Abstract:
There is provided a system and method for adjusting television settings based on a detected or input mounting scheme of the television. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method, comprising determining an active mounting scheme for a television, employing a first group of settings if the active mounting scheme for the television corresponds to a first mounting scheme, and employing a second group of settings if the active mounting scheme for the television corresponds to a second mounting scheme.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a system and method for adjusting television settings and, more specifically, to determining a certain characteristics relating to the environment of the television and adjusting television settings accordingly. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of embodiments of the present invention that are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
         [0003]    A television (i.e., TV) may be described as a telecommunication system for displaying moving pictures and transmitting sound based on program data received from a provider. Watching television is currently very popular, and the television has become a common household and business communications device. Indeed, televisions are frequently used is businesses (e.g., sports bars) and homes. As televisions are now available in relatively thin packages, televisions may be positioned in a greater number of locations and orientations than in the past. For example, a television may be positioned on a stand in the middle of a room, set atop a pedestal, positioned within a cabinet, or mounted on a wall to facilitate viewing. Different viewing settings may produce better viewing results, depending on the location and orientation of a particular television. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Advantages of embodiments of the present invention may become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a process flow diagram representing a process for television setting adjustment in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0007]    One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device  100 , which comprises a television in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , is generally indicated by reference numeral  100 . The television  100  comprises a receptor  102  (e.g., a cable inlet or an antenna), a tuner  104 , a processor  106 , a memory  108 , a display  110 , a controller  112  (e.g., remote control), and a mounting scheme detector  114 . In some exemplary embodiments, the television  100  may be a flat panel television, so named because the display  110  is a flat panel display. A flat panel television may be positioned in a wide range of locations and orientations. For example, a flat panel television may be mounted in a cabinet in a user&#39;s living room or mounted on a wall in a business, to name just two examples. 
         [0009]    The memory  108  of the electronic device  100  may be adapted to hold machine-readable computer code that causes the processor  106  to perform an exemplary method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the memory  108  may store machine-readable computer code that instructs the processor  106  to change certain settings of the television  100  based on input received via the mounting scheme detector  114 . In one exemplary embodiment, the mounting scheme detector  114  comprises a sensor that is configured to detect a mounting scheme of the electronic device. In another embodiment, the mounting scheme detector  114  may simply represent an input mechanism, such as a button on the controller  112 . The processor  106  or the memory  108  may include a settings module configured to employ a first group of settings if the active mounting scheme for the television corresponds to a first mounting scheme and employ a second group of settings if the active mounting scheme for the television corresponds to a second mounting scheme. 
         [0010]    Traditionally, televisions are manufactured such that some settings are modifiable by a user and some settings are not modifiable by the user. For example, audio settings such as bass and treble values, equalizer settings, and so forth may be set in the television&#39;s software such that they are only slightly modifiable by a user while a volume taper setting may be set such that it is not modifiable by the user. Indeed, traditional televisions generally have predefined audio settings for volume taper, audio equalizer presets (e.g., presets for standard use, gaming, movies, voice, and music), volume ratios for integrated directional speakers, surround sound proportions, and so forth that are not adjustable by the user. 
         [0011]    It is now recognized that it may be desirable to change certain display and/or audio settings for a television based on the arrangement of the television with respect to its surroundings. The predefined television settings discussed above may not take into account the mounting scheme of the television. Depending on the mounting scheme, different settings may be desirable. Indeed, the same settings for a television mounted on a wall may have a different result when the television is mounted on a stand. For example, because the speakers may be directly adjacent the wall when the television is wall mounted, echo effects and so forth may make different audio settings desirable compared to when the television is mounted on a stand away from any walls. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may include a feature that facilitates adjustment of the settings based on the mounting scheme of the television  100 . It should be noted that wall mounting may include positioning the television directly adjacent a solid structure (e.g., a wall of a room or a wall of a cabinet). 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a process flow diagram representing a process for television setting adjustment in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The process is generally indicated by reference numeral  200 . The illustrated embodiment of the process  200  begins with booting the television  100  or changing a setting (e.g., changing a mounting scheme), as represented by block  202 . Once the television  100  is booted or the setting is changed, a determination is made as to whether the television  100  is mounted on a wall or on a stand, as illustrated by block  204 . Detecting the mounting scheme may include input from a user-menu option or may include input from a sensor. In one embodiment, the mounting scheme detector  114  may include a control feature that a user may simply select or activate to indicate that the television  100  is mounted on a wall. In another embodiment, the mounting scheme detector  114  may include a sensor that dynamically detects an indicator of whether the television is mounted on a wall. For example, the sensor may detect a mounting bracket via a mechanical switch, an electrical connection, or the like to determine the mounting scheme of the television  100 . In another example, the sensor may detect a distance of the television  100  from a structure. 
         [0013]    If a determination is made that the television is mounted on a wall, corresponding settings for a wall mount scheme are implemented, as illustrated in block  206 . If a determination is made that the television is not mounted on a wall, corresponding settings for a stand mount scheme are implemented, as illustrated in block  208 . Block  210  represents operation of the television  100  with the applied settings. 
         [0014]    Regarding the change in settings based on the detected mounting scheme, various different settings may be changed in accordance with present embodiments. For example, audio settings may be changed and other settings may be changed to be in a range more suitable for the detected settings. Additionally, the availability of certain options may be contingent upon which mounting scheme is detected. By allowing such settings and options to be adjusted and/or optionally provided, a user is enabled to change the mounting scheme of the television and have properly adjusted settings rather than being limited by the preprogrammed settings. 
         [0015]    While embodiments of the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments of the invention are to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.