Abstract: An exemplary device renders, within a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world (“world”) presented on a display screen, content of the world based on a stream of a first content file comprising a first content sector of the world encoded in a high resolution and a second content sector encoded in a low resolution. The device detects user input to shift additional content included in the second content sector but not the first content sector into the field of view. In response, the device switches from receiving a stream of the first content file to receiving a stream of a second content file comprising the first content sector encoded in the low resolution and the second content sector encoded in the high resolution. The device then renders the additional content from the second content sector in the high resolution based on the second content file.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media player device (“device”) providing a user with an immersive virtual reality experience in accordance with a specification file corresponding to the immersive virtual reality experience. The specification file includes data that defines a plurality of elements included in the immersive virtual reality experience by providing a plurality of links for use by the device in acquiring the plurality of elements while providing the user with the immersive virtual reality experience. The method further includes the device detecting, while the immersive virtual reality experience is being provided to the user, real-world input associated with the user, and integrating the real-world input into the immersive virtual reality experience by updating the specification file to further include data that defines the real-world input as a user-specific element that is specific to the user and that is included in the immersive virtual reality experience.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing non-invasive treatment of the human face and body by electroporation in lieu of cosmetic surgery is provided. The apparatus comprises a high voltage pulse generator and an applicator having two or more electrodes in close mechanical and electrical contact with the patient's skin for applying the pulses to the patient's skin. The applicator may consist of two pieces with one electrode having a sharp tip and another having a flat surface. High voltage pulses delivered to the electrodes create at the tip of the sharp electrode an electric field high enough to cause death of relatively large subcutaneous fat cells by electroporation. Moving the electrode tip along the skin creates a line of necrotic subcutaneous fat cells, which later are metabolized by the body. Multiple applications of the electrode along predetermined lines on the face or neck create shrinkage of the skin and the subcutaneous fat volume underlying the treated area.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media provider system differentiates static objects depicted in two-dimensional video data from dynamic objects depicted in the two-dimensional video data. Based on the differentiating of the static objects from the dynamic objects, the virtual reality media provider system generates dynamic volumetric models of the surfaces of the static objects and the dynamic objects. The virtual reality media provider system updates the dynamic volumetric models of the surfaces of the static objects with a lower regularity or on an as-needed basis, and the virtual reality media provider system separately updates the dynamic volumetric models of the surfaces of the dynamic objects with a higher regularity. The higher regularity is higher than the lower regularity and keeps the dynamic volumetric models of the surfaces of the dynamic objects up-to-date with what is occurring in the two-dimensional video data. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media provider system receives two-dimensional (“2D”) video data for surfaces of first and second objects located in a natural setting. The 2D video data is captured by first and second capture devices disposed at different positions with respect to the objects. The system distinguishes the first object from the second object by performing a plurality of techniques in combination with one another. The plurality of techniques include determining that the first object is moving in relation to the second object; and determining that, from a vantage point of at least one of the different positions, a representation of the first object captured within the 2D video data does not overlap with a representation of the second object. Based on the received 2D video data and the distinguishing of the first and second objects, the system generates an individually-manipulable volumetric model of the first object.

Abstract: An exemplary device renders, within a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world (“world”) presented on a display screen, content of the world based on a stream of a first content file comprising a first content sector of the world. The device predicts that a user will provide user input representative of a request to shift additional content included in a second content sector of the world but not the first content sector into the field of view. Based on the prediction, the device requests and begins receiving a stream of a second content file comprising the second content sector. The device then detects the predicted user input from the user and, in response, switches from rendering the content included in the first content sector based on the first content file to rendering the additional content included in the second content sector based on the second content file.

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: 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 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 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: 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: A method and apparatus for treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD), particular diabetic nephropathy, are disclosed. The method comprises activation of adenosine A2a receptors in parenchymal and immune cells infiltrated into kidneys. The activation is performed by PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) stimulation applied locally to kidneys. Adenosine A2a signaling pathway is a potent anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressive regulator that has been proven to attenuate inflammation and injury in diabetic nephropathy. Efficient activation of A2a receptors is achieved by applying electromagnetic field stimulation consecutively in 3 spatial dimensions. This allows attaining a significant increase in activation of A2a receptors in comparison with one-dimensional stimulation. Assistant thermal stimulation may be applied to increase expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in parenchymal cells.

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: A method and apparatus for treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD), particular diabetic nephropathy, are disclosed. The method comprises activation of adenosine A2a receptors in parenchymal and immune cells infiltrated into kidneys. The activation is performed by PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) stimulation applied locally to kidneys. Adenosine A2a signaling pathway is a potent anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressive regulator that has been proven to attenuate inflammation and injury in diabetic nephropathy. Efficient activation of A2a receptors is achieved by applying electromagnetic field stimulation consecutively in 3 spatial dimensions. This allows attaining a significant increase in activation of A2a receptors in comparison with one-dimensional stimulation. Assistant thermal stimulation may be applied to increase expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in parenchymal cells.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media player device (“device”) providing a user with an immersive virtual reality experience in accordance with a specification file corresponding to the immersive virtual reality experience. The specification file includes data that defines a plurality of elements included in the immersive virtual reality experience by providing a plurality of links for use by the device in acquiring the plurality of elements while providing the user with the immersive virtual reality experience. The method further includes the device detecting, while the immersive virtual reality experience is being provided to the user, real-world input associated with the user, and integrating the real-world input into the immersive virtual reality experience by updating the specification file to further include data that defines the real-world input as a user-specific element that is specific to the user and that is included in the immersive virtual reality experience.

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.