TECHNIQUES FOR DISPLAYING DATA BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISPLAY DEVICE
A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.
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This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/025,210 filed Feb. 4, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,642 issued Feb. 17, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,903 issued Jan. 4, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs the number of broadcasters increase and the number of new and rerun television (TV) programs and movies increase, a need arises for a method to provide this increasing amount of information to a viewer electronically. Conventional televisions and broadcasters utilize a feature referred to as an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) to communicate a schedule of upcoming television or movie programs to a viewer via a television screen.
Referring to prior art
The block of data is stored in a memory block of the display device, e.g. a television set. Because the entire block of data cannot be displayed at one time, due to the limited size of a television screen and the extreme size of the amount of data in the EPG, a need arises for a method and apparatus to intelligently select and format a suitable amount of data from the block of EPG data to display on the display device.
Conventionally, only a one hour block of EPG scheduling, e.g. block 130 of prior art
Referring to prior art
Unfortunately, conventional methods and devices do not allow a single format of EPG data to be aesthetically displayed on a variety of television sets with different ARs, e.g. that are different than the AR of the EPG data. For example, an EPG table formatted for one AR may not be readable on a device having a significantly different AR from the EPG table because the text will have an inappropriate height or width when displayed. Devices with different ARs will continue to exist as long as legacy devices continue to be used and as long as new devices with different ARs are introduced into the market. Broadcasting a standardized EPG display format will not, by itself, be compatible with a variety of television displays having different ARs. The displayed EPG data will either be too wide or too tall for one display device or it will be too narrow or too short for another display device. As a result, a need arises for a more flexible method of providing EPG data to a display device.
Furthermore, other display characteristics of a display device can have an effect on how much data from a large block of data can be displayed. For example, display device characteristics, such as resolution and size of the display to name a few, can have an effect on how much data can readably be displayed on the display device. Consequently, a more effective method for displaying EPG information on a display device is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe field of the present invention pertains to a video device. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of displaying a portion of a block of data, e.g. an electronic program guide, on a display device based on the display characteristics of the display device.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus to intelligently select and format a suitable amount of data from the block of EPG data to display on a display device. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for displaying a wider range of information of the EPG than is currently available. That is, the present invention provides a method and apparatus that takes advantage of the wider AR of a wide aspect ratio display, to display additional EPG program guide information. At the same time, the present invention provides a method and apparatus that can be adapted to select and format a portion of an EPG block of data that would be suitable to display devices with different ARs, thus accommodating new and legacy devices. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus that optimizes the amount of readable data displayed on the display device based on display device characteristics such as resolution and size of the display device.
Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method of determining a portion of a block of data to be provided to a display device. In the present embodiment, the method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of EPG data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be an integrated or add-on component of a television set or a set-top box. A television set can be adapted to automatically transmit data regarding its appearance, and thus be transparent to the user. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device will select a portion of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.
Another embodiment of the present invention implements the method of determining a portion of a block of data to be provided to a display device by using a processor and memory that can be located in the set-top box or a TV. The steps provided in the previous paragraph are implemented as data and instructions of the memory to be executed by the processor.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become clear to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are described herein.
Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.
Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow, e.g. the processes, are presented in terms of procedures, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer or a digital system memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, logic block, process, etc., is herein, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these physical manipulations take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a processor. For reasons of convenience, and with reference to common usage, these signals are referred to as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like with reference to the present invention.
It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these terms are to be interpreted as referencing physical manipulations and quantities and are merely convenient labels to be interpreted further in view of terms commonly used in the art. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is understood that throughout discussions of the present invention, terms such as “receiving,” “selecting,” “formatting,” “communicating,” or the like, refer to the action and processes that can be implemented by an electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data. The data is represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the registers and memories of the device, and is transformed into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the device components, or computer system memories or registers, or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
Referring now to
Additionally, a user input lead 213 is coupled to receiver 204 in
Video device 200 of
Memory 210 used in video device 200, for the present invention, can either be permanent memory, such as read only memory (ROM), or temporary memory such as random access memory (RAM). Memory 210 can also be any other type of memory storage, capable of containing program instructions, such as a hard drive, a CD ROM, or flash memory. Furthermore, processor 208 can either be a dedicated controller, an existing system processor, a microprocessor, or some form of a state machine.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Process 3000 begins with step 3002. In step 3002 of the present embodiment, a block of data is received at a video device. Step 3002 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device such as video device 200 shown in
More specifically, the block of data, e.g. the EPG data, can be provided by the broadcaster via many different means. For example, a broadcaster can download two weeks of scheduling information in early morning hours on a semi-monthly basis. Alternatively, a broadcaster of media provider can transmit the block of data in real-time to the display device. Furthermore, transmission of the block of data can occur over any conventional broadcasting means. That is, transmission of the block of data can occur via program transport stream of digital terrestrial broadcast, via cable broadcast, or via satellite broadcast. For example, transmission of the block of data can occur via the National Television Standards Commission (NTSC) use of field 2 line 21 XDS. Alternatively, transmission of the block of data can occur via program specific information protocol (PSIP) A/65 of the Advanced Television Standards Commission (ATSC). In another protocol, normal or APG transmission of the block of data over the Digital Satellite System (DSS) can be used. The Dish Network can also be adapted to provide the block of data. For cable television, either in-band, out-of-band, or DOCSIS protocol can be utilized to provide the block of data.
Alternative embodiments can be used to implement step 3002. For example, while the present embodiment utilizes a standard data block of EPG data, the present invention is well-suited to receiving any size and format of block of EPG data. Furthermore, while the present embodiment specifies the content of the block of data as the EPG data, the present invention can be applied to any block of data to be displayed on a display device. For example, menu setting data for a TV or a VCR can be selected and formatted using the present invention. Following step 3002, process 3000 proceeds to step 3004.
In step 3004 of the present embodiment, input regarding the appearance of the display is received. A display device can provide input 3004a on its display characteristics. Step 3004 and input 3004a are implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
In step 3006 of the present embodiment, an inquiry determines whether the display device input 3004a for display characteristics exists. If display characteristics input 3004a does exist, then process 3000 proceeds to step 3008. This case accounts for an intelligent digital or analog television that provides an output of its display characteristics. However, if no display characteristics input exist, then process 3000 proceeds to step 3014. This latter case accounts for display devices that have no intelligent output devices. Thus, the present invention, in step 3006, provides the flexibility of accommodating display devices that provide an output and display devices that do not provide an output.
Step 3008 arises if a display characteristics input does exist. In step 3008 of the present invention, a portion of the block of data for display on the display device is selected. Step 3008 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
In step 3010 of the present invention, an amount of data is custom fit for the display device on which it will be displayed, according to its display characteristics. Step 3010 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
Step 3010 of the present invention may also be implemented using anamorphic formatting techniques that magnify or reduce images to dissimilar degrees along different axes. By doing so, the present implementation of step 3010 can custom fit an amount of data for a given display device's display characteristics. For example, one embodiment can use vertical compression (v-compression) with the associated blacked-out top and/or bottom region, to maintain a desired quantity of EPG rows and columns to be displayed on the display device. This latter embodiment can be implemented on either analog or digital display devices. With analog televisions, the present embodiment is well-suited to discrete phosphorous elements, such as the traditional red, green, blue (RGB) dot trio, or to continuous phosphorous elements, e.g. SONY Trinitron™ tube having vertical strips with unlimited resolution. In particular, the v-compression embodiment compresses the vertical distance of the raster in order to provide the appropriate AR for the data, in one embodiment. Step 3010 can also be accomplished by other methods of anamorphic formatting besides v-compression.
The v-compression embodiment for step 3010 can be implemented by automatically programming a receiver to implement the v-compression process. For example, in one embodiment, an EPG data signal, formatted with a 16:9 AR, is received at a receiver for a television having a different AR, such as 4:3. The receiver is automatically programmed to provide the required amount of v-compression to display the intended block of EPG data while maintaining an aesthetic AR of the EPG data displayed. Thus, the 16:9 EPG data is not stretched in a vertical direction to match the 4:3 display AR, but is compressed in the vertical direction with an appropriate black-out strip on the top and/or the bottom of the image. Following step 3010, process 3000 proceeds to step 3012.
In step 3012 of the present invention, the image frame produced by step 3010 is communicated to the display device. Step 3012 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
As an example for step 3008 through 3012, if an input indicating a high resolution, high aspect ratio 16:9, large television set is received, a relatively large portion of the display block will be selected for subsequent display on the display device. One embodiment of this scenario is presented in
Step 3014 arises if no display characteristics input exists, per the inquiry of step 3006. In step 3014 of the present invention, the user is prompted to manually provide display information. Display information can include data such as the display characteristics of the display device. Step 3014 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
In step 3016 of the present embodiment, input regarding the appearance of the display is received. Input block 3016a is received as user input display characteristics. Step 3016 and input 3016a are implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
In step 3018 of the present embodiment, an inquiry determines whether the user input data on display characteristics exists. If user input on display characteristics input does exist, then process 3000 proceeds to step 3008. This case accounts for a user who is able to provide viable input data. However, if no user-supplied display characteristics input exist, then process 3000 proceeds to step 3020. This latter case accounts for a user who is unable to provide viable input data. Thus, the present invention, in Step 3018, provides the flexibility of accommodating cases when the user can and cannot provide useful input data. Following step 3018, process 3000 proceeds to step 3020.
Step 3020 arises if no user-supplied display characteristics input exists. In step 3020 of the present invention, a portion of the block of data is selected, based on minimum display characteristics. Step 3020 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
In step 3022 of the present invention, the portion of the block of data selected is formatted as an image frame for display on the display device. Step 3022 is implemented, in one embodiment, in a similar manner to that presented for step 3010. Following step 3022, process 3000 proceeds to step 3024.
In step 3024 of the present invention, the image frame produced by step 3022 is communicated to the display device. Step 3024 is implemented, in one embodiment, in a similar manner to that presented for step 3012. Following step 3024, process 3000 proceeds to step 3026.
In step 3026 of the present embodiment, input regarding the appearance of the display is received. A user can provide display device characteristics input 3026a. Step 3026 and input 3026a are implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
In step 3028 of the present embodiment, an inquiry determines whether an alternative display characteristic exists. If an alternative display characteristic does exist, then process 3000 proceeds to step 3030. This case accounts for a possible display configuration, e.g. a display configuration for a larger size and greater resolution display device format, that has not been reviewed and graded by the viewer. Alternatively, inquiry 3028 can also evaluate user input 3026a as a weighting factor on whether to provide the user with any additional configurations of EPG data. If no alternative display characteristic exists, then process 3000 proceeds to step 3032. This latter case accounts for the point where all available configurations of EPG data have been provided to the viewer for evaluation.
Step 3030 arises if an alternative display characteristic does exist per the inquiry of step 3028. In step 3030 of the present invention, a different portion of the block of data is selected for formatting and displaying on the display device. Step 3030 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
Step 3032 arises if no alternative display characteristic exists. In step 3032 of the present invention, a block of data and a format is chosen as a default value. That is, when the appropriate amount of choices for display format and size have been evaluated, the best choice is labeled as a default value. Input from the user, per input 3026a, is used in the evaluation step. In this manner, the user only has to set up the communication device, used for formatting blocks of data, one time. The default value can be called up and implemented for future viewing of the block of data. In an alternative embodiment, inputs from the user can be weighted to optimize or bias the result. Step 3032 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
Referring now to
Process 4000 begins with step 4002. In step 4002 of the present embodiment, display characteristics of a display device are received. Step 4002 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the video device 200 shown in
In step 4004 of the present embodiment, an inquiry determines whether the aspect ratio input is a high ratio. If the aspect ratio is high, then process 4000 proceeds to step 4006. This case accounts for a display aspect ratio corresponding to one standard television AR, e.g. an aspect ratio of 16:9. However, if the aspect ratio is not high, then process 4000 proceeds to step 4008. This latter case accounts for a display aspect ratio corresponding to a display device with a different AR. Alternatively, aspect ratio input can be compared to a predetermined threshold value stored in memory to decide whether to proceed to step 4006 or step 4008.
Step 4006 arises if the aspect ratio is a high value, as determined by step 4004. In step 4006, a horizontal portion, e.g. the number of columns, of the block of data, is increased to accommodate a higher aspect ratio. The specific value of the increase can be optimized or determined for specific applications. Following step 4006, process 4000 proceeds to step 4010.
Step 4008 arises if the aspect ratio is not a high value, as determined by step 4004. In step 4008, a horizontal portion, e.g. the number of columns, of the block of data, is decreased to accommodate a lower aspect ratio. The specific value of the decrease can be optimized or determined for specific applications. Following step 4008, process 4000 proceeds to step 4010.
In step 4010 of the present embodiment, an inquiry determines whether the resolution input is a high value. If the resolution is a high value, then process 4000 proceeds to step 4012. This case accounts for a display having a high resolution. Typically, a higher resolution display allows for additional bandwidth of data to be displayed. However, if the resolution is not a high value, then process 4000 proceeds to step 4014. This latter case accounts for a display having a low resolution. In one case, the resolution setting can be binary, e.g. high resolution or low resolution. Alternatively, the present invention is well-suited to having a gradient scale having numerous values, and numerous corresponding steps in which to proceed. In yet another embodiment, resolution input can be compared to a predetermined threshold resolution value to decide whether to proceed to step 4012 or step 4014.
Step 4012 arises if the resolution is a high value, as determined by step 4010. In step 4012, a horizontal portion, e.g. the number of columns, of the block of data and/or a vertical portion, e.g. the number of rows, of the block of data is increased to accommodate a higher resolution display device input. The specific value of the increase can be optimized or determined for specific applications. Following step 4012, process 4000 proceeds to step 4016.
Step 4014 arises if the resolution is not a high value, as determined by step 4010. In step 4014, a horizontal portion, e.g. the number of columns, of the block of data and/or a vertical portion, e.g. the number of rows, of the block of data is decreased to accommodate a lower resolution display device input. The specific value of the decrease can be optimized or determined for specific applications. Following step 4014, process 4000 proceeds to step 4016.
In step 4016 of the present embodiment, an inquiry determines whether the display device size input is a high value. If the size input is a high value, then process 4000 proceeds to step 4018. This case accounts for a large display device, which can provide a larger size of the data to be displayed, and thus a greater, and thus finer, amount of data to be displayed. However, if the size input is not a high value, then process 4000 proceeds to step 4020. This latter case accounts for a small display device. Alternatively, size input can be compared to a predetermined threshold value to decide whether to proceed to step 4018 or step 4020.
Step 4018 arises if the size input is a high value, as determined by step 4016. In step 4018, a horizontal portion, e.g. the number of columns, of the block of data and/or a vertical portion, e.g. the number of rows, of the block of data is increased to accommodate a larger size of the display device. The specific value of the increase can be optimized or determined for specific applications. Following step 4018, process 4000 ends.
Step 4020 arises if the size input is not a high value, as determined by step 4016. In step 4020, a horizontal portion, e.g. the number of columns, of the block of data and/or a vertical portion, e.g. the number of rows, of the block of data is decreased to accommodate a smaller size of display device. The specific value of the decrease can be optimized or determined for specific applications. Following step 4020, process 4000 ends.
Additionally, the present invention is well-suited to inputs other than, or in addition to, inputs 4002a-4002c. Similarly, the present invention is well-suited to additional inquiries relating to additional inputs, along with the appropriate additional subsequent steps.
The potential results of inquiries 4004, 4010, and 4016 can lead to conflicting results for the portion of the block of data to be provided to the display device in the present embodiment. In one case, two different inputs of opposing qualities can have the effect of canceling each other out, with a nominal portion of data being ultimately provided to a display device. In another embodiment, different input values can be weighted depending upon the input, reasoning that one input will have a greater influence on the readability of the displayed information. The present invention is well-suited to many different alternatives for implementing a composite decision for the quantity of vertical and horizontal portion of block of data to display.
While processes 3000 and 4000 of the present embodiment shows a specific sequence and quantity of steps, the present invention is suitable to alternative embodiments. For example, not all the steps provided for processes 3000 and 4000 are required for the present invention. For example, an alternative embodiment of process 3000 can omit steps 3020 through 3032 if the do-loop function is not desired for a given application. Furthermore, additional steps can be added to the steps presented in the present embodiment. Likewise, the sequence of the steps can be modified depending upon the application. While processes 3000 and 4000 are shown as a single serial process, it can also be implemented as a continuous or parallel process.
Many of the instructions for the steps, and the data input and output from the steps of processes 3000 and 4000 are implemented utilizing memory 210 and processor 208, as shown in
In view of the embodiments presented herein, the present invention provides a method and apparatus to intelligently select and format a suitable amount of data from the block of EPG data to display on a display device. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for displaying a wider range of information of the EPG than is currently available. That is, the present invention provides a method and apparatus that takes advantage of the wider AR of some display devices to display additional EPG program guide information. At the same time, the present invention provides a method and apparatus that can be adapted to select and format a portion of an EPG block of data that would be suitable to display devices with different ARs, thus accommodating new and legacy devices. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus that optimizes the amount of readable data displayed on the display device based on display device characteristics such as resolution and size of the display device. While the present embodiments are applied to an EPG block of data, the present invention is well-suited to any block of data including any text-based data or any graphics-based data.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A method comprising:
- receiving data having a first format;
- receiving a display characteristic;
- selecting a portion of said data based on said display characteristic;
- fitting said selected portion of said data in an image frame having a second format; and
- communicating said image frame to a display.
2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said display characteristic includes one or more of an aspect ratio of said display, a resolution of said display, a size of said display, a font type and a font size.
3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said display characteristic is automatically received from said display.
4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said display characteristic is received from a user.
5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein fitting said selected data comprises anamorphic formatting said selected data.
6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein said anamorphic formatting said selected data comprises compressing or stretching said selected data based on said display characteristic of said display.
7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein selecting said portion of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
- comparing an aspect ratio of said display to a predetermined threshold;
- increasing a horizontal portion of said data selected if said aspect ratio of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and
- decreasing said horizontal portion of said data selected if said aspect ratio of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.
8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein selecting said portion of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
- comparing a resolution of said display to a predetermined threshold;
- increasing a horizontal or vertical portion of said data selected if said resolution of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and
- decreasing said horizontal or vertical portion of said data selected if said resolution of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.
9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein selecting said portion of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
- comparing a size of said display to a predetermined threshold;
- increasing a horizontal or vertical portion of said data selected if said size of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and
- decreasing said horizontal or vertical portion of said data selected if said size of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.
10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein selecting said portion of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
- comparing an aspect ratio of said display to a predetermined threshold;
- comparing resolution of said display to a predetermined resolution threshold;
- comparing a size of said display to a predetermined size threshold; and
- adjusting said selected portion of said data based on a weighting of said aspect ratio comparison, said resolution comparison and said size comparison.
11. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- wherein said display characteristic is received from said display;
- receiving an additional display characteristic from a user;
- adjusting said selected portion of said data based on said additional display characteristic;
- wherein fitting said selected portion of said data in said image frame comprises fitting said adjusted selected portion.
12. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- receiving an indication of an acceptability of said selected portion of said data from a user;
- determining if an alternative display characteristic exists if said selected portion of said data is not acceptable;
- selecting a different portion of said data based on said alternative display characteristic, if said alternative display characteristic exists; and
- fitting said selected different portion of said data in said image frame based on said alternative display characteristic.
13. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising choosing an acceptable image frame as a default selected portion of said data and default format for said image frame.
14. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising selecting said portion of said data based on a default display characteristic, if said characteristic is not received from said display device or a user.
15. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:
- receiving an input from a user regarding an appearance of said image frame on said display device;
- changing said portion of said data based on said input from said user;
- formatting said changed portion of said data to create an adjusted image frame for said display device; and
- communicating said adjusted image frame to said display device.
16. A video device comprising:
- a receiver unit for receiving data having a first format;
- a processor coupled to said receiver unit; and
- a computer readable memory coupled to said processor and containing program instructions stored therein that when executed causes said processor to implement a method comprising: receiving a display characteristic; determining a given amount of said data based on said display characteristic; formatting said given amount of data as an image frame having a second format based on said display characteristic, wherein said first format is different from said second format; and communicating said image frame to said display.
17. The video device recited in claim 16, wherein determining said given amount of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
- comparing an aspect ratio of said display to a predetermined threshold;
- increasing said given amount of data if said aspect ratio of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and
- decreasing said given amount of data selected if said aspect ratio of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.
18. The video device recited in claim 16, wherein determining said given amount of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
- comparing a resolution of said display to a predetermined threshold;
- increasing said given amount of data if said resolution of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and
- decreasing said given amount of data selected if said resolution of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.
19. The video device recited in claim 16, wherein said method further comprises:
- receiving an indication of an acceptability of said given amount of said data from a user;
- determining if an alternative display characteristic exists is said given amount is not acceptable;
- determining a different amount of said data based on said alternative display characteristic, if said alternative display characteristic exists; and
- formatting said different amount of said data in said image frame having said second format based on said alternative display characteristic.
20. The video device recited in claim 16, wherein said method further comprises:
- receiving an input from a user regarding an appearance of said image frame on said display device;
- changing said given amount of said data based on said input from said user;
- formatting said changed amount of said data to create an adjusted image frame for said display device; and
- communicating said adjusted image frame to said display device.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 11, 2011
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2011
Applicants: SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN (Tokyo), SONY ELECTRONICS, INC. (Park Ridge, NJ)
Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani (San Diego, CA), Hirofumi Usui (San Diego, CA)
Application Number: 13/026,202
International Classification: H04N 5/445 (20110101);