Earlier this month the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Sony that relates to professional gaming augmented reality (AR) visors and methods for parsing context-specific heads up display (HUD) content from a video stream. Technically the AR visor will work with future PlayStation and Xbox consoles and Apple and Google Operating Systems.

In Sony's patent background that explains what the problem is that their invention is to solve, they note that many video streams, especially those from a video game, contain peripheral supplemental data, information or images on screen. As not to interrupt or block the primary images and content being displayed, this supplemental information is typically displayed on a television or computer screen around the edges or perimeter of the primary video being shown.

However, for example, during the play of a video game, requiring the user to take his eyes off of the primary screen content to view and decipher HUD content along the outskirts of the screen can be distracting. Indeed, while scanning perimeter-located content typically takes only seconds, present principles appreciate that in game play activity even short durations of distraction can result in untimely miscalculations, missed opportunities or other game play mistakes.

Indeed, to ensure they see important but peripheral information, professional video game players train themselves to constantly divert their gaze to the screen edges at opportune periodicities using training metronomes.

Sony's Pro Gaming AR Headset Visor

Sony's invention generally relates to computer ecosystems including aspects of consumer electronics (CE) device networks such as but not limited to computer game networks.

A system may include server and client components, connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between the client and server components. The client components may include one or more computing devices including game consoles such as Sony PlayStation.

More specifically, Sony's system may also include game consoles made by Microsoft or Nintendo or other manufacturer virtual reality (VR) headsets, augmented reality (AR) headsets, portable televisions (e.g. smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), portable computers such as laptops and tablet computers, and other mobile devices including smart phones.

These client devices may operate with a variety of operating environments. For example, some of the client computers may employ, as examples, Linux operating systems, operating systems from Microsoft, or a Unix operating system, or operating systems produced by Apple Computer or Google.

These operating environments may be used to execute one or more browsing programs, such as a browser made by Microsoft or Google or Mozilla or other browser program that can access websites hosted by the Internet servers discussed below. Also, an operating environment according to present principles may be used to execute one or more computer game programs.

Content appropriate for Heads-Up-Display (HUD) can be strategically extracted and displayed or superimposed over the primary viewing area through the use of a visor or display worn or positioned in front of the user, relieving the user from diverting their attention to other areas of the screen and creating a gameplay advantage for the user.

A system includes at least one primary display configured to present video demanded by a computer game program. The system also includes at least one interpose display locatable between a computer gamer and the primary display.

The interpose display is translucent. At least one computer storage that is not a transitory signal includes instructions executable by at least one processor to present augmented reality (AR) information from the computer game program on the interpose display. In this way the computer gamer can see the AR information in his line of sight as the computer gamer looks through the interpose display and sees on the primary display the video demanded by the computer game program.

In some examples, the interpose display is configured to be worn on the head of the computer gamer as, e.g., the visor of an AR headset. Or, wherein the interpose display may be configured like a pair of glasses.

Yet again, the interpose display may be configured to be placed or mounted directly in an intended field of view of the computer gamer distanced from the computer gamer.

In example implementations, the instructions are executable to present on the interpose display user content, data and/or updates from video game play including one or more of: health/lives, time, score, weapons/ammunition, capabilities, menus, game progression, mini-map, speedometer/tachometer, context-sensitive information, reticle/cursor/crosshair, stealthometer, compass.

In some examples, the interpose display can include an inner surface and a touch sensitive outer surface facing the primary display, and the instructions are executable to move AR information presented on the interpose display in response to touches on the outer surface of the interpose display.

Camera: In example embodiments, at least one camera may be presented on the interpose display and positioned to track an eye orientation of the computer gamer, with information from the camera being sent to a game console executing the computer game program for, e.g., establishing a computer game weapon aim line.

Sony's patent FIG. 1 below is a block diagram of an example system including an example; FIG. 2 is a top view of a translucent display configured as a "heads up display" (HUD) in a computer game headset configuration, showing some components schematically; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a translucent display configured as a HUD in an eyeglasses configuration.

Sony's patent FIG. 4 above is a perspective view of a translucent display configured as a standalone HUD that is not worn by a gamer but rather is disposed between the gamer and primary display, showing some components schematically, it being understood that components in any of the implementations of the HUD may be interchanged.

Sony's patent FIG. 5 below is an elevational view showing a system that includes the primary display on which computer game video from a game console is shown, with information from the program executed by the console being sent to a translucent HUD; FIG. 9 is a flow chart of example logic for executing AR presentation on the HUD.

Sony's patent FIG. 8 below is a flow chart of example logic for initializing AR information presentation on the HUD; FIG. 9 is a flow chart of example logic for executing AR presentation on the HUD; and FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating example HUD control modes consistent with present principles.

Other Sony Tidbits

CE devices (gaming console and visor) may include one or more auxiliary sensors (e.g., a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, cyclometer, or a magnetic sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an optical sensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, a gesture sensor (e.g. for sensing gesture command), etc.) providing input to the CE device processor.

The first CE device may include still other sensors such as e.g. one or more climate sensors (e.g. barometers, humidity sensors, wind sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) and/or one or more biometric sensors providing input to the CE device processor.

In addition it is noted that in some embodiments the first CE device may also include an infrared (IR) transmitter and/or IR receiver and/or IR transceiver such as an IR data association (IRDA) device.

In some embodiments the server may be an Internet server or an entire server "farm" and may include and perform "cloud" functions such that the devices of the system may access a "cloud" environment via the server in example embodiments for, e.g., network gaming applications. Or, the server may be implemented by one or more game consoles or other computers in the same room as the other devices.

A Secondary Application: Vehicle Dashboard Displays



Beyond AR Gaming, Sony states that the invention could also apple to future Vehicle Dashboard Displays. Sony notes that present principles may also be used in applications other than competitive video game play. For example, dashboard displays of information, which otherwise divert the driver's attention from the road and operation of the vehicle, can be moved by a display apparatus that superimposes or otherwise displays the information from the dashboard to a safer HUD field of view.

The instructions may be executable to present on the interpose display one or more of content, data and/or updates important to operation of a device or vehicle, battery life, vehicle speed, oil levels, speed/speed limit, lane departure warnings, driving directions, alerts/car status messages, cruise control information, proximity car detections, road and/or weather conditions.

Sony's patent application that was published earlier this month by the U.S. Patent Office was originally filed back in Q1 2018. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.