Abstract: Systems and methods for executing content to be rendered on a screen of a head mounted display (HMD) are provided. One method includes executing the content to render interactive scenes on the screen and tracking an orientation direction of the HMD when worn on a head of a user and the interactive scenes are being rendered on the screen. The method includes changing view directions into the interactive scenes based on changes in the orientation direction of the HMD, such that movements of the head of the user causes the changes in the view directions into the interactive scenes. The method further includes receiving images of a real world space using a camera of the HMD. The camera of the HMD is configured to capture a location of real world objects in the real world space relative to the user of the HMD.

Abstract: A method is provided, including the following operations: presenting on a display device a virtual scene including a virtual character, the display device disposed in a local environment; providing a view of the local environment through a head-mounted display, the view through the head-mounted display including the display device and the virtual scene being presented thereon; animating the virtual character to show the virtual character moving from the virtual scene presented on the display device to the local environment as viewed through the head-mounted display, wherein the animating includes transitioning, from rendering the virtual character as part of the virtual scene presented on the display device, to rendering the virtual character as an augmented element in the view of the local environment provided through the head-mounted display.

Abstract: Methods and systems for spectating a live video game are presented. In one embodiment, a method for performing an automated catch-up to a player is provided. The method includes providing an interface for presenting a first view of a video game on a client device where the first view has a first vantage point and includes a target player. The method includes an operation for providing a portal within the interface for presenting a second view of the target object, the second view having a second vantage point. The method further includes an operation for moving the second vantage point toward the target object within the portal. Additionally, the method provides an operation for wiping away the portal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for spectating a live video game are presented. In one method embodiment, an operation includes providing an interface for presenting an overhead view of an interactive environment of a video game on a head mounted display (HMD). The method also provides an operation for providing a magnifying window for displaying a magnified view of the interactive environment, where the magnified view is associated with a second vantage point that is closer to the interactive environment than is a first vantage point of the overhead view. The method further provides an operation for tracking a real-world position of a controller of the spectator and moving the location of the magnifying window to correspond to the real-world position of the controller.

Abstract: A method for reducing latency in execution of a game is described. The method includes receiving via a computer network a user input associated with the game and determining from the user input a current state of the game. While the current state of the game is being determined, the method includes predicting a next state of the game based on the user input and one or more predicted user inputs. The method further includes generating one or more predicted image frames from the next state, determining whether the one or more predicted user inputs are received via the computer network, and sending the one or more predicted image frames in response to receiving the one or more predicted user inputs to reduce the latency in execution of the game.

Abstract: A method is provided, including: 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 of the interactive environment and the inertial data to determine a predicted future location of the HMD; using the predicted future location of the HMD to adjust a beamforming direction of an RF transceiver in a direction that is towards the predicted future location of the HMD; tracking a gaze of a user of the HMD; predicting a movement of the gaze of the user; generating video depicting a view of a virtual environment for the HMD; wherein the regions of the view are rendered differently based on the predicted movement of the gaze of the user; wirelessly transmitting the video via the RF transceiver to the HMD using the adjusted beamforming direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for executing content to be rendered on a screen of a head mounted display (HMD) are provided. One method includes executing the content to render interactive scenes on the screen and tracking an orientation direction of the HMD when worn on a head of a user and the interactive scenes are being rendered on the screen. The method includes changing view directions into the interactive scenes based on changes in the orientation direction of the HMD, such that movements of the head of the user causes the changes in the view directions into the interactive scenes. The method further includes receiving images of a real world space using a camera of the HMD. The camera of the HMD is configured to capture a location of real world objects in the real world space relative to the user of the HMD.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions configured to cause a computing device to execute an interface editor that performs the following operations: rendering through a head-mounted display (HMD) a view of a three-dimensional virtual space, the interface editor being configured to enable placement of user interface elements in the virtual space to define a virtual reality user interface for an interactive application; wherein the interface editor is configured to define within the virtual space a central zone and a lateral zone for placement of the user interface elements; receiving, by the interface editor, input indicating an attempt to move a given user interface element from the central zone to the lateral zone; responsive to receiving the input, generating, by the interface editor, a counteractive response that opposes the attempt to move the given user interface element from the central zone to the lateral zone.

Abstract: Methods for observing a virtual reality environment of a virtual reality player is are provided. One method includes establishing, by a handheld device of an observer, a connection with a computer executing the virtual reality environment being presented to the virtual reality player using a head mounted display (HMD). Capturing, by a first camera of the handheld device, a current position of the virtual reality player in a real world space. Capturing, by a second camera of the handheld device, a face position of the observer. The face position being monitored to determine a viewing direction to a screen of the handheld device. The screen of the handheld device is configured to present the virtual reality environment and at least part of the virtual reality player interacting in the virtual reality environment.

Abstract: A system and method of tracking a location of a head mounted display and generating additional virtual reality scene data to provide the user with a seamless virtual reality experience as the user interacts with and moves relative to the virtual reality scene. An initial position and pose of the HMD is determined using a camera or similar sensor mounted on or in the HMD. As the HMD is moved into a second position and pose, images of two or more fixed points are captured by the camera or sensor to determine a difference in position and pose of the HMD. The difference in position and pose of the HMD is used to predict corresponding movement in the virtual reality scene and generate corresponding additional virtual reality scene data for rendering on the HMD.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing operations for head mounted display (HMD) users to join virtual reality (VR) scenes are provided. A computer-implemented method includes providing a first perspective of a VR scene to a first HMD of a first user and receiving an indication that a second user is requesting to join the VR scene provided to the first HMD. The method further includes obtaining real-world position and orientation data of the second HMD relative to the first HMD and then providing, based on said data, a second perspective of the VR scene. The method also provides that the first and second perspectives are each controlled by respective position and orientation changes while viewing the VR scene.

Abstract: A method for rendering a virtual reality (VR) scene viewable via a head mounted display (HMD) is provided. The method includes detecting eye gaze of a user using one or more eye gaze sensors disposed in a display housing of the HMD. And, capturing images of a mouth of the user using one or more cameras disposed on the HMD, wherein the images of the mouth include movements of the mouth. Then, the method includes generating a virtual face of the user. The virtual face includes virtual eye movement obtained from the eye gaze of the user and virtual mouth movement obtained from said captured images of the mouth. The method includes presenting an avatar of the user in the VR scene with the virtual face. The avatar of the user is viewable by another user having access to view the VR scene from a perspective that enables viewing of the avatar having the virtual face of the user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for presenting non-video content through a mobile device that uses a video camera to track a video on another screen. In one embodiment, a system includes a video display, such as a TV, that displays video content. A mobile device with an integrated video camera captures video data from the TV and allows a user to select an area in the video in order to hear/feel/smell what is at that location in the video.

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.

Abstract: A method is provided: comprising: receiving, by a gaming server, game state data from a player client device, the game state data being defined from a game state of a first instance of a video game that is executed by the player client device; applying, by the gaming server, the received game state data and the view direction data to a second instance of the video game that is executed by the gaming server, to generate a wide field of view (FOV) spectator video; receiving, by a video server, view direction data from a spectator client device, the view direction data being determined from a tracked pose of a head-mounted display (HMD); applying, by the video server, the view direction data to define a portion of the wide FOV spectator video, the portion of the wide FOV spectator video identifying a sub-area of the wide FOV spectator video that is less than an entire area of the wide FOV spectator video; streaming the portion of the wide FOV spectator video to the spectator client device for rendering on the HM

Abstract: One or more chat servers receives voice signals and pose (location and orientation) signals from devices such as VR headsets associated with respective chat participants. For each participant, the server renders a single stream representing the voices of the other participants, with the voice data in each stream being modified to account for the orientation of the head of the receiving participant. The server sends the streams to the participants for whom the streams are tailored. The voice information representing the chat of the other participants in a stream intended for a particular participant can also be modified to account for the distances between participants and orientations of speakers' heads relative to the particular participant for whom the stream is tailored.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions configured to cause a computing device to execute an interface editor that performs the following operations: rendering through a head-mounted display (HMD) a view of a three-dimensional virtual space, the interface editor being configured to enable placement of user interface elements in the virtual space to define a virtual reality user interface for an interactive application; wherein the interface editor is configured to define within the virtual space a central zone and a lateral zone for placement of the user interface elements; receiving, by the interface editor, input indicating an attempt to move a given user interface element from the central zone to the lateral zone; responsive to receiving the input, generating, by the interface editor, a counteractive response that opposes the attempt to move the given user interface element from the central zone to the lateral zone.

Abstract: A method, system, computer readable media and cloud systems are provided for generating views of a virtual reality environment for a spectator. One example method includes enabling a spectator to view into a virtual reality environment, and control what specific content within the environment the spectator wishes to see. By allowing the spectator to move closer or further away from specific content, the spectators movement toward or away will cause an automatic scaling of content within the virtual-reality content being generated by an HMD player, that is sharing the content with the spectator. Other features include allowing a spectator to adjust the viewing angle of the content. The viewing angle of the content can be moved by allowing the spectator to reach into the content or control the content scene, and then position the content in the viewing angle that is most comfortable to the position of the spectator.

Abstract: A method is provided, including the following: presenting gameplay of a video game through a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display being disposed in a local environment; capturing audio from the local environment, and analyzing the captured audio to detect a person speaking in the local environment; responsive to detecting the person speaking in the local environment, presenting a notification through the head-mounted display, the notification providing an option which pauses the gameplay of the video game; responsive to receiving a command indicating selection of the option, pausing the gameplay of the video game.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing an effect of occlusion of a tracker by people are described. When a user is playing a video game using a head-mounted display, a field-of-view for tracking the user is obstructed by a spectator. The video game cannot be displayed at a normal frame rate to the user as a result of the obstruction. The systems and methods described herein determine and identify a source of the obstruction, and implement operations to remove the obstruction.