US20040100484A1 — Three-dimensional television viewing environment

Claim 1

Independent Claim 28 words

1 . A method comprising: rendering a three-dimensional environment in which multiple two-dimensional areas are defined; and rendering media content in a first one of the two-dimensional areas.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 28 words

1 . A method comprising: rendering a three-dimensional environment in which multiple two-dimensional areas are defined; and rendering media content in a first one of the two-dimensional areas.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the media content comprises broadcast media content.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the media content comprises a television program.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the media content comprises video-on-demand.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: rendering data associated with media content in a second one of the two-dimensional areas.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

6 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the data associated with media content comprises at least one of an electronic program guide, an advertisement, and a program recommendation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

7 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are rendered within the same two-dimensional plane.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

8 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are perpendicular to each other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

9 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are parallel to each other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

10 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 1 .

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

11 . A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 1 .

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 70 words

12 . A method comprising: rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within a viewable area of a three-dimensional viewing environment; rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment but outside of the viewable area; and rendering a navigational landmark to indicate that the second two-dimensional area is available within the three-dimensional environment, but not currently in view.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 70 words

12 . A method comprising: rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within a viewable area of a three-dimensional viewing environment; rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment but outside of the viewable area; and rendering a navigational landmark to indicate that the second two-dimensional area is available within the three-dimensional environment, but not currently in view.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

13 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the navigational landmark indicates a direction that when navigated will cause the second two-dimensional area to be within the viewing area.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

14 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the navigational landmark is selected from a group of navigational landmarks comprising an arrow, a colored bar, and text.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

15 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the rendering the navigational landmark is performed in response to a user input.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

16 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the rendering the navigational landmark is performed in response to a change in data or media content associated with the second two-dimensional area.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

17 . The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the rendering the navigational landmark is performed in response to a start of a broadcast television program.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

18 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 12 .

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

19 . A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 12 .

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 72 words

20 . A method comprising: rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content within a three-dimensional viewing environment; rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment; and when the first two-dimensional area is not within a viewing area, rendering the first two-dimensional area in a relative position to the viewing area, so that a viewer can easily navigate to the first two-dimensional area.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 72 words

20 . A method comprising: rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content within a three-dimensional viewing environment; rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment; and when the first two-dimensional area is not within a viewing area, rendering the first two-dimensional area in a relative position to the viewing area, so that a viewer can easily navigate to the first two-dimensional area.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

21 . The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the relative position is configurable.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

22 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 20 .

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 16 words

23 . A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 20 .

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 62 words

24 . A method comprising: rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content within a three-dimensional viewing environment; rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment; and in response to a user input when the first two-dimensional area is not within a viewing area, moving the first two-dimensional area into the viewing area.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 62 words

24 . A method comprising: rendering a first two-dimensional area for displaying media content within a three-dimensional viewing environment; rendering a second two-dimensional area for displaying media content or data within the three-dimensional viewing environment; and in response to a user input when the first two-dimensional area is not within a viewing area, moving the first two-dimensional area into the viewing area.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

25 . The method as recited in claim 24 wherein the moving the first two-dimensional area into a viewing area comprises rotating or moving a virtual viewer perspective within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 17 words

26 . The method as recited in claim 24 wherein the user input comprises a button press.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 28 words

27 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 24 .

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 16 words

28 . A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 24 .

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 51 words

29 . A system comprising: a tuner to receive media content and data associated with media content; and a three-dimensional graphics processing unit to render the media content in a two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and to render the data in another two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 51 words

29 . A system comprising: a tuner to receive media content and data associated with media content; and a three-dimensional graphics processing unit to render the media content in a two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and to render the data in another two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 39 words

30 . The system as recited in claim 29 , further comprising: a controller interface to receive input from an input device such that the input directs the three-dimensional graphics processing unit to navigate within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 18 words

31 . The system as recited in claim 30 , wherein the input device is a game controller.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 19 words

32 . The system as recited in claim 30 , wherein the input device is a television remote control.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 15 words

33 . The system as recited in claim 29 , implemented as a game console.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 55 words

34 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: receive media content and other data; and render the media content in a first two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and render the other data in a second two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 55 words

34 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: receive media content and other data; and render the media content in a first two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and render the other data in a second two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 23 words

35 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 , wherein the media content comprises a broadcast television program.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 21 words

36 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 , wherein the media content comprises a video-on-demand.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 21 words

37 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 , wherein the other data comprises an advertisement.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 23 words

38 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 , wherein the other data comprises an electronic program guide.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 22 words

39 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 , wherein the other data comprises a program recommendation.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 44 words

40 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: render the first two-dimensional area and the second two-dimensional area in different planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 44 words

41 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: render the first two-dimensional area and the second two-dimensional area in perpendicular planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 44 words

42 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: render the first two-dimensional area and the second two-dimensional area in parallel planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 45 words

43 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 34 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: render the first two-dimensional area and the second two-dimensional area in the same plane within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 113 words

44 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: receive media content and other data associated with the media content; render the media content in a first two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and render the other data in a second two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment; render a trigger in conjunction with the media content in the first two-dimensional area within a viewable area of the three-dimensional environment; in response to a viewer selection of the trigger, cause the first two-dimensional area to move out of the viewable area and the second two-dimensional area to move into the viewable area.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 113 words

44 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: receive media content and other data associated with the media content; render the media content in a first two-dimensional area within a three-dimensional viewing environment and render the other data in a second two-dimensional area within the three-dimensional viewing environment; render a trigger in conjunction with the media content in the first two-dimensional area within a viewable area of the three-dimensional environment; in response to a viewer selection of the trigger, cause the first two-dimensional area to move out of the viewable area and the second two-dimensional area to move into the viewable area.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 62 words

45 . The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 44 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to: pause the rendering of the media content while the first two-dimensional area is out of the viewable area; and resume the rendering of the media content when the first two-dimensional area moves into the viewable area.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 43 words

46 . A media viewing system comprising: means for receiving media content and data associated with media content; and means for rendering a three-dimensional environment within which a first two-dimensional area contains the media content and a second two-dimensional area contains the data.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 43 words

46 . A media viewing system comprising: means for receiving media content and data associated with media content; and means for rendering a three-dimensional environment within which a first two-dimensional area contains the media content and a second two-dimensional area contains the data.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 28 words

47 . The media viewing system as recited in claim 46 further comprising: means for receiving input that directs the media viewing system to navigate the three-dimensional environment.

Three-dimensional television viewing environment

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