Information display device and information display method

An information display device includes a location obtaining part configured to obtain location information, a communication part configured to communicate with at least one other information display device through a network, a setting management part configured to determine setting information corresponding to the location information based on setting management information stored in a memory part of the at least one other information display device in response to an operation from a user, a display part configured to display information; and a control part configured to control an output of the information displayed on the display part by using the setting information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information display device and an information display method.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a meeting is frequently conducted by projecting contents stored in a PC (i.e., a personal computer) and the like on a projector. The projector is portable, and setting information of the projector such as brightness, color depth, a color shade and the like has to be set in accordance with an environment of a meeting room used in the meeting. In response to this, a technology is already known that automatically controls the setting information at a proper setting suitable for a location of the projector when using the projector.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2010-243845 (which is hereinafter called “Patent Document 1”) discloses a technology that automatically controls setting information at a setting suitable for a location of a projector when using the projector by preliminarily storing location information of the projector and setting information at the location, and by reading the setting information corresponding to the location of the projector when using the projector. In Patent Document 1, the utilized location information is arrangement information of the projector, and the setting such as compensation of a projected image is performed based on the location or an inclination of the projector.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2007-299148 (which is hereinafter called “Patent Document 2”) discloses a technology that creates print setting information based on general information (e.g., schedule information) stored in a server in a MFP (i.e., Multifunction Peripheral).

However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not assume that the projector uses the setting information of another projector when automatically controlling the setting information of its own projector.

On the other hand, in automatically controlling the setting information of its own, if utilizing the setting information of another projector, the projector can set the setting information of its own to be suitable for the usage environment more quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a novel and useful information display device and an information method solving or reducing one or more of the above-described problems.

More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention may provide an information display device and an information display method that can set setting information at a location corresponding to its own location by utilizing setting information of another information display device.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information display device that includes a location obtaining part configured to obtain location information, a communication part configured to communicate with at least one other information display device through a network, a setting management part configured to determine setting information corresponding to the location information based on setting management information stored in a memory part of the at least one other information display device in response to an operation from a user, a display part configured to display information, and a control part configured to control an output of the information displayed on the display part by using the setting information.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information display device that includes a location information obtaining part configured to obtain location information, a communication part configured to communicate with an external memory device through a network, a setting management part configured to determine setting information corresponding to the location information based on setting management information of at least one other information display device stored in the external memory device in response to an operation from a user, a display part configured to display information, and a control part configured to control an output of the information displayed on the display part by using the setting information.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information display method. In the method, a first information display device obtains location information of a first information display device in response to an operation of the first information display device by a user, and requests at least one second information display device to provide setting information corresponding to the location information for the first display device through a network. The at least one second information display device determines the setting information corresponding to the location information based on setting management information stored in a memory part of the at least one second information display device. Then, the first information display device obtains the setting information from the at least one second display device, and displays information on a display part of the first display device by controlling an output of the information, using the setting information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description is given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of respective embodiments of the present invention. In the present specification and drawings, with respect to components having the substantially same function and configuration to each other, an overlapping description is omitted by attaching the same numerals to the substantially same components.

[Whole Configuration of System]

A description is given below about an information display system of first through sixth embodiments, with reference toFIG. 1. In the information display system1of the first through sixth embodiments, an information display device10, an information display device40and an information display device50are connected through a network30. The information display devices10,40and50may be the same devices or different devices as long as each of the information display devices10,40and50has a communication function and a display function. In the following embodiments, a projector is cited as an example of each of the information display devices, and a description is given by replacing the information display device10, the information display device40and the information display device50with a projector10, a projector40and a projector50respectively. However, the information display devices are not limited to the projectors, and can be other portable electronic devices such as tablet devices and the like. Moreover, in the present embodiments, a description is given by citing an amount of light (i.e., brightness) as setting information of a self-projector as an example, but performing the automatic control using color depth, a color shade or the like as the setting information is possible.

In the present embodiments, any projector obtains desired setting information from setting management information stored in a memory area in another projector on the network30. An analog line, an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line, a digital line (e.g., ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line), a landline utilizing an optical fiber, a cellar phone network, a mobile phone network such as PHS (Personal Handyphone System) network, or the internet can be used as the network30.

In the present embodiments, the projectors10,40and50have the same configuration. Accordingly, inFIG. 2, internal configurations of the projectors10and40are shown, but an internal configuration of the projector50is omitted. Hereinafter, for the convenience of explanation, a description is given by assuming that the projector10functions as the self-projector that automatically controls the setting information, and that the projector40functions as another projector. However, any of the projectors10,40and50can function as the self-projector, and any of the projectors10,40and50can function as another projector.

The projector10includes an operation part11, a location obtaining part12, a communication part13, a setting management part14, a control part15, a display part16, and a memory part17.

The operation part11is constituted of, for example, a remote control, and allows a user to operate the projector10by accepting an operation from the user.

The location obtaining part12obtains location information indicating a location where the projector10is arranged. The location obtaining part12obtains a coordinate indicating the location of the projector10, for example, by using a GPS (Global Positioning System).

The communication part13is, for example, constituted of a communication circuit and an antenna, and communicates with another projector through the network30.

The setting management part14, whose function is, for example, executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that is not shown in the drawing, obtains the setting information corresponding to the location information from setting management information stored in a memory part of another projector depending on the user operation using the operation part11, and treats the setting information as the setting information of the self-projector.

The control part15, whose function is, for example, executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that is not shown in the drawing, controls the whole projector10. The control part15controls an output (i.e., an amount of light) of information displayed on the display part16, for example, by using the setting information.

The display part16is, for example, constituted of a display, and displays the information at the controlled amount of light.

The memory part17is, for example, constituted of a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory) that is not shown in the drawing, and stores a program or various data to implement respective functions of the projector10.

An example of the setting management information stored in the memory part17is shown inFIG. 5. Setting management information140is managed by the setting management part14. The setting management information140is automatically stored when the projector10is turned off. The memory part17stores the setting information at the time when the self-projector was previously used, in the setting management information140. Hence, the setting information142is a value that the user set the last time or before the last time. Moreover, the location information141is a location where the projector10was used, and is obtained by the location obtaining part12.

InFIG. 5, an A meeting room and a B meeting room is set as the location information141, and a level 5 and a level 3 are set as the setting information142corresponding to the respective A and B meeting rooms. Here, the amount of light in which the projector10was previously used in the A meeting room and the amount of light in which the projector10was used in the B meeting room were shown by a difference in level. In the present embodiments, the control is performed to display the information more brightly as the level of the setting information142is higher.

The location information is obtained by converting the coordinate information transmitted from the GPS and the like. For example, asFIG. 6shows an example of a location information conversion table120, the location information conversion table120stores coordinate information121and location information122corresponding therewith each other. The location obtaining part120converts the coordinate information transmitted from the GPS and the like to a meeting room name as the location information, and stores the meeting room name in the location information conversion table120. The location information conversion table120is stored in the memory part17in the projector10or in a memory device on the network30.

The projector40includes an operation part41, a location obtaining part42, a communication part43, a setting management part44, a control part45, and a memory part47. Because functions of respective parts of the projector40are the same as the functions of the respective parts of the projector10, the description is omitted here.

[Modification of Whole System Configuration]

A configuration shown inFIG. 3may be adopted as a modification of the information display system1. The information display system1of the modification is configured to include an information display device10having a communication function that is connected to an external memory device20through a network30, and obtains the setting management information from the external memory device20. The external memory device20may be a memory area on a specific server that manages the information display device10, or may utilize a memory area on cloud computing.

The information display device (i.e., projector10) of the modification, as shown inFIG. 4, includes an operation part11, a location obtaining part12, a communication part13, a setting management part14, a control part15, and a display part16. The information display device10of the present modification differs from the information display device10inFIG. 2that internally includes the memory part17, in the lack of the memory part17inside.

The information display system1of the modification communicates with the external memory device20through the network30. The setting management part14obtains setting information corresponding to the location information obtained by the location obtaining part12from the setting management information of other projectors40and50stored in the external memory device20, according to the user operation, and defines the setting information as the setting information of the self-projector10.

The control part15controls an output (i.e., an amount of light) of information displayed on the display part16by using the determined setting information. For example, the control part15controls the amount of light in displaying the information on the display part16by using the determined setting information. The display part16displays the information at the controlled amount of light.

[Sequence of Storing Setting Management Information]

Next, a description is given about a process of storing setting management information, with reference to a sequence of storing the setting management information inFIG. 7. The process of storing the setting management information is conducted according to the following procedure when a projector is turned off. Here, the process of storing the setting management information can be executed in all of the projectors10,40and50. As a result of the execution, new setting information is corresponded to the location information and is stored in the setting management information stored in the memory part in each of the projectors. A description is given below about operation of the projector10, and a description about operation of the projectors40and50that operate similarly to the projector10is omitted.

0. The projector10is turned off by user operation.

0.1. The operation part11requests the setting management part14to store setting contents in response to the power-off.

0.2. The setting management part14obtains location information of the projector10from the location obtaining part12.

0.3. The setting management part14associates the obtained location information with the setting information of the projector10of this time, and stores the information associated with each other. For example, if the setting level is set at the level 5 and the projector10is used in the A meeting room this time, as shown inFIG. 5, the setting management information140including the location information141of the A meeting room and the setting information of the level 5 is stored in the memory part17.

[Sequence of Determining Setting Information]

Next, a description is given about a process of determining the setting information, with reference to a sequence of determining the setting information inFIG. 8. The process of determining the setting information is executed when the projector is turned on. The process of determining the setting information can be executed in all of the projectors10,40and50. Here, when the projector (setting information obtainer side) is made the self-projector, and the projector10(setting information provider side) is made another projector, a description is given about operation of the projector40. Because operation in which the projector10or50is made the self-projector is similar to the above case, the description is omitted here.

1. The projector40is turned on by user operation, and the projector40starts up.

1.1. The operation part41requests the setting management part44to obtain the setting information in response to the power-on.

1.2. The setting management part44obtains location information of the projector40from the location obtaining part42.

1.3. The setting management part44determines whether the obtained location information of the present projector40is included in the location information in the memory part47of the self-projector, and obtains the setting information if included. In this case, a process of 1.4. may be executed without performing processes from 2.1. to 2.6. described below, or the processes from 2.1. to 2.6. may be further conducted. When the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information is not included in the location information in the memory part47, the processes from 2.1. to 2.6. have to be performed.

2. When the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information is not included in the memory part47, the setting information corresponding to the location information of the present projector40is obtained from another projector10.

2.1. First, the setting management part44requests another projector10to obtain setting information corresponding to the present location information. Another projector is not limited to the projector10, but a description is given by citing the projector10as an example here.
2.2. The communication part43transmits the request to the communication part13of the other projector10, and the communication part13receives the request.
2.3. The communication part13conveys this request to the setting management part14of the other projector10.
2.4 The setting management part14obtains the setting information corresponding to the present location information of the projector40that is transmitted from the memory part17. The communication part13transmits the obtained setting information to the projector40through the communication part43. Here, when the present location information of the projector40is not included in the location information stored in the memory part17, the communication part13notifies the projector40that the present location information of the projector40is not included in the location information stored in the memory part17.
2.5. The setting management part44of the projector40determines that the setting information sent from the projector10is the setting information corresponding to the present location information of the projector40.
2.6. The setting management part44stores the determined setting information in the memory part47, associating the determined setting information with the location information. Here, in the modifications shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the communication part43transmits the determined setting information to the external memory device20, and stores the determined setting information in the external memory device20, associating the determined setting information with the location information.

1.4. When the setting management part44determines the setting information, then the operation part41requests the setting management part44to display the setting information.

1.5. The setting management part44obtains the setting information corresponding to the location of the present projector40from the memory part47.

1.6. The control part45controls an output (i.e., amount of light) of the information displayed on the display part46based on the obtained setting information.

1.7. The display part46displays desired information in accordance with output control of the control part45on the display.

As discussed above, the processes from 2.1. to 2.6. can be performed for another projector50. In this case, the setting management part44can obtain the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information from the memory part of the projector50. Accordingly, the number of the setting information that the setting management part44can obtain can be a plurality of pieces.

Moreover, when there is another projector other than the other projectors10and50, the projector40may communicate with the communicable projector not shown in the drawing, and may obtain the setting information in a similar way. Furthermore, even when the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information is stored in the memory part47, the projector40may further obtain the setting information from the projector.

Next, a description is given about specific examples of methods of determining the setting information, including a method of determining the setting information when having obtained a plurality of pieces of the setting information, by illustrating first through sixth separate embodiments. The methods of determining the setting information described in the first through sixth embodiments can be used in a single or in combination.

Method of Determining Setting Information

First Embodiment

Next, a description is given about specific methods of determining the setting information of first through sixth embodiments in this order. First, a description is given about a method of determining the setting information of the first embodiment, based on a flowchart of a process of determining the setting information shown inFIG. 9. In the first embodiment, the projector40determines the setting information corresponding to the self-location (i.e., A meeting room here) by using the setting management information stored in the memory part17of the other projector10.

The present embodiment assumes that the memory part17of the projector10preliminarily stores setting management information140shown inFIG. 10, and that the memory part47of the projector40preliminarily stores setting management information440shown on the left side ofFIG. 10.

When a user enters the A meeting room and turns on the projector40, first, in step S90, the setting management part44obtains location information from the location obtaining part42. At this time, the setting management part44determines whether the obtained location information is stored in the setting management information440of the memory part47of its own. When the obtained location information is stored in the memory47of its own, the setting management part44determines that setting information corresponding to the location information is the setting information of the projector40, and finishes the process or advances to step S92.

When the obtained location information (i.e., A meeting room) is not stored in the memory part47of the projector40, (or when having advanced to step S92even if stored), the processes in a box of2shown inFIG. 8are performed. As a result, the projector40obtains determined setting information from the other projector10based on the process of determining the setting information performed by the other projector10in the box2.

Here, as shown inFIG. 10, there is setting information142when location information141is an A meeting room in the setting management information140. Hence, the setting management part14determines that the setting information is “level 5”, and the communication part13transmits the setting information of “level 5” to the projector40.

In step S94, it is determined whether the projector40has obtained a plurality of pieces of setting information. Here, because the projector40has not obtained the plurality of pieces of information, the process advances to step S95. In step S95, the obtained setting information of “level 5” of the other projector10is defined as the setting information of the self-projector40, and the present process is finished.

As described above, according to the method of determining the setting information of the first embodiment, the projector40used in the A meeting room projects desired information at the brightness of “level 5” by utilizing the setting information stored in the other projector10as shown inFIG. 10. In addition, the setting information of this time is stored in the memory part47, associated with the A meeting room of the location information. As a result, the setting information corresponding to the A meeting room is stored in the setting management information440of the memory part47, in addition to the setting information corresponding to the B meeting room and the C meeting room. In this manner, the setting management information440of the projector40can be also utilized as the setting information in using the projectors10and50.

In particular, in a place where a projector is used for the first time, even if the setting information (i.e., history information) of the self-projector connected to the location information cannot be automatically set due to the lack of the setting information of the self-projector, the setting information appropriate for the location of the self-projector can be promptly and automatically set by utilizing the setting information of another projector.

Moreover, the information display system shown inFIG. 1has advantages that the memory device20is not required to be prepared, and that the projectors can utilize the setting information of each other by obtaining the setting information of the other projector and by incorporating the setting information of the other projector as the setting information of its own, compared to the information display system of the modification shown inFIG. 3.

Second Embodiment

Next, a description is given about a method of determining the setting information of a second embodiment with reference toFIG. 9again. In the second embodiment, the projector50determines the setting information corresponding to the location information of its own (i.e., A meeting room here) by using the setting information stored in the memory parts17and47of the plurality of other projectors10and40.

The present embodiment assumes that the memory part17of the projector10preliminarily stores setting management information140shown inFIG. 11, and the memory part47of the projector40preliminarily stores setting management information440shown inFIG. 11. Furthermore, the memory part of the projector50is assumed to preliminarily store setting management information540shown on the left side ofFIG. 11.

When a user enters the A meeting room and turns on the projector50, first, in step S90, a setting management part of the projector50obtains location information from a location obtaining part of the projector50. At this time, the setting management part of the projector50determines whether the obtained location information is stored in the setting management information540of own memory part. When the obtained location information is stored in the memory part of its own, the setting management part determines that setting information corresponding to the location information is the setting information of the projector50, and finishes the present process flow, or advances to step S92.

When the obtained location information (i.e., A meeting room) is not stored in the memory part of the projector50(or when proceeding to step S92even if stored), the processes in the box2. shown inFIG. 8are executed. As a result, the projector50obtains the determined setting information from the other projectors10and40based on the process of determining the setting information performed by the other projectors.

Here, as shown inFIG. 11, the setting management information140contains setting information142when location information141is the A meeting room. Accordingly, the setting management part14determines that the setting information is “level 5,” and the communication part13sends the setting information of “level 5” to the projector40.

Moreover, as shown inFIG. 11, the setting management information440contains setting information442when location information441is the A meeting room. Hence, the setting management part44determines that the setting information is “level 4,” and the communication part43sends the setting information of “level 4” to the projector50.

In step S94, it is determined whether the projector40has obtained a plurality of pieces of setting information. In the present embodiment, since the projector50has obtained the plurality of pieces of setting information, the process advances to step S96. In step S96, the projector50determines that a maximum value of “level 5” is the setting information of its own of the plurality of pieces of setting information of the other projectors10and40, and finishes the present process flow.

As described above, according to the method of determining the setting information of the second embodiment, the projector50used in the A meeting room projects desired information at the brightness of “level 5” by utilizing the maximum value of the plurality of pieces of setting information stored in the other projectors10and40. Thus, by adopting the brighter value as the setting value of the projector, the information can be displayed in a state visually easy to see.

Furthermore, the setting information of this time is stored in the memory part of the projector50as the setting information of the projector50in the A meeting room. As a result, the setting management information540in the memory part of the projector50stores the setting information corresponding to the A meeting room of the location information in addition to the setting information corresponding to the B meeting room and the C meeting room. The setting information of the projector50can be also utilized as the setting information when the projectors10and40are respectively used.

Third Embodiment

Next, a description is given about a method of determining the setting information of a third embodiment, with reference toFIG. 12. The third embodiment is an example of storing energy-saving information in a memory part for each projector. The energy-saving information is information set in a projector by user operation, and is stored in the memory part when setting. The energy-saving information is set at either a normal mode or an energy-saving mode.

Here, as shown inFIG. 13, an example is given in which the setting information of the projector50in the A meeting room is determined based on the setting management information140stored in the projector10and the setting management information440stored in the projector40. The memory part of the projector50is assumed to preliminarily store the setting management information540shown inFIG. 13.

When a user enters the A meeting room, and turn on the projector50, first, in step S120, the setting management part of the projector50obtains location information from the location obtaining part of the projector50. Furthermore, in step S122, the setting management part of the projector50obtains energy-saving information. At this time, the setting management part of the projector50retrieves whether the obtained location information is stored in the setting management information540in the memory part of its own. When the obtained location information is stored in the self-memory part, the setting management part of the projector50determines that setting information corresponding to the stored location information is the setting information of the projector50, and finishes the present process flow. Of course, advancing to step S124without finishing the process is possible.

When the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information (e.g., A meeting room) is not stored in the memory part of the projector50(which includes a case of having advanced to step S124), the processes in the box2. shown inFIG. 8are executed. As a result, the projector50obtains the determined setting information from other projectors10and40based on the processes of determining the setting information that the other projectors10and40perform in the box2.

Here, as shown inFIG. 13, the setting information142when the location information is the A meeting room is included in the setting management information140. Accordingly, the setting management part14determines that the setting information is “level 5,” and the communication part13transmits the setting information of “level 5” to the projector40.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 13, the setting management information440contains setting information442when the location information is the A meeting room. Hence, the setting management part44determines that the setting information is “level 4,” and the communication part43transmits the setting information of “level 4” to the projector50.

In step S126, it is determined that the projector50has obtained a plurality of pieces of setting information. Here, because the projector50has obtained the plurality of pieces of setting information, the process proceeds to step S128, and the setting management part44determines whether the energy-saving information is the energy-saving mode.

The energy-saving information is set at the energy-saving mode, the process advances to step S130. In step S130, the setting management part44determines that a minimum value of “level 4” is the setting information of the self-projector50, of the obtained plurality of pieces of setting information of the other projectors10and40, and finishes the present process flow.

When the energy-saving is set at the normal mode, in step S132, the setting management part44determines that the obtained setting information of “level 5” is the setting information of its own, of the plurality of pieces of obtained setting information of the other projectors10and40as well as the second embodiment, and ends the present process flow.

As described above, according to the method of determining the setting information of the third embodiment, when the energy-saving information is the normal mode, the brightest value is adopted as the setting information of the plurality of pieces of setting information obtained from the plurality of projectors, by which the setting information determined by the projector50becomes similar to that of the second embodiment.

On the other hand, when the energy-saving information is the energy-saving mode, the darkest value is adopted as the setting information of the plurality of pieces of setting information obtained from the plurality of projectors. Because of this, when a user wishes to save energy, as shown inFIG. 13, the setting information determined by the projector50is set at the minimum vale of “level 4,” and information is displayed at the set brightness, by which energy consumption is reduced. In this way, in the present embodiment, intention of a user can be reflected to the setting of the projector50, and the energy saving can be ensured.

When the plurality of pieces of setting information do not exist, the setting information of the other projector obtained in step S134is utilized as the setting information of the self-projector.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a description is given about a method of determining the setting information of a fourth embodiment, with reference to a sequence of determining the setting information inFIG. 15. The fourth embodiment is an example showing a case of storing control parameter conversion information in a memory part for each projector.FIG. 14shows an example of the control parameter conversion information. The control parameter conversion information170is configured to include setting information171that a user sets, and a control parameter172to actually control a projector. In the fourth embodiment, a property of each model is considered by using the control parameter conversion information170in determining the setting information. By doing this, in the present embodiment, even when setting information of a different model is utilized, the setting information proper for a model of the self-projector can be obtained by utilizing the setting information retained by another projector. The control parameter conversion information170is preliminarily stored within the projector, and cannot be changed.

A process of determining the setting information inFIG. 15is executed in the following procedure when the projector is turned on. Here, the self-projector is made the projector40(i.e., setting information obtaining side), and another projector is made the projector10(i.e., setting providing side), under which operation of the projector40is described.

1. The projector40is powered on by user operation, and the projector40starts up.

1.1. The operation part41requests the setting management part44to obtain setting information according to the power-on.

1.2. The setting management part44obtains location information of the projector40from the location obtaining part42.

1.3. The setting management part44retrieves whether the obtained location information is stored in the memory part47, and obtains setting information corresponding to the location information when stored. In this case, a process of 1.4. is carried out without performing processes from 2.1. to 2.6 described below. Of course, the process of 1.4 may be executed after performing the processes from 2.1. to 2.6. described below.

2. When the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information is not stored in the memory part47, setting information corresponding to the present location of the projector40is obtained from the other projector10.

2.1. First, the setting management part44requests the other projector10to obtain the setting information corresponding to the present location information depending on a control parameter.

2.2. The communication part43transmits the request to the communication part13of the other projector10, and the communication part13receives the request.

2.3. The communication part13conveys the request to the setting management part14of the other projector10.

2.4. The setting management part14obtains the setting information corresponding to the present location information of the projector40sent from the memory part17.

2.5. The setting management part14converts the setting information obtained based on control parameter conversion information170into a control parameter. The communication part13transmits the converted control parameter to the projector40through the communication part43. For example, inFIG. 17, when the setting information is “level 5,” the setting information is converted to “750 lux” of a control parameter172corresponding to the setting information171of the control parameter conversion information170.
2.6. The setting management part44of the projector40determines the setting information corresponding to the control parameter sent from the projector10based on control parameter conversion information470. For example, inFIG. 17, the setting management part44determines “level 3” of setting information471corresponding to “750 lux” of a control parameter472.
2.7. The setting management part44stores the determined setting information in the memory part47, associating with the location information.

1.4. When the setting information is determined by the setting management part44, the operation part41requests the setting management part44to display information.

1.5. The setting management part44obtains the setting information corresponding to the present location of the projector40from the memory part47.

1.6. The control part45controls the output (amount of light) of information displayed on the display part46by using the setting information.

1.7. The display part46displays the information in accordance with control by the control part45.

In the present embodiment, even in the projectors10and40having different performances, the setting information of the projector40in the A meeting room can be determined based on the setting information of the projector10.

Next, a description is given below about operation of determining the setting information corresponding to the control parameter sent from the projector10based on the control parameter conversion information470shown in 2.6. ofFIG. 15, based on a flowchart for a process of determining the setting information shown inFIG. 16.

In the present embodiment, the memory part17of the projector10assumes to preliminarily store the setting management information140, and the memory part47of the projector40assumes to preliminarily store the setting management information440and the control parameter470. The setting management information440on the left side ofFIG. 17shows a state before obtaining the setting information, and the setting management information440on the right side ofFIG. 17shows a state after obtaining the setting information.

The setting management part44of the projector40determines the setting information corresponding to the control parameter sent from the projector10based on the control parameter conversion information470(2.6. inFIG. 15). First, in step S160inFIG. 16, the setting management part44determines whether there is setting information corresponding to control parameter equal to the control parameter obtained from the other projector10in the control parameter conversion information470stored in the self-memory part47.

When the setting information exists, in step S162, the setting management part44determines that the setting information is the setting information of the self-projector40.FIG. 17shows a case of converting “level 5” of setting information171of the control parameter conversion information170into “750 lux” of the control parameter172, based on “level 5” of the setting information142obtained from the setting management information140, and of transmitting the converted “750 lux” to the projector40. In this case, the setting management part44determines that “level 3” of setting information471corresponding to “750 lux” of a control parameter472is the setting information of the self-projector40based on the control parameter conversion information470.

In contrast, returning toFIG. 16again, in step S160, when it is determined that the setting information corresponding to the control parameter equal to the control parameter obtained from the other projector10does not exist, the process proceeds to step S164. In step S164, the setting management part44determines whether the control parameter conversion information470contains setting information corresponding to a control parameter greater than the control parameter obtained from the other projector10.

When the setting information exists, in step S166, the setting management control part44determines that setting information corresponding to the control parameter of the minimum value among the control parameters greater than the obtained control parameter is the setting information of the self-projector40.

For example,FIG. 18shows an example of a series of processes of steps S160, S164and S166. Setting management information440on the left side ofFIG. 18shows a state before obtaining the setting information, and setting management information440on the right side ofFIG. 18shows a state after obtaining the setting information.

InFIG. 18, the setting information142in the location information141of “A meeting room” of the projector10is “level 5.” According to the control parameter conversion information170inFIG. 18, the control parameter172corresponding to “level 5” of the setting information171is “750 lux.” Hence, the projector40obtains the control parameter of “750 lux.”

Furthermore, the setting management part44converts “750 lux” of a control parameter472to the setting information based on the control parameter conversion information470. At this time, the control parameter conversion information470does not contain the control parameter472of “750 lux.” Accordingly, the setting management part44selects the minimum value of “1000 lux” among the control parameters472of “1000 lux” and “1500 lux” that are greater than the obtained control parameters of “750 lux,” and determines that setting information of “level 4” corresponding to the control parameter is the setting information of the self-projector40. By doing this, the setting management information440stored in the memory part47of the projector40is updated as shown on the right side ofFIG. 18.

Returning toFIG. 16again, a description is given about a case of the control parameter conversion information470that does not contain the setting information corresponding to the control parameter greater than the control parameter obtained from the other projector10in step S164. In this case, in step S168, the setting management part44determines that the maximum value of the self-projector40is the setting information of the self-projector40.

For example,FIG. 19shows an example of a series of processes of steps S160, S164and S168. Setting management information440on the left side ofFIG. 19shows a state before obtaining the setting information, and setting management information440on the right side ofFIG. 19shows a state after obtaining the setting information.

As described above, according to the method of determining the setting information of the fourth embodiment, the setting information is determined, considering a property of each model by using the control parameter. Due to this, even when the information display devices having the same performances do not exist, the setting information suitable for a model of the self-projector can be acquired by utilizing the setting information retained in another projector of a different model.

In addition, even when the self-projector does not contain setting information corresponding to the same control parameter as the control parameter of the other projector that has obtained the setting information, setting information appropriate for performance of each projector can be determined.

Furthermore, even when the self-projector having obtained setting information and a corresponding control parameter from other projector, has inferior performance to the other projector, and the obtained control parameter is higher than the maximum value of control parameters of its own, the setting information suitable for the inferior performance of the self-projector can be determined.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, a description is given about a method of determining the setting information of a fifth embodiment. A projector10of a fifth embodiment further has a function of a time management part18in addition to the function of the projector10shown inFIG. 2. In other words, as shown inFIG. 20, the projector10includes an operation part11, a location obtaining part12, a communication part13, a setting management part14, a control part15, a display part16, a memory part17, and a time management part18.

Here, a description is mainly given about a function of the time management part18added newly. The time management part18a timer function that obtains time information. The time management part18manages time information by associating the time information with time zone information, using the timer function.FIG. 21shows an example of time zone definition information180stored in the memory part17. The time zone definition information180stores time information181and time zone information182corresponding to each other. The time zone information182is information that defines time zones according to the time information181such as morning, afternoon and evening.

FIG. 22shows setting management information440of the projector40as an example of the setting management information. In the present embodiment, time zone information443is added to the setting management information in addition to the location information441and the setting information442. This makes it possible to change a level of the setting information442according to the time zone, for example, even if the location information is the A meeting room.

A description is given about a method of determining the setting information of a fifth embodiment, concretely referring to a flowchart ofFIG. 23.

When a user enters the A meeting room and powers on the projector10, first, in step S230, the setting management part14obtains location information from the location obtaining part12. Moreover, is step S232, the setting management part14obtains time zone information including the present time that is obtained by using the timer function. At this time, the setting management part14retrieves whether the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information and time zone information is stored in the setting management information140of the self-memory part17. When the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information and time zone information is stored in the self-memory part17, the setting management part14determines that the stored setting information is the setting information of the projector10, and finishes the present process flow. Of course, proceeding to step S234without finishing the process is possible.

On the other hand, when the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information and time zone information is not stored in the memory part17of the projector10(or when proceeding to step S234), in step S234, the setting management part14obtains the determined setting information from the other projector based on the location information and the time zone information.

Here, as shown inFIG. 22, when the location information is “A meeting room” in the setting management information440of the other projector40, the setting information consistent with the time zone information obtained from the other projector10is selected of the three time zones of “morning,” “afternoon,” and “evening,” and sent to the projector10.

For example, when the location information sent to the other projector40from the projector10is “A meeting room,” and the time zone information is “morning,” it is determined that the setting information is “level 5.”

Accordingly, the setting management part44determines that the setting information is “level 5,” and the communication part43transmits the setting information of “level 5” to the projector10. In this manner, the setting management part14obtains the setting information of “level 5” of the other projector40corresponding to the location information of the projector10and the time zone information when the projector10is used.

Next, in step S236, it is determined whether the setting information the projector10has obtained includes a plurality of pieces of setting information. Here, because the obtained setting information does not include the plurality of pieces of setting information, the process advances to step S240. In step S240, the setting management part14determines that the obtained other projector's setting information of “level 5” is the setting information of the self-projector50, and finishes the present process flow.

In contrast, when the setting information that the projector10has obtained includes the plurality of pieces of setting information, the process proceeds to step S238. In step S238, the setting management part14determines that the maximum value of the setting information within the same time zone among the obtained plurality of pieces of setting information of the other projector is the setting information of the self-projector, and finishes the present process flow.

In the present embodiment, when storing the setting information in the memory part17, the self-projector obtains the time information with the location information from the time management part18at that point. The time management part18obtains the time zone information182from the time zone definition information180, based on the time information at that point, and stores the obtained time zone information in the memory part17, associating the location information with the setting information.

As described above, according to the method of determining the setting information of the fifth embodiment, because the setting information is determined by adding the time zone information to the location information, the setting information indicating an environment closer to the actual usage environment of the projector can be determined based on the setting information of the other projector.

In the above embodiment, when the self-projector requests the setting information to the other projector, the self-projector transmits the time information with the location information at that point. However, it is possible that the self-projector transmits only the location information, that the other projector by itself acquires the time information at that point by using the timer function of its own and calculates the time zone information from the acquired time information at that point, and that the setting information is determined based on the transmitted location information and the calculated time zone information.

Sixth Embodiment

Next, a description is given about a method of determining the setting information of a sixth embodiment. A projector10of the sixth embodiment further includes a function of a brightness obtaining part19, in addition to the function of the projector10shown inFIG. 2. In other words, as shown inFIG. 24, the projector10includes an operation part11, a location obtaining part12, a communication part13, a setting management part14, a control part15, a display part16, a memory part17, and a brightness obtaining part19.

Here, a description is mainly given about the brightness obtaining part19added newly. The brightness obtaining part19includes a sensor to detect brightness of the surrounding (not shown in the drawing), and calculates brightness information around the projector10from the sensor detection value.FIG. 25shows setting management information440of the projector40as an example of the setting management information. The setting management information440contains added brightness information444in addition to location information441and setting information442. As shown inFIG. 25, for example, even if the location information is the A meeting room, a level of the setting information442can be changed by the brightness information444.

A concrete description is given about a method of determining the setting information of the sixth embodiment, with reference to a flowchart ofFIG. 26.

When a user enters the A meeting room and powers on the projector10, first, in step S260, the setting management part14obtains location information from the location obtaining part12. Moreover, in step S262, the setting management part14obtains brightness information at a location where the projector10is placed from a sensor value detected by the sensor. At this time, the setting management part14retrieves the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information and brightness information is stored in the setting management information140in the self-memory part17. When the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information and brightness information is stored in the self-memory part17, the setting management part14determines that the stored setting information is the setting information of the projector10, and finishes the present process. Of course, the process can advance to step S264without finishing the process.

On the other hand, when the setting information corresponding to the obtained location information and brightness information is not stored in the memory part17of the projector10(or when the process advances to step S264), in step S264, the setting management part14obtains the determined setting information from the other projector based on the location information and the brightness information.

When the self-projector requests the setting information to the other projector, the self-projector also transmits the brightness information with the location information to the other projector. The other projector that provides setting information determines that the setting information having the same location information and brightness information as the transmitted location information and brightness information is the setting information, and sends the setting information to the projector10. When the other projector does not have the same brightness information as the sent brightness information, the other projector10determines that the setting information having the lowest level of brightness among the brightness information brighter than the transmitted brightness information is the setting information, and sends the determined setting information to the projector10.

Here, as shown inFIG. 25, when the location information441is “A meeting room” in the setting management information440of the other projector40, the setting information consistent with the brightness information obtained from the projector10is selected from among two pieces of brightness information444of “2000 lux” and “500 lux.” When the location information obtained from the projector10is “A meeting room” and the brightness information is “500 lux,” “level 3” of the setting information442is selected.

Accordingly, the setting management part44determines that the setting information is “level 3,” and the communication part43transmits the setting information of “level 3” and the brightness information of “500 lux” to the projector10. By doing this, the setting management part14of the projector10obtains the setting information of “level 3” of the other projector40in accordance with the location information of the projector10and the brightness environment where the projector10is used.

Furthermore, for example, when the location information obtained from the projector10is “A meeting room” and the brightness information is “700 lux,” the setting management information440does not contain the same brightness information444as “700 lux.” In this case, the other projector40defines the lowest level of brightness as the setting information among the plurality of pieces of brightness information brighter than the obtained brightness information. In this case, the setting information is defined as “level 5” inFIG. 25.

Hence, in this case, the setting management part44determines that the setting information is “level 5,” and the communication part43sends the setting information of “level 5” and the brightness information of “2000 lux” to the projector10.

In this way, the setting management part14obtains the setting information more suitable for the location information of the projector10and the brightness environment where the projector10is used from the other projector40.

Next, in step S266, the setting management part14determines whether the projector10has obtained a plurality of setting information. When the projector10has not obtained the plurality of setting information, the process proceeds to step S268. In step S268, the setting management part14determines that the obtained setting information of the other projector is the setting information of the self-projector, and finishes the present process.

When the projector10has obtained the plurality of pieces of setting information, the process proceeds to step S270, and the setting management part14determines whether the brightness information is coincided.

When the brightness information sent from the projector10to the other projector40is “500 lux” and the projector10has obtained the setting information444of “level 3” and the brightness information442of “500 lux” from the other projector40, the setting management part14determines that the setting information having the same brightness information of the other projector exists, defines the setting information of “level 3” of the other projector40consistent with the brightness information of its own as the setting information of the self-projector in step S272, and finishes the present process.

In contrast, when the brightness information sent from the projector10to the projector40is “500 lux” and the projector10has obtained the setting information442of “level 5” and the brightness information444of “2000 lux,” the setting management part14determines that the setting information having the same brightness information does not exist among the obtained plurality of pieces of setting information of the other projector40, defines the lowest level of the setting information of “level 5” as the setting information of the self-projector among the brightness information greater than the obtained plurality of pieces of brightness information, and finishes the present process.

As discussed above, according to the method of determining the setting information of the sixth embodiment, because the setting information is determined by adding the brightness information to the location information, the setting information indicating the environment closer to the usage environment of the projector based on the setting information of the other projector.

As described above, according to the information display systems1of the respective embodiments, the setting information corresponding to the location of the self-projector can be set by utilizing the setting information of the other projector.

In the information display systems1of the respective embodiments, each of the projectors stores the setting information mapping to the location information in the memory area in a server or a projector body on the network30when turning off the power of the projector. Then, when a certain projector is powered on, the certain projector receives the setting information stored in another projector or a server through the network30, and determines the most appropriate setting information at the disposed location of the certain projector by utilizing the received setting information.

This makes it possible to set a setting suitable for the place based on the setting information stored in the other projector. In particular, even in a location where the projector is used for the first time, the setting appropriate for the place of the projector can be performed by utilizing the setting information stored in the other projector. The utilized location information is a meeting room where the projector is used and the like, and the brightness in displaying information can be adjusted in accordance with the usage environment.

In this manner, according to one embodiment of the present invention, setting information corresponding to a location of a self-information display device can be set by using setting information of another information display device.

As discussed above, the embodiments have described an information display system and an information display method with reference to accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The information display device includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that is not shown in the drawings. A program to implement respective functions executed by the CPU may be stored in a memory unit such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that is not shown in the drawings included in a computer (not shown in the drawing) from the beginning. Otherwise, the program may be recorded in a non-volatile recording medium (i.e., memory) such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-ROM), a flexible disk, an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable ROM), a memory card and the like, and the CPU execute the program by installing the program recorded in the memory into the computer, or by allowing the CPU to read the program from the memory. Furthermore, the CPU is connected to a network, and can download the program from an external device including a record medium recording the program or an external device storing the program in a memory unit.

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Priority Patent Application No. 2012-120643, filed on May 28, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.