Multi-dimensional documents for parallel content display on a single screen for multiple viewers

A system, method, and storage medium for generating visual content in plural versions for substantially simultaneous display on the same display device are provided. The system includes memory for storing static content having at least one document element common to a first and second version of a document, multi-dimensional content having at least one customized document element for each document version to be inserted into a variable area within the first and second versions of the document, and multi-dimensional parameters defining static areas, variable areas, and customized document elements for each document version. The system further includes a rendering module adapted to generate a first frame-image corresponding to the first document version and a second frame-image corresponding to the second document version by arranging the static content and multi-dimensional content of each document version according to the multi-dimensional parameters.

BACKGROUND

The exemplary embodiment relates to processing of visual content. It finds particular application in connection with a system and method for displaying multiple customized views of two dimensional (2D) content in parallel to multiple viewers of a single screen.

Three-Dimensional (3D) displays are becoming more common. A 3D display allows a user to view visual content (such as single images (slides) or video) and perceive it in three dimensions. One technique utilized by 3D displays is to create the illusion of depth in a user's brain from a pair of 2D images displayed at the same time (or substantially at the same time). One way to enhance depth perception in the brain is to provide the viewer's eyes with two different images, each image representing one perspective of the same object. The two images have minor deviations corresponding to the perspectives that both eyes naturally receive in binocular vision. Specially configured eye glasses coupled with a 3D display enable one eye to view the first image while the second eye views the second image. The viewer's brain interprets and combines the two images and generates a 3D view for the viewer.

A problem in the field of multimedia presentations is that with only a single two dimensional (2D) or 3D display device available, multiple viewers view the same visual content. It would be desirable for different viewers in an audience to be able to perceive different visual content, which is customized for each viewer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a method for displaying visual content is provided. The method includes displaying a plurality of versions of visual content repeatedly and in a sequence on a same display device. The plurality of versions includes static content, which is the same for each of the plurality of versions, and variable content, which is different for each of the plurality of versions. The method further includes synchronizing the displaying of a first of the plurality of versions of the visual content with a first viewing device for a first viewer of the display device and synchronizing the displaying of a second of the plurality of versions of the visual content with a second viewing device for a second viewer of the display device, enabling the first and second viewers to view the static content together with respective different variable content substantially simultaneously with each other.

In another aspect, a system for generating visual content for simultaneous display on a same display device is provided. The system includes memory which stores static content having at least one document element common to a plurality of versions of a document, multi-dimensional content having at least one customized document element for each document version to be inserted into a variable area within the respective version of the document, and multi-dimensional parameters defining static areas, variable areas, and customized document elements for each document version. The system also includes a rendering module adapted to generate a first frame-image corresponding to a first of the document versions and a second frame-image corresponding to a second of the document versions by arranging the static content and multi-dimensional content of each document version according to the multi-dimensional parameters.

In yet another aspect, a storage medium containing, in computer readable form, a multi-dimensional document is provided. The storage medium includes non-transitory memory which stores a plurality of frame-images, each frame-image corresponding to a different version of a document. The document includes at least one static area having a document element common to each version of the document, and at least one variable area having a document element customized for each version of the document.

In another aspect, a storage medium containing, in computer readable form, a multi-dimensional document is provided. The multi-dimensional document includes at least one document frame, each document frame including a set of multidimensional document elements and a plurality of frame-images. Each frame-image corresponds to a different version of the document frame. Each frame-image includes at least one static area comprising a document element which is common to a plurality of the frame-images, and at least one variable area for receiving a respective one of the set of multidimensional document elements. The storage medium also includes instructions for matching each document element in the set of multi-dimensional content to a respective one of the variable areas to generate the at least one page frame.

In yet another aspect, a method for displaying visual content is provided. The method includes providing a first frame-image comprising variable content and static content and providing a second frame image comprising the same static content and different variable content. Repeatedly and in sequence, the first and second frame images are displayed on a same display device at a frequency such that they are substantially simultaneously displayed, whereby when first and second viewers wear respective synchronized viewing devices, the first viewer views the first frame image and not the second frame image and the second viewer views the second frame image and not the first frame image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the exemplary embodiment relate to displaying, in parallel, multiple customized views (versions) of two dimensional (2D) content on a single screen. Additionally, the exemplary method and system allow for the displaying of a document (such as a slide show, video or other document with visual content) with areas for static and variable visual content (and enabling members of a same audience to view the customized versions of the document on a single screen. In the exemplary embodiment, this is accomplished by displaying frame images of customized content at predefined intervals on a single display device. A user views the display device through a viewing device synchronized with the refresh rate of the display device. The viewing device allows the viewer to see only the content corresponding to a particular customized view. For example, a same screen may display differing textual translations (variable content) of a document, along with static content common to all versions of the document, substantially simultaneously. Specialized viewing devices (such as eye glasses) are used to allow only a single language (e.g., the variable content), along with the static content, to be viewable for any given member of the audience. Thus, on the same screen, the different language versions of the presentation are displayed at the same time, and properly configured viewing devices allow audience members to filter out the languages they do not understand. The exemplary embodiment employs techniques similar to those used in the display of three dimensional (3D) content on a 2D display (such as a television or computer monitor), but in this case, viewers view different variable content substantially simultaneously.

A “display device,” as used herein can be an output device for presentation of visual information that is acquired, stored, or transmitted in various forms. Examples of display devices include, but are not limited to, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, plasma displays, and digital light processing (DLP) displays. The display device may be a self contained unit (such as a traditional CRT computer monitor), or it may be in the form of a projector which forms an image on a screen at a distance.

A “viewing device” generally refers to a type of eyewear worn by a user which includes one or more lenses that filter images rendered by a display device. Examples of viewing devices include, but are not limited to, active shutter glasses, LC shutter glasses, anaglyph glasses, and polarized glasses.

The system may operate using anaglyph, polarization, or alternate frame sequencing, which are techniques that have been used in 3D systems, but which are used differently in the exemplary embodiments. In an anaglyph system, the viewing device includes colored lenses which filter out visual content based on color. In a polarization system, two projectors display respective images with different polarization. Each viewing device for viewing the polarized images may have lenses corresponding to one of the respective polarizations.

Alternate frame sequencing (AFS) technology is best suited to the exemplary system and method. This type of system allows images to be displayed for a predetermined amount of time at a certain frequency. The synchronization between active shutter glasses and the display is performed via a synchronization signal between the glasses and the display. The synchronization signal instructs the active shutter glasses as to when to darken the lenses of a respective viewing device.

In the exemplary method and system provided herein, instead of providing a different image to each eye, as in a 3D system, the same image can be provided to both eyes of a viewer concurrently at specified intervals, by a respective viewing device, where two viewing devices allow for different variable visual content to be provided to respective viewers. The display device receives an input signal with n pre-rendered frame-images (e.g., representing n customized views or versions) that are repeated at a high frequency, which can be expressed in terms of repeats per second in Hz (120 Hz, for example). The display device is synchronized with one or more viewing devices that allow a user to view only one of the n frame-images during the specified interval. This creates the illusion for the user that they are viewing a display with only a single image or customized view (or set of images in the case of motion pictures). In general, the frequency with which each frame-image is repeated is at least 20 Hz.

Put another way, the exemplary embodiment allows for the display of differing content concurrently on a single display. Advantages of the exemplary embodiment include allowing multiple users to concurrently view content customized to each particular user, and allowing a user to switch easily from one customized view to another.

While the exemplary embodiment is described in terms of an AFS system, it is to be appreciated that polarization and anaglyph systems are also contemplated.

Alternate frame sequencing has some advantages over the other techniques in that it provides more flexibility due to the ability to provide for a variable number of custom views on a single display. For example, assuming that there are n custom views to be viewed on a single display, AFS allows users to synchronize their viewing device (such as active shutter lenses) to one of n frequencies. At time T1, the customized view related to visual content C1is displayed on the display device, and people with viewing devices set to frequency F1will see visual content C1and viewing devices with a frequency of F1offset by a delay t will have their lenses darkened until their respective content is displayed on the display device. At time T1+t, the customized view related to visual content C2is displayed and people having viewing devices with a frequency of F1offset by a delay t will see the visual content C2and people having a different delay from t will then have their lenses darkened, and so forth.

In other words, instead of alternately darkening each lens, as is the case with traditional 3D displays and viewing devices, the two lenses of the viewing device can be darkened at the same time according to a specified frequency interval tuned (synchronized) to the refresh rate of the display device.

The input to the exemplary display device is a sequence of frames, with each frame comprising a plurality of frame-images. In the exemplary embodiment, there is one frame-image per customized view. Each frame-image of the frame is rendered on the display device for at least one refresh cycle. In the exemplary embodiment, each frame-image is rendered on the display for a single refresh cycle, and in the case of static images, the set of frame-images are repeated continuously for an amount of time. For example,FIG. 1illustrates the display timing of a single frame2comprising frame-images4a-4con a display device having a refresh rate (i.e., frequency) of, for example at least 60 Hz, such as 120 Hz. Each frame-image4a-4ccan be displayed in successive order for exactly one refresh cycle on the display device. The effective refresh rate for any individual frame-image4a-4cis 40 Hz, in this example (i.e., the display refresh rate divided by the number of frame-images per frame), since each of the three frame-images is refreshed 40 times during the 120 cycle period. In this way, frame-images4a-4care displayed substantially simultaneously with each other. By substantially simultaneously, it is meant that each frame image is displayed within less than 0.05 seconds of each next subsequent and preceding frame-image in the sequence, such as less than 0.01 seconds apart. The display timing may be adjusted based on the refresh rate of the display device and the number of frame-images per frame. For instance, a display device having a frequency of 200 Hz may display each of three customized views at a frequency of about 66 Hz. For four customized views, each corresponding to a respective frame-image, the resulting frequency would be 50 Hz. If the refresh rate of the display device is too low with respect to the number of customized views, then image glare and flickering may appear to the end user. Introducing too many customized views or parallel images may generate the phenomenon of flickering due to the time delay involved in displaying all of the other customized views (during which both lenses are darkened until it is time to display the frame-image corresponding to the user's customized view).

While three frame-images4a,4b,4care shown, it is to be appreciated that there may be any number of frame-images, such as from 2-10 frame-images per frame2, each having different visual content. For example, the exemplary method and system have been shown to be effective for 2-4 customized views with a conventional display device. For more customized views, a corresponding increase in the refresh rate of the display device may be employed. Additionally, some embodiments may brighten the customized view rendered on the display device in order to compensate for the lower exposure time of the custom view.

FIG. 2provides an overview of an exemplary viewing system10. The viewing system10includes a display device12and a rendering system14, which may be separate or combined. A multidimensional document16is received by the rendering system14, which generates visual content18to be input to the display device. The visual content includes a sequence of frame-images4a-4cfor each document frame. The frame-images4a-4care then displayed on a screen20of the display device12. A first viewer (i.e., a first person)30wears a first viewing device (e.g., filtering glasses)32associated with a first receiver34and a second viewer (a second person)36wears a second viewing device (filtering glasses)38with a second receiver40. The second receiver40is tuned to the same frequency but different time delay t from the first receiver34. A signaling device46communicates with the receivers34,34, e.g., via radio frequency or other electromagnetic signals48,50, causing the receivers to operate the viewing devices32,38, at the corresponding frequency plus any respective time delay t in synchronization with the displayed frame-images. Thus, for example, the first viewer30views only frame4a, for example, generating, in the viewer's mind, a first viewed image (customized view)52, and the second viewer36views only frame4b, for example, creating, in the viewer's mind a second viewed image (customized view)54, different from the first viewed image52. The two images52,54, are generated substantially simultaneously. While only two viewers30,36are illustrated for convenience, it is to be appreciated that multiple viewers can view a respective one of the two customized views with respective filtering glasses. As will be appreciated, the document16may be an audio-visual document containing audio as well as visual content, in which case, both viewers30,36may receive the same audio content, e.g., via speakers (not shown) on or associated with the display device, or may receive custom audio content, e.g., via headphones.

With respect to customized views, the exemplary embodiment allows for the creation and simultaneous display of a document16containing localized variations corresponding to differing users30,36. Each set of localized variations of a document is considered a customized view of the document.FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate example document pages (or images derived from a document)4a,4bthat have been customized for two different groups of viewers. Both document pages4a,4bare directed to a department progress meeting and discuss financial information for a company called Cube Industries. Document page4ais directed specifically to the product division within Cube Industries and document page4bis directed specifically to the services division of the same company. With the exemplary method and system, both document images4a,4bare displayed on a single display device12substantially simultaneously (e.g., within less than 0.1 seconds of each other, such as less than 0.01 seconds apart). Assuming that document4ais rendered on the display screen20at frequency F1and document4bat frequency F1+t, where t represents the phase difference, employees30from the product division wear viewing devices32corresponding to the frequency F1and employees36from the services division wear viewing devices38corresponding to frequency F1with delay t. This allows every employee to concurrently view the financial report specific to their division within the company, without having to resort to using two separate displays.

The two document frame-images4a,4bhave common (static) and customized (variable) areas. For illustrative purposes, the areas60common to each document image4a,4bare surrounded by a solid line while areas62that are customized with variable content for each document image are surrounded by a dashed line. The common areas60are referred to as the static content of the document. The customized (variable) content62for a particular document frame can be instantiated as a dimension of the document. The customized content62is contained within a variable content area64of the document16. A document16containing variable content in one or more of its frames2is referred to herein as a multidimensional document. Thus, a multi-dimensional document16is a document having at least one variable content area64that may be replaced by one of multiple versions of custom content62. The custom document images4a,4b(which become the frame-images rendered by the display device) are created by the rendering system14.

In one exemplary embodiment, each user's visual content (version) is created with a respective single frame-image per frame2. In other embodiments, a version may be a combined image which is composed of two or more frame-images. For example, frame-image4amay include the static content while frame-images4band4ccontain the variable content. Thus, for user30, the viewed visual content may be a combination of only frame-images4aand4b, but not4c, and similarly viewer36may view only frame-images4aand4c, but not4b. Since the three frame-images are displayed in a defined sequence with a high frequency, the user does not discern that he is viewing two different images in sequence.

Viewing devices32,38can be similarly configured and may include a pair of lenses, one for each eye of the viewer, which are mounted together in a common frame suitable for wearing on the user's head, i.e., with side portions for engaging the user's ears. The term “lens,” as used herein does not imply any optical power, although in some embodiments, the lenses may be corrective, i.e., shaped to correct a vision problem of the viewer. Since both lenses are operated concurrently, in other embodiments, a single lens may replace the two lenses, the lens being worn over both eyes. The lens (or lenses) of the viewing device may be formed from glass, plastic, or other transparent material and may include a darkening component which causes the lens to darken/undarken between transparent and opaque in response to signals from the receiver34,40. As an example, viewing devices32,38may be liquid crystal shutter glasses where the lenses include a liquid crystal layer which becomes dark when a voltage is applied and is otherwise transparent. The glasses can be controlled by an infrared, radio frequency, DLP-Link or Bluetooth transmitter34that sends a timing signal that causes both lenses of the glasses32to darken over both eyes, and then become transparent, in synchronization with 2× refresh rate of the screen, while the glasses38do the same, but with a timing delay equal to the refresh rate (in the case of two frame-images). The two viewers30,36are thus able to view the static visual content60of a frame2substantially simultaneously with each other and view respective different variable content106a,106bof the frame substantially simultaneously with each other.

With reference toFIG. 5, an exemplary rendering system14for processing multi-dimensional documents is illustrated. The system14is a non-transitory device which includes an input device102for receiving data representing static visual content104for a document16, multi-dimensional visual content106for the document, and multi-dimensional parameters108for the document. In the alternative, inputs104,106,108may be produced by and/or stored in the system14itself. The static visual content104input contains content that is common to multiple views4a,4b,4cof a document. Static content104thus includes, for each multidimensional frame, the content60is illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4. The static content104may be embodied as a single document (such as, for example, a Microsoft Word®, PowerPoint®, or Open Office® document) or may be input in parts into the system14. In the exemplary embodiment, the static content104is input as a self-contained document. The multi-dimensional content106contains the custom content62that is to be incorporated into the static content104. In the exemplary embodiment, multi-media content106is input as individual document elements (such as images or blocks of text) that may be placed within the static document content104. The multi-dimensional parameters108provide instructions to the system14as to how the static content104and multi-dimensional content106should be combined or arranged. In the exemplary embodiment, the multi-dimensional parameters108are embodied within an XML (or other markup language) document, although other embodiments may use any other suitable mechanism. Prior to inputting, inputs104,106,108may be stored in any suitable tangible storage medium109, such as a disk, ROM or RAM, or may be input into the system14in the form of a carrier wave, e.g., via the Internet. The input device102may include a modem link, a wired or wireless connection, USB port, floppy or hard disk receiver, transceiver portion of a cellular telephone, or the like and may be separated or combined with other components of the system14.

The system14includes data memory110for storing the static content104, multi-dimensional content106, and multi-dimensional parameters108during processing. Main memory112of the system14stores instructions114for performing the exemplary method, including a rendering module116. It is to be appreciated that the two memories110,112may be embodied as a single memory unit, or that one or both of the memories110,112may comprise two or more component memory units. The instructions114are suitably executed by a digital processor such as computer processor120. The digital processor120can be variously embodied, such as by a single core processor, a dual core processor (or more generally by a multiple core processor), a digital processor and cooperating math coprocessor, a digital controller, or the like. Outputs from module116may be stored in memories110,112and/or output via an output device122to a display device12, optionally through a network126such as the Internet. In one illustrative example, the system14is located on a server that is part of a distributed or cloud computing network. In such a case, inputs104,106,108may be input to the system14remotely via input102and input102and output122modules may be suitably networked to a portal of the server. Processor120and memories110,112may be suitably embodied by a digital processor (e.g., microprocessor or parallel array of microprocessors) and memory component(s) of the server.

The rendering module116receives as input the static content104, multi-dimensional content106, and multi-dimensional parameters108via the input device102. The rendering module116generates as output one or more multi-dimensional frames2(FIG. 1) comprising a plurality of frame-images4a,4b,4c(FIG. 1). Each frame-image corresponds to one of the customized views (dimensions) of the input static document content104. The frame-images4a,4b,4care generated by the rendering module116by arranging or combining the multi-dimensional content106with the static content104for each custom view (e.g., dimension) according to the instructions provided by the multi-dimensional parameters108. Each resulting frame-image4a,4b,4crepresents a customized view of the static content104. The rendering module116then combines the frame-images into one or more multi-dimensional frames2to be transmitted to and displayed by the dimensional display device12. The multi-dimensional frames2may be multiplexed into a conventional television or display signal (such as an HDTV broadcast signal) to be rendered on a conventional display device12by inserting each frame-image4a,4b,4cinto the signal individually. Alternatively, if the display device12is suitably configured, the output device122may transmit each multi-dimensional frame2to the display device12as a discrete data unit. In this case, the display device12repeats each frame-image4a,4b,4cin sequence until a new multi-dimensional frame2is received from the system14. The exemplary display device12may include a screen generator124for this purpose, which receives the signal18from the rendering system14and generates the visual content for display on the screen20(FIG. 2). In particular, the screen generator causes a predefined sequence of the frame-images4a,4b,4cto be displayed repeatedly and substantially simultaneously on the screen and coordinates with the signaling device so that the shutter glasses are synchronized at the same frequency and time delay (phase difference). Screen generator124may be embodied in software stored in memory of the display device. The software may be implemented by an associated processor125, which is communicatively connected to the display device memory, and which may be configured analogously to processor120.

In the exemplary embodiment, components114,116comprise software instructions stored in main memory112, which are executed by the computer processor120. The processor120, such as the computer's CPU, may also control the overall operation of the computer system14by execution of processing instructions stored in memory112. Components102,110,112,114,116,120,122may be connected by a data control bus128.

As will be appreciated, system14may include fewer or more components while still having the same functionality. For example, components110,112,114,116,120may be combined to form fewer components, or may be functionally separated to form more individual components.

The rendering system14may comprise one or more computing devices, such as a personal computer, PDA, laptop computer, server computer, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the system14may be incorporated into the display device12. Memories110,112may be integral or separate and may represent any type of computer readable medium such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), magnetic disk or tape, optical disk, flash memory, or holographic memory. In one embodiment, the memories110,112comprise a combination of random access memory and read only memory. In some embodiments, the processor120and memory110and/or112may be combined in a single chip.

The system14may output the one or more multi-dimensional frames2to an external output device, such as display device12, a server, or the like. The output device122may be connected directly with the system14or linked thereto, e.g., via a wired or wireless link126, such as a local area network, wide area network, or the Internet.

FIG. 6illustrates an exemplary method for rendering multiple customized views of two dimensional (2D) visual content to display in parallel to multiple viewers of a single screen20. The method may be performed with the exemplary system10,14described with reference toFIGS. 2 and 5. The method begins at S100.

At S200, the rendering module116receives the static content104, multi-dimensional content106and multi-dimensional parameters108into computer memory110,112. The multi-dimensional content106and parameters108contain data for n dimensions which are processed by the rendering module116to generate n customized views (each represented as a frame-image4) of the static content104.

At S300, the rendering module116creates a frame-image4for each dimension by integrating the multi-dimensional content106into the static content104according to the multi-dimensional parameters108.FIG. 7illustrates a static content document104with a multi-dimensional area64and three dimensions106a, b, c, which are sized and shaped to be received within area64. The rendering module116inserts each dimension106into customizable area64of the static document104. The rendering module116creates a custom view of the static document104by arranging the multi-dimensional content106within the static document104according to multi-dimensional parameters108. The rendering module116then creates a frame-image4a, b, cfor each custom view by generating an electronic representation (e.g., a computer image file such as a bitmap or other suitable embodiment) of the custom view that may be displayed on the display device. If the custom view is too large to fit on a display device (such as when a document has been zoomed in), then each frame-image4can be the viewable part of the custom view. In the case that there are no multi-dimensional areas on a static document frame, then all of the frame-images4a,4b,4cmay be identical.

FIG. 8illustrates an exemplary set of multi-dimensional parameters108embodied in XML format that handles special tags (e.g., definitions)150,152,154,156dedicated to multi-dimensional documents16. The example tags150,152,154,156may differ from embodiment to embodiment. In alternate embodiments, other suitable mechanisms for conveying parameter information may be used instead of an XML document. In the exemplary embodiment, multi-dimensional parameter XML document108encodes the document body150by defining at least one multi-dimension area tag152containing a plurality of dimension tags154. The multi-dimension area tag152of the XML document108corresponds to a multi-dimension area64of the static content document104(FIGS. 3 and 4). Each dimension definition154within the multi-dimension area152of the XML document may include information related to the size158and location160of the document's multi-dimension area64, as well as a label162and identification number164for the particular dimension152. The size of the multi-dimensional area64may be defined within the multi-dimension parameters108or may be automatically computed by the rendering module116. In the exemplary embodiment, the dimension identification number164is included and serves as a unique identifier for the respective dimension106a,b,c. The dimension label162is optional, but assists in identifying the nature of the content represented by the dimension. The content node156within each dimension of the XML document108defines elements to be displayed within the multi-dimension area64for a particular custom view. The elements may include any object that may be visually displayed within a document, such as images and/or text. In the exemplary embodiment, if no content is defined for a given dimension, then the area64within the static content document104will appear empty for that particular custom view4a.

At S400, the document processing system14outputs the n frame-images4a, b, c,etc. to the display device12. As previously noted, the multi-dimensional frames2may be multiplexed into a conventional television or display signal (such as an HDTV broadcast signal) by inserting each frame-image4a,b,cinto the signal individually at predefined intervals. The multiplexed signal may then be rendered on a conventional display device in the same way as any other 2D or 3D programming. Alternatively, the output device122may transmit a multi-dimensional frame2comprising each of the n-dimensions to the multi-dimensional display device12as a discrete data unit. In this case, the display device repeats each frame-image4in sequence at a predetermined frequency until a new multi-dimensional frame2is received from the system14.

At S500, the display device12renders each of the n frame-images4a,b,cat a specified frequency and is synchronized with one or more viewing devices32,38, etc. worn by respective users30,36, etc. The synchronization of the display rendering of the n frame-images4with each viewing device32,38(by signaling device46and respective receivers34,40) allows each user30,36wearing a viewing device32,38to view exactly one of the n dimensions4a,4b(i.e., custom views) on the display device12. Each user30,36may be asked to set the receiver34,40on his device to the correct time delay t for his visual content or may receive a pair of shutter glasses32,38which are preset to the appropriate time delay.

With reference once more toFIG. 2, the interaction between the rendering system14, multi-dimensional display device12and viewing devices32,38may proceed as follows. The rendering system14generates multi-dimensional frames containing n frame-images and sends them to the display device12. Concurrently, one or more users30,36wear a respective viewing device32,38synchronized with the frequency of one of the n frame-images rendered by the display device12. In the case of shutter glasses, the synchronization causes the viewing device32to render both lenses transparent to the visual content at the same time that the corresponding frame-image4ais rendered on the display device124such that the user30sees only a single custom view4a. When the display device12is rendering other frame-images4b,4c, the viewing device32darkens both lenses or otherwise renders them opaque to the visual content so that the user30cannot see frame-images4b,4crelated to other custom views.

In one aspect of the exemplary embodiment, users30,32are allowed to select which customized view the viewing device should be tuned to via a selectable switch180on the receiver34or with a remotely controlled device. For example, with respect toFIGS. 3 and 4, an employee that works for multiple departments of a company may switch between viewing the product division financial report4aand services division financial report4b. If a particular part of a document is displayed such that all custom views are the same, then a signal may be sent to the receivers34,40of the viewing devices32,34to temporarily turn off filtering. This will reduce any eye strain on the users. Additionally, it is contemplated that a customized audio program may be played for each user depending on which custom view time delay the viewing device is tuned. The audio program may be provided by a separate audio device or an audio device integrated into the viewing device.

The method ends at S600.

The exemplary system and method have various applications. For example, consider a multimedia presentation for security officials having differing security clearances wherein only one display device is available. With current technology, the multimedia presentation (such as a slide presentation) may include only information suitable for the lowest security clearance in the room so that persons do not acquire unauthorized information. However, in order to maximize efficiency, it may be beneficial to present multimedia content to each security official that is tailored to their respective security clearance. The present system allows each official to receive only the appropriate content.

Another example is in the case of a presentation to an audience of diverse languages. The present system avoids the need for a translator or for providing multilingual content to all viewers. Each viewer can view visual content in which the text (variable content) is in the appropriate language.

Another example may be when presenting content to a heterogeneous audience where viewers have different levels of background knowledge or interest in the topic. Conventionally, it is often difficult to adjust the content to capture the attention of everyone. If too many details are provided, some of the viewers will lose their focus. Similarly, if too few details are provided, experts on the topic may question the validity of the presentation because of its lack of explanation or details. The exemplary system and method allow customized views of the content to multiple persons on a single display device which are tailored to the respective needs, interests, and/or permission levels of members of the same audience.