Tidebreak, Inc.

Other

Bradley E Johanson

Terry Allen Winograd

Armando Fox

Andrew J Milne

Patrick M Hanrahan

Michael Eggers

Gregory M Hutchins

An interactive workspace with multiple users and machines is characterized by an input redirection method whereby user-specific information is associated to the user input device that the user is controlling on one of the machines. The system allows the associated information to follow the user input device as it is redirected to control any of the other machines. Accordingly a point-of-presence is created for the user on the other machines, which includes the associated user-specific information. The associated user-specific information that was bound to the user input device to one of the machines can be transferred to where the user has a point-of-presence due to redirection of the user's input device. The user's input device and transferred user-specific information are independent from the: (i) actions performed and information specific to other users, and (ii) functionality of applications running on the other machines by the other users.

Pointright based point-of-presence system and architecture

A heterogeneous content channel manager is provided for content management and collaboration within and across interactive workspaces. A content channel bar, available on each of the displays in the workspace(s), contains two or more unique representations of respectively two or more different channels available in the interactive workspace(s). Within the set of available channels on each channel bar two or more different channel types are represented. Furthermore, each one of the unique representations in the content channel bar represents different and unique content supported by their respective channels and their types. Channel selection on the channel bar initiates display, on the display where the channel selection was made, of the content represented by the selected representation and channel in a manner appropriate for the channel's type.

Heterogeneous content channel manager for ubiquitous computer software systems

An efficient and adaptive middleware infrastructure called the Event Heap system dynamically coordinates application interactions and communications in a ubiquitous computing environment, e.g., an interactive workspace, having heterogeneous software applications running on various machines and devices across different platforms. Applications exchange events via the Event Heap. Each event is characterized by a set of unordered, named fields. Events are routed by matching certain attributes in the fields. The source and target versions of each field are automatically set when an event is posted or used as a template. The Event Heap system implements a unique combination of features, both intrinsic to tuplespaces and specific to the Event Heap, including content based addressing, support for routing patterns, standard routing fields, limited data persistence, query persistence/registration, transparent communication, self-description, flexible typing, logical/physical centralization, portable client API, at most once per source first-in-first-out ordering, and modular restartability.

Event heap: a coordination infrastructure for dynamic heterogeneous application interactions in ubiquitous computing environments

The present invention provides a software system, PointRight, that allows for smooth and effortless control of pointing and input devices among multiple displays. With PointRight, a single free-floating mouse and keyboard can be used to control multiple screens. When the cursor reaches the edge of a screen it seamlessly moves to the adjacent screen and keyboard control is simultaneously redirected to the appropriate machine. Laptops may also redirect their keyboard and pointing device, and multiple pointers are supported simultaneously. The system automatically reconfigures itself as displays go on, go off, or change the machine they display.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Bradley E Johanson