Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Roger Stafford

Jeffrey Roger Stafford 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).

  • Publication number: 20170287112
    Abstract: Gaze tracking data representing a viewer's gaze with respect to one or more images presented to the viewer is used to generate foveated image data representing one or more foveated images characterized by a higher level of detail within one or more regions of interest and a lower level of detail outside the regions of interest. The image data for portions outside the one or more regions of interest is selectively filtered to reduce visual artifacts due to contrast resulting from the lower level of detail before compositing foveated images for presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Andrew Young
  • Patent number: 9779554
    Abstract: A method for executing computer instructions for presenting an interactive environment in a head-mounted display (HMD) is described. The method includes identifying content associated with the interactive environment to be presented on the HMD for a user and determining whether an interactive object within the identified content satisfies a threshold for presentation to the user. The method includes augmenting the interactive object with augmentation data. The augmented data acts to change a characteristic of the interactive object. The operation of augmenting the interactive object is performed after determining that the interactive object does not satisfy the threshold for presentation to the user. The augmentation data modifies the interactive object to conform the interactive object to be within the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Frederick Umminger, Steven Osman
  • Publication number: 20170262154
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing user tagging of content within a virtual scene are described. One of the methods includes sending data for display of a virtual environment on a head-mounted display. The virtual environment includes a virtual item. The method further includes receiving an indication of a selection associated with the virtual item. The method includes sending option data for allowing entry of content regarding the virtual item upon receiving the indication of the selection, receiving the content, associating the content with the virtual item, and sending tagged data for displaying a tag associated with the virtual item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Glenn Black, Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Javier Fernandez Rico
  • Patent number: 9753549
    Abstract: A method to identify positions of fingers of a hand is described. The method includes capturing images of a first hand using a plurality of cameras that are part of a wearable device. The wearable device is attached to a wrist of a second hand and the plurality of cameras of the wearable device is disposed around the wearable device. The method includes repeating capturing of additional images of the first hand, the images and the additional images captured to produce a stream of captured image data during a session of presenting the virtual environment in a head mounted display (HMD). The method includes sending the stream of captured image data to a computing device that is interfaced with the HMD. The computing device is configured to process the captured image data to identify changes in positions of the fingers of the first hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Todd Tokubo
  • Patent number: 9746984
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user are described. One of the methods includes sending interactive data for rendering on a head mounted display (HMD). The HMD is configured for attachment to a head of a user for playing a game. The method further includes receiving image data associated with a body part of the user while the HMD is worn by the user and the HMD renders interactive content. The method includes tracking a spatial position associated with the body part of the user from the image data of the user. In the method, physical placement of a remote-controlled device at the spatial position associated with the body part of the user is rendered in the HMD as virtual contact with an object in the interactive content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 9729864
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for warning a user of a head mounted display that the user approaches an edge of field of view of a camera or one or more tangible obstacles. The warning includes presenting audio and/or displayable messages to the user, or moving the display(s) of the head mounted displays away of the user's eyes. The determination that the user approaches the edge of scene or a tangible obstacle is made by dynamically tracking motions of the users through analysis of images and/or depth data obtained from image sensor(s) and/or depth sensor(s) secured to either the head mounted display, arranged outside of the scene and not secured to the head mounted display, or a combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20170209786
    Abstract: In one implementation, a portable device is provided, including: a sensor configured to generate sensor data for determining and tracking a position and orientation of the portable device during an interactive session of a virtual reality program presented on a main display, the interactive session being defined for interactivity between a user and the virtual reality program; a communications module configured to send the sensor data to a computing device, the communications module being further configured to receive from the computing device an ancillary video stream of the interactive session that is generated based on a state of the virtual reality program and the tracked position and orientation of the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Yunpeng Zhu, Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Steven Osman
  • Publication number: 20170203213
    Abstract: Methods and systems for warning a user of a head mounted display (HMD) during game play of a video game. A game is executed causing interactive scenes of the game to be transmitted for rendering on a display portion of the HMD. Coordinates of the HMD are determined in a three-dimensional space of a real-world environment in which the user wearing the HMD is present, to identify a current position of the user. A movement of the HMD is determined during execution of the game by identifying a change in one or more coordinates of the HMD in the three-dimensional space. When it is determined that the user is approaching a boundary of an interaction space in a real-world environment, a warning signal is conveyed to the HMD to indicate proximity of the user to the boundary of the interaction space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 9710057
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for head mounted display (HMD) implementations. In one example implementation, a HMD includes a circuit for communicating with a computing system that processes multimedia content for display in the HMD. Further included is a front unit of the HMD that has a screen for displaying multimedia content, and the front unit has a set of LEDs. The HMD includes an accelerometer and gyroscope disposed in the front unit of the HMD. A rear section of the HMD is provided having a set of LEDs. A headband connecting the front unit to the rear section is included, such that adjustment of the headband changes a separation distance between at least one of the set of LEDs of the front unit and at least one of the set of LEDs of the rear section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Mikhailov, Eric Larsen, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20170197142
    Abstract: A method to identify positions of fingers of a hand is described. The method includes capturing images of a first hand using a plurality of cameras that are part of a wearable device. The wearable device is attached to a wrist of a second hand and the plurality of cameras of the wearable device is disposed around the wearable device. The method includes repeating capturing of additional images of the first hand, the images and the additional images captured to produce a stream of captured image data during a session of presenting the virtual environment in a head mounted display (HMD). The method includes sending the stream of captured image data to a computing device that is interfaced with the HMD. The computing device is configured to process the captured image data to identify changes in positions of the fingers of the first hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Todd Tokubo
  • Patent number: 9649558
    Abstract: A method to identify positions of fingers of a hand is described. The method includes capturing images of a first hand using a plurality of cameras that are part of a wearable device. The wearable device is attached to a wrist of a second hand and the plurality of cameras of the wearable device is disposed around the wearable device. The method includes repeating capturing of additional images of the first hand, the images and the additional images captured to produce a stream of captured image data during a session of presenting the virtual environment in a head mounted display (HMD). The method includes sending the stream of captured image data to a computing device that is interfaced with the HMD. The computing device is configured to process the captured image data to identify changes in positions of the fingers of the first hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Todd Tokubo
  • Patent number: 9630105
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for warning a user of a head mounted display during gameplay of a video game. A game is executed causing interactive scenes of the game to be rendered on a display portion of a head mounted display (HMD) worn by a user. A change in position of the HMD worn by the user, while the user is interacting with the game, is detected. The change in position is evaluated, the evaluation causing a signal to be generated when the change exceeds a pre-defined threshold value. When the signal is generated, content is sent to interrupt the interactive scenes being rendered on the display portion of the HMD. The data sent provides descriptive context for the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20170045941
    Abstract: A method is provided, including the following method operations: receiving captured images of an interactive environment in which a head-mounted display (HMD) is disposed; receiving inertial data processed from at least one inertial sensor of the HMD; analyzing the captured images and the inertial data to determine a current and predicted future location of the HMD; using the predicted future location of the HMD to adjust a beamforming direction of an RF transceiver towards the predicted future location of the HMD; tracking a gaze of a user of the HMD; generating image data depicting a view of a virtual environment for the HMD, wherein regions of the view are differentially rendered; generating audio data depicting sounds from the virtual environment, the audio data being configured to enable localization of the sounds by the user; transmitting the image data and the audio data via the RF transceiver to the HMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Todd Tokubo, Steven Osman, Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Xiadong Mao, Glenn Black
  • Publication number: 20160364881
    Abstract: A method for tracking eye movement is provided. One embodiment of the method includes receiving a first measurement from a first sensor configured to detect a gaze location, determining an initial gaze location based at least on the first measurement, receiving at least one of eye motion amplitude and eye motion direction measurement from a second sensor, and determining an estimated gaze location based at least on the initial gaze location and the at least one of eye motion amplitude and eye motion direction. Systems perform similar steps, and non-transitory computer readable storage mediums each store one or more computer programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Dominic Saul Mallinson, Eric James Larsen, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20160325184
    Abstract: Methods for processing operations of a mobile game to be played via a portable device that is used in various geographic locations of a real world to enable players of the mobile game to complete game-related tasks are provided. One method includes assigning, by a server, a first game-related task to a first geographic location in the real world and establishing, by the server, a wireless connection with the portable device to enable play of the mobile game. The method includes receiving, by the server, global positioning system (GPS) data from the portable device, the GPS data providing a geographic position of the portable device and determining, by the server based on the GPS data, that the portable device is within a proximity of the first geographic location. The method further includes sending, by the server to the portable device via the wireless connection, the first game-related task assigned to the first geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Yunpeng Zhu, Steven Osman, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20160306431
    Abstract: A system for performing a pinch and hold gesture is described. The system includes a head-mounted display (HMD) and a glove, which is worn by a hand of the user. Each finger segment of the glove includes a sensor for detecting positions of the finger segment when moved by the hand. The system includes a computing device interfaced with the HMD and the glove. The computing device analyzes data from the sensors of the finger segments to determine that a pinch and hold gesture is performed by at least two of the finger segments. Moreover, the computing device generates image data that is communicated to the HMD, such that a scene rendered on the HMD is modified to render a visual cue indicative of a location in the scene at which the pinch and hold gesture is associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Richard L. Marks
  • Publication number: 20160299563
    Abstract: Methods and systems for filtering content include identifying content for presenting in a rendering space defined by one or more mechanisms of a head mounted display (HMD), wherein the content is interactive, streaming content. A rating score for the content is identified. The content is dynamically adjusted to selectively filter a portion of the content based on a user profile of the user, rating score of the content, and ongoing interactions detected at the content. The adjusted content is formatted for rendering on the HMD. The formatted content is automatically transmitted to the HMD for rendering, in response to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Frederick Umminger, Richard Marks
  • Publication number: 20160300388
    Abstract: A method for executing computer instructions for presenting an interactive environment in a head-mounted display (HMD) is described. The method includes identifying content associated with the interactive environment to be presented on the HMD for a user and determining whether an interactive object within the identified content satisfies a threshold for presentation to the user. The method includes augmenting the interactive object with augmentation data. The augmented data acts to change a characteristic of the interactive object. The operation of augmenting the interactive object is performed after determining that the interactive object does not satisfy the threshold for presentation to the user. The augmentation data modifies the interactive object to conform the interactive object to be within the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Frederick Umminger, Steven Osman
  • Patent number: 9421460
    Abstract: Methods systems and computer programs method for playing a game using a portable device are presented. One method includes operations for establishing a connection between a portable device and a computing system executing a game, and for receiving a task at the portable device from the computing system. Further, the portable device is disconnected from the computing system allowing the task to be performed using the portable device independently from the computing system. The method includes interaction of a user with the portable device to receive at the portable device input from the user to perform the task. Once the task is performed, the portable device reports that the task has been performed to the computing system. As a result, the game being executed in the computing system progresses after the portable device reports that the task has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yunpeng Zhu, Steven Osman, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20160214016
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for warning a user of a head mounted display during gameplay of a video game. A game is executed causing interactive scenes of the game to be rendered on a display portion of a head mounted display (HMD) worn by a user. Images of a physical environment in a vicinity of the user are received from a forward facing camera of the HMD, while the game is being executed. The images are analyzed to determine if the user is approaching one or more objects in the physical environment. Data is sent to be rendered on the display portion of the HMD while rendering the interactive scenes of the game. The data provides information to avoid interaction with the one or more objects in the physical environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventor: Jeffrey Roger Stafford