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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9420880-B2
Application number	US-201414573682-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2014
Priority date	Oct 12, 2007
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus and assembly for selecting information from a video source to be displayed on at least a first common display screen in a collaborative workspace having a switching device, the apparatus comprising a control interface that includes at least a first indicator that can visually indicate at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein the control interface indicates the first state when a video source is disassociated with the control interface, the second state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display and the third state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the common display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for selecting information from a video source to be displayed on at least a first common display screen in a collaborative workspace having a switching device, the apparatus comprising:
a control interface that includes at least a first indicator that can visually indicate at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein the control interface indicates the first state when a video source is disassociated with the control interface, the second state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display and the third state when the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the common display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least a first indicator includes an illumination device and wherein the first state is indicated by cutting power to the illumination device, the second state is indicated via illumination of a first color and the second state is indicated via illumination of a second color.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a control cable linked to the switching device at a first end and linkable to the video source at a second end, the control interface including a sensor for detecting when the second end of the cable is linked to the video source, the control interface associating the video source with the control interface upon sensing that the video source is linked to the second end of the control cable.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the control interface includes at least a first selectable control and, wherein, while the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display, upon selection of the first selectable control, the control interface causes the video information from the video source to be presented via the common display and causes the indicator to change from the second state to the third state.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein, while the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is presented via the common display, upon selection of the first selectable control, the control interface causes the video information from the video source to be removed from the common display and causes the indicator to change from the third state to the second state.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first selectable control includes a first button and wherein the illumination device generates light that circumscribes the first button when in at least the first and the second states.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 for use with a conference table wherein the first button is linked to the conference table.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first button is linked to the conference table via the control cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first button is mounted to an intermediate portion of the control cable so that a flexible portion of the control cable is located between the first button and the second end of the control cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the conference table includes a top member that forms an opening, the apparatus further including a deck member supported by the top member and forming a deck surface below the opening so that a cavity is formed above the deck surface within the opening, the deck surface forming at least one cable passing opening, the control cable including a connector at the second end, an intermediate portion of the control cable between the first and second ends of the control cable passing through the cable passing opening and moveable through the cable passing opening between a stored position and a use position, the connector receivable within the cavity when the control cable is in a stored position and removable from the cavity for linking to the video source when the control cable is in the use position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a retractor assembly mounted below an undersurface of the table top, the retractor assembly linked to the intermediate portion of the control cable to apply a force thereto tending to pull the control cable into the stored position.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control interface includes at least a first selectable control and, wherein, while the video source is associated with the control interface and video information from the video source is not presented via the common display, upon selection of the first selectable control, the control interface causes the video information from the video source to be presented via the common display and causes the indicator to change from the second state to the third state.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control interface includes a control cable, a connector and a housing, the control cable having first and second ends, the connector for linking to the video source at the first end and the housing at the second end, the first selectable control including a button mounted within the housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the illumination device is mounted within the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the illumination device generates light in a pattern that circumscribes the button.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein control signals are wirelessly transmitted to the switching device upon selection of the button.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 also for selecting information from at least a second video source to be displayed on at least a first common display screen, the apparatus further including at least a second control interface that includes at least a second indicator that can visually indicate at least first, second and third visually distinguished states wherein the control interface indicates the first state when no video source is associated with the second control interface, the second state when the second video source is associated with the second control interface and video information from the second video source is not presented via the common display and the third state when the second video source is associated with the second control interface and video information from the second video source is presented via the common display.

18. A conferencing assembly for use with at least first and second video sources within a conference space, the assembly comprising:
a conference table assembly including a top member forming a top surface;
at least one common display screen supported proximate the top surface of the top member;
a switching device having at least a first input and at least a first output, the first output linked to the at least one common display;
at least first and second control interfaces secured to the conference table assembly, the first control interface including a first button and a first indicator, the first indicator controllable to visually distinguish at least first and second states in which content from a video source associated with the first control interface is not presented on the common display and in which content from a video source associated with the first control interface is presented on the common display screen, respectively, the first button selectable to toggle between presenting and not presenting content on the common display screen, the second control interface including a second button and a second indicator, the second indicator controllable to visually distinguish at least first and second states in whic

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Epstein Lewis
• Kincaid Brett
• Yoo Hyun
• Stage Suzanne
• Scherrer Lukas
• Cheng Larry

Classifications

• H04N5/268

  Signal distribution or switching · CPC title

• H04N7/183

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title

• H04N7/152

  Multipoint control units therefor · CPC title

• H04N7/142

  Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display · CPC title

• H04N7/15 Primary

  Conference systems · CPC title