System and method for navigating three-dimensional media guidance application

Abstract

To provide a system and a method for navigating a three-dimensional media guidance application.SOLUTION: A system and a method for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) media guidance application are provided. A first selectable media guidance object may be displayed on a screen that when viewed through a stereoscopic optical device may appear in a first plane. A second selectable media guidance object may be displayed on a screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a second plane. The first and second planes may be perceived to intersect an axis perpendicular to a display in different locations. User selection of at least one of the first and second selectable media guidance objects may be received.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6B

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Utility Application No. 12 / 571,283, filed May 20, 2009, and U.S. Utility Application No. 12 / 571,287, filed September 30, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. [Background technology]

[0002] The exponential growth in the amount of media content (e.g., video and audio) available to the average person (e.g., through Internet, cable, and satellite television and radio) has led to an expansion in the popularity of interactive media guidance applications, such as interactive program guides. Typically, interactive media guidance applications present guide listings in a two-dimensional (2D) grid that are indexed by time and program source (e.g., television channel). In particular, the guide listings appear flat on the screen. These guidance applications also present other guide-related data (e.g., user profile, recommendations) in the two-dimensional view. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] In view of the above, systems and methods are provided for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) media guidance application in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In particular, selectable media guidance objects displayed on a two-dimensional screen may appear to be located anywhere in three-dimensional space when the two-dimensional screen is viewed using a stereoscopic optical device.

[0004] In some embodiments, a media guidance application viewed through a stereoscopic optical device may be presented on a screen. The media guidance application may include selectable media guidance objects that appear to be at different distances from a user in three-dimensional space. In some implementations, first and second of the selectable media guidance objects may be displayed appearing in first and second planes, respectively, when viewed through a stereoscopic optical device. The second plane may be sensed to intersect an axis normal to the display screen at a different location than the first plane. This may create the appearance that the first selectable media guidance object is closer to the user than the second selectable media guidance object.

[0005] In some embodiments, the stereoscopic optical device may include left and right lenses corresponding to the left and right eyes of a user. The stereoscopic optical device may be configured to receive a signal from the media device device indicating which of the lenses to block and which of the lenses to unblock. The blocked lenses may not transmit visible light, and the unblocked lenses may transmit visible light. In some implementations, the stereoscopic optical device may be instructed to block the left lens and unblock the right lens when only a portion of the stereoscopic image generated for the right eye is displayed on the screen, and the stereoscopic optical device may be instructed to block the right lens and unblock the left lens when only a portion of the stereoscopic image generated for the left eye is displayed on the screen. In some implementations, each of the portions of the stereoscopic image generated for the corresponding eye may be displayed on the screen, and the corresponding lenses may be alternatively blocked and unblocked at a rate that is fast enough that the user may not be able to perceive the two images separately, but perceive the images together to interpret the combined image as three-dimensional.

[0006] In some embodiments, a user selection of at least one of the displayed selectable media guidance objects may be received. In some implementations, the user selection may be received by an input device having an accelerometer. In other implementations, the input device may have a gyroscope instead of or in addition to an accelerometer. The media equipment device may sense movement of the input device. Based on the detected movement of the input device, the media equipment device may perform an action on the displayed selectable media guidance objects. In some implementations, the media equipment device may move a cursor in three-dimensional space based on the movement of the input device. In particular, a user may wave the input device clockwise to the right, which may result in the media equipment device moving the cursor in a clockwise direction and in a circular manner in three-dimensional space. In some implementations, the media equipment device may detect a quick (jerky) movement of the input device, which may result in the media equipment device enabling selection of the selectable media guidance object closest to the position of the cursor in three-dimensional space.

[0007] In some embodiments, the media equipment device may detect input device movement in a particular direction, and thus the media equipment device may change the mode of the displayed selectable media guidance objects. In particular, the mode of the selectable media guidance objects may correspond to an actor associated with a particular media asset. As a result of detecting the input device movement, the media equipment device may change the mode of the selectable media guidance objects to correspond to a playlist mode. More specifically, if the selectable media guidance objects are in a playlist mode, one of the selectable media guidance objects may identify a particular playlist, and the remaining selectable media guidance objects may present the media assets of the playlist.

[0008] In some embodiments, a stereoscopic media guidance application may be generated locally by a media device device. The media device device may generate a first image including a selectable media guidance object centered at a first point on the screen seen by the user's right eye. The media device device may generate a second image including a copy of the selectable media guidance object centered at a second point on the screen different from the first point seen by the user's left eye. In some implementations, the media device device may overlay the first and second images resulting in a stereoscopic image for display on the screen to generate a stereoscopic image. The selectable media object may appear in the stereoscopic image at a perceived distance from the user when the user views the stereoscopic image with a stereoscopic optical device. The distance between the first and second points on the screen may be proportional to the perceived distance.

[0009] In some embodiments, the media device device may alternate between displaying the first and second images and may instruct the stereoscopic optical device to block / unblock lenses corresponding to the images displayed. In some implementations, the media device device may alternate between displaying the first and second images at a rate faster than can be perceived by a user. The present specification also provides, for example, the following items: (Item 1) 13. A method of presenting a stereoscopic media guidance application to a user, the media guidance application being viewed via a stereoscopic optical device worn by the user, the method comprising: displaying a first selectable media guidance object using a user equipment device having a display screen, the first selectable media guidance object appearing in a first plane when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device; displaying, using the user equipment device, a second selectable media guidance object, the second selectable media guidance object appearing in a second plane when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device, the second plane being sensed to intersect an axis normal to the display screen at a different location than the first plane; receiving a user selection of at least one of the first and second selectable media guidance objects; A method comprising: (Item 2) the first selectable media guidance object identifies a group of media assets; 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second selectable media guidance object corresponds to one of the media assets of the group. (Item 3) 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the group of media assets is selected from the group consisting of television programs, time slots, performers, movie genres, songs, musical artists, and video games. (Item 4) 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one of the media assets of the group is selected from the group consisting of a performer, a program broadcast at a particular time, a television program, and a movie belonging to a genre identified by the first selectable media asset. (Item 5) Item 3. The method of item 2, wherein a user selection of the first selectable media guidance object determines which group the first selectable media guidance object identifies. (Item 6) Detecting a movement of the user; and responsive to the detected movement, displaying additional selectable media guidance objects that appear in different planes that, when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device, are sensed to intersect the axis at different locations than the first and second planes. The method of claim 1, further comprising: (Item 7) 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection is received using infrared light and a camera. (Item 8) 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection is received using an input device, the input device having at least one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope for communicating motion and orientation of the input device to the user equipment device. (Item 9) Specifying a reference point relative to the orientation of the input device; determining a position of a visual indicator on the display screen corresponding to the reference point; Detecting a movement that causes a change in orientation of the input device; determining a direction of the movement relative to the reference point based on the change in orientation; moving the visual indicator in the determined direction of movement to a new location on the display screen; The method of claim 8, further comprising: (Item 10) The receiving includes: detecting a movement indicative of a selection of the selectable media guidance object nearest the location of the visual indicator; selecting the selectable media guidance object closest to the location of the visual indicator; Item 10. The method according to item 9, comprising: (Item 11) Item 14. The method of item 1, wherein the first and second selectable media guidance objects are spherical in shape. (Item 12) Item 14. The method of item 1, wherein the user selection causes the second selectable media guidance object to be sensed orbiting around the first selectable media guidance object. (Item 13) Item 14. The method of item 1, wherein the user selection of any displayed selectable media guidance object is performed without movement of any of the displayed selectable media guidance objects. (Item 14) the first selectable media guidance object appearing in the first plane appears in a first perspective; Item 14. The method of item 1, wherein the second selectable media guidance object in the second surface appears in a second perspective that is different from the first perspective. (Item 15) a combination of the media guidance objects that appear in the first and second perspective views appears as a contiguous arrangement of the media guidance objects; Item 15. The method of item 14, wherein the arrangement appears to have a first fold at a first point adjacent, the first point corresponding to a first position between the first media guidance object appearing in the first perspective view and the second media guidance object appearing in the second perspective view. (Item 16) 1. A system for presenting a stereoscopic media guidance application to a user, the media guidance application being viewed via a stereoscopic optical device worn by the user, the system comprising: a display screen having a vertical axis; means for displaying a first selectable media guidance object on the display screen, the first selectable media guidance object appearing in a first plane when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device, the first plane being sensed to intersect the axis at a first location; means for displaying a second selectable media guidance object on the display screen, the second selectable media guidance object appearing in a second plane when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device, the second plane being sensed to intersect the axis at a second location different from the first location; means for receiving a user selection of at least one of the first and second selectable media guidance objects; A system comprising: (Item 17) the first selectable media guidance object identifies a group of media assets; 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the second selectable media guidance object corresponds to one of the media assets of the group. (Item 18) Item 17. The system of item 16, wherein the group of media assets is selected from the group consisting of television programs, time slots, performers, movie genres, songs, musical artists, and video games. (Item 19) Item 18. The system of item 17, wherein one of the media assets of the group is selected from the group consisting of a performer, a program broadcast at a particular time, a television program, and a movie belonging to a genre identified by the first selectable media asset. (Item 20) 20. The system of claim 17, wherein a user selection of the first selectable media guidance object determines which group the first selectable media guidance object identifies. (Item 21) means for detecting a movement of the user; means for displaying additional selectable media guidance objects on the display screen in response to the detected motion, the additional selectable media guidance objects appearing in different planes that, when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device, are sensed to intersect the axis at different locations than the first and second locations; Item 17. The system of item 16, further comprising: (Item 22) Item 17. The system of item 16, wherein the user selection is received using infrared light and a camera. (Item 23) Item 17. The system of item 16, wherein the user selection is received using an input device having at least one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope for communicating input device motion and orientation to the user equipment device. (Item 24) means for assigning a reference point to said orientation of said input device; means for determining a position of a visual indicator on the display screen corresponding to the reference point; means for detecting a movement of the input device causing a change in orientation; means for determining the direction of the motion relative to the reference point based on the change in orientation; means for moving the visual indicator in the determined direction of movement to a new location on the display screen; 24. The system of claim 23, further comprising: (Item 25) means for detecting movement indicative of a selection of the selectable media guidance object nearest the location of the visual indicator; means for selecting the selectable media guidance object closest to the location of the visual indicator; 25. The system of claim 24, further comprising: (Item 26) Item 17. The system of item 16, wherein the first and second selectable media guidance objects are spherical. (Item 27) 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user selection causes the second selectable media guidance object to be sensed orbiting around the first selectable media guidance object. (Item 28) 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the user selection of any displayed selectable media guidance object is performed without moving any of the displayed selectable media guidance objects. (Item 29) the first selectable media guidance object appearing in the first plane appears in a first perspective; Item 17. The system of item 16, wherein the second selectable media guidance object in the second surface appears in a second perspective that is different from the first perspective. (Item 30) a combination of the media guidance objects that appear in the first and second perspective views appears as a contiguous arrangement of media guidance objects; 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the arrangement appears to have a first fold at a first adjacent point, the first point corresponding to a first position between the first media guidance object appearing in the first perspective view and the second media guidance object appearing in the second perspective view. (Item 31) 1. A method of designing graphics for a selectable stereoscopic media object to be displayed on a screen having a first point, the method comprising: generating a first image including a first selectable media object centered on the first point to be viewed by the user's right eye; generating a second image including a copy of the first selectable media object centered at a second point on the screen different from the first point to be viewed by the left eye of the user; superimposing a first image and a second image for display on the screen to generate a stereoscopic image, the first selectable media object appearing in the stereoscopic image at a first perceived distance from the user when the user views the stereoscopic image through a stereoscopic optical device; wherein a distance between the first point and a second point on the screen corresponds to the first sensed distance. (Item 32) using similar triangles to determine the relationship between the offset distance and the apparent distance; the offset distance being the distance between the first point and the second point; the apparent distance being the distance that the first selectable media object appears to be from the screen; Item 32. The method of item 31, wherein the apparent distance is positive if the first selectable media object appears to be behind the screen and is negative if the first selectable media object appears to be in front of the screen. (Item 33) The offset distance and the apparent distance are calculated according to the following formulas: a=(z*e) / (D+z) z=(D*a) / (ea) Item 33. The method of item 32, wherein a is the offset distance, z is the apparent distance, e is the difference between the distance between the pupils of the user's eyes and the width of the media object, and D is the distance between the user's eyes and the screen. (Item 34) 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising using a coordinate system to calculate the position of the first selectable media object within the first and second images. (Item 35) Item 32. The method of item 31, further comprising updating the location within the first and second images where the first selectable media object is located, thereby causing the first selectable media object to be perceived as moving within the stereoscopic image. (Item 36) The stereoscopic optical device includes: a first aperture for viewing the first image by the user's right eye, the first image being the only image viewed by the user's right eye; a second aperture for viewing the second image by the user's left eye, the second image being the only image viewed by the user's left eye; 32. The method of claim 31, comprising: (Item 37) The stereoscopic optical device includes: a first lens covering the first opening, through which the user views the first image; and a second lens covering the second opening, the user viewing the second image through the second lens; and 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising: (Item 38) The overlapping step comprises: Transmitting a first signal from a transmitter; receiving the first signal by a sensor; In response to receiving the first signal, blocking the first lens; and unblocking the second lens; and transmitting a second signal from the transmitter; receiving the second signal by the sensor; In response to receiving the second signal, unblocking the first lens; and blocking the second lens; and Including, Item 38. The method of item 37, wherein the first and second lenses allow visible light to pass when the first and second lenses are unblocked and prevent visible light from passing when the first and second lenses are blocked. (Item 39) Item 39. The method of item 38, wherein the first and second lenses comprise liquid crystals. (Item 40) Item 39. The method of item 38, wherein the first and second lenses are blocked and unblocked using a shuttering process. (Item 41) Item 39. The method of item 38, wherein the first and second signals are infrared signals. (Item 42) the first image includes a second selectable media object centered at a third point; the second image includes a copy of the second selectable media object centered at a fourth point on the screen that is different from the third point; the second selectable media object appears within the stereoscopic image at a second perceived distance; the first selectable media guidance object appears in the stereoscopic image in a first perspective; Item 32. The method of item 31, wherein the second selectable media guidance object appears in the stereoscopic image in a second perspective that is different from the first perspective. (Item 43) a combination of the media guidance objects that appear in the first and second perspective views appears as a contiguous arrangement of the media guidance objects; Item 43. The method of item 42, wherein the arrangement appears to have a first fold at a first point adjacent, the first point corresponding to a first position between the first media guidance object appearing in the first perspective view and the second media guidance object appearing in the second perspective view. (Item 44) 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the selectable stereoscopic media objects are media objects displayed within an environment selected from the group consisting of a game, a software application, and a media guide. (Item 45) 1. A system for designing graphics for a selectable stereoscopic media object, the system comprising: a display screen having a first point; means for generating a first image including a first selectable media object centered at the first point to be viewed by a right eye of a user; means for generating a second image including a copy of the first selectable media object centered at a second point on the display screen different from the first point to be viewed by the left eye of the user; means for superimposing the first image and the second image for display on the display screen to generate a stereoscopic image, the first selectable media object appearing in the stereoscopic image at a first perceived distance from the user when the user views the stereoscopic image through a stereoscopic optical device; Equipped with A distance between the first point and a second point on the display screen corresponds to the first sensed distance. (Item 46) means for using similar triangles to determine a relationship between the offset distance and the apparent distance; the offset distance being the distance between the first point and the second point; the apparent distance being the distance that the first selectable media object appears to be from the display screen; Item 46. The system of item 45, wherein the apparent distance is positive if the first selectable media object appears to be behind the display screen and is negative if the first selectable media object appears to be in front of the display screen. (Item 47) means for calculating the offset distance and the apparent distance according to the following formula: a=(z * e) / (D+z) z=(D * a) / (ea) Item 47. The system of item 46, wherein a is the offset distance, z is the apparent distance, e is the difference between the distance between the pupils of the user's eyes and the width of the media object, and D is the distance between the user's eyes and the display screen. (Item 48) Item 46. The system of item 45, further comprising means for using a coordinate system to calculate the position of the first selectable media object within the first and second images. (Item 49) Item 46. The system of item 45, further comprising means for updating the position within the first and second images at which the first selectable media object is placed, thereby causing the first selectable media object to be sensed moving within the stereoscopic image. (Item 50) The stereoscopic optical device includes: a first aperture for viewing the first image by the user's right eye, the first image being the only image viewed by the user's right eye; a second aperture for viewing the second image by the user's left eye, the second image being the only image seen by the user's left eye; Item 46. The system of item 45, comprising: (Item 51) The stereoscopic optical device includes: a first lens covering the first opening, through which the user views the first image; and a second lens covering the second opening, the user viewing the second image through the second lens; and Item 51. The system of item 50, further comprising: (Item 52) means for transmitting a first signal by a transmitter; means for receiving the first signal by a sensor; means for blocking the first lens; means for unblocking the second lens in response to the received first signal; means for transmitting a second signal by said transmitter; means for receiving the second signal by the sensor; means for unblocking the first lens; means for blocking the second lens in response to the received first signal; Further equipped with Item 52. The system of item 51, wherein the first and second lenses allow visible light to pass when the first and second lenses are unblocked and prevent visible light from passing when the first and second lenses are blocked. (Item 53) Item 53. The system of item 52, wherein the first and second lenses comprise liquid crystals. (Item 54) Item 53. The system of item 52, further comprising means for blocking and unblocking the first and second lenses using a shuttering process. (Item 55) Item 53. The system of item 52, wherein the first and second signals are infrared signals. (Item 56) the first image includes a second selectable media object centered at a third point; the second image includes a copy of the second selectable media object centered at a fourth point on the display screen that is different from the third point; the second selectable media object appears within the stereoscopic image at a second perceived distance; the first selectable media guidance object appears in the stereoscopic image in a first perspective; Item 46. The system of item 45, wherein the second selectable media guidance object appears in the stereoscopic image in a second perspective that is different from the first perspective. (Item 57) a combination of the media guidance objects that appear in the first and second perspective views appears as a contiguous arrangement of media guidance objects; Item 57. The system of item 56, wherein the arrangement appears to have a first fold at a contiguous first point, the first point corresponding to a first position between the first media guidance object appearing in the first perspective view and the second media guidance object appearing in the second perspective view. (Item 58) Item 46. The system of item 45, wherein the selectable stereoscopic media objects are media objects displayed within an environment selected from the group consisting of a game, a software application, and a media guide. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout. [Figure 1] 1 and 2 show illustrative display screens that may be used to provide media guidance application listings in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 and 2 show illustrative display screens that may be used to provide media guidance application listings in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user equipment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of an exemplary cross-platform interactive media system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary stereoscopic optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary stereoscopic optical device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary stereoscopic optical device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5D] FIG. 5D illustrates a pattern of an exemplary stereoscopic optical device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A illustrates an exemplary front view of a display screen with media objects appearing on different surfaces according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B illustrates an exemplary side view of the display screen shown in FIG. 6A, assuming that the media object is three-dimensional in nature, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B show exemplary display screens of a media object and a cast presentation displayed on different surfaces, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a user equipment device and a peripheral device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9A-B show illustrative arrangements of media guidance objects on a display screen according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10-11 are illustrative flow diagrams for navigating a three-dimensional media guidance application in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 10-11 are illustrative flow diagrams for navigating a three-dimensional media guidance application in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12A] FIG. 12A shows an exemplary image as seen by a user's left eye, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12B] FIG. 12B illustrates an exemplary image as seen by a user's right eye, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12C] FIG. 12C illustrates an exemplary side view of a stereoscopic image formed by overlaying the images in FIGS. 12A-B, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the use of similar triangles in generating stereoscopic images, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 illustrates a coordinate system used in generating stereoscopic images according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an illustrative flow diagram for designing graphics for a three-dimensional media guide display according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 shows illustrative display screens of a media guidance object displayed from different perspectives in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The present invention generally relates to the presentation and design of stereoscopic, or 3D, media guidance applications. In particular, a number of focused objects (e.g., user profiles, media assets, or program schedule information) are displayed on a first surface, and a number of remaining objects are displayed on an additional surface that is sensed to intersect an axis perpendicular to the display screen at a location different from the first surface. More specifically, the focused object may be displayed to appear flat on the screen, and other objects may be displayed to appear as if they are in front of or behind the screen. As defined herein, an asset or media asset refers to any type of media (or data file) that may be played, accessed, recorded, and / or viewed. As referred to herein, the term "focus" or being focused should be understood to mean changing the appearance of a displayed item or object to make the item or object more visually prominent than other items or objects.

[0012] In any given media delivery system, the amount of media available to users can be enormous. As a result, many users desire a form of media guidance through an interface that allows them to efficiently navigate their media choices and easily identify media content that may be desired. Applications that provide such guidance are referred to herein as interactive media guidance applications, but may also be referred to as media guidance applications or guidance applications.

[0013] Interactive media guidance applications may take a variety of forms depending on the media for which guidance is provided. One typical type of media guidance application is an interactive television program guide. Interactive television program guides (sometimes called electronic program guides) are well-known guidance applications that enable users to navigate and search among many types of media content, including, among other things, traditional television programming (provided via traditional broadcast, cable, satellite, Internet or other means), as well as pay programming, on-demand programming (such as video-on-demand (VOD) systems), Internet content (e.g., streaming media, downloadable media, webcasts, etc.), and other types of media or video content. Guidance applications also enable users to navigate and search among content related to video content, including, for example, video clips, articles, advertisements, chat sessions, games, etc. Guidance applications also enable users to navigate among multimedia content. The term "multimedia" is defined herein as media and content that utilizes at least two different content forms, such as text, audio, still images, images, moving images, video, and interactive content forms. The multimedia content may be recorded and played back, displayed or accessed by information content processing devices such as computers and electronic devices, or may be part of a live performance. It should be understood that embodiments of the invention discussed with respect to media content are also applicable to other types of content, such as video, audio, and / or multimedia.

[0014] With the advent of the Internet, mobile computing, and high-speed wireless networks, users are accessing media on personal computers (PCs) and other devices that they did not traditionally access, such as handheld computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, or other mobile devices. On these devices, users can navigate and search among the same media available through televisions. As a result, media guidance is also needed on these devices. The guidance provided may be for media content available only through televisions, for media content available only through one or more of these devices, or for media content available through both televisions and one or more of these devices. Media guidance applications may be provided as online applications (i.e., provided on a website) or as stand-alone applications or clients on handheld computers, PDAs, cell phones, or other mobile devices. Various devices and platforms on which media guidance applications may be implemented are described in more detail below.

[0015] One of the functions of a media guidance application is to provide media listings and media information to a user. FIG. 1-2 shows exemplary display screens that may be used to provide media guidance, and in particular media listings. The display screens shown in FIGS. 1-2, 7A-B, 9A-B, and 12A-C may be implemented on any suitable device or platform. Although the displays of FIGS. 1-2, 7A-B, 9A-B, and 12A-C are illustrated as full-screen displays, they may also be fully or partially overlaid on the displayed media content. A user may indicate a desire to access media information by selecting a selectable option provided on the display screen (e.g., a menu option, a listing option, an icon, a hyperlink, etc.) or by pressing a dedicated button (e.g., a "Guide" button) on a remote control or other user input interface or device. In response to a user's instructions, the media guidance application may provide a display screen with media information organized in one of several ways, such as by time and channel in a grid, by time, by channel, by media type, by category (e.g., movies, sports, news, children's, or other programming categories), or other predetermined, user-defined, or other organization criteria.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary grid program listings display 100 arranged by time and channel that also allows access to different types of media content within a single display. Display 100 may include a grid 102 having (1) columns of channel / media type identifiers 104, where each channel / media type identifier (cell in a column) identifies a different channel or type of media available, and (2) rows of time identifiers 106, where each time identifier (cell in a row) identifies a time slot of a program. Grid 102 also includes cells of program listings, such as program listing 108, where each listing provides the title of the program offered above the listing's associated channel and time. Using a user input device, a user can select a program listing by moving highlight region 110. Information about the program listing selected by highlight region 110 may be provided in program information region 112. Region 112 may include, for example, the program title, program content, the time the program is offered (if applicable), the channel the program airs on (if applicable), the program's rating, and other desired information.

[0017] In addition to providing access to linear programming that is provided according to a schedule, the media guidance application also provides access to non-linear programming that is not provided according to a schedule. Non-linear programming may include content from different media sources, including on-demand media content (e.g., VOD), Internet content (e.g., streaming media, downloadable media, etc.), locally stored media content (e.g., video content stored on a digital video recorder (DVR), digital video disc (DVD), videocassette, compact disc (CD), etc.), or other media content that is not time-constrained. On-demand content may include both movies and original media content provided by a particular media provider (e.g., HBO On Demand, which provides "The Sopranos" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm"). HBO ON DEMAND is a service mark owned by Time Warner Company LP et al., and THE SOPRANOS and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM are trademarks owned by Home Box Office, Inc. Internet content may include web events, such as chat sessions or webcasts, or content available on demand as streaming media or downloadable media through an Internet website or other Internet access (eg, FTP).

[0018] Grid 102 may provide non-linear programming listings, including on-demand listings 114, recorded media listings 116, and Internet content listings 118. A display that combines listings for content from different types of media sources may be referred to as a "mixed media" display. Various permutations of the types of listings that may be displayed that differ from display 100 may be based on user selection or guidance application definition (e.g., displaying only recorded and broadcast listings, displaying only on-demand and broadcast listings, etc.). As illustrated, listings 114, 116, and 118 are shown as spanning the entire time period appearing in grid 102 to indicate that selection of these listings may provide access to a dedicated view of on-demand listings, recorded listings, or Internet listings, respectively. In other embodiments, listings of these media types may be included directly in grid 102. Additional listings may be displayed in response to a user selecting one of navigation icons 120 (pressing an arrow key on a user input device may affect the display in a similar manner to selecting navigation icon 120).

[0019] Display 100 may also include video area 122, advertisements 124, and options area 126. Video area 122 may allow a user to view and / or preview programs that are currently available, will be available, or have been available. The content of video area 122 may correspond to or be independent of one of the listings displayed in grid 102. A grid display that includes a video area is sometimes referred to as a picture-in-guide (PIG) ​​display. PIG displays and their functionality are described in further detail in U.S. Patent No. 6,564,378, issued May 13, 2003 to Satterfield et al., and U.S. Patent No. 6,239,794, issued May 29, 2001 to Yuen et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. PIG displays may be included in other media guidance application display screens of the present invention.

[0020] Advertisements 124 may provide advertisements for media content that is currently available, may be available in the future, or may never be available depending on the user's access rights (e.g., to subscription programming) and may correspond to or be unrelated to one or more of the media listings in grid 102. Advertisements 124 may also be for products or services that are related or unrelated to the media content appearing in grid 102. Advertisements 124 may be selectable, provide further information about the media content, provide information about the product or service, enable purchase of the media content, product, or service, provide media content related to the advertisement, etc. Advertisements 124 may be targeted based on user profile / preferences, monitored user activity, the type of display provided, or other suitable targeted advertisement basis.

[0021] Although advertisements 124 are shown as rectangular or banner shaped, advertisements may be provided in any suitable size, shape, and location within the guidance application display. For example, advertisements 124 may be provided as rectangles horizontally adjacent to grid 102. This is sometimes referred to as a panel advertisement. In addition, advertisements may be overlaid on media content or the guidance application display or embedded within the display. Advertisements may also include text, images, rotating images, video clips, or other types of media content. Advertisements may be stored within the user equipment having the guidance application, in a database connected to the user equipment, in a remote location (including a streaming media server), or on other storage means or combinations of these locations. Providing advertisements in media guidance applications is discussed in further detail, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 347,673 to Knudson et al., filed Jan. 17, 2003, U.S. Patent No. 6,756,997 to Ward, III et al., issued Jun. 29, 2004, and U.S. Patent No. 6,388,714 to Schein et al., issued May 14, 2002, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. It will be understood that advertisements may be included in other media guidance application display screens of the present invention.

[0022] Options area 126 may allow a user to access different types of media content, media guidance application views, and / or media guidance application features. Options area 126 may be part of display 100 (and other display screens of the present invention) or may be invoked by the user by selecting an option on the screen or by pressing a dedicated or assignable button on a user input device. The selectable options in options area 126 may relate to features related to program listings in grid 102 or may include options available from a main menu display. Features related to program listings may include finding other broadcast times or methods of receiving a program, recording a program, enabling continuous recording of a program, setting a program and / or channel as a favorite, purchasing a program, or other features. Options available from a main menu display may include search options, VOD options, parental control options, accessing various types of listings views, subscribing to premium services, editing the user's profile, accessing a browser overlay, or other options.

[0023] The media guidance application may be personalized based on user preferences. A personalized media guidance application allows a user to customize displays and features to create a personalized "experience" with the media guidance application. This personalized experience may be created by allowing the user to input these customizations and / or by the media guidance application monitoring user activity to determine various user preferences. A user may access the personalized guidance application by logging in or otherwise identifying themselves to the guidance application. Customization of the media guidance application may be created according to a user profile. Customization may include varying the presentation style (e.g., color style of display, font size of text, etc.), the aspect of the media content listings displayed (e.g., HDTV programs only, user-specified broadcast channels based on favorite channel selections, sorting of channel display, recommended media content, etc.), desired recording characteristics (e.g., recording for a particular user or continuous recording, recording quality, etc.), parental control settings, and other desired customizations.

[0024] The media guidance application may allow a user to provide user profile information or may automatically compile user profile information. The media guidance application may, for example, monitor the media the user accesses and / or other interactions the user may have with the guidance application. In addition, the media guidance application may obtain other user profiles, in whole or in part, associated with a particular user (e.g., from other websites on the Internet the user accesses, such as www.tvguide.com, from other media guidance applications the user accesses, from other interactive applications the user accesses, from the user's handheld device, etc.) and / or obtain information about the user from other sources the media guidance application may access. As a result, a unified guidance application experience can be provided to the user across the user's different devices. This type of user experience is described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 4. Additional personalized media guidance application features are described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 179,410, filed July 11, 2005, to Ellis et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 437,304, filed November 9, 1999, to Boyer et al., and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 105,128, filed February 21, 2002, to Ellis et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0025] Another display configuration for providing media guidance is shown in FIG. 2. Video mosaic display 200 includes selectable options 202 of media content information organized based on media type, genre, and / or other organization criteria. In display 200, television listings option 204 has been selected, providing listings 206, 208, 210, and 212 as broadcast program listings. Unlike the listings in FIG. 1, the listings in display 200 are not limited to simple text (e.g., the title of the program) and icons describing the media. Rather, in display 200, the listings may provide graphic images including cover art, still images from the media content, previews of video clips, live video from the media content, or other types of media that show the user the media content described by the listing. Each of the graphic listings may also be accompanied by text to provide further information about the media content associated with the listing. For example, listing 208 may include more than one portion, including media portion 214 and text portion 216. The media portion 214 and / or the text portion 216 may be selectable to view the video full screen or to view program listings related to the video displayed in the media portion 214 (e.g., to view a listing of the channel on which the video appears).

[0026] The listings in display 200 are of different sizes (i.e., listing 206 is larger than listings 208, 210, and 212), although all listings could be the same size if desired. The listings could be different sizes or graphically enhanced to indicate a degree of interest to the user or to emphasize certain content, as desired by the media provider or based on user preferences. Various systems and methods for graphically enhancing media listings are discussed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 324,202 to Yates, filed Dec. 29, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0027] Users may access media content and the media guidance application (and its display screens, described above and below) from one or more of their user equipment devices. FIG. 3 illustrates a generalized embodiment of an exemplary user equipment device 300. A more specific implementation of the user equipment device is described below in connection with FIG. 4. The user equipment device 300 may receive media content and data via input / output (hereinafter, "I / O") path 302. The I / O path 302 may provide media content (e.g., broadcast programming, on-demand programming, Internet content, and other video or audio) and data to control circuitry 304, which includes processing circuitry 306 and storage device 308. The control circuitry 304 may be used to send and receive commands, requests, and other suitable data using the I / O path 302. The I / O path 302 may connect the control circuitry 304 (and specifically the processing circuitry 306) to one or more communication paths (described below). The I / O functions may be provided by one or more of these communication paths, but are shown in FIG. 3 as a single path to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

[0028] The control circuitry 304 may be based on any suitable processing circuitry 306, such as processing circuitry based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, or the like. In some embodiments, the control circuitry 304 executes instructions for a media guidance application stored in memory (i.e., storage device 308). In client-server based embodiments, the control circuitry 304 may include suitable communications circuitry for communicating with a guidance application server or other network or server. The communications circuitry may include a cable modem, an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) modem, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem, a telephone modem, or a wireless modem for communication with other equipment. Such communications may involve the Internet or any other suitable communications network or path (described in further detail in connection with FIG. 4). In addition, the communications circuitry may include circuitry to enable peer-to-peer communication of user equipment devices or communication of user equipment devices at locations remote from one another (described in further detail below).

[0029] Memory (e.g., random access memory, read only memory, or any other suitable memory), a hard drive, an optical drive, or any other suitable fixed or removable storage device (e.g., a DVD recorder, a CD recorder, a videocassette recorder, or other suitable recording device) may be provided as storage 304 that is part of control circuitry 308. Storage 308 may include one or more of the above types of storage devices. For example, user equipment device 300 may include a hard drive for a DVR (sometimes referred to as a personal video recorder or PVR) and a DVD recorder as a secondary storage device. Storage 308 may be used to store various types of media and guidance application data described herein, including program information, guidance application settings, user preferences or profile information, or other data used in operating the guidance application. Non-volatile memory may also be used (e.g., to launch boot-up routines and other instructions).

[0030] The control circuitry 304 may include video generation and tuning circuitry, such as one or more analog tuners, one or more MPEG-2 decoders or other digital decoding circuitry, high definition tuners, or any other suitable tuning or video circuitry, or a combination of such circuitry. Encoding circuitry (e.g., for converting over-the-air, analog, or digital signals to MPEG signals for storage) may also be provided. The circuitry 304 may also include scaler circuitry for upconverting and downconverting media to a preferred output format of the user equipment 300. The circuitry 304 may also include digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion circuitry for converting between digital and analog signals. The tuning and encoding circuitry may be used by the user equipment to receive and display, play, or record media content. The tuning and encoding circuitry may also be used to receive guidance data. For example, the circuitry described herein, including the tuning, video generation, encoding, decoding, scaler, and analog / digital circuitry, may be implemented using software running on one or more general-purpose or specialized processors. Multiple tuners may be provided to accommodate simultaneous tuning functions (e.g., watch and record functions, picture-in-picture (PIP) functions, multi-tuner recording functions, etc.). If storage 308 is provided as a device separate from user equipment 300, tuning and encoding circuitry (including multiple tuners) may be associated with storage 308.

[0031] A user may control the control circuitry 304 using a user input interface 310. The user input interface 310 may be any suitable user interface, such as a remote control, a mouse, a trackball, a keypad, a keyboard, a touch screen, a touchpad, a stylus input, a joystick, a voice recognition interface, or other user input interface. In some embodiments, the user input interface 310 may include an accelerometer 316. When a user moves a user input interface 310 that includes an accelerometer 316, the accelerometer 316 may transmit information about the movement and orientation of the user input interface to the user equipment device 300. In some embodiments, the user input interface 310 may include a gyroscope (not shown) in addition to or instead of the accelerometer 316.

[0032] For example, the user input interface 310 including the accelerometer 316 may be a stick device similar to the user input interface used in the Nintendo Wii. In one embodiment, the stick device may be in the shape of a rectangular prism. In other embodiments, the stick device may be in the shape of a triangular prism, a sphere, or a cylinder, or the stick device may taper from one end to the other, like a pyramid or a cone. When a user holds a stick device and swings their arm, the accelerometer 316 may transmit information indicative of the upward movement and upward orientation of a point on the stick device that is furthest from the user. When a user holds a stick device and swings their arm down, the accelerometer 316 may transmit information indicative of the downward movement and downward orientation of a point on the stick device that is furthest from the user. When a user holds a stick device and swings their arm parallel to the ground, the accelerometer 316 may transmit information indicative of the lateral movement and orientation of the stick device parallel to the ground. A user may move and reorient the stick device with any combination of upward, downward, and lateral arm movements. A user may move and orient the rod-shaped device by holding it and moving only the wrist rather than the whole arm, such as moving the wrist up, down, left, right, or in a circular motion.

[0033] Display 312 may be provided as a stand-alone device or integrated with other elements of user equipment device 300. Display 312 may be one or more of a monitor, a television, a mobile device liquid crystal display (LCD), or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images. In some embodiments, display 312 may be HDTV compatible. Speakers 314 may be provided as an integration with other elements of user equipment device 300 or may be stand-alone units. Audio components of video and other media content displayed on display 312 may be played through speakers 314. In some embodiments, audio may be delivered to a receiver (not shown), which processes and outputs the audio via speakers 314.

[0034] The guidance application may be implemented using any suitable architecture. For example, it may be a standalone application implemented entirely on user equipment device 300. In such an approach, the application's instructions are stored locally and data for use by the application is periodically downloaded (e.g., from a television channel's VBI, from an out-of-band feed, or using another suitable approach). In another embodiment, the media guidance application is a client-server based application. Data for use by a thick or thin client implemented on user equipment device 300 is retrieved on demand by issuing requests to a server remote from user equipment device 300. In one example of a client-server based guidance application, control circuitry 304 executes a web browser that interprets web pages provided by a remote server.

[0035] In still other embodiments, the media guidance application is downloaded and interpreted or otherwise executed by an interpreter or virtual machine (executed by control circuitry 304). In some embodiments, the guidance application may be encoded in the ETV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) and received by control circuitry 304 as part of a suitable feed and interpreted by a user agent running on control circuitry 304. For example, the guidance application may be an EBIF widget. In other embodiments, the guidance application may be defined by a series of JAVA-based files that are received and executed by a local virtual machine or other suitable middleware executed by control circuitry 304. In some such embodiments (e.g., those employing MPEG-2 or other digital media encoding schemes), the guidance application may be encoded and transmitted, for example, in an MPEG-2 object carousel with the program's MPEG audio and video packets.

[0036] User equipment devices 300 of FIG. 3 may be implemented in system 400 of FIG. 4 as user television equipment 402, user computer equipment 404, wireless communication devices 406, or any other type of user equipment suitable for accessing media, such as non-portable gaming consoles. For simplicity, these devices may be collectively referred to herein as user equipment or user equipment devices. User equipment devices on which a media guidance application is implemented may function as stand-alone devices or may be part of a network of devices. Various network configurations of devices may be implemented and are discussed in further detail below.

[0037] User television equipment 402 may include a set-top box, an IRD, a television set, a digital storage device, a DVD recorder, a video cassette recorder (VCR), a local media server, or other user television equipment. One or more of these devices may be integrated into a single device, if desired. User computer equipment 404 may include a PC, a laptop, a tablet, a WebTV box, a personal computer television (PC / TV), a PC media server, a PC media center, or other user computer equipment. WEBTV is a trademark owned by Microsoft Corp. Wireless user communications devices 406 may include a PDA, a mobile phone, a portable video player, a portable music player, a portable game console, or other wireless devices.

[0038] Note that with the advent of television tuner cards for PCs, WebTV, and the integration of video into other user equipment devices, attempting to classify a device as one of the above devices is no longer a clean cut. Indeed, each of user television equipment 402, user computer equipment 404, and wireless user communications device 406 may utilize at least some of the system features described above in connection with FIG. 3, resulting in flexibility regarding the types of media content available on the device. For example, user television equipment 402 may be Internet-enabled allowing access to Internet content, while user computer equipment 404 may include a tuner allowing access to television programs. Media guidance applications may also have the same layout on various types of user equipment or may be tailored to the display capabilities of the user equipment. For example, on user computer equipment, the guidance application may be provided as a website accessed by a web browser. In another embodiment, the guidance application may be scaled down for wireless user communications devices.

[0039] In system 400, there will typically be more than one of each type of user equipment device, although to avoid overcomplicating the drawing, only one of each is shown in Figure 4. In addition, each user may utilize more than one type of user equipment device (e.g., a user may have a television set and a computer) and may also utilize more than one of each type of user equipment device (e.g., a user may have a PDA and a cell phone and / or multiple television sets).

[0040] A user may also set various settings to maintain consistent media guidance application settings across in-home and remote devices. Settings include those described herein as well as favorite channels and programs, program preferences utilized by the guidance application to recommend programs, display preferences, and other desired guidance settings. For example, if a user sets a channel as a favorite on an office personal computer, e.g., on the website www.tvguide.com, the same channel will appear as a favorite on the user's in-home devices (e.g., user television equipment and user computer equipment), as well as on the user's mobile devices, if desired. Thus, changes made on one user equipment device can change the guidance experience on another user equipment device, whether the same or a different type of user equipment device. Additionally, changes made may be based on settings input by the user as well as user activity monitored by the guidance application.

[0041] User equipment devices may be coupled to communications network 414. That is, user television equipment 402, user computer equipment 404, and wireless user communications device 406 are coupled to communications network 414 via communications paths 408, 410, and 412, respectively. Communications network 414 may be one or more networks including the Internet, a cellular telephone network, a mobile device (e.g., Blackberry) network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, or other types of communications networks, or combinations of communications networks. BLACKBERRY is a service mark owned by Research In Motion Limited Corp. Paths 408, 410, and 412, separately or together, may include one or more communications paths, such as satellite paths, fiber optic paths, cable paths, paths supporting Internet communications (e.g., IPTV), free space connections (e.g., for broadcast or other wireless signals), or any other suitable wired or wireless communications paths, or combinations of such paths. Path 412 is drawn with dashed lines in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 4 to indicate that it is a wireless path, and paths 408 and 410 are drawn with solid lines to indicate that they are wired paths (although these paths may also be wireless paths if desired). Communication with a user equipment device may be provided by one or more of these communication paths, but is shown in Figure 4 as a single path to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

[0042] Although communication paths are not shown between the user equipment devices, these devices may communicate directly with each other via communication paths such as those described above in connection with paths 408, 410, and 412, as well as other short-range point-to-point communication paths, such as a USB cable, an IEEE 1394 cable, wireless paths (e.g., Bluetooth, infrared, IEEE 802-11x, etc.), or other short-range communication via wired or wireless paths. BLUETOOTH is a certification mark owned by Bluetooth SIG, INC. User equipment devices may also communicate directly with each other by indirect paths via communications network 414.

[0043] System 400 includes a media content source 416 and a media guidance data source 418 coupled to communications network 414 via communications paths 420 and 422, respectively. Paths 420 and 422 may include any of the communications paths described above with respect to paths 408, 410, and 412. Communications with media content source 416 and media guidance data source 418 may be exchanged via one or more communications paths, but are shown in FIG. 4 as a single path to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, there may be more than one of each of media content source 416 and media guidance data source 418, but only one of each is shown in FIG. 4 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. (Different types of each of these sources are discussed below.) If desired, media content source 416 and media guidance data source 418 may be integrated into one source device. Although communication between sources 416 and 418 and user equipment devices 402, 404, and 406 is shown as being through communications network 414, in some embodiments sources 416 and 418 may communicate directly with user equipment devices 402, 404, and 406 via communications paths (not shown) such as those described above in connection with paths 408, 410, and 412.

[0044] The media content sources 416 may include one or more types of media distribution equipment, including television distribution facilities, cable system head ends, satellite distribution facilities, program sources (e.g., television broadcasting companies such as NBC, ABC, HBO, etc.), intermediate distribution facilities and / or servers, Internet providers, on-demand media servers, and other media content providers. NBC is a trademark owned by National Broadcasting Company, Inc., ABC is a trademark owned by ABC, INC., and HBO is a trademark owned by Home Box Office, Inc. The media content sources 416 may be origins of media content (e.g., television broadcasting companies, webcast providers, etc.) or may not be origins of media content (e.g., on-demand media content providers, Internet providers of video content of broadcast programs for download, etc.). The media content sources 416 may include cable sources, satellite providers, on-demand providers, Internet providers, or other media content providers. The media content sources 416 may include remote media servers used to store different types of media content (including video content selected by a user) at locations remote from any of the user equipment devices. Systems and methods for remote storage of media content and for providing remotely stored media content to user equipment are discussed in further detail in connection with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 332,244, filed Jun. 11, 1999, by Ellis et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0045] Media guidance data source 418 may provide media guidance data such as media listings, media-related information (e.g., broadcast time, broadcast channel, media title, media content, rating information (e.g., parental control rating, critics' rating, etc.), genre or category information, actor information, logo data for broadcaster or provider logos, etc.), media format (e.g., standard definition, high definition, etc.), advertising information (e.g., text, images, media clips, etc.), on-demand information, and any other type of guidance data that helps a user navigate among and find desired media selections.

[0046] Media guidance application data may be provided to user equipment devices using any suitable approach. In some embodiments, the guidance application may be a standalone interactive television program guide that receives program guide data via a data feed (e.g., a continuous feed, a trickle feed, or data within the vertical blanking interval of a channel). Program schedule data and other guidance data may be provided to user equipment on a sideband of a television channel, within the vertical blanking interval of a television channel, using an in-band digital signal, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data transmission technique. Program schedule data and other guidance data may be provided to user equipment on multiple analog or digital television channels. Program schedule data and other guidance data may be provided to user equipment at any suitable frequency (e.g., continuously, daily, at user-specified time periods, at system-specified time periods, upon request from user equipment, etc.). In some approaches, guidance data from media guidance data source 418 may be provided to user's equipment using a client-server approach. For example, a guidance application client resident on the user's equipment may initiate a session with source 418 to obtain guidance data when needed. Media guidance data source 418 may provide user equipment devices 402, 404, and 406 with the media guidance application itself, or software updates for the media guidance application.

[0047] The media guidance application may, for example, be a stand-alone application implemented on the user equipment device. In other embodiments, the media guidance application may be a client-server application where only the client resides on the user equipment device. For example, the media guidance application may be implemented partially as a client application on the control circuitry 304 of the user equipment device 300 and partially as a server application on a remote server (e.g., media guidance data source 418). The guidance application displays may be generated by the media guidance data source 418 and transmitted to the user equipment device. The media guidance data source 418 may also transmit data for storage on the user equipment, which then generates the guidance application displays based on instructions processed by the control circuitry.

[0048] Media guidance system 400 is intended to illustrate several approaches, or network configurations, by which user equipment devices and sources of media content and guidance data may communicate with one another for the purpose of accessing media and providing media guidance. The present invention may be applied in any one or some of these approaches, or in systems employing other approaches for delivering media and providing media guidance. The following three approaches provide specific illustrations of the generalized embodiment of FIG. 4:

[0049] In one approach, user equipment devices may communicate with each other within a home network. The user equipment devices may communicate with each other directly via the short-range point-to-point communication scheme described above, via an indirect path through a hub or other similar device provided on the home network, or via communications network 414. Multiple individuals within a household may each operate different user equipment devices on the home network. As a result, it may be desirable for various media guidance information or settings to be communicated between the different user equipment devices. For example, as described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 179,410 to Ellis et al., filed July 11, 2005, it may be desirable for a user to maintain consistent media guidance application settings on different user equipment devices within the home network. Different types of user equipment devices within a home network may also communicate with each other to transmit media content. For example, a user may transmit media content from a user computing device to a portable video player or a portable music player.

[0050] In a second approach, a user may have multiple types of user equipment through which they access media content and obtain media guidance. For example, some users may have a home network that is accessed by in-home and mobile devices. The user may control the in-home devices through a media guidance application implemented on a remote device. For example, the user may access an online media guidance application on a website through a personal computer in the office or through a mobile device such as a PDA or web-enabled cell phone. The user may set various settings (e.g., recording, reminders, or other settings) on the online guidance application to control the user's in-home devices. The online guide may control the user's equipment directly or by communicating with the media guidance application on the user's in-home devices. Various systems and methods for communication of user equipment devices, where the user equipment devices are located remotely from one another, are discussed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 927,814, filed Aug. 26, 2004, to Ellis et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0051] In a third approach, user equipment devices both in and out of the home may use the media guidance application to communicate directly with media content sources 416 to access media content. Specifically, within the home, users of user television equipment 404 and user computer equipment 406 may access the media guidance application to navigate among and search for desired media content. Users may also use wireless user communications devices 406 to access the media guidance application outside the home to navigate among and search for desired media content.

[0052] Although the discussion of media content has focused on video content, it will be understood that the principles of media guidance are applicable to other types of media content, such as music, images, etc.

[0053] In some embodiments, the media guidance application object or the media guidance objects may appear to be displayed on different surfaces. In particular, one of the media guidance objects may be displayed on a first surface (e.g., the media guidance object appears flat on the screen) and the other media guidance object may be displayed on a second surface (e.g., the media guidance object appears as if it is in front of the screen or behind the screen).

[0054] As defined herein, the term media guidance object or media guidance application object means any website, a visual presentation of media guidance application data, such as a visual presentation of a live or recorded video feed playback or a user profile, a media asset, a previously recorded media asset, a media asset recommendation, an email message, a notification, a reminder, a scheduled recording, a favorite channel, a photo, an icon, a sketch, a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, a service provider message, a new media asset release, a media category, a queue containing media assets to be viewed at a future time, a playlist of media assets, or a home video, or any combination thereof.

[0055] In a stereoscopic media guidance application, a stereoscopic effect may be achieved by generating a first image seen by a user's right eye and a second image seen by the user's left eye. The two images are overlaid to generate a stereoscopic image. In a stereoscopic image, some objects appear closer to the user and other objects appear farther away. To separate the images presented to each of the user's eyes, the user may view the stereoscopic media guidance application through a stereoscopic optical device.

[0056] FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary stereoscopic optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the stereoscopic optical device 500 may be a glasses-like structure. The stereoscopic optical device 500 may have a first opening 502a for a user's right eye and a second opening 502b for the user's left eye. When the user looks through the opening 502a, the user only sees an image generated for the user's right eye. Similarly, when the user looks through the opening 502b, the user only sees an image generated for the user's left eye. The openings 502a and 502b may be surrounded by a frame structure 504. The frame structure 504 may include a bridge 506 that may be placed on the user's nose when the user wears the stereoscopic optical device 500. The stereoscopic optical device 500 may further have side pieces 508 that run along the sides of the user's head and hook over the user's ears. The side pieces 508 may be attached to the frame structure 504 by screws, hinges, glue, or any other suitable attachment means. In some embodiments, the side pieces 508 may be folded behind the frame structure 504 when the stereoscopic optical device 500 is not being worn by a user.

[0057] In one embodiment, the frame structure 504, the bridge 506, and the side pieces 508 may be made of plastic. In another embodiment, the frame structure 504, the bridge 506, and the side pieces 508 may be made of metal. Any other suitable material may be used to create the frame structure 504, the bridge 506, and the side pieces 508. In some embodiments, the frame structure 504, the bridge 506, and the side pieces 508 may all be made of the same material. In other embodiments, each of the frame structure 504, the bridge 506, and the side pieces 508 may be made of different materials. In yet other embodiments, one of the frame structure 504, the bridge 506, and the side pieces 508 may be made of a different material than the other two parts.

[0058] In some embodiments, the aperture 502a may be covered by a first lens and the aperture 502b may be covered by a second lens. The lenses may be made of liquid crystal or some other suitable material. In some embodiments, the images seen through each of the lenses are superimposed by blocking and unblocking the lenses at the appropriate times. When a lens is blocked, visible light cannot pass through the lens. When a lens is unblocked, visible light can pass through the lens.

[0059] In some embodiments, a transmitter on the user equipment device may transmit a first signal that is received by the sensor. In response to receiving the first signal, the first lens is blocked and the second lens is unblocked. A second signal may then be transmitted by the transmitter and received by the sensor. In response to receiving the second signal, the first lens is unblocked and the second lens is blocked. The transmitter, sensor, and signals are described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 8.

[0060] In some embodiments, the lenses may be blocked and unblocked using a shuttering process. The lens blocking and unblocking process described above may be repeated many times per second, for example, so that visual persistence prevents the user from noticing the lens shuttering and instead presents a continuous stereoscopic image. In some embodiments, the lens blocking and unblocking occurs at a rate of 60 times per second. In other embodiments, the blocking and unblocking may occur at a slower or faster rate. For example, the blocking and unblocking may occur at a rate of 30 times per second.

[0061] FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary stereoscopic optical device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the stereoscopic optical device 520 may be a goggle-like structure. The stereoscopic optical device 520 may have a first opening 522a for a user's right eye and a second opening 522b for a user's left eye. When a user peers through the opening 522a, the user only sees an image generated for the user's right eye. Similarly, when a user peers through the opening 522b, the user only sees an image generated for the user's left eye. The openings 522a and 522b may be surrounded by a frame structure 524. The frame structure 524 may include a bridge 526 that may be placed on the user's nose when the user wears the stereoscopic optical device 520. The stereoscopic optical device 520 may further include a band 528 that wraps around the user's head to secure the stereoscopic optical device 520. The bands 528 may be attached to the frame structure 524 by screws, hinges, glue, or any other suitable attachment means.

[0062] In one embodiment, the frame structure 524 and the bridge 526 may be made of plastic. In another embodiment, the frame structure 524 and the bridge 526 may be made of metal. Any other suitable material may be used to create the frame structure 524 and the bridge 526. In some embodiments, the frame structure 524 and the bridge 526 may be made of the same material. In other embodiments, the frame structure 524 and the bridge 526 may be made of different materials.

[0063] In some embodiments, the band 528 may be made of a rigid material such as plastic or metal. In other embodiments, the band 528 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or latex. The length of the band 528 may be adjustable so that the stereoscopic optical device 520 may be worn by users of different sizes. In some embodiments, the aperture 522a may be covered by a first lens and the aperture 522b may be covered by a second lens. The lenses may be made of liquid crystal or some other suitable material. In some embodiments, the images seen through each of the lenses are superimposed by blocking and unblocking the lenses at appropriate times as described above in connection with FIG. 5A.

[0064] FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary stereoscopic optical device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the stereoscopic optical device 540 may be an opera glasses-like structure. The stereoscopic optical device 540 may have a first opening 542a for a user's right eye and a second opening 542b for a user's left eye. When a user peers through the opening 542a, the user only sees an image generated for the user's right eye. Similarly, when a user peers through the opening 542b, the user only sees an image generated for the user's left eye. The openings 542a and 542b may be surrounded by frame structures 544a and 544b, respectively. The frame structures 544a and 544b may be connected by a bridge 546 that may be placed on the user's nose when the user wears the stereoscopic optical device 540. The length of the bridge 546 may be adjustable so that the stereoscopic optical device 540 may be used by users of different sizes.

[0065] In some embodiments, the frame structures 544a and 544b and the bridge 546 may be made of plastic, paper, and / or metal. Any other suitable material may be used to create the frame structures 544a and 544b and the bridge 546. In some embodiments, the frame structures 544a and 544b and the bridge 546 may be made of the same material. In other embodiments, the frame structures 544a and 544b and the bridge 546 may be made of different materials. In some implementations, the stereoscopic optical device 540 may be provided on a piece of paper and cut based on a specific area. The stereoscopic optical device 540 may be formed by combining and folding cut cross sections of an object, as shown and described below in connection with FIG. 5D. The stereoscopic optical device 540 may be configured to be positioned on the user's face such that, when in a certain orientation, the second opening 542b allows visible light to pass from the user's right eye, allowing the user to see only a portion of the superimposed stereoscopic image generated for viewing by the user's right eye. Additionally, when in a particular orientation, a first aperture 542a may allow visible light to pass from the user's left eye, allowing the user to see only a portion of the superimposed stereoscopic image generated for viewing by the user's left eye. When viewed together, the user's brain combines the images and perceives the combined image as a three-dimensional object (described in more detail below).

[0066] The stereoscopic optical device 540 may further include a handle 548 that a user may hold when looking through the openings 542a and 542b. The handle 548 may be attached to either the frame structure 544a or the frame structure 544b by screws, hinges, glue, or any other suitable attachment means. The length of the handle 548 may be adjustable to allow the stereoscopic optical device 540 to be used by users of different sizes. The handle 548 may be made of plastic, metal, rubber, or any other suitable material or combination of materials. In some embodiments, the handle 548 may be folded up behind the frame structures 544a and 544b when the stereoscopic optical device 540 is not in use.

[0067] In some embodiments, aperture 542a may be covered by a first lens and aperture 542b may be covered by a second lens. The lenses may be made of liquid crystal or some other suitable material. In some embodiments, the images seen through each of the lenses are superimposed by blocking and unblocking the lenses at the appropriate times, as described above in connection with FIG. 5A.

[0068] 5D illustrates an exemplary stereoscopic optical device pattern 560 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The pattern 560 may be cut and assembled to form a stereoscopic optical device similar to the stereoscopic optical device 540 described above. After the outline of the pattern 560 is cut, slits may be cut along lines 562a-d. The pattern 560 may be folded along dotted lines 564a-f so that the black sides face each other and form a frame structure. The frame structure may be secured together by inserting slit 562a into slit 562b and slit 562d into slit 562c.

[0069] In an embodiment where the images for each eye are presented side-by-side, a stereoscopic optical device formed from the pattern 560 may be used. For example, the image for the left eye may be displayed on the left portion of the screen, and the image for the right eye may be displayed on the right portion of the screen at a suitable distance away from the portion of the screen. In some implementations, two separate screens may be configured to display the images for each eye, respectively. The user may peer through the frame structure and the wide side of the frame at each eye's image by closing one eye at a time. The user may see one stereoscopic image when both eyes are open.

[0070] Stereoscopic optical devices, such as those described above in connection with Figures 5A-D, may be used when a user views a stereoscopic media guidance application. Exemplary stereoscopic media guidance application display screens are described in detail below in connection with Figures 6A-B and 7A-B.

[0071] 6A shows an illustrative front view of a display screen 600 of media objects appearing on different sides, according to one embodiment of the present invention. A user 608 viewing display screen 600 sees a first selectable media guidance object 602 and a second selectable media guidance object 604. When viewed, first selectable media guidance object 602 appears closer to the user than second selectable media guidance object 604 along an axis 606 perpendicular to display screen 600.

[0072] A user's perception of the first and second selectable media guidance objects 602 and 604 is further illustrated in FIG. 6B. FIG. 6B illustrates an exemplary side view of the display screen shown in FIG. 6A, assuming that the first and second selectable media guidance objects 602 and 604 are three-dimensional in nature. The first selectable media guidance object 602 is displayed in a first plane indicated by dotted line 612. The second selectable media guidance object 604 is displayed in a second plane indicated by dotted line 614 that intersects with axis 606 at a different location than the first plane 612. A user may view the display screen 600 through a stereoscopic optical device 616 similar to that described above in connection with FIGS. 5A-C. A user may select at least one of the first and second selectable media guidance objects 602 and 604 with a user input device 610, such as the user input device described above in connection with FIG. 3. Selection of selectable media guidance objects is described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 9A-B and 10.

[0073] A plurality of selectable media guidance objects may be arranged into a stereoscopic media guidance application display, as described below in connection with Figures 7A-B. Figure 7A illustrates an illustrative display screen 700 of selectable media objects displayed on different planes, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may be arranged based on a planetary system. In particular, selectable media guidance object 702 may be at the position of the sun in the planetary system, and selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may be at the positions of planets orbiting the sun. More specifically, selectable media guidance object 702 may be perceived by a user when using a stereoscopic optical device as being in a central region of three-dimensional space, and selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may be perceived by a user as surrounding selectable media guidance object 702 in three-dimensional space.

[0074] In some implementations, selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may be located and viewed as being at the same level (or height) as selectable media guidance object 702, or each selectable media guidance object 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may appear to be at a different level. In some implementations, selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may be located and viewed as being equidistant from selectable media guidance object 702, or each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may appear to be at a different degree of distance. In some embodiments, the distance between any one of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 and selectable media guidance object 702 may correspond to how selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 relate to selectable media guidance object 702.

[0075] In some embodiments, selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may rotate around selectable media guidance object 702. For example, each selectable media guidance object 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may move in a circle around selectable media guidance object 702 at a particular speed (which may be predetermined or selected by the user) in time. In some implementations, selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may move when processing circuitry 306 detects movement by the input device in a particular direction. For example, when the user jerk the input device once to the right, processing circuitry 306 may reposition selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 by rotating them clockwise around selectable media guidance object 702.

[0076] Each of the selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may be displayed in a different plane that intersects the screen normal at a different point. For example, selectable media guidance object 702 may appear to the user when the first selectable media guidance object 602 appears to the user (e.g., may appear closer to the user in three-dimensional space) and selectable media guidance object 712 may appear to the user when the second selectable media guidance object 704 appears to the user (e.g., may appear farther away from the user in three-dimensional space). In some implementations, the selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may be spherical, rectangular, triangular, or any other shape.

[0077] In some embodiments, the selectable media guidance objects may appear semi-transparent, partially transparent, or fully transparent. For example, the selectable media object 706 may appear closer to the user in three-dimensional space than the selectable media object 708. The selectable media object 706 may partially or fully obstruct the user's view of the selectable media object 708. The selectable media object 706 may appear semi-transparent, partially transparent, or fully transparent such that the user may still see the selectable media object 708 through the selectable media object 706. In particular, the user may see both the selectable media object 708 and the selectable media object 706 in the same portion of the screen. In some implementations, the level of transparency may be adjusted (e.g., by the user or by the system). For example, the user may set a high level of transparency, which may approach full transparency, allowing the transparency effect to allow more visible light to pass through (e.g., appearing like a window). Alternatively, the user may set a lower transparency level, which may create a transparency effect that is closer to opaque or translucent, allowing less visible light to pass through (e.g., looking like frosted glass), so that some objects appear a little more opaque than others.

[0078] In some embodiments, selectable media objects may overlap more than certain other selectable media objects. For example, selectable media object 706 may overlap both selectable media object 708 and selectable media object 710. In some embodiments, selectable media object 708 may overlap selectable media object 710 and may be overlapped by selectable media object 706. It should be understood that the overlap between the selectable media objects may be by only a portion of each selectable media object or by the entirety of one or more of the selectable media objects.

[0079] In some embodiments, selectable media object 706 may appear semi-transparent, partially transparent, or fully transparent in areas that overlap with selectable media object 708, and may appear opaque in other non-overlapping areas. In other embodiments, selectable media object 706 may appear entirely semi-transparent or fully transparent, even in areas that do not overlap with other selectable media objects.

[0080] In some embodiments, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a group of media assets, and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may correspond to one of the media assets in the group. For example, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a group of television programs, and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may represent a different television program in the group. In particular, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a group of television programs available or broadcast at a particular time or from a particular source (e.g., broadcast, satellite, Internet, terrestrial), and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may represent a different media asset available or broadcast at a particular time or from a particular source. Similarly, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a group of performers or directors of a media asset, and selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may each represent a different one of the performers or directors in the group. Selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 (above and below) may present a media asset with an image, video, text, audio file, website, or other presentation unique to the media asset that identifies the media asset to a user when the user perceives a media asset presentation provided by one of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712.

[0081] In some implementations, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a genre of media assets, and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may present a different one of the media assets in a group. For example, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a genre of movies, such as comedy or action movies, and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may represent different movie titles of that genre. In some embodiments, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify songs, music artists, categories, emails the user receives, favorite media assets, playlists, or video games. For example, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a playlist of media assets, and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may represent a different one of the media assets in the playlist or other media assets of a similar genre or time period.

[0082] In some embodiments, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a user profile, and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may represent a different recommendation for the user profile. The recommendations may be based on viewing history associated with the user profile, or the recommendations may be social network recommendations. In some embodiments, the recommendations may be recommendations for related media assets, such as similar movies or documentaries on a particular topic. In some embodiments, the recommendations may be recommendations for products that may be of interest to the user, such as movie posters, DVDs, or sports games.

[0083] In some embodiments, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a media asset, and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may include an advertisement related to the identified media asset. For example, if the identified media asset is a song, the advertisement may be associated with a local concert by the artist singing the song or a CD containing the song. If the identified media asset is a sporting event, the advertisement may relate to food that a user may want to order while watching the event or the uniforms of the playing team. In some embodiments, the advertisement may include a discount on the advertised item. In some embodiments, some of the advertisements displayed may not be directly related to the identified media asset, and may instead be local or regional advertisements.

[0084] In some embodiments, selectable media guidance object 702 may identify a media asset, and each of selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may represent an interrelationship associated with the identified media asset. For example, if selectable media guidance object 702 identifies a television program, selectable media guidance object 704 may present an option for recommending the television program to another user, and selectable media guidance object 706 may include a hyperlink that may allow the user to obtain more information about the television program. In addition, selectable media guidance object 708 may present an option for chatting with other users about the television program, while selectable media guidance object 710 may invite the user to play a game of trivia about the television program.

[0085] In some embodiments, user selection of a selectable media guidance object 702 (the “sun” object) may set the mode in which the selectable media guidance object 702 identifies a group. The mode selected for the “sun” object may determine which “planet” objects are displayed. For example, a user may set the mode of the selectable media guidance object 702 to present or identify a group of actors in a particular media asset, or may change its mode to present or identify a group of television programs broadcast by the selectable media guidance object 702 at a particular time. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 306 may detect up and down movement of the input device (e.g., based on inputs processing circuitry 306 receives from an accelerometer and / or gyroscope) and may thereby change the mode of the “sun” object, and thus the “planet” objects that may be displayed. In some implementations, the mode set for the sun object may change based on a particular direction in which the input device jerk. For example, when processing circuitry 306 determines that the input device jerk in the direction of a line that forms a 45 degree angle with respect to the normal of the display, processing circuitry 306 may set the mode of selectable media guidance object 702 to be a television schedule, and when processing circuitry 306 determines that the input device jerk in the direction of a line that forms a 90 degree angle with respect to the normal of the display, processing circuitry 306 may set the mode of selectable media guidance object 702 to be an actor in a media asset. More specifically, each mode of selectable media guidance object 702 may be associated with a different direction in which the input device moves or jerk.

[0086] In some embodiments, the user may select one of the "planet" objects to become the new "Sun" object, which may then flick the "Sun" object off the screen (e.g., in three-dimensional space) like a billiard ball, replacing it and displaying the new "planet" object. In other embodiments, the user may drag the "planet" object into the position of the "Sun" object, making it the new "Sun" object.

[0087] In some embodiments, a picture box 714 and a description box 716 may be displayed along with the selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712. Picture box 714 may display an image associated with one of the selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712. In some embodiments, the image in picture box 714 may be a still image. For example, the still image may be a photo of an actor or a screen shot from a television show. In other embodiments, the image in picture box 714 may be a moving image, such as a rotating image or a streaming clip of content. In some embodiments, the moving image may be a movie trailer or an interview with the cast.

[0088] Description box 716 may display text that describes one of selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712. In some embodiments, the text in description box 716 may be sized so that all of the text may be immediately seen. In other embodiments, a user may manually scroll up and down or left and right in description box 716 to see all of the text. In still other embodiments, text in description box 716 may automatically scroll up and down or left and right so that a user may read all of the text. In still other embodiments, some text may be displayed in description box 716 and a user may select description box 716 to read the rest of the text. Text in description box 716 may relate to any or all of selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712. For example, text in description box 716 may be an actor biography, a plot synopsis, song lyrics, or a description of a video game.

[0089] In some embodiments, selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may themselves include images or text, or both. The images and text within selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 may be displayed in any or all of the manners described above in connection with image box 714 and description box 716.

[0090] 7B illustrates an illustrative display screen 750 of a presentation of performers displayed on different planes that intersect the screen normal at different locations in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In particular, selectable media guidance objects 752, 754, 756, 758, 760, and 762 may be organized based on a planetary system. Each of selectable media guidance objects 752, 754, 756, 758, 760, and 762 may be displayed on a different plane that intersects the screen normal at a different point or location. Selectable media guidance object 752 may be a "sun" object and may identify the television program "House." Selectable media guidance object 752 may be the same or may have similar functionality as selectable media guidance object 702 (FIG. 7A). Selectable media guidance objects 754, 756, 758, 760, and 762 may be "planet" objects and may correspond to performers from the television program "House" identified by selectable media guidance object 752. Selectable media guidance objects 754, 756, 758, 760, and 762 may be the same as or have similar functionality as selectable media guidance objects 704, 706, 708, 710, and 712 (FIG. 7A). "Planet" objects 754, 756, 758, 760, and 762 may include photos of the performers and names of the performers. In another embodiment, the "sun" object may identify a time period and the "planet" objects may correspond to programming scheduled for that time period. In yet another embodiment, the "sun" object may identify a genre of movie and the "planet" objects may correspond to movies belonging to that genre.

[0091] 7B displays a "sun" object, an image associated with selectable media guidance object 752. In particular, the image in image box 764 may be a picture of Dr. House, a major character in the television program identified by the "sun" object. In another embodiment, the image in image box 764 may be a commercial for an upcoming episode of "House." In yet another embodiment, the image in image box 764 may be a picture of a cast member appearing in one of selectable media guidance objects 754, 756, 758, 760, and 762.

[0092] 7B displays text associated with one of the "Planet" objects. In particular, the text 766 in the description box may be a biography of the performer, Omar Epps, who is displayed in the selectable media object 754. In another embodiment, the text 766 in the description box may generally describe the television show "House." In other embodiments, the text 766 in the description box may be a synopsis of the previous or next episode of "House."

[0093] A stereoscopic media guidance application, such as the one described above, may be displayed and navigated using multiple user equipment devices and peripheral devices. FIG. 8 shows an exemplary configuration 800 of user equipment devices and peripheral devices in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The stereoscopic media guidance application may be displayed on a screen of a television set 802. A user 810 may view the stereoscopic media guidance application via a stereoscopic optical device 812, such as one of the stereoscopic optical devices described above in connection with FIGS. 5A-C. A set-top box 804 may be mounted on or incorporated into the television set 802. A camera 806 may also be mounted on or incorporated into the television set 802. As referred to herein, user television equipment may include each or all of the set-top box 804, camera 806 and television set 802, independently or combined. The camera 806 may detect movement of the user 810 or user input device 814. In some embodiments, the camera 806 may be an infrared camera. The infrared camera may detect movements of the user 810 by forming a thermal image of the user 810. Alternatively, the user input device 814 may emit infrared light that can be detected by the infrared camera.

[0094] The transceiver 808 may also be mounted on or incorporated into the television set 802. The transceiver 808 may also be included in the user television equipment mentioned above and below. The transceiver 808 may be used to control the stereoscopic optical device 812. For example, the transceiver 808 may transmit infrared signals that are received by sensors on the stereoscopic optical device 812. The infrared signals may block and unblock lenses on the optical device 812 so that the user 810 sees a stereoscopic image, as described above in connection with FIGS. 5A-C. For example, the processing circuit 306 may display an image on a screen that the user sees with only the left eye, and thus may instruct the transceiver 808 to send a message to the user's optical device to block the right lens and unblock the left lens. After a period (e.g., milliseconds or microseconds), the processing circuit 306 may display an image on the screen that the user will see with only the right eye, and may therefore instruct the transceiver 808 to send a message to the user's optical device to block the left lens and unblock the right lens.

[0095] Transceiver 808 may also receive signals from user input device 814. For example, user 810 may press a button on user input device 814 to select a selectable media guidance object to be displayed. User input device 814 may transmit a signal, such as an infrared signal, indicating the user selection received by transceiver 808. In some embodiments, transceiver 808 may work in coordination with camera 806 to detect movement of user 810 and user input device 814. For example, camera 806 may detect broad arm movements of user 810, while transceiver 808 receives information about the movement and orientation of user input device 814 that is collected by an accelerometer in user input device 814. Based on the information collected by camera 806 and transceiver 808, the stereoscopic media guidance application display may be modified, as described in more detail below in connection with FIGs. 9A-B.

[0096] Figures 9A-B show exemplary configurations 900 and 950, respectively, of media guidance objects on a display screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Configurations 900 and 950 are both planetary configurations, as described above in connection with Figures 7A-B. In particular, selectable media guidance objects 902, 904, 906, 908, 910, and 912 in Figure 9A and selectable media guidance objects 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, and 962 in Figure 9B are configured based on a planetary system and have the same or similar functionality as selectable media guidance objects 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 and / or 752, 754, 756, 758, 760, and 762 (Figures 7A and 7B), respectively.

[0097] Each of selectable media guidance objects 902, 904, 906, 908, 910, and 912 of FIG. 9A and selectable media guidance objects 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, and 962 of FIG. 9B may be displayed on a different plane that intersects the normal to the screen at a different point. Selectable media guidance object 902 may be the "sun" object in FIG. 9A and selectable media guidance object 952 may be the "sun" object in FIG. 9B. Although both "sun" objects are shown to identify the television program "House," it should be understood that the sun object may identify any grouping of media assets, as described above. The images in picture boxes 918 and 968 correspond to the "sun" object in their respective configurations. Selectable media guidance objects 904, 906, 908, 910, and 912 as well as selectable media guidance objects 954, 956, 958, 960, and 962 in FIG. 9A may be "planet" objects and may correspond to cast members of "House."

[0098] The selectable media guidance objects 904 in Figure 9A may be surrounded by visual indicators 914. In some embodiments, visual indicators 914 may be completely translucent or transparent. In other embodiments, visual indicators 914 may be translucent or transparent in areas that overlap the selectable media guidance objects and opaque in other areas.

[0099] Description box 920 displays text associated with selectable media guidance object 904, the selectable media guidance object that is focused by visual indicator 914. In particular, the text 920 in the description box is a biography of the performer, Omar Epps, that is displayed in selectable media object 904. In some embodiments, description box 920 and / or image box 918 may provide information associated with selectable media guidance object 902. In such a situation, description box 920 and / or image box 918 may appear to be in the same plane as the associated selectable media guidance object. For example, description box 920 and / or image box 918 may include information about the "House" identified by selectable media guidance object 902, which may appear to be in a plane that intersects the perpendicular of the screen in a first position that causes selectable object 902 to appear to be at a closer distance to the user than selectable media guidance object 912. Thus, description boxes 920 and / or image boxes 918 may also be on the same plane as selectable media guidance objects 902 and may appear to be the same distance from the user as media guidance objects 902. This may allow the user to visually identify which of the displayed selectable media guidance objects description boxes 920 and / or image boxes 918 correspond to.

[0100] In some embodiments, description box 920 and / or picture box 918 may appear on the face of the screen while selectable media guidance objects appear on the front and / or back faces of the screen. In some embodiments, one or more selectable media guidance objects may appear on the face of the screen while other selectable media guidance objects may appear on the front and / or back faces of the screen. For example, description box 920 and picture box 918 may appear on the face of the screen with selectable media guidance object 902 while other selectable media guidance objects may appear on the front and back faces of the screen.

[0101] The user may change the location of the visual indicator 914 in the stereoscopic media guidance application display. In some embodiments, the user may move the visual indicator 914 using up, down, left, and right arrow keys or other buttons on the user input device. In other embodiments, the user may hold the user input device and move one of their arms in the direction in which they want to move the visual indicator 914. For example, if the user wishes to move the visual indicator 914 towards selectable media guidance object 906, the user may move their arm to the right. If the user wishes to move the visual indicator 914 towards selectable media guidance object 902, the user may raise their arm. In some implementations, the processing circuit 306 may move the cursor around the screen based on slow and steady speeds at which the input device is moved (e.g., based on the user's arm movements) and may affect the selection of a mode change associated with a selectable media guidance object adjacent to the cursor's location based on fast and medium speeds at which the input device is moved (e.g., based on the user's sudden movements of the wrist movement in a particular direction).

[0102] In another embodiment, visual indicator 914 may remain stationary while the "planet" objects move. For example, a user may move their arm in a circular motion to rotate the "planet" objects of FIG. 9A around the "sun" object. The result is illustrated in FIG. 9B. In FIG. 9B, processing circuit 306 may shift the "planet" objects by one position in a clockwise direction compared to their respective positions in FIG. 9A. In particular, selectable media guidance object 954 representing performer Olivia Wilde is shifted into visual indicator 964 of FIG. 9B and text 970 in a description box becomes Olivia Wilde's biography. Selectable media guidance object 962 representing performer Omar Epps is shifted behind the "sun" object and all other "planet" objects 956, 958, and 960 are shifted clockwise accordingly to maintain the configuration shown in FIG. 9A. Navigation and modification of the stereoscopic media guidance application is described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 10 and 11. It should be understood that the above and below movements are in three-dimensional space (domain), so even though the media guidance object may be repositioned on a two-dimensional screen, when viewed through a stereoscopic optical device, the media guidance object will appear to be repositioned and moving closer to and farther away from the user in the three-dimensional realm.

[0103] It should be understood that the sizes of the circles shown in Figures 7A, 7B, 9A and 9B represent different positions of the selectable media guidance objects in three-dimensional space. For example, the size of the circles represents how close / farther the selectable media guidance object appears to be to the user when viewed through a stereoscopic optical device. In particular, the larger the size of the circle, the closer the selectable media guidance object appears to be to the user, and the smaller the size of the circle, the farther the selectable media guidance object appears to be to the user. More specifically, selectable media guidance object 752 appears closer to the user when viewed through a stereoscopic optical device than selectable media guidance object 760, which is shown in smaller size.

[0104] 10 is an illustrative flow diagram 1000 for navigating a three-dimensional media guidance application in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. At step 1002, user movement is detected. For example, processing circuitry 306 may detect a user waving their arms in a circle or from side to side.

[0105] At step 1004, it is determined whether the motion indicates a command to display additional selectable media guidance objects. For example, a user may point to or highlight a section of the display screen labeled "More Options." Processing circuitry 306 may also detect some predetermined motion, such as a quick side-to-side user arm rotation, indicating that more options are desired. If at step 1004, it is determined that the motion does not indicate a command to display additional selectable media guidance objects, the process proceeds to step 1006.

[0106] At step 1006, additional selectable media guidance objects are displayed. The additional selectable media guidance objects that may be displayed may appear on a different surface than the selectable media guidance objects already displayed. For example, more program listings may be displayed for a particular time period. Some of the program listings may appear in front of the display screen and other program listings may appear behind the display screen. Or, more media assets of a particular genre may be displayed. Some of the media assets may appear in front of the display screen and other media assets may appear behind the display screen.

[0107] In some embodiments, the additional selectable media guidance objects that are displayed may be different media asset types than the selectable media guidance objects already displayed. In one embodiment, the "Sun" object may be a movie genre and the already displayed "Planet" objects may be movie titles in that genre. The additional selectable media guidance objects that are displayed may be "Planet" objects that contain advertisements that may or may not be related to "Sun" and the already displayed "Planet" objects.

[0108] In some embodiments, color-coded lines may be shown between selectable media guidance objects to indicate relationships between the objects. For example, a displayed "sun" object may represent a television show, a first set of displayed "planet" objects may represent episodes of the television show, and a second set of displayed "planet" objects may represent cast members of the television show. Red lines may connect the "sun" objects to the episode's "planet" objects, and blue lines may connect the "sun" objects to the cast member's "planet" objects. Additionally, green lines may connect the cast member "planet" objects to other "planet" objects that represent episodes in which the cast members appear.

[0109] If in step 1004 it is determined that the motion does not indicate a command to display additional selectable media guidance objects, the process proceeds to step 1008. In step 1008 it is determined whether the motion indicates a selection of a selectable media guidance object. For example, a user may punch the air or poke the screen to indicate a selection. If in step 1008 it is determined that the motion does not indicate a selection of a selectable media guidance object, the process proceeds to step 1010.

[0110] In step 1010, the selectable media guidance object closest to the location of the visual indicator is selected. For example, visual indicator 914 may be centered over selectable media guidance object 904, and selectable media guidance object 904 is selected (FIG. 9A). Alternatively, the visual indicator may not touch any selectable media guidance object, but may be much closer to one selectable media guidance object than any other object, and the closest object is selected. In some embodiments, the user may only point to the desired selectable media guidance object to select it without moving either the visual indicator or the displayed selectable media guidance object.

[0111] If, at step 1008, it is determined that the movement does not indicate a selection of a selectable media guidance object, the process proceeds to step 1012. At step 1012, the visual indicator moves in the direction of the user's movement. For example, if the user waves their arm to the left, the visual indicator may move toward the left of the screen. If the user waves their arm downward, the visual indicator may move toward the bottom of the screen.

[0112] In some embodiments, selection of a selectable media guidance object may cause more information related to the selectable media guidance object to be displayed. For example, selection of a selectable media guidance object that represents a television program may cause information to be displayed about what the program is about, which actors will be in the program, or when and on what channel the program will air. In other embodiments, if a particular selectable media guidance object represents a television program, selecting that particular object causes the user's television device to tune to or provide access to the represented program (e.g., download on-demand media assets corresponding to the program from a server or stream media assets from the Internet).

[0113] 11 is another illustrative flow diagram 1100 for navigating a three-dimensional media guidance application in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In step 1102, a reference point is assigned for the orientation of the input device. For example, if the input device is currently pointing upwards, the reference point may be the center of the top edge of the display screen. If the input device is currently pointing at the display screen, the reference point may be the center of the display screen. If the input device is currently pointing downwards, the reference point may be the center of the bottom edge of the display screen. Any suitable point on the display screen may be assigned as the reference point for the current orientation of the input device.

[0114] In step 1104, a position of the visual indicator on the display screen corresponding to the reference point is determined. For example, if the reference point is the center of the top edge of the display screen, the visual indicator may be placed such that the top edge of the visual indicator is the reference point. If the reference point is the center of the display screen, the visual indicator may be centered at the reference point. If the reference point is at the center of the bottom edge of the display screen, the visual indicator may be placed such that the bottom edge of the visual indicator is located slightly above the reference point. Any suitable relationship between the position of the visual indicator and the reference point may be determined.

[0115] In step 1106, it is determined whether the detected movement caused a change in the orientation of the input device. If it is determined that the detected movement did not cause a change in the orientation of the input device, the process begins again in step 1102. For example, the system may not be responsive to a purely lateral translation of the entire input device. If the input device is placed on a table and points toward the ceiling, and if the input device moves across the table but remains pointed toward the ceiling, it may be determined in step 1106 that the orientation of the input device has not changed.

[0116] If it is determined that the detected movement caused a change in orientation of the input device, the process proceeds to step 1108. In step 1108, a direction of the movement relative to the reference point is determined based on the change in orientation. For example, the input device may be tilted upwards relative to the reference point. Alternatively, the input device may be rotated laterally from one side of the reference point to the other. The change in orientation of the input device may occur in any direction relative to the reference point.

[0117] In step 1110, the visual indicator moves to a new position on the display screen in the determined direction of movement. For example, if the input device is tilted upwards, the visual indicator may move towards the top edge of the display screen. If the input device was pointing to the left of the reference point and is now pointing to the right of the reference point, the visual indicator may move towards the right edge of the display screen.

[0118] It should be understood that the above steps of the flow diagrams of Figures 10-11 may be performed or executed in any order or sequence, including but not limited to the order and sequence shown and described in the figures. Additionally, some of the above steps of the flow diagrams of Figures 10-11 may be performed or executed substantially simultaneously or in parallel, where appropriate, to reduce latency and processing times.

[0119] As mentioned above, the stereoscopic effect may be achieved by generating a first image to be viewed by the user's right eye, generating a second image to be viewed by the user's left eye, and then overlapping the two images to generate a stereoscopic image. The design of the two images is described in detail below in connection with Figures 12A-C and 13.

[0120] 12A shows an exemplary image 1200 as seen by a user's right eye in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Image 1200 includes a selectable media object 1206 that is centered at point 1202. Point 1202 is located a distance d from a left edge 1204 of image 1200.

[0121] Figure 12B shows an exemplary image 1220 as seen by a user's left eye in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Image 1220 includes a selectable media object 1230 centered at point 1222. Selectable media object 1230 is a transformation by distance of selectable media object 1206 in Figure 12A, reproduced in Figure 12B as a dashed selectable media object 1228 centered at point 1224. Point 1222 is located at a distance d+a from the left edge 1226 of image 1220.

[0122] 12C illustrates an exemplary side view of a stereoscopic image 1240 formed by superimposing the images of FIGS. 12A-B assuming that the stereoscopic image 1240 is three-dimensional in nature, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The superimposition of the selectable media object 1206 from FIG. 12A and the selectable media object 1230 from FIG. 12B produces a selectable media object 1242. The selectable media object 1242 is sensed to be at an apparent distance P from a user 1244 who is viewing the stereoscopic image 1240 via a stereoscopic device (described above). The relationship between the distance a and P is described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 13.

[0123] FIG. 13 illustrates the use of similar triangles to generate stereoscopic images according to an embodiment of the present invention. Distance e shown at the bottom of FIG. 13 between points 1308 and 1310 represents the "effective eye separation," defined as the difference between the distance between the pupils of the user's eyes and the user equipment device. Distance D is the distance from the user's eyes, represented by line 1306, to the display screen, represented by line 1300. Distance a is the distance between an image feature in the right eye image and the same image feature in the left eye image, represented by points 1302 and 1304, respectively. A large distance a makes the object appear to be very close to the user. Three-dimensional films and games may apply large distances to features that pop out toward the user, such as rocks, arrows, swords, and other surprising items. A media object in the stereoscopic image, represented by point 1312 along plane 1314, is perceived to appear at a distance P from the user. A line 1316 may be shown between points 1302 and 1310, and another line 1318 may be shown between points 1304 and 1308, forming two similar triangles. One triangle is formed with vertices at points 1308, 1310, and 1312. A second triangle is formed with vertices at points 1304, 1302, and 1312. The similar triangles give rise to the following relationships:

[0124] a / (DP)=e / P To get a clearer relationship between a and P, the above equation can be rewritten as:

[0125] a=e * (DP) / P or P=e * D / (a+e) Using the above design equations, a transformation distance a can be calculated for any desired apparent distance P, and apparent distance P can be calculated for any transformation distance a. The above analysis assumes that all values ​​are positive. In some implementations, a coordinate system with positive and negative values ​​is used to account for differences in left-right transformations and between media objects that appear in front of or behind the screen.

[0126] FIG. 14 illustrates a coordinate system 1400 used to generate stereoscopic images according to one embodiment of the present invention. For a display screen 1402, the positive x-axis 1404 points to the right, so translations to the right are positive, and translations to the left are negative. Image features that appear behind the display screen 1402 may have positive z values, and image features that appear in front of the display screen 1402 may have negative z values, because the positive z-axis 1408 is in the direction behind the display screen 1402. The positive y-axis 1406 points downward. This opposite orientation may occur because graphics memory is laid out with the top left pixel at the lowest point in memory. That is, the origin of the coordinate system may be placed at the top left pixel of the screen. Thus, an inverted y-axis causes the value of y to increase consistently with memory address, because larger values ​​of y correspond to larger memory addresses.

[0127] Using the above coordinate system, point 1312 in Figure 13 may be defined to be a distance -z from line 1300. Therefore, the relationship of similar triangles can be rewritten as:

[0128] a / z=e / (D+z) The design equation can be rewritten as follows:

[0129] a=(z * e) / (D+z) and z=(D * a) / (ea) These design formulas may vary based on eye spacing and therefore may vary between users. A large z result will always be further away from the user as the translation moves to the right, and a small z result will always be closer to the user as the translation moves to the left.

[0130] The x and y linear dimensions in the above coordinate system can be converted to pixel locations. Because the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in a graphics buffer can vary from system to system, a general formula can be used to scale x and y coordinates to pixels, such as:

[0131] x in pixels = (local x distance in inches going from left to right / global distance on screen in inches) * (Total number of pixels on the entire screen) y in pixels = (local y distance in inches from top to bottom / global distance on screen in inches) * (Total number of pixels on the entire screen).

[0132] When converted to pixels, the size in inches of any given object during playback on any given user equipment device may vary according to the size of the user equipment device's display screen. In particular, the larger the display screen, the larger the measurable image of the object may be. By using the above formulas, the measurements may remain proportionally accurate to one another regardless of how they are transformed, scaled, or reduced.

[0133] 7A-B, the stereoscopic media guidance application display may be modeled after a planetary system. Using some specific formulas from three-dimensional graphics, the "sun" and "planet" objects of the stereoscopic media guidance application display may be positioned anywhere and at any angle with respect to the x, y, and z coordinates of the pixels that form the objects.

[0134] In some embodiments, the "planet" object may be animated to move out from behind and around the "sun" object. Using the above coordinate system, the position of the media object in the image presented to each of the user's eyes may be calculated. Additionally, the position of the media object in the first and second images may be updated so that the media object is perceived to move within the stereoscopic image.

[0135] In some embodiments, the calculations may be simplified by considering the center of the "sun" object to be the origin (0,0,0) of the coordinate system. Since the upper left corner of the display screen may be at the origin (0,0,0) of pixel space, the pixel space calculations may be transformed to treat the center of the "sun" object as the origin. The processing circuitry 306 may perform the transformation from three-dimensional computer graphics using the following transformation formula:

[0136] new_x=old_x+Tx, in the formula, Tx=constant new_y=old_y+Ty, where Ty=constant new_z=old_z+Tz, where Tz=constant.

[0137] In some embodiments, scaling formulas from three-dimensional computer graphics may be used by processing circuitry 306 to convert coordinates between display screens of different sizes.

[0138] new_x=scaling_factor * old_x new_y=scaling_factor * old_y new_z=scaling_factor * old_z In some embodiments, a user equipment device, such as a set-top box, may have enough processing power to calculate all the points required for a three-dimensional computer model at the rate required for the animation. In some implementations, the user equipment device may use four frame buffers, each frame buffer containing memory storage large enough to accommodate a full screen display of pixels. In some implementations, two of the four buffers may be used for the two images currently being presented by the user equipment device on the display screen, and the other two buffers may be used to create the next pair of images in the animation.

[0139] The methods described above and below for generating stereoscopic images may be used to convert any two-dimensional media guidance application for display in three-dimensional space. Additionally, once the media guidance application is displayed in three-dimensional space, three-dimensional navigation techniques (e.g., using an input device having an accelerometer and / or gyroscope) may be used to complete selections and navigate about the media guidance application. One particular example of a media guidance application that may be converted from two-dimensional to three-dimensional may be a fold-out media guidance application having a fold-out guide design in which menu options and items are configured in different perspectives.

[0140] For example, a list of menu options may be displayed in a first perspective and an item corresponding to a selected one of the menu options may be displayed adjacent to the menu option in a second perspective that is different from the first perspective. Folding guides or media guidance applications having multiple perspectives (media guidance applications) are described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12 / 571069, 12 / 571035 and 12 / 571186, filed Sep. 30, 2009 (Attorney Docket Nos. UV-486A, UV-486B and UV-486C), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0141] 16 illustrates an illustrative display screen 1600 of media guidance objects displayed at different perspectives, according to one embodiment of the present invention. In particular, screen 1600 may include a first media guidance object 1602, a second media guidance object 1604, a third media guidance object 1606, a fourth media guidance object 1608, a first perspective view 1610, a second perspective view 1612 and a third perspective view 1614. Although four media guidance objects are shown in screen 1600, any number of media guidance objects may be displayed at any of the different perspectives. Additionally, although three different perspectives are shown in screen 1600, any number of perspectives may be provided.

[0142] First media guidance object 1602 may be displayed in first perspective 1610. First media guidance object 1602 may be, for example, a user profile presentation, a media asset presentation, a program guide listing, or any other media guidance object or combination of the above described above and below. First media guidance object 1602 may be displayed with lines 1616 converging at first vanishing point 1618. All lines emerging from the media guidance object displayed in first perspective 1610 may converge at first vanishing point 1618. First media guidance object 1602 appears to move out of screen 1600.

[0143] Second media guidance object 1604 may be displayed in a second perspective 1612. Second perspective 1612 may be different from first perspective 1610. Second media guidance object 1604 may be, for example, a user profile presentation, a media asset presentation, a program guide listing, or any other media guidance object or combination of the above described above and below. Second media guidance object 1604 may be the same type as first media guidance object 1602 or may be a different type.

[0144] The second media guidance object 1604 may be displayed such that lines 1620 are parallel and do not converge at a vanishing point. All lines emerging from the media guidance object displayed in the second perspective 1612 may be parallel and do not converge at a vanishing point. The second media guidance object 1604 appears to be flat on the screen 1600.

[0145] Third and fourth media guidance objects 1606 and 1608 may be displayed in a third perspective 1614. Third and fourth media guidance objects 1606 and 1608 may be, for example, user profile presentations, media asset presentations, program guide listings, or any other media guidance object or combination of the above described above and below. Third and fourth media guidance objects 1606 and 1608 may be the same type as first and / or second media guidance objects 1602 and 1604, or may be a different type. In some implementations, third and fourth media guidance objects 1606 and 1608 may be the same type as second media guidance object 1604 (e.g., program listings) and may be a different type than first media guidance object 1602.

[0146] The third and fourth media guidance objects 1606 and 1608 may be displayed such that lines 1622 converge at a second vanishing point 1624 that is in a different location than the first vanishing point 1618. All lines emerging from the media guidance objects displayed in the third perspective 1614 may converge at the second vanishing point 1624. The third and fourth media guidance objects 1606 and 1608 appear to enter the screen 1600.

[0147] It should be understood that while media guidance objects are displayed in different perspectives, the media guidance objects are clearly visually distinguishable by a user. However, some media guidance objects displayed very far to a particular viewpoint may become distorted and visually difficult to distinguish. For example, a media guidance object may be an image or video such that a large portion of the image or video displayed in any perspective is visible and clearly viewable by a user. In particular, an image or video displayed in a perspective that appears to move in or out of the screen is substantially as clear as if the image or video were displayed in a perspective that appears flat on the screen.

[0148] A media guidance object displayed in first perspective 1610 may be adjacent to or next to a media guidance object displayed in second perspective 1612. For example, a first media guidance object 1602 may be displayed adjacent to a second media guidance object 1604 such that first media guidance object 1602 and second media guidance object 1604 connect at a first side 1626 of the second media guidance object 1604.

[0149] A media guidance object displayed in third perspective 1614 may be adjacent to or next to a media guidance object appearing in second perspective 1612. In some implementations, a media guidance object displayed in third perspective 1614 may be adjacent to a side of the media guidance object displayed in second perspective 1612 that is opposite the side of the media guidance object displayed in second perspective 1612 that is adjacent to the media guidance object displayed in first perspective 1610. For example, third media guidance object 1606 may be displayed adjacent to second media guidance object 1604 such that third media guidance object 1606 and second media guidance object 1604 connect to a second side 1628 of second media guidance object 1604 that is opposite first side 1626.

[0150] A point of contiguity between a media guidance object displayed in one perspective and a media guidance object displayed in another perspective is referred to herein as a "fold" or "fold point." It should be understood that the media guidance objects do not have to be immediately adjacent so that they touch, and in such a situation, a point of contiguity refers to a point where one perspective changes to another perspective. For example, media guidance objects in screen 1600 are displayed at different viewpoints creating two fold points. In various embodiments, there may be one, two, or any other suitable number of fold points. The fold points create the appearance of a wrinkle in the screen occurring between the two displayed media guidance objects.

[0151] In some embodiments, instead of displaying various options and items of the folding guide in different perspectives limited by a two-dimensional space, the folding guide may be transformed into a three-dimensional space. More specifically, the options of the folding guide displayed in a first perspective may be generated for display in a first plane intersecting the normal to the screen at a first position, and an item corresponding to a selected one of the options may be generated for display in a second plane intersecting the normal to the screen at a second position different from the first position.

[0152] For example, a first media guidance object 1602 displayed in a first perspective 1610 may appear on a first surface, such as the surface on which selectable media guidance object 704 appears in FIG. 7A. The first media guidance object 1602 may have the same or similar functionality and behavior as media guidance object 704. A second media guidance object 1604 displayed in a second perspective 1612 may appear on a second surface, such as the surface on which selectable media guidance object 702 appears. The second media guidance object 1604 may have the same or similar functionality and behavior as media guidance object 702. The first surface may appear closer to the viewer than the second surface. In some embodiments, third media guidance object 1606 displayed in third perspective 1614 may appear on a third surface, such as the surface on which selectable media guidance object 708 is displayed, and fourth media guidance object 1608 displayed in third perspective 1614 may appear on a fourth surface, such as the surface on which selectable media guidance object 710 is displayed. In other embodiments, third media guidance object 1606 and fourth media guidance object 1608 may appear on the same surface, such as the third surface. In some implementations, third and fourth media guidance objects 1606 and 1608 may have the same or similar functionality and behavior as media guidance object 708.

[0153] In some embodiments, the first and second surfaces may appear to be in front of the screen, and the third and fourth surfaces may appear to be behind the screen. In other embodiments, the surfaces may all appear to be in front of the screen, but the third and fourth surfaces may appear to be further away from the user than the first and second surfaces. Any other desirable configuration of the three-dimensional spatial locations of the first, second, third and fourth surfaces may be selected without departing from the scope of the invention. In some embodiments, the different surfaces may meet at a folding point, as described above.

[0154] 15 is an illustrative flow diagram 1500 for designing graphics for a three-dimensional media guidance display according to one embodiment of the present invention. In step 1502, a desired perceived distance of an object from a user is determined. For example, processing circuitry 306 may determine that selectable media guidance object 754 should appear a few inches from the user's face. Alternatively, processing circuitry 306 may determine that selectable media guidance object 762 should appear behind the display screen, away from the user.

[0155] In step 1504, an appropriate distance between the first point and the second point is calculated. The first point may be the center of the selectable media object 1206 in the image seen by the user's right eye, as described above in connection with FIG. 12A. The second point may be the center of the same selectable media object 1222 in the image seen by the user's left eye, as described above in connection with FIG. 12B. The appropriate distance between the first and second points may relate to the desired perceived distance of the objects from the user. The processing circuitry 306 may calculate these appropriate distances using any of the equations described above in connection with FIG. 13.

[0156] At step 1506, a first image is generated of the object centered on a first point seen by the user's right eye. For example, the object may be selectable media guidance object 752 representing a television series that is a "sun" object in a planet guide, as described above in connection with FIG. 7B. Alternatively, the object may be selectable media guidance object 754, 756, 758, 760, or 762 representing a cast member that is a "planet" object. Processing circuitry 306 may generate the first image of selectable media guidance object 752 as seen by the user's right eye according to the similar triangles algorithm described above.

[0157] At step 1508, a second image is generated with the object centered at a second point as seen by the user's left eye. For example, the object may be selectable media guidance object 752 representing a television series that is a "sun" object in a planet guide, as described above in connection with FIG. 7B. Alternatively, the object may be selectable media guidance object 754, 756, 758, 760, or 762 representing a cast member that is a "planet" object. Processing circuitry 306 may generate the second image by copying the first image of selectable media guidance object 752 and positioning that object at a different point to the left / right of position selectable media guidance object 752 in the first image.

[0158] At step 1510, the first and second images are superimposed. For example, processing circuitry 306 may combine the first and second images into a single image for simultaneous display on a screen. When viewed by a user with a stereoscopic optical device, the superimposed image appears in three dimensions as the user's left eye sees the first image and the user's right eye sees the second image. The user's brain combines the two images seen by each of the user's eyes and interprets the image as being located in front of or behind the display, depending on the distance between the two locations of the selectable media guidance object 752.

[0159] It should be understood that the above steps of the flow diagram of Figure 15 may be performed or executed in any order or sequence, including but not limited to the order and sequence shown and described in the figures. Additionally, some of the above steps of the flow diagram of Figure 15 may be performed or executed simultaneously or in parallel, where appropriate, to reduce latency and processing times.

[0160] The above-described embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for designing graphics for a selectable stereoscopic media object to be displayed on a screen having points, the method comprising: generating a first image including a first selectable media object centered on a first point on the screen to be viewed by a right eye of a user; generating a second image including a copy of the first selectable media object centered at a second point on the screen different from the first point to be viewed by the left eye of the user; superimposing the first image and the second image for display on the screen to generate a stereoscopic image, the first selectable media object appearing in the stereoscopic image at a first perceived distance from the user when the user views the stereoscopic image through a stereoscopic optical device, a distance between the first point and the second point on the screen corresponding to the first perceived distance; A method comprising:

2. The method further includes using similar triangles to determine the relationship between the offset distance and the apparent distance; the offset distance is a distance between the first point and the second point; the apparent distance being the distance that the first selectable media object appears to be from the screen; 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparent distance is positive if the first selectable media object appears to be behind the screen and is negative if the first selectable media object appears to be in front of the screen.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a position within the first image and the second image at which the first selectable media object is located so that the first selectable media object is sensed moving within the stereoscopic image.

4. The stereoscopic optical device comprises: a first aperture for viewing the first image by the user's right eye, the first image being the only image viewed by the user's right eye; a second aperture for viewing the second image by the user's left eye, the second image being the only image viewed by the user's left eye; The method of claim 1 , comprising:

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image includes a second selectable media object centered at a third point; the second image includes a copy of the second selectable media object centered at a fourth point on the screen that is different from the third point; the second selectable media object appears within the stereoscopic image at a second perceived distance; the first selectable media object appears within the stereoscopic image in a first perspective; The method of claim 1 , wherein the second selectable media object appears in the stereoscopic image in a second perspective that is different from the first perspective. a combination of the first selectable media object and the second selectable media object appearing in the first perspective view and the second perspective view appear as a contiguous array of selectable media objects; 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the array appears to have a first fold at a first point adjacent, the first point corresponding to a first location between the first selectable media object appearing in the first perspective view and the second selectable media object appearing in the second perspective view.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising, in response to receiving user input for navigating within the stereoscopic image, causing the second selectable media object to orbit around an axis corresponding to the first selectable media object as sensed by the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectable stereoscopic media objects are media objects displayed within an environment selected from the group consisting of a game, a software application, and a media guide.

9. A system for designing graphics for selectable stereoscopic media objects displayed on a screen having points, the system comprising: a control circuit; The control circuit includes: generating a first image including a first selectable media object centered on a first point on the screen to be viewed by a right eye of a user; generating a second image including a copy of the first selectable media object centered at a second point on the screen different from the first point to be viewed by the left eye of the user; superimposing the first image and the second image for display on the screen to generate a stereoscopic image, the first selectable media object appearing in the stereoscopic image at a first perceived distance from the user when the user views the stereoscopic image through a stereoscopic optical device, a distance between the first point and the second point on the screen corresponding to the first perceived distance; A system configured to:

10. The control circuit comprises: further configured to use similar triangles to determine a relationship between the offset distance and the apparent distance; the offset distance is a distance between the first point and the second point; the apparent distance being the distance that the first selectable media object appears to be from the screen; 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the apparent distance is positive if the first selectable media object appears to be behind the screen and is negative if the first selectable media object appears to be in front of the screen.

11. The control circuit comprises:

10. The system of claim 9, further configured to update a position within the first image and the second image where the first selectable media object is located so that the first selectable media object is perceived to move within the stereoscopic image.

12. The stereoscopic optical device comprises: a first aperture for viewing the first image by the user's right eye, the first image being the only image viewed by the user's right eye; a second aperture for viewing the second image by the user's left eye, the second image being the only image viewed by the user's left eye; The system of claim 9 , comprising:

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first image includes a second selectable media object centered at a third point; the second image includes a copy of the second selectable media object centered at a fourth point on the screen that is different from the third point; the second selectable media object appears within the stereoscopic image at a second perceived distance; the first selectable media object appears within the stereoscopic image in a first perspective; The system of claim 9 , wherein the second selectable media object appears in the stereoscopic image in a second perspective that is different from the first perspective. a combination of the first selectable media object and the second selectable media object appearing in the first perspective view and the second perspective view appear as a contiguous array of selectable media objects; 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the array appears to have a first fold at a first point adjacent, the first point corresponding to a first position between the first selectable media object appearing in the first perspective view and the second selectable media object appearing in the second perspective view.

15. The control circuit comprises:

14. The system of claim 13, further configured to, in response to receiving user input for navigating within the stereoscopic image, orbit the second selectable media object about an axis corresponding to the first selectable media object as sensed by the user.

Images