Third Person Camera and Avatar Motion Controller for Virtual Reality Players of Avatar-Based Games

• US 20180256976A1
• Filed: 03/08/2017
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roblox Corp.
• Original Assignee: Roblox Corp.
• Inventors: McHale, Michael, Moberg, Claus Christopher, Emmerich, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 10,449,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

A virtual reality (VR) gaming platform has a head-mounted display (HMD), software executing on a processor, controlling display of a virtual environment in the HMD and providing functions for network connectivity via a digital port, a three-axis input device providing input to the processor, and dedicated control scripts executable on the processor to provide specific functions in moving an avatar and establishing camera position. The control scripts operate during game play to move the avatar from a first position to a second position in response to specific directional input from the player via the three-axis input device, the camera remains stationary while the avatar moves, and when the avatar stops moving, the camera position teleports to at or near the new avatar position.

Claims

1. A virtual reality (VR) gaming platform, comprising:

a head-mounted display (HMD);

software executing on a processor, controlling display of a virtual environment in the HMD and providing functions for network connectivity via a digital port;

a three-axis input device providing input to the processor; and

dedicated control scripts executable on the processor to provide specific functions in moving an avatar and establishing camera position;

wherein the control scripts operate during game play to move the avatar from a first position to a second position in response to specific directional input from the player via the three-axis input device, the camera remains stationary while the avatar moves, and when the avatar stops moving, the camera position teleports to at or near the new avatar position.

2. The VR gaming platform of claim 1 wherein the specific directional input comprises a persistent engagement of a thumbstick, joystick or button of a D-pad, as the three-axis input device, during which the avatar moves, and release of the input causes the avatar to stop.

3. The VR gaming platform of claim 1 wherein the specific directional input is use of a displayed pointer to determine a destination point in the displayed virtual environment away from the first position, to which an avatar is to travel, while the camera position remains stationary, and wherein, upon the avatar reaching the determined destination point, the camera position teleports to at or near the new avatar position.

4. The VR gaming platform of claim 3 wherein the pointer is curved in the display, concave downward relative to the z-axis in the virtual environment.

5. The VR gaming platform of claim 3 wherein the pointer is straight in the display.

6. The VR gaming platform of claim 4 wherein the curvature is parabolic.

7. The VR gaming platform of claim 1 wherein the control scripts are downloaded to the gaming platform prior to a game being selected at a network-connected gaming site.

8. The VR gaming platform of claim 1 wherein the control scripts are provided to the VR platform at the time of connection to a gaming site, prior to game initiation.

9. The VR gaming platform of claim 1 wherein the control scripts are streamed to the VR platform after game selection and initiation along with display data.

10. The VR gaming platform of claim 1 wherein the control scripts operate to control the avatar'"'"'s movement to the second point.

11. The VR gaming platform of claim 10 wherein the rate of movement of the avatar is alterable by a player using the platform.

12. The VR gaming platform of claim 3 wherein the camera position teleports to the second position prior to the avatar reaching the second position.

13. The VR gaming platform of claim 12 wherein the time, relative to the avatar'"'"'s movement, that the camera point teleports, is adjustable by input.

14. The VR gaming platform of claim 1 wherein the control scripts operate to allow a second destination point for the avatar to be selected before the avatar reaches the first destination point, providing for successive movement of the avatar, and associated movements of the camera position.

17. The VR gaming method of claim 11 wherein the specific directional input is operation of a displayed pointer to determine a destination point as the second position in the virtual environment away from the first position, to which an avatar is to travel, while the camera position remains stationary, and wherein, upon the avatar reaching the second position, the camera position teleports to at or near the second position.

18. The VR gaming method of claim 17 wherein the pointer is curved in the display, concave downward relative to a z-axis in the virtual environment.

19. The VR gaming method of claim 17 wherein the pointer is straight in the display.

20. The VR gaming method of claim 18 wherein the curvature is parabolic.

26. The VR gaming method of claim 17 wherein the camera position teleports to the second position prior to the avatar reaching the second position.

27. The VR gaming platform of claim 26 wherein the time, relative to the avatar'"'"'s movement, that the camera point teleports, is adjustable by input.

15. A virtual reality (VR) gaming method, comprising:

displaying a virtual environment, including an avatar, in a display screen of a head-mounted display (HMD), to a player using the HMD at a VR platform;

moving the avatar from a first position to a second position in the virtual environment by directional input from operating a three-axis input device coupled to the platform, and execution of dedicated control scripts on a processor of the VR platform, the scripts operable to leave the camera at the first position while the avatar moves; and

teleporting the camera to at or near the second position in the virtual environment at a time that the avatar stops at the second position.

16. The VR gaming method of claim 15 wherein the directional input comprises operation of a thumbstick, joystick or button of a D-pad, as the three-axis input device, during which the avatar moves, and release of the input causes the avatar to stop.

21. The VR gaming method of claim 15 wherein the dedicated control scripts are downloaded to the gaming platform prior to a game being selected at a network-connected gaming site.

22. The VR gaming method of claim 15 wherein the dedicated control scripts are provided to the VR platform at the time of connection to a gaming site, prior to game initiation.

23. The VR gaming method of claim 15 wherein the dedicated control scripts are streamed to the VR platform after game selection and initiation along with display data.

24. The VR gaming method of claim 15 wherein the dedicated control scripts operate to control the avatar'"'"'s movement to the second point.

25. The VR gaming method of claim 24 wherein the rate of movement of the avatar is alterable by a player using the platform.

28. The VR gaming method of claim 15 wherein the control scripts operate to allow a second destination point for the avatar to be selected before the avatar reaches the first destination point, providing for successive movement of the avatar, and associated movements of the camera position.