Methods and apparatus for accessing peripheral content

摘要

In exemplary implementations of this invention, a main content feed is displayed on a main screen. A user may select one or more auxiliary feeds of content to display simultaneously on a second screen. The second screen is located on a handheld device. The user makes the selection by changing the orientation of the handheld device relative to the main screen. For example, the user may select which auxiliary feed to display by pointing the device at different areas that are around the periphery of the main screen. The handheld device includes one or more sensors for gathering data, and one or more processors for (a) processing the sensor data to calculate the orientation of the handheld device relative to the main screen and (b) based at least in part on that orientation, selecting which of the auxiliary feeds to display.

主权项

1. A method comprising, in combination:
(a) using one or more sensors to gather sensor data; (b) using one or more computer processors
(i) to process the sensor data to make an estimation of an orientation of a handheld device, which orientation specifies a vertical angle and a horizontal angle of the handheld device relative to a particular location in the environment of the handheld device, and(ii) to select, based at least in part on that estimation, a first channel of content, such that which particular channel is selected as the first channel depends on the orientation relative to the particular location; and (c) visually displaying the first channel on a first screen, while simultaneously displaying a second, different channel of content on a second screen, the first screen being part of the handheld device and the second screen being separate from the handheld device; wherein the first and second channels comprise television channels or are streamed, transmitted over the Internet or broadcast.