# US 12,192,287 B2 · Systems and methods for sharing content in an extended reality environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,192,287 B2 - Document ID: US12192287B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/142,636 - Filed: 2023-05-03 - Published: 2024-11-07 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2023-05-03 - Assignees: Adeia Guides Inc. - Applicants: Adeia Guides Inc. - Inventors: Charles Dasher; Christopher Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12192287B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/131: Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality - H04L 67/56: Provisioning of proxy services (store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed herein for establishing a communication path between devices that are virtually proximate in an XR environment. First and second user devices are connected to the same space in a virtual environment (VE). The first user device is externally connected to a media device. Device information about the media device is retrieved, and a virtual device for the media device is generated in the space. The virtual device is selected. A communication path between the first and second user devices is identified based on their respective connections to the same space. A virtual connection is generated based on the identified communication path for providing media content between the media device and the user devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for sharing media content between virtually proximate devices via a virtual environment, the method comprising: determining that a first user device is connected to a same space in the virtual environment, wherein the first user device is externally connected with a media device; determining that a second user device is connected to the same space in the virtual environment; retrieving device information corresponding to the media device; generating, based on the device information, a virtual representation of the media device in the same space; receiving a selection of the virtual representation of the media device; identifying a communication path between the first user device and the second user device based on respective connections of the first user device and the second user device to the same space; and generating, based on identifying the communication path between the first user device and the second user device, a virtual connection for providing the media content between the media device, the first user device, and the second user device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first user device is paired with the media device, and wherein the media device is in a sharing mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the virtual connection comprises generating a virtual bridge for joining the communication path between the first user device and the second user device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein generating the virtual connection comprises generating a virtual proxy device at the first user device, wherein the virtual proxy device is configured to transmit the media content from the media device to the second user device using the virtual connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein a plurality of user devices is connected to the same space, the method further comprising generating a plurality of virtual connections corresponding to the plurality of user devices, each virtual connection of the plurality of virtual connections forming a communication path between the media device and a respective user device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, for display at the second user device, a user interface (UI) for connecting to the media device via the virtual connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the UI comprises a virtual display presented in the same space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a first virtual representation associated with the first user device in the same space; and generating a second virtual representation associated with the second user device in the same space. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first virtual representation is a first virtual avatar associated with the first user device, and wherein the second virtual representation is a second virtual avatar associated with the second user device, the method further comprising generating for display the first virtual avatar and the second virtual avatar in the same space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising exchanging protocol data between the first virtual avatar and the second virtual avatar for initiating communication in the virtual environment. ### Claim 11 A system for sharing media content between virtually proximate devices via a virtual environment comprising: communication circuitry configured to transmit and receive data for a virtual environment; and control circuitry configured to: determine that a first user device is connected to a same space in the virtual environment, wherein the first user device is externally connected with a media device; determine that a second user device is connected to the same space in the virtual environment; retrieve device information corresponding to the media device; generate, based on the device information, a virtual representation of the media device in the same space; receive a selection of the virtual representation of the media device; identify a communication path between the first user device and the second user device based on respective connections of the first user device and the second user device to the same space; and generate, based on identifying the communication path between the first user device and the second user device, a virtual connection for providing the media content between the media device, the first user device, and the second user device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the first user device is paired with the media device, and the media device is in a sharing mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry, when generating the virtual connection, is configured to generate a virtual bridge for joining the communication path between the first user device and the second user device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry, when generating the virtual connection, is configured to generate a virtual proxy device at the first user device, wherein the virtual proxy device is configured to transmit the media content from the media device to the second user device using the virtual connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein a plurality of user devices is connected to the same space, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate a plurality of virtual connections corresponding to the plurality of user devices, each virtual connection of the plurality of virtual connections forming a communication path between the media device and a respective user device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: generate, for display at the second user device, a user interface (UI) for connecting to the media device via the virtual connection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the UI comprises a virtual display presented in the same space. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: generate a first virtual representation associated with the first user device in the same space; and generate a second virtual representation associated with the second user device in the same space. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the first virtual representation is a first virtual avatar associated with the first user device, and the second virtual representation is a second virtual avatar associated with the second user device, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display the first virtual avatar and the second virtual avatar in the same space. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: exchange protocol data between the first virtual avatar and the second virtual avatar for initiating communication in the virtual environment.