Augmented-Reality Game Overlays in Video Communications

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes, by a client system of a first user, presenting a display interface comprising a plurality of layers, wherein a first layer is a game container containing a first game in an augmented reality overlay, and wherein a video communication is accessible via the display interface, receiving an input from the first user to initiate the video communication with a second user within the first layer of the display interface via the display interface, generating a video container in a second layer of the display interface, wherein the second layer contains the video communication with the second user in a full-screen view of the display interface, and overlaying the first layer onto the second layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising, by a client system of a first user:
 presenting, by the client system, a display interface comprising a plurality of layers, wherein a first layer is a game container containing a first game in an augmented reality overlay; and wherein a video communication is accessible via the display interface;   receiving, by the client system, an input from the first user to initiate the video communication with a second user within the first layer of the display interface via the display interface;   generating, by the client system, a video container in a second layer of the display interface, wherein the second layer contains the video communication with the second user in a full-screen view of the display interface; and   overlaying, by the client system, the first layer onto the second layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the client system prior to generating the first video container, an indication of an acceptance by the second user of the request from the first user to initiate the video communication.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 executing, by the client system, a gaming protocol associated with the first game, wherein the gaming protocol comprises instructions for coordinating in-game actions between the first and second users via application programming interface (API) calls to a gaming server.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein executing the gaming protocol comprises:
 sending, by the client system, a request via the gaming server to the second user to execute the gaming protocol associated with the first game; and   receiving, by the client system, a confirmation via the gaming server that the second user has executed the gaming protocol associated with the first game.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the gaming protocol comprises settings for configuring the first game within the display interface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the video communication of the second user in the second layer comprises a plurality of features, and wherein the gaming protocol further comprises instructions for mapping the one or more game elements to one or more of the features in the video communication, respectively, wherein each game element in the first layer of the communication interface is overlaid over the respective feature in the video communication in the second layer of the display interface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving an input associated with an in-game actions of the first game, wherein the input includes movement of the one or more features of the second user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first game is a turn-based game, and wherein the method further comprises:
 generating a second game container containing a second game in a third layer of the display interface to determine who plays first in the game.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first game is a turn-based game, and wherein a user is chosen randomly to play first in the first game. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the client system, an input associated with an in-game action within the first game; and   determining, by the client system, a score based on the input associated with the in-game action within the first game.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 closing the second layer from the communication interface responsive to determining the first game is complete.   
     
     
         12 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed by a client system to:
 present a display interface comprising a plurality of layers, wherein a first layer is a game container containing a first game in an augmented reality overlay; and wherein a video communication is accessible via the display interface;   receive an input from the first user to initiate the video communication with a second user within the first layer of the display interface via the display interface;   generate a video container in a second layer of the display interface, wherein the second layer contains the video communication with the second user in a full-screen view of the display interface; and   overlay the first layer onto the second layer.   
     
     
         13 . The media of  claim 12 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to:
 receive, prior to generating the first game container, an indication of an acceptance by the second user of the request from the first user to initiate the game.   
     
     
         14 . The media of  claim 12 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to:
 execute a gaming protocol associated with the first game, wherein the gaming protocol comprises instructions for coordinating in-game actions between the first and second users via application programming interface (API) calls to a gaming server.   
     
     
         15 . The media of  claim 14 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to:
 send a request via the gaming server to the second user to execute the gaming protocol associated with the first game; and   receive a confirmation via the gaming server that the second user has executed the gaming protocol associated with the first game.   
     
     
         16 . The media of  claim 14 , wherein the gaming protocol comprises settings for configuring the first game within the display interface. 
     
     
         17 . The media of  claim 14 , wherein the video communication of the second user in the first layer comprises a plurality of features, and wherein the gaming protocol further comprises instructions for mapping the one or more game elements to one or more of the features in the video communication, respectively, wherein each game element in the first layer of the display interface is overlaid over the respective feature in the video communication in the second layer of the display interface. 
     
     
         18 . The media of  claim 17 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to receive an input associated with an in-game action of the first game, wherein the input includes movement of the one or more features of the second user. 
     
     
         19 . The media of  claim 12 , wherein the first game is a turn-based game, and wherein the software is further operable when executed to:
 generate a second game container containing a second game in a third layer of the display interface to determine who plays first in the first game.   
     
     
         20 . A client system comprising: one or more processors; and a non-transitory memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to:
 present a display interface comprising a plurality of layers, wherein a first layer is a game container containing a first game in an augmented reality overlay; and wherein a video communication is accessible via the display interface;   receive an input from the first user to initiate the video communication with a second user within the first layer of the display interface via the display interface; and   overlay the first layer onto the second layer.