Projector device management system

#The present invention relates a system for managing a plurality of projector devices over a network.

#In recent years, projector devices, such as digital projectors, have found increased popularity as a tool for the presentation of content to an audience. These projector devices are typically used to project a computer-generated presentation onto a viewing surface, and allow a user to easily present high-quality, professional appearing images to audiences of a range of sizes. As a result, these projector devices are now often found as permanent fixtures in conference rooms and other meeting facilities.

#Some entities, such as businesses and schools, may have a plurality of projector devices installed multiple physical locations, for example, in different conference rooms, different buildings, or even different cities, states and/or countries. The administration of such an arrangement of projector devices may be a difficult and time-consuming task. For example, it may be difficult to keep track of whether the lamps on all the projector devices are functional, or whether any projector devices have been stolen or moved. Such problems may cause significant delays to a user who wishes to use a selected projector device if not remedied ahead of time. However, manually checking each projector device at regular enough intervals to ensure reliable operation may take a significant amount of employee time.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a projector device management system according to the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the projector device management system of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a view of an exemplary user interface of a projector manager controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#One embodiment of a projector device management system according to the present invention is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1 as a plurality of network-enabled projector devices 12, 16 connected to a computer network 14. Some projector devices 12 may have built-in networking capabilities that allow them to communicate directly over network 14 with other network devices. Other projector devices, as illustrated at 16, may be may not have built-in networking capabilities. In this case, projector device 16 may be connected to network 14 via a network adaptor device 18 disposed between the projector device and the network that enables the projector device to communicate over the network. Examples of suitable adaptor devices 18 include, but are not limited to, hardware adaptor devices available from the Lantronix Corporation, such as the Lantronix UDS-10 network adaptor, and software adaptors, such as the Win32 Client and the C13 Client, both for personal computers (PCs) running a Microsoft Windows operating system.

#A server computing device 20 is also connected to network 14. Server computing device 20 includes software, firmware and/or hardware configured to communicate with projector devices 12 and 16 to allow the projector devices to be controlled, monitored and managed from a remote location. For example, server computing device 20 may be configured to poll each projector device 12, 16 for information regarding the current status of each projector device, and to store the most recent status information from each projector device so that a user can access the most recent status information of a selected projector device at will. Furthermore, server computing device 20 may be configured to allow the status of some projector device features and/or functions to be changed over the network.

#Server computing device 20 may be configured to allow the monitoring and/or change of the status of any suitable projector device feature or function over network 14. Examples of features that may be both monitored and changed over network 14 include, but are not limited to, the status of a power switch (on/off), current image source, whether the projector device is configured for ceiling- or table-mounting, and whether the projector device is configured to be in rear projection mode. Examples of features that may be monitored, but not necessarily changed, over network 14 include, but are not limited to, remaining lamp hours, status of the projector device cooling fan (operational/not operational), projector device temperature (below threshold/above threshold), projector device model name, projector device firmware revision number, and projector device serial number.