Network accessible projectors that display multiple client screens at once

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for provisioning, via a projector, client software for accessing the projector from a network. The projector includes a light emitting unit that projects visible light representing image information onto a screen, a network interface, and a control unit. The control unit provides client software to network devices that enables the network devices to interact with the projector, receives input via the network interface from the client software operating on multiple network devices, processes the input from the client software to generate image information for the light emitting unit, and provides the generated image information to the light emitting unit for projection onto the screen.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a display operable to present image information to a user; 
 a network interface; and 
 a control unit operable to provide client software to network devices that enables the network devices to interact with the system, wherein the network devices include a laptop and a smart phone, 
 the control unit further operable to receive input via the network interface from the client software operating on multiple network devices, the input including image data from the laptop and the smart phone, to process the input from the client software to generate image information for the display, and to provide the generated image information to the display, 
 wherein the generated image information comprises multiple windows that each surround the image data for a different network device, are scalable, and are positionable, wherein contents of the windows represent a screenshot of a network device operating the client software screenshots of individual network devices including the laptop and the smart phone, 
 the system is a projector, 
 the display comprises a light emitting unit operable to project visible light representing image information onto a screen, and 
 the control unit is further operable to process the input from the client software to generate image information for the light emitting unit, and to provide the generated image information to the light emitting unit for projection onto the screen, 
 wherein the control unit tracks a position of a pointing device at the screen, and in response to the pointing device interacting with a window on the screen, the control unit adjusts a position or size of the window on the screen. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein
 the light emitting unit utilizes one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projection, Digital Light Processing (DLP) projection, Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) projection, Light Emitting Diode (LED) projection, and laser diode projection. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to process the input provided by the client software to identify image data that represents a screenshot, to scale and position the image data from the client software based upon a location and a size of a window for a network device operating the client software, and to populate the generated image information with the scaled and positioned image data. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of claim  3  1wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to receive input that comprises commands for altering at least one of the size and the location of a window apply digital marks onto the screen via the system in response to input from the pointing device. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3  wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to detect that the client software at one of the multiple network devices has become idle, and to close a window for the idle client software. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to provide bootstrap software to the network devices that is operable to acquire the client software from the control unit, to provide the client software to a network device, and to remove the client software from the network device. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein:
 the bootstrap software and the client software each comprise Java software. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to track a position of a pointing device along the screen, and to alter the image information projected onto the screen based on the position mark an area indicated by the pointing device. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of claim  8  1wherein:
 the pointing device provides functions for at least one of drawing on the screen, highlighting on the screen, and manipulating controls projected onto the screen. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of claim  8  1wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to provide the generated image information to each network device operating the client software responsive to receiving a request indicated by the pointing device. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to instruct the light emitting unit to display a network address for the projector indicating a location from which the client software can be acquired. 
 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 providing, via a network interface of a meeting system, client software to network devices that enables the network devices to interact with the meeting system, wherein the network devices include a laptop and a smart phone, 
 receiving, via the network interface, input from client software operating on multiple network devices, the input including image data from the laptop and the smart phone; 
 processing the input from the client software to generate image information for a display of the meeting system; and 
 presenting, via the display, the generated image information, wherein the generated image information comprises multiple windows that each surround the image data for a different network device, are scalable, and are positionable, wherein contents of the windows represent a screenshot of a network device operating the client software screenshots of individual network devices including the laptop and the smart phone, wherein 
 the meeting system is a projector; 
 the display comprises a light emitting unit operable to project visible light representing image information onto a screen; 
 processing the input from the client software comprises generating image information for the light emitting unit of the projector; and 
 presenting the generated image information comprises projecting, via the light emitting unit, visible light representing the generated image information onto a the screen; and 
 tracking a position of a pointing device at the screen, wherein in response to the pointing device interacting with a window on the screen, the meeting system adjusts a position or size of the window on the screen. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 presenting the generated image information is performed via one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projection, Digital Light Processing (DLP) projection, Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) projection, Light Emitting Diode (LED) projection, and laser diode projection. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 processing the input comprises:
 identifying image data that represents a screenshot; 
 scaling and positioning the image data from the client software based upon a location and a size of a window for a network device operating the client software; and 
 populating the generated image information with the scaled and positioned image data. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein further comprising:
 the input comprises commands for altering at least one of the size and the location of a windowapplying digital marks onto the screen via the meeting system in response to input from the pointing device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 detecting that the client software at one of the multiple network devices has become idle; and 
 closing a window for the idle client software. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 providing the client software comprises:
 providing, via the network interface, bootstrap software to the network devices that is operable to acquire the client software from the projector and also to remove the client software; and 
 providing, responsive to receiving a request from bootstrap software operating on a network device, the client software to the network device. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein:
 the bootstrap software and the client software each comprise Java software. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 tracking a position of a pointing device along the screen; and 
 altering the image information projected onto the screen based on the position marking an area indicated by the pointing device. 
 
     
     
       20. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method comprising:
 providing, via a network interface of a meeting system, client software to network devices that enables the network devices to interact with the meeting system, wherein the network devices include a laptop and a smart phone, 
 receiving, via the network interface, input from client software operating on multiple network devices, the input including image data from the laptop and the smart phone; 
 processing the input from the client software to generate image information for a display of the meeting system; and 
 presenting, via the display, the generated image information, wherein the generated image information comprises multiple windows that each surround the image data for a different network device, are scalable, and positionable, wherein contents of the windows represent a screenshot of a network device operating the client software screenshots of individual network devices including the laptop and the smart phone, wherein 
 the meeting system is a projector; 
 the display comprises a light emitting unit operable to project visible light representing image information onto a screen; 
 processing the input from the client software comprises generating image information for the light emitting unit of the projector; and 
 presenting the generated image information comprises projecting, via the light emitting unit, visible light representing the generated image information onto a the screen; and 
 tracking a position of a pointing device at the screen, wherein in response to the pointing device interacting with a window on the screen, the meeting system adjusts a position or size of the window on the screen. 
 
     
     
       21. A system comprising:
 a display operable to present image information to a user;   a network interface for providing client software to network devices to enable the network devices to interact with the system, wherein the network devices include a laptop and a smart phone; and   a control unit operable to receive sets of image data via the network interface from the client software operating on the network devices, the sets of image data including image data from the laptop and the smart phone, to process the sets of image data from the client software to generate image information for the display comprising a single large image, and to provide the generated image information to the display,   wherein the generated image information comprises windows that each surround the image data for a different network device, are scalable, and are positionable, wherein the contents of the windows include displayed sets of image data that represent screenshots of individual network devices operating the client software, the devices including the laptop and the smart phone, each set of image data positioned at a different location within the single large image;   wherein the system includes a projector,   the display comprises a light emitting unit operable to project visible light representing image information onto a screen, and   the control unit is operable to process the sets of image data from the client software to generate image information for the light emitting unit, and to provide the generated image information to the light emitting unit for projection onto the screen, and   the control unit tracks a position of a pointing device at the screen, wherein in response to the pointing device interacting with a window on the screen, the control unit adjusts a position or size of the window on the screen.   
     
     
       22. A method comprising:
 providing, via a network interface of a meeting system, client software to network devices that enables the network devices to interact with the meeting system, wherein the network devices include a laptop and a smart phone;   receiving, via the network interface, sets of image data from the client software operating on the network devices, the sets of image data including image data from the laptop and the smart phone;   processing the sets of image data from the client software to generate image information for a display of the meeting system, comprising a single large image; and   presenting, via the display, the generated image information, wherein the generated image information comprises windows that each surround the image data of a different network device, are scalable, and positionable, wherein the contents of the windows include displayed sets of image data that represent screenshots of individual network devices operating the client software, the devices including the laptop and the smart phone, each set of image data positioned at a different location within the single large image, wherein   the meeting system includes a projector;   the display comprises a light emitting unit operable to project visible light representing image information onto a screen;   processing sets of image data from the client software comprises generating image information for the light emitting unit of the projector;   presenting the generated image information comprises projecting, via the light emitting unit, visible light representing the generated image information onto the screen, and   tracking a position of a pointing device at the screen, wherein in response to the pointing device interacting with a window on the screen, the meeting system adjusts a position or size of the window on the screen.   
     
     
       23. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method comprising:
 providing, via a network interface of a meeting system, client software to network devices that enables the network devices to interact with the meeting system, wherein the network devices include a laptop and a smart phone;   receiving, via the network interface, sets of image data from the client software operating on the network devices, the sets of image data including image data from the laptop and the smart phone;   processing the sets of image data from the client software to generate image information for a display of the meeting system, comprising a single large image; and   presenting, via the display, the generated image information, wherein the generated image information comprises windows that each surround the image data of a different network device, are scalable, and are positionable, wherein the contents of the windows include displayed sets of image data that represent screenshots of individual network devices operating the client software, the devices including the laptop and the smart phone, each set of image data positioned at a different location within the single large image, wherein   the meeting system includes a projector;   the display comprises a light emitting unit operable to project visible light representing image information onto a screen;   processing sets of image data from the client software comprises generating image information for the light emitting unit of the projector;   presenting the generated image information comprises projecting, via the light emitting unit, visible light representing the generated image information onto the screen; and   tracking a position of a pointing device at the screen, wherein in response to the pointing device interacting with a window on the screen, the meeting system adjusts a position or size of the window on the screen.   
     
     
       24. A system comprising:
 a light emitting unit operable to project visible light representing image information onto a screen;   a network interface for providing client software to network devices to enable the network devices to interact with the system, wherein the network devices include a laptop and a smart phone; and   a control unit operable to establish sessions with client software provided at network devices that enables the network devices to interact with the projector, such that the network devices provide image data for assembly into a single large image   the control unit further operable to receive sets of image data via the network interface from the client software operating on the network devices, the sets of image data including image data from the laptop and the smart phone, to process the sets of image data from the client software to generate image information comprising the single large image, and to provide the generated image information to the light emitting unit for projection onto the screen,   wherein the generated image information comprises windows that each surround the image data of a different network device, are scalable, and are positionable, wherein the contents of the windows include projected sets of image data received from the client software operating on the network devices, including the laptop and the smart phone, each set of image data corresponding with client software operating on a different network device, each set of image data positioned at a different location within the single large image,   the control unit further operable to track a position of a pointing device at the screen, wherein in response to the pointing device interacting with a window on the screen, the control unit is operable to adjust a position or size of the window on the screen.   
     
     
       25. The system of claim 24 wherein:
 the light emitting unit utilizes one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projection, Digital Light Processing (DLP) projection, Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) projection, Light Emitting Diode (LED) projection, and laser diode projection.   
     
     
       26. The system of claim 24 wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to process the input provided by the client software to identify image data that represents a screenshot, to scale and position the image data from the client software based upon a location and a size of a window for a network device operating the client software, and to populate the generated image information with the scaled and positioned image data.   
     
     
       27. The system of claim 26 wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to apply digital marks onto the screen via the system in response to input from the pointing device.   
     
     
       28. The system of claim 26 wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to detect that the client software at one of the multiple network devices has become idle, and to close a window for the idle client software.   
     
     
       29. The system of claim 26 wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to mark an area indicated by the pointing device.   
     
     
       30. The system of claim 26 wherein:
 the pointing device provides functions for at least one of drawing on the screen, highlighting on the screen, and manipulating controls projected onto the screen.   
     
     
       31. The system of claim 26 wherein:
 the control unit is further operable to provide the generated image information to each network device operating the client software responsive to receiving a request indicated by the pointing device.