Patents by Inventor Connor A. SMITH

Connor A. SMITH has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11947733
    Abstract: Techniques for displaying a virtual object in an enhanced reality setting in accordance with a physical muting mode being active are described. In some examples, a system obtains context data for one or more physical elements in a physical setting, wherein the context data includes first context data and second context data that is different from the first context data. In some examples, in response to obtaining the context data for the one or more physical elements in the physical setting, a system causes display of a virtual object that represents the one or more physical elements using the first context data without using the second context data, in accordance with a determination that a physical muting mode is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Clément Pierre Nicolas Boissière, Shaun Budhram, Tucker Bull Morgan, Bruno M. Sommer, Connor A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20240103677
    Abstract: A computer system optionally displays a user interface object that reveals content based on whether the content is private or shared. A computer system optionally displays a user interface object that includes shared content based on whether participants have entitlement to the content. A computer system optionally displays a sharing indicator that indicates that the respective content is shared with one or more other participants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher D. MCKENZIE, Jay MOON, Steve O. LEMAY, Rajat BHARDWAJ, Shih-Sang CHIU, Connor A. SMITH, Joseph P. CERRA, Willem MATTELAER
  • Publication number: 20240095984
    Abstract: Some examples of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for presenting content in a three-dimensional environment by one or more electronic devices in a multi-user communication session. In some examples, a first electronic device and a second electronic device are communicatively linked in a multi-user communication session, wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device are configured to display a three-dimensional environment, respectively. In some examples, the first electronic device and the second electronic device are grouped in a first spatial group within the multi-user communication session. In some examples, if the second electronic device determines that the first electronic device changes states (and/or vice versa), the user of the first electronic device and the user of the second electronic device are no longer grouped into the same spatial group within the multi-user communication session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Miao REN, Shih-Sang CHIU, Connor A. SMITH, Joseph P. CERRA, Willem MATTELAER
  • Publication number: 20240094863
    Abstract: Some examples of the disclosure are directed to methods for application-based spatial refinement in a multi-user communication session including a first electronic device and a second electronic device. While the first electronic device is presenting a three-dimensional environment, the first electronic device receives an input corresponding to a request to move a shared object in the three-dimensional environment. In accordance with a determination that the shared object is an object of a first type, the first electronic device moves the shared object and an avatar of a user in the three-dimensional environment in accordance with the input. In accordance with a determination that the shared object is an object of a second type, different from the first type, and the input is a first type of input, the first electronic device moves the shared object in the three-dimensional environment in accordance with the input, without moving the avatar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Connor A. SMITH, Christopher D. MCKENZIE, Nathan GITTER
  • Publication number: 20240005622
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that provide a communication session in which a first device receives and uses streamed avatar data to render views that include a time-varying avatar, e.g., video content of some or all of another user sent from the other user's device during the communication session. In order to efficiently use resources (e.g., power, bandwidth, etc.), some implementations adapt the avatar provision process (e.g., video framerate, image resolution, etc.) based on user context, e.g., whether the viewer is looking at the avatar, whether the avatar is within the viewer's foveal region, or whether the avatar is within the viewer's field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Hayden J. Lee, Connor A. Smith, Alexandre Da Veiga, Leanid Vouk, Sebastian P. Herscher
  • Publication number: 20230401805
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that provide a communication session in which the participants view an extended reality (XR) environment that represents a portion of a first user's physical space merged with a portion of a second user's physical space. The respective spaces are aligned based on selected vertical surface (e.g., walls) within each physical environment. For example, each user may manually select a respective wall of their own physical room and each may be presented with a view in which the two rooms appear to be stitched together along the selected walls. In some implementations, the rooms are aligned and merged to give the appearance that the walls were knocked down/erased and turned into portals into the other user's room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Hayden J. Lee, Connor A. Smith
  • Patent number: 11816759
    Abstract: Split applications and virtual objects in a multi-user communication session may include presenting, for a first device, a first environmental representation of the multi-user communication session, wherein the first device and the second device are active in the multi-user communication session, and wherein the first environmental representation and a second environmental representation of the multi-user communication session for the second device comprise one or more shared virtual objects presented in a common spatial configuration; duplicating a particular shared virtual object that is located at an initial location in the common spatial configuration; determining a modified location for the duplicated virtual object in the first environmental representation; and presenting a modified first environmental representation comprising the duplicated virtual object at the modified location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Connor A. Smith, Nicholas W. Henderson
  • Patent number: 11805176
    Abstract: Facilitating collaboration in a multi-user communication session may include, at a first device, providing a toolkit of system-level tools for interacting within the session with a second device. A first user interaction with a first tool is detected which results in a virtual modification to an environment of the first device. In response to the first user interaction, the virtual modification is provided for presentation in a second environment representation of the session corresponding to the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Miao Ren, Connor A. Smith, Bruno M. Sommer, Tucker B. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20230316658
    Abstract: Presentation of objects within the multiuser communication session is changed based on a shared or unshared status, or whether a user is interacting with the object. The movement of a user of a first device is monitored within a first physical environment comprising shared objects and unshared objects, where the shared objects are visible to the user and an additional user of a second device in a second physical environment, the first device and the second device are active in a multiuser communication session, and the unshared objects are visible to the user and are not visible to the additional user. An interaction of the user with an unshared object is detected. In accordance with the detection of the interaction of the user with the unshared object, a representation of at least a portion of the unshared object is provided for presentation by the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Connor A. Smith, Nicholas W. Henderson, Luis R. Deliz Centeno, Bruno M. Sommer, Timofey Grechkin
  • Publication number: 20230308610
    Abstract: Recommended avatar placement in a multi-user communication session may include obtaining geometric information associated with a physical environment of a user of a communication device participating in a multi-user communication session; determining an activity type for the multi-user communication session; determining a recommended avatar placement for the user based on the geometric information and the activity type; and displaying an indication of the recommended avatar placement in an environmental representation of the multi-user communication session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Henderson, Connor A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20230299989
    Abstract: Avatars may be displayed in a multiuser communication session using various spatial modes. One technique for presenting avatars includes presenting avatars such that an attention direction of the avatar is retargeted to match the intent of the remote user corresponding to the avatar. Another technique for presenting avatars includes a pinned mode in which a spatial relationship between one or more avatars remains displayed in a consistent spatial relationship to a local user regardless of movements of the local user. Another technique for presenting avatars includes providing user-selectable presentation modes between a room scale mode and a stationary mode for presenting a representation of a multiuser communication session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Connor A. Smith, Bruno M. Sommer, Jonathan R. Dascola, Nicholas W. Henderson, Timofey Grechkin
  • Publication number: 20230274504
    Abstract: Some examples of the disclosure are directed to selective display of avatars corresponding to users of electronic devices in a multi-user communication session. In some examples, when immersive content is shared in the communication session, the avatars remain displayed when presenting the content in the three-dimensional environment. In some examples, when perspective-limited immersive content is shared in the communication session, the avatars cease being displayed when presenting the content in the three-dimensional environment. In some examples, when content presented in a full-screen mode is shared in the communication session, the avatars remain displayed when presenting the content in the full-screen mode in the three-dimensional environment. In some examples, when object-bounded content is shared in the communication session, the avatars remain displayed when presenting the object-bounded content in the three-dimensional environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Miao REN, Connor A. SMITH, Hayden J. LEE, Bruno M. SOMMER
  • Publication number: 20230273706
    Abstract: Some examples of the disclosure are directed to methods for spatial placement of avatars in a communication session. In some examples, while a first electronic device is presenting a three-dimensional environment, the first electronic device may receive an input corresponding to a request to enter a communication session with a second electronic device. In some examples, in response to receiving the input, the first electronic device may scan an environment surrounding the first electronic device. In some examples, the first electronic device may identify a placement location in the three-dimensional environment at which to display a virtual object representing a user of the second electronic device. In some examples, the first electronic device displays the virtual object representing the user of the second electronic device at the placement location in the three-dimensional environment. Some examples of the disclosure are directed to methods for spatial refinement in the communication session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Connor A. SMITH, Benjamin H. BOESEL, David H. HUANG, Jeffrey S. NORRIS, Jonathan PERRON, Jordan A. CAZAMIAS, Miao REN, Shih-Sang CHIU
  • Publication number: 20210325974
    Abstract: Techniques for displaying a virtual object in an enhanced reality setting in accordance with a physical muting mode being active are described. In some examples, a system obtains context data for one or more physical elements in a physical setting, wherein the context data includes first context data and second context data that is different from the first context data. In some examples, in response to obtaining the context data for the one or more physical elements in the physical setting, a system causes display of a virtual object that represents the one or more physical elements using the first context data without using the second context data, in accordance with a determination that a physical muting mode is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Clément Pierre Nicolas BOISSIÈRE, Shaun BUDHRAM, Tucker Bull MORGAN, Bruno M. SOMMER, Connor A. SMITH