Patents by Inventor Kazuaki Sawaki

Kazuaki Sawaki 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: 20240082713
    Abstract: A program is executed by a first computer including a processor and a memory. The program causes the processor to perform: generating a virtual space 501; arranging a virtual camera and a user object 502 in the virtual space 501; generating a virtual space image based on the virtual camera; and moving the user object 502 based on a movement operation having been performed. In the generating of the virtual space image, when the movement operation is not being performed, a position of the virtual camera is controlled such that the virtual space image is an image from a first-person viewpoint of the user object 502, and when the movement operation is being performed, the position of the virtual camera is controlled such that the virtual space image is an image from a third-person viewpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventor: Kazuaki SAWAKI
  • Patent number: 11882172
    Abstract: A program causes a processor to carry out: a step of defining a virtual space including a web browser; a step of providing web content on the web browser based on an access to a URL address, a step of providing the web content displayed on the web browser as a 360-degree web content developed in the virtual space based on a first operation input of a user; a step of controlling a field-of-view from a virtual camera arranged in the virtual space in accordance with a movement of a head of the user; and a step of displaying a field-of-view image corresponding to the field-of-view on an image display apparatus associated with the head of the user. The web content and the 360-degree web content are web screens for selecting moving image content to be reproduced from one or more pieces of moving image content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Sawaki, Eita Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20220360619
    Abstract: A program causes a processor to carry out: a step of defining a virtual space including a web browser; a step of providing web content on the web browser based on an access to a URL address, a step of providing the web content displayed on the web browser as a 360-degree web content developed in the virtual space based on a first operation input of a user; a step of controlling a field-of-view from a virtual camera arranged in the virtual space in accordance with a movement of a head of the user; and a step of displaying a field-of-view image corresponding to the field-of-view on an image display apparatus associated with the head of the user. The web content and the 360-degree web content are web screens for selecting moving image content to be reproduced from one or more pieces of moving image content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuaki SAWAKI, Eita KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 10894211
    Abstract: A method including defining a virtual space. The virtual space contains a first player character associated with a first user, a second player character associated with a second user, and virtual points of view for defining field-of-view images to be provided to a first HMD associated with the first user and to a second HMD associated with the second user. The method includes identifying first and second parts of the second player character. The method includes moving the first part in synchronization with a detected movement of the second user. The method includes displaying the second part in connection with a detected movement of the first part. The method includes setting a first transparency rate of the first part and a second transparency rate of the second part. A transparency rate of at least a portion of the second part is greater than the transparency rate of the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Patent number: 10545339
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space including a 360-degree moving image. The method includes playing back the 360-degree moving image. The method includes detecting a motion of a head-mounted device (HMD). The method includes defining a visual field in the 360-degree moving image based on the detected motion. The method includes detecting an emotion of a first user. The method includes comparing the detected emotion with a first condition. The method includes identifying a playback time of the 360-degree moving image at a timing of satisfaction of the first condition. The method includes identifying a direction indicated by the first user at the timing of satisfaction of the first condition. The method includes identifying a first region including a part of the 360-degree moving image corresponding to the identified direction. The method includes changing an evaluation value of the first region in response to satisfaction of the first condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Patent number: 10515481
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space including a virtual point of view associated with a first user and, a first and second object. The method includes defining a field of view based on a position of the virtual point of view and a detected motion of the user. The method includes generating a field-of-view image corresponding to the field of view. The method includes displaying the first object in a first mode; and displaying the second object in a second mode. The method includes detecting a position of gaze of the first user. The method includes detecting contact between the position of gaze and the first object. The method includes displaying the first or second object in a third mode in response to detection of the contact. The method includes moving the position of the virtual point of view to the first object in response to detection of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Sawaki, Takashi Nakabo
  • Patent number: 10459599
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space. The virtual space includes a viewpoint associated with a first user, a first object, and a map object. At least one location option is associated with the map object. The method further includes defining a visual field based on a position of the viewpoint in the virtual space. The method further includes generating a visual-field image based on the visual field. The method further includes receiving a selection of any location option of the at least one location option by the first user. The method further includes moving the viewpoint to the selected location option. The method further includes updating the visual field based on a position of the selected viewpoint in the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Patent number: 10453248
    Abstract: A method according to at least one aspect of this disclosure includes defining a virtual space. The method further includes receiving a first sound signal from a first user associated with a head-mounted device (HMD). The method further includes capturing an image in the virtual space in accordance with the reception of the first sound signal. The method further includes storing the captured image corresponding to at least a part of the virtual space in accordance with the capturing of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Patent number: 10445917
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space, wherein the virtual space comprises a first avatar object associated with a first user. The method further includes detecting a motion of a portion of a face of the first user. The method further includes generating face data representing the detected motion of the portion of the face. The method further includes modifying the face data to change a magnitude of the detected motion of the portion of the face. The method further includes controlling a face of the first avatar object based on the face data or the modified face data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Publication number: 20190217197
    Abstract: A method including defining a virtual space. The virtual space contains a first player character associated with a first user, a second player character associated with a second user, and virtual points of view for defining field-of-view images to be provided to a first HMD associated with the first user and to a second HMD associated with the second user. The method includes identifying first and second parts of the second player character. The method includes moving the first part in synchronization with a detected movement of the second user. The method includes displaying the second part in connection with a detected movement of the first part. The method includes setting a first transparency rate of the first part and a second transparency rate of the second part. A transparency rate of at least a portion of the second part is greater than the transparency rate of the first part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Patent number: 10262461
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space. The virtual space includes a first avatar object associated with a first user and a second avatar object associated with a second user. The method further includes playing back 360-degree content. The method further includes moving the first avatar object in response to a first input by the first user; and moving the second avatar object in response to a second input by the second user. The method further includes storing motion data for moving the second avatar object irrespective to the second input. The method further includes associating the motion data with a spatial position in the 360-degree content and a playback time. The method further includes identifying the motion data corresponding to identified spatial position and identified current playback time. The method further includes moving the second avatar object based on the identified motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventors: Kento Nakashima, Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Patent number: 10238968
    Abstract: A method including defining a virtual space. The virtual space contains a first player character associated with a first user, a second player character associated with a second user, and virtual points of view for defining field-of-view images to be provided to a first HMD associated with the first user and to a second HMD associated with the second user. The method includes identifying first and second parts of the second player character. The method includes moving the first part in synchronization with a detected movement of the second user. The method includes displaying the second part in connection with a detected movement of the first part. The method includes setting a first transparency rate of the first part and a second transparency rate of the second part. A transparency rate of at least a portion of the second part is greater than the transparency rate of the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: COLOPL, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki
  • Publication number: 20190043263
    Abstract: A method of providing a virtual space according to at least one embodiment of this disclosure includes defining the virtual space comprising a virtual camera, a monitor object, and a first operation object. The method further includes defining a first field of view from the virtual camera. The method further includes generating a first field-of-view image corresponding to the first field of view. The method further includes displaying the first field-of-view image on the monitor object. The method further includes detecting a motion of a part of a body of a first user in a real space. The method further includes moving the first operation object in the virtual space in accordance with the motion of the part of the body. The method further includes detecting that a first operation by the first operation object has been performed on the first field-of-view image displayed on the monitor object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Kento NAKASHIMA, Atsushi INOMATA, Kazuaki SAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20190025586
    Abstract: An information processing method according to at least one embodiment of this disclosure includes defining a virtual space, which is associated with a 360-degree moving image. The information processing method further includes playing back the 360-degree moving image. The information processing method further includes detecting a motion of a head-mounted device (HMD). The information processing method further includes defining a visual field in the 360-degree moving image depending on the motion. The information processing method further includes generating a visual-field image corresponding to the visual field. The information processing method further includes identifying an emotion of a first user associated with the HMD. The information processing method further includes detecting satisfaction of a first condition by the emotion. The information processing method further includes identifying a playback time of the 360-degree moving image at a timing of satisfaction of the first condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Kazuaki SAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20190026950
    Abstract: A method of providing a virtual space according to at least one embodiment of this disclosure includes defining a virtual space, wherein the virtual space comprises a first avatar object, the first avatar object is associated with a first user, and the first user is associated with a first head-mounted device. The method further includes determining a field of view of the first user based on a first virtual camera arranged in the virtual space. The method further includes displaying an image corresponding to the field of view of the first user on the first head-mounted device. The method further comprises arranging a first photography object in the virtual space, wherein the first photography object includes a user interface (UI) configured to receive from the first user a first operation of photographing in the virtual space. The method further includes identifying a photography range of the first photography object in response to receiving the first operation from the first user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuaki SAWAKI, Takashi NAKABO
  • Publication number: 20180373328
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space, wherein the virtual space comprises a first virtual viewpoint associated with a first viewpoint of a first user. The method includes detecting a first line of sight of the first user. The method includes identifying a first virtual line of sight from the first virtual viewpoint based on the first line of sight. The method includes identifying an eye gaze position of the first virtual line of sight. The method further includes defining a predetermined condition relating to an interest of the first user. The method includes detecting an operation or a motion of the first user. The method includes determining whether the operation or the motion satisfies the predetermined condition. The method includes storing the eye gaze position in a storage device in accordance with the operation or motion satisfying the predetermined condition when the operation or motion satisfies the predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuaki SAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20180373413
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space. The virtual space includes a virtual viewpoint, a reference position, a first character object associated with a first user, and a second character object associated with a second user. The method further includes defining a movement pattern of the reference position in the virtual space and a photography mode, wherein the photography mode includes a mode selected by the first user from among a plurality of modes. The method further includes storing video data captured from the reference position in accordance with the photography mode, wherein the video data defines an omnidirectional moving image in a predetermined photographing period. The method further includes reproducing the stored video data in the virtual space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuaki SAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20180348987
    Abstract: A method of providing a virtual space according to at least one embodiment includes defining a virtual space, wherein the virtual space comprises a first avatar corresponding to a first user associated with a first head-mounted device (HMD) and a second avatar corresponding to a second user associated with a second HMD. The method further includes identifying a first position in the virtual space, wherein the first position is associated with the first avatar. The method further includes defining a visual field in the virtual space in accordance with the first position. The method further includes outputting a visual-field image corresponding to the visual field to the first HMD. The method further includes identifying a second position in the virtual space, wherein the second position is associated with the second avatar. The method further includes receiving a command to move the second avatar to a third position in the virtual space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuaki SAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20180348986
    Abstract: A method of providing a virtual space according to at least one embodiment of this disclosure includes defining a virtual space, wherein the virtual space comprises a first object and a second object. The method further includes detecting a motion of a part of a body of a user in a real space. The method further includes moving the second object in the virtual space in synchronization with the detected motion. The method further includes detecting that a position of the first object and a position of the second object satisfy a predetermined relationship. The method further includes moving the position of the first object in a first direction in synchronization with the detected motion or movement of the position of the second object in the first direction when the predetermined relationship is satisfied. The method further includes detecting that a first movement amount of the movement of the first object in the first direction exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuaki SAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20180329603
    Abstract: A method includes defining a virtual space. The virtual space includes a viewpoint associated with a first user, a first object, and a map object. At least one location option is associated with the map object. The method further includes defining a visual field based on a position of the viewpoint in the virtual space. The method further includes generating a visual-field image based on the visual field. The method further includes receiving a selection of any location option of the at least one location option by the first user. The method further includes moving the viewpoint to the selected location option. The method further includes updating the visual field based on a position of the selected viewpoint in the virtual space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sawaki