Front projection ereader system

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for purchasing, accessing, and/or providing electronic content by a projection based eReader. In accordance with one embodiment, a projector system is provided that is configured to engage a lighting socket and can be controlled by, for example, a remote control and/or imaged user input actions. Power to the system can be received through the socket based interface. The techniques can also be used in non-socketed configurations. The system is capable of creating large images suitable for reading large publications, such as newspapers or magazines, but can generally be used for any type of content including small print. In some embodiments, the system projects an image onto a lightweight, rigid screen that can be held by an individual that is situated in the area near the projection system.

1 . A projector system, comprising:
 a communication circuit to wirelessly receive image data of a portable reading screen, the image data capturing a user interaction with a passive user control feature of the portable reading screen; and   a lens to project digital content onto the portable reading screen, wherein a user can interact with the digital content using the passive user control feature.   
     
     
         2 . The projector system of  claim 1 , further comprising the portable reading screen. 
     
     
         3 . The projector system of  claim 2 , wherein the passive user control feature is fixed on or otherwise a part of the portable reading screen. 
     
     
         4 . The projector system of  claim 2 , wherein the passive user control feature is a turn-page control, a go back control, a go to control, or a power-on control. 
     
     
         5 . The projector system of  claim 2 , wherein the passive user control feature is depicted on an edge of the portable reading screen. 
     
     
         6 . The projector system of  claim 1 , wherein the passive user control feature is projected onto the portable reading screen by the lens. 
     
     
         7 . The projector system of  claim 1  further comprising a processor configured to:
 analyze the image data to determine the user interaction; and 
 cause navigation of the digital content, the navigation being responsive to the user interaction. 
 
     
     
         8 . The projector system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interaction includes a press-and-hold gesture on the passive user control feature. 
     
     
         9 . The projector system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interaction includes a swipe gesture on the passive user control feature. 
     
     
         10 . The projector system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interaction includes a press-and-hold gesture on the passive user control feature, and a function commanded by the press-and-hold gesture is determined at least in part based on the duration of the press-and-hold gesture. 
     
     
         11 . The projector system of  claim 1 , further comprising a servo to adjust the lens to project digital content onto the reading screen based on the image data. 
     
     
         12 . The projector system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a processor; 
 an image recognition and processing module at least one of executable and controllable by the processor and configured to receive the image data, and to output command data corresponding to the user interaction with the user control feature captured in the image data; and 
 a user control processing module at least one of executable and controllable by the processor and configured to issue commands based on the command data. 
 
     
     
         13 . A projection system, comprising:
 a lens to project digital content onto a portable reading screen; and   a servo to adjust the lens to project on the reading screen, the adjusting based on wirelessly received image data of a portable reading screen, the image data capturing a user interaction with a user control feature of the portable reading screen, wherein the user control feature allows for navigation of the digital content.   
     
     
         14 . The projection system of  claim 13 , wherein the user control feature is a user control feature depicted on an edge of the portable reading screen. 
     
     
         15 . The projection system of  claim 13 , wherein the user control feature is a passive user control feature depicted on an edge of the portable reading screen. 
     
     
         16 . The projection system of  claim 13 , further comprising the portable reading screen, and a camera capable of imaging the reading screen. 
     
     
         17 . A projection system, comprising:
 a projector having a lens to project an image of digital content onto a portable reading screen;   a camera to image the reading screen, so as to provide image data of the portable reading screen, the image data depicting a user interaction with a user control feature of the portable reading screen, wherein the user control feature is for navigating the digital content; and   a servo to adjust the lens to project the image of digital content on the reading screen, based on the image data from the camera, such that adjustment of the projected image is from a first image to a second image based on the image data.   
     
     
         18 . The projection system of  claim 17 , wherein the user control feature includes at least one of a painted user control feature depicted on the portable reading screen and a virtual user control feature depicted on the portable reading screen. 
     
     
         19 . The projection system of  claim 17 , further comprising a receiver circuit to wirelessly receive user input based on user interaction with the user control feature. 
     
     
         20 . The projection system of  claim 19 , wherein the user input is one of a turn-page command, a go back command, a go to Home page command, a go to Library command, a search command, a shop command, and a power-on command.