Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Animation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2002-08-20
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2776)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Animation
C345S473000, C345S475000, C345S501000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06437786
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the reproduction by a projector of image data, which includes digitized moving pictures, such as animation, video images and the like, and still pictures, such as text, charts, and photographs and the like. In particular, this invention relates to a method of reproducing image data in a network projector system, which is connected to a server computer through a computer network, and which can effectively reproduce image data by a projector. This invention also relates to such a network projector system.
2. Description of Related Art
Projectors are often used during presentations and meetings to display presentation materials or the like. In particular, recently, materials for presentation have typically been created as image data by a personal computer (hereafter referred to as “PC”). The image data which has been created can be easily reproduced by a PC.
Therefore, recently, a method has been performed wherein a PC is connected to a projector, the image data which is created in advance is reproduced by the PC, and the reproduced image is displayed by the projector. According to this method, a plurality of image data, which have been created by the PC, can be copied onto an external recording medium, such as a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as “FD”), and the image data of the same material can be used in a plurality of locations.
FIG. 8
is a flowchart showing one example of a method of displaying an image by a conventional projector. In
FIG. 8
, when image data is created and displayed by a projector, the presentation material or the like is initially digitized and processed by a PC that is provided for image data creation, and the image data is created and saved onto a recording medium, such as a hard disk (hereafter referred to as “HD”) or the like of the PC (
801
). When a presentation or the like is to be given, the image data, which has been saved in the HD or the like of the PC, is downloaded to an external recording medium, such as a FD (
802
).
At a location where the presentation is to be given, a PC, which is provided for reproduction and can reproduce the image data, is prepared (set up), and a projector is connected to this PC (
803
). Next, the PC, which is provided for reproduction, downloads the image data from the external recording medium, such as an FD, to its HD (
804
). The PC, which is provided for reproduction, appropriately reproduces and processes the image data which has been downloaded, and the image is transferred to the projector (
805
). The projector displays the image, which has been transferred from the PC, on a display device, such as a large screen (
806
).
Thus, in the method of displaying an image by a conventional projector, the presentation material or the like is created as image data by a PC that is provided for image data creation, the image data is reproduced by a PC that is provided for reproduction at the presentation location, and the image is displayed by a projector which is connected to the PC that is provided for reproduction.
However, in accordance with this method of displaying an image by a conventional projector, a PC used for reproduction of the image data needs to be prepared at the presentation location (meeting halls, meeting rooms, or the like). In particular, a reproduction application which can reproduce image data, which is created in advance, needs to be provided for the PC that is provided for reproduction. This reproduction application depends upon an application which has created image data. Furthermore, recently, there are various creation applications which create image data, and many different people create image data using various software. Because of this, the problem arises that appropriate reproduction applications are not available for reproduction of image data in a PC which is prepared at a presentation location. Thus, the image data which has been prepared cannot be reproduced by the PC at the presentation location, and an image cannot be displayed by the projector.
Furthermore, it takes time to set up both the PC and the projector. Thus, the problem arises that at a location where a projector and PC cannot be prepared in advance, the method of display is limited to a method that does not use a projector.
Furthermore, it is necessary to bring an FD or the like, which includes recorded image data, to the meeting location. Thus, the problem arises that necessary FDs can be forgotten when a plurality of FDs exist.
Furthermore, when the most common type of FD is used as the external recording medium which records and carries image data, because its recordable data capacity is limited, the problem arises that it is difficult to reproduce and display image data with moving pictures with a large capacity requirement.
In addition, when the image data, which has been created by a PC, is displayed by a projector, if a PC is prepared for every meeting room of a certain company, the problem arises that the cost of the presentations is high because PCs can be expensive.
Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a method of reproducing image data in a network projector system, and a network projector system, which can conveniently process image data, that includes moving pictures, at low cost and display images by a projector without being restricted by the specifications and environment of the PC.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the problems of the conventional art, a method of reproducing image data, in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention, is a method of reproducing image data in a network projector system that has at least one server connected to a network, and at least one projector connected to the at least one server through the network. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) preparing data that includes image data of an image to be reproduced by the at least one projector and image controlling data at the at least one server,
(b) establishing communication between any projector of the at least one projector and at least one specified server of the at least one server through the network,
(c) transferring the data that includes the image data and the image controlling data from the at least one specified server with which communication has been established to the projector,
wherein processing performed, in the projector which has received the data which has been transferred, comprises the steps of:
(d) determining image data necessary for the image to be displayed based upon the image controlling data,
(e) checking whether the necessary image data is stored on a memory medium,
(f) determining whether there is sufficient empty space available in the memory medium to store the necessary image data if the necessary image data is not stored in the memory medium,
(g) detecting data that is unnecessary for the image to be displayed, and deleting the unnecessary data from the memory medium when the empty space in the memory medium is insufficient to store the necessary image data,
(h) receiving the necessary image data from the specified server,
(i) storing the image data which has been received in the memory medium,
(j) processing the image data which has been stored and forming an image, and
(k) displaying the image which has been formed.
Furthermore, in order to solve the problems of the conventional art, a method of reproducing image data, in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention, is a method of reproducing image data in a network projector system that has at least one server connected to a network, and at least one projector connected to the at least one server through the network. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) preparing data that includes image data of an image to be reproduced by the at least one projector and image controlling data at the at least one server,
(b) establishing communication between any projector of the at least one projector and at least one specified server of the at least one server through the network,
(c) transferring the data that includes th
Monestime Mackly
Seiko Epson Corporation
Zimmerman Mark
LandOfFree
Method of reproducing image data in network projector... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of reproducing image data in network projector..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of reproducing image data in network projector... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2944535