Methods and apparatus for delivering content and/or playing back content
Content delivery and playback methods and apparatus are described. The methods and apparatus are well suited for delivery and playback of content corresponding to a 360 degree environment and can be used to support streaming and/or real time delivery of 3D content corresponding to an event, e.g., while the event is ongoing or after the event is over. Portions of the environment are captured by cameras located at different positions. The content captured from different locations is encoded and made available for delivery. A playback device selects the content to be received based in a user's head position.
1. A method of operating a playback system including a head mounted display and a processor, comprising:
identifying a plurality of content streams, each content stream being different from one another and comprising content corresponding to a unique viewing direction from a same viewing position within an environment;
selecting, by a processor in the playback system and based on a head position of a user of the head mounted display, one or more particular content streams from the plurality of content streams;
obtaining the one or more particular content streams; and
presenting, for playback, content included in at least one of the one or more particular content streams.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one or more particular content streams comprises:
prioritizing content streams based on the head position of the user.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein prioritizing the content streams comprises:
identifying one or more content streams corresponding to a current field of view of the user; and
prioritizing the content streams providing viewing directions within a scene corresponding to the current field of view based on the size of portions of the field of view that each content stream provides.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein prioritizing the content streams further comprises:
prioritizing one or more additional streams communicating content corresponding to portions outside the current field of view based on at least one of proximity of communicated image portions to the current field of view or direction of head rotation.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein prioritizing the content streams further comprises:
prioritizing one or more additional streams corresponding to portions outside the current field of view based on proximity of communicated image content to the current field of view, wherein a content stream comprising image content in close proximity to an area of the current field of view is assigned a higher priority than a content stream outside and further away from the current field of view.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the head mounted display is a stereoscopic display.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving information regarding the plurality of content streams as part of a program guide.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
initializing a current viewing position by setting a current detected head position of the user to be a zero degree viewing position of a scene area.
9. A playback system, comprising:
a head mounted display;
a receiver for receiving content streams;
a processor configured to:
identify a plurality of content streams, each content stream being different from one another and comprising content corresponding to a unique viewing direction from a same viewing position within an environment;
select, based on a head position of a user of the head mounted display, one or more particular content streams from the plurality of content streams;
obtain, via the receiver, the one or more particular content streams; and
present, for playback, content included in at least one of the one or more particular content streams.
10. The playback system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the playback system, as part of selecting the one or more particular content streams, to:
prioritize content streams based on the head position of the user.
11. The playback system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the playback system, as part of prioritizing the content streams to:
identify one or more content streams corresponding to a current field of view of the user; and
prioritize one or more content streams providing viewing directions within a scene corresponding to the current field of view based on the size of portions of the field of view that each content stream provides.
12. The playback system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the playback system, as part of prioritizing the content streams, to:
prioritize one or more additional streams corresponding to portions outside the current field of view based on at least one of a proximity of communicated image portions to the current field of view or a direction of head rotation.
13. The playback system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the playback system, as part of prioritizing the content streams, to:
prioritize one or more additional streams corresponding to portions outside the current field of view based on a proximity of communicated image content to the current field of view, wherein a content stream comprising image content in close proximity to an area of a current field of view is assigned a higher priority than a content stream outside and further away from the current field of view.
14. The playback system of claim 9 , wherein the head mounted display is a stereoscopic display.