360° video viewer control using smart device

1. An electronic device comprising:

a touchscreen display; and

at least one processor configured to:

in response to a first user input, select a mode of operation for a second user input from an absolute mode or a relative mode;

present a dynamic user interface on the touchscreen display, the dynamic user interface comprising a first input region forming a dial, the first input region configured to receive user input related to a first viewing direction associated with a 360° video, the 360° video comprising images textured on an inner surface of a sphere;

detect the second user input; and

transmit the second user input to a second display device to control, based on the second user input and the selected mode of operation, presentation of the 360° video on the second display device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the dynamic user interface further comprises a dynamic heat map; and

the dynamic heat map indicates at least one position of desired content in the 360° video.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

in the absolute mode, changes to the first viewing direction are made with reference to a fixed viewing direction; and

in the relative mode, changes to the first viewing direction are made with reference to a current viewing direction.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the dynamic user interface further comprises a second input region, the second input region configured to receive a third user input related to a second viewing direction associated with the 360° video; and

the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect the third user input; and

transmit the third user input to the second display device to further control the presentation of the 360° video on the second display device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one haptic motor,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the at least one haptic motor based on a position of desired content in the 360° video.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second display device comprises a static display configured to not move such that the second display device is in a fixed position.

7. A display device comprising:

a transceiver;

a second display configured to present a 360° video, the second display disposed in a fixed position in a viewing space, the 360° video comprising images textured on an inner surface of a sphere; and

at least one processor configured to:

receive a second user input from a dynamic user interface on a touchscreen of an electronic device via the transceiver, the second user input related to a first viewing direction associated with the 360° video; and

control, based on the second user input and a mode of operation for the second user input selected from an absolute mode and a relative mode, presentation of the 360° video on the second display based on the second user input, wherein the mode of operation is selected based on a first user input.

8. The display device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to present, on the second display, one or more symbols identifying at least one position of desired content in the 360° video relative to a current viewing direction associated with the 360° video.

9. The display device of claim 7 , wherein:

in the absolute mode, changes to the first viewing direction are made with reference to a fixed viewing direction; and

in the relative mode, changes to the first viewing direction are made with reference to a current viewing direction.

10. The display device of claim 7 , wherein the second user input comprises information relating to the first viewing direction associated with the 360° video and a second viewing direction associated with the 360° video.

11. A method for controlling presentation of a 360° video on a second display device, the method comprising:

in response to a first user input, selecting a mode of operation for a second user input from an absolute mode or a relative mode;

displaying a dynamic user interface on a touchscreen display of an electronic device, the dynamic user interface comprising a first input region forming a dial, the first input region configured to receive user input related to a first viewing direction associated with the 360° video, the 360° video comprising images textured on an inner surface of a sphere;

detecting the second user input; and

transmitting the second user input to the second display device to control, based on the second user input and the selected mode of operation, the presentation of the 360° video on the second display device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the dynamic user interface further comprises a dynamic heat map; and

the dynamic heat map indicates at least one position of desired content in the 360° video.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dynamic heat map is based on at least one of:

information from a creator or provider of the 360° video identifying the at least one position of desired content in the 360° video; or

information identifying viewing directions commonly used by multiple users when viewing the 360° video.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the dynamic user interface further comprises a second input region, the second input region configured to receive a third user input related to a second viewing direction associated with the 360° video; and

the method further comprises:

detecting the third user input; and

transmitting the third user input to the second display device to further control the presentation of the 360° video on the second display device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein:

the second input region comprises a bar within the dial;

the dial of the first input region allows a user to alter a current viewing direction about a first axis; and

the bar of the second input region allows the user to alter the current viewing direction about a second axis.

16. A method for presenting a 360° video on a display device, the method comprising:

receiving a second user input from a dynamic user interface displayed on a touchscreen of an electronic device, the second user input related to a viewing direction associated with the 360° video, the 360° video comprises images textured on an inner surface of a sphere; and

controlling, based on the second user input and a mode of operation for the second user input selected from an absolute mode and a relative mode, presentation of the 360° video on the display device based on the second user input, wherein the mode of operation is selected based on a first user input, and wherein the display device is fixed in a viewing space.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device cause the at least one processor to:

in response to a first user input, select a mode of operation for a second user input from an absolute mode or a relative mode;

present a dynamic user interface on a touchscreen display, the dynamic user interface comprising a first input region forming a dial, the first input region configured to receive user input related to a first viewing direction associated with a 360° video, the 360° video comprises images textured on an inner surface of a sphere;

detect the second user input; and

transmit the second user input to a second display device to control, based on the second user input and the selected mode of operation, presentation of the 360° video on the second display device, wherein the second display device is fixed in a viewing space.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:

the dynamic user interface further comprises a dynamic heat map; and

the dynamic heat map indicates at least one position of desired content in the 360° video.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:

in the absolute mode, changes to the first viewing direction are made with reference to a fixed viewing direction; and

in the relative mode, changes to the first viewing direction are made with reference to a current viewing direction.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:

the dynamic user interface further comprises a second input region, the second input region configured to receive a third user input related to a second viewing direction associated with the 360° video; and

the instructions when executed further cause the at least one processor to:

detect the third user input; and

transmit the third user input to the second display device to further control the presentation of the 360° video on the second display device.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions when executed further cause the at least one processor to control at least one haptic motor based on a position of desired content in the 360° video.