# US 2021/0342115 A1 · Data processing systems for providing a data communication channel between one or more connected computing devices and an interactive display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0342115 A1 - Document ID: US20210342115A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/245,035 - Filed: 2021-04-30 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-01 - Assignees: Promethean Limited - Applicants: Promethean Limited - Inventors: Paul Wareing; Ben Titterington; Andrew Edwardson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210342115A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/1454: {involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay} - G06F 3/1407: {General aspects irrespective of display type, e.g. determination of decimal point position, display with fixed or driving decimal point, suppression of non-significant zeros} - G06F 3/1415: {with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays} - G06F 3/1423: {controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display} - G06F 3/147: using display panels - G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices} - G06F 2213/0042: Universal serial bus [USB] - G09G 2340/12: Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels - G09G 2340/125: wherein one of the images is motion video - G09G 2354/00: Aspects of interface with display user - G09G 2370/22: Detection of presence or absence of input display information or of connection or disconnection of a corresponding information source - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract An Interactive Display System may be configured to enable and facilitate a permanent communications pathway between a display device and each of a plurality of connected computing devices. In particular embodiments, the permanent communication channel is configured to transmit data between each connected computing device and the display device. In particular embodiments, the permanent communications path is facilitated via one or more USB relays. Each USB Relay may be configured to enable a direct connection between each connected computing device and the display device, where both the connected computing device and the display device are configured as USB Hosts. In particular embodiments, the USB Relay is configured as a USB device to each connected computing device and the display device and further configured to pass-through data received at the USB Relay (e.g., as a USB device) to the opposite USB Host. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interactive display system for causing an interactive display device to display one or more pieces of data received from one or more connected computing devices, the interactive display system comprising: a display device controller configured to be operatively coupled to the interactive display device and each of the one or more connected computing devices, the display device controller comprising one or more display device controller processors, wherein: the one or more display device controller processors are configured as a first USB host device; and the display device controller is configured for: receiving, from a first connected computing device of the one or more connected computing devices, the one or more pieces of data, wherein the first connected computing device is configured as a second USB host device; receiving the one or more pieces of data from the first connected computing device via a communications channel between the first USB host device and the second USB host device; generating, by the one or more display device controller processors, an on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data; causing, by the one or more display device controller processors, the interactive display device to display one or more incoming images from a second connected computing device of the one or more connected computing devices; and causing, by the one or more display device controller processors, the interactive display device to display the on-screen display along with the one or more incoming images from the second connected computing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein the interactive display device comprises the display device controller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more pieces of data comprise a substantially current preview of a video output from the first connected computing device; and generating, by the one or more display device controller processors, the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data comprises generating the on-screen display to include the substantially current preview of the video output from the first connected computing device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more pieces of data comprise software data associated with a piece of software currently running on the first connected computing device; and generating, by the one or more display device controller processors, the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data comprises generating the on-screen display to include the piece of software. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The interactive display system of claim 4, wherein the piece of software is selected from the group consisting of: a timer application; and an annotation application. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein: the display controller further comprises one or more USB relays, each of the one or more USB Relays being configured as a USB device to both the one or more display device controller processors and each of the one or more connected computing devices; and the interactive display system is configured for receiving, via the communications channel, the one or more pieces of data at the one or more USB relays configured as the USB device to the first USB host device from the second USB host device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein: the display controller is configured to operatively couple to the second connected computing device via a first video connection; and causing, by the one or more display device controller processors, the interactive display device to display the one or more incoming images from the second connected computing device comprises selecting, by the one or more display device controller processors, the first video connection as a video input for the interactive display device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The interactive display system of claim 1, wherein: the integrated display system is further configured for identifying, based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data, a device ID associated with the first connected computing device; and generating, by the one or more display device controller processors, the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data comprises: retrieving one or more user preferences associated with the device ID; and generating the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more user preferences. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The interactive display system of claim 8, wherein generating the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more user preferences comprises determining one or more contents of at least one user interface displayed within the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more user preferences. ### Claim 10 A computer-implemented data processing method of modifying an on-screen display of an interactive display device that is operatively coupled to a display controller to include one or more first images from a first connected computing device while the interactive display device is displaying one or more incoming images from a second connected computing device, the second connected computing device being the currently selected video source for the interactive display device, the method comprising: configuring, by one or more computer processors, the first connected computing device as a first USB host device; configuring, by the one or more computer processors, a display controller device as a second USB host device; providing, by the one or more computer processors, a data communication channel between the first USB host device and the second USB host device; receiving, by the one or more computer processors, via a data communication channel between the first USB host device and the second USB host device, one or more pieces of data from the first connected computing device; generating, by the one or more computer processors, an on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data; causing, by the one or more computer processors, the interactive display device to display the one or more incoming images from the second connected computing device; and causing, by the one or more computer processors, the interactive display device to superimpose the generated on-screen display over at least a portion of the one or more incoming images from the second connected computing device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein: the one or more pieces of data comprise software data associated with a piece of software currently running on the first connected computing device; and generating, by the one or more computer processors, the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data comprises generating the on-screen display to include a visual representation of the piece of software. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer-implemented data processing method of claim 11, the method further comprising: receiving, by the one or more computer processors, an input on the interactive display device; determining, by the one or more computer processors, a location of the input; determining that the input location comprises the visual representation of the piece of software on the on-screen display; and in response to determining that the input location comprises the visual representation of the piece of software on the on-screen display, transmitting the input location to the first connected computing device via the data communication channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer-implemented data processing method of claim 12, wherein the piece of software is selected from the group consisting of: a timer application; and an annotation application. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein: the method further comprises determining, based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data, a device ID associated with the first connected computing device; and generating, by the one or more computer processors, the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data comprises: retrieving one or more user preferences associated with the device ID; and generating the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more user preferences. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented data processing method of claim 14, wherein generating the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more user preferences comprises determining and applying at least one device setting for the interactive display device based at least in part on the one or more user preferences. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein: the one or more pieces of data comprise a substantially current preview of a video output from the first connected computing device; and generating, by the one or more display device processors, the on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data comprises generating the on-screen display to include the substantially current preview of the video output from the first connected computing device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer-implemented data processing method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises: configuring, by one or more computer processors, the second connected computing device as a third USB host device; providing, by one or more computer processors, a second data communication channel between the second USB host device and the third USB host device; determining, by one or more computer processors, that the one or more pieces of data include one or more pieces of data for the second connected computing device; and in response to determining that the one or more pieces of data include the one or more pieces of data for the second connected computing device, transmitting, by one or more processors, the one or more pieces of data for the second connected computing device from the display controller to the second connected computing device via the second data communication channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein providing the data communication channel between the first USB host device and the second USB host device comprises providing the data communication channel via a USB relay configured as a USB device to both the first USB host device and the second USB host device ### Claim 19 An interactive display system for integrating one or more pieces of data received from one or more connected computing devices into an onscreen display of an interactive display device operatively coupled to each of the one or more connected computing devices, the interactive display system comprising: one or more interactive display device processors; one or more touch-enabled input devices; and one or more USB relays, each of the one or more USB relays being operatively connected to the one or more interactive display device processors, wherein the one or more USB relays comprise a first USB relay, wherein: a first connected computing device of the one or more connected computing devices is configured as a first USB host device; the one or more interactive display device processors are configured as a second USB host device; the first USB relay is configured as a USB device to the both the first USB host and the second USB host and configured to form a communications channel between the first connected computing device and the one or more interactive display device processors, wherein the interactive display system is configured for: receiving, via the communications channel, one or more pieces of data at the first USB relay acting as the USB device to the first USB host from the first connected computing device; and passing, via the communications channel, by the first USB relay acting as the USB device to the second USB host, the received one or more pieces of data from the first USB relay through to the one or more interactive display device processors; generating, by the one or more interactive display device processors, an on-screen display based at least in part on the one or more pieces of data; causing, by the one or more interactive display device processors, the interactive display device to display one or more incoming images from a second connected computing device of the one or more connected computing devices; and causing, by the one or more interactive display device processors, the interactive display device to display the generated on-screen display along with the one or more incoming images from the second connected computing device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The interactive display system of claim 19, wherein causing, by the one or more interactive display device processors, the interactive display device to display the one or more incoming images from the second connected computing device of the one or more connected computing devices comprises causing the interactive display device to select the second connected computing device as a video source for the interactive display device.