Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes identifying a gaming device in a real-world environment, the gaming device providing a user experience to a user in a mixed-reality setting, identifying an object in the real-world environment in proximity to the gaming device, and initiating an activity relating to the object based on a virtual part of the mixed-reality setting.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes selecting a virtual object to be positioned in a mixed-reality environment, the virtual object having one or more conditions relating to the positioning of the virtual object, scanning a real-world part of the mixed-reality environment, determining a location to position the virtual object based on the scan, wherein the location satisfies the one or more conditions, scaling the virtual object based on the location, and positioning the virtual object in the mixed-reality environment at the determined location.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting a display screen using an extended reality display device, comprising receiving, at the extended reality display device, an image, or data defining an image, corresponding to a predetermined frame of a video stream, the predetermined frame comprising a plurality of specified feature points, monitoring a display screen that is displaying the video stream, detecting at least some of the plurality of specified feature points in the predetermined frame of the video stream as displayed on the display screen, and determining, based on the detected specified feature points, the physical boundaries of the display screen.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for representing virtual objects outside of a display screen, comprising: receiving data defining a virtual environment that comprises a plurality of virtual objects, each virtual object having a virtual location within the virtual environment, displaying, on a display screen, a portion of the virtual environment that is within a field of view controlled by a user determining if at least one virtual object of a subset of the virtual objects is outside of the field of view but at least partially within a virtual display area adjacent the display screen. In response to determining that a virtual object of the subset of the virtual objects is at least partially within the virtual display area, the method comprises converting the virtual location of the virtual object into a real-world location, and displaying a virtual element representing the virtual object at the real-world location using a mixed-reality display device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided which enable an object, known or unknown, to be augmented with additional visual elements. This may provide a more immersive experience, for example, when gaming or viewing content.

Abstract: A method of executing a multiplayer video game includes: connecting a game client to a game server via a communication network; for each player, executing an instance of a game on the game server to generate a game environment; synchronizing game data between multiple instances of the game to link the generated game environments; transmitting user inputs to the game server to initiate interactive gameplay; for each player, generating a video stream of the linked game environment from the player's perspective; and mixing the video streams for individual players into split screen view during a split screen mode.

Abstract: A processing device includes: a first receiving unit configured to receive one or more inputs for a video game console from a handheld video game controller using a first communication protocol; and a first transmitting unit configured to transmit the one or more inputs to the video game console using a second communication protocol, where communication using the second communication protocol has a longer range than communication using the first communication protocol.

Abstract: A method of audio provision includes executing a game in a local co-operative play mode, outputting for the game first audio in a preferred language of a first user, and also outputting for the game second audio in a different preferred language of a second user.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a storage unit configured to store one or more criteria associated with a video game; an executing unit configured to execute the video game; an input unit configured to receive activity data, where the activity data is data associated with physical activity of a user who is not directly playing the video game; and a processing unit configured to modify one or more aspects of a virtual environment within the executed video game when the received activity data satisfies one or more of the criteria.

Abstract: An input system comprising: a first input device comprising a display and one or more sensors, wherein the first input device is configured to generate one or more inputs of a first type; a second input device comprising an attachment unit for removably attaching the first input device to the second input device, wherein the second input device is configured to generate one or more inputs of a second type; and a processing device configured to receive the one or more inputs of the first type and the one or more inputs of the second type.

Abstract: A system for generating video game inputs is provided. The system comprises an input unit operable to obtain images of a passive non-luminous object being held by a user as a video games controller. The system also comprises an object detector and object pose detector for detecting the object and its respective pose in the obtained images. The pose detector is configured to detect the pose of the object based on at least one of a (i) contour detection operation and (ii) the output of a machine learning model that has been trained to detect the poses of passive non-luminous objects in images. A user input generator is configured to generate user inputs based on the detected changes in pose of the passive non-luminous object and to transmit these to a video game unit at which a video game is being executed. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A system for determining a route for a user of a processing device during the presentation of content to the user, the system comprising a content identification unit operable to identify one or more characteristics of the content, a route determination unit operable to determine a route for a journey in dependence upon the identified characteristics, the start location of the journey, and the destination of the journey, and a content presentation unit operable to present content to the user of the processing device during the journey, the journey being undertaken in accordance with the determined route.

Abstract: A system for presenting content to a user of a processing device during a journey, the system comprising a journey identification unit operable to identify one or more characteristics of the journey, a content determination unit operable to select and/or modify content in dependence upon the identified characteristics, and a content presentation unit operable to present the selected and/or modified content to the user of the processing device during the journey.

Abstract: A personalisation system configured to perform head mounted display personalisation comprises a head mounted display ‘HMD’ includes: at least a first video camera, a simultaneous localization and mapping processor configured to detect feature points of a real world environment captured by the at least first video camera when the HMD is worn by a user, a user identification processor configured to identify the user responsive to at least a subset of the detected feature points of the real world environment, a personalisation processor configured to personalise at least a first aspect of presenting graphical content to the user with the HMD in response to identification of the user, and a storage processor operable to store, in a memory, personalisation information in association with the identification of the user for subsequent use.

Abstract: A method of environment mapping comprising the steps of receiving a plurality of images from respective different viewpoints; using a simultaneous localisation and mapping ‘SLAM’ process, detect feature points in the plurality of images; classifying one or more objects within the plurality of images as being objects of interest; determining the position of the or each object of interest using feature points corresponding to the objects of interest in the images; and providing an indication of the position of one or more objects of interest to a user of a virtual display; and wherein the step of determining the position of the or each object of interest using their feature points is repeated, more frequently than for other feature points in the images.

Abstract: A video processing method for a circular panoramic video recording including an original field of view region at a first resolution and a further peripheral region outside the original field of view at a second, lower resolution, the method including the steps of performing spatial upscaling of the further peripheral region to a resolution higher than the second resolution.

Abstract: A method of video recording comprises the steps of: rendering a field of view of a virtual environment for a first user of a head mounted display at a first resolution, rendering a view of the virtual environment outside the field of view of the first user at a second lower resolution than the first resolution, outputting the rendered field of view for display to the first user, and recording the combined render as a video for subsequent viewing by a second user; meanwhile a corresponding method of video playback comprises requesting to download or stream the video from a remote source, receiving the download or stream of the video from the remote source, and outputting at least part of the stream or video for display to a second user wearing a head mounted display, wherein the step of outputting the stream of video comprises detecting the field of view of the second user wearing the head mounted display, and providing the corresponding portion of the recorded stream or video for output to the head mounted di

Abstract: An alert method for a head mounted display includes: identifying the current user of the head mounted display, retrieving a speaker recognition profile for the current user, detecting audio using one or more microphones, estimating whether the detected audio comprises speech corresponding to that of the current user based on the retrieved speaker recognition profile, and if not, then relaying the detected audio comprising the speech to the current user of the head mounted display.

Abstract: A personalisation system configured to perform head mounted display personalisation comprises a head mounted display ‘HMD’ includes: at least a first video camera, a simultaneous localization and mapping processor configured to detect feature points of a real world environment captured by the at least first video camera when the HMD is worn by a user, a user identification processor configured to identify the user responsive to at least a subset of the detected feature points of the real world environment, a personalisation processor configured to personalise at least a first aspect of presenting graphical content to the user with the HMD in response to identification of the user, and a storage processor operable to store, in a memory, personalisation information in association with the identification of the user for subsequent use.

Abstract: A system for generating secondary content for display, the secondary content being augmented reality content corresponding to primary content for display by a first display device, the system including a primary content characterisation unit operable to characterise the primary content, a secondary content generation unit operable to generate, in dependence upon the characterisation of the primary content, secondary content including one or more secondary content elements associated with the primary content, and a content positioning unit operable to position one or more secondary content elements with respect to one or more elements in a real environment, where the user of a second display device is able to view the secondary content elements overlaid upon a view of the real environment at the respective specified positions.