IP Library Granted Patent US 11,302,027
Granted Patent B2
US 11,302,027 · App. 16/743,776 · Granted Apr 12, 2022

Methods and systems for managing virtual reality sessions

Inventors: Martin G. Keen (Cary, NC); Richard D. Johnson (Raleigh, NC); Adam Smye-Rumsby (Reading, PA); Kimberly G. Starks (Nashville, TN)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
G06T7/70A63F13/215A63F13/216G02B27/017G06F3/011G06F3/012G06F3/04815G06T19/006G06V20/20G06V20/58A63F2300/8082G02B2027/0178
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,302,027
App. No.
16/743,776
Granted
Apr 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments for managing virtual reality (VR) sessions by one or more processors are described. A condition associated with a user experiencing a VR session is detected. A severity of the condition is determined. The determining of the severity of the condition is performed using a cognitive analysis of a detected situation associated with the condition that will affect the user, notwithstanding whether the detected situation is currently occurring within a vicinity of the user experiencing the VR session. If the severity is above a predetermined threshold, a signal representative thereof is generated.

Claims (25)

1. A method, by one or more processors, for managing virtual reality (VR) sessions comprising:

detecting a condition associated with a user experiencing a VR session, wherein detecting the condition includes determining that an identified entity has entered within a predefined vicinity of the user;

determining a severity of the condition by performing a cognitive analysis of the condition that will affect the user, wherein performing the cognitive analysis includes identifying whether any alternative entities are accompanying the entity within the predefined vicinity of the user, and cognitively analyzing natural language, inclusive of a tone and sentiment, spoken between the identified entity and the any alternative entities within the predefined vicinity to determine whether the natural language spoken relates the user; and

if the severity is above at least one predetermined threshold, generating a signal representative thereof, wherein, when the severity is above a first predetermined threshold as determined by the natural language spoken between the entity and the any alternative entities identified as being related to the user, a recording of those portions of the natural language spoken between the entity and the any alternative entities being related to the user is rendered in a VR system utilized by the user to execute the VR session.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including causing the VR session to be interrupted based on the signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the causing of the VR session to be interrupted includes ceasing the VR session.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detecting of the condition is performed utilizing an electronic device external to the VR system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the severity of the condition includes identifying the condition based on the detecting of the condition, wherein the identifying of the condition is performed utilizing at least one of a visual recognition service and an audio recognition service.

6. A system for managing virtual reality (VR) sessions comprising:

at least one processor that

detects a condition associated with a user experiencing a VR session, wherein detecting the condition includes determining that an identified entity has entered within a predefined vicinity of the user;

determines a severity of the condition by performing a cognitive analysis of the condition that will affect the user, wherein performing the cognitive analysis includes identifying whether any alternative entities are accompanying the entity within the predefined vicinity of the user, and cognitively analyzing natural language, inclusive of a tone and sentiment spoken between the identified entity and the any alternative entities within the predefined vicinity to determine whether the natural language spoken relates the user; and

if the severity is above at least one predetermined threshold, generates a signal representative thereof, wherein, when the severity is above a first predetermined threshold as determined by the natural language spoken between the entity and the any alternative entities identified as being related to the user, a recording of those portions of the natural language spoken between the entity and the any alternative entities being related to the user is rendered in a VR system utilized by the user to execute the VR session.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor further causes the VR session to be interrupted based on the signal.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the causing of the VR session to be interrupted includes ceasing the VR session.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the detecting of the condition is performed utilizing an electronic device external to the VR system.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the determining of the severity of the condition includes identifying the condition based on the detecting of the condition, wherein the identifying of the condition is performed utilizing at least one of a visual recognition service and an audio recognition service.

11. A computer program product for managing virtual reality (VR) sessions by one or more processors, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion that detects a condition associated with a user experiencing a VR session, wherein detecting the condition includes determining that an identified entity has entered within a predefined vicinity of the user;

an executable portion that determines a severity of the condition by performing a cognitive analysis of the condition that will affect the user, wherein performing the cognitive analysis includes identifying whether any alternative entities are accompanying the entity within the predefined vicinity of the user, and cognitively analyzing natural language, inclusive of a tone and sentiment spoken between the identified entity and the any alternative entities within the predefined vicinity to determine whether the natural language spoken relates the user; and

an executable portion that, if the severity is above at least one predetermined threshold, generates a signal representative thereof, wherein, when the severity is above a first predetermined threshold as determined by the natural language spoken between the entity and the any alternative entities identified as being related to the user, a recording of those portions of the natural language spoken between the entity and the any alternative entities being related to the user is rendered in a VR system utilized by the user to execute the VR session.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable program code portions further include an executable portion that causes the VR session to be interrupted based on the signal.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the causing of the VR session to be interrupted includes ceasing the VR session.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the detecting of the condition is performed utilizing an electronic device external to the VR system.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the determining of the severity of the condition includes identifying the condition based on the detecting of the condition, wherein the identifying of the condition is performed utilizing at least one of a visual recognition service and an audio recognition service.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2023
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: ROBLOX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064882/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2020
From: KEEN, MARTIN G; JOHNSON, RICHARD D.; SMYE-RUMSBY, ADAM; STARKS, KIMBERLY G.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051526/0533 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16019360 · Jun 26, 2018
Related Publication 20200202552A1 · Jun 25, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,536,740