Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral adapting
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-20
2004-12-07
Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral adapting
C710S008000, C710S009000, C710S012000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06829664
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projector control system and a projector control method, for example, to a projector control system and a projector control method in which control information and/or projection information are sent to one or more projectors connected through a communication line, and operation information is received from the projector in order to centrally manage and control each of the projectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 12
is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of the conventional projector system connected to a network. In
FIG. 12
, a projector
20
, a notebook-sized personal computer
30
, a server
40
, desktop personal computers
51
,
52
,
53
, and
54
are individually connected to a network
10
. Furthermore, tablets
61
,
62
,
63
, and
64
are directly connected to the projector
20
.
Control information and projection data from the notebook-sized personal computer
30
are sent to the projector
20
through the network
10
, and a predetermined data is projected onto the projection screen
70
. Also, the notebook-sized personal computer
30
sends the control information to the server
40
or desktop personal computers
51
,
52
,
53
, and
54
through the network
10
. Projection information stored in the server
40
or desktop personal computers
51
,
52
,
53
, and
54
is sent to the projector
20
based on the control information.
Accordingly, for example, by just bringing the projector
20
and the notebook-sized personal computer
30
in a conference room, projection data stored in the desktop personal computers
51
,
52
,
53
, and
54
, or the server
40
, which are located in another place, can be freely projected.
Further, from the tablets
61
,
62
,
63
, and
64
, information can be directly entered into the projector
20
, and information can be added and changed onto the projected information.
Furthermore, if the projection data has been sent to the projector
20
in advance, the projection data can be projected in a disconnected state to the network
10
or independent of the notebook-sized personal computer
30
.
Although the conventional projector system is configured as described above, and it is possible to project projection data stored in a personal computer or a server located in another place. Thus the projector system contributes to information sharing and increasing projection efficiency.
The conventional projector system described above has the above-described effects, there have been the following demands:
(1) A demand for simultaneous projection onto more than one projector in a conference room with many people or a large exhibition hall.
(2) Also, in school, a demand for projecting specific projection data onto more than one projector installed at each classroom, etc. simultaneously for all classes in the school, or a demand for projecting specific projection data for classes of an individual grade.
(3) Also, a demand for constituting a huge projection screen using more than one projector by dividing projection data to be projected on the huge screen, and allocating a projector to each of the divided data individually.
(4) Furthermore, a demand for managing and controlling one or more projectors centrally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made in order to meet these demands, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a projector control system and a projector control method in which desired projection data can be projected as desired for one or more projectors without connecting a personal computer, etc. to each of the projectors, and furthermore, one or more projectors can be managed/controlled centrally.
In view of the above-described problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a projector control system including: one or more projectors; a control unit for controlling the projector; and a communication line for connecting the projector and the control unit by two-way communications. By this means, projection information is distributed and displayed onto a plurality of projectors simultaneously, and operation state of each projector is grasped. Thus it becomes possible for the control unit to manage and control each projector simultaneously.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit may includes: a control information sending/receiving part which sends/receives control information to/from the projector; a projector management part which registers and manages a projector connected to the communication line; and a monitoring/control supervising part which sends control information to the projector through the control information sending/receiving part, receives operation information of the projector through the control information sending/receiving part, and monitors/controls the projector.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit may include: a projection information storage part for holding projection information; and a projection information sending part for sending projection information to the projector.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the projector may include: a control information sending/receiving part which sends/receives control information to/from the control unit; and a projection control part which controls the projector based on the control information from the control unit.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the projector may include: a control information sending/receiving part which sends/receives control information to/from the control unit; a projection information receiving part which receives projection information from the control unit; and a projection control part which is controlled based on the control information from the control unit, and analyzes and projects projection information from the control unit.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable to further include synchronous control means by which the control unit and each of the projectors are synchronized with respect to projection. By this means, in a projection performed by a plurality of projectors, a screen in the same state can be viewed simultaneously on any one of the projectors.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit may include a group management part which registers and manages the projectors in groups. By this means, it becomes easy to manage and control the projectors in groups.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit and each projector may be connected to a network. By this means, communication between each of the projectors becomes possible in addition to the communication between the control unit and each of the projectors.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit and each projector may be connected via a USB connection. By this means, the control unit and each projector can be connected easily without setting network configuration or the like.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit may include an information input part which inputs information into the control unit. By this means, various control information and projection information can be entered from the outside of the system.
In a projector control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit may include projector detection means which detects a projector connected to the communication line. By this means, a projector which has been newly connected to the communication line can be automatically detected.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of
Akaiwa Shoichi
Karasawa Toru
Nomizo Tomohiro
Chen Alan S
Gaffin Jeffrey
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Seiko Epson Corporation
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