System And Method For Generating Screen Pointing Information In A Television Control Device

Abstract

A system and method, in a television control device, for generating screen pointing information, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying a user-selected object in television programming, the method comprising:
 in a television having a screen:
 presenting television programming, the television programming comprising user-selectable objects; 
 determining, by sensors integrated into the screen, an on-screen pointing location pointed to by a user of the television; and 
 identifying a user-selectable object in the presented television programming at which the user is pointing based, at least in part, on the determined on-screen pointing location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, in the television, receiving information identifying selectable objects in the presented television programming. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving information identifying selectable objects in the presented television programming comprises receiving said information embedded in a same data stream as a stream communicating the presented television programming. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving information identifying selectable objects in the presented television programming comprises receiving said information in a data stream communicated in parallel with a stream communicating the presented television programming. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information identifying selectable objects in the presented television programming is communicated with the presented television programming without being requested by the television. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information identifying selectable objects in the presented television programming comprises timing information associated with the selectable objects. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information identifying selectable objects in the presented television programming comprises information defining respective regions of the presented television programming associated with respective selectable objects in the presented television programming. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information defining respective regions of the presented television programming associated with the respective selectable objects comprises information describing movement of the respective regions as a function of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the presented television programming is user-stored; and   information identifying selectable objects is user-stored.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising generating a user output indicating the identified user-selectable object. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising communicating information indicating the identified user-selectable object to a television remote control device. 
     
     
         12 . A video display device comprising at least one module operable to, at least:
 present a video stream, the video stream comprising user-selectable objects;   determine an on-screen pointing location pointed to by a pointing device; and   identify a user-selectable object in the presented video stream at which the pointing device is pointing based, at least in part, on the determined on-screen pointing location.   
     
     
         13 . The video display device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine the on-screen pointing location based on a time of arrival of an emission from the pointing device. 
     
     
         14 . The video display device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine the on-screen pointing location based on a phase of an emission from pointing device. 
     
     
         15 . The video display device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine the on-screen pointing location based a gain pattern of an emission from the pointing device. 
     
     
         16 . The video display device of  claim 12 , wherein the pointing device is a remote control. 
     
     
         17 . The video display device of  claim 12 , wherein the pointing device is an eyewear device. 
     
     
         18 . A television receiver for communicating with a television comprising:
 at least one module, located in the television receiver, operable to, at least:
 provide television programming to the television, the television programming comprising user-selectable objects; 
 determine an on-screen pointing location on the television pointed to by a remote control; and 
 identify a user-selectable object in the presented television programming at which the remote control is pointing based, at least in part, on the determined on-screen pointing location. 
   
     
     
         19 . The television receiver of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one module is operable to overlay a graphical feature coinciding with the identified user-selectable object in the presented television programming. 
     
     
         20 . The television receiver of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one module is operable to communicate information indicating the identified user-selectable object to a television remote control device.