SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ENHANCE TELEVISION VIEWING

• US 20100052847A1
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric US Incorporated (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric US Incorporated (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Mortensen, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/547,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052847A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.530
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling centralized environmental and television positional control to enhance the viewing experience. In one embodiment, an environmental controller is used to adjust or control lighting, window coverings, etc., and a television positional controller is used to adjust the position of the television.

Claims

1. A television viewing process comprising the steps of

receiving instructions to proceed with a viewing activity selected by a user,

adjusting position of television to positional settings corresponding to the selected viewing activity, and

adjusting environmental settings to environmental settings corresponding to the selected viewing activity.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps of adjusting television positional settings and environment settings to neutral positional and environmental settings once the viewing activity is complete.

3. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps of adjusting television positional settings and environment settings to neutral positional and environmental settings when the television is powered off.

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps of prompting the user to select a viewing activity.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the step of prompting the user to select a viewing activity includes presenting a list of viewing activities in a navigable user interface on a display screen of the television.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the list is in the form of graphical icons.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein the list of viewing activities include one or more of “

watch movie”

, “

watch TV”

, “

watch news”

, “

watch sports”

, and “

play games”

.

8. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps of retrieving positional settings corresponding to the viewing activity stored in memory in the television.

9. The process of claim 8 further comprising the steps of retrieving environment settings corresponding to the viewing activity stored in memory in the television.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the environmental settings include one or more of “

overhead lights”

, “

LV lights”

, “

sky light shade”

, “

window shade” and

“

door shade”

.

11. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps of receiving the identity of the viewer that selected the viewing activities.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein the step of adjusting the position of the television includes adjusting the position of the television to positional settings corresponding to the viewer'"'"'s preference for the selected viewing activity.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein the step of adjusting the environment settings includes adjusting the environment settings to environment settings corresponding to the viewer'"'"'s preference for the selected viewing activity.

14. The process of claim 13 further comprising the steps of identifying the viewer that selected the viewing activities.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein the step of identifying the viewer includes comparing a viewer specific characteristic to viewer specific characteristics stored in memory.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein the viewer specific characteristic is a finger print.

17. The process of claim 16 further comprising the steps of sensing the viewer'"'"'s fingerprint at a sensor on the television.

18. The process of claim 17 further comprising the steps of sensing the viewer'"'"'s fingerprint at a sensor on a remote control unit.