Three-dimensional television viewing environment

• US 20040100484A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T.
• Application Number:
  US10/303,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/719
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A television viewing system that supports a three-dimensional television viewing environment renders media content, advertisements, program listings, and program recommendations in multiple two-dimensional areas within a three-dimensional environment. A viewer navigates the three-dimensional environment using an input device, such as a joystick or other game controller.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

rendering a three-dimensional environment in which multiple two-dimensional areas are defined; and

rendering media content in a first one of the two-dimensional areas.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the media content comprises broadcast media content.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the media content comprises a television program.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the media content comprises video-on-demand.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

rendering data associated with media content in a second one of the two-dimensional areas.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the data associated with media content comprises at least one of an electronic program guide, an advertisement, and a program recommendation.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are rendered within the same two-dimensional plane.

8. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are perpendicular to each other.

9. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are parallel to each other.

10. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 1.

11. A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 1.

12. A method comprising:

rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within a viewable area of a three-dimensional viewing environment;

rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment but outside of the viewable area; and

rendering a navigational landmark to indicate that the second two-dimensional area is available within the three-dimensional environment, but not currently in view.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the navigational landmark indicates a direction that when navigated will cause the second two-dimensional area to be within the viewing area.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the navigational landmark is selected from a group of navigational landmarks comprising an arrow, a colored bar, and text.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the rendering the navigational landmark is performed in response to a user input.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the rendering the navigational landmark is performed in response to a change in data or media content associated with the second two-dimensional area.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the rendering the navigational landmark is performed in response to a start of a broadcast television program.

18. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 12.

19. A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 12.

20. A method comprising:

rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content within a three-dimensional viewing environment;

rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment; and

when the first two-dimensional area is not within a viewing area, rendering the first two-dimensional area in a relative position to the viewing area, so that a viewer can easily navigate to the first two-dimensional area.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the relative position is configurable.

22. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 20.

23. A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 20.

24. A method comprising:

rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content within a three-dimensional viewing environment;

rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment; and

in response to a user input when the first two-dimensional area is not within a viewing area, moving the first two-dimensional area into the viewing area.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein the moving the first two-dimensional area into a viewing area comprises rotating or moving a virtual viewer perspective within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

26. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein the user input comprises a button press.

27. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 24.

28. A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 24.

29. A system comprising:

a tuner to receive media content and data associated with media content; and

a three-dimensional graphics processing unit to render the media content in a two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and to render the data in another two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

30. The system as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

a controller interface to receive input from an input device such that the input directs the three-dimensional graphics processing unit to navigate within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

31. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the input device is a game controller.

32. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the input device is a television remote control.

33. The system as recited in claim 29, implemented as a game console.

34. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

receive media content and other data; and

render the media content in a first two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and render the other data in a second two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

35. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34, wherein the media content comprises a broadcast television program.

36. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34, wherein the media content comprises a video-on-demand.

37. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34, wherein the other data comprises an advertisement.

38. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34, wherein the other data comprises an electronic program guide.

39. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34, wherein the other data comprises a program recommendation.

40. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

render the first two-dimensional area and the second two-dimensional area in different planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

41. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

render the first two-dimensional area and the second two-dimensional area in perpendicular planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

42. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

render the first two-dimensional area and the second two-dimensional area in parallel planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

43. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

render the first two-dimensional area and the second two-dimensional area in the same plane within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

44. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

receive media content and other data associated with the media content;

render the media content in a first two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and render the other data in a second two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment;

render a trigger in conjunction with the media content in the first two-dimensional area within a viewable area of the three-dimensional environment;

in response to a viewer selection of the trigger, cause the first two-dimensional area to move out of the viewable area and the second two-dimensional area to move into the viewable area.

45. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 44 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

pause the rendering of the media content while the first two-dimensional area is out of the viewable area; and

resume the rendering of the media content when the first two-dimensional area moves into the viewable area.

46. A media viewing system comprising:

means for receiving media content and data associated with media content; and

means for rendering a three-dimensional environment within which a first two-dimensional area contains the media content and a second two-dimensional area contains the data.

47. The media viewing system as recited in claim 46 further comprising:

means for receiving input that directs the media viewing system to navigate the three-dimensional environment.