Multi-instance, multi-user virtual reality spaces

• US 9,889,375 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Utherverse Gaming LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Brian Mark Shuster, Gary S. Shuster
• Inventors: Shuster, Gary Stephen, Shuster, Brian Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US15/276,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/358 Adapting the game course according to the network or server load, e.g. for reducing latency due to different connection speeds between clients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/08 Volume rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• 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 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/12 Shadow map, environment map
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/024 Multi-user, collaborative environment
• 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 multi-instance, multi-user animation platform includes a plurality of modeled parallel dimensions in a computer memory. Each of the parallel dimensions may be an independent model of a physical, three-dimensional space having corresponding features such that the parallel dimensions are recognizable as counterparts to each other. Avatars are located within corresponding ones of the parallel dimensions so as to prevent over-population of any one of the parallel dimensions by avatars. Avatars are animated within different ones of the parallel dimensions using input from respective users to provide virtual-reality data. A common space is modeled in the computer memory configured in relation to the plurality of parallel instances so that an object located inside the common space is visible from viewpoints located inside each of the plurality of parallel instances. Remote clients may output an animated display of a corresponding one of the parallel dimensions and avatars therein.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

modeling, by a server, a multi-dimensional virtual reality environment, comprising;

a plurality of avatars, each avatar in a corresponding parallel dimension of multiple dimensions, wherein parallel dimensions comprise replicated instances of a mono-dimensional modeled space, and a common dimension connects the parallel

dimensions of the multi-dimensional virtual reality environment;

a plurality of users, each user controlling a corresponding avatar of the plurality of avatars;

merging the plurality of avatars into a single avatar in the common dimension, wherein the plurality of users provide control inputs to the single avatar;

after the merging, animating of the single avatar based on at least some of the control inputs from at least two users.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising aggregating the control inputs from the at least two users, and animating the single avatar based on the aggregated control inputs.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after animating the single avatar, disaggregating the single avatar into the plurality of avatars.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, after disaggregating, each of the plurality of avatars returns to the corresponding parallel dimension of the multiple dimensions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising animating the avatar by assigning the control inputs from the at least two users to the movements of the avatar in a round robin manner.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a communication channel between avatars in different parallel dimensions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a view of the animated avatar by at least one of the users is altered during a time when the plurality of users is providing control inputs to the single avatar.