METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING A PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT

• US 20120011546A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, William, Ng, Virginia, MEUNINCK, TROY, Morris, Nadia, Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,918,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to present a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, and cause the single presentation device to present a user interface for one of the plurality of unassociated media programs responsive to detecting a request for the user interface. Each of the plurality of unassociated media programs can be viewable only with a viewing apparatus. The viewing apparatus can be configured for viewing one of the unassociated media programs at a time. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Claims

1. A media processor, comprising a controller to:

assign a first viewing apparatus to a first of one or more periodic time slots;

assign a second viewing apparatus to a second of one or more periodic time slots;

cause a presentation device to present a first image during the first of the one or more periodic time slots;

cause the presentation device to present a second image during the second of the one or more periodic time slots; and

cause the presentation device to present a user interface to the first viewing apparatus responsive to detecting a request for the user interface;

wherein the first image and the user interface are not viewable from the second viewing apparatus, and wherein the second image is not viewable from the first viewing apparatus.

2. The media processor of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the presentation device to adjust the first image presented to the first viewing apparatus responsive to detecting a selection from the user interface.

3. The media processor of claim 1, wherein the user interface corresponds to one of a menu and an electronic programming guide, and wherein the controller is operable to customize the user interface according to a user profile.

4. The media processor of claim 1, wherein the first and second images comprise two-dimensional or three-dimensional video content or still image content, wherein the media processor comprises one of a set-top box, a computer, a gaming console, and a portable communication device, and wherein the first and second viewing apparatuses correspond to one of shutter glasses or polarized glasses.

5. The media processor of claim 1, comprising:

an imaging sensor,

wherein the controller is operable to;

receive from the imaging sensor an image of at least a portion of a user of the first viewing apparatus; and

detect an action in the received image that prompts the request for the user interface.

6. The media processor of claim 5, wherein the action corresponds to a detected hand motion.

7. The media processor of claim 6, wherein the first image corresponds to a media program supplied to the media processor by a media system, and wherein the detected hand motion corresponds to a request for one of a change in volume of an audio signal associated with the first image, panning a canvas of the media program, zooming into the media program, zooming out of the media program, or switching to another media program.

8. The media processor of claim 1, comprising:

first and second remote controllers,

wherein the controller is operable to;

assign the first remote controller to the first viewing apparatus;

assign the second remote controller to the second viewing apparatus; and

receive the request for the user interface from the first remote controller.

9. The media processor of claim 8, wherein the first remote controller comprises a motion detector, and wherein the first remote controller is operable to detect a motion, and transmit the detected motion to the media processor.

10. The media processor of claim 9, wherein the controller is operable to adjust to the first image responsive to the detected motion.

11. The media processor of claim 10, wherein the controller is operable to pan a canvas of the first image, and wherein the canvas is larger than what is viewable of the first image by the first viewing apparatus.

12. The media processor of claim 9, wherein the first remote controller comprises a location detector, and wherein the controller is operable to:

receive location information from the first remote controller; and

determine from the location information and the detected motion one of the request for the user interface or a subsequent request that causes one of an adaptation to the user interface or the first image.

13. The media processor of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to perform one of:

adapt the first image from a two-dimensional to three-dimensional perspective responsive to a selection from the user interface;

adapt the first image from a three-dimensional to two-dimensional perspective responsive to the selection from the user interface;

adapt volume of an audio signal transmitted to the first viewing apparatus responsive to the selection from the user interface;

or

replace the presentation of the first image with another image responsive to the selection from the user interface.

14. The media processor of claim 1, wherein the first viewing apparatus comprises an audio system and a transceiver, wherein the first viewing apparatus is operable to detect a speech command and transmit the speech command to the media processor, and wherein the speech command corresponds to one of the request for the user interface, or a subsequent request that causes one of an adaptation to the user interface or the first image.

15. The media processor of claim 14, wherein the viewing apparatus comprises a tactile interface for operating the user interface.

16. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions to:

present a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, wherein each of the plurality of unassociated media programs is viewable only with a viewing apparatus, and wherein the viewing apparatus is configured for viewing one of the unassociated media programs at a time; and

cause the single presentation device to present a user interface for one of the plurality of unassociated media programs responsive to detecting a request for the user interface.

17. The storage medium of claim 16, comprising computer instructions to detect the request for the user interface from one of:

information supplied by the viewing apparatus;

one or more captured images of a user of the viewing apparatus;

or

a remote controller assigned to the viewing apparatus.

18. A method, comprising presenting a user interface during a presentation of a media program presented by a single presentation device, wherein the media program corresponds to one of a plurality of unassociated media programs presented from the single presentation device, wherein the plurality of unassociated media programs have overlapping presentation periods, wherein each of the plurality of unassociated media programs is viewable only with a viewing apparatus, and wherein the viewing apparatus is configured for viewing one of the unassociated media programs at a time.

19. The method of 18, wherein the request for the user interface is detected from one of:

information supplied by the viewing apparatus;

one or more captured images of a user of the viewing apparatus;

or

a remote controller assigned to the viewing apparatus.

20. The method of 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of unassociated media programs is presented with a three-dimensional perspective.