Earlier this month the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to computer-generated reality (CGR) (including virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR)) techniques, and more specifically to techniques for user's entering or exiting a CGR or metaverse environment within a visual headset.

Apple's granted patent covers techniques for enhancing the experience of a user entering or exiting a CGR environment or metaverse. As the metaverse becomes more ubiquitous, there is increased opportunity for people to interact in such environments.

For example, multiple users of a virtual reality system may gather in a virtual environment for a meeting, to play a game, or for various other reasons. To enhance such an experience, the techniques described in Apple's patent will allow a user to preview a metaverse environment prior to entering an environment. The techniques also allow a user to customize effects that occur in the environment when the user or another user enters or exits the environment.

Although customized effects will add to the entertainment value of the metaverse, it should be recognized that visual effects are equally important for drawing users' attention to changes in attendance in an environment. Such techniques also provide the ability to control or filter content so that, for example, the user is not presented with content provided by another user that the user finds objectionable.

According to some embodiments, data representing an event of a user entering or exiting a virtual environment is received. In response to receiving the data representing the event, a determination is made whether a visual effect has been designated for the event of the user entering or exiting the virtual environment. In accordance with a determination that a visual effect has not been designated for the user, a visual effect corresponding to the received data is obtained and the obtained visual effect is provided. In accordance with a determination that a visual effect has been designated for the user, the designated visual effect is provided.

According to some embodiments, a request to preview a virtual environment is received and a request to enter the virtual environment is received. In response to receiving the request to preview the virtual environment, a preview of the virtual environment is provided, and an entrance transition effect is not provided. In response to receiving the request to enter the virtual environment, the entrance transition effect is provided.

Apple's patent FIG. 12 below depicts a flow chart of an exemplary process for a Computer-Generated Reality (CGR) environment, such as a VR or MR environment; FIGS 2-4 illustrates a process that describes a user entering a VR/MR environment in a puff or cloud of smoke.

Apple's patent FIGS. 6-9 illustrate alternative entrance effects that user's will be able to use when they wish to enter a VR/MR environment. FIGS. 7 and 8 specifically illustrate entering a room in a vortex.

In Apple's patent FIG. 6, the user's avatar enters the room in a cloud of sparkling stars. Whether stars or a vortex, each will carry matching audio effects to make the user's avatar entrance dramatic. Certain effects may also be accompanied by specific haptics.

Lastly, Apple has also invented a quick exit from a metaverse scene by dropping through a hole in the floor. I'm a fan of slapstick, and falling through a hole in the floor of a metaverse scene on demand made me chuckle.

For more details, review Apple's granted patent 11,222,454. One of the inventors listed on the patent is James McIIiree, Kernel Engineer.