Abstract: A method for sharing three-dimensional gameplay of a video game, that is rendered to a head-mounted display (HMD), to a social network, is provided, including the following method operations: recording, by an HMD connected computer, a three-dimensional (3-D) video clip to a storage, the 3-D video clip generated from 3-D gameplay of a video game that is driven by interactive use of the HMD; receiving, by the HMD connected computer, a request to share the 3-D video clip to a social network; generating, by the HMD connected computer, a two-dimensional (2-D) video clip by converting the 3-D video clip to a 2-D format; sharing, by the HMD connected computer, the 2-D video clip to the social network.

Abstract: A system for interfacing with an interactive program is provided, including: a computing device for executing the interactive program; a display device for enabling user control and input to the interactive program, the display device being configured to be attached to the user; wherein the computing device is configured to receive data from an image capture device to determine and track a position of the display device; wherein the computing device is configured to define interactive zones, each interactive zone being defined by a spatial region having an associated specified function for an action of the display device when the display device is positioned within that interactive zone; and, wherein the computing device is configured to set the functionality of the action of the display device to the specified function associated with the interactive zone within which the display device is located.

Abstract: A method for sharing three-dimensional gameplay of a video game to a social network is provided, the method including: receiving a request to share a recorded gameplay portion to a social network, the recorded gameplay portion defined by three-dimensional recorded video; generating a two-dimensional video clip based on the three-dimensional recorded video; sharing the two-dimensional video clip to the social network.

Abstract: A system and method of using a peripheral device for interfacing with a virtual reality scene generated by a computer for presentation on a head mounted display. The peripheral device includes a haptic device capable of being placed in contact with a user and a haptic feedback controller for processing instructions for outputting a haptic signal to the haptic device. The haptic feedback controller receiving the instructions from the computer so that haptic feedback of the haptic device changes to correspond to a user's virtual interactions with a virtual object in the virtual reality scene as presented on the head mounted display.

Abstract: Inertial sensors within a head mounted display are used to track movement of the head mounted display. The tracked movement of the head mounted display is correlated to an action within a virtual reality scene that is currently displayed to a user wearing the head mounted display. The action within the virtual reality scene is based on a context of the virtual reality scene that is currently displayed. The detected movement of the head mounted display can be combined with other sensor data, such as gaze detection data, to determine the action within the virtual reality scene. In this manner, movements of the user as detected using the inertial sensors within the head mounted display are used as inputs to cause actions within the current context of the virtual reality scene as displayed to the user within the head mounted display.

Abstract: A method for presenting text information on a head-mounted display is provided, comprising: rendering a view of a virtual environment to the head-mounted display; tracking an orientation of the head-mounted display; tracking a gaze of a user of the head-mounted display; processing the gaze of the user and the orientation of the head-mounted display, to identify a gaze target in the virtual environment towards which the gaze of the user is directed; receiving text information for rendering on the head-mounted display; presenting the text information in the virtual environment in a vicinity of the gaze target.

Abstract: A system for interfacing with an interactive program is provided, including: a computing device for executing the interactive program; a display device for enabling user control and input to the interactive program, the display device being configured to be attached to the user; wherein the computing device is configured to receive data from an image capture device to determine and track a position of the display device; wherein the computing device is configured to define interactive zones, each interactive zone being defined by a spatial region having an associated specified function for an action of the display device when the display device is positioned within that interactive zone; and, wherein the computing device is configured to set the functionality of the action of the display device to the specified function associated with the interactive zone within which the display device is located.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a controller device, comprises: receiving dimensions of the display input by a user of the computer-based system; capturing successive images of the display at the controller device; determining a position of the controller device relative to the display based on the dimensions of the display and a perspective distortion of the display in the captured successive images of the display; providing the determined position of the controller to the computer-based system to interface with the interactive program to cause an action by the interactive program.

Abstract: A first application executes on one or more computing systems to generate a series of original frame pixel data sets for rendering of graphical images associated with the first application execution. A second application executes on one or more computing systems to detect one or more key graphical images present in the series of original frame pixel data sets. Upon detection of the one or more key graphical images, the second application directs replacement of a portion of pixel data in the series of original frame pixel data sets with substitute pixel data so as to generate a series of modified frame pixel data sets for encoding in lieu of the series of original frame pixel data sets.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing input to an interactive program are presented. An interactive system includes a server for executing the interactive program, and a game client interfaced with the server over a network. The game client is configured to send, over the network, position data defining a position of a controller device. The server is configured to define interactive zones, each interactive zone being defined by a spatial region having an associated specified function for an action of the controller device when the controller device is located within that interactive zone. The server is further configured to set the functionality of the action of the controller device to the specified function associated with the interactive zone within which the controller device is located.

Abstract: A first application executes on one or more computing systems to generate a series of original frame pixel data sets for rendering of graphical images associated with the first application execution. A second application executes on one or more computing systems to detect one or more key graphical images present in the series of original frame pixel data sets. Upon detection of the one or more key graphical images, the second application directs replacement of a portion of pixel data in the series of original frame pixel data sets with substitute pixel data so as to generate a series of modified frame pixel data sets for encoding in lieu of the series of original frame pixel data sets.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a controller device, comprises: receiving dimensions of the display input by a user of the computer-based system; capturing successive images of the display at the controller device; determining a position of the controller device relative to the display based on the dimensions of the display and a perspective distortion of the display in the captured successive images of the display; providing the determined position of the controller to the computer-based system to interface with the interactive program to cause an action by the interactive program.

Abstract: A method for sharing three-dimensional gameplay of a video game to a social network is provided, the method including: receiving a request to share a recorded gameplay portion to a social network, the recorded gameplay portion defined by three-dimensional recorded video; generating a two-dimensional video clip based on the three-dimensional recorded video; sharing the two-dimensional video clip to the social network.

Abstract: A magnetic input apparatus and method for a computer device are disclosed. A grid pattern of magnetic sensors can include a plurality of Hall elements. Each Hall element is selectively coupled to a Hall voltage sensor. A source of magnetic field can be placed in proximity to the grid pattern and one or more Hall voltage measurements for one or more of the regions can be collected with the Hall voltage sensor. The measurements can be analyzed to determine a position of the source of the magnetic field with respect to the grid pattern. Input can be provided to the computer program based on the determined position of the source of the magnetic field.

Abstract: Methods and systems for interfacing a controller device with an interactive program executing at a computer are presented. A controller includes a camera for capturing images of a display. The position of the controller is determined based on the perspective distortion, size, location and orientation of the display in the captured images. The controller may additionally include an IR projector and an IR camera. The IR projector generates an IR beam, which creates a projection on a surface. The IR camera captures IR images of the projection. The distance of the controller from the surface and its relative orientation are determined based on analysis of the IR images.

Abstract: Images of a least a portion of a structurally encoded pattern formed on a surface from a camera can be analyzed to determine a position of a camera. The structurally encoded pattern can include a plurality of elements. Each element can be encoded with information identifying a location and orientation of the element with respect to the surface. A computer program can identify at least a portion of one or more pattern elements in the image and determine the position of the camera relative to the surface from the information encoded in the one or more pattern elements in the image.

Abstract: A detector located on or near an ear piece may automatically detect whether a left or right ear or neither ear is wearing the ear piece. A signal mixer may automatically apply a correct configuration to signals transmitted to or from the ear piece according to whether the left or right ear or neither ear is determined to be wearing the ear piece. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A capacitive input apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes a mat and a probe. The mat has a dielectric layer sandwiched between a common conductive layer and a patterned conductive layer having a grid pattern containing plural conductive regions. Each conductive region is selectively coupled to a corresponding capacitance sensor that is responsive to a signal capacitively coupled to a corresponding one of the conductive regions. The probe can be worn on a user's feet and can change a capacitive coupling of the signal. A degree of the change of the signal varies with a degree of proximity of the probe to the corresponding one of the conductive regions. In the method, a capacitive coupling of the signal can be changed with the probe. Measurements collected from the capacitance sensor can provide input to a computer program based on values of one or more measurements.

Abstract: A first application executes on one or more computing systems to generate a series of original frame pixel data sets for rendering of graphical images associated with the first application execution. A second application executes on one or more computing systems to detect one or more key graphical images present in the series of original frame pixel data sets. Upon detection of the one or more key graphical images, the second application directs replacement of a portion of pixel data in the series of original frame pixel data sets with substitute pixel data so as to generate a series of modified frame pixel data sets for encoding in lieu of the series of original frame pixel data sets.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing input to an interactive program are presented. An interactive system includes a server for executing the interactive program, and a game client interfaced with the server over a network. The game client is configured to send, over the network, position data defining a position of a controller device. The server is configured to define interactive zones, each interactive zone being defined by a spatial region having an associated specified function for an action of the controller device when the controller device is located within that interactive zone. The server is further configured to set the functionality of the action of the controller device to the specified function associated with the interactive zone within which the controller device is located.