Collaborative input system

• US 20020056577A1
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turning Technologies LLC (Echo 360, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gtco Calcomp
• Inventors: Doubrava, Dana, Kaye, Stephen T., Timmons, David Eric, Eckert, Brad, Jacobs, Wesley
• Granted Patent: US 6,930,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A collaborative input system 10 includes a host computer 12. A display 14 is associated with the host computer. The host computer includes a processor 15 configured for executing an application to provide an image 17 on the display 14. At least one electromagnetic digitizer 18 is provided separate from the host computer. The digitizer 18 has an input surface 22 defining a display space that is mapped to coincide with the display 14, and a pen structure 24 operatively associated with the input surface such that proximity of the pen structure with respect to the input surface, as a result of a user'"'"'s input, is detected by the digitizer. A wireless communication link is provided between the host computer and the digitizer such that a user'"'"'s input can be transmitted from the digitizer, be received by the host computer, and be represented graphically on the display together with the image in real time, thereby permitting the user, associated with the digitizer, to personally provide input to the host computer displaying the image.

Claims

1. A collaborative input system comprising:

a host computer,

a display associated with the host computer, the host computer being constructed and arranged to execute an application to provide an image on the display,

at least one electromagnetic digitizer provided separate from the host computer, the digitizer having an input surface defining a display space that is mapped to coincide with the display, and a pen structure operatively associated with the input surface such that proximity of the pen structure with respect to the input surface, as a result of a user'"'"'s input, is detected by the digitizer, and

a wireless communication link between the host computer and the digitizer such that a user'"'"'s input can be transmitted from the digitizer, be received by the host computer, and be represented graphically on the display together with the image in real time, thereby permitting a user associated with the digitizer to personally provide input to the host computer displaying the image.

2. The input system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of electromagnetic digitizers are provided separate from the host computer and separate from each other.

3. The input system of claim 1, wherein the communication link includes a radio frequency transceiver at the digitizer and a radio frequency transceiver associated with the host computer.

4. The input system of claim 1, further comprising a digital whiteboard upon which the display is projected.

5. The input system of claim 1, wherein the pen structure is constructed and arranged to communicate with the input surface in a wireless manner.

6. The input system of claim 1, wherein the pen structure is constructed and arranged to control mouse functions of the host computer.

7. The input system of claim 1, wherein the input surface is an opaque writing surface.

8. A collaborative input system comprising:

a host computer,

means for displaying an image, associated with the host computer, the host computer being constructed and arranged to execute an application to provide an image on the displaying means,

electromagnetic digitizing means for inputting data, the digitizing means being separate from the host computer, the digitizing means having an input surface defining a display space that is mapped to coincide with the displaying means, and a pen structure operatively associated with the input surface such that proximity of the pen structure with respect to the input surface, as a result of a user'"'"'s input, is detected by the digitizing means, and

means for communicating between the host computer and the digitizing means such that a user'"'"'s input can be transmitted from the digitizing means, be received by the host computer, and be represented graphically on the displaying means together with the image in real time, thereby permitting a users associated with a digitizing means to personally provide input to the host computer displaying the image.

9. The input system of claim 8, wherein the means for communicating includes a radio frequency transceiver at the digitizing means and a radio frequency transceiver associated with the host computer.

10. The input system of claim 8, further comprising a digital whiteboard upon which the display is projected.

11. The input system of claim 8, wherein the pen structure is constructed and arranged to communicate with the input surface in a wireless manner.

12. The input system of claim 8, wherein the pen structure is constructed and arranged to control mouse functions of the host computer.

13. The input system of claim 8, wherein the input surface is an opaque writing surface.

15. The input system of claim 14, wherein a plurality of electromagnetic digitizers are provided separate from the host computer and separate from each other.

16. The input system of claim 14, wherein the communication link includes a radio frequency transceiver at each digitizer and a radio frequency transceiver associated with the host computer.

17. The input system of claim 14, further comprising a digital whiteboard upon which the display is projected.

18. The input system of claim 14, wherein the pen structure is constructed and arranged to communicate with the input surface in a wireless manner.

19. The input system of claim 14, wherein the pen structure is constructed and arranged to control mouse functions of the host computer.

20. The input system of claim 14, wherein the input surface is an opaque writing surface.

14. A collaborative input system comprising:

a host computer,

a display associated with the host computer,

at least one electromagnetic digitizer provided separate from the host computer, the digitizer having an input surface defining a display space that is mapped to coincide with the display, and a pen structure operatively associated with the input surface such that proximity of the pen structure with respect to the input surface, as a result of a user'"'"'s input, is detected by the digitizer, and

a wireless communication link between the host computer and the digitizer such that a user'"'"'s input can be transmitted from the digitizer, be received by the host computer, and be represented graphically on the display in real time.

21. A method of providing input to a host computer having a display associated therewith, the host computer being configured to execute an application to provide an image on the display, the method including:

providing at least one electromagnetic digitizer separate from the host computer, the digitizer having an input surface defining a display space, and a pen structure operatively associated with the input surface such that proximity of the pen structure with respect to the input surface, as a result of a user'"'"'s input, is detected by the digitizer,

mapping the display space to coincide with the display,

providing a wireless communication link between the host computer and the digitizer such that a user'"'"'s input can be transmitted from the digitizer, be received by the host computer, and be represented graphically on the display together with the image in real time, thereby permitting the users associated with the digitizer to personally provide input to the host computer displaying the image.

22. A method of capturing presentation information at a host computer, the host computer having a display associated therewith and being configured to execute an application to provide an image on the display, the method including:

capturing a current image on the display,

making the captured image a background image,

capturing annotation associated with the background image made remotely from the host computer via an electromagnetic digitizer, the digitizer having an input surface defining a display space that is mapped to coincide with the display, and

saving the background image and annotation.