Steelcase Inc.

Suzanne Stage

Brett Robert Kincaid

Hyun Yoo

Lukas Martin Scherrer

Larry Cheng

Lewis Epstein

James N Ludwig

Thomas Overthun

Kyle Jonathan Doerksen

Kyle Deerksen

A content sharing device for use in controlling content replicated from a video source device on a large common display screen, the content sharing device comprising a housing, a processor supported by the housing, at least first and second control buttons supported by the housing and linked to the processor, a cable linked to the processor and having a distal end opposite the processor, the cable including a connector at the distal end for linking to the video source device, wherein, the processor is programmed to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a first field on the common display screen upon selection of the first control button and to enable content from the video source device linked to the connector to be replicated in a second field adjacent to and separate from the first field upon selection of the second control button.

Personal control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaborative workplace

A conferencing assembly for sharing content from source devices includes a common display screen, a switcher controlling input to the screen, and a table assembly with a tabletop opening. A control cable assembly has a first end linked to the switcher, a second ends having a plug connectable to a source device communication port, and a first control cable located therebetween. A take up assembly including a first weight is disposed below the opening. The control cable assembly links to the first weight to apply a force tending to pull the second end of the control cable assembly toward the opening. A first user interface including a control button useable to send a signal to the switcher causing it to provide first content from a source device connected to the control cable assembly to the screen is integrated into the table assembly and is associated with the control cable assembly.

Personal control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaborative workspace

A system comprising a switching device linked to a common display screen and including a wireless receiver configured to receive content, the switching device configured to use the received content to drive the common display screen and a plurality of interface devices, each interface device including an interface housing, an interface device processor, a control button mounted within the housing and a plug linked to the housing via a cable, the plug receivable within a connection port of a computing device, a first interface device including a first device processor, a first plug and a first control button, the first processor configured to perform the steps of, with the first plug received in the connection port of the first computing device and first content presented on the first display screen while other content is presented on the common display screen, detecting selection of the first control button and, upon detecting selection of the first control button, causing a wireless transmission to the switching device, upon receiving the wireless transmission, the switching device presenting the content from the first computing device display screen on the common display screen.

A user interface for communicating with a video switch system, the video switch system configured to allow a plurality of users to collaboratively display information on at least one display screen, the video switch system including a switching device operable to receive a plurality of available video sources from associated user source devices and to selectively direct at least one of the available video sources to the at least one display screen, the user interface comprising an interface assembly separate from the switching device, the interface assembly being configured to operably connect to the switching device, the interface assembly having a plurality of selectable controls, wherein each of the plurality of selectable controls is capable of being associated with at least one of the plurality of available video sources, wherein the plurality of user selectable controls define a user interface of the interface assembly such that each user selectable control is selectable by at least one of the users to direct the switching device to display on the at least one display screen the at least one available video source associated with a selected selectable control.

A cable management system comprising at least a first control cable with a respective cable connector that is configured to operably link with a video/audio source device, a control button configured to generate a control signal when pressed thereby causing transfer of control of the one or more pieces of video/audio presentation equipment from a video/audio source device of a previous user upon selection of the button while the previous user is controlling the pieces of video/audio presentation equipment to a video/audio source device of the user that pressed the control button and initiating control of the pieces of video/audio presentation equipment upon selection of the button while no user is controlling the one or more pieces of video/audio presentation equipment and an illuminated indicator configured to illuminate in a manner indicative of a control state of the video/audio presentation equipment.

Display screen with icon

A method of selecting video source devices to drive first and second presentation spaces provided by at least one display screen in a collaborative workspace, the method comprising the steps of providing a control assembly that includes a plurality of control interfaces, each control interface including a separate selectable control associated with each of the presentation spaces, associating at least first and second video sources with first and second of the control interfaces, respectively, for each of the control interfaces, when a selectable control is selected, providing video information from the video source device associated with the control interface used to make the selection to the presentation space associated with the selectable control such that a plurality of video images from at least first and second different video source devices can be presented simultaneously in the presentation spaces.

Control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaborative workspace

A video source control assembly for use with at least a first display screen and a plurality of video source devices, the control assembly including a deck member forming a top surface and at least one cable passing opening, a switching device, a plurality of control cables, each control cable including first and second ends, each first end linkable to at least one source device and the second end linked to the switching device to provide video content thereto and a separate housing mounted to an intermediate portion of each of the control cables so that flexible portions of the associated control cable extend from the housing to each of the first and second ends, a separate selection button mounted in each of the housings that provides a control signal to the switching device causing the switching device to modify the content presented on the display screen, wherein, the portion of each cable between the housing and the second end passes through the cable passing opening and the housing has dimensions such that the housing is blocked from passing through the cable passing opening.

Control puck

A method and apparatus for selecting information from a video source to be displayed on at least a first common display screen in a collaborative workspace having a switching device, the method comprising the steps of providing a selectable control interface that includes at least one indicator that can indicate at least first and second different states, associating a video source with the switching device so that video information from the video source is presented to the switching device, when the video source is associated with the switching device, causing the at least one indicator to indicate a first state and when the selectable control interface is selected, causing the at least one indicator to indicate the second state and providing the video information from the video source to the common display screen via the switching device.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Suzanne Stage