Simultaneous viewing of multiple viewer-specific programming on a single display

Abstract

In certain implementations, a method consistent with certain embodiments involves associating a first headset with a first viewer profile; associating the first headset with a first set of display refresh time slots; selecting a first advertisement based on criteria contained in the first viewer profile; displaying a video portion of the first advertisement on a video display during the first set of refresh time slots associated with the first headset; and transmitting a synchronization signal that is synchronized to a video frame refresh clock to establish the video time slots. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a display device, comprising:
 associating a first headset with a first viewer profile;   associating a second headset with a second viewer profile;   associating the first headset with a first audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a first set of display refresh time slots;   associating the second headset with a second audio channel within the audio channel multiplex and with a second set of display refresh time slots;   transmitting a synchronization signal that is synchronized to a video frame refresh clock to establish the video time slots;   displaying a video portion of three dimensional stereoscopic programming content on a video display during both the first and second set of video display refresh time slots;   transmitting an audio portion of the three dimensional stereoscopic programming content on both the first and second audio channels associated with the first and second headsets;   determining that an advertisement start time slot is encountered;   selecting a first advertisement from a source of real time advertisements based on criteria contained in the first viewer profile;   selecting a second advertisement based on criteria contained in the second viewer profile;   displaying a video portion of the first advertisement on a video display during the first set of refresh time slots associated with the first headset;   displaying a video portion of the second advertisement on the video display during the second set of refresh time slots associated with the second headset;   transmitting an audio portion of the first advertisement on the first audio channel associated with the first headset;   transmitting an audio portion of the second advertisement on the second audio channel associated with the second headset;   at a first headset: receiving audio via the first audio channel at an audio receiver, reproducing the first audio channel as audio through a first transducer, and opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the first advertisement on the display;   at a second headset: receiving audio via the second audio channel at an audio receiver, reproducing the second audio channel as audio through a second transducer, and opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the second advertisement on the display; and   where the video portion of the first and second advertisements comprise stereoscopic video portions, and where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisement is carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content.   
     
     
         2 . A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that when executed on one or more programmed processors carry out a method of operating a display device, comprising:
 associating a first headset with a first viewer profile;   associating a second headset with a second viewer profile;   transmitting a synchronization signal that is synchronized to a video frame refresh clock to establish the video time slots;   displaying a video portion of main programming content on a video display during both the first and second set of refresh time slots associated with the first and second headsets;   determining that an advertisement is beginning;   selecting a first advertisement based on criteria contained in the first viewer profile;   displaying a video portion of the first advertisement on a video display during the first set of refresh time slots associated with the first headset;   selecting a second advertisement based on criteria contained in the second viewer profile; and   displaying a video portion of the second advertisement on the video display during the second set of refresh time slots associated with the second headset.   
     
     
         3 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where the instructions further comprise:
 associating the first headset with a first audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a first set of display refresh time slots;   associating the second headset with a second audio channel within the audio channel multiplex and with a second set of display refresh time slots;   transmitting an audio portion of the main programming content on the first audio channel associated with the headset;   transmitting an audio portion of the first advertisement on the first audio channel associated with the headset; and   transmitting an audio portion of the second advertisement on the second audio channel associated with the headset.   
     
     
         4 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where the video display is embodied in a television set. 
     
     
         5 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
       at the first headset:
 receiving audio via the first audio channel at an audio receiver; 
 reproducing the first audio channel as audio through a first transducer; and 
 opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the first advertisement on the display. 
 
     
     
         6 . The storage medium according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
       at the second headset:
 receiving audio via the second audio channel at an audio receiver; 
 reproducing the second audio channel as audio through a second transducer; and 
 opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the second advertisement on the display. 
 
     
     
         7 . The storage medium according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
       at the first headset:
 receiving audio via the first audio channel at an audio receiver, 
 reproducing the first audio channel as audio through a first transducer, and 
 opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the first advertisement on the display; and 
 
       at the second headset:
 receiving audio via the second audio channel at an audio receiver, 
 reproducing the second audio channel as audio through a second transducer, and 
 opening and closing left and right eye views through the shutter glasses to reveal the video portion of the second advertisement on the display. 
 
     
     
         8 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , further comprising displaying multiple images on the display with a blank image between each of the multiple images. 
     
     
         9 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where the video portion of the first advertisement comprises a stereoscopic video portion. 
     
     
         10 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where the video portion of the first advertisement comprises a two dimensional video portion. 
     
     
         11 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where the video portion of the second advertisement comprises a stereoscopic video portion. 
     
     
         12 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where the video portion of the second advertisement comprises a two dimensional video portion. 
     
     
         13 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where displaying the video portion of the first advertisement is carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic main programming content. 
     
     
         14 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisements are carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic main programming content. 
     
     
         15 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where displaying the video portions of the first and second advertisements are carried out with greater brightness than if both headsets are receiving the same video image. 
     
     
         16 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where at least one of the first and second advertisements is received in real time. 
     
     
         17 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , where the first and second advertisements are received from a source of real time advertisement content. 
     
     
         18 . A device, comprising:
 a storage device that stores a plurality of viewer profiles;   one or more processors programmed to associate a plurality of headsets with a plurality of viewer profiles and store the associations;   the one or more processors being further programmed to select an advertisement based on criteria contained in the viewer profile; and   a display that displays a video portion of the advertisement on a video display during the display refresh time slots associated with the headset when an advertisement is being displayed and to display the programming content on a plurality of the display refresh time slots when an advertisement is not being displayed.   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 the one or more processors being further programmed to associate each of the plurality of headsets with an audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a set of display refresh time slots; and   an audio transmitter that transmits an audio portion of the advertisement on the audio channel associated with each headset during display of an advertisement and transmit audio content associated with the programming content on a plurality of audio channels during display of the programming content.   
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a headset, where the headset comprises an audio receiver that receives audio via the audio channel and reproduces the audio channel as audio through a transducer; and
 shutter glasses that open and close left and right eye views to reveal the video portion of the advertisement on the display.   
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 18 , where the video portion of the advertisement comprises a stereoscopic video portion. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 18 , where displaying the video portion of the advertisement is carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 18 , where displaying the video portions of the advertisement is carried out with greater brightness than when multiple headsets are receiving the same video image. 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 18 , where the advertisement is received in real time. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 18 , where the advertisement is retrieved from a local advertisement library. 
     
     
         26 . A device, comprising:
 a storage device that stores a plurality of viewer profiles;   one or more processors programmed to associate each of a plurality of headsets with one of the viewer profiles and store the associations;   the one or more processors being further programmed to select a plurality of advertisements based on criteria contained in the viewer profile; and   a display that displays a plurality of video portions of the selected plurality of advertisements on a video display during the respective display refresh time slots associated with each headset, where the display further displays programming content during multiple display refresh time slots when the advertisements are not being displayed.   
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 the one or more processors being further programmed to associate each headset with an audio channel within an audio channel multiplex and with a set of display refresh time slots; and   an audio transmitter that transmits a plurality of audio portions of the selected plurality of advertisements on the audio channel associated with each headset, and where the audio transmitter further transmits an audio portion associated with the programming content over multiple audio channels when the advertisements are not being displayed.   
     
     
         28 . The display device according to  claim 27 , further comprising a plurality of headsets, where each headset comprises an audio receiver that receives audio via the associated audio channel and reproduces the audio channel as audio through a transducer; and
 shutter glasses that open and close left and right eye views to reveal the video portion of the associated advertisement on the display.   
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 26 , where the video portion of the advertisement comprises a stereoscopic video portion. 
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 26 , where displaying the video portion of the advertisement is carried out during breaks in displaying three dimensional stereoscopic programming content. 
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 26 , where displaying the video portions of the advertisements are carried out with greater brightness than if both headsets are receiving the same video image. 
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 26 , where at least one of the advertisements is received in real time. 
     
     
         33 . The display device according to  claim 26 , where at least one of the advertisements is retrieved from a local advertisement library.