Desktop computer conferencing system

Abstract

A man-computer-man communications system, including a computer workstation ( 10 ), which is comprised of a display device ( 22 ), graphic tablet ( 18 ), stylus ( 14 ), computer unit ( 24 ), and display device screen ( 16 ) located at convenient locations. The active area of the graphic tablet is a transparent surface area ( 18 ), which is coincident to the display screen and is approximately the same size as the display screen. The graphic tablet device may include active or passive stylus ( 14 ). A keyboard unit ( 12 ) and telephone unit ( 28 ) may be added to the workstation. An external communications system may be added to transmit and receive data to or from remote computers or other workstations. The computer unit ( 24 ) controls the operation of the workstation and external communications.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A tablet device comprising:
 a display screen housing having internal circuitry with one or more microprocessors, the internal circuitry being operatively coupled to a communications network external to the tablet device; and   a direct-view display screen physically coupled to said display screen housing and operatively coupled to the control circuitry of said display screen housing, said direct-view display screen being a flat screen, active matrix liquid crystal display, said direct-view display screen being configured and operative to respond to physical contact thereon by multiple different external selection devices, the external selection devices being physically and electrically separate from the tablet device and being a passive stylus or a user's finger, the direct-view display screen being configured and operative to display thereon hand-generated information from one of the external selection devices,   wherein the one or more microprocessors is configured to run an operating system, a real-time teleconferencing application program, and one or more application programs, the real-time teleconferencing application program enabling real-time, two-way, simultaneous graphical and voice telecommunications between the tablet device and another electronic device via the external communications network,   wherein the internal circuitry is operative to integrate voice data and graphical data for the real-time, two-way, simultaneous graphical and voice telecommunications between the tablet device and another electronic device via the external communications network, the real-time, two-way, simultaneous graphical and voice telecommunications including real-time transmission of the hand-generated information to the another electronic device, and   wherein the tablet device is configured such that the operating system boots, a setup for the one or more application programs and the real-time teleconferencing application program is performed.   
     
     
         9 . The tablet device according to  claim 8 , wherein the tablet device is a graphic tablet device. 
     
     
         10 . The tablet device according to  claim 8 , wherein the tablet device is electrically coupled to the external communications network via an external communications cable physically coupled to the tablet device. 
     
     
         11 . The tablet device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the tablet device is a graphic tablet device,   wherein the tablet device is configured to receive input from the passive stylus and the user's finger and respond thereto,   wherein the hand-generated information is handwritten information, and   wherein the external communication network is a LAN or wide area network.   
     
     
         12 . The tablet device according to  claim 8 , wherein the tablet device is configured to provide a user-selectable option on the direct-view display screen to select and initialize memory and I/O devices, the user-selectable option being for loading one or more application programs and the real-time teleconferencing application program. 
     
     
         13 . The tablet device according to  claim 8 , wherein the tablet device is operative to provide a user-selectable option to initialize and load one or more application programs and the real-time teleconferencing application program. 
     
     
         14 . The tablet device according to  claim 8 , wherein said direct-view display screen includes a transparent graphic tablet. 
     
     
         15 . The tablet device according to  claim 8 , wherein the tablet device is part of a computer workstation comprised of a desk or pedestal for supporting the tablet device. 
     
     
         16 . The tablet device according to  claim 8 , wherein said direct-view display screen is configured and operative to display a white background. 
     
     
         17 . A data conferencing system comprising:
 a first conferencing computer including:
 a first display device adapted to receive a portion of information from a first graphic input device, the portion of information including graphic data that is displayed on the first display device; 
 a first communication device with the first display device and configured to connect the first conferencing computer to a conferencing computer external to the first conferencing computer, wherein the first conferencing computer is configured to a personal computer configured to run an operating system, a computer conferencing program adapted to real-time communication, and a plurality of personal computer application programs; and 
 a first display comprising a display screen configured to display graphic data entered via the first graphic input device and graphic data received from the external conferencing computer at a data rate necessary for natural user input, 
   wherein the data conferencing system is configured such that data communicated between the first conferencing computer and the external conferencing computer is communicated at real-time,   wherein the external conferencing computer is a similar type computer as the first conferencing computer, and   wherein the first conferencing computer is configured to provide a user-selectable option on the first display device to select and initialize memory and I/O devices, the user-selectable option being for loading one or more of the plurality of personal computer application programs and the computer conferencing program.   
     
     
         18 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first conferencing computer is a tablet device, and wherein the first display device has a flat, direct-view screen. 
     
     
         19 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 18 , wherein the screen is adjustable so as to be positioned at multiple distinct predetermined screen angles. 
     
     
         20 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first communication device is configured for connection to the external conferencing computer via a LAN or a wide area network. 
     
     
         21 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first graphic input device is a graphic tablet position determination device connected to the display device and first conferencing computer. 
     
     
         22 . A data conferencing system comprising:
 a first conferencing computer including:
 a first display device adapted to receive a portion of information from a first graphic input device, the portion of information including graphic data that is displayed on the first display device; 
 a first communication device with the first display device and configured to connect the first conferencing computer to a conferencing computer external to the first conferencing computer, wherein the first conferencing computer is configured to a personal computer configured to run an operating system, a dedicated computer conferencing application program adapted to real-time communication, and a plurality of dedicated personal computer application programs, and wherein the operating system, an application program setup, and the dedicated computer conferencing application program are configured to initialize sequential, with the operating system initializing first, the application program setup initializing after the operating system, and the dedicated computer conferencing application program initializing after the operating system and the application program setup; and 
 a first display comprising a display screen configured to display graphic data entered via the first graphic input device and graphic data received from the external conferencing computer at a data rate necessary for natural user input, 
   wherein the data conferencing system is configured such that data communicated between the first conferencing computer and the external conferencing computer is communicated at real-time, and   wherein the external conferencing computer is a similar type computer as the first conferencing computer.   
     
     
         23 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 22 , wherein the first conferencing computer is configured to provide a user-selectable option on the first display device to select and initialize memory and I/O devices, the user-selectable option being for loading one or more of the plurality of dedicated personal computer application programs and the dedicated computer conferencing application program. 
     
     
         24 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the first conferencing computer is a tablet device, and   wherein the first display device has a flat, direct-view screen.   
     
     
         25 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 24 ,
 wherein the screen is adjustable so as to be positioned at multiple distinct predetermined screen angles, and   wherein the first display device is configured and operative to display on a flat display screen thereof a white background.   
     
     
         26 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 22 , wherein the first communication device is configured for connection to the external conferencing computer via a LAN or a wide area network. 
     
     
         27 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 22 , wherein the first graphic input device is a graphic tablet position determination device connected to the display device and first conferencing computer. 
     
     
         28 . The data conferencing system according to  claim 22 , the dedicated computer conferencing application program has all its necessary functions performed by the first personal computer. 
     
     
         29 . A personal computer conferencing program residing on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a first personal computer to:
 display data received from a first graphic input device to a first display device, a portion of information including graphic data;   communicate data between the first personal computer and an external personal computer for the purpose of data conferencing, wherein at least the first personal computer has an operating system and a single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program having all its necessary functions performed on the first personal computer and adapted to real-time communication, and is capable of executing a plurality of personal computer application programs, wherein the operating system, an application program setup, and the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program are configured to initialize sequentially, with the operating system initializing first, the application program setup initializing after the operating system, and the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program initializing after the operating system and the application program setup;   receive first key data from a keyboard device connected to the first personal computer and display such received data;   display data entered from the first personal computer and external personal computer at a data rate necessary for natural user input and output; and   perform two-way data conferencing communication between the first personal computer and the external personal computer, wherein communication is at real-time and via an external communication network.   
     
     
         30 . The personal computer conferencing program according to  claim 29 , wherein the first personal computer executes a window graphical user interface. 
     
     
         31 . The personal computer conferencing program according to  claim 29 , wherein the sequential initialization of the operating system and the application program setup are for setup of the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program, and wherein the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program is loaded. 
     
     
         32 . The personal computer conferencing program according to  claim 31 , wherein the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program is configured to be loaded with respect to loading of one or more application programs. 
     
     
         33 . The-personal computer conferencing program according to  claim 31 , wherein the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program is configured to be loaded simultaneous with loading of one or more application programs. 
     
     
         34 . The personal computer conferencing program according to  claim 29 ,
 wherein the sequential initialization of the operating system and the application program setup are for setup of the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program and one or more application programs, and   wherein the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program and the one or more application programs having been setup can be loaded.   
     
     
         35 . The personal computer conferencing program according to  claim 29 ,
 wherein the first personal computer is caused to provide a user-selectable option to initialize and load one or more application programs and the single, unitary, and dedicated computer conferencing program,   wherein the first personal computer is a tablet device, and   wherein the first graphic input device is configured and operative to be responsive to physical input from both a stylus or a user's finger.   
     
     
         36 . The personal computer conferencing program according to  claim 29 , wherein the external communication network is a Local Area Network (LAN). 
     
     
         37 . The personal computer conferencing program according to  claim 29 , wherein the external communication network is an external wide area network.