While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and not intended to be limiting of the invention defined by the claims. Moreover, the individual features of the drawing of the invention will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description.
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar elements throughout the views.
One embodiment of the multi-display system of the present invention is illustrated in
In one exemplary embodiment, as depicted in
Another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a method for displaying one or more images on multiple remote displays. The method comprises selecting an image to be displayed on one or more remote displays; generating a remote image file corresponding to the selected image; and transmitting the remote image file to the one or more remote displays, wherein the one or more remote displays are configured such as to display an image corresponding to the remote image file.
In one exemplary embodiment, the remote image file is transmitted to the one or more remote displays in response to request for the remote image file from the one or more remote displays. In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises generating a synchronization timing file, wherein the synchronization timing file comprises a set of instructions for displaying one or more remote image files in a predetermined order. In one exemplary embodiment, the synchronization file is transmitted to the remote image display, and wherein the synchronization timing file requests one or more remote image files to be displayed on the one or more remote displays. In another exemplary embodiment, the synchronization timing file comprises a list of web pages or files to be loaded into the web browser or display software at predetermined times. In an alternative embodiment, the synchronization file is executed by the main controller 15, wherein the main controller 15 transmits the remote image files at a predetermined time to the one or more remote displays. In one exemplary embodiment, multiple remote image files are transmitted to a storage device located at or near the one or more remote displays. Such storage device may comprise a computer readable memory such as flash memory or hard drive storage devices.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the remote image file is regenerated and retransmitted to the one or more remote displays at a predetermined refresh rate. Exemplary refresh rates range from several times per second to once per minute. One exemplary refresh rate is from about 1 to about 2 seconds per screen refresh. In one exemplary webpage embodiment, the refresh rate can be programmed into the webpage.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the multi-display system comprises a control station and multiple thin client units in communication with the control station. Each of the thin client units can be connected to one or more remote displays and/or input devices. The control station may comprise a personal computer or other networked device in communication with multiple thin client units. A thin client is a network computer typically without a hard disk drive, which, in client/server applications, is designed to be especially small so that the bulk of the data processing occurs on the server. However, in an alternative embodiment, the thin client handles the bulk of the data processing. In one embodiment, the thin client executes a software program/operating system which communicates with the control station.
In one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display system comprises a system of networked computing systems, for example a primary personal computer (control station) and one or more multiple thin clients (secondary units), wherein the primary personal computer coordinates music for all of the thin clients, and wherein the thin clients are connected to one or more remote displays.
In one embodiment, the primary unit (control station) networks and links to a group of secondary units. In this embodiment, the primary unit has functionality which includes at least one of the following: the ability to download a list of songs including the song content to one or more secondary units; the ability to select the type/part of music (e/g. trumpet part, piano part, etc.) and send the music content for the selected type for the list of songs to one or more secondary units; the ability to synchronize the list of songs to be displayed on the secondary units; the ability to select the play order of the songs of the playlist in the secondary units; the ability to send commands to select the ‘now playing’ song for the secondary units; the ability to send user defined messages to individual secondary units, groups of secondary units or all of the secondary units; the ability to edit one or more pages of a particular song and send edited page to one or more designated secondary units, such edits include annotations and revised pages, etc.; the ability to receive annotations and other edits from a secondary unit and there store edited/annotated page in database; the ability to synchronize and display a timing devise (e.g. metronome) or sound an audio output on each or selected ones of the secondary units, as well as the ability to maintain such synchronization.
In another embodiment, the secondary units have one or more of the following functionality: the ability to operate in a networked environment or in a “stand-alone” mode; the ability to allow a user to annotate/edit/mark-up pages of music using a user input interface such as a keyboard and mouse device; the ability to allow the user to change the song or displayed page using an input device; the ability to change the song or displayed page on other secondary units displaying the same content as primary unit; and the ability to send user defined messages to the control station and/or other secondary units.
In another exemplary embodiment, each of the remote displays is assigned an address. In a further exemplary embodiment, the address comprises an IP address, wherein each of the one or more remote displays has a unique IP address. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises storing the addresses in an address storage table. The address storage table can then be utilized by the controller to transmit image files to a specific address corresponding to one or more remote displays. In another exemplary embodiment, the remote displays can be addressed by a subset name such as section names or instrument part names. For example, one or more remote displays could be labeled “Sopranos”, “Altos”, “Tenors” and “Basses”. Alternatively, the displays could be labeled “guitar 1”, “guitar 2”, “flutes”, “trumpets”, “bass”, etc. The label for these displays would then be associated with addresses for those displays, with particular outputs from the computer, or with particular signal types or identifiers. An image that is to be transmitted to the “Basses” for example, can then be transmitted by selecting the group name “Basses”, which then causes the single image file to be converted to the appropriate format and output using the appropriate addresses, outputs, or signals to the appropriate displays. Rather than sending individual streaming video signals to each of the displays and the required video display adapters required to generate such video signal, this embodiment sends a single static image file to the desired group of displays.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises generating a graphic user interface, whereas the graphic user interface is configured to allow a user, such as the director or conductor, to select one or more remote displays to receive the remote image file. In one exemplary embodiment, the graphical user interface comprises a representation of each remote image file being displayed on a corresponding remote display.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the remote image file comprises a screen shot or static image of the image to be displayed. In another alternative embodiment, the remote image file comprises video memory corresponding to the image to be displayed. In another exemplary embodiment, the remote image file comprises an HTML or XML file comprising one or more screen displays.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the multi-display system 10 is embodied in a music display system. The music display system is configured to display music for a team of musicians or singers, such as in a church music team environment. In one exemplary embodiment, such as a church music team environment, a church may have hundreds of songs to select from for a particular service. In a service a subset of songs may be selected to be played. In addition, it may be desirable to occasionally change one or more of the songs, or to change the order of the songs to be played. In a traditional music performance setting using paper sheets of music, it may be impossible to play a song that was not originally selected as the order of songs for the service due to the fact that music may not be distributed to each of the team members. In addition, changing the order of the music can also be difficult as the musician is typically using their hands for their instrument which limits their ability to swap the order of the music on their stand. Other times, it may be desirous to change the keys to the song. Many church worship leaders either limit their song selection to the same key or transpose the key to the song by hand and make copies for the team. In the present invention, the change in the music can be quickly sent to the one or more remote displays.
The music display system of this embodiment, illustrated in
In one exemplary embodiment, each of the remote displays 75 comprises a communications processing device. In this embodiment, the controller connects to the multiple remote displays and is able to send various display modes (images of sheet music) of the same song to various monitors. The communications processing device comprises a communication link and adapter card. For example, the communications processing device comprises an Ethernet card or a wireless network adapter card.
One embodiment of the present invention is a method of transmitting images saved in memory to various remote monitors or displays. These images can comprise image files. Alternatively, the image files could be actual video memory for the video display adapter of the remote display. In one exemplary embodiment, the images can be saved in memory as files. In one exemplary embodiment, the graphical user interfaces include logic to allow the user to select which static image files are sent to which remote monitors or displays. One static image file can be sent to multiple wireless monitors.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system further comprises a user interface that allows the various images to be named (for example, keyboard, vocals, guitar, flute, etc.) and allows the various displays to be named (for example, keyboard, vocals, guitar, flute, etc.). In one exemplary embodiment, the graphic user interface is configured to allow for the user to select which images are to be displayed on each of the remote displays.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in
In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more remote displays comprise a wireless receiver 300 in communication with a wireless transmitter 320 in communication with the computer 20. In a further embodiment, the one or more remote displays comprise touch screens, configured to allow a remote user to communicate to another user of the music display system by touching the screen and composing a message. In one exemplary embodiment, the message is predefined. In an alternative embodiment, a keypad is displayed upon the display and is configured to allow the user to enter a message. In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a primary user, such as a director, is able to select the output for the remote displays via a master display and input device.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a screen shot generator program is configured to create multiple static image files of music song sheets in memory. The controller then selects and sends the images to one or more remote displays. In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more remote displays may further comprise an input device. The input device can be utilized by a remote user to send a signal to the controller 20 to retransmit and/or regenerate the remote image file. For example, in the music embodiment, the remote user may desire a different instrumentation or vocal piece of the music, and/or the music in a different key. This music file can be generated by the controller and then retransmitted to the remote display.
The foregoing description of the various embodiments and principles of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention the precise forms disclosed. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, some of the principles of this invention may be utilized in different multi-display systems such as educational purposes, advertising, music groups, and the like. Moreover, although model presentive concepts have been presented, such aspects need not be utilized in combination, and various combinations of inventive aspects are possible in light of the various embodiments provided above. Accordingly, the above description is intended to embrace all possible alternatives, modifications, combinations, and variations, and have been discussed or suggested herein, as well as all others that fall within the principles, spirit, and broad scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/824,154 filed Aug. 31, 2006; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/824,172 filed Aug. 31, 2006; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/824,180 filed Aug. 31, 2006; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/824,193 filed Aug. 31, 2006; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/824,190 filed Aug. 31, 2006. The entire disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60824154 | Aug 2006 | US | |
60824172 | Aug 2006 | US | |
60824180 | Aug 2006 | US | |
60824193 | Aug 2006 | US | |
60824190 | Aug 2006 | US |