System and method of managing spatial states and display modes in multi-user communication sessions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12108012-B2
Application number	US-202418423187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2024
Priority date	Feb 27, 2023
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

Some examples of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for facilitating display of content and avatars in a multi-communication session including a first electronic device and a second electronic device. In some examples, the first electronic device presents a computer-generated environment including an avatar corresponding to a user of the second electronic device and a first object, wherein the computer-generated environment is presented based on a first set of display parameters satisfying a first set of criteria, including a spatial parameter for the user of the second electronic device, a spatial parameter for the first object, and a display mode parameter for the first object. In response to detecting a change in one or more of the first set of display parameters, the first electronic device updates presentation of the computer-generated environment in accordance with the one or more changes of the first set of display parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
at a first electronic device in communication with a display, one or more input devices, and a second electronic device:
while in a communication session with the second electronic device, presenting, via the display, a computer-generated environment including an avatar corresponding to a user of the second electronic device and a first object, wherein the computer-generated environment is presented based on a first set of display parameters satisfying a first set of criteria, the first set of display parameters including:
a spatial parameter for the user of the second electronic device;
a spatial parameter for the first object; and
a display mode parameter for the first object;

while displaying the computer-generated environment including the avatar corresponding to the user of the second electronic device and the first object, detecting a change in one or more of the first set of display parameters; and
in response to detecting the change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters:
in accordance with a determination that the change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters causes the first set of display parameters to satisfy a second set of criteria, different from the first set of criteria, updating, via the display, presentation of the computer-generated environment in accordance with the change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters, including:
updating display of the first object in the computer-generated environment; and
updating display of the avatar corresponding to the user of the second electronic device in the computer-generated environment; and

in accordance with a determination that the change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters does not cause the first set of display parameters to satisfy the second set of criteria, maintaining presentation of the computer-generated environment based on the first set of display parameters satisfying the first set of criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spatial parameter for the user of the second electronic device satisfies the first set of criteria in accordance with a determination that spatial truth is enabled for the communication session.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the determination that spatial truth is enabled for the communication session is in accordance with a determination that a number of users in the communication session is within a threshold number of users.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spatial parameter for the user of the second electronic device satisfies the second set of criteria in accordance with a determination that spatial truth is disabled for the communication session.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determination that spatial truth is disabled for the communication session is in accordance with a determination that a number of users in the communication session is greater than a threshold number of users.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein updating display of the avatar corresponding to the user of the second electronic device in the computer-generated environment includes replacing display of the avatar corresponding to the user of the second electronic device with a two-dimensional representation of the user of the second electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spatial parameter for the first object defines a spatial relationship among the first object, the avatar corresponding to the user of the second electronic device, and a viewpoint of a user of the first electronic device, wherein the avatar corresponding to the user of the second electronic device is displayed at a predetermined location in the computer-generated environment.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the spatial parameter for the first object satisfies the first set of criteria in accordance with a determination that the predetermined location is adjacent to the viewpoint of the user of the first electronic device.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the spatial parameter for the first object satisfies the first set of criteria in accordance with a determination that the predetermined location is along a line across from the viewpoint of the user of the first electronic device, and the first object is positioned at a location on the line that is between the viewpoint and the predetermined location.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein, in accordance with the determination that the change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters causes the first set of display parameters to satisfy the second set of criteria, updating the presentation of the computer-generated environment in accordance with change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters includes:
updating the spatial relationship among the first object, the avatar corresponding to the user of the second electronic device, and the viewpoint of a user of the first electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display mode parameter for the first object satisfies the first set of criteria in accordance with a determination that the first object is displayed in a non-exclusive mode in the computer-generated environment.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein displaying the first object in the non-exclusive mode includes displaying the first object as a shared object that is shared between a user of the first electronic device and the user of the second electronic device in the computer-generated environment.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display mode parameter for the first object satisfies the second set of criteria in accordance with a determination that the first object is displayed in an exclusive mode in the computer-generated environment.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein displaying the first object in the exclusive mode includes displaying the first object as a private object that is private to a user of the first electronic device, wherein the first object is displayed in a full-screen mode in the computer-generated environment.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein displaying the first object in the exclusive mode includes displaying the first object as a shared object that is shared between a user of the first electronic device and the user of the second electronic device, wherein the first object is displayed in a full-screen mode in the computer-generated environment.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
in response to detecting the change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters:
in accordance with the determination that the change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters causes the first set of display parameters to satisfy the second set of criteria, transmitting data corresponding to a change in display of the first object by the user of the first electronic device in the computer-generated environment, wherein the data causes the second electronic device to display an option that is selectable to display the first object in the full-screen mode in the computer-generated environment at the second electronic device.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein updating display of the avatar corresponding to the user of the second electronic device in the computer-generated environment includes ceasing display of the avatar in the computer-generated environment.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the change in the one or more of the first set of display parameters that causes the first set of display parameters to satisfy the second set of cri

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Cerra Joseph P
• Lee Hayden J
• Mattelaer Willem
• Ren Miao

Classifications

• A63F13/87

  Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat · CPC title

• A63F2300/5553

  user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar · CPC title

• G06F3/04815

  Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object · CPC title

• G06F3/14

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title

• G06F3/04842 Primary

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title