Systems and methods employing predictive overfilling for virtual reality

A method performed by virtual reality (VR) client device, comprising:

• receiving a first virtual reality (VR) video frame from a server;
• in response to a receipt of the first VR video frame, transmitting to the server timing information wherein the timing information comprises at least a scan-out starting time of the received first VR video frame;
• sending to the server motion information of a user of the VR client device;
• receiving from the server a second VR video frame, wherein the second VR video frame contains an overfilled image, the overfilled image being based on (i) a predicted head position of the user at a scan-out time of the second VR video frame for display to the user and (ii) an overfill factor;
• and
• displaying a selected portion of the overfilled image to the user, wherein the portion is selected based on an actual head position of the user at the scan-out time of the second VR video frame,
• wherein the predicted head position is based on the transmitted motion information of the user and the overfill factor is based on an expected error in the predicted head position of the user.

A system comprising,

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions operative, when executed by the processor, to cause the system to:
• receive head tracking position information from a client device, the head tracking position information associated with a user at the client device;
• predict a future head position of the user at a scan-out time for displaying a virtual reality (VR) video frame, wherein the VR video frame is displayed to the user via the client device;
• determine an overfill factor based on an expected error in the predicted future head position of the user;
• render an overfilled image based on the predicted future head position of the user and the overfill factor;
• and
• send the VR video frame comprising the overfilled image to the client device for display to the user.