Christian J Egeler

US Patent:

20190182471, Jun 13, 2019

Filed:

Feb 20, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/280915

Inventors:

- Arlington VA, US
Ali Jaafar - Guttenburg NJ, US
Denny Breitenfeld - Florham Park NJ, US
Xavier Hansen - Parsippany NJ, US
Christian Egeler - Roseland NJ, US
Syed Kamal - South Plainfield NJ, US
Lama Hewage Ravi Prathapa Chandrasiri - Franklin Park NJ, US
Steven L. Smith - Putnam Valley NY, US

International Classification:

H04N 13/122
H04N 13/243
H04N 5/232
H04N 5/247

Abstract:

An exemplary virtual reality media provider system differentiates static objects depicted in two-dimensional video data from dynamic objects depicted in the two-dimensional video data. Based on the differentiating of the static objects from the dynamic objects, the virtual reality media provider system generates dynamic volumetric models of the surfaces of the static objects and the dynamic objects. The virtual reality media provider system updates the dynamic volumetric models of the surfaces of the static objects with a lower regularity or on an as-needed basis, and the virtual reality media provider system separately updates the dynamic volumetric models of the surfaces of the dynamic objects with a higher regularity. The higher regularity is higher than the lower regularity and keeps the dynamic volumetric models of the surfaces of the dynamic objects up-to-date with what is occurring in the two-dimensional video data. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20190156565, May 23, 2019

Filed:

Dec 27, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/234448

Inventors:

- Arlington VA, US
Ali Jaafar - Morristown NJ, US
Denny Breitenfeld - Florham Park NJ, US
Xavier Hansen - Parsippany NJ, US
Christian Egeler - Basking Ridge NJ, US
Syed Kamal - Raritan NJ, US
Lama Hewage Ravi Prathapa Chandrasiri - Princeton Junction NJ, US
Steven L. Smith - Putnam Valley NY, US

International Classification:

G06T 17/00
G06F 3/01

Abstract:

An exemplary virtual reality media provider system receives two-dimensional (“2D”) video data for surfaces of first and second objects located in a natural setting. The 2D video data is captured by first and second capture devices disposed at different positions with respect to the objects. The system distinguishes the first object from the second object by performing a plurality of techniques in combination with one another. The plurality of techniques include determining that the first object is moving in relation to the second object; and determining that, from a vantage point of at least one of the different positions, a representation of the first object captured within the 2D video data does not overlap with a representation of the second object. Based on the received 2D video data and the distinguishing of the first and second objects, the system generates an individually-manipulable volumetric model of the first object.

US Patent:

20180247460, Aug 30, 2018

Filed:

Apr 30, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/967469

Inventors:

- Arlington VA, US
Ali Jaafar - Morristown NJ, US
Dan Sun - Bridgewater NJ, US
Christian Egeler - Basking Ridge NJ, US
John Gu - Rockaway NJ, US
Jyotsna Kachroo - Millburn NJ, US
Danny C. Lui - Belle Mead NJ, US

International Classification:

G06T 19/00
H04N 21/81
H04N 21/6405
H04N 21/2343
G06F 3/048
H04N 5/232
H04W 4/06
H04N 21/8545

Abstract:

An exemplary system generates a plurality of different content files each including data representative of content of a virtual reality world, and provides the plurality of different content files to a media player device via a network. In particular, the generated and provided plurality of different content files comprises at least one of a plurality of uniform-resolution content files and a plurality of mixed-resolution content files. The plurality of uniform-resolution content files are each associated with a different respective center point within the virtual reality world. The plurality of mixed-resolution content files each correspond to one respective content sector of a plurality of partially overlapping content sectors that together form a view of the virtual reality world associated with a single center point, the one respective content sector being encoded in a high resolution while a remainder of the content sectors are encoded in a low resolution.

US Patent:

20180091866, Mar 29, 2018

Filed:

Sep 23, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/274066

Inventors:

- Arlington VA, US
Syed Kamal - Raritan NJ, US
Lama Hewage Ravi Prathapa Chandrasiri - Princeton Junction NJ, US
Mohammad Raheel Khalid - Budd Lake NJ, US
Christian Egeler - Basking Ridge NJ, US

International Classification:

H04N 21/63
H04N 21/61
H04N 21/647

Abstract:

A first communication device communicatively coupled with a second communication device by way of a first network interface and by way of a second network interface parallel to the first network interface prepares object data in accordance with a data partitioning protocol for transmission to the second communication device. The first communication device transmits the prepared object data to the second communication device at an overall data transfer rate that is at least as great as a sum of first and second data transfer rates associated, respectively, with the first and second network interfaces by concurrently transmitting first and second portions of the prepared object data by way of the first and second network interfaces and at the first and second data transfer rates, respectively. Corresponding methods and devices for receiving concurrently transmitted object data by way of parallel network interfaces are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20170316606, Nov 2, 2017

Filed:

Apr 28, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/141717

Inventors:

- Arlington VA, US
Ali Jaafar - Morristown NJ, US
Denny Breitenfeld - Florham Park NJ, US
Xavier Hansen - Parsippany NJ, US
Christian Egeler - Basking Ridge NJ, US
Syed Kamal - Raritan NJ, US
Lama Hewage Ravi Prathapa Chandrasiri - Princeton Junction NJ, US
Steven L. Smith - Putnam Valley NY, US

International Classification:

G06T 19/00
G06T 19/20
G06T 17/20

Abstract:

An exemplary virtual reality media provider system (“system”) includes a configuration of synchronous video and depth capture devices disposed at fixed positions in a vicinity of a first object located in a natural setting along with one or more additional objects. The video and depth capture devices capture two-dimensional video data and depth data for a surface the first object. The system distinguishes the first object from a second object included in the one or more additional objects located in the natural setting and generates an individually-manipulable volumetric model of the first object. The individually-manipulable volumetric model of the first object is configured to be individually manipulated with respect to an immersive virtual reality world while a user of a media player device is experiencing the immersive virtual reality world using the media player device.

US Patent:

20170316608, Nov 2, 2017

Filed:

Apr 28, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/141760

Inventors:

- Arlington VA, US
Ali Jaafar - Morristown NJ, US
Denny Breitenfeld - Florham Park NJ, US
Xavier Hansen - Parsippany NJ, US
Christian Egeler - Basking Ridge NJ, US
Syed Kamal - Raritan NJ, US
Lama Hewage Ravi Prathapa Chandrasiri - Princeton Junction NJ, US
Steven L. Smith - Putnam Valley NY, US

International Classification:

G06T 19/00
H04L 29/06
G06F 3/01

Abstract:

An exemplary method includes a media player device (“device”) providing a user with an immersive virtual reality experience in accordance with a specification file corresponding to the immersive virtual reality experience. The specification file includes data that defines a plurality of elements included in the immersive virtual reality experience by providing a plurality of links for use by the device in acquiring the plurality of elements while providing the user with the immersive virtual reality experience. The method further includes the device detecting, while the immersive virtual reality experience is being provided to the user, real-world input associated with the user, and integrating the real-world input into the immersive virtual reality experience by updating the specification file to further include data that defines the real-world input as a user-specific element that is specific to the user and that is included in the immersive virtual reality experience.

US Patent:

20170318275, Nov 2, 2017

Filed:

Apr 28, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/141707

Inventors:

- Arlington VA, US
Ali Jaafar - Morristown NJ, US
Denny Breitenfeld - Florham Park NJ, US
Xavier Hansen - Parsippany NJ, US
Christian Egeler - Basking Ridge NJ, US
Syed Kamal - Raritan NJ, US
Lama Hewage Ravi Prathapa Chandrasiri - Princeton Junction NJ, US
Steven L. Smith - Putnam Valley NY, US

International Classification:

H04N 13/00
H04N 13/04

Abstract:

An exemplary virtual reality media provider system (“system”) includes a configuration of synchronous video and depth capture devices disposed at fixed positions at a real-world event. In real time, the video and depth capture devices capture two-dimensional video data and depth data for surfaces of objects at the real-world event. The system generates a real-time volumetric data stream representative of a dynamic volumetric model of the surfaces of the objects at the real-world event in real time based on the captured two-dimensional video data and captured depth data. The dynamic volumetric model of the surfaces of the objects at the real-world event is configured to be used to generate virtual reality media content representative of the real-world event as experienced from a dynamically selectable viewpoint corresponding to an arbitrary location at the real-world event and selected by a user experiencing the real-world event using a media player device.

US Patent:

20170286993, Oct 5, 2017

Filed:

Mar 31, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/087915

Inventors:

- Arlington VA, US
Ali Jaafar - Morristown NJ, US
Dan Sun - Bridgewater NJ, US
Christian Egeler - Basking Ridge NJ, US

International Classification:

G06Q 30/02
G06T 3/40
G06T 19/00

Abstract:

An exemplary virtual reality media system provides, for display on a display screen of a media player device associated with a user, a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world generated from and including camera-captured real-world scenery. The field of view includes content of the immersive virtual reality world and dynamically changes in response to user input provided by the user as the user experiences the immersive virtual reality world. The virtual reality media system integrates into the immersive virtual reality world a three-dimensional (“3D”) virtual object having an outer surface designated as a promotional content platform. The virtual reality media system also accesses data representative of a two-dimensional (“2D”) promotional image and maps the 2D promotional image onto the promotional content platform on the outer surface of the 3D virtual object such that the 2D promotional image is viewable as a skin of the 3D virtual object.