Method for synchronizing remote device
View Patent ↗A method for synchronizing a function on a remote device with a function on a primary device includes selectively broadcasting, from a radio frequency (RF) transmitter of the primary device, data broadcast on channels at different times relative to a fixed period strobe signal of the primary device. Only the channels that have a noise level below a specified threshold level selectively broadcast the data and each of the channels have an associated fixed time frame offset relative to the fixed period strobe signal. Each of the channels is broadcast after their associated fixed time frame offset expires. An RF receiver of the remote device receives the data on one of the channels. The data on each of the channels is received at different times, depending on its associated fixed time frame offset, which results in the data on each received channel having an associated received time reference relative to a strobe signal of the remote device. The remote device strobe signal is synchronized to determine a received time reference and the fixed time frame offset. The remote device function is cyclically performed, which results in the remote device function being synchronized with the primary device function. The method may be used to synchronize a 3D video signal broadcast from a transmitter to sets of 3D glasses.
1. A method for synchronizing a remote device function on a remote device with a primary device function on a primary device, the method comprising:
selectively broadcasting, from a radio frequency transmitter of the primary device, data on a plurality of channels, the data being broadcast on each of the channels at different times relative to a fixed period strobe signal of the primary device, wherein only the channels that have a noise level below a specified threshold level selectively broadcast the data, and wherein each of the channels has an associated fixed time frame offset relative to the fixed period strobe signal and each of the channels broadcasts after the associated fixed time frame offset expires;
receiving, at a radio frequency receiver of the remote device, the data on at least one channel of the plurality of channels, wherein the data on each of the channels is received at different times depending on the associated fixed time frame offset thereby resulting in the data on the at least one channel having an associated received time reference relative to a remote device strobe signal of the remote device;
synchronizing the remote device strobe signal based on the received time reference and the fixed time frame offset; and
cyclically performing the remote device function, wherein the cyclically performing of the remote device function is synchronized with the primary device function to provide a synchronized interaction therebetween, and wherein the remote device function is synchronized with the primary device function by referencing the remote device strobe signal,
wherein the primary device is a display device with three dimensional picture capabilities displayed on a screen thereof and the remote device is a pair of glasses with left and right eye lenses with electronic shutters that selectively control the transparency of each of the lenses for synchronized viewing with left and right eye images displayed on the screen, and
the data includes information from the group: image frame frequency for images displayed on the display screen; fixed time frame offset for a channel broadcasting the data; period of the fixed period strobe signal; and shutter opening and closing ratios for the lenses.
2. The method for synchronizing of claim 1 , wherein the primary device has a primary device receiver and the selectively broadcasting is characterized by the primary device receiver detecting the noise level of each of the channels.
3. The method for synchronizing of claim 2 , wherein the primary device receiver detects the noise level of each of the channels during their associated fixed time frame offset.
4. The method for synchronizing of claim 3 , wherein the primary device receiver detects the noise level of a first one of the channels during a fixed first channel noise detection period the start of which is fixed relative to the fixed period strobe signal and wherein the primary device receiver detects the noise level of a second one of the channels during a fixed second channel noise detection period the start time of which commences after the fixed first channel noise detection period ends.
5. The method for synchronizing of claim 4 , wherein the primary device compares the noise level of the first channel with the specified threshold level during the associated fixed time frame offset thereof.
6. The method for synchronizing of claim 5 , wherein the remote device radio frequency receiver receives the data on the first channel at a first received time reference and data on the second channel is received at a later second received time reference.
7. The method for synchronizing of claim 1 , wherein the remote device function is a cyclical activation of the radio frequency receiver to cyclically activate and receive the data being broadcast on each of the channels, wherein the radio frequency receiver is cyclically activated by an activation signal comprising an active period during which time the data is received on at least one of the channels and an inactive period when no data can be received by the radio frequency receiver.
8. The method for synchronizing of claim 7 , wherein the inactive period is at least four times longer than a duration of the active period and wherein after a number of pre-defined cycles of the activation signal the radio frequency receiver does not receive the data during the active period then the activation signal is temporarily modified so that the active period is extended.
9. The method for synchronizing of claim 8 , wherein the active period is extended until the data is received or until the expiration of a pre-defined maximum activation signal period has expired.
10. The method for synchronizing of claim 1 , wherein the display device is a television.
11. The method for synchronizing of claim 1 , wherein the remote device function comprises controlling the transparency of the left and right eye lenses and the primary device function comprises displaying the left and right eye images on the screen, and wherein a left lens electronic shutter is open and the right lens shutter is closed when the left eye image is displayed on the screen, and a left lens electronic shutter is closed and the right lens shutter is open when a right eye image is displayed on the screen.
12. The method for synchronizing of claim 1 , wherein the remote device has a database of possible offset values and their corresponding possible strobe signal periods and the remote device performs a prior process of determining which of the possible fixed time frame offsets and corresponding strobe signal periods identify the fixed time frame offset and period of the fixed period strobe signal.
13. The method for synchronizing of claim 1 , wherein the fixed time frame offset and period of the fixed period strobe signal are broadcast to the remote device in the data.
14. A method for synchronizing at least one remote device function on a remote device with at least one primary device function on a primary device, the method being performed by the remote device, the method comprising:
processing data that has been selectively broadcast on a plurality of channels by a radio frequency (RF) transmitter of the primary device and received on at least one of the channels by a receiver of the remote device, wherein the data has been broadcast on each of the channels at different times relative to a fixed period strobe signal of the primary device and wherein only the channels that have a noise level below a specified threshold level have selectively broadcast the data, and each of the channels has an associated fixed time frame offset relative to the fixed period strobe signal and wherein each of the channels has been broadcasted after their associated fixed time frame offset expires;
determining, from the data received on at least one channel of the plurality of channels, an associated received time reference relative to a remote device strobe signal of the remote device, wherein the data on each of the channels is received at different times depending on their associated fixed time frame offset;
synchronizing the remote device strobe signal, the synchronizing being determined from the received time reference and the fixed time frame offset; and
cyclically performing the remote device function, wherein the cyclically performing of the remote device function is synchronized with the primary device function to provide a synchronized interaction therebetween, and wherein the remote device function is synchronized with the primary device function by referencing the remote device strobe signal,
wherein the primary device is a television with three dimensional picture capabilities displayed on a screen thereof and the remote device is a pair of glasses with left and right eye lenses with electronic shutters that selectively control the transparency of each of the lenses for synchronized viewing with left and right eye images displayed on the screen, and the data includes information from the group: image frame frequency for images displayed on the display screen; fixed time frame offset for a channel broadcasting the data; period of the fixed period strobe signal; and shutter opening and closing ratios for the lenses.
15. The method for synchronizing as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the remote device function is a cyclical activation of the radio frequency receiver to cyclically activate and receive the data being broadcast on each of the channels, wherein the radio frequency receiver is cyclically activated by an activation signal comprising an active period during which time the data is received on at least one of the channels and an inactive period when no data can be received by the radio frequency receiver.
16. The method for synchronizing of claim 14 , wherein the remote device function comprises controlling the transparency of the left and right eye lenses and the primary device function comprises displaying of the left and right eye images on the screen, and wherein a left lens electronic shutter is open and the right lens shutter is closed when the left eye image is displayed on the screen, and a left lens electronic shutter is closed and the right lens shutter is open when a right eye image is displayed on the screen.
17. The method for synchronizing of claim 14 , wherein the remote device has a database of possible offset values and their corresponding possible strobe signal periods and the remote device performs a prior process of determining which of the possible fixed time frame offsets and corresponding strobe signal periods identify the fixed time frame offset and period of the fixed period strobe signal.