherein each of the first and second visual indicators includes a light source that is controlled by controlling at least one characteristic of the light generated by the light source.

14. The content sharing device of claim 13 wherein each of the first and second light sources is controllable to indicate at least first and second visually distinguished states.

15. The content sharing device of claim 14 wherein the first light source generates a first light effect while content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in the first field and the second light effect while content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device is not replicated on in the first field and wherein the second light source generates a first light effect while content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in the second field and the second light effect while content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device is not replicated on in the second field.

16. The content sharing device of claim 15 wherein the first light source and the second light source are spatially proximate the first and second control buttons, respectively.

17. The content sharing device of claim 1 further including third and fourth control buttons supported by the housing and linked to the processor, the processor further programmed to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a third field independent of the first and second fields on the common display screen upon selection of the third control button and to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a fourth field that is separate from the first, second and third fields upon selection of the fourth control button.

18. The content sharing device of claim 17 wherein content replication in the third and fourth fields is enabled by causing the content to be replicated in the third and fourth fields, respectively.

19. The content sharing device of claim 1 wherein replicated content is enabled by wirelessly transmitting the content from the video source device to a switching device that is linked to the common display screen.

20. The content sharing device of claim 1 wherein the first and second buttons stand proud of and are located above the cavity formed by the housing.

21. The content sharing device of claim 20 wherein the lateral wall forms an opening and wherein the cable extends from the processor through the opening formed by the lateral wall to the connector.

22. The content sharing device of claim 21 wherein the portion of the control cable between the lateral wall of the housing and the connector is flexible.

23. The content sharing device of claim 22 wherein an off button separate from the first and second control buttons is supported by the housing and is linked to the processor, the off button selectable to remove any content replicated on the common display screen from the video source device linked to the content sharing device.

24. The content sharing device of claim 23 further including third and fourth control buttons supported by the housing and linked to the processor, the processor further programmed to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a third field independent of the first and second fields on the common display screen upon selection of the third control button and to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a fourth field that is separate from the first, second and third fields upon selection of the fourth control button.

25. The content sharing device of claim 24 wherein the first, second, third and fourth control buttons are radially equispaced about the off button.

26. The content sharing device of claim 25 further including first, second, third and fourth indicator lights that are spatially associated with the first, second, third and fourth control buttons.

27. The content sharing device of claim 3 wherein the processor is further programmed to receive signals from a switching device indicating a state of common display screen control and to control the at least one indicator to indicate a state that is consistent with the received signals from the switching device.

35. The content sharing device of claim 1 wherein an off button separate from the first and second control buttons is supported by the housing and is operably linked to the processor, the off button selectable to remove any content replicated on the common display screen from the video source device linked to the content sharing device.

61. The content sharing device of claim 1 wherein the portion of the control cable between the lateral wall of the housing and the connector is flexible and wherein the connector is a USB connector.

62. The content sharing device of claim 1 wherein the at least first and second control buttons have substantially upwardly facing to surfaces.

63. The content sharing device of claim 62, wherein the first and second visual indicators are controlled to generate light that emanates from the upwardly facing surface of the first and second control buttons, respectively, to indicate the first control state.

64. The content sharing device of claim 4 wherein the sharing device has a substantially flat upward facing top surface and wherein the light device generates light that emanates from the top surface so as to be visible from any vantage point above the top surface.

65. The content sharing device of claim 64 wherein the light source is controllable to indicate at least first and second visually distinguished states, wherein the light source generates a first light effect while content from the source device linked to the video source device is replicated on the common display screen and the second light effect while content from the source device linked to the video source device is not replicated on the common display screen.

28. A content sharing device for use in controlling content replicated from a video source device on a large common display screen, the content sharing device comprising:

a housing having a floor member that forms a substantially flat undersurface and a lateral wall that extends upward from the floor member to form a cavity;

a processor located within the cavity;

at least first, second and third control buttons supported by the housing and linked to the processor;

a flexible cable operably linked to the processor and having a distal end opposite the processor, the cable including a connector at the distal end for linking to the video source device;

wherein the first, second and third control buttons are separately associated with distinct first, second and third fields on the common display screen, respectively, such that selection of the first, second and third control buttons indicates a user'"'"'s desire to replicate content from a video source device within the first, second and third fields, respectively.

29. The content sharing device of claim 28 further including at least a first visual indicator supported by the housing and linked to the processor, the processor controlling the first visual indicator to indicate at least first and second distinct states while content from the source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in at least one of the fields on the common display screen and while no content from the source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated on the common display screen.

30. The content sharing device of claim 29 further including at least a fourth control button supported by the housing and linked to the processor, the fourth button associated with a distinct fourth field on the common display screen such that selection of the fourth control button indicates a user'"'"'s desire to replicate content from a video source device within the fourth field.

31. A content sharing device for use in controlling content replicated from a video source device on a large common display screen, the content sharing device comprising:

a housing having a floor member that forms a substantially flat undersurface and a lateral wall that extends upward from the floor member to form a cavity;

a processor located within the cavity;

at least first, second and third control buttons supported by the housing and linked to the processor;

a cable operably linked to the processor and having a distal end opposite the processor, the cable including a connector at the distal end for linking to the video source device;

a light indicator device supported by the housing and linked to the processor;

wherein, the processor is programmed to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a first field on the common display screen upon selection of the first control button, to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a second field adjacent to and separate from the first field upon selection of the second control button, to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a third field adjacent to and separate from the first and second fields upon selection of the third control button and to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a fourth field adjacent to and separate from the first, second and third fields upon selection of the fourth control button, the processor further configured to control the light indicator device to indicate a first state while content from a video source device linked to the content sharing device is replicated on the common display screen and to indicate a second state while content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device is not replicated on the common display screen.

36. The content sharing device of claim 31 wherein content from the video source device linked to the content sharing device can be simultaneously shared within at least two of the distinct fields on the common display screen space.

37. The content sharing device of claim 31 further including at least first, second, third and fourth secondary light indicators associated with the first, second, third and fourth control buttons, the processor further programmed to illuminate the first secondary indicator while content from the portable computing device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in the first distinct field, to illuminate the second secondary indicator while content from the portable computing device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in the second distinct field, to illuminate the third secondary indicator while content from the portable computing device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in the third distinct field and to illuminate the fourth secondary indicator while content from the portable computing device linked to the content sharing device is replicated in the fourth distinct field.

38. The content sharing device of claim 37 wherein the first, second, third and fourth secondary light indicators include indicia indicating the numbers one, two, three and four which are illuminated when the light indicators are illuminated.

39. The content sharing device of claim 38 wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth buttons has a top button surface and wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth indicator lights is integrally formed within the first, second, third and fourth buttons so that the numbers one, two, three and four are presented on the top surfaces of the first, second, third and fourth buttons, respectively, upon illumination of the first, second, third and fourth light indicators, respectively.

40. The content sharing device of claim 39 wherein the first, second, third and fourth buttons stand proud of and are located above a cavity formed by the housing.

41. The content sharing device of claim 40 wherein the housing includes a bottom member and a lateral wall that extends upward from a circumferential edge of the bottom member, the lateral wall forms an opening and wherein the cable extends from the processor through the opening formed by the lateral wall to the connector.

42. The content sharing device of claim 41 wherein the portion of the control cable between the lateral wall of the housing and the connector is flexible.

43. The content sharing device of claim 42 wherein an off button separate from the first, second, third and fourth control buttons is supported by the housing and is linked to the processor, the off button selectable to remove any content replicated on the common display screen from the video source device linked to the content sharing device.

44. The content sharing device of claim 43 wherein the first, second, third and fourth control buttons and the off button form a substantially flat and substantially upwardly facing surface and wherein the first, second, third and fourth control buttons surround the off button which is centrally located relative to the upwardly facing surface.

45. The content sharing device of claim 44 wherein replicated content is enabled by wirelessly transmitting the content from the video source device to a switching device that is linked to the common display screen.

46. The content sharing device of claim 45 wherein the connector at the distal end of the cable includes a USB connector.

47. The content sharing device of claim 46 wherein the lateral wall extends substantially vertically from the circumferential edge while the bottom member is supported on a horizontal surface.

48. The content sharing device of claim 31 wherein the common display screen includes a screen and a projector that projects content onto the screen.

32. A content sharing system for replicating video content presented on display screens of portable computing devices on a large common display screen, the content sharing system comprising:

a switching device linked to the common display screen to provide content thereto, the switching device dividing the common display screen space into first, second, third and fourth distinct fields that cover an upper left quadrant, an upper right quadrant, a lower left quadrant and a lower right quadrant of the common display screen, respectively;

at least first and second control dongles, each control dongle comprising;

(i) a housing;

(ii) a processor supported by the housing;

(iii) first, second, third and fourth control buttons supported by the housing and linked to the processor;

(iv) a cable operably linked to the processor and having a distal end opposite the processor, the cable including a connector at the distal end for linking to a portable computing device;

(v) a light indicator device supported by the housing and linked to the processor;

(vi) wherein, each processor is programmed to receive control commands from the first, second, third and fourth buttons linked thereto and enables replication of content from a linked portable computing device in the first, second, third and fourth fields when the first, second, third and fourth buttons linked thereto are selected, each processor further programmed to control the light indicator device linked thereto to indicate a first state when content from a linked portable computing device is replicated in a field on the common display and to indicate a second state when content from a linked portable computing device is not replicated in a field on the common display, respectively.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein at least a portion of the communication between the control dongles and the switching device is wireless.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein each processor is further configured to receive state indicating signals from the switching device indicative of control commands input via others of the control dongles and wherein each processor controls a linked light indicator device in part as a function of input via the others of the control dongles.

49. The content sharing system of claim 32 wherein content from first and second portable computing devices can be simultaneously shared in different ones of the first, second, third and fourth distinct fields.

50. The content sharing system of claim 49 wherein the first and second states are indicated by illuminating the first light devices first and second different colors.

51. The content sharing system of claim 50 wherein the first light indicator devices are light device of a first type, each control dongle further including first, second, third and fourth secondary light indicator devices of a second type, the first, second, third and fourth second light indicators associated with the first, second, third and fourth buttons and illuminated to indicate that content from a linked portable computing device is currently being shared in an associated one of the first, second, third and fourth distinct fields.

52. The content sharing system of claim 51 wherein, in each dongle, the first, second, third and fourth secondary light indicators include indicia indicating the numbers one, two, three and four which are illuminated when the associated secondary light indicators are illuminated.

53. The content sharing system of claim 52 wherein, in each dongle, each of the first, second, third and fourth buttons has a top button surface and wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth indicator lights is integrally formed within the first, second, third and fourth buttons so that the numbers one, two, three and four are presented on the top surfaces of the first, second, third and fourth buttons, respectively, upon illumination of the first, second, third and fourth secondary light indicators, respectively.

54. The content sharing system of claim 53 wherein, in each dongle, the first, second, third and fourth buttons stand proud of and are located above a cavity formed by the housing.

55. The content sharing system of claim 54, wherein, in each control dongle, the housing includes a bottom member and a lateral wall that extends upward from a circumferential edge of the bottom member, the lateral wall forms an opening and wherein the cable extends from the processor through the opening formed by the lateral wall to the connector.

56. The content sharing system of claim 55 wherein, in each dongle, the portion of the control cable between the lateral wall of the housing and the connector is flexible.

57. The content sharing system of claim 56 wherein, in each control dongle, an off button separate from the first, second, third and fourth control buttons is supported by the housing and is linked to the processor, the off button selectable to remove any content replicated on the common display screen from the video source device linked to the content sharing device.

58. The content sharing system of claim 57 wherein, in each dongle, the first, second, third and fourth control buttons and the off button form a substantially flat and substantially upwardly facing surface and wherein the first, second, third and fourth control buttons surround the off button which is centrally located relative to the upwardly facing surface.

59. The content sharing system of claim 58 wherein replicated content is enabled by wirelessly transmitting the content from the portable computing device linked to a dongle to a switching device that is linked to the common display screen.

60. The content sharing system of claim 32 wherein the connector at the distal end of the cable includes a USB connector.