Systems and methods for operating a virtual whiteboard using a mobile phone device

1. A method for operating a virtual whiteboard using a mobile phone device, comprising the steps of:

generating the virtual whiteboard, wherein the mobile phone device is coupled to the virtual whiteboard to input data to the virtual whiteboard;

connecting the mobile phone device to an external display device;

displaying the virtual whiteboard on the external display device; and

operating the virtual whiteboard using the mobile phone device;

wherein markings on the virtual whiteboard correspond to spatial movements of the mobile phone device, wherein the operating step has three modes, an idle mode, a writing mode, and an erasing mode, wherein the virtual whiteboard having a virtual tray disposed thereon and the virtual tray having a plurality of writing instruments and an eraser, wherein upon activating the virtual whiteboard, the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode, wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the writing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in reaching into the virtual tray for one of the writing instruments and activating it as a current writing instrument, wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode from the writing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in putting into the virtual tray the current writing instrument, wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the erasing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in reaching into the virtual tray for the eraser, and wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode from the erasing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in putting into the virtual tray the eraser.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone device has an accelerometer to track the spatial movements of the mobile phone device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a first mobile phone device and a second phone device operate said virtual whiteboard, wherein the first mobile phone device is connected to the external display device, and wherein the first mobile phone device communicates with said second mobile device, passes operating control to said second mobile device, and receives operating instructions from said second mobile phone device in operating said virtual whiteboard.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second mobile phone device designates a second display device for displaying said virtual whiteboard.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the second mobile phone device passes operating control back to the first mobile phone device.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the mobile phone devices communicate via cellular communication.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone device has a touchscreen, wherein a user interface (“UI”) for operating the virtual whiteboard is displayed on the touchscreen, and wherein the UI receives user input by detecting gestures on the touchscreen.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the UI displays a first window and a second window on the touchscreen, wherein the second window is positioned over the first window, wherein the first window is a display of the virtual whiteboard and the second window is a display of a zoomed in view of a selected area of the virtual whiteboard, and wherein the markings are written to the virtual whiteboard at the selected area by the detected gestures on the second window.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second window is adjusted to display a different zoomed in view of an area of the first window according to the gesture.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the second window is adjusted automatically to a direction to receive a next gesture.

11. A method for operating a virtual whiteboard using a mobile phone device, comprising the steps of:

generating the virtual whiteboard, wherein the mobile phone device is coupled to the virtual whiteboard to input data to the virtual whiteboard;

connecting the mobile phone device to an external display device;

displaying the virtual whiteboard on the external display device; and

operating the virtual whiteboard using the mobile phone device;

wherein markings on the virtual whiteboard correspond to spatial movements of the mobile phone device,

wherein the mobile phone device has an accelerometer to track the spatial movements of the mobile phone device,

wherein the operating step has three modes, an idle mode, a writing mode, and an erasing mode, wherein the virtual whiteboard having a virtual tray disposed thereon and the virtual tray having a plurality of writing instruments and an eraser, wherein upon activating the virtual whiteboard, the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode, wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the writing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in reaching into the virtual tray for one of the writing instruments and activating it as a current writing instrument, wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode from the writing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in putting into the virtual tray the current writing instrument, wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the erasing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in reaching into the virtual tray for the eraser, and wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode from the erasing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in putting into the virtual tray the eraser.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a first mobile phone device and a second phone device operate said virtual whiteboard, wherein the first mobile phone device is connected to the external display device, and wherein the first mobile phone device communicates with said second mobile device, passes operating control to said second mobile device, and receives operating instructions from said second mobile phone device in operating said virtual whiteboard.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second mobile phone device designates a second display device for displaying said virtual whiteboard.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second mobile phone device passes operating control back to the first mobile phone device.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the mobile phone devices communicate via cellular communication.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the mobile phone device has a touchscreen, wherein a user interface (“UI”) for operating the virtual whiteboard is displayed on the touchscreen, wherein the UI receives user input by detecting gestures on the touchscreen, wherein the UI displays a first window and a second window on the touchscreen, wherein the first window is a display of the virtual whiteboard and the second window is a display of a zoomed in view of a selected area of the virtual whiteboard, and wherein the markings are written to the virtual whiteboard at the selected area by the detected gestures on the second window.

17. A method for operating a virtual whiteboard using a mobile phone device, comprising the steps of:

generating the virtual whiteboard, wherein the mobile phone device is coupled to the virtual whiteboard to input data to the virtual whiteboard;

connecting the mobile phone device to an external display device;

displaying the virtual whiteboard on the external display device; and

operating the virtual whiteboard using the mobile phone device;

wherein markings on the virtual whiteboard correspond to spatial movements of the mobile phone device,

wherein the mobile phone device has an accelerometer to track the spatial movements of the mobile phone device,

wherein the operating step has three modes, an idle mode, a writing mode, and an erasing mode,

wherein the virtual whiteboard having a virtual tray disposed thereon and the virtual tray having a plurality of writing instruments and an eraser,

wherein upon activating the virtual whiteboard, the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode,

wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the writing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in reaching into the virtual tray for one of the writing instruments and activating it as a current writing instrument,

wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode from the writing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in putting into the virtual tray the current writing instrument,

wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the erasing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in reaching into the virtual tray for the eraser,

wherein the virtual whiteboard enters the idle mode from the erasing mode upon the mobile phone device detecting the spatial movement of the mobile phone device being directed in putting into the virtual tray the eraser,

wherein a first mobile phone device and a second phone device operate said virtual whiteboard,

wherein the first mobile phone device is connected to the external display device,

wherein the first mobile phone device communicates with said second mobile device, passes operating control to said second mobile device, and receives operating instructions from said second mobile phone device in operating said virtual whiteboard,

wherein the second mobile phone device designates a second display device for displaying said virtual whiteboard,

wherein the second mobile phone device passes operating control back to the first mobile phone device,

wherein the mobile phone devices communicate via cellular communication,

wherein the mobile phone device has a touchscreen, wherein a user interface (“UI”) for operating the virtual whiteboard is displayed on the touchscreen,

wherein the UI receives user input by detecting gestures on the touchscreen,

wherein the UI displays a first window and a second window on the touchscreen,

wherein the first window is a display of the virtual whiteboard and the second window is a display of a zoomed in view of a selected area of the virtual whiteboard, and

wherein the markings are written to the virtual whiteboard at the selected area by the detected gestures on the second window.