U.S. patent application number 12/983223 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-23 for viewing of different full-screen television content by different viewers at the same time using configured glasses and a related display.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jeramie Keys. Invention is credited to Jeramie Keys.
Application Number | 20130128016 12/983223 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45696713 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130128016 |
Kind Code |
A2 |
Keys; Jeramie |
May 23, 2013 |
Viewing of Different Full-Screen Television Content by Different
Viewers At the Same Time Using Configured Glasses and A Related
Display
Abstract
Different full screen content is displayed on the same
television at the same time from the perspective of the viewer by
displaying as the content as two full screen sequential frames. The
different full screen content may be provided as a single combined
frame signal such as a side-by-side, top-bottom, or checkerboard
signal which is then displayed as two sequential full screen
frames. Configured glasses such as polarized or shutter are used to
view the different content as full screen content where one pair of
configured glasses views an initial one of the sequential frames
but blocks the subsequent one and another pair of configured
glasses blocks the initial one of the sequential frames and views
the subsequent one. Shutter glasses have both lenses open during
the initial frame and both closed during the subsequent one. For
polarized glasses, the initial frame has a polarization matching
both lenses of one pair of glasses while the subsequent frame has a
polarization that differs from both lenses.
Inventors: |
Keys; Jeramie; (Roswell,
GA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Keys; Jeramie |
Roswell |
GA |
US |
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Prior
Publication: |
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Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20120050507 A1 |
March 1, 2012 |
|
|
Family ID: |
45696713 |
Appl. No.: |
12/983223 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61378941 |
Sep 1, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/56 ; 348/564;
348/E13.036 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 13/341
20180501 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/56 ; 348/564;
348/E13.036 |
International
Class: |
H04N 13/04 20060101
H04N013/04; H04N 5/445 20110101 H04N005/445 |
Claims
1. A method of viewing different game content in a full screen on a
same television, comprising: producing a multi-player split screen
output from a game console; converting the multi-player split
screen output to two sequential full screen frames at the
television; viewing a first of the two sequential full screen
frames using a first pair of configured glasses that blocks a
second of the two sequential full screen frames; and viewing the
second of the two sequential full screen frames using a second pair
of configured glasses that blocks the first of the two sequential
full screen frames.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second pairs of
configured glasses are shutter glasses.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying
instructions to synch the first pair of glasses to player one
content and the second pair of glasses to player two content.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying
instructions to switch the television to a 3D mode matching the
split screen output.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising outputting a flag from
the game console to instruct the television to switch to a 3D mode
matching the split screen output.
6. A method of viewing different content in a full screen on a same
television, comprising: receiving a user selection at a source
device to output different content in a combined split screen
output; converting the split screen output to two sequential full
screen frames at the television; viewing a first of the two
sequential full screen frames using a first pair of configured
glasses that blocks a second of the two sequential full screen
frames; and viewing the second of the two sequential full screen
frames using a second pair of configured glasses that blocks the
first of the two sequential full screen frames.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second pairs of
configured glasses are shutter glasses.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying
instructions to synch the first pair of glasses to player one
content and the second pair of glasses to player two content.
9. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying
instructions to switch the television to a 3D mode matching the
split screen output.
10. The method of claim 6 further comprising outputting a flag from
the source device to instruct the television to switch to a 3D mode
matching the split screen output.
11. A method of viewing different content in a full screen on a
same television, comprising: outputting from a source device
different content in a combined split screen output, the different
content having altered geometry relative to the geometry of the
content when output from the source device in a full screen mode;
converting the split screen output to two sequential full screen
frames at the television such that the altered geometry of the
different content is corrected to match the geometry of the content
when output from the source device in a full screen mode; viewing a
first of the two sequential full screen frames using a first pair
of configured glasses that blocks a second of the two sequential
full screen frames; and viewing the second of the two sequential
full screen frames using a second pair of configured glasses that
blocks the first of the two sequential full screen frames.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second pairs of
configured glasses are shutter glasses.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying
instructions to synch the first pair of glasses to player one
content and the second pair of glasses to player two content.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying
instructions to switch the television to a 3D mode matching the
split screen output.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting a flag
from the source device to instruct the television to switch to a 3D
mode matching the split screen output.
16. A method of viewing different content in a full screen on a
same television, comprising: outputting a split screen output from
a source device; outputting an instruction as an overlay from the
source device, the instruction pertaining to viewing the split
screen output as different full screen content; converting the
split screen output to two sequential full screen frames at the
television; viewing a first of the two sequential full screen
frames using a first pair of configured glasses that blocks a
second of the two sequential full screen frames; and viewing the
second of the two sequential full screen frames using a second pair
of configured glasses that blocks the first of the two sequential
full screen frames.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second pairs of
configured glasses are shutter glasses.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the instruction is to synch the
first pair of glasses to player one content and the second pair of
glasses to player two content.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the instruction is to switch
the television to a 3D mode matching the split screen output.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising outputting a flag
from the source device to instruct the television to switch to a 3D
mode matching the split screen output.
21. A method of viewing different content in a full screen on a
same television, comprising: outputting a split screen output from
a source device; outputting a flag from the source device, the flag
instructing the television to switch to a 3D mode matching the
split screen output; converting the split screen output to two
sequential full screen frames at the television; viewing a first of
the two sequential full screen frames using a first pair of
configured glasses that blocks a second of the two sequential full
screen frames; and viewing the second of the two sequential full
screen frames using a second pair of configured glasses that blocks
the first of the two sequential full screen frames.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first and second pairs of
configured glasses are shutter glasses.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying an
instruction to synch the first pair of glasses to player one
content and the second pair of glasses to player two content.
24. A method of viewing different game content in a full screen on
a television, comprising: receiving a split screen output from a
game console that includes a first player game content and a second
player game content; and displaying the split screen output at the
television such that the first player game content is viewable by
using a first pair of glasses that blocks the second player game
content and such that the second player game content is viewable by
using a second pair of glasses that blocks the first player game
content.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the split screen
output comprises receiving a frame packed output.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving a
selection at the game console to output the first player game
content and the second player game content as the split screen
output.
27. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the split screen
output comprises receiving a top-bottom output.
28. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving an
instruction from the game console at the television and
implementing the instruction to switch the television to a 3D mode
matching the split screen output.
29. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and second pairs of
glasses are shutter glasses.
30. The method of claim 24, further comprising displaying an
instruction pertaining to viewing the split screen output as
different full screen content.
31. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the split screen
output comprises converting the multi-player split screen output to
two sequential full frames at the television such that the first
pair of glasses blocks a first of the two sequential full frames
while the second pair of glasses blocks a second of the two
sequential full frames.
32. A method of providing player one game content and player two
game content in a full screen to a television, comprising:
receiving a user selection at a game console to generate the player
one game content as a full screen output and the player two game
content as a full screen output; and outputting a frame packed
output from the game console that includes the first player game
content in a first region of the frame packed output and the second
player game content in a second region of the frame packed
output.
33. The method of claim 32, further comprising outputting from the
game console an instruction to switch to a 3D frame packed
mode.
34. The method of claim 32, further comprising outputting from the
game console content that is a displayable instruction pertaining
to viewing the first player game content and the second player game
content as different full screen content.
35. A method of displaying player one game content and player two
game content in a full screen to a television, comprising:
receiving a frame packed output from a game console that includes a
first player game content in a first region of the frame packed
output and a second player game content in a second region of the
frame packed output; and displaying the frame packed output at the
television such that the first player game content is viewable by
using a first pair of glasses that blocks the second player game
content and such that the second player game content is viewable by
using a second pair of glasses that blocks the first player game
content.
36. The method of claim 35, further comprising receiving from the
game console an instruction to switch to a frame packed display
mode and implementing the instruction at the television to switch
to the frame packed display mode.
37. The method of claim 35, further comprising receiving from the
game console content that is a displayable instruction pertaining
to viewing the first player game content and the second player game
content as different full screen content.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/378,941, filed on Sep. 1, 2010, and entitled
Viewing of Different Full-Screen Television Content by Different
Viewers At the Same Time Using Shutter Glasses and Related Display
Timing, which is incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments relate to viewing television content such as
television programs or video games. More particularly, embodiments
relate to viewing different full-screen television content by
different viewers at the same time by the viewers using configured
glasses such as shutter glasses or polarized glasses.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Viewers of television content on a particular television
conventionally view the same content as other viewers watching the
same television at the same time. However, in some cases, it may be
desirable for one or more viewers to see television content that
differs from the television content being seen by one or more other
viewers watching the same television at the same time. For
instance, two individuals may desire to watch the same television
at the same time but may one individual may wish to watch one
program while the other individual may wish to watch a different
program. As another example, two users may be playing a video game
on the same television at the same time where each user has a user
specific view of the game content.
[0004] Conventionally, when two viewers desire to watch different
programs on the television at the same time, they resort to a
picture-in-picture approach. However, both users see both pictures
and one or both of the pictures are less than full-screen. When two
viewers desire to play a multi-player game with user specific view
of the game content, they resort to a game setting that provides a
split screen presentation in either a top-bottom arrangement or a
side-by-side arrangement where player 1 content is typically in a
top or left half while player 2 content is typically in a bottom or
right half of the screen. However, both users see both halves of
the screen and thus see both user specific content displays, and
the user specific content displays are each one half of a full
screen. While these approaches provide a solution to different
content being display for different users on a single television at
the same time, both users being able to see both content regions is
a drawback, and each content region being less than full screen is
also a drawback.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments address issues such as these and others by
providing a system where a source device provides a signal, such as
a split screen or checkerboard signal, that is the combination of
two 2D content regions. Split screen may include such variants as
top-bottom, frame-packed, or side-by-side. The two 2D content
regions may be originally less than full-screen, such as in a
typical video game split screen, or may originally be full screen
content that is either downscaled or frame packed into a single
video frame in the split screen or checkerboard format. A display
device capable of rendering a split screen or checkerboard format
signal as two full screen sequential frames, an odd frame showing
one content region in full screen followed by an even frame showing
the other content region in full screen, and so on.
[0006] In one instance, a first user wearing a pair of shutter
glasses has the shutter glasses synced to a television display so
that both lenses are open to allow viewing of the odd frames but
are closed to block the even frames. A second user wearing a pair
of shutter glasses has the shutter glasses synced to a television
display so that both lenses are open to allow viewing of the even
frames but are closed to block the odd frames.
[0007] In another instance, a first user wearing a pair of
polarized glasses that have one polarization where a television
display provides the odd frames with a matching polarization and
even frames with a non-matching polarization such that the first
user only sees the odd frames. A second user wearing a pair of
polarized glasses that have another polarization where the
television display provides the odd frames with a non-matching
polarization and even frames with a matching polarization such that
the second user only sees the even frames.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows one system using a split screen source with a
split screen capable display device.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows one system using a split screen source, an
adapter, and a checkerboard capable display device.
[0010] FIG. 3 shows one system using a checkerboard source with a
checkerboard capable display device.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a process of a top-bottom split screen 2D frame
being displayed as two sequential full screen frames.
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a process of a side-by-side split screen 2D
frame being displayed as two sequential full screen frames.
[0013] FIG. 6 shows one example of logical operations of a set top
box or other content receiving source to generate a multi-program
2D output signal.
[0014] FIG. 7 shows one example of logical operations of a game
console or other gaming source to generate multi-player 2D output
signal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Embodiments provide for multiple viewers to view different
full-screen content at the same time on a single television. The
embodiments include a source device that produces 2D signals having
one type of content in one region of the frame for one viewer and
another type of content in another region for another viewer. The
embodiments include a display device that receives the 2D signal
and extracts the content in one region of the frame to create odd
full frames of content for viewing by the one viewer and extracts
the content in the other region of the frame to create even full
frames of content for the other viewer. In one instance, each
viewer wears shutter glasses that are synced so that only the odd
frames or only the even frames are viewable. In another instance
each viewer wears polarized glasses that are polarized in
correspondence with the polarization of the television display so
that only the odd frames or only the even frames are viewable.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a split screen source 102 for a 2D signal, such
as a dual feed set top box, a multi-player game console, or a
separate device that receives two separate full screen signals from
other source devices and combines them into a split screen format.
The split screen source has an output 104, such as a high
definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port. This output 104 sends
a split screen signal, such as a top-bottom signal, a side-by-side
signal, or a frame packed signal which happens to include two
regions of 2D content. This signal 106 carrying two regions of 2D
content is to be distinguished from a 3D signal, which might use
split screen to carry two regions of content that form a 3D display
when one eye views one frame derived from one region while another
eye subsequently views another frame derived from the other
region.
[0017] A display device 108 includes an input 110, such as an HDMI
port that receives the split screen signal 106. The display device
108, such as a 3D television is made to operate in a side-by-side,
top-bottom, or frame packed 3D mode that matches the format of the
split screen signal 106. So, for a side-by-side split screen signal
of 2D content, the 3D television operates in the 3D side-by-side
mode. For a top-bottom split screen signal of 2D content, the 3D
television operates in the 3D top-bottom mode. For a frame packed
split screen signal of 2D content, the 3D television operates in
the 3D frame packed mode. In the proper mode, the display device
108 converts the split screen signal 106 into two sequential full
screen frames where both may be sequentially displayed in the same
amount of time a single frame would ordinarily be displayed. One
region of the signal 106 forms the first full screen frame while
the other region of the signal 106 forms the second full screen
frame. For instance, one region may be the top half of the split
screen frame while the other region may be the bottom half of the
split screen frame. As another example, one region may be the left
half of the split screen frame while the other region may be the
right half of the split screen frame. Where the split screen frame
is a normal display resolution of the display device 108, the
display device 108 may upscale each region when creating the full
screen frame, such as by stretching horizontally or vertically to
fill the full screen. Where the split screen is double the display
resolution of the display device 108, such as for a frame packed
split screen signal that has double the vertical resolution or
double the horizontal resolution such that each region is already
in the full screen resolution of the display device 108, the
display device 108 may display each region in its native resolution
as a full screen frame.
[0018] In the case of some video games, the split screen frame may
be created by maintaining the geometry of the content within a
given region but reducing the amount of content space being
displayed by one half of the frame. In that case, the display
device 108 fills the full screen by upscaling the content from the
region of the split screen frame which will alter the geometry of
the content and give the appearance of the content being stretched.
For instance, a top-bottom signal may use normal geometry but
display only half the content space as only half the vertical
resolution is available. When displayed in full screen, the content
appears stretched vertically in order to fill the full screen.
Likewise, a side-by-side signal may use normal geometry but display
only half the content space as only half the horizontal resolution
is available. When displayed in full screen, the content appears
stretched horizontally in order to fill the full screen.
[0019] In the case of other video games, the split screen frame may
be created by altering the geometry of the content within a given
region but maintaining the amount of content space being displayed
by one half of the frame. In that case, the display device 108
fills the full screen by upscaling the content from the region of
the split screen frame which will return the content to a normal
geometry when being displayed, and therefore, appear normal rather
than stretched. For instance, a top-bottom signal may use altered
geometry where content space and objects appear to have half the
vertical size as normal but display the full content space as only
half the vertical resolution is available. When displayed in full
screen, the content appears to have a full vertical size when
filling the full screen. Likewise, a side-by-side signal may use
altered geometry where content space and objects appear to have
half the horizontal size as normal but display the full content
space as only half the horizontal resolution is available. When
displayed in full screen, the content appears to have a full
horizontal size when filling the full screen.
[0020] The odd and even full screen frames 114 created from the two
regions of the split screen frame are displayed in sequence. The
display device 108 also produces a synchronization signal 112, such
as a Digital Light Processing (DLP) Link Signal emanating from the
display screen in the case of a 3D or 3D ready DLP television or
alternatively a signal that emanates from an infra-red or radio
frequency emitter of a 3D or 3D ready television.
[0021] In one instance the viewers wear shutter glasses, 116 and
118. A first viewer wears shutter glasses 116 and has the glasses
synced to the display device 108 via the sync signal 112. In order
to watch the desired television content with both eyes, both lenses
should have the same state. So, when the left lens is open while
the content of interest is being displayed as a full frame, the
right lens is also open and when the left lens is closed while the
content that is not of interest is being displayed as a full frame,
the right lens is also closed. Thus, this is a distinction from the
operation of shutter glasses being used to view 3D content, where
the left and right lenses have opposite states. When the lenses of
shutter glasses 116 are open to view content of interest to the
viewer wearing the shutter glasses 116, the lenses of the shutter
glasses 118 are closed as the content being displayed at that
instant is not of interest to the viewer wearing the shutter
glasses 118. Likewise, when the lenses of shutter glasses 118 are
open to view content of interest to the viewer wearing the shutter
glasses 118, the lenses of the shutter glasses 116 are closed as
the content being displayed at that instant is not of interest to
the viewer wearing the shutter glasses 116. An example of shutter
glasses with this capability are the Optoma BG-ZD101 DLP Link
glasses by Optoma Technology, Inc., the CrystalEyes 4 and 5 by
RealD, Inc. which allow the selection of 3D mode, only odd frames
to both eyes for 2D viewing of 3D content, and only even frames to
both eyes for 2D viewing of 3D content.
[0022] In the context of simultaneous television programs, the
viewer wearing shutter glasses 116 watches a first program in full
screen, where the odd frames are of a first program and the shutter
glasses 116 are open during the odd frames while the shutter
glasses 118 are closed. The viewer wearing shutter glasses 118
watches a second program in full screen at the same time, where the
even frames are of the second program and the shutter glasses 118
are open during the even frames while the shutter glasses 116 are
closed.
[0023] In another instance, rather than using shutter glasses, each
user may wear polarized glasses where the polarization is the same
in both lenses of one pair of glasses for viewing one content while
the polarization in another pair of glasses is the same in both
lenses but different than the polarization in the first pair of
glasses for viewing another content. In this case, the television
display provides the frames of one content, such as the odd frames,
with a polarization matching the first pair of glasses while the
television display provides the frames of the other content, such
as the even frames, with a polarization matching the other pair of
glasses.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a similar setup except that the display device
126 is only capable of converting a checkerboard format signal into
two sequential frames. In this case, the source device 102 is a
split screen format source as discussed above for FIG. 1.
Therefore, the display device 126 is connected to an adapter 120
that converts a split screen format, such as top-bottom,
side-by-side, or frame packed, to a checkerboard format. As a
specific example, the display device 126 may be a Mitsubishi
Digital Electronics America, Inc. 3D or 3D ready DLP television
while the adapter 120 may be a Mitsubishi Digital Electronics
America, Inc. 3DA-1 3D adapter. The display device 126 and the
adapter 120 may be considered a display device 130.
[0025] The adapter 120 includes a port 120 such as an HDMI port
that receives the split screen signal. The adapter 120 includes a
port 124 such as an HDMI port that outputs a checkerboard signal
107. The display device 126 includes a port 128 such as an HDMI
port that receives the checkerboard signal 107. The display device
126 then displays sequential frames where the odd frames correspond
to content from one region of the split screen signal while the
even frames correspond to content from the other region of the
split screen signal. The adapter 120 may be automatically or
manually placed into the proper 3D mode, such as top-bottom 3D mode
for a top-bottom split screen signal of 2D content, side-by-side 3D
mode for a side-by-side split screen signal of 2D content, or frame
packed 3D mode for a frame packed split screen signal of 2D
content, in order to correctly extract the content from the proper
region when constructing the checkerboard format. So, for instance,
for a video game in a top-bottom split screen format, either the
video signal 106 may provide a flag to instruct the adapter 120 to
enter top-bottom 3D mode or the user may manually select the
top-bottom 3D mode. The result is that the player 1 content is
displayed in full screen as odd frames and the player 2 content is
displayed in full screen as even frames, each of which are viewed
by the proper player using correctly synced shutter glasses as
discussed above for FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a system where the source device 132 is capable
of producing a checkerboard signal 136 via a port 134 such as an
HDMI port that contains two regions of 2D content. A display device
138 that is checkerboard capable receives the signal 136 via a port
140 such as an HDMI port. The display device then produces the
sequential frames as discussed above and the viewers wearing the
correctly synced shutter glasses 116 and 118 view the proper
content.
[0027] In the context of a checkerboard format signal 136, the two
regions of 2D content are not contiguous regions. Instead, each
region is scattered across the frame in a checkerboard pattern, so
pixels of one region would correspond to the red squares of a
checkerboard while pixels of the other region would correspond to
the black squares. The display device 138 extracts the content for
each region based on this checkerboard format to render full screen
sequential frames.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows an example of a top-bottom split screen frame
200 having a 16:9 aspect ratio but with each region having a 16:4.5
ratio. There is a top region 202 containing program 1 or player 1
2D content, and a bottom region 204 containing program 2 or player
2 2D content. This split screen frame 200 accounts for t0 and t1
display times. However, this split screen frame 200 is displayed by
the top region 202 being full screen 206 for display time t0 with
the bottom region 204 being full screen 208 for display time t1.
Shutter glasses A are open for t1 but closed for t2 while shutter
glasses B are closed for t1 but open for t2. This repeats for the
next split screen frame at the normal frame rate, such as 60
progressive split screen frames per second. Thus, two viewers watch
different full screen content at the same time on the same
television.
[0029] It will be appreciated that the same is true for a
vertically frame packed split screen frame except that the ratio is
16:18, with each region being 16:9 such that there is no need to
upscale to produce a full screen frame at a 16:9 ratio.
[0030] It will also be appreciated that polarized glasses may be
used instead of shutter glasses where the frame at t0 has one
polarization matching that of both lenses of a first pair of
glasses while the frame at t1 has a different polarization matching
that of both lenses of a second pair of glasses.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows an example of a side-by-side split screen frame
300. There is a left region 302 containing program 1 or player 1 2D
content, and a right region 304 containing program 2 or player 2 2D
content. This split screen frame 300 accounts for t0 and t1 display
times. However, this split screen frame 300 is displayed by the
left region 302 being full screen 306 for display time t0 with the
right region 304 being full screen 308 for display time t1. Shutter
glasses A are open for t1 but closed for t2 while shutter glasses B
are closed for t1 but open for t2. This repeats for the next split
screen frame at the normal frame rate, such as 60 progressive split
screen frames per second. Thus, two viewers watch different full
screen content at the same time on the same television.
[0032] It will be appreciated that the same is true for a
horizontally frame packed split screen frame except that the ratio
is 32:9, with each region being 16:9 such that there is no need to
upscale to produce a full screen frame at a 16:9 ratio.
[0033] It will also be appreciated that polarized glasses may be
used instead of shutter glasses where the frame at t0 has one
polarization matching that of both lenses of a first pair of
glasses while the frame at t1 has a different polarization matching
that of both lenses of a second pair of glasses.
[0034] FIG. 6 shows an operational flow of one example of a
television program source device, such as a set top box from a
cable, satellite, or internet provider. Initially, the source
device detects whether a selection has been received to provide
multiple program displays at once at a query operation 402. If not,
then the source device outputs program 1 at full screen at a
display operation 404. If such a selection is received, then the
source device receives the selections for programs 1 and 2 at a
selection operation 406. The source device then combines the frames
of programs 1 and 2 into a split screen or checkerboard format
signal at a combination operation 408. The source device then
outputs the signal to the display device at an output operation
410.
[0035] Because separate television programs have separate audio and
the audio system may realistically only provide audio from one
source via normal speakers, the source device may receive a
selection of which audio to output, or may default to outputting
audio for one of the two programs. As another feature, the source
device may output audio of the other program to a separate audio
output such as a headphone jack.
[0036] The source device may take additional actions in relation to
the multi-program simultaneous output. The source device may
include at an insert operation 412 a split screen format flag in
the signal being output to the display device to instruct the
display device as to which 3D format to enter in order to correctly
display the two regions of content as sequential full frames. For
instance, the flag may indicate top-bottom, side-by-side, frame
packed, or checkerboard. As another example, the source device may
produce an overlay that instructs the user to select the proper 3D
mode to correctly display the two regions of content as sequential
full frames at an overlay operation 414. As another example, in the
case of using shutter glasses the source device may also display an
overlay instruction regarding the need to synchronize the glasses
using a mode that allows both eyes to see the desired program at an
overlay operation 416. In the case of polarized glasses, the
overlay instruction at overlay operation 416 may instead instruct
the user to wear the appropriate polarized glasses, such as for
player 1/content 1 and for player 2/content 2.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows an operational flow of one example of a game
device, such as a game console. Initially, the game device detects
whether a selection has been received to provide multiple player
split screen displays at a query operation 502. If not, then the
game device outputs player 1 content at full screen at a display
operation 504. If such a selection is received, then the game
device combines the content of player 1 and player 2 into a split
screen format, or if capable a checkerboard format signal, at a
combination operation 506. The game device then outputs the signal
to the display device at an output operation 508. Because
multiplayer games have the audio of both players combined, the game
device outputs the audio as usual for split screen mode.
[0038] The game device may take additional actions in relation to
the multi-player simultaneous output. The game device may include
at an insert operation 510 a split screen format flag in the signal
being output to the display device to instruct the display device
as to which 3D format to enter in order to correctly display the
two regions of content as sequential full frames. For instance, the
flag may indicate top-bottom, side-by-side, frame packed, or
checkerboard. As another example, the source device may produce an
overlay that instructs the user to select the proper 3D mode to
correctly display the two regions of content as sequential full
frames at an overlay operation 512. As another example, in the case
of using shutter glasses the game device may also display an
overlay instruction regarding the need to synchronize the glasses
using a mode that allows both eyes to see the desired player
content at an overlay operation 514. In the case of polarized
glasses, the overlay instruction at overlay operation 514 may
instead instruct the user to wear the appropriate polarized
glasses, such as for player 1/content 1 and for player 2/content
2.
[0039] While the discussion has been in relation to one program per
region and one player content per region of a split screen frame,
it will be appreciated that each region may have multiple programs
or multiple player content. So for instance, the split screen may
be broken into quadrants, such as where there is a four player
game. Content 1 and 2, such as player 1 and 2 content, may be
side-by-side in a top row and content 3 and 4, such as player 3 and
4 content, may be side-by-side in a bottom row. First and second
users may view both content 1 and 2 while third and fourth users
may view both content 3 and 4 by using a top-bottom 3D mode of the
display device, where the top row is one full frame and the bottom
row is a subsequent full frame. Likewise, first and third users may
view both content 1 and 3 while second and fourth users may view
both content 2 and 4 by using a side-by-side 3D mode of the display
device, where the left column is one full frame and the right
column is a subsequent full frame.
[0040] While embodiments have been particularly shown and
described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various other changes in the form and details may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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