Virtual reality devices and accessories

• US 10,725,298 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2015
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark D. Wieczorek, P.C.
• Original Assignee: Mark D. Wieczorek, P.C.
• Inventors: Wieczorek, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/669,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20150279079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• 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 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

Systems and methods disclosed provided a virtual reality experience, including: a set of motorized pads for coupling to feet of a user; a means of communication between the set of motorized pads and a computing environment operating a virtual reality headset; such that the set of motorized pads are configured to provide pressure on a user'"'"'s feet as an avatar within a virtual environment traverses the environment. Systems and methods disclosed further provide a multiuser virtual reality experience. Systems and methods disclosed further provide a multiuser experience including generation of a common environment viewable in the virtual reality headsets; and recording a tour including audio data as the first user describes the common environment.

Claims

1. A system for providing a virtual reality experience, comprising:

a. a set of motorized pads for coupling to respective feet of a user; and

b. a means of communication between the set of motorized pads and a computing environment operating a virtual reality headset;

c. such that the set of motorized pads are configured to provide pressure on a user'"'"'s feet as an avatar within a virtual environment traverses the environment, and

d. wherein the set of motorized pads includes a left pad and a right pad, corresponding to a user'"'"'s left foot and right foot, and wherein the set of motorized pads are configured to provide pressure on the user'"'"'s left foot as an avatar within the virtual environment steps down on the virtual environment with their left foot, and wherein the set of motorized pads are configured to provide pressure on the user'"'"'s right foot as an avatar within the virtual environment steps down on the virtual environment with their right foot, wherein a speed of providing pressure, and a force of pressure, varies depending on whether the avatar is walking or running.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means of communication is an RF link.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means of communication is a wired link.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the avatar is a player character in a videogame.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the avatar is a character in a virtual tour.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein if the avatar is standing within the virtual environment, the motorized pads provide constant pressure on each foot.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the motorized pads are disposed on a surface on which a user rests their feet, or within user footwear.

8. A method of providing a multiuser virtual reality experience including a page tour of a social networking page, comprising:

a. configuring a server to communicate with a first user computing environment, the first user computing environment coupled to a first virtual reality headset, the first user computing environment configured to generate a first avatar corresponding to a first user, the first avatar situated within a common environment viewable in the first virtual reality headset; and

b. configuring a server to communicate with a second user computing environment, the second user computing environment coupled to a second virtual reality headset, the second user computing environment configured to generate a second avatar corresponding to a second user, the second avatar situated within the common environment viewable in the second virtual reality headset,

c. wherein the common environment includes a display of visual depictions of entries from a social networking page, the visual depictions including one or more links to other pages corresponding to the entries, such that the first user is enabled to provide a page tour to the second user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the server is a social networking server.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the server to allow the first user to provide audio commentary before, during, or after, the page tour.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising recording the page tour and the audio commentary for later playback.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the server to allow the first user to indicate entries on the social networking page, and wherein the indication of entries is via the first avatar pointing at the entry.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the entries include textual entries, audio entries, photographic entries, or video entries.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving an asset from a third-party source distinct from the social networking page corresponding to the first user, and configuring the server to allow the page tour to include the received asset.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computing environment to perform the method of claim 8.

16. A method of providing a multiuser virtual reality experience including a page tour of a social networking page, comprising:

a. configuring a server to communicate with a first user computing environment, the first user computing environment coupled to a first virtual reality headset, the first user computing environment configured to generate a common environment viewable in the first virtual reality headset; and

b. recording a page tour including audio data as the first user describes the common environment,

c. wherein the common environment includes a display of visual depictions of entries from a social networking page, the visual depictions including one or more links to other pages corresponding to the entries, such that the first user is enabled to record a page tour.