US 11086392

Summary: US Patent 11086392 (US11086392B1)

Bibliographic Data

Abstract (verbatim)

"The disclosed computer-implemented method may include communicatively coupling a user interface device to a virtual reality device, capturing inputs from a user on the user interface device, displaying, on the virtual reality device, a virtual representation of the captured inputs from the user, and mirroring, on the virtual reality device, content presented on the user interface device. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed."

Plain-Language Overview of the Technology

The patent addresses the problem that a VR/artificial-reality headset blocks the wearer's view of the real world, making it hard to use a physical device such as a smartphone while wearing the headset. The solution: the VR device tracks the real-world location/orientation of the user interface device (via computer vision, headset cameras, radar/laser ranging, fiducial markers, IMU data, or combinations), wirelessly receives input and screen-content data from that device, renders a virtual representation of the device (and the user's hands/fingers) inside the virtual environment at a position corresponding to the real-world device, and mirrors the device's content (video, audio, haptics) into the VR experience. User interactions in VR (e.g., tapping a virtual key) are transmitted back to the physical device, enabling two-way control.

Independent Claims — Overview and Uncertainty Note

Important caveat: The authoritative patent text supplied to me (from Google Patents) was truncated before the formal "Claims" section, so I do not have the verbatim claim language. The summaries below are reconstructed from the specification's own claim-summary passages (which describe method, system, and computer-readable-medium embodiments) and should be treated as approximate until verified against the issued claims at USPTO Patent Center (U.S. Patent 11,086,392 / application 16/379,103).

Based on the specification's disclosure, the patent appears to contain at least three independent claims:

1. Method claim (independent) — A computer-implemented method comprising: (a) communicatively coupling a user interface device to a virtual reality device; (b) capturing inputs from a user on the user interface device; (c) displaying, on the virtual reality device, a virtual representation of the captured inputs from the user; and (d) mirroring, on the virtual reality device, content presented on the user interface device. Dependent limitations described include: tracking movement of the user's hand(s) and/or the user interface device; determining location/orientation based on IMU data transmitted from the device, radar ranging from the VR device, and/or image tracking from a VR-device image sensor; capturing images via the VR device's image sensor; input types (text, voice, selection); background subtraction/superimposition of the device image into the virtual environment at a position corresponding to the real-world location; wireless transmission of mirrored content; displaying a virtual representation of the device; displaying animated content around the device; mirroring to another user's VR device; inputs functioning as controls for the VR device; and the device being a smartphone, keyboard, display, tablet, or remote controller.

2. System claim (independent) — A system including a user interface device communicatively coupled to a virtual reality device, wherein the user interface device captures inputs from a user, the virtual reality device displays a virtual representation of the captured inputs, and the virtual reality device mirrors content presented on the user interface device (with similar dependent tracking limitations as the method claim).

3. Computer-readable medium claim (independent) — A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing device to communicatively couple a user interface device to a VR device, capture user inputs, display a virtual representation of those inputs on the VR device, and mirror content presented on the user interface device on the VR device.

CAFC / Litigation Status

I searched for CAFC 2026 docket activity, IPRs, and litigation referencing patent number 11086392. No CAFC appeal, IPR, or district-court litigation involving this specific patent was found in the search results available to me. Searches surfaced only the Google Patents record and a third-party patent wiki confirming the bibliographic data above, plus unrelated CAFC cases involving different patent numbers (e.g., Constellation Designs and Zilkr/Cisco). I have no evidence of post-issuance proceedings (e.g., reexamination, IPR, or litigation) for 11086392; however, absence of search results is not conclusive proof that none exists.

Remaining Uncertainties

• Exact independent-claim wording (claims section not in the supplied text) — verify at USPTO Patent Center.
• The assignee name-change date appeared as "2022-05-26" in the fetched Google Patents text; I flag this only because the surrounding event list formatting was ambiguous.
• No authoritative confirmation of litigation status beyond the negative search results described above.