Displaying and Navigating Digital Media

• US 20080212039A1
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Alexander S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/79
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details

Abstract

A device for navigating and displaying digital media, such as images, videos, audio files etc, is described. The device determines the distance between the device and a projection screen and selects media for display based on this distance. A user can, therefore, navigate through a media collection by moving the projection screen with respect to the device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying and navigating media comprising:

a projector; and

a sensing system arranged to determine a distance between said apparatus and a projection surface,

wherein media is selected from a media store and displayed by said projector dependent upon said determined distance between said apparatus and said projection surface.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a processor; and

a memory arranged to store executable instructions to cause the processor to select media from a media store dependent upon said determined distance and to display said selected media using said projector.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said media store.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing system comprises a distance sensor.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing system comprises a computer vision system.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said media comprises at least one of:

an image, a video clip, an audio clip and a data file.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein media is selected from a media store and displayed by said projector is dependent upon said determined distance between said apparatus and said projection surface and a rate of change of said distance.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting an additional movement of said projection surface.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means comprises a computer vision system.

10. A method of displaying and navigating media comprising:

determining a distance between a projector and a projection surface; and

selecting media for display based on said distance; and

displaying said selected media using said projector.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein selecting media for display based on said distance comprises:

selecting media for display based on said distance and a rate of change of said distance.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein selecting media for display based on said distance comprises:

selecting a media item for display from a plurality of media items based on said distance.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said media item is selected sequentially from said plurality of media items based on said distance.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a predefined movement of said projection surface; and

wherein selecting media for display based on said distance comprises;

selecting media for display based on said distance and said detected predefined movement.

15. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a predefined movement of said projection surface; and

wherein displaying said selected media using said projector comprises;

upon detection of said predefined movement, starting playing said selected media.

16. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a predefined movement of said projection surface;

reading identification information from said projection surface; and

associating said identification information with media currently being displayed.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said identification information comprises one of a barcode and an RFID tag.

18. A method according to claim 10, wherein said media comprises at least one of:

an image, a video clip, an audio clip and a data file.

19. One or more device-readable media with device-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

determining a distance between a projector and a projection surface; and

selecting media for display based on said distance; and

displaying said selected media using said projector.