Control system for picture display apparatus having improved displaying data transmission system

• US 5,508,713 A
• Filed: 03/21/1995
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Okouchi, Fusakichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/408,107
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/2, 348/15, 348/16, 348/17, 348/18, 348/19, 379/58, 379/59, 379/96, 379/428
• US Class Current: 345/2.2
• 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 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits

Abstract

A first picture-display apparatus comprising: a first display device having a screen for and displaying pictures on the screen so that the screen is refreshed at frequent predetermined screen refreshing intervals; a first display-device control device for outputting the displaying data to the first display device at the frequent predetermined screen refreshing intervals; a storing device for storing the displaying data; a displaying-data control device for reading the displaying data stored in the storing device at frequent predetermined screen renewal intervals, the displaying-data control device then outputting the read displaying data to the first display-device control device. The first picture-display apparatus outputs the displaying data to at least one second picture-display apparatus at the frequent predetermined screen renewal intervals.

Claims

1. A control system for picture-display apparatus comprises a first picture-display apparatus comprising:

a first display device having a screen for displaying pictures on said screen so that said screen is refreshed at first frequent predetermined screen refreshing intervals;

a first display-device control means for outputting the displaying data to said first display device at said first frequent predetermined screen refreshing intervals;

storing means for storing the displaying data;

a displaying-data control means for reading the displaying data stored in said storing means at first frequent predetermined screen renewal intervals, said displaying-data control means then outputting the read displaying data to said first display-device control means, wherein each of said first frequent predetermined screen refreshing intervals is shorter than each of said first frequent predetermined screen renewal intervals;

wherein display-data control means further converts displaying data read from the storing means into a serial form of the displaying data and outputs it to at least one second picture-display apparatus at second frequent predetermined screen renewal intervals, wherein each of said first frequent predetermined screen refreshing intervals is shorter than each of said second frequent predetermined screen renewal intervals;

wherein a display-data control means of said second picture-display apparatus inputs said serial form of the displaying data and converts it into parallel form of the displaying data which is then supplied to a second display device of said second picture-display apparatus at second frequency predetermined screen refreshing intervals which correspond to said second display device;

wherein said first picture-display apparatus further comprises communication means for communicating with said second picture-display apparatus; and

wherein said first picture-display apparatus uses an electric cable for transmitting the serial form of the displaying data to said at least one second picture-display apparatus so as to distribute the pictures currently displayed on said screen of said first display device to said at least one second picture-display apparatus.

2. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first display device comprises a liquid crystal display device.

3. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said displaying-data control means forms a transfer clock signal and display timing signal, said displaying-data control means transferring the displaying data, to both said first display-device control means and said second picture-display apparatus, together with said display timing signal, which transmission is performed in response to said transfer clock signal, and said display timing signal being used for determining borders included in the displaying data so as to use said displaying data appropriately to represent pictures both on said first display device and with said second picture-display apparatus.

4. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second picture-display apparatus comprises:

a second display device having a screen for displaying pictures on said screen so that said screen is refreshed at frequent predetermined screen refreshing intervals; and

a second display-device control means for outputting the displaying data to said first display device at said frequent predetermined screen refreshing intervals.

5. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a screen resolution rate of said first display device is substantially identical to that of said second display device.

6. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said second picture-display apparatus are provided;

said first picture-display apparatus transmits the displaying data to an apparatus from among the plurality of said second picture-display apparatus, said apparatus from among said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus using said received displaying data to display corresponding pictures; and

said apparatus from among the plurality of said second picture-display apparatus transmits said received displaying data to another apparatus from among said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus, said other apparatus of said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus using said received displaying data to display corresponding pictures.

7. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said apparatus from among said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus has a second display device, said other apparatus from among said plurality of second picture-display apparatus has a third display device, a screen resolution rate of said third display device being identical to that of said second display device, and said screen resolution rate of said second display device being identical to that of said first display device.

8. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second picture-display apparatus comprises a picture management means for managing a picture displayed by said second picture-display apparatus, said picture management means outputting, to said first picture-display apparatus, a picture management signal in response to the management performed on a picture displayed by said second picture-display apparatus, said first picture-display apparatus renewing, in response to the received picture management signal, the displaying data stored in said storing means.

9. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of said second picture-display apparatus are provided, said first picture-display apparatus selecting an apparatus from among the plurality of said second picture-display apparatus, only a picture displayed by said selected apparatus being manageable, said selected apparatus then outputting the picture management signal to said first picture-display apparatus, said first picture-display apparatus then renewing contents stored in said storing means according to said received picture management signal.

10. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first picture-display apparatus requests the picture management to be performed on an apparatus from among said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus, said apparatus from among said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus then terminating the outputting of the picture managing signal to said first picture-display apparatus.

11. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between said terminal apparatus and said first picture-display apparatus is significantly larger than a distance between said first picture-display apparatus and said at least one second picture-display apparatus.

12. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

a plurality of said second picture display apparatus are provided;

a token is set to one apparatus of said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus; and

only a picture displayed by only one of said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus is manageable, said one apparatus of said plurality of said second picture-display apparatus then outputting the picture management signal to said first picture-display apparatus, said first picture-display apparatus then renewing contents stored in said storing means according to said picture management signal.

13. The control system for the picture-display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one third picture-display apparatus connected in serial to the at least one second picture-display apparatus for receiving the display data currently displayed on said screen of said first display device through the at least one second picture-display apparatus.