Systems and methods for selecting a region of a flexible screen and controlling video playback
Methods and systems are provided for controlling the presentation of media on a flexible screen based on a detected curvature of the flexible screen. For example, a mobile device may display a video on a flexible screen. When the mobile device detects a bend in the flexible screen, the mobile device will determine a direction of the bend (e.g., into or out of the screen) and will play the video in a direction based on on the direction of the bend (e.g., in forward or in reverse).
1. A method for controlling presentation of a media asset on a flexible screen, the method comprising:
playing the media asset on the flexible screen at a forward play direction;
determining, by control circuitry of an electronic device, a direction of a curvature of the flexible screen and a degree of the curvature of the flexible screen;
selecting, by the control circuitry, one of a fast forward play direction or a rewind play direction based on determining whether the direction of the curvature of the flexible screen corresponds to a deflection into a top plane of the flexible screen or to a deflection away from the top plane of the flexible screen;
setting the rewind or fast forward speed proportional to the degree of the curvature of the flexible screen; and
rewinding or fast forwarding the media asset based on the selecting at the set speed.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the presentation speed proportional to the degree of the curvature of the flexible screen further comprises:
retrieving metadata associated with the media asset;
determining, based on the metadata, a category associated with the media asset; and
adjusting the presentation speed based on the category associated with the media asset.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the media asset on the flexible screen comprises:
determining a location of a vertex point of the curvature of the flexible screen;
determining, based on the location of the vertex point of the curvature of the flexible screen, a presentation position within the media asset; and
presenting the media asset on the flexible screen based on the selected presentation direction beginning at the determined presentation position.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the flexible screen comprises a plurality of sensors, and wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors measures strain across a different respective portion of the flexible screen, and wherein determining the direction of the curvature comprises:
receiving a plurality of strain measurements from the plurality of sensors; and
identifying the direction of the curvature of the flexible screen based on the plurality of strain measurements.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein identifying the direction of the curvature of the flexible screen based on the plurality of strain measurements comprises:
identifying a subset of strain measurements of the plurality strain measurements that exceed a predefined strain value;
identifying the different respective portions of the flexible screen associated with the subset of sensors, of the plurality of sensors, corresponding to the plurality of strain measurements; and
determining the direction based on the identified different respective portions of the flexible screen.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting by the control circuitry, a series of rapid deflections of the screen into the top plane of the flexible screen or a series of rapid deflections of the screen away from the top plane of the flexible screen; and
in response to detecting the series of rapid deflections, skipping to a predefined location in the media asset.
7. A system for controlling presentation of a media asset on a flexible screen, comprising control circuitry of an electronic device configured to:
play the media asset on the flexible screen at a forward play direction;
determine a direction of a curvature of the flexible screen and a degree of the curvature of the flexible screen;
select one of a fast forward play direction or a rewind play direction based on determining whether the direction of the curvature of the flexible screen corresponds to a deflection into a top plane of the flexible screen or to a deflection away from the top plane of the flexible screen;
set the rewind or fast forward speed proportional to the degree of the curvature of the flexible screen; and
rewind or fast forward the media asset based on the selecting at the set speed.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when selecting the presentation speed proportional to the degree of the curvature of the flexible screen, to:
retrieve metadata associated with the media asset;
determine, based on the metadata, a category associated with the media asset; and
adjust the presentation speed based on the category associated with the media asset.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when presenting the media asset on the flexible screen, to:
determine a location of a vertex point of the curvature of the flexible screen;
determine, based on the location of the vertex point of the curvature of the flexible screen, a presentation position within the media asset; and
present the media asset on the flexible screen based on the selected presentation direction beginning at the determined presentation position.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the flexible screen comprises a plurality of sensors, and wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors measures strain across a different respective portion of the flexible screen, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when determining the direction of the curvature, to:
receive a plurality of strain measurements from the plurality of sensors; and
identify the direction of the curvature of the flexible screen based on the plurality of strain measurements.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when identifying the direction of the curvature of the flexible screen based on the plurality of strain measurements, to:
identify a subset of strain measurements of the plurality strain measurements that exceed a predefined strain value;
identify the different respective portions of the flexible screen associated with the subset of sensors, of the plurality of sensors, corresponding to the plurality of strain measurements; and
determine the direction based on the identified different respective portions of the flexible screen.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
detect series of rapid deflections of the screen into the top plane of the flexible screen or a series of rapid deflections of the screen away from the top plane of the flexible screen; and
in response to detecting the series of rapid deflections, skip to a predefined location in the media asset.