Abstract: Controlling trick plays, such as play, pause, fast forward, and rewind, of a plurality of content items includes respectively assigning, via a remote-control device, a plurality of trick-play bars to the plurality of content items. The plurality of trick-play bars is operative on the remote-control device. The controlling further includes directing, via the remote-control device, a plurality of media devices to respectively play the plurality of content items. The controlling further includes displaying, on the remote-control device, the plurality of trick-play bars based on the assigning of the plurality of trick-play bars to the plurality of content items, and controlling an operation, via the remote-control device, of a trick play of one of the plurality of content items, respectively, via an input respectively received by one of the plurality of trick-play bars.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for easily creating virtual graffiti that will be left for a particular device to view. During operation a device will be placed near a first point that is used to define a boundary for the virtual graffiti. The device will locate the first point, and use the point to define the boundary. The device will receive an image that is to be used as virtual graffiti, and will fit the image within the boundary of the virtual graffiti. For example, the device may be consecutively placed near four points that will define a polygon to be used as the boundary for the virtual graffiti. An image will then be received, and the image will be fit within the polygon.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for easily creating virtual graffiti that will be left for a particular device to view. During operation a device will be placed near a first point that is used to define a boundary for the virtual graffiti. The device will locate the first point, and use the point to define the boundary. The device will receive an image that is to be used as virtual graffiti, and will fit the image within or upon the boundary of the virtual graffiti. For example, the device may be consecutively placed near four points that will define a polygon to be used as the boundary for the virtual graffiti. An image will then be received, and the image will be fit within the polygon. Additionally, a device may create virtual graffiti from an image and a boundary.

Abstract: A first viewer (310) is activated to define and render a visualization of a first interactive virtual reality experience to a user. At least one first application (320, 330, 340) is selected for use with the first interactive virtual reality experience and at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) associated with the at least one first application is responsively activated. State information is responsively stored in the viewer concerning the objects in the virtual reality experience, the selected at least one first application (320, 330, 340) and the at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) in a memory. The first viewer (310), the at least one first application (320, 330, 340), and the at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) are then deactivated and a second viewer (350) associated with a second interactive virtual reality experience is activated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for messaging within a mobile virtual and augmented reality system is provided herein. During operation a user can create “virtual graffiti” (203) that will be left for a particular device (105, 107, 109) to view as part of an augmented reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server, along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented reality scene. Content filtering may take place on the graffiti so that only specific graffiti is displayed on a user's device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for messaging within a mobile virtual and augmented reality system is provided herein. During operation a user can create “virtual graffiti” that will be left for a particular device to view as part of an augmented reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location or a part of an object that can be mobile. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server, along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented reality scene.

Abstract: A user can create “virtual graffiti” that will be left for a particular device to view as part of an augmented reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location or a part of an object that can be mobile. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server, along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented reality scene. To further enhance the user experience, the virtual graffiti can be dynamic, changing based on a context. For example, a user may leave a virtual graffiti message that changes with, for example, outside temperature, location, weather conditions, or any other context.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for easily creating virtual graffiti that will be left for a particular device to view. During operation a device will be placed near a first point that is used to define a boundary for the virtual graffiti. The device will locate the first point, and use the point to define the boundary. The device will receive an image that is to be used as virtual graffiti, and will fit the image within the boundary of the virtual graffiti. For example, the device may be consecutively placed near four points that will define a polygon to be used as the boundary for the virtual graffiti. An image will then be received, and the image will be fit within the polygon.

Abstract: When providing (101) a user a first interactive virtual reality experience via a first virtual setting and upon detecting (102) a need to transition the user to a second interactive virtual reality experience via a second virtual setting (that is different from the first virtual setting), one maintains (103) a reduced presence of the user in the first virtual setting and establishes (104) a full presence of the user in the second virtual setting. By one approach, these virtual settings can comprise, for example, virtual rooms such as, but not limited to, virtual incident command centers to facilitate the handling of public safety services of various kinds and types.

Abstract: A user can create “virtual graffiti” (203)” that will be left for a particular device to view as part of an augmented-reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location or a part of an object that can be mobile. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server (101), along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented-reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented-reality scene. To further enhance the user experience, the virtual graffiti can be dynamic, changing based on ambient-light conditions.

Abstract: A virtual environment server. The server manages time-shifted presentation data between multiple participants in a shared virtual environment system. The server includes a routing module configurable for coupling to multiple participants, a real-time data management module coupled to the routing module, a time-shifted data management module coupled to the routing module, and a data store module coupled to the real-time data management module and to the time-shifted data management module. Participant output presentation data is received from the participants, stored as real-time presentation data, and transferred to appropriate participants. In response to requests from a requesting participant to obtain time-shifted presentation data from a time-shifted participant and any influence participants, time-shifted presentation data is retrieved from the data store module and transferred to the requesting participant.

Abstract: A user can create “virtual graffiti” (203)” that will be left for a particular device to view as part of an augmented reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location or a part of an object that can be mobile. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server (101), along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented reality scene. To further enhance the user experience, the virtual graffiti can be dynamic, changing based on user's preferences.

Abstract: A virtual environment server. The server manages time-shifted presentation data between multiple participants in a shared virtual environment system. The server includes a routing module configurable for coupling to multiple participants, a real-time data management module coupled to the routing module, a time-shifted data management module coupled to the routing module, and a data store module coupled to the real-time data management module and to the time-shifted data management module. Participant output presentation data is received from the participants, stored as real-time presentation data, and transferred to appropriate participants. In response to requests from a requesting participant to obtain time-shifted presentation data from a time-shifted participant and any influence participants, time-shifted presentation data is retrieved from the data store module and transferred to the requesting participant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for messaging within a mobile virtual and augmented reality system is provided herein. During operation a user can create “virtual graffiti” (203) that will be left for a particular device (105, 107, 109) to view as part of an augmented reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server, along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented reality scene. Content filtering may take place on the graffiti so that only specific graffiti is displayed on a user's device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for messaging within a mobile virtual and augmented reality system is provided herein. During operation a user can create “virtual graffiti” that will be left for a particular device to view as part of an augmented reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location or a part of an object that can be mobile. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server, along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented reality scene.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for messaging within a mobile virtual and augmented reality system is provided herein. During operation a user can create “virtual graffiti” that will be left for a particular device to view as part of an augmented reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server, along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented reality scene.

Abstract: A first viewer (310) is activated to define and render a visualization of a first interactive virtual reality experience to a user. At least one first application (320, 330, 340) is selected for use with the first interactive virtual reality experience and at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) associated with the at least one first application is responsively activated. State information is responsively stored in the viewer concerning the objects in the virtual reality experience, the selected at least one first application (320, 330, 340) and the at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) in a memory. The first viewer (310), the at least one first application (320, 330, 340), and the at least one first event handler (321, 322, 323, 331, 341, 342) are then deactivated and a second viewer (350) associated with a second interactive virtual reality experience is activated.

Abstract: When providing (101) a user a first interactive virtual reality experience via a first virtual setting and upon detecting (102) a need to transition the user to a second interactive virtual reality experience via a second virtual setting (that is different from the first virtual setting), one maintains (103) a reduced presence of the user in the first virtual setting and establishes (104) a full presence of the user in the second virtual setting. By one approach, these virtual settings can comprise, for example, virtual rooms such as, but not limited to, virtual incident command centers to facilitate the handling of public safety services of various kinds and types.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device to obtain encoded content data corresponding to at least one participant of a virtual reality environment. A memory device stores at least one texture corresponding to the at least one participant. A single decoder decodes the encoded content data into decoded content buffers for the at least one texture of one participant of the virtual reality environment. A processor determines whether the at least one texture is located in a pre-determined region of the virtual reality environment displayed to a program user. In response to the at least one texture being located in the pre-determined region, the processor updates the at least one texture with the decoded content buffers.

Abstract: A wiring device is provided with three different ways in which the bared end of an electrical conductor can be coupled to the contacts inside the body of a wiring device. A clamping plate is placed upon the threaded body of a terminal screw. In a first arrangement the bared end is formed about the terminal screw and trapped between the head of the terminal screw and a first surface of the clamping plate which forces the conductor into firm contact with the first surface of the clamping plate. In another arrangement the straight bared end of the conductor is trapped between a second surface of the clamping plate and a contact plate. The movement of the conductor and clamping plate is controlled by the terminal screw. Apertures are placed in the bottom of the device housing adjacement the contacts in the housing. A contact arm, formed as a one-way clutch grips the straight bared end of a conductor to make contact with the contacts of the device but prevents withdrawal of the conductor.