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Archives · 2020 · 20200249765

Application (pre-grant publication)

FACILITATE USER MANIPULATION OF A VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT VIEW USING A COMPUTING DEVICE WITH A TOUCH SENSITIVE SURFACE

Number
20200249765
Published
2020-08-06
Filed
2020-04-17
Assignee
Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
Inventors
Johnston; Darby, Wakelin; Ian
CPC
G06T19/006; H04N13/398; H04N23/695; G06F3/04883; G06F3/017; G06F3/0482; H04N23/60; H04N23/631; H04N13/344; G06F3/011; H04N23/62
Verdict
Low Notable software
Source
Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Touch-surface VR environment view manipulation, novel interaction system (pre-grant).

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a view of a virtual reality (VR) environment via a computing device with a touch sensitive surface are disclosed. In some examples, a user may be enabled to augment the view of the VR environment by providing finger gestures to the touch sensitive surface. In one example, the user is enabled to call up a menu in the view of the VR environment. In one example, the user is enabled to switch the view of the VR environment displayed on a device associated with another user to a new location within the VR environment. In some examples, the user may be enabled to use the computing device to control a virtual camera within the VR environment and have various information regarding one or more aspects of the virtual camera displayed in the view of the VR environment presented to the user.

Background

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to facilitating a user to manipulate display of a view of a virtual reality environment. For example, techniques and systems can be provided for displaying a menu in a view of virtual reality or for switching a location of view for another user.BACKGROUND

Virtual Reality (VR) systems immerse a user in a three-dimensional virtual world. Typically, the user wears a head mounted device (HMD) that presents the user views of the three-dimensional world rendered by a computing device associated with the HMD, while blocking all other visual stimulation. Traditional VR systems typically track the user's head or, as the case may be, the user's viewpoint, so that the graphics of the three-dimensional world can be rendered from the user's viewpoint. When the user changes his or her position or moves his or her head, the view of the three-dimensional virtual world displayed on the HMD is changed accordingly. Currently, however, there is no effective way of allowing a user to navigate and move objects within the three-dimensional virtual world.BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to facilitating a user to manipulate a virtual reality (VR) environment displayed on a mobile device, such as a head mounted display (HMD). The user can be enabled to do so through a computing device associated with the user, wherein the computing device can include a touch sensitive surface capable of rece

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating a user to manipulate a view of a virtual environment, the method comprising: receiving, by a server, a sensor input indicating movement of a mobile display device associated with a user, the sensor input corresponding to a navigation command for controlling navigation within the virtual environment; determining, by the server, based on the sensor input, a first location within the virtual environment where a first view of a virtual reality environment is taken; rendering, by the server, one or more images representing the first view of the virtual environment; receiving a first user input over a network, by the server, from a portable device having a touch sensitive surface, the portable device being associated with the user, wherein the first user input is provided by the user to manipulate the first view of the virtual environment, and the first user input includes one or more finger gestures; mapping, by the server, the first user input to a first command for manipulating the first view of the virtual environment; based on the first view and the first command, determining, by the server, a second view of the virtual environment, wherein the second view is taken at a second location in the virtual environment, wherein the second location is distinct from the first location; and rendering, by the server, one or more images representing the second view of the virtual environment. 8. A server for facilitating a user to manipulate a view of virtual environment, the server comprising: one or more displays; one or more processors connected to the one or more displays, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive, by a server, a sensor input indicating movement of a mobile display device associated with a user, the sensor input corresponding to a navigation command for controlling navigation within the virtual environment; determine, by the server, based on the sensor input, a first location within the virtual environment where a first view of a virtual reality environment is taken; render, by the server, one or more images representing the first view of the virtual environment; receive a first user input over a network, by the server, from a portable device having a touch sensitive surface, the portable device being associated with the user, wherein the first user input is provided by the user to manipulate the first view of the virtual environment, and the first user input includes one or more finger gestures; map, by the server, the first user input to a first command for manipulating the first view of the virtual environment; based on the first view and the first command, determine, by the server, a second view of the virtual environment, wherein the second view is taken at a second location in the virtual environment, wherein the second location is distinct from the first location; and render, by the server, one or more images representing the second view of the virtual environment. 15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions executable by one or more processors of a computing device of a server, the plurality of instructions comprising: instructions that cause the one or more processors to receive a sensor input indicating movement of a mobile display device associated with a user, the sensor input corresponding to a navigation command for controlling navigation within a virtual environment; instructions that cause the one or more processors to determine based on the sensor input, a first location within the virtual environment where a first view of a virtual reality environment is taken; instructions that cause the one or more processors to render one or more images representing the first view of the virtual environment; instructions that cause the one or more processors to receive a first user input over a network from a portable device having a touch sensitive surface, the portable device being associated with the user, wherein the first user input is provided by the user to manipulate the first view of the virtual environment, and the first user input includes one or more finger gestures; instructions that cause the one or more processors to map the first user input to a first command for manipulating the first view of the virtual environment; instructions that cause the one or more processors to determine, based on the first view and the first command, a second view of the virtual environment, wherein the second view is taken at a second location in the virtual environment, wherein the second location is distinct from the first location; and instructions that cause the one or more processors to render one or more images representing the second view of the virtual environment.