초록 ▼

A communication system that may be integrated or otherwise combined with a piece of furniture, such as a conference table, desk or credenza. The communication system may provide a combination of audio, video, telephony, presentation and/or other conferencing functions and may include a number of sep

A communication system that may be integrated or otherwise combined with a piece of furniture, such as a conference table, desk or credenza. The communication system may provide a combination of audio, video, telephony, presentation and/or other conferencing functions and may include a number of separate user modules, a control module, a display module and a network connection. According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the separate user modules is a compact device that is integrated into the piece of furniture and includes a button that, when activated, allows a user to take control of certain aspects of the communication system. For example, a user may take over the display module or the information that is sent via the network connection by activating their user module.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of operating a communication system that can be integrated with a piece of furniture, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving data from a first portable computing device at a display module, a network connection or both, wherein the data is received through a first user module;(b) receivi

1. A method of operating a communication system that can be integrated with a piece of furniture, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving data from a first portable computing device at a display module, a network connection or both, wherein the data is received through a first user module;(b) receiving a status signal at a controller or a switch controller from a second user module indicating that the second user module has been activated by a user; and(c) in response to the activation of the second user module, stopping receiving data from the first portable computing device at the display module, the network connection or both, and starting receiving data from a second portable computing device at the display module, the network connection or both, wherein the data is received at the display module from the second portable computing device through the second user module when the controller or the switch controller determines that an internal communication option is desired, and the data is received at the network connection from the second portable computing device through the second user module when the controller or the switch controller determines that an external communication option is desired. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving data from the first portable computing device at the display module so that the display module displays the same content as is currently displayed on the first portable computing device, and step (c) further comprises stopping receiving data from the first portable computing device at the display module, and starting receiving data from the second portable computing device at the display module so that the display module displays the same content as is currently displayed on the second portable computing device. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving data from the first portable computing device at the network connection so that a remote user will see the same content as is currently displayed on the first portable computing device, and step (c) further comprises stopping receiving data from the first portable computing device at the network connection, and starting receiving data from the second portable computing device at the network connection so that the remote user will see the same content as is currently displayed on the second portable computing device. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving data from the first portable computing device and a video camera at the display module so that the display module simultaneously shows the same content as is currently displayed on the first portable computing device and the video content in a split-screen fashion. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving data from a first portable computing device and a video camera at the network connection so that a remote user can simultaneously see the same content as is currently on the first portable computing device and the video content in a split-screen fashion. 6. A method of operating a communication system that can be integrated with a piece of furniture, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a communication system having a plurality of user modules, a control module, and a display module, each of the user modules can be connected to a separate portable computing device as well as the control module and each of the user modules has a button;(b) receiving a signal at the control module from a first user module indicating that a user has engaged a button on the first user module and, in response to receiving the signal, using the control module to display content on the display module from a portable computing device connected to the first user module; and(c) receiving another signal at the control module from a second user module indicating that a user has engaged a button on the second user module and, in response to receiving the another signal, using the control module to display content on the display module from a portable computing device connected to the second user module, wherein users can control the content displayed on the display module by engaging the buttons on the plurality of user modules, and wherein at least one of step (b) or step (c) further comprises detecting a plurality of portable computing devices connected to a single user module when a user has engaged the button on the same user module, and using a priority hierarchy to determine which portable computing device will provide content to the display module. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of step (b) or step (c) further comprises receiving a signal at the control module from a user module indicating a certain button engagement combination, and different button engagement combinations involving the user module button result in different actions by the communication system. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein a button engagement combination including a push and hold of one of the user module buttons causes the communication system to power off. 9. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of step (b) or step (c) further comprises activating an indicator on a user module when a user has engaged a button on the same user module, and the activated indicator visually identifies which user module currently has control of the content on the display module. 10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: receiving a communication option selection from a user that causes the content displayed on the display module to also be provided to a network connection for external communication with one or more outside parties. 11. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: receiving a communication option selection from a user that causes content from the first user module to be displayed on the display module and content from the second user module to be provided to the network connection for external communication with one or more outside parties. 12. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: receiving a communication option selection from a user that causes the display module to simultaneously show content from a portable computing device connected to a user module and content from a video camera in a split-screen fashion. 13. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: receiving a communication option selection from a user that causes the display module to simultaneously show content from a portable computing device connected to a first user module and content from another portable computing device connected to a second user module in a split-screen fashion. 14. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: receiving video or data signals from one or more outside parties via a network connection and using the control module to provide the video or data signals to the display module so that local users at the communication system can view corresponding video or data content. 15. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: receiving audio signals from one or more outside parties via a network connection and using the control module to provide the audio signals to a speaker so that local users at the communication system can hear corresponding audio content. 16. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of user modules and the control module are integrated into a conference table. 17. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of user modules includes a data port for connection to a portable computing device, an electrical outlet, a data connection for connection to the control module, and at least one of a speaker, a microphone or a camera integrated within the user module. 18. The method of claim 6, wherein the communications system provides telephone conferencing, video conferencing and web conferencing functions to local users as well as remote users.