Systems and methods providing temporary decoupling of user avatar synchronicity for presence enhancing experiences

A method executed by a computing device of an endpoint system, comprising:

• causing, by the computing device, a head-mounted display device to present a shared virtual environment from a viewpoint rendered at a motion-tracked position, wherein the motion-tracked position corresponds to detected positions of the head-mounted display device generated by one or more motion sensors of the endpoint system;
• transmitting, by the computing device, at least one location change notification to cause at least one other endpoint system to present a head of an avatar associated with the endpoint system at the motion-tracked position;
• receiving, by the computing device, a location change notification from a detecting endpoint system, wherein the location change notification includes a reaction position for the head of the avatar that is different from the motion-tracked position;
• and
• in response to receiving the location change notification from the detecting endpoint system:
• maintaining, by the computing device, the viewpoint at the motion-tracked position instead of moving the viewpoint from the motion-tracked position to the reaction position.

The method of claim 16, further comprising:

• presenting, by the computing device, a shared virtual environment including the head at the motion-tracked position;
• animating, by the computing device, the head from the motion-tracked position to the reaction position;
• receiving, by the computing device from the target endpoint system, a third location change notification that indicates the motion-tracked position;
• and
• animating, by the computing device, the head from the reaction position to the motion-tracked position.

A method executed by a computing device of a detecting endpoint system, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the computing device from a target endpoint system, a first location change notification that indicates a motion-tracked position within a shared virtual environment at which to present a head of an avatar associated with the target endpoint system;
• detecting, by the computing device, a collision between the avatar and an object for which the detecting endpoint system has object authority;
• and
• transmitting, by the computing device, a second location change notification that includes a reaction position for the head.