Falling back from three-dimensional video

A personal communications device configured to fall back from receiving a 3D version of a media content item to a 2D version of the media content item, the personal communications device comprising:

• a communications interface;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to the communications interface and configured to:
• receive, via the communications interface from a 3D-media server, at least a portion of the 3D version of the media content item;
• identify a triggering condition in connection with the portion of the 3D version of the media content item;
• send, via the communications interface to the 3D-media server, in response to the triggering condition at a first point in the 3D version of the media content item, a fallback message requesting that at least a portion of the 2D version of the media content item be sent to the personal communications device instead of the 3D version, wherein the fallback message specifies a second point in the media content item at which the 2D version of the media content item is to be sent based on the first point in the 3D version of the media content item and contains information about the triggering condition, wherein the triggering condition is monitored by the 3D-media server based on the fallback message;
• receive, via the communications interface from a 2D-media server, at least a portion of the 2D version of the media content item.

A method for a 3D-media server to allow a personal communications device to fall back from receiving a 3D version of a media content item to a 2D version of the media content item, the method comprising:

• sending, by the 3D-media server to the personal communications device, at least a portion of the 3D version of the media content item;
• receiving, by the 3D-media server from the personal communications device, a fallback message comprising triggering condition information at a first point in the 3D version of the media content item requesting that at least a portion of the 2D version of the media content item be sent to the personal communications device instead of the 3D version, wherein the fallback message specifies a second point in the media content item at which the 2D version of the media content item is to be sent based on the first point in the 3D version of the media content item and contains information about the triggering condition, wherein the 3D version of the media content item is being presented by the personal communications device;
• initiating monitoring, by the 3D-media server, the triggering condition based on the fallback message;
• and
• sending, by the 3D-media server, an element selected from the group consisting of:
• at least a portion of the 2D version of the media content item to the personal communications device, a request to a 2D-media server that the 2D-media server send at least a portion of the 2D version of the media content item to the personal communications device, and a message to the personal communications device redirecting the personal communications device to a 2D-media server.

A 3D-media server configured to allow a personal communications device to fall back from receiving a 3D version of a media content item to a 2D version of the media content item, the 3D-media server comprising:

• a communications interface;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to the communications interface and configured for:
• sending, via the communications interface to the personal communications device, at least a portion of the 3D version of the media content item;
• receiving, via the communications interface from the personal communications device, a fallback message comprising triggering condition information associated with a local resource shortage at a first point in the 3D version of the media content item requesting that at least a portion of the 2D version of the media content item be sent to the personal communications device instead of the 3D version, wherein the fallback message specifies a second point in the media content item at which the 2D version of the media content item is to be sent based on the first point in the 3D version of the media content item and contains information about the triggering condition, wherein the 3D version of the media content item is being presented by the personal communications device;
• initiating monitoring, via the communications interface, the triggering condition based on the fallback message;
• and
• sending, via the communications interface, an element selected from the group consisting of:
• at least a portion of the 2D version of the media content item to the personal communications device, a request to a 2D-media server that the 2D-media server send at least a portion of the 2D version of the media content item to the personal communications device, and a message to the personal communications device redirecting the personal communications device to a 2D-media server.