Patent ID: 8640182

Claim:
A media processor, comprising: a memory to store computer instructions; and a controller coupled with the memory, wherein the controller, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising: detecting a first viewing apparatus and a second viewing apparatus according to signals transmitted to the media processor; responsive to the detecting, retrieving identifiers for the first viewing apparatus and the second viewing apparatus respectively; performing a validation process for the first viewing apparatus and the second viewing apparatus by comparing the identifiers with a database of known identifiers stored in the media processor; responsive to validating the identifiers, determining whether a transition to a media presentation scheme including a time division multiplexing scheme or a space division multiplexing scheme is required, in accordance with determining a previous configuration of the media processor and in accordance with the media presentation scheme being compatible with the first viewing apparatus and the second viewing apparatus, wherein the media presentation scheme comprises presenting multiple instances of media content with overlapping presentation schedules simultaneously; responsive to determining that the transition is required, providing a message indicating a required use of one of the first viewing apparatus or the second viewing apparatus to continue viewing the media content; causing a presentation device to present a three dimensional media program in the time division multiplexing scheme or the space division multiplexing scheme, wherein the time division multiplexing scheme presents images of the three dimensional media program in a first periodic time slot of a group of periodic time slots, wherein the space division multiplexing scheme presents left eye images and right eye images in alternating pixel rows or columns, wherein the first viewing apparatus is configured to the time division and space division multiplexing schemes by being synchronized to the first periodic time slot and having left and right lenses that are respectively polarized to the alternating pixel rows or columns to enable viewing of the three dimensional media program, and wherein the first viewing apparatus comprises a device to control media program selection or to control light intensity produced by the presentation device; and causing the presentation device to present another media program that overlaps in time with the presentation of the three dimensional media program by presenting other images of the other media program in a second periodic time slot of the group of periodic time slots, wherein the other media program is viewable by the second viewing apparatus that has shuttered lenses that are synchronized to the second periodic time slot.