Combined surface user interface

摘要

Techniques for utilizing two or more mobile devices equipped with projectors to generate a combined seamless user interfaces by stitching projection areas generated by the projectors.

主权项

1. A mobile computing device comprising:
a processor; a first projector that projects to a first projection area on a surface external to the mobile computing device, wherein the first projector projects a user interface within the first projection area; an illuminator that illuminates an input area with non-visible light, the input area including at least the first projection area projected by the first projector and first portions of projection areas projected from projectors of one or more neighboring computing devices, wherein the first projector is distinct from the projectors of the one or more neighboring computing devices; a camera that detects portions of the first projection area that overlap with second portions of the projection areas on the surface projected from the projectors of the one or more neighboring computing devices and monitors the non-visible illumination of the input area to detect touch-type interaction with the first projection area projected by the first projector and the first portions of the projection areas projected from the projectors of the one or more neighboring computing devices; a communication system allowing the mobile computing device to communicate with the one or more neighboring computing devices; and collaboration logic executed by the processor that interacts with the one or more neighboring computing devices through the communication system to (a) graphically stitch the first projection area of the mobile computing device with the projection areas projected from the projectors of the one or more neighboring computing devices based on the detection of the portions of the first projection area that overlap with the second portions of the projection areas projected from the projectors of the one or more neighboring computing devices and (b) create a combined seamless user interface utilizing the first projection area of the mobile computing device and the projection areas projected from the projectors of the one or more neighboring computing devices; wherein the combined seamless user interface allows graphical representations to span the first projection area projected from the first projector of the mobile computing device and the projection areas projected from the projectors of the one or more neighboring computing devices in response to the touch-type interaction that occurs within the combined seamless user interface and within the input area illuminated from the mobile computing device.