DE102011002517A1 - System with interactive witheboards - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates substantially to a system having cross-linked interactive whiteboards each having interfaces to a common communications network, such that each whiteboard is associated with a network address in a configuration phase, wherein said address is then saved in all whiteboards, and such that a whiteboard having an image change transfers the information of said image change to the other whiteboards in the operating phase with the aid of the saved network addresses, and such that the corresponding image changes are also performed on the remaining whiteboards in a corresponding manner with the aid of said information.

Description

The invention relates to a system with interactive whiteboards.

In many professions, project meetings, system planning etc. use common, spontaneous sketches on a whiteboard, ie a white board, as an important tool for efficient communication and brainstorming or structuring of ideas. In many cases, however, the project staff are distributed to various locations worldwide, making communication more difficult.

There are already various approaches for the interactive use of whiteboards on the market. However, these are all aimed at the connection to a PC / laptop, with the help of which presentations or interactive elements on the whiteboard can be viewed and influenced.

The object of the invention is now to provide a system of interactive whiteboards in which with the least possible additional effort practically at the same time on all system whiteboards always the same picture is displayed, especially if on any whiteboard of Systems made a change locally.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 according to the invention. The further claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention generally relates to a system with networked interactive whiteboards having respective interfaces to a common communication network, such that a network address is assigned to each whiteboard in a configuration phase, these addresses then being stored in all whiteboards, that in the operating phase a whiteboard with a picture change transfers the information for this image change to the other whiteboards with the aid of the stored network addresses and, with the aid of this information, also makes the corresponding image changes on the remaining whiteboards in the same way.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

The drawing shows a minimal system with two interactive whiteboards IWB1 and IWB2, the whiteboard IWB1 having a network interface IPI1 and the further whiteboard IWB2 having a network interface IPI2 to a network NET. The network is typically the Internet or an intranet or virtual private network (VPN).

The two interactive whiteboards IWB1 and IWB2 are shown in a version with partially transparent projection surfaces and backside projectors B1 and B2. For example, this embodiment has the advantages over a user-side beamer arrangement of having no shadow cast by the user, and that the user is not dazzled when he turns to the audience in a presentation.

In the case of interactive whiteboards, for example, the position is determined by triangulation of a special stylus capacitively, inductively, by infrared, ultrasound or radio, or else, for example, the position of the outstretched index finger of a user is recorded by camera.

Before the whiteboards can communicate over the network NET, a network address is first assigned in a configuration phase. This can be done, for example, by manually setting a fixed network address or, for example, dynamically according to the DHCP protocol. After configuration, all interfaces of the whiteboards in addition to the own address and all addresses of other whiteboards are known or stored there.

The organization of the exchange of information, that is, which whiteboard has the role of a sender and thus at the same time which whiteboards have the role as receiver, can be solved in different ways.

In a simple embodiment, all the whiteboards belonging to the system or their interfaces in the operating phase are cyclically repeatedly returned to the sender in sequence in a fixed sequence.

The sender, ie the respective sending whiteboard or the associated network interface, sends to the other whiteboards its current changes since the last transmission, if available, or only a signal to synchronize the whiteboards.

Claims (2)

System having at least two networked interactive whiteboards (IWB1, IWB2) with respective interfaces (IPI1, IPI2) to a common communication network (NET), such that in a configuration phase each whiteboard is assigned a respective network address, these addresses being present in all whiteboards or whose interfaces are stored, - That in an operating phase, a whiteboard with a picture change the information about this image change using the stored network addresses to the other. Whiteboards passes and that there with the help of this information, the corresponding image changes are made on the remaining whiteboards in a similar manner. System according to claim 1, wherein in the operating phase all whiteboards belonging to the system or their interfaces in turn in a fixed order cyclically repeatedly to the sender and to the other whiteboards their respective present since the last transmission image changes, if such are present, or send only a signal to synchronize the whiteboard.

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