Patent Application
20090303449
The present invention relates generally to projectors and in particular, to a method of operating a projector.
As the size of projectors becomes smaller and smaller, their use grows. For example, there are now plans to place small projectors within cellular telephones. As projectors become more and more ubiquitous, the environments in which they are used become more and more varied. This leads to users having to adjust projector settings (e.g., focus, brightness, orientation, . . . , etc.) more and more to accommodate the various settings. It would be beneficial for a projector to autonomously and intelligently handle and manage its settings in an efficient manner to minimize user interaction. Such minimization would enhance consumer mobile device sharing & user experience. Therefore a need exists for a method and apparatus for a projector and method for operating a projector that autonomously and intelligently handles its settings to minimize user interaction. The integration of telephony with projection where there is a local and a remote display (projection) also brings about the need for managing telephony and network events while in projection mode.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
In order to alleviate the above-mentioned need, a projection device, and method for operating the projection device is provided herein. During operation a projection device will determine a current context, and then associate the context and the display parameters. The association is stored so that the projection device will operate using the display parameters the next time the context is realized.
In various embodiments of the present invention, the context utilized for association may comprise elements such as a user's location, file metadata (e.g., a type of file displayed, duration), or devices in proximity. Additionally, display parameters may comprise parameters such as brightness, orientation, resolution, color, a starting point of a presentation, or application metadata.
Because users of the above-described projection device will have the projection device autonomously and intelligently manage its display settings in an efficient manner, user interaction is minimized, enhancing the user's experience.
The present invention encompasses a method for operating a projection device. The method comprises the steps of determining, by the projection device, a location for the projection device, adjusting, by the projection device, display parameters based on the device's location, and projecting an image using the display parameters.
The present invention additionally encompasses a method comprising the steps of determining by a projection device, a context for the projection device, determining by the projection device, display parameters for the projecting device, associating by the projection device, the context and the display parameters, and storing by the projection device, the association so that the projection device will operate using the display parameters when the context is realized.
The present invention additionally encompasses a method for operating a projection device. The method comprises the steps of determining by the projection device, devices in proximity to the projection device, adjusting by the projection device, display parameters based on the devices in proximity, and displaying by the projection device, a first image using the display parameters.
Finally, the present invention encompasses a projection device comprising context-aware circuitry determining a location for the projection device, logic circuitry, adjusting display parameters based on the device's location, and projection circuitry projecting an image using the display parameters.
Turning now to the drawings, where like numerals designate like components,
Context-aware circuitry 102 may comprise any device capable of generating a current context. For example, context-aware circuitry 102 may comprise a GPS receiver capable of determining a location of the user device. Alternatively, circuitry 102 may comprise such things as a clock, electronic calendar, ambient light sensor, current focus for micro-projector 104, metadata detector, network detector, orientation sensor, short-range communication circuitry (e.g., Bluetooth™ circuitry) to determine what other electronic devices are near, . . . , etc.
Database 103 comprises standard random access memory and is used to store associations between the current context and the projection settings. Such associations include:
Finally, micro-projector 104 comprises an apparatus for throwing an image on a screen. An example of such a micro-projector includes the pico projector manufactured by Microvision, Inc. In projecting an image, various settings may be modified to affect the image projected. These settings include, but are not limited to, what image is being projected (e.g., what slide number from a presentation), brightness, orientation, resolution, color, a starting point of a presentation, or presentation metadata.
As discussed above, it would be beneficial for projector 100 to autonomously and intelligently handle and manage its settings in an efficient manner to minimize user interaction and optimize viewing and sharing experiences. In order to address this need, projection device 100 will determine a current context, and then associate the context and the display parameters. The association is stored so that the projection device will operate using the display parameters the next time the context is realized. The above operation will become more clear with the following examples:
In this particular example, context-aware circuitry 102 comprises circuitry designed to locate the projection device. Such circuitry may, for example, comprise GPS circuitry, a network detection circuitry or a triangulation scheme based on received signal strength from multiple access points to determine what network projector 100 has accessed. Regardless of the means for determining its location, logic circuitry 101 will store (in database 103) associations between the projector's location and the display settings for micro-projector 104. In this example, display settings include metadata to highlight the last slide viewed in a particular presentation. The association between location and presentation metadata (last slide viewed) is stored in database 103. When the presentation is again viewed at that particular location, logic circuitry 101 will access the stored information from database 103 and resume the presentation where it left off.
In another example where context-aware circuitry 102 comprises location circuitry, a focus for micro-projector 104 is associated with a location. In this scenario, logic circuitry 101 will associate location with the focus, and store this information in database 103. When logic circuitry 101 determines that it is again projecting an image at the location, the focus is adjusted automatically.
In a third example, context-aware circuitry 102 comprises circuitry to determine location and an associated projection surface color (e.g wall color) along with the application type being projected and metadata from a file to determine projection settings for the micro-projector. In this example, circuitry may 102 detect that the file being projected is black and white and is being projected against a wall of a certain color (as stored at this location) in a power point presentation. The projector adjusts the R,G,B settings to account for simpler images and compensate for the wall color at this specific location.
In this particular example, context-aware circuitry 102 comprises circuitry to determine what other devices are present. In this embodiment, circuitry 102 comprises Bluetooth circuitry. Particular devices present are a proxy for the people viewing the projected content. Regardless of the means for determining devices present, logic circuitry 101 will store (in database 103) associations between the devices present and the display settings for micro-projector 104. In this example, display settings include metadata to highlight the last slide viewed in a particular presentation. The association between devices present and presentation metadata (last slide viewed) is stored in database 103. When the presentation is again viewed with a subset of the devices present, logic circuitry 101 will access the stored information from database 103 and resume the presentation where it left off.
Logic circuitry 101 then accesses database 103 to determine an association between the current location and settings for micro-projector 104 (step 303). Logic circuitry 101 then instructs projection device 104 to adjust display parameters (e.g., brightness, orientation, resolution, color, a starting point of a presentation, or application metadata) based on the device's location (step 305) and project images using the display parameters (step 307).
It should be noted that the devices in proximity to device 100 may comprise such things as a watch, headset, a phone, . . . etc. These devices may be configured to receive data from device 100. If this is the case, then device 100 may send data via a transmitter (not shown) or Bluetooth circuitry to a device in proximity to the projection device. For example, when the data comprises a caller identification data, connectivity or signal strength indicator, battery indicator, or a phone call, the data may be output from logic circuitry 101 to other devices. Thus, device 100 (logic circuitry 101) may receive an incoming call, email, text message, . . . , etc. and send this information on to other devices present. In a further embodiment of the present invention, logic circuitry 101 may instruct micro-projector 104 to display an indication that data was received.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that such changes come within the scope of the following claims:
