Interactive display system

A method of operating an interactive display system including:

• a projector;
• a device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• a computing means;
• a pointing device;
• and a plurality of remote signaling devices, the method comprising the steps of:
• projecting an image of a computer display of a computer onto the device onto which an image is projected from the projector,
• adapting the plurality of remote signaling devices to transmit signals to a receiver portion of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector only in response to a request signal from the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• arranging for the pointing device to:
• take precedence over the remote signaling devices, and
• selectively enable each remote signaling device, and
• wherein the device onto which an image is projected from the projector is adapted to be a communications hub of the display system, the method further comprising the steps, at the communications hub, of:
• requesting information from each remote signaling device in turn, by polling;
• receiving control signals from the pointing device and the plurality of remote signaling devices;
• and
• transmitting the control signals from the pointing device and the plurality of remote signaling devices to the computing means, on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices, in order to control an image on the device onto which an image is projected from the projector.

An interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector, forming a communication hub of an interactive display system, comprising:

• a receiver portion for receiving signals from a pointing device and a plurality of remote signaling devices, the plurality of remote signaling devices being operable to transmit only in response to a request signal from the display device;
• and
• position indication means for determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the display device,
• the interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector being arranged:
• for the signals from the pointing device to take precedence over signals from the remote signaling devices;
• for the pointing device to selectively enable each remote signaling device;
• and
• to request information from each remote signaling device in turn, by polling;
• to transmit the received signals to a computing means on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices and being suitable for displaying an image from a computing means received by said interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector.

An interactive display system comprising:

• a projector;
• a device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• a computing means;
• a pointing device;
• and a plurality of remote signaling devices, in which system:
• the computing means is arranged to supply image information to the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the plurality of remote signaling devices are operable to transmit signals to a receiver portion of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector only in response to a request signal from the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the device onto which an image is projected from the projector includes position indication means for determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the pointing device is operable to:
• take precedence over the remote signaling devices;
• and
• selectively enable each remote signaling device, and
• the device onto which an image is projected from the projector is a communication hub of the system, arranged to:
• receive control signals from the pointing device and the plurality of remote signaling devices;
• and
• transmit the control signals from the pointing device and the plurality of remote signaling devices to the computing means on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices, in order to control an image on the device onto which an image is projected from the projector.

A method of operating an interactive display system including:

• a projector;
• a device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• a computing means;
• a pointing device;
• and a plurality of remote signaling devices, the method comprising the steps of:
• projecting an image of a computer display of a computer onto the device onto which an image is projected from the projector,
• adapting the plurality of remote signaling devices to transmit signals to a receiver portion of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector only in response to a request signal from the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• arranging for the pointing device to:
• take precedence over the remote signaling devices, and
• selectively enable each remote signaling device, and
• wherein the device onto which an image is projected from the projector is adapted to be a communications hub of the display system, the method further comprising the steps, at the communications hub, of:
• receiving control signals from the pointing device and the remote control devices;
• and
• transmitting the control signals from the pointing device and the remote control devices to the computing means, on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices, in order to control an image on the device onto which an image is projected from the projector.

An interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector, forming a communication hub of an interactive display system, comprising:

• a receiver portion for receiving signals from a pointing device and a plurality of remote signaling devices, the plurality of remote signaling devices being operable to transmit only in response to a request signal from the display device;
• and
• position indication means for determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the display device,
• the interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector being arranged:
• for the signals from the pointing device to take precedence over signals from the remote signaling devices;
• for the pointing device to selectively enable each remote signaling device;
• and
• to transmit the received signals to a computing means on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices and being suitable for displaying an image from a computing means received by said interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector.

An interactive display system comprising:

• a projector;
• a device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• a computing means;
• a pointing device;
• and a plurality of remote signaling devices, in which system:
• the computing means is arranged to supply image information to the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the plurality of remote signaling devices are operable to transmit signals to a receiver portion of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the device onto which an image is projected from the projector includes position indication means for determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the pointing device is operable to:
• take precedence over the remote signaling devices;
• and
• selectively enable each remote signaling device, and
• the device onto which an image is projected from the projector is a communication hub of the system, arranged to:
• receive control signals from the pointing device and the plurality of remote signaling devices;
• and
• transmit the control signals from the pointing device and the plurality of remote signaling devices to the computing means on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices, in order to control an image on the device onto which an image is projected from the projector.

A method of operating an interactive display system including:

• a projector;
• a device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• a computing means;
• a pointing device;
• and a plurality of remote signaling devices, the method comprising the steps of:
• projecting an image of a computer display of a computer onto the device onto which an image is projected from the projector,
• adapting the plurality of remote signaling devices to transmit signals to a receiver portion of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• arranging for the pointing device to:
• take precedence over the remote signaling devices, and
• selectively enable each remote signaling device, and
• wherein the device onto which an image is projected from the projector is adapted to be a communications hub of the display system, the method further comprising the steps, at the communications hub, of:
• receiving control signals from the pointing device and the remote control devices;
• and
• transmitting the control signals from the pointing device and the remote control devices to the computing means, on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices, in order to control an image on the device onto which an image is projected from the projector.

An interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector, forming a communication hub of an interactive display system, comprising:

• a receiver portion for receiving signals from a pointing device and a plurality of remote signaling devices, the plurality of remote signaling devices being operable to transmit;
• and
• position indication means for determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the display device,
• the interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector being arranged:
• for the signals from the pointing device to take precedence over signals from the remote signaling devices;
• for the pointing device to selectively enable each remote signaling device;
• and
• to transmit the received signals to a computing means on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices and being suitable for displaying an image from a computing means received by said interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector.

An interactive display system comprising:

• a projector;
• a device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• a computing means;
• a pointing device;
• and a plurality of remote signaling devices, in which system:
• the computing means is arranged to supply image information to the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the plurality of remote signaling devices are operable to transmit signals to a receiver portion of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the device onto which an image is projected from the projector includes position indication means for determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• the pointing device is operable to:
• take precedence over the remote signaling devices;
• and
• selectively enable each remote signaling device, and
• the device onto which an image is projected from the projector is a communication hub of the system, arranged to:
• request information from each remote signaling device in turn, by polling;
• receive control signals from the pointing device and the plurality of remote signaling devices;
• and
• transmit the control signals from the pointing device and the plurality of remote signaling devices to the computing means on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices, in order to control an image on the device onto which an image is projected from the projector.

A method of operating an interactive display system including:

• a projector;
• a device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• a computing means;
• a pointing device;
• and a plurality of remote signaling devices, the method comprising the steps of:
• projecting an image of a computer display of a computer onto the device onto which an image is projected from the projector,
• adapting the plurality of remote signaling devices to transmit signals to a receiver portion of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the device onto which an image is projected from the projector;
• and
• arranging for the pointing device to:
• take precedence over the remote signaling devices, and
• selectively enable each remote signaling device, and
• wherein the device onto which an image is projected from the projector is adapted to be a communications hub of the display system, the method further comprising the steps, at the communications hub, of:
• requesting information from each remote signaling device in turn, by polling;
• receiving control signals from the pointing device and the remote control devices;
• and
• transmitting the control signals from the pointing device and the remote control devices to the computing means, on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices, in order to control an image on the device onto which an image is projected from the projector.

An interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector, forming a communication hub of an interactive display system, comprising:

• a receiver portion for receiving signals from a pointing device and a plurality of remote signaling devices, the plurality of remote signaling devices being operable to transmit;
• and
• position indication means for determining the position of the pointing device relative to a surface of the display device,
• the interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector being arranged:
• for the signals from the pointing device to take precedence over signals from the remote signaling devices;
• for the pointing device to selectively enable each remote signaling device;
• and
• to request information from each remote signaling device in turn, by polling;
• and
• to transmit the received signals to a computing means on a single communications link, which link is capable of conveying signals both from the pointing device and the remote signaling devices and being suitable for displaying an image from a computing means received by said interactive display device onto which an image is projected from a projector.