Methods and Apparatus for Supporting Content Generation, Transmission and/or Playback

A method of operating a system, comprising:

• receiving, from a playback device, a first request for content;
• in accordance with the first request for content and a determination that the playback device is configured to enable multiple viewing positions, determining whether the playback device is configured to demultiplex at least two data streams;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is not configured to demultiplex at least two data streams, transmitting a first frame to the playback device, wherein the first frame comprises non-occluded image data and occluded image data,
• wherein the non-occluded image data corresponds to a first portion of an environment visible from a first viewing position, and
• wherein the occluded image data corresponds to a second portion of the environment not visible from the first viewing position and visible from a second viewing position.

The method of claim 6, further comprising:

• receiving, from a second playback device, a third request for content;
• determining whether the second playback device is configured to demultiplex at least two data streams;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the second playback device is configured to demultiplex at least two data streams, transmit a primary data stream and an auxiliary data stream to the second playback device, wherein the primary data stream comprises the second frame, wherein the auxiliary data stream comprises a third frame, and wherein the third frame comprises the occluded image data.

The method of claim 8, wherein:

• the first environmental model corresponds to the first portion of the environment visible from the first viewing position;
• the first UV map is indicative of a mapping of the non-occluded image content to the first environmental model;
• the second environmental model comprises a first segment corresponding to the first portion of the environment and a second segment corresponding to the second portion of the environment that is not visible from the first viewing position and visible from the second viewing position;
• the second UV map is indicative of a mapping of the non-occluded image content to the first segment and the occluded image content to the second segment;
• the third environmental model corresponds to the second portion of the environment;
• and
• the third UV map is indicative of a mapping of the occluded image content to the third environmental model.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer code, executable by one or more processors to:

• receive, from a playback device, a request for content;
• determine whether the playback device is configured to enable multiple viewing positions;
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is not configured to enable multiple viewing positions, transmit a first frame to the playback device, wherein the first frame comprises non-occluded image data corresponding to a first portion of an environment visible from a first viewing position;
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is configured to enable multiple viewing positions, determine whether the playback device is configured to demultiplex at least two data streams;
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is not configured to demultiplex at least two data streams, transmit a second frame to the playback device, wherein the second frame comprises the non-occluded image data and occluded image data corresponding to a second portion of the environment not visible from the first viewing position and visible from a second viewing position;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is configured to demultiplex at least two data streams, transmit a primary data stream and an auxiliary data stream to the playback device, wherein the primary data stream comprises the first frame, wherein the auxiliary data stream comprises a third frame, and wherein the third frame comprises the occluded image data.

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more computer readable media comprising computer readable code executable by the one or more processors to:
• receive, from a playback device, a request for content;
• determine whether the playback device is configured to enable multiple viewing positions;
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is not configured to enable multiple viewing positions, transmit a first frame to the playback device, wherein the first frame comprises non-occluded image data corresponding to a first portion of an environment visible from a first viewing position;
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is configured to enable multiple viewing positions, determine whether the playback device is configured to demultiplex at least two data streams;
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is not configured to demultiplex at least two data streams, transmit a second frame to the playback device, wherein the second frame comprises the non-occluded image data and occluded image data corresponding to a second portion of the environment not visible from the first viewing position and visible from a second viewing position;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the playback device is configured to demultiplex at least two data streams, transmit a primary data stream and an auxiliary data stream to the playback device, wherein the primary data stream comprises the first frame, wherein the auxiliary data stream comprises a third frame, and wherein the third frame comprises the occluded image data.