Intelligent privacy system, apparatus, and method thereof

A directional display apparatus having a privacy control function, the apparatus comprising:

• a directional display device that is capable of directing a displayed image into a viewing window that is adjustable;
• and
• a control system for controlling the directional display device, wherein the control system is arranged to detect the presence of one or more secondary viewers in addition to a primary viewer, and, in the event of detecting the presence of the one or more secondary viewers, to decide whether the one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image;
• and
• the control system is arranged to control the directional display device to direct a displayed image into a viewing window that is adjusted in dependence on detection of the presence of the one or more secondary viewers,
• wherein the control system is arranged to decide whether the one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image by deriving information about the location of the display device, determining location-specific viewer permission information of the one or more secondary viewers, and deciding whether the one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image based at least in part on the determined location information of the display device and the location-specific viewer permission information of the one or more secondary viewers.

A method of controlling a directional display device that is capable of directing a displayed image into a viewing window that is adjustable, the method comprising:

• directing a displayed image into a viewing window;
• detecting the presence of one or more secondary viewers in addition to a primary viewer;
• in the event of detecting the presence of the one or more secondary viewers, deciding whether the one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image;
• and
• adjusting the viewing window in response to detecting the presence of one or more secondary viewers and deciding that the one or more secondary viewers is not permitted to view the displayed image;
• and
• wherein deciding whether the one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image comprises:
• determining information about the location of the display device,
• capturing a viewing region image, the determined information of the display device being derived from the viewing region image, and
• deciding whether the one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image based at least in part on the determined location information of the display device.

A directional display apparatus comprising:

• a directional display device that is capable of directing a displayed image into a viewing window that is adjustable;
• and
• a control system, wherein
• the control system is arranged to control the directional display device to direct a displayed image into a viewing window, and
• the control system is arranged to:
• detect the presence of one or more secondary viewers in addition to a primary viewer,
• in the event of detecting the presence of the one or more secondary viewers, decide whether one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image, and
• adjust the viewing window in response to detecting the presence of one or more secondary viewers and deciding that the one or more secondary viewers is not permitted to view the displayed image,
• wherein deciding of whether the one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image comprises:
• determining information about the location of the directional display device,
• capturing a viewing region image, the determined information of the display device being derived from the viewing region image, and
• deciding whether the one or more secondary viewers is permitted to view the displayed image based at least in part on the determined location information of the display device.