# US 10,311,640 B2 · Method and apparatus for providing virtual space, and non-transitory computer readable data storage medium storing program causing computer to perform method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,311,640 B2
- Document ID: US10311640B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/294,655
- Filed: 2016-10-14
- Published: 2017-02-23
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-17
- Assignees: Colopl, Inc.
- Applicants: Colopl, Inc.
- Inventors: Yuichiro Arai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311640B2

## CPC

- G06T 19/006: {Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00)}
- G02B 27/0093: {with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking}
- G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features}
- G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- H04N 13/279: the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by tracking
- H04N 13/344: with head-mounted left-right displays
- H04N 13/383: for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
- G02B 2027/0134: {of stereoscopic type}
- G02B 2027/0187: {slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye}
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A content providing apparatus capable of approaching user's interests can be provided. A computer-implemented method for providing a content can generate a virtual space where the user is immersed and a target object in the virtual space, and define a reference position in the virtual space and a target object position. The method can define a reference direction which is a direction of a line of sight of the user with respect to the reference position, specify a direction of gaze at the target object, which is the direction of the line of sight of the user, specify a duration of gaze where the user has gazed at the target object, and specify an adjusted duration of gaze based on the duration of gaze, the direction of gaze, and the reference direction. A prescribed content is provided to the user based on the adjusted duration of gaze.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for providing a virtual space in which a user is immersed, by using a head-mounted display, the method comprising:
generating the virtual space and a plurality of target objects in the virtual space;
defining a target object position for each target object of the plurality of target objects where each of the plurality of target objects is arranged;
defining a sight region of the user based on a direction of a line of sight of the user specified in accordance with an inclination of the head-mounted display;
specifying a plurality of first objects which are a first set of the plurality of target objects included in the sight region and a second object which is a target object of the plurality of target objects not included in the sight region;
showing an advertisement in each of the plurality of the first objects and the second object; and
when gaze by the user at any of the plurality of the first objects is accepted, varying only the advertisement shown in the first object other than the first object which has accepted gaze by the user among the plurality of the target objects so as to be associated with the advertisement shown in the first object which has accepted gaze by the user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the gaze at a first object of the plurality of first objects is accepted when a duration in which the direction of the line of sight is oriented to the first object exceeds a prescribed threshold value.

### Claim 3

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computer, perform:
generating the virtual space and a plurality of target objects in the virtual space;
defining a target object position for each target object of the plurality of target objects where each of the plurality of target objects is arranged;
defining a sight region of the user based on a direction of a line of sight of the user specified in accordance with an inclination of the head-mounted display;
specifying a plurality of first objects which are a first set of the plurality of target objects included in the sight region and a second object which is a target object of the plurality of target objects not included in the sight region;
showing an advertisement in each of the plurality of the first objects and the second object; and
when gaze by the user at any of the plurality of the first objects is accepted, varying only the advertisement shown in the first object other than the first object which has accepted gaze by the user among the plurality of the target objects so as to be associated with the advertisement shown in the first object which has accepted gaze by the user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 3, wherein the gaze at a first object of the plurality of first objects is accepted when a duration in which the direction of the line of sight is oriented to the first object exceeds a prescribed threshold value.