Personal control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaboration workspace

Abstract

A method and apparatus for use with a presentation system including at least first and second display screens, the method comprising the steps of receiving a wireless association request signal from a user device identifying the user device, identifying the presentation system and requesting that the user device be associated with the presentation system, associating the user device with the presentation system, providing first presentation system specifying information to the user device, receiving a selection signal from the user device indicating a subset of the presentation system display screens, associating the user device with the selected subset of display screens, receiving data from the user device and using the received data from the user device to present information via the selected subset of display screens.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use with a first presentation system including at least first and second display screens and a wireless access device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of:   receiving a wireless association request signal from a first portable user device identifying the first portable user device, identifying the first presentation system and requesting that the first portable user device be associated with the first presentation system;   in response to the identifying signal, associating the first portable user device with the first presentation system;   wirelessly providing first presentation system specifying information to the first portable user device that is usable to create an on screen interface for selecting any subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system for sharing information from the first portable user device via the first presentation system;   receiving a wireless selection signal from the first portable user device indicating a subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system;   in response to the selection signal, associating the first portable user device with the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system;   wirelessly receiving data from the first portable user device; and   using the received data from the first portable user device to present information via the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the step of, presenting a first presentation system pass code via at least one of the first presentation system display screens, the step of receiving a wireless association request signal from a first portable user device identifying the first presentation system including receiving the pass code from the first portable device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the processor is programmed to only periodically provide the pass code via the at least one of the first presentation system display screens. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the processor is programmed to identify when an unassociated portable device enters a space proximate the first presentation system and wherein the processor provides the pass code via the at least one of the first presentation system display screens when an unassociated portable device initially enters the space proximate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the processor is programmed to monitor for a pass code request signal from portable devices and when a pass code request signal is received, the processor provides the pass code for a finite period via the at least a first display screen of the first presentation system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the presentation system includes at least third and fourth display screens in addition to the first and second display screens and wherein the presentation system specifying information specifies an interface that is sable to select any subset of the first through fourth display screens of the first presentation system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of wirelessly receiving data from the first portable user device includes receiving streaming data from the first portable device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of receiving streaming data includes receiving data specifying the instantaneous appearance of at least a subset of the information presented via a display screen on the first portable device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the steps of associating at least a second portable user device with the first presentation system at the same time that the first portable user device is associated with the first presentation system and, after receiving a wireless selection signal from the first portable user device indicating a subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system, receiving a wireless selection signal from the second portable user device indicating a subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system, in response to the selection signal from the second portable user device, associating the second portable user device with the subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system selected via the selection signal from the second portable user device, wirelessly receiving data from the second portable user device, using the received data from the second portable user device to present information via the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system selected via the selection signal from the second portable user device, and, continuing to use the received data from the first portable user device to present information via the display screens selected via the selection signal from the first portable user device that are not included in the screens selected via the selection signal from the second portable user device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the processor is further programmed to perform the step of, upon receiving selection signals from other portable user devices after the selection signal from the first portable user device that include all of the presentation system display screens selected via the selection signal from the first portable user device, transmitting a deselect signal to the first portable user device indicating that the first portable user device should stop transmitting data to the first presentation system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of receiving a wireless selection signal includes receiving a selection signal that indicates at least two display screens of the first presentation system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the processor is associated with a plurality of different presentation systems and wherein the processor performs the method steps for each of the presentation systems. 
     
     
         13 . A method for use with a first presentation system including at least first and second display screens and a wireless access device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a wireless portable user device including a processor and a display screen, the processor programmed to perform the steps of:   presenting an interface via the display screen including a pass code field for entering a presentation system pass code;   receiving a pass code entered into the pass code field;   creating an association request signal indicating the identity of the portable user device and including the pass code as well as requesting that the portable user device be associated with the first presentation system;   wirelessly transmitting the association request signal to the first presentation system;   receiving presentation system specifying information usable to create an on screen selection interface for selecting any subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system for sharing information from the portable user device via the first presentation system;   using the received presentation system specifying information to create an on screen selection interface for selecting any subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system on the portable user device display screen;   receiving a selection signal via the on screen selection interface indicating a subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system;   transmitting the selection signal to the first presentation system;   wirelessly transmitting data from the portable user device to the first presentation system that is usable to present information via the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the presentation system includes at least third and fourth display screens in addition to the first and second display screens and wherein the presentation system specifying information specifies an interface that is able to select any subset of the first through fourth display screens of the first presentation system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of creating a selection interface includes presenting the selection interface persistently via the portable device display screen irrespective of other content provided on the portable device display screen. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the interface includes a window overlaid on application content on the portable user device display screen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of transmitting data to the first presentation system includes transmitting data specifying the instantaneous appearance of at least a subset of the information presented via a display screen on the portable device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of transmitting data to the first presentation system includes transmitting data specifying the instantaneous appearance of the portable user device display screen without the selection interface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of transmitting data to the first presentation system includes transmitting streaming data specifying the instantaneous appearance of the portable user device display screen. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, after the processor starts transmitting data to the first presentation system that is usable to present information via the first presentation system display screens, the processor persistently transmits data to the first presentation system until a deselect signal is received by the processor at which point the processor ceases transmitting data to the first presentation system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the deselect signal is wirelessly received from the first presentation system upon at least one other portable user device selecting the subset of display screens previously selected via the portable user device. 
     
     
         22 . A method for use with a first presentation system including at least first and second display screens and a wireless access device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of:   presenting a first presentation system pass code via at least one of the first presentation system display screens;   receiving a wireless association request signal from a first portable user device identifying the first portable user device, including the first presentation system pass code, and requesting that the first portable user device be associated with the first presentation system;   in response to the identifying signal, associating the first portable user device with the first presentation system;   wirelessly providing first presentation system specifying information to the first portable user device that is usable to create an on screen interface for selecting any subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system for sharing information from the first portable user device via the first presentation system;   receiving a wireless selection signal from the first portable user device indicating a subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system;   in response to the selection signal, associating the first portable user device with the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system;   wirelessly receiving data from the first portable user device specifying the instantaneous appearance of at least a subset of the information presented via a display screen on the first portable device; and   using the received data from the first portable user device to present the received data via the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system.   
     
     
         23 . A system for sharing information from a portable device, the system comprising:
 a plurality of first presentation system display screens including at least first and second display screens;   a wireless access device;   a processor, the processor programmed to perform the steps of:   presenting a first presentation system pass code via at least one of the first presentation system display screens;   receiving a wireless association request signal from a first portable user device identifying the first portable user device, including the first presentation system pass code, and requesting that the first portable user device be associated with the first presentation system;   in response to the identifying signal, associating the first portable user device with the first presentation system;   wirelessly providing first presentation system specifying information to the first portable user device that is usable to create an on screen interface for selecting any subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system for sharing information from the first portable user device via the first presentation system;   receiving a wireless selection signal from the first portable user device indicating a subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system;   in response to the selection signal, associating the first portable user device with the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system;   wirelessly receiving data from the first portable user device specifying the instantaneous appearance of at least a subset of the information presented via a display screen on the first portable device; and   using the received data from the first portable user device to present the received data via the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system.   
     
     
         24 . A portable user apparatus for use with a first presentation system including at least first and second display screens and a wireless access device, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a portable user device display supported by the housing;   a wireless transmitter supported by the housing;   a portable user device processor linked to the display and the transmitter, the processor programmed to perform the steps of:   presenting an interface via the display screen including a pass code field for entering a presentation system pass code;   receiving a pass code entered into the pass code field;   creating an association request signal indicating the identity of the portable user device and including the pass code as well as requesting that the portable user device be associated with the first presentation system;   wirelessly transmitting the association request signal to the first presentation system;   receiving presentation system specifying information usable to create an on screen selection interface for selecting any subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system for sharing information from the portable user device via the first presentation system;   using the received presentation system specifying information to create an on screen selection interface for selecting any subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system on the portable user device display screen;   receiving a selection signal via the on screen selection interface indicating a subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system;   transmitting the selection signal to the first presentation system;   wirelessly transmitting data from the portable user device to the first presentation system that is usable to present information via the selected subset of the at least first and second display screens of the first presentation system.