Virtual entertainment

• US 8,012,023 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Lili, MacLaurin, Matthew B., Meijer, Henricus Johannes Maria, Flake, Gary W., Zaner-Godsey, Melora, Gates, William H. III, Larus, James R., Brumme, Christopher W., Blinn, Arnold N., Gounares, Alexander G., Glasser, Daniel S., Mital, Amit, Bergstraesser, Thomas F., Snyder, Ira L. Jr., Mishra, Debi P., Connolly, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan; James S
• Application Number:
  US11/536,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 463/31, 463/34, 463/40, 463/41, 463/43, 715/706
• US Class Current: 463/40
• 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 that executes the following computer executable components stored on at least one computer readable medium;

a virtual reality generation component that emulates real-life activities of a guest that is remotely viewing a spectator event that takes place outside of a virtual environment into corresponding virtual activities of a virtual guest representation in the virtual environment; and

a presentation component that presents the virtual activities of the virtual guest representation to a user that is attending the spectator event as an in-person spectator, the presentation system to facilitate an interaction of the user with the virtual guest representation provided in the virtual environment as the guest is remotely viewing the spectator event.

2. The computer implemented system of claim 1, further comprising a background isolation component that filters noise and light associated with a background of the spectator event.

3. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the virtual guest representation is in form of a holographic avatar that represents the guest.

4. The computer implemented system of claim 1, further comprising a three dimensional projection unit that presents the virtual guest representation to the user.

5. The computer implemented system of claim 4, wherein the presentation component further comprises goggles wearable by the user.

6. The computer implemented system of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic tracking device that monitor bodily movement of the guest.

7. The computer implemented system of claim 1 further comprising a graphical user interface that provides a portal for accessing spectator related services associated with the virtual guest representation.

8. The computer implemented system of claim 7, further comprising a presentation engine that provides the bodily movements of the guest as corresponding movements of the virtual guest representation to the user.

9. The computer implemented system of claim 7, further comprising a graphical user interface that controls interaction of the user with the virtual guest representation during the spectator event.

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

11. The computer implemented system of claim 10, further comprising a viewing control component that enhances spectator data related to the interaction of the virtual guest representation and the user.

12. The computer implemented system of claim 10, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that facilitates the interaction between the user and the virtual guest representation.

13. The computer implemented system of claim 1, further comprising a viewing control component that couples a virtual camera with one or more participants of the event.

14. A computer implemented method comprising:

employing a processor to execute computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium to perform the following acts;

inviting at least two guests to be virtual guests to a spectator broadcast event that takes place outside of a virtual environment, wherein the at least two guests are viewing the spectator broadcast event at remote locations;

populating the at least two virtual guests into the virtual environment to simulate presence of the at least two virtual guests to a user that invited the at least two guests to view the spectator broadcast event by representing each virtual guest with a corresponding avatar;

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

presenting each avatar as showing one or more corresponding health indicia as the user interacts with the at least two virtual guests during the spectator broadcast event.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein each guest selects the corresponding avatar that represents the guest in the virtual environment.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein the user is attending the spectator broadcast event in person.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 14, wherein each avatar is a holographic avatar.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 14, further comprising employing an artificial intelligence component to enhance interaction between the user and the at least two virtual guests.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 14, further comprising ending interaction between the user and the at least two virtual guests.

20. A computer implemented method comprising:

employing a processor to execute computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium to perform the following acts;

displaying in a virtual environment a virtual guest representation that represents a guest that is virtually invited to view a shared broadcast event that is attended by a user, the shared broadcast event taking place outside of the virtual environment, wherein the guest is located at a remote location;

filtering at least some of the background noise and background light present at the shared broadcast event from being transmitted to the guest via the virtual environment during concurrent experience of the shared broadcast event by the user and the guest;

monitoring one or more health indicia of the guest;

presenting the virtual guest representation as showing the one or more health indicia as the user interacts with the virtual guest representation during the shared broadcast event.