Apple patents moving virtual friends in 3D video calls
Apple describes a system for placing and moving virtual avatars of other people within a 3D video call environment. The technology allows users to scan their physical space to choose where a remote participant's avatar appears, then move that avatar or shared objects around the room without disturbing personal items.
In the filing’s own words
Some examples of the disclosure are directed to methods for spatial placement of avatars in a communication session. In some examples, while a first electronic device is presenting a three-dimensional environment, the first electronic device may receive an input corresponding to a request to enter a communication session with a second electronic device. In some examples, in response to receiving the input, the first electronic device may scan an environment surrounding the first electronic device. In some examples, the first electronic device may identify a placement location in the three-dimensional environment at which to display a virtual object representing a user of the second electronic device. In some examples, the first electronic device displays the virtual object representing the user of the second electronic device at the placement location in the three-dimensional environment. Some examples of the disclosure are directed to methods for spatial refinement in the communication session.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method comprising: at a first electronic device in communication with one or more displays, one or more input devices, and a second electronic device: while in a communication session with the second electronic device, displaying, via the one or more displays, a three-dimensional environment including a visual representation corresponding to a user of the second electronic device, a first unshared object, and a first shared object; while displaying the three-dimensional environment including the visual representation corresponding to the user of the second electronic device, the first unshared object, and the first shared object, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a first input; and in response to receiving the first input: in accordance with a determination that the first input corresponds to a request to move the visual representation corresponding to the user of the second electronic device in the three-dimensional environment, moving the visual representation and the first shared object in accordance with the first input, without moving the first unshared object; and in accordance with a determination that the first input corresponds to a request to move the first unshared object in the three-dimensional environment, moving the first unshared object in accordance with the first input, without moving the visual representation corresponding to the user of the second electronic device and the first shared object.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- SYSTEM AND METHOD OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL PLACEMENT AND REFINEMENT IN MULTI-USER COMMUNICATION SESSIONS
- Publication number
- US20260319632A1
- Application number
- 19462892
- Filed
- Jan 28, 2026
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 24
Classified under
G06F 3/04815 Physics & computingG06T 19/006 Physics & computingG06T 19/20 Physics & computingG06V 20/20 Physics & computingH04L 65/1093 Electricity & electronicsG06T 2219/024 Physics & computingMore from Apple 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.