Abstract: A method of user availability estimation includes recording a timing of a plurality of first user sessions during in which the first user performs one or more tasks of a predetermined type, estimating a timing of a subsequent session of the first user based upon the recorded timings of the plurality of first user sessions, for the subsequent session of the first user, ordering for completion by the first user one or more tasks of the predetermined type, having respective durations, that fit within the estimated timing of the subsequent session.

Abstract: A system provides tactile navigation guidance in a video game environment. The system includes: a detection unit configured to detect at least part of surroundings of a player in the game environment and a guidance unit configured to adjust a tension level of at least one variable tension input on a controller. The adjustment is made in dependence on the result of detection by the detection unit so as to indicate to a user at least a subset of the detected surroundings through the controller.

Abstract: There is provided a drive power transmitting mechanism that can transmit drive power losslessly and can be used in environments where silence is required. The drive power transmitting mechanism includes a rotor having a first outer circumferential surface and rotatable about a first rotational axis, a rotor having a second outer circumferential surface pressed against the first outer circumferential surface and rotatable about a second rotational axis due to a frictional force produced between the second outer circumferential surface and the first outer circumferential surface, a gear rotatable in unison with the rotor about the first rotational axis, and a gear rotatable in unison with the rotor about the second rotational axis, in which the gear and the gear are brought into mesh with each other when the second outer circumferential surface slips against the first outer circumferential surface.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes: receiving circuitry to receive game state information and associated user data for a plurality of previous interactive sessions of an interactive gaming application, the plurality of previous interactive sessions associated with a plurality of users, wherein for each previous interactive session, the user data is indicative of one or more properties for a given user during the previous interactive session and the game state information is indicative of one or more in-game properties during the previous interactive session; analysis circuitry to: generate user emotion data indicative of one or more user emotion categories in dependence upon the user data for the plurality of previous interactive sessions; detect a correspondence between a set of one or more in-game properties and a given user emotion category for at least a threshold number of interactive sessions; and generate a notification element comprising notification data indicative of the set of one or more in-game

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying proprietary content in composite media comprising a plurality of media components, the method comprising: identifying a first media component of the composite media as proprietary content; identifying a second media component of the composite media as a context indicator; and determining a context for the proprietary content based on the context indicator.

Abstract: There is provided an optical disc drive that can maintain contact between an optical disc and a conveying roller, while allowing the number of components to be reduced. A conveying roller includes a right roller that is rotatable around an axis and a left roller that is rotatable around an axis. The right roller portion and the left roller portion are arranged in a lateral direction. One of a right end portion of the right roller portion and a left end portion of the left roller portion is movable in an up-down direction relative to the other of the right end portion of the right roller portion and the left end portion of the left roller portion, with a relative position between the axis and the axis unchanged.

Abstract: A method includes capturing a plurality of different views of a real-world object with a plurality of image capture devices, and generating a visual representation of the real-world object in three physical dimensions by displaying images on a transparent display device that continuously rotates completely around an axis of rotation. The images displayed on the transparent display device are selected based on the plurality of different views of the real-world object. A system includes a plurality of image capture devices arranged to capture a plurality of different views of a real-world object, a transparent display device configured to continuously rotate completely around an axis of rotation, and a processor based apparatus. A storage medium storing one or more computer programs is also provided.

Abstract: A user input method includes the steps of inputting real events arising from a user acting as a spectator of content, analysing the real events to estimate user sentiment, and modifying an aspect of computer-controlled character behaviour in response to estimated user sentiment.

Abstract: A method and system for providing gaze-based generation of virtual effects indicators correlated with directional sounds is disclosed. Gaze data is tracked via a camera associated with a client device to identify a point of focus within a three-dimensional virtual environment towards which one or both eyes of the player are focused. When the point of focus indicated by the gaze data when the point of focus does not move towards the source location within the three-dimensional virtual environment when the directional sound is received indicates that a virtual effect indicator associated with the directional sound type of the indicated directional sound is should be generated.

Abstract: Provided is a signal cable including a connector (20) including a shell (21) that houses a connection terminal (22) to be connected to a connection terminal included in an electronic device and that is electrically connected to a frame ground of the electronic device in a state in which the connector (20) is connected to the electronic device, a cable body (10) including a ground connection wire electrically connected to the shell (21), and a supporting member (40) having a tubular shape and having a higher rigidity than the surface of the cable body (10). The connector-side end portion of the cable body (10) is led inside the supporting member (40), the connector-side end portion of the ground connection wire includes a folded portion that folded, and is disposed outside the supporting member (40), and the shell (21) is fixed to the cable body (10) in a state in which the folded portion is sandwiched between the shell (21) and the supporting member (40).

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes processing circuitry to generate images of a computer-generated environment for display to a first user, storage circuitry to temporarily store at least some of the images, where the storage circuitry is configured to temporarily store a respective image in dependence upon one or more storage conditions, receiving circuitry to receive user input data indicative of selection by a first user of a predetermined function for reporting abusive interaction by another user associated with the computer-generated environment, recording circuitry to generate a respective recording in response to the user input data, the respective recording comprising at least some of the images stored by the storage circuitry and output circuitry to output the respective recording

Abstract: A method and system for improving a resolution of an image frame is described. The image frame is part of a data stream. The data stream may be a video game, for example. The method comprising the following steps. Sending an encoded version of the image frame from a server to a client device via a first communication channel between the server and the client device. Detecting a reduced bandwidth of the first communication channel. In response to detecting the reduced bandwidth, determining data to be sent to the client device via a second communication channel. The second communication channel is separate to the first communication channel and the data relates to the image frame. The determined data is sent via the second communication channel.

Abstract: A conveying roller position manipulation mechanism moves the position of a conveying roller between a first roller position where the conveying roller contacts an optical disc and a second roller position where the conveying roller is separated from the optical disc. A centering mechanism aligns the center of the optical disc with the position of a spindle motor. A chucking pulley operation mechanism manipulates the position of a chucking pulley configured to fix the optical disc to the spindle motor. The conveying roller position manipulation mechanism includes a rotary arm configured to move in response to a collision with the optical disc that approaches the position of the spindle motor, and at least one of the centering mechanism and the chucking pulley operation mechanism includes a member coupled to the rotary arm.

Abstract: A system that teaches players gestures, for instance during the introduction of the game, and asks the player to invoke the gesture. Rather than asking the player to repeat over and over until the player succeeds, the game looks for commonality in the player's attempts, and after a small number of attempts, the game can learn how that player interprets the gesture given the player's own ability. The game can then adapt itself to look for that pattern to trigger the action.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing feature similarity for a real-world space used for augmented reality (AR) gameplay is disclosed. The method includes receiving captured sensor data from the real-world space used by a user for said AR gameplay of a game. The sensor data provides data to identify characteristics of physical objects in the real-world space. The method includes generating a user space score using the characteristics of the physical objects identified in the real-world space. The method includes comparing the user space score to a game space score that is predefined for the game. The comparing is used to produce a fit handicap for the AR gameplay of the game in the real-world space by the user. Adjustments to gameplay parameters may be made to compensate or adjust the fit handicap.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to controlling outcomes in a game that includes multiple different users playing respective roles of specific virtual characters. The multiple different users may be present at a same physical location, or the different users may be located at different physical locations when movement of their eyes is tracked. Here, a user may choose one of a set of provided selections by simply looking at the chosen selection for a period of time or by looking at the chosen selection and performing an action or gesture. This functionality allows multiple different users to control actions performed by different specific characters via an online multiplayer system. Depending on what a first user looks at, that first user or a second user may be provided with a corresponding set of selections or audio/visual content via respective gaming devices operated by the first and the second user.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamic music creation is disclosed. An emotion is assigned to one or more musical motifs and a game vector is associated with the emotion. The one or more musical motifs are mapped to the game vector based on the emotion. A musical composition is generated based on the game vector and desired emotions.

Abstract: A noise cancellation system comprising an audio identification unit configured to identify audio to which a noise cancellation process is to be applied, an output generation unit configured to generate one or more noise cancellation signals in dependence upon the identified audio, and two or more audio output units each configured to reproduce a respective subset of the generated one or more noise cancellation signals, such that the two or more audio output units are configured to produce different outputs.

Abstract: A graphics rendering apparatus, comprising: a first receiving unit configured to receive mesh data comprising a mesh that defines a geometry of a virtual element that is comprised within a virtual environment of a video game; a second receiving unit configured to receive one or more input signals; an animation unit configured to cause the virtual element to perform a given predefined action in response to one or more of the input signals; a determination unit configured to determine whether the virtual element has performed the given predefined action at least a threshold number of times; an identification unit configured to identify one or more predefined mesh deformations associated with the given predefined action if the virtual element has performed the given predefined action at least the threshold number of times; a deformation unit configured to deform one or more subsets of the mesh in accordance with one or more of the predefined mesh deformations, and at least in part thereby generate subsequent mes