INCORPORATING EXTERNAL GUESTS INTO A VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT

Number: 20180285050
Published: 2018-10-04
Filed: 2017-03-29
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: McNabb; Michael
CPC: A63F13/211; H04L65/1069; A63F13/212; A63F13/53; A63F13/42; A63F13/25; A63F13/5255; G06F3/1454; A63F13/35
Verdict: Medium Notable software
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

VR guest-incorporation interactive experience.

Abstract

A technique for modifying a virtual reality (VR) environment via a first computing device includes establishing a network connection with a VR application that is executing on a second computing device and generating the VR environment, receiving metadata associated with the VR environment from the second computing device via the network connection, receiving at least one user input VIA the first computing device, and, based on the metadata and on the at least one user input, transmitting data to the VR application via the network connection to modify the VR environment being generated by the VR application.

Background

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

The present disclosure relates generally to virtual reality systems and, more specifically, to incorporating external guests into a virtual reality environment.Description of the Related Art

Room-scale virtual reality (VR), in which a user or “guest” can physically move within and interact with a virtual environment, is a very powerful and valuable addition to storytelling technology. Because room-scale VR allows a guest to walk around a physical play area, where the physical motions of the guest within the play area are reflected in the virtual environment, room-scale VR can provide a more compelling VR experience that is less dependent on being able to render high-quality visual and audio content. In particular, with a greater level of interaction available to a guest in room-scale VR, minor deficiencies in the presentation of video or audio content are less likely to detract from the immersive aspects of the room-scale VR experience, wherein a guest perceives that he or she is actually physically present in the virtual environment.

Generally speaking, room-scale VR has implementation requirements beyond the requirement that each guest participating in a given room-scale VR experience have a conventional VR headset. For example, 360 degree position-tracking equipment, such as one or more infrared sensors, and a physical play area are typically necessary to generate a robust room-scale VR environment. Furthe

Claims

1. A method for modifying a virtual reality (VR) environment via a first computing device, the method comprising: establishing a network connection with a VR application that is executing on a second computing device and generating the VR environment; receiving metadata associated with the VR environment from the second computing device via the network connection; receiving at least one user input via the first computing device; and based on the metadata and on the at least one user input, transmitting data to the VR application via the network connection to modify the VR environment being generated by the VR application. 9. A method for modifying a virtual reality (VR) environment being generated via a local computing device, the method comprising: establishing a network connection with a remote computing device; transmitting via the network connection metadata associated with the VR environment, wherein the VR environment is being generated by a VR application executing on the local computing device; receiving via the network connection data associated with at least one user input received from a user of a the remote computing device; and modifying the VR environment based on the data. 14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor of a first computing device to perform the steps of: establishing a network connection with a VR application that is executing on a second computing device and generating a VR environment; receiving metadata associated with the VR environment from the second computing device via the network connection; receiving at least one user input via the first computing device; and based on the metadata and on the at least one user input, transmitting data to the VR application via the network connection to modify the VR environment being generated by the VR application.