Virtual reality expeditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9911238-B2
Application number	US-201615165855-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2016
Priority date	May 27, 2015
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

In a general aspect, a system can include a leader device. The leader device can include an interface configured to display a plurality of preview images, each preview image corresponding with respective virtual reality (VR) content. The leader device also include a selection device configured to select a preview image of the plurality of preview images and a leader application configured to control presentation of the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image. The system can further include a plurality of participant devices that are operationally coupled with the leader device. Each participant device of the plurality of participant devices can be configured to, responsive to the leader device, display at least one image included in the respective VR content corresponding with the selected preview image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a leader device; and
a plurality of participant devices that are operationally coupled with the leader device,
the leader device including:
an interface configured to display a plurality of preview images, each preview image corresponding with respective virtual reality (VR) content;
a selection device configured to select a preview image of the plurality of preview images; and
a leader application configured to:
control presentation of the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image on the leader device and the plurality of participant devices; and
control at least one function of each of the plurality of participant devices,

each participant device of the plurality of participant devices being configured to, responsive to the control of the leader device, display at least one image included in the respective VR content corresponding with the selected preview image.

2. The system of claim 1 , where the at least one image includes one of a three-dimensional (3D) panorama and a 3D photosphere.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a data network router, the plurality of participant devices being operationally coupled with the leader device via the data network router.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the leader device further includes a wireless data network interface, the plurality of participant devices being operationally coupled with the leader device via the wireless data network interface.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one audio device that is configured to, responsive to the leader device, play audio content of the selected VR content associated with the selected preview image.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one audio device is wirelessly coupled with the leader device.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one audio device includes a plurality of audio devices, each audio device of the plurality of audio devices being included in a respective participant device of the plurality of participant devices.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface is further configured, during presentation of the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image, to display a plurality of gaze indicators, each gaze indicator of the plurality of gaze indicators corresponding with a respective participant device of the plurality of participant devices and indicating a location in the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image where a user of the respective participant is currently looking.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the participant devices includes a VR visual content viewer.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface is further configured, during presentation of the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image, to display a panel including information corresponding with the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the leader device is further configured to facilitate presentation of information from the panel, the presentation of information from the panel including at least one of:
displaying a text annotation on the plurality of participant devices;
playing an audio clip on at least one audio device that is operationally coupled with the leader device; and
displaying a map on the plurality of participant devices.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the interface is further configured, during presentation of the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image, to receive a selection indicating a point of interest in the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image; and
the plurality of participant devices are further configured to, in response to the selection indicating the point of interest, display a marker in association with the selected point of interest.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the marker, for each participant device, indicates whether the point of interest is within or outside a respective field of view of the participant device.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein receiving the selection indicating the point of interest includes receiving input on a touchscreen of the leader device within the interface.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the marker includes an indication of a dwell time corresponding with the marker, the marker disappearing after expiration of the dwell time.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a container configured to store and charge the leader device and the plurality of participant devices.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface includes at least one button, wherein selection of a button of the at least one button on the leader device concurrently controls a corresponding function on each of the participant devices of the plurality of participant devices.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface includes an indication of a number of participant devices that are operationally coupled with the leader device.

19. A system comprising:
a leader device means; and
a plurality of participant device means that are operationally coupled with the leader device,
the leader device means including:
an interface means for displaying a plurality of preview images, each preview image corresponding with respective virtual reality (VR) content;
a selection means for selecting a preview image of the plurality of preview images; and
a leader application means for:
controlling presentation of the respective VR content associated with the selected preview image on the leader device means and the plurality of participant device means; and
controlling at least one function of each participant device means of the plurality of participant device means,

each participant device means of the plurality of participant device means, responsive to the control of the leader device means, displaying at least one image included in the respective VR content corresponding with the selected preview image.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:
a data networking means for operationally coupling the plurality of participant device means with the leader device means; and
an audio device means for, responsive to the leader device means, playing audio content of the selected VR content associated with the selected preview image.

Assignees

• Google Inc
• Google Llc

Inventors

• Doronichev Andrey
• Schrom Ben
• Costa Antonio Bernardo Monteiro
• Krulec Ana
• Bedard Jon
• Holland Jennifer
• Quaid David Louis Bergman
• Zheng Yunxin

Classifications

• H04N23/698

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• G06F3/013 Primary

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/16

  Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L) · CPC title

• G09G2370/02

  Networking aspects · CPC title

• G09G2370/16

  Use of wireless transmission of display information · CPC title