Patents Assigned to COLOPL, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10238968
    Abstract: A method including defining a virtual space. The virtual space contains a first player character associated with a first user, a second player character associated with a second user, and virtual points of view for defining field-of-view images to be provided to a first HMD associated with the first user and to a second HMD associated with the second user. The method includes identifying first and second parts of the second player character. The method includes moving the first part in synchronization with a detected movement of the second user. The method includes displaying the second part in connection with a detected movement of the first part. The method includes setting a first transparency rate of the first part and a second transparency rate of the second part. A transparency rate of at least a portion of the second part is greater than the transparency rate of the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Patent number: 10232253
    Abstract: A method including acquiring positional information for identifying a position of a terminal associated with a first player. The method further includes acquiring a map corresponding to a predetermined region having the position as a center of the map. The method further includes progressing a game associated with the first player based on the positional information and the map. The method further includes acquiring facility information for identifying a facility contained in the map. The method further includes setting a game parameter corresponding to the first player based on the facility information. The method further includes progressing the game based on the game parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Inomata
  • Patent number: 10223064
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment of this disclosure, footfalls are output at intervals of a time Ta in accordance with input for movement of a user A in the virtual space. Footfalls are output at intervals of a time Tb in accordance with input for movement of the user B in the virtual space. The computer updates the field-of-view image displayed on a head-mounted device, and further, outputs footfalls at intervals of time that is based on setting of the physical size of the user of the head-mounted device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Tomohisa Goi
  • Patent number: 10216261
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space including a virtual camera. The method further includes displaying on a head-mounted device a field of view in the virtual space based on a location of the virtual camera in the virtual space. The method further includes moving the field of view by updating the image displayed on the head-mounted device. Moving of the field of view includes moving the field of view at a first speed. Moving of the field of view further includes moving the field of view at a second speed slower than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Inomata
  • Patent number: 10198855
    Abstract: A method of providing a virtual experience to a user includes identifying a plurality of virtual objects. The method further includes detecting a position of a part of the user's body other than the user's head. The method further includes detecting a reference line of sight of the user. The method further includes setting an extension direction for a first virtual object of the plurality of virtual objects based on a direction of the reference line of sight. The method further includes setting a region for a first virtual object of the plurality of virtual objects, wherein the region comprises a part extending in the extension direction. The method further includes determining whether the first virtual object and a virtual representation of the part of the body have touched based on a positional relationship between the region and a position of the virtual representation of the part of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Shuhei Terahata
  • Patent number: 10171851
    Abstract: A video content distribution system including a user terminal and a content management server connected via a communication network. The content management server continues transmitting field-of-view video data associated with a first viewpoint to the user terminal at least for a time period from the time when a transmission unit transmits a viewpoint switch request signal for requesting a switch from the first viewpoint to a second viewpoint to the time when a reception unit receives field-of-view video data associated with the second viewpoint. In response to the reception unit receiving the viewpoint switch request signal, a viewing stop time determining unit determines a first viewing stop time at which viewing display stops displaying the field-of-view video from the first viewpoint, and a viewing start time determining unit determines a second viewing start time at which the display start displaying the field-of-view video from the second viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kento Nakashima
  • Patent number: 10139902
    Abstract: A method includes generating a visual field image to be visually recognized by a user within a virtual space image, the virtual space image forming a virtual space within which the user is immersed. The method also includes generating a transitional image to be visually recognized by the user during a transitional period, the visual field image being updated during the transitional period. The method further includes displaying the visual field image and the transitional image using a head mounted display. Generating the transitional image includes one or more of updating the visual field image in synchronization with a movement of the head mounted display; or updating the visual field image without synchronization with the movement of the head mounted display by generating a transitional image having a reduced information amount to be visually recognized by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Inomata, Taichiro Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10127713
    Abstract: A method including defining a virtual space for immersing a user. The method further includes defining a field of view of a head mounted display. The method further includes generating an image of the field of view based on the virtual space that is visually recognizable by the user. The method further includes updating the image of the field of view in synchronization with movement of the head mounted display. The method further includes generating the image of the field of view including a guiding region which covers a part of the virtual space for guiding a sight line of the user when the image of the field of view is updated without synchronization with the movement of the head mounted display. The method further includes displaying the image of the field of view on the head mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Takao Kashihara
  • Patent number: 10123055
    Abstract: A video content distribution system including a user terminal on which contents are viewable and a content management server. The user terminal includes a first reception unit configured to receive field-of-view video data. The user terminal includes a display control unit configured to display a field-of-view video. The user terminal includes a viewpoint switch request signal generating unit for requesting a switch from a first viewpoint to a second viewpoint in the field-of-view video. The user terminal includes a first transmission unit configured to transmit the viewpoint switch request signal to the content management server. The content management server includes a second reception unit configured to receive the viewpoint switch request signal. The content management server includes a second transmission unit configured to transmit the field-of-view video data. The content management server further includes a switch count updating unit configured to update a count of switches to the second viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kento Nakashima
  • Patent number: 10115235
    Abstract: A method for controlling an immersive head mounted display configured to provide a virtual space to a user. The method includes generating a virtual space image that forms a virtual space viewable by the user. The method further includes determining a reference line of sight. The method further includes determining a field-of-view region of the virtual space based on the reference line of sight. The method further includes generating a region of the virtual space image corresponding to the field-of-view region as a field-of-view image having an image quality higher than an image quality of a different portion of the virtual space image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Inomata
  • Patent number: 10099118
    Abstract: A terminal includes a display, a touch panel, and a processor. The processor is configured to detect an initial touch position corresponding to a first touch input. The processor is configured to generate instructions for displaying a timing indicator that moves from the initial touch position to a predetermined position, and then moves from the predetermined position to the initial touch position. The processor is configured to detect whether a next touch input is received when the timing indicator is displayed as overlapping the initial touch position. The processor is configured to generate instructions for displaying an elastic object having an initial shape at the initial touch position. The processor is configured to generate instructions for displaying the elastic object deformed from the initial shape so as to form a leading edge portion extending toward the predetermined position. The timing indicator superimposed over the leading edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Naruatsu Baba
  • Patent number: 10099136
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a non-transitory computer readable medium for storing a game program; and a computer connected to the non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer is configured to execute the game program for building a competition game space to be shared by a plurality of users including a first user and a second user through a network. The computer is further for updating a game point, which is associated with a predetermined user and a game object associated with the predetermined user, based on arranging of the game object in the competition game space. The computer is further for conducting processing so as to inhibit the game object from being arranged in the competition game space after a competition time period has elapsed since the competition game space is built. The computer is further for comparing the game points associated with each user to select a winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Hajime Kurebayashi
  • Patent number: 10095266
    Abstract: A system includes a first device configured to cause a virtual reality image to be output by a display. The system also includes a second device communicatively coupled with the first device. The second device is configured to detect a user input associated with an action capable of being displayed in the virtual reality image. The second device is also configured to cause the first device to cause an object to be displayed in the virtual reality image based on the user input. The object at least partially includes a graphic representative of one or more of the second device, a user movement with respect to the second device, or the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Inomata
  • Patent number: 10088900
    Abstract: To enable a state of an object to be changed based on a relationship between a line of sight of a user wearing a head-mounted display and a position of the object arranged in a virtual space, a specific object is arranged at a predetermined position in the virtual space. A determination is made whether the specific object is located outside a certain range from the line of sight of the user wearing the head-mounted display for a first predetermined period. Then, when the specific object is located outside the certain range from the line of sight of the user for the first predetermined period, a sound associated with the specific object is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Ippei Kondo
  • Patent number: 10013812
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space and a virtual camera for determining a field of view region at a first position in the virtual space. The method includes specifying a reference slight line of the user and a direction of the virtual camera. The method includes generating a field of view image corresponding to the field of view region and outputting the field of view image. The method includes receiving a movement input for specifying a movement destination of the virtual camera. The method includes specifying a temporal state of the movement input. The method includes moving the virtual camera from the first position to a second position in the virtual space based on the temporal state. The method includes generating an updated field of view image based on the virtual camera reaching the second position and outputting the updated field of view image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Sadaharu Muta
  • Patent number: 10008041
    Abstract: To display additional information in a region that a user rarely looks at, provided is an image generating device, including a processor. The processor is configured to generate an image to be displayed on a display. The processor is further unit configured to create statistical data based on a frequency that a user looks at each area of the image displayed on the display; a low frequency area identifying unit configured to identify an area in the image, which has a frequency below a threshold, as a low frequency area based on the statistical data. The processor is further configured to generate an additional image to be arranged in the low frequency area in superimposition on the image. The processor is further configured to output the image and the additional image to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Inomata
  • Patent number: 9971157
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space including a virtual camera, a character object, and a field in which the character object is movable, the field defining a peripheral direction and surrounding the virtual camera along the peripheral direction. The method includes defining a visual field of the virtual camera. The method includes displaying a visual-field image on a head-mounted display based on the visual field. The method includes detecting a movement input including a lateral-direction component, the lateral-direction being different from the peripheral direction. The method includes moving the character object in the field along the peripheral direction in response to the lateral-direction component of the movement input. The method includes detecting movement of the head-mounted display and changing a direction of the virtual camera based on detected movement of the head-mounted display. The method includes updating the visual-field image based on the direction of the virtual camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventors: Takanori Yoshioka, Takeshi Kobayashi, Takao Kashihara, Shuhei Terahata
  • Patent number: 9959679
    Abstract: A method of controlling a widget in a virtual space is disclosed, comprising: moving a field-of-view and a point of gaze in the virtual space; determining if the widget and the point of gaze overlap each other, and providing an input to the widget if the widget and the point of gaze overlap; determining if at least a part of the widget is positioned outside the field of view; and moving the widget so that the part of the widget is positioned inside the field of view if it is determined that at least a part of the widget is positioned outside the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, Inc.
    Inventor: Shuhei Terahata
  • Patent number: 9958937
    Abstract: Provided is a content viewing system using a head-mounted display (HMD), which enables a user to know a popular broadcaster content in real time. A device to be used for content viewing includes: a display unit configured to display, on the head-mounted display, a plurality of virtual displays arranged in a virtual space; a selecting unit configured to select one of the virtual displays based on movement detected by a detector of the head-mounted display; and a playing unit configured to play a content associated with a selected virtual display. The plurality of virtual displays are arrayed in grid sections provided along a celestial sphere surface. The selecting unit is configured to identify one of the grid sections on the celestial sphere surface based on the detected movement, to thereby select one virtual display associated with the identified grid section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventors: Naruatsu Baba, Takeshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9950258
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a transmission portion configured to transmit a two-dimensional image to a plurality of controllers through a network. The two-dimensional image is a simplification of a three-dimensional image based on information of a selected application. The transmission portion is further configured to transmit positional information for a first object to the plurality of controllers. The positional information for the first object is receivable from a first controller. The apparatus further includes a reception portion configured to receive positional information for a second object from a second controller through the network based on the positional information for the first object and the two-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Inomata