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US 10,500,496 B2Granted
Physical obstacle avoidance in a virtual reality environment
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsAdam T. Clark, Jeffrey K. Huebert, Aspen L. Payton, John E. Petri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
While a virtual reality environment is being presented to a user, at least a first sound in a real world environment in which the user physically is located can be detected. a nature of the first sound can be determined. Based on the nature of the first sound, a second sound that matches a theme of the virtual reality environment can be selected. The first sound can be masked by presenting the second sound to the user in the virtual reality environment.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- while a virtual reality environment is being presented to a user, detecting at least a first sound emanating from a physical object in a real world environment in which the user physically is located, wherein spatial coordinates of a spatial location of the physical object in the real world environment are moving over time;
- determining, using a processor, a nature of the first sound;
- and
- based on the nature of the first sound, selecting a second sound that matches a theme of the virtual reality environment and masking the first sound by presenting the second sound to the user in the virtual reality environment, the presenting the second sound comprising mimicking movement of the physical object in the real world environment by producing audio stereo imaging effects that cause the user to perceive the second sound as being emanated at the spatial location of the physical object and spatially move over time in a direction, relative to the user, the physical object is moving by selectively controlling a volume of the second sound across a plurality of audio channels.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a processor programmed to initiate executable operations comprising:
- while a virtual reality environment is being presented to a user, detecting at least a first sound emanating from a physical object in a real world environment in which the user physically is located, wherein spatial coordinates of a spatial location of the physical object in the real world environment are moving over time;
- determining a nature of the first sound;
- and
- based on the nature of the first sound, selecting a second sound that matches a theme of the virtual reality environment and masking the first sound by presenting the second sound to the user in the virtual reality environment, the presenting the second sound comprising mimicking movement of the physical object in the real world environment by producing audio stereo imaging effects that cause the user to perceive the second sound as being emanated at the spatial location of the physical object and spatially move over time in a direction, relative to the user, the physical object is moving by selectively controlling a volume of the second sound across a plurality of audio channels.
2 more elements
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon, the program code executable by a data processing system to initiate operations including:
- while a virtual reality environment is being presented to a user, detecting at least a first sound emanating from a physical object in a real world environment in which the user physically is located, wherein spatial coordinates of a spatial location of the physical object in the real world environment are moving over time;
- determining a nature of the first sound;
- and
- based on the nature of the first sound, selecting a second sound that matches a theme of the virtual reality environment and masking the first sound by presenting the second sound to the user in the virtual reality environment, the presenting the second sound comprising mimicking movement of the physical object in the real world environment by producing audio stereo imaging effects that cause the user to perceive the second sound as being emanated at the spatial location of the physical object and spatially move over time in a direction, relative to the user, the physical object is moving by selectively controlling a volume of the second sound across a plurality of audio channels.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.