Patent Publication Number: US-2022239970-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for presentation of holographic content

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/850,614, filed Apr. 16, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/108,723, filed Aug. 22, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,659,831, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/606,699, filed Sep. 7, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,080,049. The contents of the foregoing are hereby incorporated by reference into this application as if set forth herein in full. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject disclosure relates generally to holographic images and more specifically to an apparatus and method for presentation of holographic content. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Media content is typically experienced by consumers via devices such as computers, televisions, radios, and mobile electronics. Media content is frequently delivered by service providers, who send the content, such as television, radio, and video programming, to consumers for enjoyment at their physical locations. Modern communication networks benefit from interconnectivity between consumers and various communication devices. Consumers typically experience media content via a display or presentation device. As network capabilities expand, these interconnections provide new opportunities to enhance the ability for consumers to enjoy media content by experiencing a variety of content over multiple devices. Holography offers consumers a new means of enjoying content. The delivery of holographic images and video to consumers presents service providers and other media participants with a means of capturing new consumers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIGS. 1-2  depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems that provide holographic content to media devices; 
         FIG. 3  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal for interacting with the communication systems of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device utilized in the communication systems of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system for providing holographic content at media devices; 
         FIG. 6  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating in portions of the systems described in  FIGS. 1-5  for providing holographic content at media devices; and 
         FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrative embodiments of an apparatus and method for presentation of holographic video content, where holographic video data can be received from a service provider and presented at a display device, such as a television, according to a descriptor file. The presentation of the holographic video data can be enabled or disabled according to notifications sent by the service provider. 
     In one or more embodiments, the holographic content can be limited in size to a particular portion of the display screen. The size limitations can be based on a number of factors, including the capabilities of the user equipment, bandwidth limits associated with the user&#39;s local network, and so forth. In one embodiment, digital holographic interference data can be subjected to a digital Fourier transformation that generates a wave front representing the holographic image of a target object. This reconstructed wave front can be encoded into a stream of video data representing the holographic image. Other embodiments are included in the subject disclosure. 
     One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a memory storing computer instructions and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor can perform operations responsive to executing the computer instructions including receiving holographic video data from the service provider network. The holographic video data can encode holographic wave front images that can be generated by reconstructing holographic interference patterns associated with one or more target objects. The processor can also perform operations for receiving a descriptor file associated with holographic video data from the service provider network and for determining presentation characteristics from the received descriptor file. The processor can further perform operations for decoding the holographic video data according to the determined presentation characteristics to generate holographic video content. The processor can perform operations for receiving a first notification from the service provider network to enable holography display and, in turn, for presenting the holographic video content at a portion of the display device responsive to receiving the first notification. 
     One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer instructions, which, responsive to being executed by at least one processor, can cause the at least one processor to perform operations including receiving holographic video data from a service provider network. The holographic video data can include encoded holographic wave front images that can be generated by reconstructing holographic interference patterns associated with one or more target objects. The computer instruction can further include receiving a descriptor file associated with holographic video data from the service provider network. The computer instructions can, in turn, determine presentation characteristics from the received descriptor file. The computer instructions can include decoding the holographic video data according to the determined presentation characteristics to generated holographic video content and presenting the holographic video content at a portion of a display device. 
     One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a method including receiving, by a system comprising a processor, holographic video data and a descriptor file associated with the holographic video data from a service provider network. The holographic video data can include holographic wave front images that can be generated by reconstructing holographic interference patterns associated with one or more target objects. The method can include determining, by the system, presentation characteristics from the received descriptor file and presenting, by the system, holographic video content decoded from the holographic video data, at a portion of a display device. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communication system  100  for delivering media content. The system  100  can allow for delivery of media content, such as a streaming video application service including Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) or Video-on-Demand (VoD). As will be described in more detail below, the system  100  further can allow for delivery of holographic content data to consumer devices, such as media processor devices  106  and mobile communication devices  116 . The system  100  can further provide computational services to prepare raw holographic content information for use by consumer devices, thereby reducing computational requirements at the consumer devices. In one embodiment, system  100  can enable and/or disable presentation of the holographic content at the consumer devices and/or can adapt or otherwise adjust the presentation of the holographic content to account for characteristics of the media device  108  or other display system. In another embodiment, the holographic content can be associated with the video content being presented at the display device, such as providing a holographic image of a diamond ring when the video content is related to a couple that has become engaged. In this example, the holographic content can be an enlarged image of the diamond ring being worn in the video content. 
     The system  100  can include a super head-end office (SHO)  110  with at least one super head-end office server (SHS)  111  which receives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In the present context, media content can represent, for example, audio content, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual reality content, still image content, holographic content, and combinations thereof. The SHS server  111  can forward packets associated with the media content to one or more video head-end servers (VHS)  114  via a network of video head-end offices (VHO)  112  according to a multicast communication protocol or according to a unicast protocol. 
     The VHS  114  can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an access network  118  to commercial and/or residential buildings  102  housing a gateway  104  (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The access network  118  can represent a group of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service area interface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links or copper twisted pairs  119  to buildings  102 . The exemplary embodiments can utilize other components or network elements in the access network  118 , such as routers and switches, to facilitate the delivery of services to end-user equipment. The gateway  104  can use communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to media processors  106  such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which, in turn, presents broadcast channels to media devices  108  such as computers or television sets managed in some instances by a media controller  107  (such as an infrared or RF remote controller). 
     The gateway  104 , the media processors  106 , and/or media devices  108  can utilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, power line or phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocol such as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other present or next generation local or personal area wireless network technologies. By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invoked between the media processors  106  and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronic programming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services. 
     A satellite broadcast television system  129  can be used in the media system of  FIG. 1 . The satellite broadcast television system can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system  100 . In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite  115  that include media content can be received by a satellite dish receiver  131  coupled to the building  102 . Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver  131  can be transferred to the media processors  106  for demodulating, decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the media devices  108 . The media processors  106  can be equipped with a broadband port to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  132  to enable interactive services such as VoD and EPG as described above. 
     In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcast distribution system such as cable TV system  133  can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satellite TV system as another representative embodiment of communication system  100 . In this embodiment, the cable TV system  133  can also provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services. The exemplary embodiments can utilize or otherwise include components and/or techniques for other over-the-air and/or landline media content services system. 
     Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices  130 , a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing web portal services over the ISP network  132  to wire line media devices  108  or wireless communication devices  116 . 
     Communication system  100  can also provide for all or a portion of the computing devices  130  to perform functions for providing holographic content over the communication system  100 . The computing devices, hereafter referred to as media servers  130 , can use computing and communication technology to perform function  162 , which can include, among other things, receiving holographic content from, for example, a super head end office server  111  of the super head office  110  and delivering this holographic content to consumer devices over the communication system  100 . The media servers  130  can distribute holographic content to consumer devices, such as media processor device  106  at consumer premises and/or mobile communication devices  116 , such as by way of the access network  118 . 
     The holographic content can include still images or video images of one or more target objects that have been subjected to holographic imaging. For example, holographic imaging can be performed by splitting a laser beam into an object beam and a reference beam. One or more target objects can be exposed to the object beam. Light from the object beam can be reflected, or scattered, as it interacts with the target object. This scattered light can be collected with a mirror system and then superimposed with the reference beam. The combination of the reference beam and the scattered light can form interference patterns, which can be captured by means of a photographic plate, film, or a camera sensor. In one embodiment, the interference patterns are captured by a charged coupled device (CCD) sensor array of a digital camera  198 . A single captured interference pattern can create a single, raw holographic image of the target. A series of captured interference patterns can be used to reconstruct a three-dimensional holographic video image of the target. 
     The raw holographic interference patterns may not be meaningful to the human eye but can be used to reconstruct a three-dimensional holographic image of the original target. To reconstruct the holograph, a copy of the reference light can be diffracted onto the captured interference patterns. If the captured interference patterns are stored on a photographic plate, then the diffraction can be accomplished by physical interaction of the reference light with the plate. However, where the captured interference patterns are stored as digital data, such as would be the case for a CCD camera, the diffraction step can be simulated through the use of matrix computations performed on the digital interference pattern data. In one embodiment, the digital holographic interference data is subjected to a digital Fourier transformation that generates a wave front representing the holographic image of the target object. The reconstructed wave front can then be encoded into a stream of video data representing the holographic image, where this stream can then be sent to a user device. 
     The holographic content that is received at the media servers  130  can be in the form of a collection of raw, holographic interference patterns that have been captured from a holographic imaging process or can be in the form of a reconstructed hologram. In the first case, the media servers  130  can perform computational analysis on received, raw holographic data to reconstruct holographic wave front images for viewing at the consumer devices. In one embodiment, the media servers  130  can perform Fourier transformations on this raw holographic data. By performing the holographic reconstruction computations at the media servers  130 , or upon other computer devices designated by the media servers  130 , rather than at the user device, computational requirements for consumer devices can be reduced. In the second case, the media servers  130  can receive the holographic content in a reconstructed form and/or can maintain a database of reconstructed holographic video data for subsequent access. In yet another embodiment, the holographic content can be in the form of a computer generated hologram that is based on one or more virtual target objects. 
     The media servers  130  can deliver the holographic content to consumer devices. In one embodiment, the media servers  130  can deliver the holographic content upon a request from a consumer device. For example, a media processor device  106  can enter a mode for searching out holographic content available at the system  100 . The media processor device  106  can send a request to a media server  130  for holographic content that is generally available and/or available according to a subscription plan. The media server  130  can respond with a listing of available holographic content, which can be selected at the media processor device  106 . In another embodiment, the media server  130  can select and offer a particular specimen or video of holographic content to the media processor device  106 . In one embodiment, a media server  130  can automatically provide holographic content to a consumer device and allow the consumer device to decide, with or without user intervention, whether to present the holographic content. 
     In one embodiment, the media server  130  can control presentation of holographic content that is sent to the consumer devices. In one embodiment, presentation of the holographic content is made conditional upon the reception, at the consumer device, of a notification that enables the presentation. For example, a holographic image can be sent from a media server  130  to a mobile communication device  116  for presentation at a display of the device  116 . However, the mobile communication device  116  can be required to wait for a notification from the media server  130 , or another system device designated by the media server  130 , before being permitted to present the holographic image. In another embodiment, the presentation of the holographic image can be disabled at the consumer device by a notification. In one embodiment, the notification can be a cue tone that is sent to the consumer device over a media channel. In other embodiments, the notification can be a message, a key, and/or the holographic data itself. 
     In one embodiment, the media server  130  can transmit the holographic content data over a media programming channel, such as a television channel, a data stream channel, an Internet Protocol television channel, or website. In one or more embodiments, the holographic content can accompany non-holographic media content on a common channel. For example, a broadcast of the ESPN™ sports channel can include both programming content and content necessary to support a holographic display. In this example, the holographic display can be a holographic image of the ESPN™ logo. In one embodiment, the programming and holographic content can be included in a common data stream with the sports programming. In another embodiment, the holographic content can be sent in a separate data stream or can be sent in a data file whose transmission is separated in time from a data stream carrying the sports programming content. In another embodiment, the holographic content can be sent as a series of blocks or portions that carry a single holographic image. The consumer device can collect the portions and then recreate the single holographic image by concatenating the images during encoding. 
     In one embodiment, the media server  130  can transmit the holographic content on a media channel that is separate from the programming content channel. For example, the ESPN™ logo holographic display data can be transmitted on a channel that is dedicated to the transmission of holographic content data. In one embodiment, all of the available holographic content for the system  100  can be periodically broadcast over a holographic channel so that consumer devices could access particular holographic content data sets as a background task, such as when the consumer device is not in use. In another embodiment, the holographic content for a particular programming network, or a group of networks, can be combined and made available on a holographic content channel. 
     In another embodiment, the media server  130  can deliver a descriptor file for the holographic content data. The descriptor file can provide information to assist the consumer device in decoding and presenting the holographic image from the received holographic content data. For example, the descriptor file can include information on data compression, minimum display requirements, whether the holographic image is enabled or disabled via a cue tone, size of image, and/or periodic time of image. 
     In addition to holographic images and video, the communication system  100  can offer multiple forms of other media services to media devices by way, for example, wireless access base stations  117 . These wireless access base stations  117  can operate according to common wireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal Mobile Telecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave or WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and so on. Other present and next generation wide area wireless access network technologies can by supported by the system  100 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system  200  employing Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture to facilitate combining the services of circuit-switched systems and packet-switched systems. The system  200  can allows a media server  130  to provide holographic content data to a mobile communication device  205  over the IMS network in general and a cellular network  221  in particular. The system  200  further can be used by the media server  130  to control presentation of delivered holographic content by enabling or disabling content presentation at mobile communication devices  205 . Alternatively, a mobile communication device  205  can request holographic content through the IMS network  250 . 
     In one embodiment, the communication system  200  can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)  240 , a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server  230 , and other network elements of an IMS network  250 . The IMS network  250  can establish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices (CDs)  201 ,  202 , Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs  203 ,  205 , and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)  220  coupled to a PSTN network  260 . The MGCF  220  need not be used when a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. A communication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize the MGCF  220 . 
     IMS CDs  201 ,  202  can register with the IMS network  250  by contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS  240 . To initiate a communication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD  201  can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF  204  which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF  206 . The originating S-CSCF  206  can submit the SIP INVITE message to one or more application servers (ASs)  217  that can provide a variety of services to IMS subscribers. 
     For example, the application servers  217  can be used to perform originating call feature treatment functions on the calling party number received by the originating S-CSCF  206  in the SIP INVITE message. Originating treatment functions can include determining whether the calling party number has international calling services, call ID blocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requesting special telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initial filter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various call originating feature services. 
     Additionally, the originating S-CSCF  206  can submit queries to the ENUM system  230  to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITE message to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminating communication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)  207  to submit a query to the HSS  240  to identify a terminating S-CSCF  214  associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference  202 . Once identified, the I-CSCF  207  can submit the SIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF  214 . The terminating S-CSCF  214  can then identify a terminating P-CSCF  216  associated with the terminating CD  202 . The P-CSCF  216  may then signal the CD  202  to establish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services, thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile, one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various call terminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb, music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc. 
     In some instances the aforementioned communication process is symmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” in  FIG. 2  may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communication system  200  can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition, communication system  200  can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs  201 ,  202  with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
     If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD  203  or CD  205  (in instances where the cellular phone only supports circuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system  230  can respond with an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF  206  to forward the call to the MGCF  220  via a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF)  219 . The MGCF  220  can then initiate the call to the terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network  260  to enable the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications. 
     It is further appreciated that the CDs of  FIG. 2  can operate as wire line or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of  FIG. 2  can be communicatively coupled to a cellular base station  221 , a femtocell, a WiFi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) base unit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establish communications with the IMS network  250  of  FIG. 2 . The cellular access base station  221  can operate according to common wireless access protocols such as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on. Other wireless network technologies can be supported by the communication system  200 . Accordingly, multiple wire line and wireless communication technologies are supported for the CDs of  FIG. 2 . 
     Cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communications and thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular base station  221  may communicate directly with the IMS network  250  as shown by the arrow connecting the cellular base station  221  and the P-CSCF  216 . 
     It is further understood that alternative forms of a CSCF can operate in a device, system, component, or other form of centralized or distributed hardware and/or software. Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as a respective CSCF system having one or more computers or servers, either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may be configured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionality described herein in accordance with a respective CSCF. Likewise, other functions, servers and computers described herein, including but not limited to, the HSS, the ENUM server, the BGCF, and the MGCF, can be embodied in a respective system having one or more computers or servers, either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may be configured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionality described herein in accordance with a respective function, server, or computer. 
     The media server  130  of  FIG. 1  can be operably coupled to the second communication system  200  for purposes similar to those described above. The media server  130  can perform function  162  and thereby provide holographic content to the CDs  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  205  of  FIG. 2 . CDs  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  205 , which can be adapted with software to perform function  172  to utilize the holographic content of the media server  130 . The media server  130  can be an integral part of the application server(s)  217  performing function  174 , which can be substantially similar to function  162  and adapted to the operations of the IMS network  250 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal  302  which can be hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices  130  of the communication system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The portal system  300  allows for interaction with communication systems, such as those systems  100 .  200  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Such controlled interaction can include receiving requests from a mobile device over a cellular network for delivery of holographic data. For example, a subscriber of a mobile communication device  116  or of a media processor device  106  can log onto a web portal  302 , view listings and/or examples of available holographic content, and request holographic content. As described herein, the systems  100 ,  200  allow for a media server  130  to deliver holographic content data to a consumer device and to control the presentation of the holographic content at the device by enabling or disabling the presentation. The portal  302  can be also be used, for example, to control parameters related to implementation of such features. Such parameters can include user preferences, such as restrictions on offloading, registration of wireless access points, preferences for determining a location of the mobile device, and the like. 
     The web portal  302  can be used for managing services of communication systems  100 - 200 . A web page of the web portal  302  can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser using an Internet-capable communication device such as those described in  FIGS. 1-2 . The web portal  302  can be configured, for example, to access a media processor  106  and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the media processor  106 . The web portal  302  can also be used for provisioning IMS services described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioning cellular phone services, and so on. 
     The web portal  302  can further be utilized to manage and provision software applications  162 - 166 , and  172 - 174 , such as transmitting and/or receiving streamed media content, and to adapt these applications as may be desired by subscribers and service providers of communication systems  100 - 200 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device  400 . Communication device  400  can serve in whole or in part as an illustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 . The communication device  400  can comprise a wire line and/or wireless transceiver  402  (herein transceiver  402 ), a user interface (UI)  404 , a power supply  414 , a location receiver  416 , a motion sensor  418 , an orientation sensor  420 , and a controller  406  for managing operations thereof. The transceiver  402  can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, DECT, or cellular communication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA- 1 X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communication technologies as they arise. The transceiver  402  can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wire line access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wire line access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof. 
     In at least some embodiments the display  410  can include three-dimensional capability with high-definition television pixel resolution. In one embodiment, the display  410  can predominately be a two-dimensional display but include an inset area capable of supporting the display of three-dimensional holographic content. For example, a 40-inch, two-dimensional capable display screen could include a 3-inch by 3-inch inset area for the display of the holographic content. Even though the embedded holographic image would be small when compared to the total display, the size of the holographic image would be substantial enough to be attractive to consumers. The holographic inset can be useful for the display of many types of holographic content, such as network logos, local station call letters, consumer products, and/or personal holographic images appearing on social network sites. 
     The UI  404  can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad  408  with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device  400 . The keypad  408  can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device  400  or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wire line interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad  408  can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTY keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI  404  can further include a display  410  such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to an end user of the communication device  400 . In an embodiment where the display  410  is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad  408  can be presented by way of the display  410  with navigation features. 
     The display  410  can use touch screen technology to also serve as a user interface for detecting user input (e.g., touch of a user&#39;s finger). As a touch screen display, the communication device  400  can be adapted to present a user interface with graphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger. The touch screen display  410  can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology to detect how much surface area of a user&#39;s finger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can be used control the manipulation of the GUI elements. 
     The UI  404  can also include an audio system  412  that utilizes common audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard only in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system  412  can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audio system  412  can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI  404  can further include an image sensor  413  such as a CCD camera for capturing still or moving images. 
     The power supply  414  can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device  400  to facilitate long-range or short-range portable applications. Alternatively, the charging system can utilize external power sources such as DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port. The location receiver  416  can utilize common location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device  400  based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites, thereby facilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor  418  can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing to detect motion of the communication device  400  in three-dimensional space. The orientation sensor  420  can utilize orientation sensing technology such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device  400  (North, South, West, East, combined orientations thereof in degrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics). 
     The communication device  400  can use the transceiver  402  to also determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless access points by common sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF). The controller  406  can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies. 
     Other components, not shown in  FIG. 4  can be included in the communication device  400 . For instance, the communication device  400  can include a reset button (not shown). The reset button can be used to reset the controller  406  of the communication device  400 . In yet another embodiment, the communication device  400  can also include a factory default setting button positioned below a small hole in a housing assembly of the communication device  400  to force the communication device  400  to re-establish factory settings. In this embodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen or paper clip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default setting button. 
     The communication device  400  as described herein can operate with more or less components described in  FIG. 4 . The communication device  400  can be adapted to perform the functions of the media processor  106 , the media devices  108 , or the portable communication devices  116  of  FIG. 1 , as well as the IMS CDs  201 - 202  and PSTN CDs  203 - 205  of  FIG. 2 . It will be appreciated that the communication device  400  can also represent other devices that can operate in communication systems  100 - 200  of  FIGS. 1-2  such as a gaming console and a media player. The communication device  400  shown in  FIG. 4  or portions thereof can serve as a representation of one or more of the devices of communication systems  100 - 200 . The controller  406  can be adapted in various embodiments to perform the functions  162 - 166  and  172 - 174 , such as transmitting and/or receiving streamed media content. 
       FIG. 5  depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system  500  for providing holographic content for presentation by one or more media devices. System  500  can be overlaid or operably coupled to communication systems  100 - 200  as another representative embodiment of communication systems  100 - 200 . System  500  can include a media server  130  in communication with a packet switched network, such as IMS network  250 . The media server  130  can be in communication with a media processor  106 , through a gateway device  104 . The media processor  106 , such as a set-top box, can further be in communication with a media device  108 . The media device  108  can be a television, a display panel, a computer device, a mobile communication device, a projection display devices, and/or a combination of such devices. The media server  130  can provide media content by way of media content streams to the media processor device  106 . 
     In one embodiment, the media server  130  can receive programming media content data  530  from a media content source  510  and holographic content data  540  from a hologram image/video source  520 . In another embodiment, the holographic content  540  can be included in the programming media content  530 . In one embodiment, the holographic content  540  can be received at the media server  130  as a collection of raw, holographic interference patterns that have been captured from a holographic imaging process. The media server  130  can then perform computational analysis on the raw holographic data to reconstruct holographic wave front images for viewing at the consumer devices. The reconstructed holographic content is herein called, simply holographic video data  540 A. In one embodiment, the media server  130  can perform Fourier transformations on the raw holographic data. By performing the holographic reconstruction computations at the media server  130 , or upon other computer devices (e.g., service provider equipment) designated by the media servers  130 , computational requirements for the consumer devices are reduced. In another embodiment, the media server  130  can receive the holographic content as holographic video data  540 A from the hologram source  520  or the media server  130  can maintain a database of holographic video data  540 A for subsequent access. 
     The media server  130  can deliver the media content data  530  and the holographic video data  540  to media processor device  106 . In one embodiment, the media server  130  can deliver the holographic video data  540  upon a request from a consumer device. For example, the media processor device  106  can enter a mode for searching out holographic content available on the system  500 . The media processor device  106  can send a request to a media server  130  for holographic content that is generally available and/or available according to a subscription plan. The media server  130  can respond with a listing of available holographic content, which can be selected at the media processor device  106 . In another embodiment, the media server  130  can select and offer a particular specimen or video of holographic video data  540  to the media processor device  106 . In one embodiment, a media server  130  can automatically provide holographic video data  540  to the media processor device  106  and allow the media processor device  106  to decide, with or without user intervention, whether to present the holographic video data  540 . 
     In one embodiment, the media server  130  can control presentation of holographic video data  540  that is sent to the media processor device  106 . In one embodiment, presentation of the holographic video data  540  can be made conditional upon the reception, at the media processor device  106 , of an enabling notification  544  that enables the presentation. For example, a holographic image can be sent from a media server  130  to the media processor device  106  for presentation at a media device  108  coupled to the media processor device  106 . In another embodiment, the media processor device  106  can be required to wait for the enabling notification  544  from the media server  130 , or another system device designated by the media server  130 , before presenting the holographic image. In another embodiment, the presentation of the holographic image can be disabled at the media processor device  106  by a disabling notification  548 . In one embodiment, the notifications  544  and  548  can be cue tones that are sent to the media processor device  106  over a media channel. 
     In one embodiment, the media server  130  can transmit the holographic video data  540 A over a media programming channel, such as a television channel or a data stream channel or an Internet Protocol television channel or website. In one or more embodiments, the holographic content can accompany the media content data  530  on a common channel. For example, a broadcast of a network channel can include both programming content, such as a football game  560 , and content necessary to support a holographic display, such as a holographic logo  570  for the programming network. In one embodiment, the programming media content data  530  and holographic video data  540 A can be included in the same data stream. In another embodiment, the holographic video data  540 A can be sent in a separate data stream or a data file that is separated in time from a data stream carrying the media content data  530 . In another embodiment, the holographic video data  540 A can be sent as a series of portions of a single holographic image. The media processor device  106  can collect the portions and then recreate the single holographic image. 
     In one embodiment, the media server  130  can transmit the holographic video data  540 A on a media channel that is separate from the programming content channel. For example, holographic video data  540 A for the network logo  570  could be transmitted on a channel that is dedicated to the transmission of holographic content. In one embodiment, all of the available holographic video data  540 A for the system  100  can be periodically broadcast over a holographic channel so that the media processor device  106  can access particular holographic content data  540 A as a background task, such as when the media processor device  106  is not in use. In another embodiment, the holographic video data  540 A for a particular programming network, or a group of networks, can be combined and made available on a holographic content channel, such as a dedicated channel. 
     In another embodiment, the media server  130  can deliver a descriptor file  544  for the holographic video data  540 A. The descriptor file  544  can provide information to the media processor device  106  information to allow the holographic display engine  564  of the media processor device  106  to decode the holographic video data  540 A and to present a holographic image from the decoded holographic data. For example, the descriptor file  544  can include information on data compression (e.g., MPEG), minimum display requirements, whether the holographic image is enabled or disabled via a cue tone, size of image, and/or a time period for any repeated motion for a holographic image. The media processor device  106  can decode the received holographic data using, for example, MPEG data compression, to generate a version of decoded holographic data. The media processor device  106  can store holographic videos/images at local hologram storage  568 . 
     In one embodiment, the size and location of the holographic display area  570  can be fixed for all viewers of the media device  108 . In one embodiment, the media device  108  can send display characteristic information to the media processor device  106 . The display characteristic information can include information on the size and pixel configuration of the holographic display area  570  of the media device  108 . For example, the display characteristic information can include a pixel density, a pixel aspect ratio, and/or a refresh speed of the holographic display area  570 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts an illustrative method  600  that operates in portions of the devices of  FIGS. 1-5 . Method  600  can begin with step  604  in the media processor device  106  can receive video content data  530  from a service provider network. In one embodiment, the media server  130  can transmit video content data  530  to the media processor device  106 . In step  608 , the media processor device  106  can decode the video content data  530  and can present the decoded data at the media device  108  in step  612 . 
     In step  616 , the media processor device can receive holographic video data  540 A from the media server  130 . In one embodiment, the media server  130  can deliver the holographic video data  540  upon a request from a media processor device  106 . For example, the media processor device  106  can search for holographic content available on the system  500  and/or send a request to a media server  130  for holographic content. The media server  130  can respond by listing available holographic content, which can be selected at the media processor device  106 . In another embodiment, the media server  130  can select and offer a particular specimen or video of holographic video data  540  to the media processor device  106 . In one embodiment, a media server  130  can automatically provide holographic video data  540  to the media processor device  106  and allow the media processor device  106  to decide, with or without user intervention, whether to present the holographic video data  540 . 
     In step  620 , the media processor device  106  can receive a descriptor file from the media server  130 . The descriptor file  544  can provide information to the media processor device  106  information to allow the holographic display engine  564  of the media processor device  106  to decode the holographic video data  540 A and to present a holographic image from the decoded holographic data  540 A. The descriptor file  544  can include information on data compression, minimum display requirements, enabling or disabling cues, size of image, and/or any time period for a repeated motion of a holographic image. In step  624 , the media processor device  106  can determine presentation characteristics from the descriptor file  544 . In step  628 , the media processor device  106  can determine if display characteristics are available from the media device  108 . In one embodiment, the media device  108  can periodically broadcast display characteristics associated with its holographic display area  570 . In another embodiment, the media device  108  can send its display characteristics upon request from the media processor device  106 . 
     In step  632 , if the display characteristics are available, then the media processor device  106  can modify the presentation characteristics according to the display characteristics. For example, the media processor device  106  can adjust the presentation characteristics in response to determining the pixel density of the display. In step  636 , where the media processor device  106  can decode the holographic video data  540 A according to the presentation characteristics to generate holographic video content  540 B. In one embodiment, the media processor device  106  decodes a data stream of the holographic image into a sequence of video signals. 
     In step  640 , the media processor device  106  can determine if the holographic video content is enabled for presentation at the media device  108 . If presentation is enabled in step  640 , then the media processor device  106  can present the holographic video content at a portion of the display of the media device  108 . For example, the holographic image can be presented at a high-definition, three-dimensional area  570  of the display  108 . In step  644 , the media processor device  106  can determine if a notification  648  to disable the presentation of the holographic image has been received. If the notification has been received, then presentation is disabled at step  652 . If the notification has not been received, then the media processor device  106  continues to present the holographic video content  540 B at the holographic display area  570 . In step  656 , the media processor device  106  can determine if a notification  644  to enable the presentation of the holographic image has been received. If so, then the media processor device  106  can enable presentation of the holographic image at  660 . 
     Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. For example, the media device  108  can be coupled to the media processor device  106  by a wireless communication link. In one embodiment, the reconstruction of the holographic video data  540 A can be performed at the media processor device  106 . In another embodiment, the reconstruction of the holographic video data  540 A can be partially performed at the media server  130  and partially performed at the media processor device  106 . In this example, the amount of reconstruction performed by one or the other device can be determined dynamically, such as based on determining available resources of the devices or determining the amount of data to be reconstructed. 
     In another embodiment, a set of user configurations can be stored for each user of the media processor device  106  and/or each user of a remote controller  107  associated with the media processor device  106 . In another embodiment, the holographic image can be computer-generated from a virtual image. 
     In one embodiment, the holographic image  570  that is presented at the media device  108  can be a three-dimensional control interface. For example, a three-dimensional button could be generated as a holographic image  570 . The button can be selected by a user of the media processor device  106  or by a user of a mobile communication device  116 . 
     In another embodiment, the holographic content can be an advertisement related to the video content being presented at the display device. For example, the video content can be depicting a couple walking and holding hands. The holographic content can be an advertisement for jewelry being worn in the video content. In one embodiment, the holographic advertisement content can be customized to the viewer via targeted marketing, such as selecting holographic advertisements based on preferences of a viewer, monitored behavior of the viewer, and so forth. 
       FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system  700  within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine can operate, for example, as the media server  130 , the media processor  106 , and/or the mobile communication device  516 , and/or other devices of  FIGS. 1-6 . In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. In one embodiment, a listing of available displays for selection at the media processor device  107  is generated based upon detection of displays in communication with the media processor device  107  or display activations. 
     The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a communication device of the subject disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. 
     The computer system  700  may include a processor  702  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory  704  and a static memory  706 , which communicate with each other via a bus  708 . The computer system  700  may further include a video display unit  710  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state display. The computer system  700  may include an input device  712  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  714  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  716 , a signal generation device  718  (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device  720 . 
     The disk drive unit  716  may include a tangible computer-readable storage medium  722  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  724 ) embodying any one or more of the methods or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions  724  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  704 , the static memory  706 , and/or within the processor  702  during execution thereof by the computer system  700 . The main memory  704  and the processor  702  also may constitute tangible computer-readable storage media. 
     Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein. 
     While the tangible computer-readable storage medium  622  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods of the subject disclosure. 
     The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored. 
     Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet transmission and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-time superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g., RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), and long-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) can be used by the computer system  700 . 
     The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, are contemplated by the subject disclosure. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.