System and method for shared frame-of-reference content streaming
Systems and methods for creating a social content-viewing experience are described herein. In one embodiment, users are located in different physical locations. Each user is viewing a screen in a respective physical location. Content displayed on the screens is synchronized by a media system such that each user is viewing the same media asset. A media asset may be a movie, TV show, sports game, photo, presentation, or video game, to name a few examples. At least one user is using an AR headset. The AR headset displays avatars to represent the other users and displays the avatars in the viewing area of the user wearing the AR headset. For the user wearing the AR headset, the avatars provide a viewing experience that simulates having the other users present in the viewing area.
1 . A method comprising:
determining a position of a first user in relation to a first physical screen of the first user on which the first user is viewing a media asset, wherein the first physical screen is located in a first physical space;
identifying a position for an avatar of the first user in relation to a second physical screen of a second user on which the second user is viewing the media asset, wherein:
the second physical screen is located in a second physical space; and
the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen is calculated based on the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen; and
generating for display, on an augmented reality (AR) device of the second user, the avatar of the first user in the identified position.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen comprises determining an angle and a distance of the first user from the first physical screen;
the position of the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen comprises an angle and a distance of the avatar from the second physical screen; and
the angle and the distance of the avatar from the second physical screen is the same angle and distance as the first user from the first physical screen.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the angle and the distance of the first user from the first physical screen is calculated from a center point of the first physical screen;
the distance of the avatar from the second physical screen is taken from a center point of the second physical screen; and
the angle of the avatar from the second physical screen is taken from the front of the second physical screen.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen comprises determining an angle and a distance of the first user from the first physical screen;
the position of the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen comprises an angle and a distance of the avatar from the second physical screen; and
identifying the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen comprises:
determining the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen partially overlays a position of the second user in relation to the second physical screen; and
in response to determining the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen partially overlays the position of the second user in relation to the second physical screen, modifying at least one of the angle and the distance of the avatar from the second physical screen from the determined angle and the distance of the first user from the first physical screen.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a same media asset on the first physical screen and the second physical screen.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein changing playback of the media asset on the first physical screen changes playback of the media asset on the second physical screen.
7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
receiving annotations of the media asset displayed on the first physical screen; and
generating for display on the AR device of the second user, annotations of the media asset displayed on the second physical screen based on the received annotations.
8 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising generating for display on the AR device of the second user, supplemental AR content based on the media asset displayed on the second physical screen.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating for display on the AR device of the second user, an item of furniture for the avatar of the first user.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen comprises determining an angle and a distance of the first user from the first physical screen; and
identifying the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen of the second user comprises:
determining the position of the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen is outside of a viewing area of the second user; and
in response to determining the position of the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen is outside of the viewing area of the second user, modifying the distance of the avatar of the first user in relation to the first physical screen to be within the viewing area of the second user.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen is determined using an AR device of the first user.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen comprises determining a first position at a first time and a second position at a second time, the second position different than the first position.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a position of the second user in relation to the second physical screen;
identifying a position for an avatar of the second user in relation to the first physical screen of the first user, wherein the position for the avatar of the second user in relation to the first physical screen is calculated based on the position of the second user in relation to the second physical screen; and
generating for display on an AR device of the first user, the avatar of the second user in the identified position for the avatar of the second user.
14 . A system comprising:
a sensor;
control circuitry configured to:
determine, using the sensor, a position of a first user in relation to a first physical screen of the first user on which the first user is viewing a media asset, wherein the first physical screen is located in a first physical space;
identify a position for an avatar of the first user in relation to a second physical screen of a second user on which the second user is viewing the media asset, wherein:
the second physical screen is located in a second physical space; and
the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen is calculated based on the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen; and
input/output (I/O) circuitry configured to:
generate for display, on an augmented reality (AR) device of the second user, the avatar of the first user in the identified position.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the control circuitry is configured to determine the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen by determining an angle and a distance of the first user from the first physical screen;
the position of the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen comprises an angle and a distance of the avatar from the second physical screen; and
the angle and the distance of the avatar from the second physical screen is the same angle and distance as the first user from the first physical screen.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the control circuitry is configured to identify the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen by:
determining the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen partially overlays a position of the second user in relation to the second physical screen; and
the I/O circuitry is configured to, in response to determining the position for the avatar of the first user in relation to the second physical screen partially overlays the position of the second user in relation to the second physical screen, prompt the second user to adjust their position in relation to the second physical screen.
17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the I/O circuitry is configured to display a same media asset on the first physical screen and the second physical screen.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein:
the I/O circuitry is configured to receive annotations of the media asset displayed on the first physical screen; and
the I/O circuitry is configured to generate for display on the AR device of the second user, annotations of the media asset displayed on the second physical screen based on the received annotations.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the I/O circuitry is configured to generate for display on the AR device of the second user, supplemental AR content based on the media asset displayed on the second physical screen.
20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein an AR device of the first user comprises the control circuitry configured to determine the position of the first user in relation to the first physical screen.