Simultaneous Viewing of Multiple Viewer-Specific Programming on a Single Display

• US 20120154553A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zustak, Frederick J., Candelore, Brant L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,773,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/356 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/403 the images being monoscopic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

In certain implementations, a method consistent with certain embodiments involves associating a first headset with a first viewer profile; associating the first headset with a first audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a first set of display refresh time slots; selecting a first advertisement based on criteria contained in the first viewer profile; displaying a video portion of the first advertisement on a video display during the first set of refresh time slots associated with the first headset; transmitting a synchronization signal that is synchronized to a video frame refresh clock to establish the video time slots; and transmitting an audio portion of the first advertisement on the first audio channel associated with the headset. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Claims

1. A method of operating a television, comprising:

associating a first headset with a first viewer profile;

associating a second headset with a second viewer profile;

associating the first headset with a first audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a first set of display refresh time slots;

associating the second headset with a second audio channel within the audio channel multiplex and with a second set of display refresh time slots;

selecting a first advertisement based on criteria contained in the first viewer profile;

selecting a second advertisement based on criteria contained in the second viewer profile;

displaying a video portion of the first advertisement on a video display during the first set of refresh time slots associated with the first headset;

displaying a video portion of the second advertisement on the video display during the second set of refresh time slots associated with the second headset;

transmitting a synchronization signal that is synchronized to a video frame refresh clock to establish the video time slots;

transmitting an audio portion of the first advertisement on the first audio channel associated with the headset;

transmitting an audio portion of the second advertisement on the second audio channel associated with the headset;

at a first headset;

receiving audio via the first audio channel at an audio receiver, reproducing the first audio channel as audio through a first transducer, and opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the first advertisement on the display;

at a second headset;

receiving audio via the second audio channel at an audio receiver, reproducing the second audio channel as audio through a second transducer, and opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the second advertisement on the display; and

where the video portion of the first and second advertisements comprise stereoscopic video portions, and where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisement is carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content.

2. A method of operating a television, comprising:

associating a first headset with a first viewer profile;

associating the first headset with a first audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a first set of display refresh time slots;

selecting a first advertisement based on criteria contained in the first viewer profile;

displaying a video portion of the first advertisement on a video display during the first set of refresh time slots associated with the first headset;

transmitting a synchronization signal that is synchronized to a video frame refresh clock to establish the video time slots; and

transmitting an audio portion of the first advertisement on the first audio channel associated with the headset.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

associating a second headset with a second viewer profile;

associating the second headset with a second audio channel within the audio channel multiplex and with a second set of display refresh time slots;

selecting a second advertisement based on criteria contained in the second viewer profile;

displaying a video portion of the second advertisement on the video display during the second set of refresh time slots associated with the second headset; and

transmitting an audio portion of the second advertisement on the second audio channel associated with the headset.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

at the first headset;

receiving audio via the first audio channel at an audio receiver;

reproducing the first audio channel as audio through a first transducer; and

opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the first advertisement on the display.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

at the second headset;

receiving audio via the second audio channel at an audio receiver;

reproducing the second audio channel as audio through a second transducer; and

opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the second advertisement on the display.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

at the first headset;

receiving audio via the first audio channel at an audio receiver,

reproducing the first audio channel as audio through a first transducer, and

opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the first advertisement on the display; and

at the second headset;

receiving audio via the second audio channel at an audio receiver,

reproducing the second audio channel as audio through a second transducer, and

opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the second advertisement on the display.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising displaying multiple images on the display with a blank image between each of the multiple images.

8. The method according to claim 2, where the video portion of the first advertisement comprises a stereoscopic video portion.

9. The method according to claim 2, where the video portion of the first advertisement comprises a two dimensional video portion.

10. The method according to claim 3, where the video portion of the second advertisement comprises a stereoscopic video portion.

11. The method according to claim 3, where the video portion of the second advertisement comprises a two dimensional video portion.

12. The method according to claim 2, where displaying the video portion of the first advertisement is carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content.

13. The method according to claim 3, where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisements are carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content.

14. The method according to claim 2, where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisements are carried out with greater brightness than if both headsets are receiving the same video image.

15. The method according to claim 2, where at least one of the first and second advertisements is received in real time.

16. The method according to claim 2, where at least one of the first and second advertisements is retrieved from a local advertisement library.

17. A tangible non-transitory computer readable electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on one or more programmed processors, carry out a method according to claim 2.

18. A method of operating a stereoscopic shutter glasses headset, comprising:

associating the headset with an audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a set of display refresh time slots;

receiving audio via an audio channel receiver, where the audio is selected as audio for an advertisement selected on the basis of a viewer profile;

receiving a video frame synchronization signal; and

opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses in synchronization to the video frame synchronization signal to reveal an image on a display, where the image is selected as video for the advertisement selected on the basis of the viewer profile.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising reproducing the audio channel as audio through a transducer forming a part of the shutter glasses headset.

20. The method according to claim 18, where the revealed image on the display comprises a stereoscopic video portion.

21. The method according to claim 18, where the revealed image on the display comprises a two dimensional video portion.

22. The method according to claim 18, where revealed image on the display of the advertisement occurs during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content.

23. The method according to claim 18, where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisements are carried out with greater brightness than if both headsets are receiving the same video image.

24. The method according to claim 18, where at least one of the first and second advertisements is received in real time.

25. The method according to claim 18, where at least one of the first and second advertisements is retrieved from a local advertisement library.

26. A tangible non-transitory computer readable electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on one or more programmed processors, carry out a method according to claim 18.

27. A television, comprising:

a storage device that stores a viewer profile;

a processor programmed to associate a headset with a viewer profile and store the association;

the processor being further programmed to associate the headset with an audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a set of display refresh time slots;

the processor being further programmed to select an advertisement based on criteria contained in the viewer profile;

a display that displays a video portion of the advertisement on a video display during the display refresh time slots associated with the headset; and

an audio transmitter that transmits an audio portion of the advertisement on the audio channel associated with the headset.

28. The television according to claim 27, further comprising the headset, where the headset comprises an audio receiver that receives audio via the audio channel and reproduces the audio channel as audio through a transducer;

and

shutter glasses that open and close left and right eye views to reveal the video portion of the advertisement on the display.

29. The television according to claim 27, where the video portion of the advertisement comprises a stereoscopic video portion.

30. The television according to claim 27, where displaying the video portion of the advertisement is carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content.

31. The television according to claim 27, where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisements are carried out with greater brightness than if both headsets are receiving the same video image.

32. The television according to claim 27, where at least one of the first and second advertisements is received in real time.

33. The television according to claim 27, where at least one of the first and second advertisements is retrieved from a local advertisement library.

34. A television, comprising:

a storage device that stores a plurality of viewer profiles;

a processor programmed to associate each of a plurality of headsets with one of the viewer profiles and store the associations;

the processor being further programmed to associate each headset with an audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a set of display refresh time slots;

the processor being further programmed to select a plurality of advertisements based on criteria contained in the viewer profile;

a display that displays a plurality of video portions of the selected plurality of advertisements on a video display during the respective display refresh time slots associated with each headset; and

an audio transmitter that transmits a plurality of audio portions of the selected plurality of advertisements on the audio channel associated with each headset.

35. The television according to claim 34, further comprising a plurality of headsets, where each headset comprises an audio receiver that receives audio via the associated audio channel and reproduces the audio channel as audio through a transducer;

and

shutter glasses that open and close left and right eye views to reveal the video portion of the associated advertisement on the display.

36. The television according to claim 34, where the video portion of the advertisement comprises a stereoscopic video portion.

37. The television according to claim 34, where displaying the video portion of the advertisement is carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content.

38. The television according to claim 34, where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisements are carried out with greater brightness than if both headsets are receiving the same video image.

39. The method according to claim 34, where at least one of the first and second advertisements is received in real time.

40. The method according to claim 34, where at least one of the first and second advertisements is retrieved from a local advertisement library.