Method for presenting media on an electronic device

• US 6,782,238 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Burg, Bernard, Sayers, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US10/214,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20040029086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 434/1, 434/27, 434/247-255, 434/308, 434/309
• US Class Current: 434/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

A method for presenting media on an electronic device. A landmark is identified based on a landmark sensor of the electronic device. Media is selected based on the landmark. The media is presented on the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for presenting media on an electronic device, said method comprising:

identifying a landmark based on a landmark sensor of said electronic device;

locking into the landmark to receive said media based on said landmark;

presenting said media on said electronic device; and

maintaining said locking into the landmark to present said media on said electronic device while said electronic device is directed away from the landmark to other landmarks.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said electronic device comprises a viewing device for guiding said landmark sensor of said electronic device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising calibrating said electronic device based on an orientation of said electronic device and a focus of said viewing device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said landmark sensor is an image sensor.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said identifying comprises:

capturing an image of said landmark; and

provided said image matches a stored image, identifying said landmark.

6. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said landmark sensor is an orientation sensor.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said identifying comprises:

determining an orientation of said electronic device;

determining a focus of said viewing device;

identifying said landmark based on said orientation and said focus.

8. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said identifying said landmark is based on a characteristic of said landmark.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving said media from a remote media provider.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said media is audio media.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said media is visual media.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said landmark is a physical marker.

13. An electronic device for presenting media comprising:

a bus;

a memory unit coupled to said bus;

a processor coupled to said bus, said processor for performing a method of presenting media;

a landmark detector coupled to said bus, said landmark detector for identifying a moveable landmark adapted to transmit said media to a remote media transmitter;

a receiver coupled to said bus, said receiver for receiving media from the remote media transmitter; and

a rendering module coupled to said bus, said rendering module for presenting said media based on said landmark.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said landmark detector is an image detector for identifying said landmark based on an image.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 further comprising a viewing module for directing an orientation of said electronic device and determining a focus of said viewing module.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 wherein said landmark detector is an orientation sensor for identifying said landmark based on said orientation and said focus.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said rendering module comprises an audio output for presenting audio media.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said rendering module comprises a display for presenting visual media.

19. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 further comprising a receiver coupled to said bus for receiving said media from a remote media transmitter.

20. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein said moveable landmark is a participant of a sporting event.

21. A method for presenting audio media on an electronic device, said method comprising:

identifying a first landmark and a second landmark based on a landmark sensor of said electronic device;

determining a first relative position of said first landmark in relation to said electronic device and a second relative position of said second landmark in relation to said electronic device;

selecting first audio media based on said first landmark and second audio media based on said second landmark; and

presenting said first audio media and said second audio media based on said first relative position and said second relative position.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising receiving said first audio media and said second audio media from a remote media provider.

23. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said first landmark and said second landmarks are physical markers.

24. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said presenting said first audio media and said second audio media comprises:

adjusting a volume of said first audio media based on said first relative position; and

adjusting a volume of said second audio media based on said second relative position.

25. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said presenting said first audio media and said second audio media comprises:

adjusting a balance of said first audio media based on said first relative position; and

adjusting a balance of said second audio media based on said second relative position.

26. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said presenting said first audio media and said second audio media comprises:

modifying the first audio media based on said first relative position and on a head-related transfer function; and

modifying the second audio media based on said second relative position and on said head-related transfer function.

27. An electronic device for presenting media comprising:

a bus;

a memory unit coupled to said bus;

a processor coupled to said bus for executing instructions for presenting media;

a landmark detector coupled to said bus, said landmark detector for identifying at least one of a plurality of moveable landmarks that transmits media;

a receiver coupled to said bus for receiving media transmitted from the at least one of the moveable landmarks; and

a rendering module coupled to said bus for presenting said media of said at least one moveable landmark.

28. The electronic device of claim 27 wherein the moveable landmarks include wireless microphones for transmitting audio media.

29. The electronic device of claim 27 further comprising an audio output, wherein media from different moveable landmarks are mixed and provided to the audio output of the electronic device.

30. The electronic device of claim 29 wherein the media from different moveable landmarks are mixed based on a relative position of the landmarks to each other.

31. The electronic device of claim 27 further comprising a media output, wherein media from multiple landmarks are merged and provided to the media output of the electronic device.

32. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein the multiple landmarks are participants in a sporting event.

33. The electronic device of claim 27 further comprising an audio output, wherein a volume of multiple landmarks increases or decreases as the electronic device scans over the multiple landmarks.

34. An electronic device, comprising:

a bus;

memory coupled to said bus;

a landmark sensor coupled to said bus; and

a processor coupled to said bus for executing instructions to perform;

identifying, with the landmark sensor, a first landmark and a second landmark;

determining a first relative position of said first landmark in relation to said electronic device and a second relative position of said second landmark in relation to said electronic device;

selecting first audio media based on said first landmark and second audio media based on said second landmark; and

presenting said first audio media and said second audio media based on said first relative position and said second relative position.

35. The electronic device of claim 34 wherein said presenting said first audio media and said second audio media further comprises:

adjusting a volume of said first audio media based on said first relative position; and

adjusting a volume of said second audio media based on said second relative position.