IP Library Granted Patent US 12,581,170
Granted Patent B2
US 12,581,170 · App. 18/909,504 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Cinematic mastering for virtual reality and augmented reality

Inventors: Christopher DeFaria (Los Angeles, CA); Gregory I. Gewickey (Carpinteria, CA); Michael Smith (Hermosa Beach, CA); Lewis S. Ostrover (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
H04N21/816H04N21/214H04N21/2143H04N21/2225H04N21/422H04N21/42201H04N21/4334H04N21/43615H04N21/8146H04N21/8186
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,581,170
App. No.
18/909,504
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An entertainment system provides data to a common screen (e.g., cinema screen) and personal immersive reality devices. For example, a cinematic data distribution server communicates with multiple immersive output devices each configured for providing immersive output (e.g., a virtual reality output) based on a data signal. Each of the multiple immersive output devices is present within eyesight of a common display screen. The server configures the data signal based on digital cinematic master data that includes immersive reality data. The server transmits the data signal to the multiple immersive output devices contemporaneously with each other, and optionally contemporaneously with providing a coordinated audio-video signal for output via the common display screen and shared audio system.

Claims (45)

1 . A computer-implemented method for configuring digital cinematic data for virtual reality or augmented reality output, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, digital cinematic master data from a system, wherein the digital cinematic master data includes virtual reality (VR) data or augmented reality (AR) data;

configuring, by the one or more processors, a data signal based on the digital cinematic master data, wherein the data signal includes video data, and wherein the configuring includes defining a positioning of an off-screen object based on the digital cinematic master data to appear in a plurality of subjective user viewpoints based on a subjective coordinate system for each of multiple immersive output devices; and

transmitting, by the one or more processors, the configured data signal to the multiple immersive output devices contemporaneously, wherein the multiple immersive output devices execute the configured data signal for a contemporaneous immersive video experience.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:

outputting, by the one or more processors, an image based on a video data portion of the digital cinematic master data on a display screen.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:

providing, by the one or more processors, haptic control data in the digital cinematic master data, wherein the haptic control data is configured to activate a haptic device in coordination with the VR data or the AR data.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the computer-implemented method further comprising:

recording, by the one or more processors, the digital cinematic master data in a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple immersive output devices are located within eyesight of a two-dimensional display screen.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein configuring the data signal includes:

preparing, by the one or more processors, the AR data or the VR data for continuously extending a plurality of images corresponding to the video data on the two-dimensional display screen to one or more areas beyond an outer limit of the two-dimensional display screen.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the configuring the data signal includes:

preparing, by the one or more processors, the AR data or the VR data so that at least one of a plurality of images corresponding to the video data appears in a coordinate system defined relative to the two-dimensional display screen.

8 . A computer system for configuring digital cinematic data for virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) output, the computer system comprising:

a memory having processor-readable instructions stored therein; and

one or more processors configured to access the memory and execute the processor-readable instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors configures the one or more processors to perform a plurality of functions, including functions for:

receiving, by the one or more processors, digital cinematic master data from a system, wherein the digital cinematic master data includes virtual reality (VR) data or augmented reality (AR) data;

configuring, by the one or more processors, a data signal based on the digital cinematic master data, wherein the data signal includes video data, and wherein the configuring includes defining a positioning of an off-screen object based on the digital cinematic master data to appear in a plurality of subjective user viewpoints based on a subjective coordinate system for each of multiple immersive output devices; and

transmitting, by the one or more processors, the configured data signal to the multiple immersive output devices contemporaneously, wherein the multiple immersive output devices execute the configured data signal for a contemporaneous immersive video experience.

9 . The computer system of claim 8 , the functions further comprising:

outputting, by the one or more processors, an image based on a video data portion of the digital cinematic master data on a display screen.

10 . The computer system of claim 8 , the functions further comprising:

providing, by the one or more processors, haptic control data in the digital cinematic master data, wherein the haptic control data is configured to activate a haptic device in coordination with the VR data or the AR data.

11 . The computer system of claim 8 , the functions further comprising:

recording, by the one or more processors, the digital cinematic master data in a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

12 . The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the multiple immersive output devices are located within eyesight of a two-dimensional display screen.

13 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein configuring the data signal includes:

preparing, by the one or more processors, the AR data or the VR data for continuously extending a plurality of images corresponding to the video data on the two-dimensional display screen to one or more areas beyond an outer limit of the two-dimensional display screen.

14 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the configuring the data signal includes:

preparing, by the one or more processors, the AR data or the VR data so that at least one of a plurality of images corresponding to the video data appears in a coordinate system defined relative to the two-dimensional display screen.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for configuring digital cinematic data for virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) output, the instructions comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, digital cinematic master data from a system, wherein the digital cinematic master data includes virtual reality (VR) data or augmented reality (AR) data;

configuring, by the one or more processors, a data signal based on the digital cinematic master data, wherein the data signal includes video data, and wherein the configuring includes defining a positioning of an off-screen object based on the digital cinematic master data to appear in a plurality of subjective user viewpoints based on a subjective coordinate system for each of multiple immersive output devices; and

transmitting, by the one or more processors, the configured data signal to the multiple immersive output devices contemporaneously, wherein the multiple immersive output devices execute the configured data signal for a contemporaneous immersive video experience.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the instructions further comprising:

outputting, by the one or more processors, an image based on a video data portion of the digital cinematic master data on a display screen.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the instructions further comprising:

providing, by the one or more processors, haptic control data in the digital cinematic master data, wherein the haptic control data is configured to activate a haptic device in coordination with the VR data or the AR data.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the multiple immersive output devices are located within eyesight of a two-dimensional display screen.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein configuring the data signal includes:

preparing, by the one or more processors, the AR data or the VR data for continuously extending a plurality of images corresponding to the video data on the two-dimensional display screen to one or more areas beyond an outer limit of the two-dimensional display screen.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the configuring the data signal includes:

preparing, by the one or more processors, the AR data or the VR data so that at least one of a plurality of images corresponding to the video data appears in a coordinate system defined relative to the two-dimensional display screen.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2025
From: WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.; WARNER MEDIA, LLC; TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.; HOME BOX OFFICE, INC.; DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; WARNERMEDIA DIRECT LLC; DISCOVERY.COM LLC; WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.; CNN INTERACTIVE GROUP, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072995/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2024
From: DEFARIA, CHRISTOPHER; GEWICKEY, GREGORY; OSTROVER, LEWIS S.; SMITH, MICHAEL
To: WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 068834/0933 →