Displaying and navigating digital media

• US 8,100,541 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ko, Tony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reilly-Diakun, Jori S
• Application Number:
  US11/681,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20080212039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 353/79, 353/101, 353/122, 353/7, 353 69- 70, 359/446, 359/449
• US Class Current: 353/122
• 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 arranged to display image files stored in a media store; and

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

wherein an image file is selected from the media store 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, wherein said sensing system comprises a distance sensor.

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

5. 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.

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

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

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means comprises a computer vision system.

9. A method of displaying and navigating media comprising:

storing a plurality of images to a media store for a projector;

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

selecting at least one image for display from a plurality of images stored in a media store for display based on said distance; and

displaying said selected image using said projector.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein selecting media for display based on said distance comprises:

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

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said media item is selected sequentially from said plurality of media items based on said distance.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a predefined movement of said projection surface, said predefined movement being the result of at least one of the following;

tapping the projection surface against another surface;

tilting the projection surface;

moving the projection surface in a side to side motion;

moving the projection surface in an up and down motion;

or

moving the projection surface in a circular motion; and

wherein selecting media for display based on said distance comprises;

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

13. A method according to claim 9, 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, playing said selected media.

14. A method according to claim 9, 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.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said identification information comprises one of a barcode and an RFID tag.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein said media item comprises at least one of:

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

17. A method of displaying and navigating media comprising:

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

selecting a first image file for display from a plurality of image files stored in a media store for display based in part on the first distance; and

displaying the selected first image file using the projector;

moving the projector or the projection surface to a new position;

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

selecting a second image file for display from the plurality of image files stored in the media store for display based on the second distance; and

displaying the selected second image file using the projector.