Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus that provides predetermined and user determined areas on an electronic whiteboard which provides the user with various computer-related functions. In particular, a communication server would monitor the hot zones for detection of the users electronic pen. If the communication server detects the users electronic pen in the hot zone area for longer than a predetermined time, for example two seconds, then the communication server would perform the function defined by that particular hot zone. A plurality of hot zones may be defined and fixed as part of either the electronic whiteboard environment, or they may be relative so that a user can define particular hot zone areas, including their location, content and function. These hot zone areas may be moved anywhere in the electronic whiteboard area.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for obtaining a hard copy of an electronic image, a plurality of image luminescence values corresponding to pixels of an electronic image are received and a probability distribution of the plurality of image luminescence values is generated. Each image luminescence value has a first binary bit length. From the probability distribution, the luminescence values having less than a desired quantity of image luminescence values associated therewith are determined. Two or more adjacent groups of continuous luminescence values are identified from the probability distribution. Each luminescence value of each group has greater than or equal to the desired quantity of image luminescence values associated therewith. The two or more adjacent groups are separated by one or more of the luminescence values having less than the desired quantity of image luminescence values associated therewith.