Method and apparatus for presenting media content

• US 9,479,764 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• 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: Meuninck, Troy, Brown, William A., Morris, Nadia, Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALCE, JASON P
• Application Number:
  US13/746,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20130128018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 725/43, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 348 51- 59
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/339 using spatial multiplexing H04N13/337 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, presenting a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, receiving information from a viewing apparatus to adjust an intensity of emitted light associated with one of the unassociated media programs, and adjusting the intensity of the emitted light in a manner that is detectable by the viewing apparatus supplying the information. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated.

Claims

1. A viewing apparatus, comprising:

a memory to store computer instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising;

receiving first instructions to display first images during a first periodic time slot of a plurality of periodic time slots;

receiving second instructions to display second images during a second periodic time slot of the plurality of periodic time slots;

receiving first light signals at a first intensity and associated with the first images, wherein the viewing apparatus comprises a first optical element that allows the first light signals to penetrate the first optical element during the first periodic time slot to display the first images during the first periodic time slot;

receiving second light signals of a second intensity and associated with the second images, wherein the viewing apparatus comprises a second optical element that allows the second light signals to penetrate the second optical element during the second periodic time slot to display the second images during the second periodic time slot;

providing illumination information to adjust the first intensity of the first light signals and thereby produce updated first light signals having an updated intensity; and

receiving the updated first light signals having the updated intensity while the second intensity of the second light signals remains unchanged.

2. The viewing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a synchronization signal; and

synchronizing to the first periodic time slot and to the second periodic time slot according to the synchronization signal.

3. The viewing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a synchronization signal; and

adjusting the first intensity of the first light signals at the viewing apparatus according to the synchronization signal.

4. The viewing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an audio signal; and

presenting audio content according to the audio signal.

5. The viewing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises a first active shutter element, and wherein the second optical element comprises a second active shutter element.

6. The viewing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first optical element has a first polarization configuration, and wherein the second optical element has a second polarization configuration.

7. The viewing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light sensor, wherein the operations further comprise:

capturing a signal from the light sensor; and

converting the signal to the illumination information.

8. The viewing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the signal comprises ambient light, light traversing the first optical element of the viewing apparatus, light traversing the second optical element of the viewing apparatus, the light emitted during the first periodic time slot, the light emitted during the second periodic time slot, or any combinations thereof.

9. The viewing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination information is provided responsive to a manipulation of a user interface at the viewing apparatus.

10. A computer-readable storage device comprising computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor of a viewing apparatus, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving first instructions to display first images during a first periodic time slot of a plurality of periodic time slots;

receiving second instructions to display second images during a second periodic time slot of the plurality of periodic time slots;

receiving first light signals at a first intensity and associated with the first images, wherein the viewing apparatus comprises a first optical element that allows the first light signals to penetrate the first optical element during the first periodic time slot to display the first images during the first periodic time slot;

receiving second light signals of a second intensity and associated with the second images, wherein the viewing apparatus comprises a second optical element that allows the second light signals to penetrate the second optical element during the second periodic time slot to display the second images during the second periodic time slot;

providing illumination information to adjust the first intensity of the first light signals and thereby produce updated first light signals having an updated first intensity; and

receiving the updated first light signals having the updated first intensity while the second intensity of the second light signals remains unchanged.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a synchronization signal; and

synchronizing to the first periodic time slot and to the second periodic time slot according to the synchronization signal.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an audio signal; and

presenting audio content according to the audio signal.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the first light signals comprises ambient light, light traversing the first optical element of the viewing apparatus, light traversing the second optical element of the viewing apparatus, the light emitted during the first periodic time slot, the light emitted during the first periodic time slot, or any combinations thereof.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the illumination information is provided responsive to a manipulation of a user interface at the viewing apparatus.

15. A media processor device, comprising:

a memory to store computer instructions; and

a controller coupled to the memory, wherein the controller, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising;

directing a viewing apparatus to display first images during a first periodic time slot of a plurality of periodic time slots;

directing the viewing apparatus to display second images during a second periodic time slot of the plurality of periodic time slots;

directing a presentation device to emit first light signals of a first intensity and associated with the first images, wherein the first light signals are received at the viewing apparatus and wherein the viewing apparatus comprises a first optical element that allows the first light signals to penetrate the first optical element during the first periodic time slot to display the first images during the first periodic time slot;

directing the presentation device to emit second light signals of a second intensity and associated with the second images, wherein the second light signals are received at the viewing apparatus and wherein the viewing apparatus comprises a second optical element that allows the second light signals to penetrate the second optical element during the second periodic time slot to display the second images during the second periodic time slot;

receiving illumination information from the viewing apparatus; and

directing the presentation device to adjust the first intensity of the first light signals according to the illumination information while not adjusting the second intensity of the second light signals.

16. The media processor device of claim 15, wherein the illumination information comprises a first signal captured at a first light sensor of the viewing apparatus.

17. The media processor device of claim 16, wherein the first signal comprises a ambient light, light traversing the first optical element of the viewing apparatus, light traversing the second optical element of the viewing apparatus, the light emitted by the presentation device during the first periodic time slot, the light emitted by the presentation device during the second periodic time slot, or any combinations thereof.

18. The media processor device of claim 15, wherein the illumination information is received responsive to a manipulation of a user interface at the viewing apparatus.

19. The media processor device of claim 15, wherein the first images and second images comprise video content or still image content, and wherein the media processor device comprises a set-top box, a gaming console, or a portable communication device.

20. The media processor device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise directing the presentation device to adjust the first intensity of the first light signals emitted by lighting elements of the presentation device during a portion of the first periodic time slot.