VR Compatibility Display Control for Entertainment Content Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing entertainment systems do not clearly indicate the compatibility of programs or content with virtual reality (VR) display, leading to inconvenience for users who may not own a head-mounted display (HMD) or when compatibility changes due to updates.

Innovation Solution

The system acquires compatibility situation data and generates screen images that include information on VR display requirements for selected programs or content, considering HMD usage and update history, to provide clear compatibility indicators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If compatibility information is not displayed on the screen image, then the selection target (title image) remains simple and unchanged, but users cannot identify VR compatibility status and may experience inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVR compatibility informationVSAvoidscreen image complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The screen image is segmented into distinct functional areas: the title image area for program identification and a separate compatibility information area for VR status display. This segmentation allows compatibility information to be presented without altering or complicating the title image itself, thus preventing information loss while avoiding screen image complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A compatibility information display unit acts as an intermediary between the program selection system and the user. This intermediary component presents VR compatibility status in a standardized format (icons, text, or both) without requiring changes to the underlying title images or selection target structure, thereby preventing information loss while isolating complexity to a dedicated display mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the selection target itself indicates VR compatibility, then VR compatibility information is clearly presented, but the selection target must be changed whenever compatibility status changes due to updates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVR compatibility informationVSAvoidselection target maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The indication system is segmented into two independent components: the static selection target (title image) and the dynamic compatibility information display. When program updates change VR compatibility status, only the compatibility information display needs to be updated while the selection target remains unchanged, thus preventing the need to recreate or modify selection targets and improving ease of manufacture/maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The compatibility information display is prepared and updated in advance based on program metadata or compatibility databases before user selection. This preliminary action ensures that when programs are updated, the compatibility status is already reflected in the display without requiring immediate modification of selection targets, thereby simplifying maintenance efforts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If VR compatibility information is always displayed, then users can always identify compatibility status, but the interface becomes more complex and may clutter the screen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility information accuracyVSAvoiduser interface simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The compatibility information display is designed to be dynamic and adaptive rather than static. The display automatically adjusts its presentation based on user context: it may be more prominent when an HMD is detected or VR mode is active, and less prominent or hidden when traditional display is used. This dynamic behavior ensures reliability of information presentation while maintaining ease of operation by adapting to user needs and device configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The compatibility information display applies different presentation qualities to different contexts or user groups. For example, detailed compatibility information may be displayed in VR-capable configurations while simplified or hidden information is shown in traditional configurations. This local quality approach ensures that information is reliably presented when needed while avoiding unnecessary clutter in contexts where it is not relevant, thus balancing reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3751404B1Entertainment device, display control method and display control program
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3751404B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3751404B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3751404B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An entertainment apparatus, a display controlling method and a display controlling program are provided which are capable of presenting a compatibility situation of a program or content with VR display to a user without relying upon representation by a selection target itself from which the program or the content can be identified. A compatibility situation data acquisition unit (82) acquires compatibility situation data indicative of a compatibility situation with virtual reality display of the programs or the content upon selection by the user, the compatibility situation data being different from the selection targets. A screen image generation unit (90) generates, on the basis of the compatibility situation data, the screen image including information indicative of a compatibility situation with virtual reality display of the program to be executed or the content to be reproduced in response to selection from the selection targets. A display controlling unit (92) causes the screen image to be displayed.