Virtual flip chart method and apparatus

• US 20070044028A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Dunn, Michael, Hildebrandt, Peter, Hutchinson, Ian
• Application Number:
  US11/446,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20070044028A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/761
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A presentation system for presenting information to an audience within a space, the system comprising a control interface, a master presentation unit including a flat panel display screen and a processor, the screen including a master space and a slave presentation assembly including a slave presentation surface and a first projector for projecting images on the slave presentation surface, the master unit processor linkable to the interface to receive commands therefrom, the processor programmed to monitor for a command from the interface to flip an image from the master space to the slave space and, when a command to flip an image is received, causing the image from the master space to be presented in the slave space.

Claims

1. A presentation system for presenting a set of session images, the system comprising:

a control interface;

a master presentation unit including a master space; and

a slave presentation unit including a slave presentation space;

a processor;

a network linking the processor, the interface, the master unit and the slave unit;

wherein the processor is programmed to;

present session image representations for a plurality of session images simultaneously in the master space;

present the at least one session image via the slave presentation unit; and

visually distinguish the session image representation associated with the image presented via the slave presentation unit from the other session image representations in the master space.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the slave presentation unit includes a plurality of slave presentation spaces and wherein the processor is programmed to present different session images via the slave presentation spaces and visually distinguish the session image representations associated with the images presented via the slave presentation spaces in the master space.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the processor visually distinguishes the session image representations by spatially associating a marker icon with each of the image representations.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the interface enables a user to move the marker icons about to different image representations and, when a marker icon is moved from a first image representation to a second image representation, the processor is programmed to cause the slave presentation unit to display the image associated with the second representation via the slave presentation space associated with the marker.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the master unit further presents one of the session images in a workspace area and wherein the session image representations include an image representation corresponding to the session image presented in the workspace area.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the image representation corresponding to the session image presented in the workspace area is visually distinguished from other image representations in the master presentation space.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the interface enables a user to move the marker icons about to different image representations by selecting a marker icon via an interface device and dragging the marker icon from the first image representation to the second image representation.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor visually distinguishes the session image representation associated with the image presented via the slave presentation unit from the other session image representations by displaying the session image representation associated with the image presented via the slave presentation unit within a slave representation area of the master space that is associated with slave images.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the slave representation area of the master space associated with slave images is visually distinguished from other portions of the master space.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the slave representation area of the master space associated with slave images is visually distinguished via a field boundary that circumscribes the slave representation area.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the processor visually distinguishes the session image representations associated with the images presented via the slave presentation unit from the other session image representations by displaying the session image representations associated with the images presented via the slave presentation unit within a slave representation area of the master space that is associated with slave images.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the slave representation area of the master space associated with slave images is visually distinguished from other portions of the master space.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the slave representation area of the master space associated with slave images is visually distinguished via a field boundary that circumscribes the slave representation area.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface is useable to select and drag session image representations that reside outside the slave representation area into the slave representation area to indicate a change in the images to be displayed via the slave presentation unit.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the slave representation area in the master display space includes a separate slave representation field for each slave presentation space associated with the slave presentation unit and wherein the relative juxtapositions of the slave representation fields in the slave representation area is similar to the relative juxtapositions of the associated slave presentation spaces.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein, when a moved session image representation is dragged to a specific slave representation field and released, the moved image representation is presented in the specific slave representation field and the image associated with the moved session image representation is displayed via the slave presentation space associated with the specific slave representation field.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein, when an initial session image representation is presented in the specific slave representation field prior to the moved image session representation being dragged to the specific slave representation field, when the moved image session representation is released, the initial session image representation is presented outside the slave representation area and the image associated with the initial session image representation is removed from the slave presentation spaces.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the slave presentation spaces include first through Nth spaces and the slave representation fields include first through Nth fields and, wherein, when an initial session image representation exists in an Mth slave representation field when a moved session image representation is to be presented in the Mth slave representation field, the initial session image representation is moved to the (M+1)th field and the image associated with the initial session image representation is presented in the (M+1)th slave presentation space.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein, when an initial session image representation is presented in the specific slave representation field prior to the moved image session representation being dragged to the location immediately proceeding the specific slave representation field, when the moved image session representation is released, the initial session image representation is presented in an adjacent slave representation field and the image associated with the initial session image representation is presented in the slave presentation space associated with the adjacent slave representation field.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the slave representation area in the master display space includes a separate slave representation field for each slave presentation space associated with the slave presentation unit and wherein the relative juxtapositions of the slave representation fields in the slave representation area is similar to the relative juxtapositions of the associated slave presentation spaces.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the interface is useable to select session image representations that reside inside the slave representation area for removal from the slave representation area to indicate a change in the images to be displayed via the slave presentation unit.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein, when a session image representation is selected to be removed from the slave representation area, the selected session image representation is removed from and presented outside the slave representation area and the image associated with the selected session image representation is removed from the slave presentation spaces.

23. A method for use with a presentation system including a master presentation space and a plurality of slave presentation spaces and presentation systems for presenting images via the master and slave presentation spaces, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting session image representations for a plurality of session images simultaneously in the master space;

presenting at least one session image via the slave presentation spaces; and

visually distinguishing the session image representation associated with the at least one session image presented via the slave presentation spaces from the other session image representations in the master space.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of presenting at least one session image includes presenting a plurality of images via the slave presentation spaces and wherein the step of visually distinguish includes visually distinguishing all of the session image representations associated with the images presented via the slave presentation spaces in the master space.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of visually distinguishing includes spatially associating a marker icon with each of the session image representations associated with images presented via the slave presentation spaces.

26. The method of claim 25 further including the steps of receiving commands to move the marker icons about to different image representations and, when a marker icon is moved from a first image representation to a second image representation, causing the slave presentation unit to display the image associated with the second representation via the slave presentation space associated with the marker.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of visually distinguishing includes displaying the session image representations associated with the images presented via the slave presentation unit within a slave representation area of the master space that is associated with slave images.

28. The method of claim 27 further including visually distinguishing the slave representation area of the master space associated with slave images from other portions of the master space.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of visually distinguishing the slave representation area includes presenting a field boundary that circumscribes the slave representation area.

30. The method of claim 27 further including the step of receiving a command to move a session image from outside the slave representation area into the slave representation area to indicate a change in the images to be displayed via the slave presentation unit.

31. The method of claim 30 further including the step of presenting a separate slave representation field within the slave representation area for each slave presentation space associated with the slave presentation unit and wherein the relative juxtapositions of the slave representation fields presented in the slave representation area is similar to the relative juxtapositions of the associated slave presentation spaces.

32. The method of claim 31 further including the steps of, when a command is received to move a moved session image representation to a specific slave representation field, presenting the moved session image representation in the specific slave representation field and presenting the image associated with the moved session image representation via the slave presentation space associated with the specific slave representation field.

33. The method of claim 32 further including the steps of, when an initial session image representation is presented in the specific slave representation field prior to the command to move a moved image session representation to the specific slave representation field, when the command to move is received, presenting the initial session image representation outside the slave representation area and removing the image associated with the initial session image representation from the slave presentation spaces.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the slave presentation spaces include first through Nth spaces and the slave representation fields include first through Nth fields and, wherein, when an initial session image representation exists in an Mth slave representation field when a command to move a moved session image representation to the Mth slave representation field is received, the method further includes presenting the initial session image representation to the (M+1)th field and presenting the image associated with the initial session image representation in the (M+1)th slave presentation space.

35. The method of claim 27 further including the step of presenting a separate slave representation field within the slave representation area for each slave presentation space associated with the slave presentation unit and wherein the relative juxtapositions of the slave representation fields presented in the slave representation area is similar to the relative juxtapositions of the associated slave presentation spaces.

36. The method of claim 35 further including the step of receiving a command to select session image representations that reside inside the slave representation area for removal from the slave representation area to indicate a change in the images to be displayed via the slave presentation unit.

37. The method of claim 36 further including the steps of, when command is received to remove a session image representation from the slave representation area, removing the selected session image representation from the slave representation area, presenting the selected session image representation outside the slave representation area and removing the image associated with the selected session image representation from the slave presentation spaces.

38. A method for use with a system including at least first and second processors and at least one interface where each of the first processor is associated with at least a first receiving device, at least a first presentation unit and an interface device, the second processor is associated with at least a second receiving device and at least a second presentation unit, the method for distributing session images generated during a conferencing session, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying session participants;

for at least a subset of participants, identifying receiving devices associated with the subset;

storing information useable to address each of the identified receiving devices;

generating session images using at least the first presentation unit;

receiving via the interface a command to distribute session images to at least a subset of the receiving devices; and

distributing the session images to the subset of receiving devices.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the receiving devices are printers.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the receiving devices are e-mail accounts.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein the receiving devices are one of fax machines and data storage devices.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of identifying receiving devices associated with the subset includes, when a participant one of accepts an invitation to participate in a conference and attempts to join a conference, querying the processor associated with the participant to identify associated receiving devices.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of receiving a command to distribute includes accessing the information useable to address each of the identified receiving devices and presenting a list of the receiving devices via the first presentation space.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the step of receiving a command further includes receiving selection commands selecting a subset of the list of receiving devices.

45. A method for use with a system including a plurality of processors where each processor is associated with at least one receiving device and one presentation unit, each presentation unit associated with at least one presentation space, the method for distributing session images generated during a conferencing session, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a conferencing session between at least two processors;

identifying session participants;

for at least a subset of session participants, identifying receiving devices associated with the subset;

storing information useable to address each of the identified receiving devices;

creating session images using at least the first presentation unit;

identifying occurrence of a distribution event; and

when a distribution event is identified, distributing the session images to the subset of receiving devices.

46. The method of claim 45 also for use with at least a first interface device for creating session images, for indicating the end of a session and for indicating that session images should be distributed, the step of identifying occurrence of a distribution event including at least one of receiving a command via the at least one interface device indicating the end of a session and receiving a command via the at least one interface device indicating that session images should be distributed.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the receiving devices are printers.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the receiving devices are e-mail accounts.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the receiving devices are one of fax machines and data storage devices.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of identifying receiving devices associated with the subset includes, when a participant one of accepts an invitation to participate in a conference and attempts to join a conference, querying the processor associated with the participant to identify associated receiving devices.

51. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of identifying occurrence of a distribution event includes accessing the information useable to address each of the identified receiving devices and presenting a list of the receiving devices via the first presentation space.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the step of receiving a command further includes receiving selection commands selecting a subset of the list of receiving devices.

53. An apparatus for use with a system including at least first and second session participant processors, the first processor associated with at least a first receiving device and the second processor associated with at least a second receiving device, the method for distributing session images generated during a conferencing session, the apparatus comprising:

at least a first presentation unit including a presentation space for presenting and creating session images;

at least a first processor running software to perform the steps of;

establishing a conferencing session between at least two session participants;

identifying session participants;

for at least a subset of participants, identifying receiving devices associated with the subset;

storing information useable to address each of the identified receiving devices;

identifying the occurrence of a distribution event; and

distributing the session images to the subset of receiving devices upon the occurrence of a distribution event.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the distribution event includes the end of a session.

55. The apparatus of claim 53 further including at least one interface device for creating session images via the presentation space and for receiving commands to distribute session images to at least a subset of the receiving devices, reception of a distribution command being a distribution event.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the interface device accesses the information useable to address each of the identified receiving devices and presents a list of receiving devices via the presentation unit and facilitates selection of a subset of the receiving devices.

57. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein each of the receiving devices is one of a printer, an e-mail account, a fax machine and a data storage device.

58. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the processor identifies receiving devices associated with the subset by, when a participant one of accepts an invitation to participate in a conference and attempts to join a conference, querying the processor associated with the participant to identify associated receiving devices.

59. An apparatus for displaying conferencing images, the apparatus including:

a housing;

casters supporting the housing;

a processor located within the housing;

a master presentation space supported by the housing;

at least a first slave presentation space supported by the housing;

at least a first presentation unit located within the housing for presenting images in the presentation spaces; and

a least a first interface device for creating and editing images presented in the master presentation space and for selecting the images to be presented in the at least a first slave presentation space.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the at least a first interface device includes a sensor for sensing interaction with the master presentation space.

61. The apparatus of claim 59 further including a first flat panel display that forms at least the master presentation space.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 further including at least a second flat panel display that forms the at least a first slave presentation space.

63. The apparatus of claim 59 further including at least a second slave presentation space.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the at least one interface includes the master presentation space and wherein on screen selectable icons are provided in the master display space for controlling images presented in the slave presentation spaces.

65. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein each of the presentation spaces has dimensions greater than two feet wide by three feet high.

66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein each of the presentation spaces has dimensions that are substantially three feet wide by four feet tall.

67. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the presentation unit includes a projector.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the projector is used to present slave images via the slave presentation spaces and wherein the apparatus further includes a second presentation unit in the form of a flat panel display.

69. A method for use with a conferencing system including a master presentation unit, at least one slave presentation unit and a help database, the master and slave units linked together, the master unit including a master presentation space and the slave unit including at least a first slave presentation space, each of the presentation spaces for presenting images to a system user, the method for visually presenting help information to a system user and comprising the steps of:

receiving a help request related to an operation of the conferencing system from a user via the master unit;

accessing help information in the help database that is relevant to the help request; and

presenting the help information via the at least a first slave presentation space.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the step of presenting includes providing text via the at least a first slave presentation space.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein the step of presenting includes providing a video clip showing a conferencing activity associated with the help request.

72. The method of claim 69 further including the step of presenting a list of help topics and facilitating selection of one of the help topics via the master presentation space.

73. The method of claim 69 for use with a slave presentation unit that includes a plurality of slave presentation spaces and wherein the step of presenting the help information includes presenting the help information via at least a subset of the slave presentation spaces.

74. The method of claim 73 further including the step of presenting selectable on screen icons in the master presentation space for controlling the help information presented in the slave presentation spaces.

75. The method of claim 73 wherein the processor is also programmed to simulate an activity associated with the help request via the master presentation space.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the activity simulated involves the master presentation space and at least one slave presentation space and wherein the processor simulates by performing the simulation using both the master presentation space and the at least one slave presentation space while providing help information via other slave presentation spaces.

78. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the processor presents help information by providing text via the at least a first slave presentation space.

79. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the processor presents help information by providing a video clip showing a conferencing activity associated with the help request.

80. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the processor is further programmed to present a list of help topics and facilitate selection of one of the help topics via the master presentation space.

81. The apparatus of claim 69 for use with a slave presentation unit that includes a plurality of slave presentation spaces and wherein the processor is programmed to present the help information via at least a subset of the slave presentation spaces.

82. The apparatus of claim 73 wherein the processor is further programmed to present selectable on screen icons in the master presentation space for controlling the help information presented in the slave presentation spaces.

77. An apparatus for use with a conferencing system including a master presentation unit, at least one slave presentation unit and a help database, the master and slave units linked together, the master unit including a master presentation space and the slave unit including at least a first slave presentation space, each of the presentation spaces for presenting images to a system user, the apparatus for visually presenting help information to a system user and comprising:

a processor programmed to;

receive a help request related to an operation of the conferencing system from a user via the master unit;

access help information in the help database that is relevant to the help request; and

present the help information via the at least a first slave presentation space.

83. A method for use with a system including at least a remote tracking processor, a local tracking processor, at least a first master presentation unit and a plurality of remote presentation units, the local tracking processor associated with the master unit, the units and tracking processors linkable via at least a first network, the method for tracking linkage between the master unit and the slave units, the method including the steps of:

commencing a conferencing session using the master unit;

monitoring the network via the local tracking processor for linkage of remote presentation units to the master unit; and

sending signals from the local tracking processor to the remote tracking processor indicating the duration of linkage of remote presentation units to the master unit.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein the step of sending signals includes sending a connect signal when a first remote presentation unit links to the master unit and sending a disconnect signal when the first remote presentation unit de-links from the master unit.

85. The method of claim 83 further including the step of determining the duration of linkage of a first remote presentation unit to the master unit and wherein the step of sending signals includes transmitting the duration to the remote tracking processor after the first remote presentation unit de-links from the master unit.

86. A method for use with a conferencing system including at least first and second projectors and a controlling processor, the first and second projectors for projecting at least first and second images in first and second presentation spaces, respectively, the method for adjusting perceived image brightness and comprising the steps of:

providing a single input device that is capable of independently adjusting at least a first setting of each of the first and second projectors where the at least one setting effects perceived image brightness;

displaying images using the first and second projectors in the first and second presentation spaces, respectively;

using the input device to adjust the at least a first setting on at least one of the first and second projectors until the perceived image brightness of the image projected by the first projector is substantially similar to the perceived image brightness of the image projected by the second projector.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein the first setting is picture color.

88. A method for use with a display screen useable as an interface device to interact with a white board application, the method for rearranging interface information on the display screen as a function of the orientation of the screen, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting a workspace area in a portrait orientation on the screen where the workspace area has a width dimension that is less than a height dimension;

receiving an indication that the workspace orientation should be changed to a landscape orientation; and

after the indication is received, presenting a workspace area in a landscape orientation on the screen where the workspace area has a width dimension that is greater than a height dimension.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein the width to length aspect ratio of the workspace area when the workspace area is in the portrait orientation is substantially between 2:

3 and 3;

4 and the width to length aspect ratio of the workspace area when the workspace area is in the landscape orientation is substantially between 3;

2 and 4;

3.

90. The method of claim 89 wherein the display screen has a 16:

9 aspect ratio.

91. The method of claim 90 further including the step of presenting a tool area including on screen selectable tool icons adjacent the workspace area.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein the step of presenting a tool area includes presenting a tool area including at least a section along at least one of a top and a bottom edge of the display screen when the workspace area is presented in the portrait orientation and presenting a tool area including at least a section along at least one of a left and a right side edge of the display screen when the workspace area is presented in the landscape orientation.

93. The method of claim 92 wherein the step of presenting a tool area includes presenting a single tool area along the top edge of the display screen when the workspace area is presented in the portrait orientation and presenting a single tool area along one of the side edges of the display screen when the workspace area is presented in the landscape orientation.

94. The method of claim 92 wherein the tool area includes a panel section that includes separate panel icons for at least a subset of different images and wherein the step of presenting a tool section includes presenting landscape oriented panel icons when the workspace area is in the landscape orientation and presenting portrait oriented panel icons when the workspace area is in the portrait orientation.

95. The method of claim 88 wherein the display screen is positionable in landscape and portrait orientations and wherein the step of receiving an indication includes identifying when the display screen orientation has been changed from portrait to landscape.

96. The method of claim 88 wherein the display screen is part of a master presentation unit, the method also for use with a secondary presentation system for presenting at least one secondary image on a secondary presentation surface, the method further including the steps of, when the workspace area is presented in the portrait orientation, presenting the at least one secondary image in a portrait orientation and, when the workspace area is presented in the landscape orientation, presenting the at least one secondary image in a landscape orientation.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein the step of presenting the at least one secondary image in a portrait orientation includes presenting a first number of secondary images in the portrait orientation and the step of presenting the at least one secondary image in a landscape orientation includes presenting a second number of secondary images in the landscape orientation wherein the second number is less than the first number.

98. The method of claim 97 wherein the second number is half the first number.

99. The method of claim 97 wherein the secondary presentation system includes a slave presentation system including a slave presentation surface proximate the master presentation unit wherein the at least one secondary.

100. The method of claim 97 wherein the secondary presentation system includes a personal interface device including an interface device display and wherein the at least one secondary image is provided in separate windows on the interface device display.

101. The method of claim 97 wherein the secondary presentation system includes at least one presentation surface that is located remotely from the master unit and wherein the at least one secondary image is provided on the presentation surface.

102. A projector assembly for use within a space including a supporting floor structure, the assembly comprising:

a glass table top member having oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces and a rear edge;

a support structure that supports the top member in a substantially horizontal orientation above the floor structure and so that a slave presentation space is adjacent and extends substantially vertically upward proximate the rear edge of the top member; and

a projector supported below the top member and juxtaposed so that images projected by the projector pass through the top member and into a first space adjacent the rear edge of the top member.

103. The assembly of claim 102 wherein the glass top member includes opacity controllable glass.

104. The assembly of claim 103 wherein, when the projector is turned on, the glass is controlled to be substantially transparent and when the projector is turned off the glass is controlled to be substantially opaque.

105. The assembly of claim 102 wherein the support structure further includes a cabinet structure for housing the projector.

106. The assembly of claim 105 further including a second projector supported below the top member and juxtaposed so that images projected by the second projector pass through the top member and into a second space adjacent the rear edge of the top member.

107. A method for altering the size of a first image presented in a workspace of a display that includes a boundary, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a frame boundary along at least a first edge of the workspace;

(b) displaying the first image within the workspace and outside the frame boundary;

(c) monitoring for activity within the frame boundary;

(d) when activity occurs within the frame boundary, reducing the size of the image; and

(e) presenting the reduced size image within the workspace.

108. The method of claim 107 wherein the step of providing the frame boundary includes providing an invisible frame boundary.

109. The method of claim 107 wherein the step of providing the frame boundary includes providing a frame boundary along the entire edge of the workspace.

110. The method of claim 107 wherein the step of presenting the reduced size image includes shifting the reduced size image from an original location of the first image within the workspace.

111. The method of claim 110 wherein the step of shifting includes shifting the reduced size image to the center of the workspace.

112. The method of claim 110 wherein the step of shifting include shifting the reduced size image to one side of the workspace.

113. The method of claim 107 wherein the step of reducing the size when activity occurs within the frame boundary includes monitoring for an end to the activity and when the activity ends, reducing the size of the image.