Method for presenting information units on multiple presentation units

• US 6,091,408 A
• Filed: 08/13/1997
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Z-Axis Corp. (Silicon Mountain Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Z-Axis Corp. (Silicon Mountain Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hill, Frederick C., Treibitz, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): BREENE, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US08/910,909
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/326-358, 345/2
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041

Abstract

A system for organizing and presenting information includes one or more computers connected in a network with a touch screen controlling the display of images on one or more other displays. In a courtroom setting, the touch screen is located at a podium with a presenting attorney, and the one or more other displays are positioned to be viewed by a judge or jury. Presentations are built by selecting names of images from a list, viewing a plurality of thumbnail representations of those images, and selecting images for a presentation from the thumbnail representations. The touchscreen display at the podium allows the presenting attorney to preview images before they are displayed on the one or more other displays.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a set of information units comprising the steps of:

A) providing a first presentation unit positioned to be viewed by a person controlling the presentation of information units on a second presentation unit,

B) positioning the second presentation unit to be viewed by an audience;

C) presenting on the first presentation unit a first information unit from the set which is a candidate to be presented on the second presentation unit and if desired selecting it to be presented on the second presentation unit;

D) presenting the first information unit on the second presentation unit if it is selected for presentation;

E) while presenting the first information unit on the second presentation unit, presenting on the first presentation unit a second information unit from the set which is a candidate to be presented on the second presentation unit and if desired selecting it to be presented on the second presentation unit;

F) presenting the second information unit on the second presentation unit if it is selected for presentation, wherein the first information unit is replaced by the second information unit;

G) controlling the presentation of information units on the first and second presentation units using one or more computers;

H) grouping information units into sets, and displaying on the first presentation unit a list of names of the information units that can be accessed and displayed; and

I) selectively displaying only those names of sets that are desired for access during a given time period so that the names of sets that are not desired for access during the given time period are hidden from view.

2. A method of presenting a set of information units comprising the steps of:

A) providing a first presentation unit positioned to be viewed by a person controlling the presentation of information units on a second presentation unit,

B) positioning the second presentation unit to be viewed by an audience;

C) presenting on the first presentation unit a first information unit from the set which is a candidate to be presented on the second presentation unit and if desired selecting it to be presented on the second presentation unit;

D) presenting the first information unit on the second presentation unit if it is selected for presentation;

E) while presenting the first information unit on the second presentation unit, presenting on the first presentation unit a second information unit from the set which is a candidate to be presented on the second presentation unit and if desired selecting it to be presented on the second presentation unit;

F) presenting the second information unit on the second presentation unit if it is selected for presentation, wherein the first information unit is replaced by the second information unit;

G) controlling the presentation of information units on the first and second presentation units using one or more computers; and

H) displaying information unit names with one or more special visual indicators displayed in conjunction therewith so that certain attributes of the information units can be flagged.

3. A method of presenting a set of information units comprising the steps of:

A) forming a set by a method comprising the steps of;

1) displaying on a presentation unit used to build a set a list of names of information units that are candidates to be included in a presentation;

2) displaying a thumbnail information unit which reference one of the information units simultaneously on the display;

3) selecting one of the thumbnail information units to be included in the set; and

4) adding the selected thumbnail information unit to a list of names of selected information units forming the set and displaying the list of names in the set while the thumbnail information units and the list of names of candidate information units are all simultaneously displayed;

B) providing a first presentation unit positioned to be viewed by a person controlling the presentation of information units on a second presentation unit,

C) positioning the second presentation unit to be viewed by an audience;

D) presenting on the first presentation unit a first information unit from the set which is a candidate to be presented on the second presentation unit and if desired selecting it to be presented on the second presentation unit;

E) presenting the first informnation unit on the second presentation unit if it is selected for presentation;

F) while presenting the first information unit on the second presentation unit, presenting on the first presentation unit a second information unit from the set which is a candidate to be presented on the second presentation unit and if desired selecting it to be presented on the second presentation unit;

G) presenting the second information unit on the second presentation unit if it is selected for presentation, wherein the first information unit is replaced by the second information unit; and

H) controlling the presentation of information units on the first and second presentation units using one or more computers.

4. A method according to claim 3 further including the step of enhancing or changing the attributes of the information units in a set and making the enhancements or edits a permanent part of the information unit.