Microsoft patents headset controls for virtual avatars in calls
Microsoft has been granted a patent for a system that creates a virtual avatar for people in video calls who do not have a camera. The headset tracks the user's movements to move the avatar, and the user can manually select emotions to display on the face.
In the filing’s own words
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to headset virtual presence techniques. For example, a participant of a communication session may not have an associated video feed, for example as a result of a user preference to disable video communication or a lack of appropriate hardware. Accordingly, a virtual presence may be generated for such a non-video participant, such that the non-video participant may be represented within the communication session similar to video participants. The virtual presence may be controllable using a headset device, for example such that movements identified by the headset device cause the virtual presence to move. In some instances, user input may be received to control emotions conveyed by the virtual presence, for example specifying an emotion type and/or intensity.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A headset device comprising: at least one processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a set of operations, the set of operations comprising: obtaining, from a computing device, control information; obtaining sensor data associated with the headset device; processing, by the at least one processor of the headset device, the sensor data and the control information to generate an input indicating an action for the computing device; and providing, from the headset device to the computing device, an indication of the generated input, thereby controlling the computing device according to the indicated action, wherein the control information is stored at the computing device and transmitted to the headset device by the computing device.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- Headset virtual presence
- Patent number
- US12764251B2
- Application number
- 18243140
- Filed
- Sep 7, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04N 7/147 Electricity & electronicsG06F 3/012 Physics & computingG06F 2203/011 Physics & computingMore from Microsoft in AR, VR & displays
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.