# US 2024/0194045 A1 · Systems and methods for automatic configuration of a virtual reality play area and physical harm avoidance

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- Number: US 2024/0194045 A1
- Document ID: US20240194045A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/078,294
- Filed: 2022-12-09
- Published: 2024-06-13
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-09
- Assignees: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Applicants: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Inventors: Dhananjay Lal; Reda Harb
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240194045A1

## CPC

- G08B 21/02: Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G08B 7/06: using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources}
- G08C 17/02: using a radio link
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)

## Abstract

A virtual reality play area is defined. Movement of an object in the vicinity of the play area may then be detected. Based on the movement of the object, it may be determined whether the object is projected to enter the play area. If the object is projected to enter the play area, a representation of the object is generated for display to the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of preventing physical harm to a user of a virtual reality display device, the method comprising:
defining a play area;
detecting movement of an object in the vicinity of the play area;
determining, based on the movement of the object, whether the object is projected to enter the play area; and
in response to determining that the object is projected to enter the play area, generating for display to the user, on the virtual reality display device, a representation of the object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the movement has a direction, and wherein determining, based on the movement, whether the object is projected to enter the play area further comprises:
determining, based on the direction of the movement, a path of the object; and
comparing the path with a boundary of the play area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the movement has a direction and a velocity, and wherein determining, based on the movement, whether the object is projected to enter the play area further comprises:
identifying a type of the object;
determining, based on the type of the object, whether the object can change the direction or velocity of the movement; and
in response to determining that the object cannot change its direction or its velocity, determining that the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a position, relative to an orientation of the user, at which the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising, further in response to determining that the object is projected to enter the play area:
generating for output a spatial audio alert such that the audio alert is perceived by the user to come from the position at which the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
determining whether the position at which the object is projected to enter the play area is currently within a field of view of the user; and
in response to determining that the position at which the object is projected to enter the play area is not currently within the field of view of the user, generating for display, on the virtual reality display device, within the field of view of the user, a notification that the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the notification comprises an indication of the position at which the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether the object can be remotely controlled;
in response to determining that the object can be remotely controlled, remotely controlling the object to avoid entering the play area; and
in response to determining that the object cannot be remotely controlled, generating for display, on the virtual reality display device, the representation of the object.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a notification from a security system; and
in response to receiving the notification, enabling a passthrough mode of the virtual reality display device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving an input defining a distance threshold from the virtual reality display device for detecting motion,
wherein generating for display to the user, on the virtual reality display device, a representation of the object occurs further in response to determining that the object is within the threshold distance from the virtual reality display device.

### Claim 11

A system of preventing physical harm to a user of a virtual reality display device, the system comprising:
a motion sensor; and
control circuitry configured to:
define a play area;
detect, using the motion sensor, movement of an object in the vicinity of the play area;
determine, based on the movement of the object, whether the object is projected to enter the play area; and
in response to determining that the object is projected to enter the play area, generate for display to the user, on the virtual reality display device, a representation of the object.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the movement has a direction, and wherein the control circuitry configured to determine, based on the movement, whether the object is projected to enter the play area is further configured to:
determine, based on the direction of the movement, a path of the object; and
compare the path with a boundary of the play area.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the movement has a direction and a velocity, and wherein the control circuitry configured to determine, based on the movement, whether the object is projected to enter the play area is further configured to:
identify a type of the object;
determine, based on the type of the object, whether the object can change the direction or velocity of the movement; and
in response to determining that the object cannot change its direction or its velocity, determine that the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a position, relative to an orientation of the user, at which the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, further in response to determining that the object is projected to enter the play area:
generate for output a spatial audio alert such that the audio alert is perceived by the user to come from the position at which the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine whether the position at which the object is projected to enter the play area is currently within a field of view of the user; and
in response to determining that the position at which the object is projected to enter the play area is not currently within the field of view of the user, generate for display, on the virtual reality display device, within the field of view of the user, a notification that the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the notification comprises an indication of the position at which the object is projected to enter the play area.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine whether the object can be remotely controlled;
in response to determining that the object can be remotely controlled, remotely control the object to avoid entering the play area; and
in response to determining that the object cannot be remotely controlled, generate for display, on the virtual reality display device, the representation of the object.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive a notification from a security system; and
in response to receiving the notification, enable a passthrough mode of the virtual reality display device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive an input defining a distance threshold from the virtual reality display device for detecting motion,
wherein the control circuitry configured to generate for display to the user, on the virtual reality display device, a representation of the object is further configured to do so in response to determining that the object is within the threshold distance from the virtual reality display device.

### Claim at position 21

-50. (canceled)