Abstract: A first communication device communicatively coupled with a second communication device by way of a first network interface and by way of a second network interface parallel to the first network interface prepares object data in accordance with a data partitioning protocol for transmission to the second communication device. The first communication device transmits the prepared object data to the second communication device at an overall data transfer rate that is at least as great as a sum of first and second data transfer rates associated, respectively, with the first and second network interfaces by concurrently transmitting first and second portions of the prepared object data by way of the first and second network interfaces and at the first and second data transfer rates, respectively. Corresponding methods and devices for receiving concurrently transmitted object data by way of parallel network interfaces are also disclosed.

Abstract: A supplemental display unit may provide information to a display associated with a wearable article. The supplemental display unit may share a communications channel with a mobile device, and exchange data with the mobile device over the communications channel while the mobile device resides within the wearable article. The supplemental display unit may generate a screen having a graphical user interface (GUI) based on the exchanged data, where an appearance of the screen is based on a measurement of the wearable article. The supplemental display unit may provide icons on the GUI presenting information to the user, where the icons may be arranged in groups based upon the type of information that each icon presents, and provide the GUI to the display, where the display is coupled to the wearable article.

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 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 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 virtual reality media system provides, for display on a display screen of a media player device associated with a user, a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world generated from and including camera-captured real-world scenery. 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. The virtual reality media system integrates into the immersive virtual reality world a three-dimensional (“3D”) virtual object having an outer surface designated as a promotional content platform. The virtual reality media system also accesses data representative of a two-dimensional (“2D”) promotional image and maps the 2D promotional image onto the promotional content platform on the outer surface of the 3D virtual object such that the 2D promotional image is viewable as a skin of the 3D virtual 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 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 supplemental display unit may provide information to a display associated with a wearable article. The supplemental display unit may share a communications channel with a mobile device, and exchange data with the mobile device over the communications channel while the mobile device resides within the wearable article. The supplemental display unit may generate a screen having a graphical user interface (GUI) based on the exchanged data, where an appearance of the screen is based on a measurement of the wearable article. The supplemental display unit may provide icons on the GUI presenting information to the user, where the icons may be arranged in groups based upon the type of information that each icon presents, and provide the GUI to the display, where the display is coupled to the wearable article.

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: A device may provide information for a virtual reality environment to a virtual reality device. The virtual reality device may be operated by a first party. The device may determine that the first party of the virtual reality device is placing a call to a second party from within the virtual reality environment. The device may determine connection information associated with the first party and the second party. The device may cause the call to be established between the virtual reality device and a second party device associated with the second party via a telephone network using the connection information and without the second party device connecting to the virtual reality environment. The telephone network may be located external to the virtual reality environment. The second party device may connect to the telephone network without connecting to the virtual reality environment.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor, a network communication interface controlled by the processor, and a memory accessible by the processor. Programming is stored in the memory which configures the computer as a network server to support configuration of a user interface on a mobile device for control of an appliance. The network server: 1) receives and stores registration information from the appliance, which includes an identification of the appliance and information for configuring the user interface to control the appliance, 2) receives, over a cellular network, a request from a mobile device which includes the identification of the appliance, and 3) transmits, over the cellular network, the configuration information to the mobile device which is used to configure the mobile device to display the user interface for wirelessly controlling the appliance on the mobile device.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor, a network communication interface controlled by the processor, and a memory accessible by the processor. Programming is stored in the memory which configures the computer as a network server to support configuration of a user interface on a mobile device for control of an appliance. The network server: 1) receives and stores registration information from the appliance, which includes an identification of the appliance and information for configuring the user interface to control the appliance, 2) receives, over a cellular network, a request from a mobile device which includes the identification of the appliance, and 3) transmits, over the cellular network, the configuration information to the mobile device which is used to configure the mobile device to display the user interface for wirelessly controlling the appliance on the mobile device.