Patents Assigned to COLOPL, Inc.
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 9952679
    Abstract: To give various movement instructions by body gestures to an object in a virtual space, a method includes detecting movements of controllers held by both hands of a user. The method further includes determining a first movement instruction based on the movements of the controllers. The method further includes causing a first character gazed at by the user to perform a first movement and causing a second character not gazed at by the user to perform a second movement depending on the first movement instruction. With this, instructions are given to the characters in the virtual space by means of body gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Ippei Kondo
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9940754
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of performing displaying or hiding a menu through an operation by a movement of the head of a user wearing a head-mounted display. A head-mounted display system according to an embodiment includes an inclination detector for detecting an inclination from an initial angle of the head-mounted display mounted on a user while an application is in progress, and a display controller for generating an application image in progress in the virtual space in accordance with the detected inclination and outputting the application image to the head-mounted display. When the detected inclination is larger than a first threshold value, the display controller generates an image in which a menu image is superimposed on the application image generated in accordance with the inclination and outputs the generated image to the head-mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Kuribara
  • Patent number: 9928650
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing instructions for directing a line of sight by causing a computer that is connected to a head-mounted display to identify a position of a target object in a three-dimensional virtual space. The computer is further caused to determine a field of view that is based on the line of sight from a virtual camera, in relation to movement of the HMD. The computer is further caused to place a guiding object, which follows the line of sight, in the three-dimensional virtual space at a point in the field of view that is determined based on a position of the virtual camera, a direction of the line of sight, and the position of the target object. The computer is further configured to generate instructions for displaying a field-of-view image of the three-dimensional virtual space including the guiding object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Inomata
  • Publication number: 20180021672
    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: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: COLOPL, Inc.
    Inventor: Naruatsu BABA
  • Patent number: 9873048
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a field of view of a user for a head mounted display (HMD) includes defining a virtual camera for specifying an image of the field of view in a virtual space. In response to updating an image of the field of view by changing a position of the virtual camera without synchronization with the movement of the HMD, the position of the virtual camera is moved in a movement direction of a player object to move the player object into a predetermined range of the field of view. The field of view is sectioned into a non-tracking region defined by the predetermined range, a near tracking region, and a far tracking region. A relief region is between the non-tracking region and the far tracking region. Movement of the player object is based on a location of the player object within the field-of view region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Takanori Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9875079
    Abstract: An information processing method includes defining a virtual space for immersing a user wearing a head mounted display (HMD). The virtual space includes a viewpoint of the user, a sound collecting object separated from the viewpoint of the user, and a sound source object. The method includes processing sound data based on a relative positional relationship between the sound collecting object and the sound source object. The method includes instructing a sound outputting unit to output a sound based on the processed sound data. The method includes determining whether or not the viewpoint of the user is moved without synchronization with the movement of the HMD. In response to a determination that the viewpoint of the user is moved without synchronization with movement of the HMD, moving the sound collecting object so that the distance between the moved viewpoint of the user and the sound collecting object is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kada
  • Patent number: 9857884
    Abstract: A visual-field information collection method is capable of collecting visual-field information of a user wearing a head mounted display without applying a large calculation load to a processor. The visual-field information collection method to be executed by a processor includes arranging, in a virtual space in which a user wearing an HMD is immersed, a virtual camera that defines a visual axis for specifying a visual field of the user. The method includes determining the visual axis in accordance with one of a movement of the HMD and a line-of-sight direction of the user. The method includes determining whether or not the visual axis is moved from a predetermined first position to a predetermined second position. The method includes generating movement information representing that the visual axis is moved when the visual axis is moved from the predetermined first position to the predetermined second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Arai, Kosuke Shiraki