Projector device user interface system

• US 7,018,043 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2004
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: InFocus Corporation (Lap-Shun Hui, MBA)
• Inventors: Michalak, Susan, Dagler, Leon, Hampson, Steve T., Carver, Sonia, Castaldi, Joseph, Kim, Greg, Hoeye, Robin F., Porter, Mark, Fisher, Karla, Thompson, Kevin, Jaffe, Jennifer
• Primary Examiner(s): KOVAL, MELISSA J
• Application Number:
  US10/858,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 353/30, 353/31, 353/94, 353/121, 353/122, 348/744, 348/211, 348/211.2, 348/212, 348/213, 345/1.1, 709/204
• US Class Current: 353/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

A method for interfacing a device to a projector including identifying a network to which the device is connected, identifying at least one projector on the network, identifying a status of at least one projector, enabling selection of at least one projector based on the identified status, and transmitting data to at least one projector depending on whether it is selected.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing a device to a projector, comprising:

identifying a network to which the device is connected;

identifying at least one projector on said network;

identifying status of said at least one projector;

enabling selection of said at least one projector based on said identified status; and

transmitting data to said at least one projector depending on whether it is selected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitted data is image data received by said at least one projector to be displayed on a screen by said projector.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said status indicates whether said at least one projector is available to receive data.

4. The method of claim 1 where more than one projector is identified on said network.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising disabling transmission of said data.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising disabling transmission of said data to said selected projector and thereby changing status of said selected projector.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising disabling transmission of said data to said selected projector and thereby changing status of said selected projector.

8. A method for interfacing a device to a projector, comprising:

identifying a wireless network to which the device is connected;

identifying a list of projectors on said network;

identifying a status of each of said projectors;

enabling selection of any of said projectors based on said identified status of each of said projectors; and

transmitting data over said wireless network to a selected projector.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said list includes a projector not on said network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said list includes a previously used projector whether or not said previously used projector is on said network.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said status indicates whether one of said projectors on said list is available to receive data.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said transmitted data is image data received by said selected projector to be displayed on a screen by said projector.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said status indicates whether one of said projectors on said list is in use.

14. A method for interfacing a device to a projector, comprising:

identifying a wireless network to which the device is connected;

identifying a list of projectors;

identifying a status of each of said projectors on said list;

enabling scanning for projectors on said list not found on said network;

enabling selection of projectors based on said identified status of each of said projectors; and

transmitting data over said wireless network to a selected projector.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said list includes a projector not on said network.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said list includes a previously used projector.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said list includes a projector on said network.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said status indicates whether one of said projectors on said list is available to receive data.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said transmitted data is image data received by said selected projector to be displayed on a screen by said projector, and during said transmission, a screen saver on the device is disabled.

20. A system, comprising:

a projector adapted to be coupled to a wireless network;

a computer readable storage medium having instructions therein for interfacing a device to said projector, comprising;

instructions for identifying a list of projectors on said wireless network;

instructions for identifying status of said projectors on said list;

instructions for enabling selection of at least one of said projectors on said list based on said identified status; and

instructions for transmitting data to said at least one projector depending on whether it is selected.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said projector is adapted to project identifying information about said projector under selected conditions.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said selected conditions include an initial power-up.

23. A method for interfacing a device to a projector, comprising:

displaying a list of projectors;

identifying a status of each of said projectors on said list;

enabling selection of projectors based on said identified status of each of said projectors; and

transmitting data over said wireless network to a selected projector.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said list includes at least one previously used projector.