Patent Publication Number: US-2023144035-A1

Title: Providing method and device of interactive virtual reality contents

Description:
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/235,301, filed on Apr. 20, 2021, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0020833 filed on Feb. 20, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to a method and device for providing interactive virtual reality content. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Virtual reality content makes a specific environment/situation, which is similar to the real thing but is not real, through a computer and makes users feel as if they are interacting with a real situation/environment. 
     Further, interactive content enables users to actively participate in a process of story progression of content (e.g., movies, games, books, etc.). Therefore, even when the users experience one interactive content, multiple users may have multiple different endings. 
     SUMMARY 
     Virtual reality content and interactive content are similar in that users do not passively experience the content but actually play the content. Therefore, virtual reality content (hereinafter, referred to as “interactive virtual reality content”) to which an interactive function is added is being discussed. 
     Meanwhile, while providing interactive virtual reality content (e.g., while screening a video), it is possible to stop the progress of the content, provide a plurality of options to a user, and provide a branched image corresponding to the selection of the user. However, when the connectivity between an image (hereinafter, referred to as an “idle image”) providing the plurality of options and a branched image following the idle image is degraded, the immersion of the user (i.e., audience) in the interactive virtual reality content is lowered. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method and device for providing interactive virtual reality content capable of increasing user immersion by naturally connecting an idle image to a branched image. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of providing interactive virtual reality content, which is performed by a computing device, the method includes providing an idle image including options, wherein an actor in the idle image performs a standby operation, while the actor performs the standby operation, receiving, from a user, a selection for a corresponding one of the options, after the receiving of the selection, providing a connection image, and after the providing of the connection image, providing a corresponding branched image according to the selection of the user, wherein at least a portion of the actor in the connection image is processed by computer graphics, and the actor performs a connection operation so that a first posture of the actor at a time point at which the selection is received is smoothly connected to a second posture of the actor at a start time point of the branched image. 
     The actor in the idle image may move from a first standby posture to a second standby posture. 
     The method may further include storing a plurality of connection images, wherein the plurality of connection images may include a first connection image including the actor moving from the first standby posture to the second posture and a second connection image including the actor moving from the second standby posture to the second posture. 
     The method may further include checking the first posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection is received, wherein the providing of the connection image may include selectively providing the first connection image or the second connection image according to the checked first posture. 
     The checking of the first posture of the actor may include checking the first posture of the actor by using a first time stamp when the actor in the idle image is in the first standby posture, a time interval between the first standby posture and the second standby posture, and a second time stamp at the time point at which the selection is received. 
     The actor in the idle image may move from a first standby posture to a second standby posture and then return to the first standby posture from the second standby posture. Even when the posture of the actor in the idle image is more similar to the second standby posture than the first standby posture at the time point at which the selection is received, the actor in the idle image may return to the first standby posture. After the returning to the first standby posture, the connection image may be provided. 
     The connection image may include clothes in the first standby posture of the actor being dissolved into clothes in the second posture of the actor. 
     The method may further include checking characteristics of movement of the actor in a start section of the branched image, wherein a region of the clothes in the first standby posture of the actor, in which the dissolving is first applied, may be changed according to the characteristics of the movement. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a device for providing interactive virtual reality content, the device includes a memory, and a processor, wherein the memory includes instructions causing the processor to execute the operations of providing an idle image including options, wherein an actor in the idle image performs a standby operation in which the actor moves from a first standby posture to a second standby posture, receiving a selection for a corresponding one of the options from a user as an input while the actor performs the standby operation, providing a connection image after the receiving of the selection, providing a corresponding branched image according to the selection of the user after the providing of the connection image, performing computer graphic processing on at least a portion of the actor in the connection image, and allowing the actor to perform a connection operation so that a first posture of the actor at a time point at which the selection is received is smoothly connected to a second posture of the actor at a start time point of the branched image. 
     The actor in the idle image may move from the first standby posture to the second standby posture. The memory may store a plurality of connection images, wherein the plurality of connection images may include a first connection image including the actor moving from the first standby posture to the second posture and a second connection image including the actor moving from the second standby posture to the second posture. The memory may include instructions causing the processor to execute the operations of checking the first posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection is received, and selectively providing the first connection image or the second connection image according to the checked first posture. 
     The actor in the idle image may move from the first standby posture to the second standby posture and then return to the first standby posture from the second standby posture. Even when the posture of the actor in the idle image is more similar to the second standby posture than the first standby posture at the time point at which the processor receives the selection, the actor in the idle image returns to the first standby posture, and the memory may provide the connection image after the returning to the first standby posture. The connection image may include clothes in the first standby posture of the actor being dissolved into clothes in the second posture of the actor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTI 0 N OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a conceptual diagram for describing a system for providing interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is an exemplary block diagram for describing a configuration of a content providing device illustrated in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram for describing an idle image in a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram for describing an idle image in a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS.  6  to  9    are diagrams for describing a connection image for connecting an idle image to a branched image in a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  10    is a flowchart for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  11    is a flowchart for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  12    is a flowchart for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  13    is a diagram for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTI 0 N OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the same will be clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments described in detail below. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments to be disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms. The embodiments are provided in order to fully explain the present embodiments and fully explain the scope of the present embodiments for those skilled in the art. The scope of the present embodiments is only defined by the appended claims. 
     Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein to describe various elements, components, and/or sections, it should be understood that these elements, components, and/or sections are not limited by these terms. The terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, or section from another element, component, or section. Therefore, it should be understood that a first element, a first component, or a first section to be described below may be a second element, a second component, or a second section within the technical scope of the present disclosure. 
     Terms used in this specification are considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. In this specification, the singular forms include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “comprising,” when used herein, specify some stated components, steps, operations and/or elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations and/or elements. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein can be used as is customary in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Also, it will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of drawing number, and thus the description thereof will not be repeated. 
     In this specification, the expression “configured (or set) to” may be interchangeably used with, for example, the expression “suitable for,” “having — capability,” “changed to,” “made to,” “capable of,” or “designed to” in hardware or software, according to the situation. In some situations, the expression “a device configured to” may mean that the device may operate together with other devices or parts. For example, the phrase “processor configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C” may refer to a general-purpose processor (e.g., an embedded processor) for performing corresponding operations, or may refer to a general-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor) capable of executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device to perform corresponding operations. In this specification, the term “user (or audience)” may refer to a person who uses an electronic device or a device (e.g., an artificial intelligence electronic device) that uses an electronic device. 
       FIG.  1    is a conceptual diagram for describing a system for providing interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG.  2    is an exemplary block diagram for describing a configuration of a content providing device illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , in the system for providing the interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, user devices  100  of users (i.e., audience) are connected to a content providing device  200  or the like through a network  250 . 
     The network  250  includes, for example, networks in both wired and wireless communication schemes. In particular, the wireless communication may include, for example, cellular network communication using at least one of Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), wireless broadband (WiBro), or Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). Alternatively, the wireless communication may include, for example, at least one of WiFi, LiFi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ZigBee, near field communication (NFC), magnetic secure transmission, radio frequency (RF), or body area network (BAN). The wired communication may include, for example, at least one of Universal Serial Bus (USB), high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232), powerline communication, plain old telephone service (POTS), and a computer network (e.g., a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN)). 
     The content providing device  200  is a device for providing interactive virtual reality content which will be described below. For example, the content providing device  200  may be implemented with one or more servers, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the content providing device  200  may be composed of a combination of various servers such as a database server, a file server, a mail server, a web server, and the like. The content providing device  200  may be implemented in the form of a centralized server or may be implemented in the form of a distributed server. 
     The user device  100  is a device used by the user (or audience) to view virtual reality content and may be, for example, a wearable device. Examples of the wearable device may include at least one of a head mounted display (HMD), an accessory device (e.g., a watch, a ring, a bracelet an anklet, a necklace, glasses, a contact lens, etc.), a fabric or clothing integrated device (e.g., electronic clothes), a body-attached device (e.g., a skin pad or tattoo), and a bio-implantable circuit. The user device  100  may be implemented in different forms and may include, for example, at least one of a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a medical device, a camera, and a wearable device. 
     The user (i.e., audience) may use the user device  100  to individually view virtual reality content in a personal place (e.g., home, office, etc.). Alternatively, the plurality of users may gather to view virtual reality content in a common place such as a cinema. When the users view the virtual reality content in the common place, the user devices  100  may be fixedly or detachably installed to seats. Alternatively, when the user devices  100  are not installed in the seats, the users (i.e., audience) may receive and use the user devices  100  from the theater or may bring and use separate personal electronic devices. 
     Here, referring to  FIG.  2   , in the content providing device  200 , various components such as a communication module  230 , a processor  260 , a memory  270 , an input and output interface, and the like may be connected to each other and may communicate with each other (i.e., control message transmission and data transmission) through a bus  280 . 
     The communication module  230  is a module for communicating with other user devices  100 , the content providing device  200 , or the like through various wired and/or wireless networks  250  described in  FIG.  1   . 
     The term “module” used herein may include a unit composed of hardware, software, or firmware and may be used interchangeably with terms such as, for example, logic, a logic block, a part, or a circuit. The “module” may be an integrally configured component, a minimum unit that performs one or more functions, or a portion of the minimum unit. The “module” may be implemented mechanically or electronically. 
     The processor  260  may include one or more of a CPU, an application processor, and a communication processor. For example, the processor  260  may control at least one other component of the content providing device  200  and/or perform an operation or data processing related to communication. 
     The memory  270  may include a volatile memory (e.g., a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), or a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) and/or a non-volatile memory (e.g., a one time programmable read-only memory (OTPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a mask read-only memory (ROM), a flash ROM, a flash memory, a phase-change random access memory (PRAM), a resistive random access memory (RRAM), a magnetic random access memory (MRAM), a hard drive, or a solid state drive (SSD)). The memory  270  may include an internal memory and/or an external memory. The memory  270  may store, for example, commands or data related to at least one other component of the content providing device  200 . Further, the memory  270  may store software and/or programs. The programs may include, for example, a kernel, middleware, an application programming interface (API), and/or an application program (or application). At least a portion of the kernel, middleware, or API may be referred to as an operating system. 
     The memory  270  may store instructions for performing a method of screening the next interactive virtual reality content. 
     Specifically, the memory  270  includes instructions causing the processor  260  to execute the operations of providing an idle image including options, wherein an actor in the idle image performs a standby operation, receiving a selection for a corresponding one of options from the user as an input while the actor performs the standby operation, providing a connection image after the receiving of the selection, providing a corresponding branched image according to the selection of the user after the providing of the connection image, performing computer graphic processing on at least a portion of the actor in the connection image, and allowing the actor to perform a connection operation so that a first posture of the actor at a time point at which the selection is received is smoothly connected to a second posture of the actor at a start time point of the branched image. 
     Further, the actor in the idle image moves from a first standby posture to a second standby posture. The memory  270  stores a plurality of connection images, wherein the plurality of connection images include a first connection image including the actor moving from the first standby posture to the second posture and a second connection image including the actor moving from the second standby posture to the second posture. The memory  270  includes instructions causing the processor  260  to execute the operations of checking the first posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection is received and selectively providing the first connection image or the second connection image according to the checked first posture. 
     The actor in the idle image may move from the first standby posture to the second standby posture and then return from the second standby posture to the first standby posture. Even when the posture of the actor in the idle image is more similar to the second standby posture than the first standby posture at the time point at which the processor  260  receives the selection, the actor in the idle image returns to the first standby posture, and the memory  270  may provide the connection image after the returning to the first standby posture. The connection image may include clothes in the first standby posture of the actor being dissolved into clothes in the second posture of the actor. 
     Such a method of providing the interactive virtual reality content will be described below in detail with reference to  FIGS.  3  to  13   . 
     In this specification, what is expressed as “image” such as a previous image, an idle image, a connection image, a branched image, or the like refers to an image used in various types of virtual reality content such as movies, games, videos, and the like. 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG.  4    is a diagram for describing that options appear at branching points of the interactive virtual reality content. 
     First referring to  FIG.  3   , in the method of providing the interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a previous image A 0  is provided from a time t 0  to a time t 1 . A user views the previous image A 0  through a user device  100 . 
     After the previous image A 0  is provided, at least one option is provided at a first branching point Q 1  (e.g., at the time t 1 ). 
     Subsequently, a selection for a corresponding one of the options is received from the user (i.e., through the user device  100 ). 
     From the time t 1  to a time t 2 , a corresponding branched image A 1  or A 2  is provided according to the selection of the user. The user views the branched image A 1  or A 2  through the user device  100 . 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG.  4   , in the previous image A 0 , an actor  3710  (“Younghee”) finds an old bridge while wandering through a remote island after a forced landing. In this case, options  370   a  appear. A first option OP 1  may be “cross the bridge,” and a second option OP 2  may be “turn back without crossing the bridge.” When the user selects the first option OP 1 , a branched image in which the actor  3710  crosses the bridge is displayed (i.e., the branched image A 1  is provided). When the user selects the second option OP 2 , a branched image in which the actor  3710  turns back without crossing the bridge is displayed (i.e., the branched image A 2  is provided). 
     Referring again to  FIG.  3   , subsequently, after the branched image A 1  is provided, at least one option is again provided at a second branching point Q 2  (e.g., at the time t 2 ). 
     Then, a selection for a corresponding one of the options is received from the user (i.e., through the user device  100 ). Then, from the time t 2  to a time t 3 , a corresponding branched image A 11  or A 12  is provided according to the selection of the user. The user views the branched image A 11  or A 12  through the user device  100 . 
     Alternatively, after the branched image A 2  is provided, at least one option is provided at a third branching point Q 3  (e.g., at the time t 2 ). 
     Then, a selection for a corresponding one of the options is received from the user (i.e., through the user device  100 ). Then, from the time t 2  to the time t 3 , a corresponding branched image A 21  or A 22  is provided according to the selection of the user. The user views the branched image A 21  or A 22  through the user device  100 . 
     Endings R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  of the interactive virtual reality content may be changed according to the above-described at least one user&#39;s selection. 
     In  FIG.  3   , the second branching point Q 2  and the third branching point Q 3  are illustrated as being positioned at the same time t 2 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the positions of the second branching point Q 2  and the third branching point Q 3  may be changed according to the lengths of the branched image A 1  and the branched image A 2 . 
     Here, the idle image including the options, which is provided at the branching point (e.g., Q 1 ), will be described in detail with reference to  FIG.  5   . 
       FIG.  5    is a diagram for describing the idle image in a method of providing the interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In order to describe in detail the movement of the actor in the idle image, the options  370   a  (see  FIG.  4   ) are not illustrated. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the actor in the idle image moves. In the interactive virtual reality content, when the actor remains stationary without moving while the user makes a selection (i.e., in the idle image), the immersion of the user may be lowered. For example, while the actor asks a question to the user and then waits for the user&#39;s answer (i.e., the selection), the actor should naturally move so that the immersion of the user may be increased. 
     For example, the actor in the idle image may move from a first standby posture  371  to a second standby posture  372 . Further, the actor in the idle image may move from the first standby posture  371  to the second standby posture  372  and then return to the first standby posture  371  from the second standby posture  372 . That is, the actor in the idle image may repeat a preset movement while waiting for the user&#39;s answer (i.e., the selection). 
     Meanwhile, in  FIG.  5   , the actor in the idle image is exemplified as moving and/or returning to the second standby posture  372  from the first standby posture  371 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     Although not separately illustrated, for example, the actor may move from the first standby posture  371  to the left to move to the second standby posture  372 , may move from the second standby posture  372  to the right by passing through the first standby posture  371  and move to another standby posture and may move from the another standby posture to the left to return to the first standby posture  371 . 
     Meanwhile, while the idle image is provided, a selection for a corresponding one of the options (e.g.,  370   a ) is received from the user. In the method of providing the interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, after the receiving of the selection, a connection image is provided. After the connection image is provided, a corresponding branched image is provided according to the selection of the user. 
     A connection image for connecting an idle image to a branched image will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS.  6  to  9   . 
     An actor in the idle image performs a standby operation, and it is assumed in the standby operation that the actor moves between the first standby posture  371  (see  FIG.  5   ) and the second standby posture  372  (see  FIG.  5   ). Further, it is assumed that the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection is received from the user is a first posture  3911  (see  FIG.  6   ) or  3912  (see  FIG.  8   ) and the posture of the actor at the start time point of a branched image A 1  is a second posture  381 . 
     First, referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , before a time t 1 , a previous image A 0  is provided. 
     From a time t 1 , an idle image  10  is provided. An actor in the idle image  10  performs a standby operation. That is, it is assumed that the actor in the idle image moves between the first standby posture  371  and the second standby posture  372 . 
     At a time t 11 , while the idle image  10  is provided (i.e., while the actor performs the standby operation), a selection S 1  of a corresponding one of options is received from a user. At the time point at which the selection is received from the user, the posture of the actor may correspond to a first standby posture  3711  or may be present in a posture more similar to the first standby posture  371  (than the second standby posture  372 ). That is, at the time point at which the selection is received from the user, the first posture  3911  of the actor may correspond to the first standby posture  371 . 
     From the time t 11  to a time t 12 , a first connection image C 11  is provided. Specifically, the connection image may be changed according to the time point at which the selection S 1  is received (or according to the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received). In  FIGS.  6  and  7   , since the first posture  3911  of the actor corresponds to the first standby posture  371 , the first connection image C 11  is provided. 
     The first connection image C 11  smoothly connects the idle image  10  to the branched image A 1  (which is provided from the time t 12 ). Here, in the first connection image C 11 , the actor (in the idle image I 0 ) moves from the first standby posture  371  to the second posture  381  at the start time point (of the branched image A 1 ) (see  391  in  FIG.  6   ). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8  and  9   , before a time t 1 , a previous image A 0  is provided. 
     From the time t 1 , the idle image  10  is provided. An actor in the idle image  10  performs a standby operation. That is, it is assumed that the actor in the idle image moves between a first standby posture  371  and a second standby posture  372 . 
     At a time t 21 , while the idle image I 0  is provided (i.e., while the actor performs the standby operation), a selection S 1  of a corresponding one of options is received from a user. At the time point at which the selection is received from the user, the posture of the actor may correspond to a second standby posture  372  or the actor may be present in a posture more similar to the second standby posture  372  (than the first standby posture  371 ). That is, at the time point at which the selection is received from the user, a first posture of the actor  3912  may correspond to the second standby posture  372 . 
     From the time t 21  to a time t 22 , a second connection image C 12  is provided. Specifically, the connection image may be changed according to the time point at which the selection S 1  is received (or according to the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received). In  FIGS.  8  and  9   , since the first posture of the actor  3912  corresponds to the second standby posture  372 , the second connection image C 12  is provided. 
     The second connection image C 12  smoothly connects the idle image I 0  to the branched image A 1  (which is provided from the time t 22 ). Here, in the second connection image C 12 , the actor (in the idle image) moves from the second standby posture  372  to the second posture  381  at the start time point (of the branched image Al) (see  392  in  FIG.  8   ). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5  to  9   , in the connection image C 11  or C 12 , at least a portion of the actor is processed using computer graphics, and the actor performs the connection operation (see  391  in  FIG.  6  or  392    in  FIG.  8   ) so that the first posture  3911  or  3912  of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is smoothly connected to the second posture  381  of the actor at the start time point of the branched image A 1 . 
     Meanwhile, a plurality of connection images C 11  and C 12  may be prepared (e.g., the connection images may be stored in the memory  270  of  FIG.  2   ). That is, since it is not known when the selection S 1  will be received from the user during the process of providing the standby image, the plurality of connection images (e.g., C 11  and C 12 ) are stored for smooth connection to the branched image A 1 . 
     In  FIGS.  5  to  9   , the descriptions are given based on only two connection images C 11  and C 12 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, three or more connection images may be prepared. For example, a third standby posture may be present between the first standby posture  371  and the second standby posture  372 . That is, the actor in the idle image may move from the first standby posture  371  to the second standby posture  372  by passing through the third standby posture and, conversely, may move from the second standby posture  372  to the first standby posture  371  by passing through the third standby posture. At the time point at which the selection is received from the user, the posture that is most similar to the posture of the actor is checked from among the first standby posture  371 , the second standby posture  372 , and the third standby posture. The first connection image C 11  may be an image in which the actor moves from the first standby posture  371  to the second posture  381 , the second connection image C 12  may be an image in which the actor moves from the second standby posture  372  to the second posture  381 , and the third connection image may be an image in which the actor moves from the third standby posture to the second posture  381 . As a result of the check, at the time point at which the selection is received from the user, when it is checked that the posture of the actor is most similar to the third standby posture, the third connection image may be provided after the idle image I 0 . 
     While the idle image I 0  is provided, when the selection S 1  is received from the user and the image jumps directly to the branched image A 1  without the connection image C 11  or C 12 , there may be a large difference between the last scene (i.e., the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection is received) of the idle image I 0  and a scene (i.e., the posture of the actor at the start time point) at the start time point of the branched image A 1 . In this case, a degree of immersion of the user (i.e., audience) in the interactive virtual reality content is reduced. 
     On the other hand, while the idle image I 0  is provided, even when the selection S 1  is received from the user, when the user proceeds to the branched image A 1  after viewing the idle image I 0  to the end, the user may think that his or her selection S 1  is not immediately reflected and that the actor&#39;s reaction is too slow. Even in this case, the degree of immersion of the user (i.e., audience) in the interactive virtual reality content is reduced. 
     Therefore, in the method of providing the interactive virtual reality content according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, while the idle image I 0  is provided, when the selection S 1  is received from the user, an immediate screen change is attempted (i.e., by providing the connection image C 11  or C 12 ), and thus the user may feel that his or her selection S 1  is immediately reflected. Further, the connection image C 11  or C 12  smoothly connects the last scene (i.e., the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection is received) of the idle image I 0  to the scene (i.e., the posture of the actor at the start time point) at the start time point of the branched image Al, and thus a sense of awkwardness that occurs when the image jumps may be eliminated (see  391  in  FIGS.  6  and  392    in  FIG.  8   ). 
     Further, the method of producing the connection images C 11  and C 12  may be variously performed using computer graphic processing. 
     With a monochrome screen (e.g., a green screen or a blue screen) in the background, the actor performs the action of moving from the first standby posture  371  to the second posture  381  or performs the action of moving from the second standby posture  372  to the second posture  381  in advance. Using the above actions, the plurality of connection images C 11  and C 12  are produced. 
     Further, since the virtual reality content has a sense of depth unlike a general two-dimensional (2D) image, a sense of heterogeneity (awkwardness) occurs when the branched image A 1  is directly connected to the idle image I 0 . For example, since clothes (wrinkles, flow, etc.) of the actor in the idle image I 0  and clothes (wrinkles, flow, etc.) of the actor in the branched image A 1  do not match, a sense of heterogeneity (awkwardness) occurs. Therefore, by performing computer graphic processing on the actor in the connection image C 11  or C 12 , the idle image I 0  is smoothly connected to the connection image C 11  or C 12  or the connection image C 11  or C 12  is smoothly connected to the branched image A 1 . In particular, the clothes (wrinkles, flow, etc.) of the actor in the connection image C 11  or C 12  smoothly matches the clothes of the actor in another image I 0  or A 1 . In addition, the clothes (wrinkles, flow, etc.) of the actor in the connection image C 11  or C 12  may be dissolved into the clothes of the actor in another image (e.g., A 1 ). 
     Hereinafter, a method of determining a connection image to be provided from among a plurality of prepared connection images will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS.  10  to  12   . 
       FIG.  10    is a flowchart for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of description, the contents which are substantially the same as those described with reference to  FIGS.  4  to  9    will be omitted. In  FIG.  10   , when an actor in an idle image performs a standby operation, it is assumed in the standby operation that the actor moves between the first standby posture  371  (see  FIG.  5   ) and the second standby posture  372  (see  FIG.  5   ). 
     Referring to  FIG.  10   , after a previous image is provided, the idle image is provided. While the idle image is provided, a selection S 1  of a corresponding one of options is received from a user. A posture of the actor (i.e., the first posture  3911  or  3912 ) at a time point at which the selection S 1  is received is checked (S 410 ). It is determined whether the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is similar to the first standby posture  371  (S 420 ). 
     Specifically, there may be various methods of checking the posture (i.e., a first posture) of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received. 
     For example, by calculating the similarity between the first posture and the first standby posture  371  and the similarity between the first posture and the second standby posture  372  through image analysis, a standby posture that is more similar to the first posture may be determined from among the standby postures  371  and  372 . 
     Alternatively, the standby posture is determined by comparing the standby posture to the first posture by using a first time stamp when the actor in the idle image is in the first standby posture  371 , a time interval between the first standby posture  371  and the second standby posture  372 , and a second time stamp at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received. For example, the first time stamp is “1:10:10,” and the time interval between the first standby posture  371  and the second standby posture  372  is 10 seconds. That is, the time when the actor is in the second standby posture  372  is expected to be “1:10:20.” Here, when the second time stamp is “1:10:16,” the time is closer to “1:10:20” than “1:10:10,” and thus it is determined that the first posture is more similar to the second standby posture  372  than the first standby posture  371 . 
     When the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is similar to the first standby posture  371 , a first connection image C 11  is provided (S 451 ). 
     When the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is not similar to the first standby posture  371  (i.e., similar to the second standby posture  372 ), a second connection image C 12  is provided (S 452 ). 
       FIG.  11    is a flowchart for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of description, the contents which are substantially the same as those described with reference to  FIGS.  4  to  10    will be omitted. In  FIG.  11   , a third standby posture may be present between a first standby posture  371  and a second standby posture  372 . That is, an actor in an idle image may move from the first standby posture  371  (see  FIG.  5   ) to the second standby posture  372  (see  FIG.  5   ) by passing through the third standby posture and, conversely, may move from the second standby posture  372  to the first standby posture  371  by passing through the third standby posture. 
     Referring to  FIG.  11   , after a previous image is provided, the idle image is provided. While the idle image is provided, a selection S 1  of a corresponding one of options is received from a user. A posture of the actor at a time point at which the selection S 1  is received is checked (S 410 ). 
     It is determined whether the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is similar to the first standby posture  371  (S 420 ). 
     When the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is similar to the first standby posture  371 , a first connection image C 11  is provided (S 451 ). 
     When the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is not similar to the first standby posture  371 , it is determined whether the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is similar to the second standby posture  372  (S 430 ). 
     When the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is similar to the second standby posture  372 , a second connection image C 12  is provided (S 452 ). 
     When the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is not similar to the second standby posture  372  (i.e., similar to the third standby posture), a third connection image is provided (S 453 ). 
       FIG.  12    is a flowchart for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of description, the contents which are substantially the same as those described with reference to  FIGS.  4  to  11    will be omitted. In  FIG.  12   , an actor in an idle image may move from the first standby posture  371  (see  FIG.  5   ) to the second standby posture  372  (see  FIG.  5   ) by passing through the third standby posture and, conversely, may move from the second standby posture  372  to the first standby posture  371  by passing through the third standby posture. 
     Referring to  FIG.  12   , after a previous image is provided, the idle image is provided. While the idle image is provided, a selection S 1  of a corresponding one of options is received from a user. A posture of the actor at a time point at which the selection S 1  is received is checked (S 410 ). 
     It is determined whether the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received moves from the first standby posture  371  (S 421 ). The expression “YES” refers to moving from the first standby posture  371  toward the third standby posture and/or the second standby posture  372 , and the expression “NO” refers to moving from the third standby posture and/or the second standby posture  372  toward the first standby posture  371 . 
     Then, in the case of “YES” in operation S 421 , it is determined whether the posture of the actor moves from the third standby posture to the second standby posture  372  (S 423 ). 
     In the case of “YES” in operation S 423  (i.e., when moving from the third standby posture to the second standby posture  372 ), a second connection image C 12  is provided (S 452 ). That is, the second connection image C 12  including the posture of the actor moving from the second standby posture  372  to the second posture  381  is provided. 
     In the case of “NO” in operation S 423  (i.e., when moving from the first standby posture  371  to the third standby posture), a third connection image is provided (S 453 ). That is, the third connection image including the posture of the actor moving from the third standby posture to the second posture  381  is provided. 
     Meanwhile, in the case of “NO” in operation S 421 , it is determined whether the posture of the actor moves from the second standby posture  372  to the third standby posture (S 422 ). 
     In the case of “YES” in operation S 422  (i.e., when moving from the second standby posture  372  to the third standby posture), the third connection image is provided (S 453 ). That is, the third connection image including the posture of the actor moving from the third standby posture to the second posture  381  is provided. 
     In the case of “NO” in operation S 422  (i.e., when moving from the third standby posture to the first standby posture  371 ), a first connection image C 11  is provided (S 451 ). That is, the first connection image C 11  including the posture of the actor moving from the first standby posture  371  to the second posture  381  is provided. 
     The reasons for doing this are as follows. For example, while the actor moves from the first standby posture  371  to the third standby posture, the selection S 1  is received. Even when the posture of the actor at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is more similar to the first standby posture  371 , the first connection image C 11  (i.e., moving from the first standby posture  371  to the second posture  381 ) is not provided and the third connection image (i.e., moving from the third standby posture to the second posture  381 ) is provided. In this way, the connection image (i.e., moving from the third standby posture to the second posture  381 ) is provided according to the moving direction of the actor (i.e., moving from the first standby posture  371  to the third standby posture), and thus the user may feel that the actor&#39;s reaction is natural. 
       FIG.  13    is a diagram for describing a method of providing interactive virtual reality content according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  13   , an actor in an idle image repeats moving from a first standby posture  371  to a second standby posture  372  and then returning from the second standby posture  372  to the first standby posture  371 . 
     Unlike what is described above, even when the posture of the actor in the idle image at the time point at which the selection S 1  is received is more similar to the second standby posture  372  than the first standby posture  371 , the actor in the idle image returns to the first standby posture  371 . After the returning to the first standby posture  371 , a first connection image C 11  is provided (i.e., moving from the first standby posture  371  to the second posture 
     Here, the first connection image C 11  may further include clothes of the actor in the first standby posture  371  being dissolved into clothes of the actor in the second posture  381  by performing computer graphic processing. As described above, even when the clothes in the first standby posture  371  and the clothes in the second posture  381  are the same type of clothes, wrinkles, flows, etc. thereof may be different. Therefore, by making the flows, etc. the same, the connection to the branched image A 1  may be made more natural. 
     In addition, in a start section of the branched image, characteristics of the movement of the actor may be further checked. A region to which the dissolve is first applied among the clothes of the actor in the first standby posture  371  may be changed according to the characteristics of the movement. 
     Specifically for example, in the start section of the branched image, the actor may move to the right. In this case, the dissolve may be applied first from a right portion of the clothes in the first standby posture  371 . In  FIG.  13   , the dissolve may be applied in the order of a right portion  399   a , an intermediate part  399   b , and a left portion  399   c . Generally, the user (e.g., the audience) pays more attention to the direction in which the actor moves. Therefore, when the dissolve is applied from the direction in which the actor moves, the user (e.g., the audience) may feel a more natural connection to the branched image A 1 . 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the present disclosure and without changing essential features thereof. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as only illustrative in all aspects and not for purposes of limitation.