Sharing games using personal audio/visual apparatus

US9498720B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC · US

Inventors

• Kevin Geisner · Mercer Island, US
• Stephen Latta · Seattle, US
• Ben Sugden · Woodinville, US
• Benjamin I. Vaught · Seattle, US
• Alex Aben-Athar Kipman · Redmond, US
• Kathryn Stone Perez · Kirkland, US
• Ryan Hastings · Seattle, US
• Jason Scott · Redmond, US
• Darren Bennett · Seattle, US
• John Clavin · Seattle, US
• Daniel McCulloch · Kirkland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 12, 2012
• Grant date: Nov 22, 2016
• Expiry date: May 21, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A63F2300/308
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A game can be created, shared and played using a personal audio/visual apparatus such as a head-mounted display device (HMDD). Rules of the game, and a configuration of the game space, can be standard or custom. Boundary points of the game can be defined by a gaze direction of the HMDD, by the user's location, by a model of a physical game space such as an instrumented court or by a template. Players can be identified and notified of the availability of a game using a server push technology. For example, a user in a particular location may be notified of the availability of a game at that location. A server manages the game, including storing the rules, boundaries and a game state. The game state can identify players and their scores. Real world objects can be imaged and provided as virtual objects in the game space.