Abstract: An exemplary depth data generation system (“system”) accesses a first depth map and a second depth map of surfaces of objects included in a real-world scene. The first and second depth maps are captured independently from one another. The system converges the first and second depth maps into a converged depth map of the surfaces of the objects included in the real-world scene. More specifically, the converging comprises assigning a first confidence value to a first depth data point in the first depth map, assigning a second confidence value to a second depth data point in the second depth map, and generating a third depth data point representing a same particular physical point as the first and second depth data points based on the first and second confidence values and on at least one of the first depth data point and the second depth data point.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media provider system (“system”) includes a configuration of synchronous video and depth capture devices disposed at fixed positions at a real-world event. In real time, the video and depth capture devices capture two-dimensional video data and depth data for surfaces of objects at the real-world event. The system generates a real-time volumetric data stream representative of a dynamic volumetric model of the surfaces of the objects at the real-world event in real time based on the captured two-dimensional video data and captured depth data. The dynamic volumetric model of the surfaces of the objects at the real-world event is configured to be used to generate virtual reality media content representative of the real-world event as experienced from a dynamically selectable viewpoint corresponding to an arbitrary location at the real-world event and selected by a user experiencing the real-world event using a media player device.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media provider system (“system”) includes a configuration of synchronous video and depth capture devices disposed at fixed positions in a vicinity of a first object located in a natural setting along with one or more additional objects. The video and depth capture devices capture two-dimensional video data and depth data for a surface the first object. The system distinguishes the first object from a second object included in the one or more additional objects located in the natural setting and generates an individually-manipulable volumetric model of the first object. The individually-manipulable volumetric model of the first object is configured to be individually manipulated with respect to an immersive virtual reality world while a user of a media player device is experiencing the immersive virtual reality world using the media player device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mobile authentication for web payments are disclosed. In some implementations, a proxy server receives, from a computing device different from a mobile device, a request from a user to process a web payment via a payment account associated with the mobile device, the web payment being associated with an online merchant. The proxy server verifies that the mobile device is associated with the user. The proxy server transmits, to a commerce server of the online merchant, payment information for the web payment in response to verifying that the mobile device is associated with the user.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media system assigns a plurality of display parameters to a three-dimensional (“3D”) virtual object that is to be integrated into an immersive virtual reality world. The plurality of display parameters define a time period during which the 3D virtual object is viewable within the world to a user experiencing the world, as well as a location, an orientation, and a size of the 3D virtual object as these appear to the user during the time period. The system integrates the 3D virtual object into the world in accordance with the display parameters and dynamically changes a display parameter during the time period to change the location, orientation, and/or size of the 3D virtual object. The system further integrates content into the world by presenting the content on the 3D virtual object while the display parameter is dynamically changing. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a virtual reality media provider system acquiring, from a plurality of capture devices physically disposed at different vantage points in relation to a scene, a distinct set of two-dimensional (2D) color data and depth data (2D data) for each capture device included in the plurality of capture devices, each distinct set of 2D data representing a distinct unmeshed view of the scene from a respective vantage point of a respective capture device included in the plurality of capture devices, acquiring metadata for each distinct set of 2D data, packaging each distinct set of 2D data into a transport stream such that the transport stream includes data representing each distinct unmeshed view of the scene from each respective vantage point of each respective capture device, and providing the metadata and the transport stream for streaming to a media player device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for device-based authentication are disclosed. In some implementations, a device receives a Single Sign On PIN from a backend server. The device transmits, to a token server, the Single Sign On PIN and credentials of a subscriber identity module (SIM) to request a token for accessing a network resource via a computer different from the device. The token is associated with a user account. The device receives the token from the token server. The device stores the token at a local memory of the device.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media system presents a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world on a display screen of a media player device associated with a user. The field of view includes content of the immersive virtual reality world and dynamically changes in response to user input provided by the user as the user experiences the immersive virtual reality world. Additionally, the virtual reality media system detects that a gaze of the user is directed for a predetermined amount of time at a gaze target included within the field of view. In response to the detection, the virtual reality media system presents an interactive user interface associated with the gaze target. The interactive user interface is presented within the field of view together with the content of the immersive virtual reality world. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary depth capture system emits a first structured light pattern onto a surface of an object included in a real-world scene using a first structured light emitter included within the depth capture system. The depth capture system also emits, concurrently with the emitting of the first structured light pattern, a second structured light pattern onto the surface of the object using a second structured light emitter included within the depth capture system. The emitting of the second structured light pattern is different than the emitting of the first structured light pattern. The depth capture system detects the first and second structured light patterns using one or more optical sensors included within the depth capture system. Based on the detection of the structured light patterns, the depth capture system generates depth data representative of the surface of the object included in the real-world scene.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media system provides a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world for display. The field of view includes content of the immersive virtual reality world and dynamically changes in response to user input provided by a user. The virtual reality media system integrates a virtual object into the immersive virtual reality world and detects that a gaze of the user is directed at the virtual object while the virtual object is within the field of view. The virtual reality media system tracks an amount of time that the gaze of the user is directed at the virtual object and, based on the tracked amount of time, generates effectiveness data for the virtual object with respect to the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system generates a plurality of different content files each including data representative of content of a virtual reality world, and provides the plurality of different content files to a media player device via a network. In particular, the generated and provided plurality of different content files comprises at least one of a plurality of uniform-resolution content files and a plurality of mixed-resolution content files. The plurality of uniform-resolution content files are each associated with a different respective center point within the virtual reality world. The plurality of mixed-resolution content files each correspond to one respective content sector of a plurality of partially overlapping content sectors that together form a view of the virtual reality world associated with a single center point, the one respective content sector being encoded in a high resolution while a remainder of the content sectors are encoded in a low resolution.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media system presents a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world on a display screen of a media player device associated with a user. The field of view includes content of the immersive virtual reality world and dynamically changes in response to user input provided by the user as the user experiences the immersive virtual reality world. Additionally, the virtual reality media system detects that a gaze of the user is directed for a predetermined amount of time at a gaze target included within the field of view. In response to the detection, the virtual reality media system presents an interactive user interface associated with the gaze target. In some examples, the interactive user interface is presented within the field of view together with the content of the immersive virtual reality world. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media provider system identifies a viewable pixel data subset and an unviewable pixel data subset within pixel data representative of a set of pixels that constitute a particular scene to be transmitted to a media player device. The media player device includes a head-mounted display screen worn by a user to view the particular scene. The viewable pixel data subset is representative of pixels corresponding to non-overlapping portions of two overlapping shapes arranged on the head-mounted display screen, while the unviewable pixel data subset is representative of pixels corresponding to an overlapping portion of the two overlapping shapes arranged on the head-mounted display screen. The virtual reality media provider system transmits the identified viewable pixel data subset to the media player device, and abstains from transmitting the identified unviewable pixel data subset to the media player device. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques described herein may be used to encrypt a telephone call between users. User devices (e.g., smart phones) may be connected to encryption relay devices that operate as relays between headsets worn by the user and the user devices. As information passes from the headset toward a corresponding user device, an encryption relay device may encrypt the information before the information reaches the user device so that the user device transmits encrypted call information to the other user participating in the call. When encrypted information is received, and travels from the user device to the headset, the encryption relay device may decrypt the information before it reaches the headset. Thus, the techniques described herein provide an end-to-end encryption solution to telephone calls.

Abstract: An exemplary depth capture system (“system”) emits, from a first fixed position with respect to a real-world scene and within a first frequency band, a first structured light pattern onto surfaces of objects included in a real-world scene. The system also emits, from a second fixed position with respect to the real-world scene and within a second frequency band, a second structured light pattern onto the surfaces of the objects. The system detects the first and second structured light patterns using one or more optical sensors by way of first and second optical filters, respectively. The first and second optical filters are each configured to only pass one of the structured light patterns and to block the other. Based on the detection of the structured light patterns, the system generates depth data representative of the surfaces of the objects included in the real-world scene.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a virtual reality media provider system acquiring, from a plurality of capture devices physically disposed at different vantage points in relation to a scene that includes one or more objects, surface data for the one or more objects, generating a color video data stream for the 2D color data and a depth video data stream for the depth data for each capture device included in the plurality of capture devices, packaging the color video data stream and the depth video data stream for each of the capture devices included in the plurality of capture devices into a transport stream, and providing metadata and the transport stream for streaming to a media player device.

Abstract: An exemplary interactive media content provider system generates overall data representative of interactive media content. The exemplary interactive media content provider system concurrently provides the overall data to both a first media player device associated with a first user and a second media player device associated with a second user by way of a point-to-multipoint media delivery protocol. The first media player device and the second media player device may each be configured to render different portions of the overall data to respective display screens of the media player devices at a particular point in time based on different user input from the first user and the second user, respectively, as the first user and the second user independently interact with the interactive media content. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: To virtually transfer subscriber identity module (“SIM”) credentials from an active device to an inactive device in order to share carrier network access, temporary identifiers and SIM credentials are transferred using secure connections and an optional public-private key pair with encryption at the transport layer. In an example, a carrier identification (“ID”) server receives a temporary identifier, such as a temporary international mobile subscriber identity (“TIMSI”), from an inactive device via a carrier network. The carrier ID server authenticates the inactive device using the TIMSI by issuing a network challenge. Next, the carrier ID server verifies with an active device associated with the inactive device that the active device distributed the TIMSI. After authenticating and verifying with both devices, the carrier ID server activates the inactive device by allowing the TIMSI to behave as virtual SIM credentials on the carrier network.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media provider system (“system”) manages data representative of an immersive virtual reality world (“world”) and receives a request from a media player device (“device”) for the device to receive a pixel data transmission representative of a particular scene of the world by way of a network. The device includes a head-mounted display screen worn by a user to view the particular scene as the user experiences the world. The system identifies pixel data representative of a set of pixels that constitute the particular scene and provides a minimized pixel data transmission representative of the particular scene to the device by transmitting a viewable pixel data subset corresponding to regions of the display screen predetermined to be viewable by the user and abstaining from transmitting an unviewable pixel data subset corresponding to regions of the display screen predetermined to be unviewable by the user.

Abstract: An exemplary depth capture system (“system”) emits, from a first fixed position with respect to a real-world scene and within a first frequency band, a first structured light pattern onto surfaces of objects included in a real-world scene. The system also emits, from a second fixed position with respect to the real-world scene and within a second frequency band, a second structured light pattern onto the surfaces of the objects. The system detects the first and second structured light patterns using one or more optical sensors by way of first and second optical filters, respectively. The first and second optical filters are each configured to only pass one of the structured light patterns and to block the other. Based on the detection of the structured light patterns, the system generates depth data representative of the surfaces of the objects included in the real-world scene.