Patents by Inventor Martin Shenton

Martin Shenton 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: 10943382
    Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus includes an image generator configured to generate images representing a user of a virtual environment. The image generator is responsive to selection of a predetermined input by the user. The apparatus also includes a video camera for use in image-based tracking of a user by the image generator. The predetermined input selected by the user is the performing of a predetermined physical gesture in view of the video camera. The image generator is arranged to select a respective emoji responsive to the predetermined physical gesture of the user for display to other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Elisheva Shapiro, Martin Shenton, Martin Echenique, Claire Blackshaw
  • Patent number: 10733781
    Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus comprises an image generator to generate images representing a virtual environment, for display to a user by a head mountable display to be worn by that user. The virtual environment includes an avatar representation of the user positioned within the virtual environment so that the user's viewpoint of the virtual environment substantially corresponds to the viewpoint of the avatar corresponding to that user. One or more user controls are provided with which predetermined inputs may be selected by the user. The image generator is responsive to selection of a predetermined input by the user to correspondingly configure a face of the avatar representing that user. The image generator is arranged to generate respective facial configurations of the avatar for display to other users viewing the virtual environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Martin Shenton, Martin Echenique, Claire Blackshaw, Elisheva Shapiro
  • Patent number: 10692268
    Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus comprises an image generator to generate images representing a virtual environment, for display to a user by a head mountable display to be worn by that user. The virtual environment includes an avatar representation of the user positioned within the virtual environment so that the user's viewpoint of the virtual environment substantially corresponds to the viewpoint of the avatar corresponding to that user. One or more user controls are provided with which predetermined inputs may be selected by the user. The image generator is responsive to selection of a predetermined input by the user to correspondingly configure a face of the avatar representing that user. The image generator is arranged to generate respective facial configurations of the avatar for display to other users viewing the virtual environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Martin Shenton, Martin Echenique, Claire Blackshaw, Elisheva Shapiro
  • Patent number: 10559110
    Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus comprises an image generator to generate images representing a virtual environment. The images are to be displayed to a user via a head mountable. The virtual environment includes an avatar representation of the user within the virtual environment so that the user's viewpoint of the virtual environment substantially corresponds to avatar's viewpoint corresponding to that user. The image generator is responsive to operation of user controls by the user to configure the hands of the avatar representing that user. The image generator is further configured to generate respective facial configurations of the avatar for display to other users viewing the virtual environment as a mapping of the configuration of the hands of the avatar, so that the hand configuration of the avatar corresponding to a user provide an indication, to that user, of the facial configuration of the avatar corresponding to that user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Martin Shenton, Martin Echenique, Claire Blackshaw, Elisheva Shapiro
  • Publication number: 20190108668
    Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus comprises an image generator to generate images representing a virtual environment, for display to a user by a head mountable display to be worn by that user. The virtual environment includes an avatar representation of the user positioned within the virtual environment so that the user's viewpoint of the virtual environment substantially corresponds to the viewpoint of the avatar corresponding to that user. One or more user controls are provided with which predetermined inputs may be selected by the user. The image generator is responsive to selection of a predetermined input by the user to correspondingly configure a face of the avatar representing that user. The image generator is arranged to generate respective facial configurations of the avatar for display to other users viewing the virtual environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Martin Shenton, Martin Echenique, Claire Blackshaw, Elisheva Shapiro
  • Publication number: 20190102928
    Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus is provided, which includes an image generator configured to generate images representing a user of a virtual environment. The image generator is responsive to selection of a predetermined input by the user. The apparatus also includes a video camera for use in image-based tracking of a user by the image generator. The predetermined input selected by the user is a performance of a predetermined physical gesture in view of the video camera. The image generator is arranged to generate a static or animated emote sticker responsive to the predetermined physical gesture of the user for display to other users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Claire Blackshaw, Martin Echenique, Martin Shenton, Elisheva Shapiro
  • Publication number: 20190096106
    Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus includes an image generator configured to generate images representing a user of a virtual environment. The image generator is responsive to selection of a predetermined input by the user. The apparatus also includes a video camera for use in image-based tracking of a user by the image generator. The predetermined input selected by the user is the performing of a predetermined physical gesture in view of the video camera. The image generator is arranged to select a respective emoji responsive to the predetermined physical gesture of the user for display to other users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Elisheva Shapiro, Martin Shenton, Martin Echenique, Claire Blackshaw
  • Publication number: 20190088018
    Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus comprises an image generator to generate images representing a virtual environment. The images are to be displayed to a user via a head mountable. The virtual environment includes an avatar representation of the user within the virtual environment so that the user's viewpoint of the virtual environment substantially corresponds to avatar's viewpoint corresponding to that user. The image generator is responsive to operation of user controls by the user to configure the hands of the avatar representing that user. The image generator is further configured to generate respective facial configurations of the avatar for display to other users viewing the virtual environment as a mapping of the configuration of the hands of the avatar, so that the hand configuration of the avatar corresponding to a user provide an indication, to that user, of the facial configuration of the avatar corresponding to that user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Martin Shenton, Martin Echenique, Claire Blackshaw, Elisheva Shapiro