Patents Assigned to SMART Technologies ULC
  • Patent number: 9736137
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for managing multi-user tools for a workspace on a touch screen. Workspaces are generated for use with the touch screen and one or more of identifiable pointers are associated with them. A global tool element having a plurality of controls is generated and displayed on the touch screen. When more than one pointer is associated with one of the workspaces, redundant controls are removed from the global tool element and a local tool element is created for each associated pointer. The local tool elements comprise at least the redundant controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Sean Thompson, Wendy Jean Segelken
  • Patent number: 9658702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system of improved pointer recognition. A camera-based interactive system has two cameras with fields of view observing an interactive surface. A processor receives a plurality of video frames from the cameras and recognizes a pointer within the video frames. Motion blur of the pointer is compensated to determine the pointer type from the compensated frames using a model-based approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: David E Holmgren, Daniel McReynolds
  • Patent number: 9354841
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for wirelessly communicating configuration data from mobile devices for use by interactive display devices. In some aspects, a processing device can identify two or more mobile devices participating in a session for utilizing an interactive display device. The processing device can receive configuration data from each of the mobile devices via a wireless transceiver. The processing device can configure an interactive display device to present outputs during the session using attributes that the processing device identifies from the received configuration data. In additional or alternative aspects, a processing device can identify at least one mobile device participating in a session for utilizing an interactive display device. The processing device can associate outputs presented by the interactive display device with an entity that is identifiable from configuration data that is received from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Grant McGibney, Angela Thomas, Leonardo Miguel Araneta, Phillip Warren Benson
  • Patent number: 9323322
    Abstract: A method comprises capturing image frames of an input area using a plurality of imaging devices, each having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the input area; processing captured image frames to identify a plurality of targets therein; analyzing the identified plurality of targets to determine if the targets represent a plurality of projections of an input object; and if so, identifying a pattern of the projections thereby to identify the input object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Grant McGibney
  • Patent number: 9298318
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises a display panel; a first illumination source providing illumination across an outer surface of the display panel such that when a pointer is brought into proximity with the outer surface, the pointer reflects illumination from the first illumination source through the display panel; at least one imaging device having a field of view aimed at an opposite outer surface of the display panel, the at least one imaging device capturing images including illumination reflected by the pointer through the display panel; and processing structure in communication with the at least one imaging device, said processing structure processing the captured images to determine a location of the pointer relative to the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Gerald Morrison, John Newton, Gareth Bell
  • Patent number: 9292109
    Abstract: A pen tool for use with a machine vision interactive input system comprises an elongate body, a tip on the body and a variable reflector disposed on the body. The variable reflector comprises a reflecting portion and an attenuating portion configured to control the amount of illumination reflected by the reflecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Sean Thompson, Grant McGibney, Gerald D. Morrison
  • Patent number: 9292129
    Abstract: A method for determining the location of a touch input in an application window on an interactive surface of a display device is described. The application window comprises a canvas configured to display at least a portion of a user interface. The method comprises the following steps. A first location of the touch input associated with a first coordinate space is determined. The first coordinate space is associated with the interactive surface. The touch input is used to emulate a mouse event. A second location of the touch input associated with a second coordinate space is determined in response to the emulated mouse event. The second coordinate space is associated with the user interface. At least one offset parameter is calculated, correlating the first coordinate space with the second coordinate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Kenny Tsang, Dinesh Advani, Daniel Zhang
  • Patent number: 9288440
    Abstract: A method is described for manipulating a view displayed on one or more follower participants' devices to track a view displayed on a lead participant's device. A request to manipulate the view displayed on the one or more follower participant devices is received. The lead participant is identified. The follower participants are identified. A lead view of the lead participant is determined. The lead view is communicated to the follower participants computing devices for display. A computing device and a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions configured to implement the method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Min Xin, Michael Boyle, Kathryn Rounding
  • Patent number: 9261987
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving an input event associated with a first user ID, the input event being a command for selecting at least one graphic object; determining if a selection is currently associated with the first user ID; and if no selection is currently associated with the first user ID creating a first selection; associating the first selection with the first user ID; and including the selected at least one graphic object in the first selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Kathryn Rounding, David Milford, Shih-Chen Man, Michael Boyle, William Leung
  • Patent number: 9262011
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises an optical waveguide, a radiation source directing radiation into the optical waveguide, the radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide in response to at least one touch input on a surface of the optical waveguide. At least one imaging device is positioned adjacent to the waveguide, the at least one imaging device having a field of view looking inside the optical waveguide and capturing image frames thereof. Processing structure processes the image frames captured by the at least one imaging device to determine a location of the at least one touch input based on a frequency of reflections of the radiation appearing in the image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: David Gregory Popovich, Yunqiu Rachel Wang, Vaughn E. Keenan, Grant McGibney, Robbie Rattray, Patrick James Gurtler, Chris Willson, Nicholas Svensson
  • Patent number: 9262016
    Abstract: A gesture recognition method comprises capturing images, processing the images to identify at least two clusters of touch points associated with at least two pointers, recognizing a gesture based on motion of the clusters, and updating a display in accordance with the recognized gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Grant McGibney, Qizhi Joanna Xu, Erik Benner, Edward Tse
  • Patent number: 9207812
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the position of a light curtain emitted by an illumination assembly over a surface, comprises determining a position of the light curtain; calculating a difference between the determined position of the light curtain and a desired position of the light curtain; and adjusting the position of the illumination assembly based on the calculated difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Robbie Rattray, Grant McGibney, Rob Barton, Cameron Taylor, David Holmgren, Peter Shivkumar, Nicole Martin, Dmitry Elman, Alexis Guillemin, Patrick Marcil, Yun Zhang
  • Patent number: 9207858
    Abstract: A method of generating a calligraphic ink object, comprising sampling contact coordinates generated by a coordinate input device during writing thereon using a pointer to generate an ink trajectory generally representing the writing; generating an ink envelope, the ink envelope comprising line segments joining pointer instances at the sampled contact coordinates; generating a smoothed ink envelope at least by fitting curves to points on the ink envelope; and drawing the smoothed ink envelope on a display thereby to generate the calligraphic ink object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Viktor Antonyuk, Joseph Michael Goethals, Shymmon Banerjee
  • Patent number: 9194533
    Abstract: A fixture mounting assembly comprises a track; and a fixture mount on the track and configured to engage a fixture, the track being pivotable between a generally upright orientation and a generally horizontal orientation where engagement of the fixture mount and fixture is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Peter McCarthy, Geoff Brennan
  • Patent number: 9189086
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises at least one imaging assembly having a field of view looking into a region of interest and capturing image frames and processing structure in communication with the at least one imaging assembly. When a pointer exists in captured image frames, the processing structure demodulates the captured image frames to determine frequency components thereof and examines the frequency components to determine at least one attribute of the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Grant McGibney, Tim Radke
  • Patent number: 9176627
    Abstract: A camera-based touch system (50) includes a passive touch surface (60) and at least two cameras (63) associated with the touch surface. The at least two cameras (63) have overlapping fields of view (FOV) encompassing the touch surface. The at least two cameras (63) acquire images of the touch surface from different locations and generate image data. A processor (54) receives and processes image data generated by the at least two cameras to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface when the pointer is captured in images acquired by the at least two cameras. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Gerald Morrison, David Holmgren
  • Patent number: 9117375
    Abstract: A computerized assessment grading method comprises creating a syntax tree for a received equation-based response to at least one assessment question and a syntax tree for at least one solution to the at least one question, comparing the syntax trees, and grading the response based on the results of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: David Labine, Lothar Wenzel, Albert Chu
  • Patent number: 9110512
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises computing structure; and an input device detecting at least one electronic device displaying a recognizable pattern within a three-dimensional (3D) input space and providing output to the computing structure. The computing structure processes the output of the input device to recognize the pattern displayed by the at least one electronic device in the 3D input space; detect the state of the at least one electronic device; and modify image data by applying a transition to digital content associated with the displayed pattern based on the detected state of the at least one electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Andrew Michael Exner
  • Patent number: 9098179
    Abstract: A method of enhancing features in a computing environment wherein a software application comprising compiled source code is executed, the method comprising inserting at least one content object into a canvas page of the software application. Each content object comprises code defining functionality attributed to the content object. The content object code is executed in response to interaction with the content object thereby to supplement host software application functionality with the attributed functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Cory Sanoy
  • Patent number: 9052745
    Abstract: A multi-monitor computer system includes a plurality of display devices communicating with at least one computing device executing an application management procedure. The application management procedure enables an application window available on one display device to be moved entirely to another display device by selecting the other display device from a dialog box displayed in response to a pointer-dragging input gesture on the application window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Douglas B. Hill, Michael Rounding, Daniel Mitchell, David Martin, Luqing Wang, Gregory Forrest