Dynamic Screen Orientation via User Image Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display systems often fail to orient content correctly based on the user's orientation, especially in environments where gravity-based orientation detectors like accelerometers are unreliable, such as in free fall situations, leading to improper viewing experiences.
Innovation Solution
A method that captures images of the user to identify their orientation axis and compares it with the content's orientation axis, adjusting the content's orientation on the display to match the user's perspective, even when the device is not held in a standard position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gravity-based orientation detectors (accelerometers) are used to determine display orientation, then the orientation detection is simple and reliable under normal conditions, but the detection fails in free fall situations or when the device is not held in standard positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image capture device as an intermediary to detect user orientation. Instead of relying solely on the device's own sensors, the system captures images of the user and uses facial feature analysis to determine the user's viewing orientation, which then guides content orientation on the display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based orientation detection (accelerometers) with an optical system (image capture device). This substitution allows the system to detect user orientation through visual means rather than relying on gravitational reference, enabling reliable detection in free fall or unconventional holding positions.
2Device complexity
If the display system uses traditional accelerometer-based orientation detection, then the system complexity is low, but the system cannot adapt to non-standard device positions or free fall situations
Solution Approach 1:
The image capture device serves multiple functions: it captures user images for orientation detection, and the captured images are processed to determine both device and user orientation. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to various viewing environments without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing image processing as an intermediary layer between the capture device and the display orientation control, the system gains adaptability to non-standard positions while maintaining relatively simple hardware architecture.
3Ease of operation
If the content orientation is fixed relative to the device, then the display system is simple to implement, but the content may not be properly oriented for the user's viewing position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic content orientation adjustment based on real-time user orientation detection. The content orientation is no longer fixed but dynamically adapts to the user's viewing position, ensuring optimal viewing experience while maintaining ease of operation through automatic adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from image analysis to continuously adjust content orientation. The captured user image provides feedback about the user's orientation, which is processed to determine the appropriate content orientation, creating a closed-loop system that maintains optimal viewing conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computer program product, and system are provided for orienting content on a display. The method may include identifying one or more features of a user in a captured image. A user orientation axis is determined in the captured image. A content orientation axis corresponding to an orientation direction of a screen content is defined. A determination is made as to whether the content orientation axis and the user orientation axis are parallel or perpendicular. The orientation direction of the screen content is changed to be substantially along the user orientation axis based on the determination of whether the content orientation axis and the user orientation axis are parallel or perpendicular. The screen content is then displayed.