Transformations for virtual guest representation

• US 9,746,912 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Meijer, Henricus Johannes Maria, Gates, III, William H., Flake, Gary W., Bergstraesser, Thomas F., Blinn, Arnold N., Brumme, Christopher W., Cheng, Lili, Connolly, Michael, Glasser, Daniel S., Gounares, Alexander G., Larus, James R., MacLaurin, Matthew B., Mishra, Debi P., Mital, Amit, Snyder, Jr., Ira L., Zaner-Godsey, Melora
• Primary Examiner(s): Galka, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US11/613,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,905 Days
• Field of Search: 703 24
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods that provide for a virtual reality entertainment system that supplies immersive entertainment and creates a sensation for a user similar to having guests in a remote location to be physically present as virtual guests. Such virtual reality entertainment system can supply a graphic and/or audio; wherein interconnected computers, video and audio processing devices, supply a live interaction between a user and a guest(s). Although guests are only present virtually (e.g., electronically present with other objects/user within the environment) such virtual invitation enables a user and guests to concurrently experience the entertainment together (e.g., a live sporting event, spectator game). In a related aspect, the subject innovation can implement holographic avatars, and a plurality of communication interfaces, to imitate (and/or transform) a relationship between the user and the virtual guests/surrounding environment.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory that includes components that are executable by the at least one processor, the components comprising;

a virtual reality generation component that converts a real-life bodily movement of a guest into a corresponding virtual bodily movement of a virtual guest representation three-dimensional projection in a real-life environment of a user during an event to at least the user by a three dimensional projection unit;

a presentation component that obtains state information regarding the guest, the state information defining a status and a relationship of the guest and the at least one user relative to the real-life environment and the performance of the event and presents the virtual bodily movement of the virtual guest representation to the at least one user, the virtual guest representation being rendered based at least on the state information; and

a background isolation component that filters, according to a user selection, light associated with a background of the real-life environment of the at least one user relative to the event.

2. The computer implemented system of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic tracking device that monitors a pressure sensor or a bend sensor that is activated by the real-life bodily movement of the guest.

3. The computer implemented system of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface component that provides a portal for accessing spectator related services associated with the virtual guest representation of the guest to the at least one user.

4. The computer implemented system of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface component that controls interaction of the at least one user with the virtual representation of the guest during the event.

5. The computer implemented system of claim 4, further comprising a viewing control component that enhances spectator data related to the interaction of the virtual guest representation and the at least one user.

6. The computer implemented system of claim 4, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that facilitates the interaction between the at least one user and the virtual guest representation.

7. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the virtual reality generation component further comprising an aggregator component that combines data associated with a plurality of guests.

8. The computer implemented system of claim 1, further comprising a transformation component to transform the virtual guest representation.

9. The computer implemented system of claim 8, wherein the transformation component transforms the virtual guest representation in form of an avatar of the guest into another avatar.

10. The computer implemented system of claim 9, wherein the avatar comprises constructs that are transformed from one form to another form.

11. The computer implemented system of claim 9, wherein the presentation component presents the transformed virtual guest representation to the at least one user.

12. The computer implemented system of claim 9, wherein the avatar is a holographic avatar that represents the guest.

13. The computer implemented system of claim 12, wherein the three dimensional projection unit presents the avatar to the user.

14. A computer implemented method comprising the following computer executable acts:

inviting a guest to virtually attend an event that is being attended in-person by an actual user, the guest being represented by a virtual guest representation that is projected in an environment of the user by a three dimensional projection unit;

converting a real-life bodily movement of the guest into a corresponding virtual bodily movement of the virtual guest representation in the environment for presentation to the actual user;

obtaining object information regarding the interaction of the virtual guest representation, the actual user, and the event;

obtaining state information regarding the guest, the state information defines a relationship of the guest and the actual user relative to the event;

presenting the virtual bodily movement of the virtual guest representation to the actual user, the virtual guest representation being rendered based at least on the object information and the state information; and

filtering, according to a user selection, light associated with a background of the real-life environment of the actual user relative to the event.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein the virtual bodily movement of the virtual guest representation simulates a presence of the guest to the actual user during performance of the event.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

obtaining additional state information regarding an additional guest attending the event that is represented by an additional virtual guest representation; and

blocking the additional virtual guest representation from being viewed by the actual user based on the additional state information of the additional guest.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 16, wherein the virtual guest representation is a holographic avatar of the guest.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17, further comprising transforming the holographic avatar into another holographic avatar.

19. A computer implemented method comprising:

inviting a guest to virtually attend an event that is being attended in-person by the user, the guest being represented by a virtual guest representation that is projected in an environment of the user by a three dimensional projection unit;

converting real-life bodily movements of the guest into corresponding virtual bodily movements of the virtual guest representation in the virtual environment for presentation to a user;

obtaining state information regarding the guest, the state information defines a relationship of the guest and the user;

monitoring one or more health indicia of the guest that includes at least one of a blood pressure or a heart rate of the guest;

filtering, according to a user selection, light associated with a background of the environment of the user relative to the event;

presenting the virtual guest representation having the one or more health indicia of the guest, the virtual guest representation being rendered based at least on the state information; and

updating the state information continually as a function of time, or in response to an instruction received from the user.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 19, wherein the state information regarding the guest includes an indication that the user and the guest admire a same entity.