Display control apparatus and related method

An independent display control apparatus communicates with a plurality of display devices. The display control apparatus includes a receiving module, a signal generating module, and a signal transmitting module. The receiving module receives the location information of a plurality of display devices and the signal generating module generates control signals based on the received locations, different locations can thus receive different control signals. Each of the control signals corresponds to a different segment of a predetermined media file transmitted to each display device and the group of display devices can thus be made to simulate the flight and bursting of a firework, or simulate the echoing of a single sound for example.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201410528253.6 filed on Oct. 10, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to a display control apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A remote server communicates with a plurality of display devices. The remote server generates a common control signal and transmits a common operation to the display devices respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate an embodiment of a display control apparatus1. The display control apparatus1communicates with a plurality of display devices2. Each display device2receives control signals transmitted by the display control apparatus1. In at least one embodiment, the display control apparatus1can be a remote server. The display device2can be a mobile phone or a tablet. In other embodiments, the display control apparatus1is an independent apparatus located in a remote server.

The display control apparatus1includes a first processor11, a first storage device12, a receiving module13, a signal generating module14, and a signal transmitting module15.

The first processor11executes one or more computerized codes and other applications of the display control apparatus1to provide functions of the display control apparatus1.

The first storage device12stores a predetermined media file. The predetermined media file includes a plurality of segments. The first storage device12can be an internal storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a read only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. The first storage device12can also be an external storage device, such as an external hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium. In at least one embodiment, the predetermined media file can be an image file, an video file, or an audio file. The segment can be a region of an image file, at least one frame of the video file, or a passage of music within the audio file.

The receiving module13receives location information each of the display devices2. In at least one embodiment, the location information is given as a global positioning system (GPS) information. In other embodiments, the location information can be a theater seating number.

The signal generating module14generates different control signals based on the locations each of the display devices2. The control signals are related to different segments in the predetermined media file based on the location information transmitted by the display device2. In other embodiments, the control signals are related to different predetermined media files respectively.

The signal transmitting module15transmits the predetermined media file or part and a control signal as a combination to the display devices2for controlling each of the display devices2to execute a predetermined operation. Each combination requires the execution of a different operation, the difference in operations being dependent on the location of each display device2.

FIG. 3illustrates the display device2of the embodiment. The display device2includes a second processor21, a second storage device22, a display panel23, a loudspeaker24, a location transmitting module25, a signal receiving module26, and a controlling module27.

The second processor21executes one or more computerized codes and other applications of the display device2to provide functions of the display device2.

The second storage device22stores the transmitted predetermined media file. The second storage device22can be an internal storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a read only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. The second storage device22can also be an external storage device, such as an external hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium.

The location transmitting module25generates the location information of the display device2, and transmits the location information to the display control apparatus1. In at least one embodiment, the location information is a GPS information provided by a GPS device. In other embodiments, the location information can be a seating number in a theater for example.

The signal receiving module26receives the predetermined media file or part and the control signal, which are transmitted by the display control apparatus1.

The controlling module27obtains a segment of the predetermined media file in response to the control signal, and controls the display device2to execute a predetermined operations in relation to the segment. In at least one embodiment, the controlling module27controls the display panel23to display the obtained region of an image file or the obtained frames of a video file, or controls the loudspeaker24to output the passage of music obtained from the audio file.

In one embodiment, the predetermined media file is an image file with a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub pixel. The image is divided into several portions based on a number of the display devices2in a group of display devices2. The controlling module27controls the display panel23to display a portion of the image in response to the control signal. The controlling module27further sets a volume of the loudspeaker24based on a gray value of the image displayed in the display panel23. In at least one embodiment, the first sub-pixel is a red sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel is a green sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel is a blue sub-pixel.

In other embodiments, the predetermined media file is a video file with a plurality of frames. The controlling module27controls the display panel23to display the frames of the segment of the video file in response to the received control signal. Thus, each display device2display different frames of the video file based on the location information, which can simulate the brightness, colors, and sounds of fireworks.

In yet other embodiments, the predetermined media file is an audio file with a plurality of passages. The controlling module27controls the loudspeaker24to output a passage of the audio file in response to the control signal. Thus, the display devices2can output different parts of the audio file to simulate an echo function.

Referring toFIG. 4, a flowchart is presented in accordance with an example embodiment which is being thus illustrated. The display controlling method400is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The display controlling method400described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3, for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining the display controlling method400. Each block shown inFIG. 4represents one or more processes, methods or subroutines, carried out in the display controlling method400. Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can change according to the present disclosure. The display controlling method400can begin at block401.

At block401, the location receiving module13receives location information transmitted by the display devices2. In at least one embodiment, the location information is a GPS information provided by a GPS device. In other embodiments, the location information can be a theater seating number for example.

At block402, the signal generating module14generates different control signals based on location information of the display device10. The control signal is related to a segment in a predetermined media file, the segment being different for each location transmitted by the display device2. In at least one embodiments, the predetermined media file can be an image file, an video file, or an audio file. The segment can be a region of an image file, some frames of the video file, or one passage of music from the audio file. In a first embodiment, the predetermined media file is an image file with a plurality of pixels. The pixel includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub pixel. The image file is divided into several portions based on a number of the display devices2. In a second embodiment, the predetermined media file is a video file with a plurality of frames. In a third embodiment, the predetermined media file is an audio file. The first sub-pixel is a red sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel is a green sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel is a blue sub-pixel.

At block403, the signal transmitting module15transmits the predetermined media file and a control signal as a combination to the display devices2. Each combination requires the execution of a different operation, the difference in operation being dependent on the location of each display device2. In the first embodiment, the control signal controls the display panel23to display frames of the video file based on the location of the display device2. The control signal further sets a volume of the loudspeaker24based on a gray value of the image displayed in the display panel23.

In use, the display control apparatus1controls each display device2to execute an operation based on the locations of the display devices2, thus a display device2in a location which is different to that of another display device2will execute a different operation.

While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, the disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.