Patents by Inventor Shinnosuke IWAKI

Shinnosuke IWAKI 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: 11367260
    Abstract: A rear-facing camera captures a live-action video image while a front-facing camera captures an image of a distributor. The avatar controller controls an avatar based on the image of the distributor captured by the front-facing camera, and move the position of the avatar in the real space coordinate system according to the position of the video synthesis device in the real space coordinate system. A synthesizer arranges the avatar in a predetermined position of a real space coordinate system and synthesizes the avatar with the live-action video image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kawakami, Shinnosuke Iwaki, Takashi Kojima, Toshihiro Shimizu, Hiroaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20220180601
    Abstract: A VR snapshot broadcasting distribution system, a distribution server, a control method for the distribution server, a program for the distribution server, and a data structure of a VR snapshot data, whereby a 3D space is kept in a 3D form and data of the 3D space is made compact are disclosed. An example distribution server includes: a shooting instruction input unit, to which unit a VR snapshot shooting instruction is input by a distributor or a viewer, an exterior appearance data constructor configured to construct exterior appearance data of the entire 3-dimensional space including the avatar, based on a VR snapshot shooting instruction; a VR snapshot data distribution unit configured to distribute, as VR snapshot data, the exterior appearance data of the entire 3-dimensional space including the avatar, which is constructed by the exterior appearance data constructor, and a display unit configured to display the VR snapshot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinnosuke IWAKI
  • Publication number: 20220084243
    Abstract: A rear-facing camera captures a live-action video image while a front-facing camera captures an image of a distributor. An avatar controller controls an avatar based on the image of the distributor captured by the front-facing camera. A synthesizer arranges the avatar in a predetermined position of a real space coordinate system and synthesizes the avatar with the live-action video image. The face of the distributor captured by the front-facing camera is tracked and reflected on the avatar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Toshihiro SHIMIZU, Hiroaki SAITO
  • Publication number: 20220083126
    Abstract: When cheering of a distributor avatar by virtual avatars has been detected and the distributor avatar reacts to the cheering, a reaction motion is performed for the virtual avatars that cheered, and a normal motion that is not a reaction motion is performed for the viewer avatars that did not cheer. The motion performed for the virtual avatars that cheered differs from the motion performed for the viewer avatars that did not cheer based on timing indicated by the distributor. Either the motion performed for the virtual avatars that cheered or the motion performed for the viewer avatars that did not cheer is a predetermined motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinnosuke IWAKI
  • Patent number: 11277585
    Abstract: Provided is a content distribution server that is configured to improve the convenience of virtual space sharing formats. The content distribution server comprises: a participation accepting unit that accepts a participation request from another individual to participate in a virtual space used for distribution by a distributor; an information acquiring unit that acquires motion information indicating movement by the distributor and a participant participating on the basis of a participation request, as well as information on the virtual characters of the distributor and the participant; and a distribution unit that distributes live content based on video in virtual space obtained by synthesizing motion information acquired by the information acquiring unit with movement by the virtual characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventors: Nobuo Kawakami, Kentarou Matsui, Shinnosuke Iwaki, Takashi Kojima, Naoki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20220075454
    Abstract: A data replacement apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a replacement unit. The acquisition unit acquires first control data having a value based on the position of a first device which can be mounted on a user's head and the position of a second device which can be gripped by a user. The determination unit determines whether or not a prescribed condition is satisfied. The replacement unit replaces the first control data with second control data when it is determined that the condition is satisfied. The second control data has a value not based on the position of the first device and/or the position of the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Kentarou MATSUI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Naoki YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11259071
    Abstract: Provided is a content distribution server that is configured to distribute live content according to additional information set for a virtual character. The content distribution server comprises: an information acquiring unit that acquires character information indicating a virtual character used by a distributor in a virtual space, and first additional information added to the character information; and a distribution unit that distributes live content for synthesis with video in virtual space converting movement by the distributor to movement by the virtual character based on the character information and the first additional information acquired by the information acquiring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventors: Nobuo Kawakami, Kentarou Matsui, Shinnosuke Iwaki, Takashi Kojima, Naoki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11212569
    Abstract: Provided is a content distribution server or the like capable of limiting undesirable behavior of viewers. This content distribution server 100 comprises: an information acquisition unit 141 which acquires character information indicating a virtual character used by a distributor in a virtual space, additional information added to the character information, and/or limit information set by the distributor; a distribution unit 143 which distributes live content according to an image in the virtual space in which the movement of the distributor is synthesized as the movement of the virtual character, on the basis of the character information acquired by the information acquisition unit 141; and a behavior limiting unit 144 which limits the behavior of a viewer who watches the live content, on the basis of the additional information and/or the limit information set by the distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kawakami, Kentarou Matsui, Shinnosuke Iwaki, Takashi Kojima, Naoki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11209911
    Abstract: A data replacement apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a replacement unit. The acquisition unit acquires first control data having a value based on the position of a first device which can be mounted on a user's head and the position of a second device which can be gripped by a user. The determination unit determines whether or not a prescribed condition is satisfied. The replacement unit replaces the first control data with second control data when it is determined that the condition is satisfied. The second control data has a value not based on the position of the first device and/or the position of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kawakami, Kentarou Matsui, Shinnosuke Iwaki, Takashi Kojima, Naoki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11205293
    Abstract: An avatar display system in virtual space, an avatar display method in virtual space, and a computer program in which avatar motion data is thinned out within a certain time due to the circumstances of a system and is intermittently distributed. Accordingly, when avatars try to high-touch with each other, the avatars go too far before the hands touch each other in the transmission of coarse motion data, and thus a natural avatar operation cannot be performed. When avatars are intended to perform an operation with contact, such as a high touch operation between the avatars, as the avatars approach each other, a transmission interval in which data required for rendering avatars such as motion data, or rendered avatar data is transmitted from a server to a client terminal is made smaller, and a more natural avatar contact operation can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DWANGO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kojima, Hiroaki Saito, Shinnosuke Iwaki
  • Patent number: 11195302
    Abstract: A rear-facing camera captures a live-action video image while a front-facing camera captures an image of a distributor. An avatar controller controls an avatar based on the image of the distributor captured by the front-facing camera. A synthesizer arranges the avatar in a predetermined position of a real space coordinate system and synthesizes the avatar with the live-action video image. The face of the distributor captured by the front-facing camera is tracked and reflected on the avatar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Kawakami, Shinnosuke Iwaki, Takashi Kojima, Toshihiro Shimizu, Hiroaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20210321061
    Abstract: Provided is a content distribution server that is configured to improve the convenience of virtual space sharing formats. The content distribution server comprises: a participation accepting unit that accepts a participation request from another individual to participate in a virtual space used for distribution by a distributor; an information acquiring unit that acquires motion information indicating movement by the distributor and a participant participating on the basis of a participation request, as well as information on the virtual characters of the distributor and the participant; and a distribution unit that distributes live content based on video in virtual space obtained by synthesizing motion information acquired by the information acquiring unit with movement by the virtual characters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Kentarou MATSUI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Naoki YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210289251
    Abstract: Provided is a content distribution server that is configured to distribute live content according to additional information set for a virtual character. The content distribution server comprises: an information acquiring unit that acquires character information indicating a virtual character used by a distributor in a virtual space, and first additional information added to the character information; and a distribution unit that distributes live content for synthesis with video in virtual space converting movement by the distributor to movement by the virtual character based on the character information and the first additional information acquired by the information acquiring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Kentarou MATSUI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Naoki YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210250650
    Abstract: Provided is a content distribution server which is able to establish restrictions on the public disclosure of an object displayed in virtual space at the convenience of the distributor. The content distribution server comprises: a distribution unit that distributes live content for synthesizing video in virtual space using information from the distributor as virtual character information; and a first setting receiving unit that receives from the distributor terminal used by the distributor public disclosure restriction settings for establishing restrictions on objects present in virtual space displayed on the distributor terminal that can be viewed on a viewer terminal used by a viewer to view live content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Kentarou MATSUI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Naoki YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210248803
    Abstract: An avatar display system in virtual space, an avatar display method in virtual space, and a computer program in which avatar motion data is thinned out within a certain time due to the circumstances of a system and is intermittently distributed. Accordingly, when avatars try to high-touch with each other, the avatars go too far before the hands touch each other in the transmission of coarse motion data, and thus a natural avatar operation cannot be performed. When avatars are intended to perform an operation with contact, such as a high touch operation between the avatars, as the avatars approach each other, a transmission interval in which data required for rendering avatars such as motion data, or rendered avatar data is transmitted from a server to a client terminal is made smaller, and a more natural avatar contact operation can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi KOJIMA, Hiroaki SAITO, Shinnosuke IWAKI
  • Publication number: 20210233325
    Abstract: A rear-facing camera captures a live-action video image while a front-facing camera captures an image of a distributor. The avatar controller controls an avatar based on the image of the distributor captured by the front-facing camera, and move the position of the avatar in the real space coordinate system according to the position of the video synthesis device in the real space coordinate system. A synthesizer arranges the avatar in a predetermined position of a real space coordinate system and synthesizes the avatar with the live-action video image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Toshihiro SHIMIZU, Hiroaki SAITO
  • Patent number: 11064258
    Abstract: A reaction candidate storage unit stores candidates of reactions that are switched at predetermined time intervals. A reaction candidate update control unit updates the reaction candidates stored in the reaction candidate storage unit so that a candidate of a new reaction is stored and a reaction candidate already stored is erased after a predetermined time. A reaction candidate display control unit implements control to cause a reaction candidate stored in the reaction candidate storage unit to be displayed on a display unit. A reaction posting control unit, when one of reaction candidates being displayed on the display unit is selected and instructed to be posted, implements control to post the selected reaction candidate stored in the reaction candidate storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinnosuke Iwaki
  • Publication number: 20210211632
    Abstract: The present disclosure causes live content to be drawn on the basis of specification data on a virtual object, operation data on the virtual object, and the like, and causes the drawn content to be provided for viewing reproduction on a terminal for viewing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Hiroaki SAITO
  • Publication number: 20210211756
    Abstract: Provided is a content distribution server or the like capable of limiting undesirable behavior of viewers. This content distribution server 100 comprises: an information acquisition unit 141 which acquires character information indicating a virtual character used by a distributor in a virtual space, additional information added to the character information, and/or limit information set by the distributor; a distribution unit 143 which distributes live content according to an image in the virtual space in which the movement of the distributor is synthesized as the movement of the virtual character, on the basis of the character information acquired by the information acquisition unit 141; and a behavior limiting unit 144 which limits the behavior of a viewer who watches the live content, on the basis of the additional information and/or the limit information set by the distributor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Kentarou MATSUI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Naoki YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210204014
    Abstract: The present disclosure has a configuration in which a distributor who performs a separate distribution that is different from this live content, or a viewer who views this separate distribution can participate in a virtual space and express intent or participate in visual recognition through the commitment of a virtual item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: DWANGO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo KAWAKAMI, Shinnosuke IWAKI, Takashi KOJIMA, Toshihiro SHIMIZU, Hiroaki SAITO