Prediction-Based Methods and Systems for Efficient Distribution of Virtual Reality Media Content

A method comprising:

• managing, by a virtual reality media backend system, a plurality of content files each including data representative of at least one of a plurality of partially overlapping content sectors that together form an immersive virtual reality world, the plurality of content files including
• a first content file that comprises data representative of a first content sector included in the plurality of partially overlapping content sectors, and
• a second content file that comprises data representative a second content sector included in the plurality of partially overlapping content sectors;
• streaming, by the virtual reality media backend system over a network, the first content file to a media player device that is remote from the virtual reality media backend system, wherein while the first content file is streamed to the media player device, the media player device renders, based on the data included in the first content file, content included in the first content sector within a field of view of the immersive virtual reality world that is displayed by the media player device on a display screen;
• predicting, by the virtual reality media backend system while the first content file is being streamed to the media player device, that a user of the media player device will provide, at a future time, user input representative of a request to shift additional content included in the second content sector but not included in the first content sector into the field of view in place of the content included in the first content sector;
• and
• streaming, by the virtual reality media backend system prior to the future time and in response to the predicting that the user will provide the user input, the second content file to the media player device for use by the media player device in rendering the additional content within the field of view at the future time if the user provides the user input as predicted.

A media player device comprising:

• a display screen;
• and
• at least one physical computing device that:
• displays a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world on the display screen,
• receives, over a network from a server remote from the media player device and while the field of view is displayed on the display screen, a stream of a first content file included in a plurality of content files managed by the server, wherein
• the plurality of content files managed by the server further includes a second content file and each content file in the plurality of content files comprises data representative of at least one content sector of a plurality of partially overlapping content sectors that together form the immersive virtual reality world, the plurality of partially overlapping content sectors included within each content file including a first content sector and a second content sector,
• the first content file comprises data representative of the first content sector, and
• the second content file comprises data representative of the second content sector,
• renders, within the field of view while the stream of the first content file is being received by the media player device and based on the data included in the first content file, content included in the first content sector,
• predicts, while the at least one physical computing device is rendering the content included in the first content sector, that user input will be provided by a user of the media player device at a future time, the user input representative of a request to shift additional content included in the second content sector but not included in the first content sector into the field of view in place of the content included in the first content sector,
• transmits, prior to the future time and in response to the prediction that the user input will be provided, a command to the server to begin streaming the second content file to the media player device over the network,
• receives, based on the transmission of the command and prior to the future time, a stream of the second content file from the server,
• detects the predicted user input provided by the user, and
• switches, in response to the detection of the predicted user input, from rendering the content included in the first content sector based on the first content file to rendering the additional content included in the second content sector based on the second content file.

A virtual reality media backend system comprising:

• at least one physical computing device that:
• manages a plurality of content files each including data representative of at least one content sector of a plurality of partially overlapping content sectors that together form an immersive virtual reality world, the plurality of content files including
• a first content file that comprises data representative of a first content sector included in the plurality of partially overlapping content sectors, and
• a second content file that comprises data representative of a second content sector included in the plurality of partially overlapping content sectors,
• streams, over a network, the first content file to a media player device that is remote from the virtual reality media backend system, wherein while the first content file is streamed to the media player device, the media player device renders, based on the data included in the first content file, content included in the first content sector within a field of view of the immersive virtual reality world that is displayed by the media player device on a display screen,
• predicts, while the at least one physical computing device is streaming the first content file to the media player device, that a user of the media player device will provide, at a future time, user input representative of a request to shift additional content included in the second content sector but not included in the first content sector into the field of view in place of the content included in the first content sector, and
• streams, prior to the future time and in response to the prediction that the user of the media player device will provide the user input, the second content file to the media player device for use by the media player device in rendering the additional content within the field of view at the future time if the user provides the user input as predicted.