Method for grid-based virtual reality attraction

• US 10,192,339 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FANX Incorporated
• Original Assignee: UnchartedVR, Inc.
• Inventors: Gutierrez, Kalon Ross, Duncan, John, Griffin, Douglas, Schulze, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mushambo, Martin
• Application Number:
  US15/828,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20180144525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0278 Projectiles A63F9/0208, A63F9/0247 and A63F9/0252 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 1/02 Scenery; Curtains; Other decorations; Means for moving same fireproof curtains A62C2/10
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/22 Theatres; Concert halls; Studios for broadcasting, cinematography, television or similar purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 Using real world measurements to influence rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51

Abstract

A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting a virtual reality (VR) experience, the system comprising:

generating a plurality of VR representations and associating each of a plurality of grid aligned stage kits with one or more of the plurality of VR representations; and

physically implementing one of the plurality of grid aligned stage kits, the grid aligned stage kits comprising a modular stage and a plurality of stage accessories, the modular stage comprising a pattern of markings along at least two dimensions of the modular stage to aid in assembling the plurality of stage accessories to the modular stage, said physically implementing comprising;

using coordinates identified by the pattern of markings to assemble the plurality of stage accessories to the modular stage according to the one of the plurality of grid aligned stage kits; and

configuring a motion tracking system comprising a network of sensors configured to track a VR participant'"'"'s movements on the modular stage by communicating identity, location and/or orientation information to a VR simulation engine;

wherein each of the plurality of VR representations is preprogrammed to simulate a virtual environment with virtually represented objects whose locations and orientations correspond to locations and orientations of the plurality of stage accessories that are arranged according to the one of the plurality of grid aligned stage kits; and

wherein each of the plurality of VR representations is configured to use tracking information generated by the motion tracking system to present imagery of VR objects as the VR participant approaches or encounters corresponding stage accessories.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of grid aligned stage kits comprises fixed accessories and movable accessories.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the modular stage comprises a platform having a plurality of accessory mounts for affixing the fixed accessories to the platform, and wherein the accessory mounts are arranged on the platform, and wherein a location of each of the accessory mounts is identifiable by coordinates identified by the pattern of markings, and wherein the accessory mounts restrict the possible location of the fixed accessories to a finite set of discrete points on the platform, arranged according to the pattern of markings, and wherein the VR representation aligns representations of fixed VR objects, to the locations and orientations of corresponding fixed accessories without relying upon sensory information about the location of the fixed accessories.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

configuring the VR simulation engine to receive identity, location and/or orientation information of the movable accessories and to arrange corresponding virtual objects within the VR experience to have corresponding locations and/or orientations.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the pattern of markings marks lines of a grid.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein a corresponding virtual grid is displayed within the one of the plurality of VR representations to illustrate a virtual coordinate system.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the grid is also configured to overlay walls.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the grid is configured to overlay a floor and includes grid lines that extend across and along a section of the floor.

10. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the accessory mounts are holes or pegs.

11. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the fixed and moveable accessories comprise textures which provide tactile sensations to complement and augment the audio and visual sensations a VR participant experiences within the VR experience.

12. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein one or more of the plurality of grid aligned stage kits comprises doors and walls.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of VR representations comprises a unique set and/or position and/or orientation of VR objects, and wherein corresponding physical objects are modular, reconfigurable, and operable to be arranged to correlate with the position and orientation of the VR objects in any selected one of the plurality of VR representations.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of grid aligned stage kits comprises at least a first grid aligned stage kit comprising a stage platform dimension of A×

B fitting a first commercial space and a second grid aligned stage kit comprising a stage platform dimension of C×

D fitting a second commercial space, wherein A, B, C, D are all different from each other, and wherein the modular stage comprises a plurality of stage sections that are configured to be connected with each other according to a plurality of stage dimensions, including A×

B and C×

D, making the stage dimensionally reconfigurable, and wherein the dimensional reconfigurability of the modular stage enables the modular stage to be configured to fit in a plurality of commercial spaces.

5. The method as recited in 4, wherein representations of the virtual objects corresponding to the fixed accessories is, on average, more precisely aligned than the representations of the virtual objects corresponding to the movable accessories.

15. A method for augmenting a virtual reality (VR) experience comprising:

employing a VR simulation engine to generate a plurality of VR representations and associating one of a plurality of grid-coordinated state plans with one or more of the plurality of VR representations;

assembling a modular stage, wherein the modular stage comprises a plurality of stage sections and a plurality of stage accessories, and wherein the stage sections are configured to be connected with each other according to a plurality of different stage lengths and widths to form a platform, and wherein grid markings are disposed on the stage sections so that the stage sections, when assembled, form a grid for locating the stage accessories according to the one of the plurality of grid-coordinated stage plans;

locating the plurality of stage accessories on the modular stage according to the one of the plurality of grid-coordinated stage plans; and

configuring a motion tracking system comprising a network of sensors to track a VR participant'"'"'s movements on the modular stage by communicating identity, location and/or orientation information to the VR simulation engine;

wherein each of the plurality of VR representations is preprogrammed to simulate a virtual audiovisual environment with virtually represented objects whose locations and orientations correspond to locations and orientations of corresponding stage accessories arranged according to the one of the plurality of grid-coordinated stage plans.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of VR representations is configured to use tracking information generated by the motion tracking system to present imagery of VR objects as a VR participant approaches or encounters corresponding stage accessories.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

using VR equipment, including at least a VR headset, to generate the each of the plurality of VR representations, wherein the each of the plurality of VR representations is spatially correlated to the one of the plurality of grid-coordinated stage plans and associated space, and to populate the virtual audiovisual environment with VR objects that spatially correspond to the plurality of stage accessories.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the VR equipment provides a predefined set of the plurality of virtual representations, each of which comprises a unique set and/or position and/or orientation of VR objects that correspond to the one of the plurality of grid-coordinated stage plans, and wherein the plurality of stage accessories are modular, reconfigurable, and operable to be rearranged to correspond with position and orientation of corresponding VR objects in any of the predefined set of the plurality of virtual representations.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the VR equipment is configured to receive identity, location, and/or orientation information of the subset of the plurality of stage accessories that are moveable, and to arrange the corresponding virtual objects within the predefined set of the plurality of virtual representations to have locations and/or orientations that correspond to the location and/or orientations of associated physical objects.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein sensors are embedded in a subset of the plurality of stage accessories that are moveable, and wherein the sensors are configured to communicate identity, location, and/or orientation information to the VR equipment.